this post was submitted on 22 May 2026
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me_irl
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This is something called skeuomorphism. Products that have ornamental design cues from structures that were necessary in it's original design. They employ elements that, while essential to the original object, serve no pragmatic purpose in the new system, except for identification. The bow serves no practical or structural purpose but it's kept there to hark back to the old product before elastic became common.
Like clothes without real pockets?
Yes, and like that little pocket on jeans that was originally for a pocket watch.
Perfect for a key or two! Won't fall out
A pocket watch had a string to pull it oit of the pocket. Keys and anything small are a pain to get out of the that pocket without something similar.
Source: I put change in there as a kid because that was what I was told it was for and it was a pain to get out.
Like shutters on modern houses.
? What? You don't use shutters in your house? How do you keep the place cool in summer
This is testable. Show the panties to a group of people that never grew up in the age where bows were necessary. See if these people like the panties with the bow or without.
I suspect it's not a skeumorphic thing, but rather just aesthetics. There are probably other ornamentations that work too, like flowers or embroidery
It could be a bit of both. Its both aesthetically pleasing and had a historic use.
I think you'd have a hard time finding anyone who did grow up in the age where underwear didn't have elastic, either men or women. Which raises the question, why don't men's underwear have bows? Unfair!
It has a purpose, it makes it easier to see which side is the front
Are there neumorphic panties?