Tap pants

Tap pants (rear view).

Tap pants are a form of lingerie designed for women, also known as side-cut shorts or dance shorts, and are similar to French knickers in appearance. As the name implies, they are a type of shorts, in that they cover the pelvic area and the upper part of the upper legs.

Tap pants look much like track shorts, allow freedom of movement, and can be worn as an outer garment over other types of underwear (e.g., g-strings). However, most wearers may wear them as innerwear or leisurewear with nothing underneath. From a distance, one could mistakenly identify tap pants as a half slip.

Name

The name "tap pants" originates from shorts worn by tap dancers during the 1930s, while practicing their routines.

Materials and design

Tap pants are mostly manufactured using materials like lace, silk, satin, polyester, rayon and cotton voile. Some pairs may be trimmed in ruffles.

Popularity

Tap pants have been losing popularity to slimmer versions of underwear since the mid 20th Century, as loose undergarments do not mix with figure-hugging dresses, and especially with pants.