Portrait of Caterina de 'Medici
The use of underwear, that throughout the Middle Ages had been the exclusive prerogative of unethical males and women (https://www.pilloledistoria.it/2655/medioevo/biancheria-intima-medievale-donne-indossavano-mutande-ciclo-mestruale), invested with a new and unusual erotic charge, they began to depopulate among the courtesans of the 16th century.
It was also in this century that Caterina de Medici she tried to promote the use of this garment among all the ladies, so that they no longer ran the risk of showing their private parts when they rode.
Despite the commitment, however, underpants did not spread much and remained, more or less throughout the Renaissance period, an item of clothing for aristocrats.
But how were these underpants made?
Very different from the small and agile ones we know today and completely similar to cotton trousers quite long.