Historical undergarments.

I'm sure that's from the wearer having their bottom bared for a spanking.

Cute, lol. However how do underpants form the 40's have a color from the 50's?

It's quite simple. The underpants that were white while new in the forties had acquired a grey patina with use by the fifties. Anyone familiar with the natural aging of men's underwear would know that. What's amazing is how they remained that shade for the next 45-50 years.

njrick thanks for clearing that up. As far as them remaining that shade perhaps bleach found it's way into the washer once every decade or so. Or maybe someone likes to run around outside in the sunshine while just sporting their underpants. Or it could just be one of those unsolved mysteries of the universe.

No, it was the underpants themselves which found their way into the washer once every decade or so. Too much washing weakens them, but properly maintained, they'll give you a lifetime of service. (and you can avoid the extravagance of buying a second pair)

And NOW we know why they end up 50 shades of grey!!! Ewwww hahaha!

I seem to remember that at my boarding school underwear was only laundered once a fortnight, shirts being laundered once a week, and jacket and trousers never! No wonder the said once white underwear had yellowish and brownish tinges in the wrong places, and had the overall tinge of grey that so fascinates Jools and Alan!

And you can always turn them inside out and wear them for another few days ... or weeks LOL

I think we can blame TheEnglishMaster for that one

TheEnglishMaster:
And I find the colour simply fascinating - a very 50's shade of grey to my mind,

I gotta get new glasses. When I first saw the title of this thread I thought it read Histerical Undergarments.'

Right away I thought of a Canadian chick wearing longjohns. It gets cold in these parts, Pardner!

You could look at it as a new way to live green I suppose. Not washing them often saves water and not buying that second (or dare I suggest third or fourth) pair saves resources.