Undergarments are items of
clothing worn beneath outer clothes, usually in direct contact with the skin, although they may comprise more than a single layer. They serve to keep outer garments from being soiled or damaged by
bodily excretions, to lessen the
friction of outerwear against the skin, to shape the body, and to provide concealment or support for parts of it. In cold weather,
long underwear is sometimes worn to provide additional warmth. Special types of undergarments have religious significance. Some items of clothing are designed as undergarments, while others, such as
T-shirts and certain types of shorts, are appropriate both as undergarments and as outer clothing. If made of suitable material or
textile, some undergarments can serve as
nightwear or
swimsuits, and some are intended for
sexual attraction or visual appeal.