Union suits are one-piece undergarments that date back to the 19th century, initially made of red flannel. They were worn by both men and women for outdoor activities and featured a buttoned flap at the back for convenience. Today, they come in various colors and fabrics and are popular with outdoor enthusiasts and as comedic attire in movies and TV shows.
A union suit is a one-piece undergarment that dates back to the mid to late 19th century. They were invented in Utica, New York, as an alternative to constrictive women’s underwear. Despite this, men often wore union suits, usually to keep warm while farming, hunting, hiking, camping, or any other type of outdoor activity. They are known, in particular, for the buttoned flap at the back which allows the wearer to use the bathroom without having to remove the union suit.
Initially, union suits were made of red flannel, but in 1906, the New York-based Duofold Health Underwear Co. patented a two-ply fabric that “does not overheat you on a balmy day or in a warm room; however, it is perfect protection against the harshest weather.” The blend comprised an inner layer of cotton linen or silk and an outer layer made of wool, silk, or silk, which is a type of cotton that resembles silk. Today, union suits can be found in various colors and fabrics, including silk and polar fleece. Shades of white, gray, and blue are popular colors, and patterned union suits can be found in stripes or even camouflage. For women’s union suits, solid pink and floral prints are common. They are usually long-sleeved and long-legged and feature a line of buttons from the neck to the crotch. Short sleeve variations are also available.
Until the mid-1900s, it was common for men to wear the same union suit for a week or more, or even an entire winter. Today, union suits are a favorite with outdoor enthusiasts who say that this type of underwear can be warmer and less restrictive than long two-piece underwear or long johns. The popular footed pajamas worn by children, and even some adults, are a variation on the union suit. They usually have zippers instead of buttons, and the fabric tends to be thicker and fluffier than that used to make union suits.
Union suits also have comedic appeal and have been worn in movies and television shows, such as the Laurel and Hardy sketches and other comedies, including cartoons. The comic references are usually to men who have lost all their clothes for some reason and have nothing left to do but put on their union suits. An example is an oft-referenced scene where a man has lost the entire game and therefore has nothing to wear except his union suit and, perhaps, a barrel on top of him. There is also some hygienic humor associated with union suits, due to the back flap. Modern popular references to union suits can be found in the movies Cold Mountain and The Wild Wild West and on the television shows Rugrats and Family Guy.
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