A garment

Abstract

A garment comprises a neck opening for receiving a neck of a wearer and a supportive inner layer having a body portion and a pelvic portion. The pelvic portion includes leg openings for receiving a respective leg of a wearer and a crotch portion extending between the leg openings. At least one of the body and pelvic portions includes an elastic material to impart compression on a wearer. The garment also comprises a decorative outer layer, with the inner layer attached to the outer layer only at or adjacent to the neck opening. The outer layer is made from a different material to that of the inner layer and does not impart compression on the wearer.

1 . A garment comprising:
 a neck opening for receiving a neck of a wearer;   a supportive inner layer having a body portion and a pelvic portion, the pelvic portion including leg openings for receiving a respective leg of a wearer and a crotch portion extending between the leg openings, at least one of the body and pelvic portions including an elastic material to impart compression on a wearer; and   a decorative outer layer, the inner layer being attached to the outer layer by stitching and only at or adjacent to the neck opening, the outer layer being made from a different material to that of the inner layer, and being configured to not impart compression on the wearer,   wherein the outer layer is or includes a material that creates a low friction interface between the inner and outer layers,   wherein the crotch portion of the inner later is selectively opened via a fastening means, and wherein the fastening means permits selection of different lengths of the inner layer.   
     
     
         2 . A garment according to  claim 1  wherein the inner layer is attached to the outer layer only at the neck opening. 
     
     
         3 . A garment according to  claim 1  wherein the material of the or each of the body and pelvic portions is a mixture of elastic material and non-elastic material, the ratio of elastic material to non-elastic material being configured such that the inner layer is classed as activewear. 
     
     
         4 . A garment according to  claim 1  wherein the outer layer is or includes a material that creates a low friction interface between the outer layer and another garment worn over the top of the outer layer. 
     
     
         5 . A garment according to  claim 1  wherein the outer layer is or includes a silk-like fabric that can be washed in a domestic washing machine without being damaged. 
     
     
         6 . A garment according to  claim 1  wherein the inner layer includes sub-portions which impart different degrees of compression on a wearer. 
     
     
         7 . A garment according to  claim 1  wherein the outer layer extends over both the body and pelvic portions of the inner layer. 
     
     
         8 . A garment according to  claim 1  wherein each edge of the leg openings is seamless. 
     
     
         9 . A garment according to  claim 1  wherein the garment further comprises a shoulder strap attached at or adjacent to the neck opening, the shoulder strap comprising a tapered section having a narrow end and a broader end, wherein the broader end is attached to a front side of the garment. 
     
     
         10 . A garment according to  claim 1  wherein the inner layer further comprises a chest portion made from a different material to that of the body and pelvic portions, the material of the chest portion being configured to not impart compression on a wearer. 
     
     
         11 . A garment according to  claim 1  wherein the inner layer is configured to provide one or more of the following properties: low friction, anti-static, anti-perspiration, anti-microbial and high breathability. 
     
     
         12 . A garment according to  claim 1  wherein the body portion comprises body sub-portions positioned in the body portion so as to wrap around the body of the wearer when the garment is worn,
 wherein the body sub-portions impart more compression on the wearer than the remainder of the body portion. 
 
     
     
         13 . A garment according to  claim 1  wherein the pelvic portion comprises first and second sub-portions, the second sub-portion being positioned below the first sub-portion, and
 wherein the second sub-portion imparts more compression on the wearer than the first sub-portion.