Revolutionary undies

Ever considered why the Russian revolution ultimately failed? Maybe it was something to do with the state of their underwear.

The Guardian reports on research by Soviet pants expert, Dr Olga Gurova.

In the 1920s, Soviet magazines touted a "regime of cleanliness" for the proletariat. "Underwear," explains Gurova, "was a compulsory part of that regime." A goal was established: everyone should have at least two sets, and should change sets at least once every 7-10 days. Mass production was cranked up, underclothing the populace in officially healthy, comfortable, hygienic long johns, boxers, undershirts and bras. Gurova's research shows that most of these items were "spacious", and that "there was no big difference in design between male and female underclothes".

Seven to ten days in one pair of smalls? Nasty. I bet they had a Ministry of Underwear, and a Five Year Plan for raising production of long johns.

I don’t expect that the dirty underwear situation helped keep alive the revolutionary spirit, however. And can you imagine what it must have been like at bedtime? "Hello, my sweet, but my, your knickers look like they have been run over by a collectivized tractor!"