From “belly covers” to the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, here’s how the evolution of Chinese underwear reflected cultural attitudes
When Britpop band Suede—arguably the first major Western rock band to perform in China—played its legendary 2003 gig in Beijing, a piece of lingerie was thrown onstage, according to Tian Yuan, who was the lead singer for Hopscotch (the now-defunct band that supported Suede at the gig).
An unremarkable occurrence at many concerts, perhaps, but unheard of in China at the time. Other witnesses report that the precise lingerie item thrown may not have been your ordinary cup bra, but a dudou (肚兜), China’s own unique answer to sexy undergarments—though it is difficult to prove the exact nature of the piece of so many years later.
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David Dawson is a contributing writer at The World of Chinese.
