Red knit undershorts -- 20s/30s?

[The Vintage Vendeuse]

Hi all,
I acquired these from an estate where 95% of the items ranged from Victorian through 1930s era. (Unfortunately, the majority of it was in poor condition.) I have found that elastic came into use in underwear in the 20s or 30s. Can I please get opinions on the possible age of this cotton knit pair?
Thanks so much,
Donna

 

[Circa Vintage Clothing]

Hello, I haven't seen mens underpants like that but I'm wondering if they could be a swimsuit? Agree they could be '30s.

 

[Pinkcoke]

I'm am not sure they are men's from your photos - can you show the back as well? I was reading a similar discussion on Facebook and although those were cotton men's underpants they had a very distinctive saggy back to them.
The paper tag makes me think that a) these were not meant to get wet (sorry Nicole!) and b) that they are later than you're looking at, as the underwear and knit garments I have seen from these decades usually have small embroidered labels and are very proud as it were of the brand name etc.
They are most similar to some 1960's knit underpants I have, although mine are patterned and have longer legs. I will have to check if the crotch is shaped without a centre seam like that. I'm not quite sure yours are as late as that, but I do think they are later, perhaps 1940s or 50s sort of thermal underwear?
You can see some 1940's women's knitting patterns for similar here:
http://forums.vintagefashionguild.org/threads/what-would-women-wear-in-the-winter-1940s-1950s.57982/

 

[The Vintage Vendeuse]

The back is exactly the same as the front because there is no vertical seam (a few-inch side slit was made at the top and the little label sewn in there). They are tubular (aka circular) with the crotch added in to create the leg openings. Here are a couple more photos:
(Please excuse my sideways photos. This is the first time I am posting with photos from my phone and the upload is automatically changing most of my vertical photos to horizontal.)

 

[Vinclothes]

I had NWOT women's underwear that were very similar to these in style, knit, construction, elastic waist and leg bottoms. Because of the original tags I was able to narrow the date down to the early 1950's. Mine were peach colored. They were sold by the Belk department stores. Employess referred to them as "Granny Pants". So they may have been a traditional style made over a long period of time. Red is an unusual color.
Marian

 

[sewingmachinegirl]

Hi Donna, these are so cool. They could be for either sex, but I am thinking men's, as I am sure I have seen vintage men's all in ones in red before, that were 40's- 50's.

 

[thespectrum]

Wouldn't mens' underwear have a front opening?

 

[The Vintage Vendeuse]

Thanks for the replies. I've been trying to find out the history of red underwear but haven't come across anything really helpful yet. Too many "risqué" articles and photos to sift through and find the real information, LOL. And some odd information about Mormons that I had been unaware of.

 

[Metro Retro Vintage]

I know a lady that used to wear these as an extra layer under her clothing in the wintertime. She told me that they were called "passion killers".

 

[sewingmachinegirl]

Wouldn't mens' underwear have a front opening?

Good point MS, I should have thought of that!

 

[Midge]

Laura, you remind me of something... when I was very small, my mom would in winter make me wear a pear of extra, knitted (fine wool, mind you - she's a good knitter!) knickers over my normal ones. Same principle... sounds like something that makes sense!

 

[jauntyrooster]

I would say these are women's.

 

[Rue_de_la_Paix]

Hi,

They look a lot like the circa 1950s ones I had, long ago, but mine were peach colored.

I have an old 1940s ad for women's red long underwear and red knit undies. The ad referred to the fact that they were worn for sportswear, under your winter sporting gear.