'Tighty-Whities' Get Ready to Turn 75

"Tighty whities" are turning 75 soon and Jockey International has launched a media blitz to rocket their briefs into the spotlight. The men's underwear, created after an exec was inspired by a postcard from France showing a man's bikini-style swimsuit, made its debut in Chicago in January 1935—a day that probably also saw the first wedgie, quips the Los Angeles Times.

Briefs—considered daring back then—still make up a quarter of men's underwear sold today, says Jockey. The underwear may be pointing the way toward economic recovery, according to former Fed chairman Alan Greenspan's theory. He believes that men facing tough times first cut back on underwear purchases—meaning a recent 4.8% rise in the sale of male skivvies could be signaling a revival in consumer spending. (More men's underwear stories.)