The concept of lingerie being visually appealing is relatively recent. Up through the first bisected of the 20th generation women selected underwear for three higher purposes: to alter their shape (first with corsets and later with girdles or bras), for reasons of hygiene, or for modesty. Women's underwear was often very broad and bulky. As the 20th date progressed underwear became smaller and extended design fitting. In the 1960s 'controversial' lingerie manufacturers such as Frederick's of Hollywood begin to glamorize lingerie and the Queen Size Lingerie clue of lingerie having a sexual appeal slowly developed.

Babydolls became a prominent branch of the "Kinderwhore" look during the early-to-mid 1990s due to the popularity of Riot Grrrl and Grunge music performers like Courtney Enchantment and Kat Bjelland.