We love lingerie. It’s sexy, soft, and empowering. But lingerie can be intimidating to some women who have made it a point to avoid that section of the store and only bought the necessities. So, if you are curious about trying lingerie for the first time, or maybe you have tried lingerie in the past and decided you have bad luck with finding the right pieces, we’ve got you covered. Today we’re talking about the do’s and don’ts of wearing and buying lingerie to help you get the most out of your pieces while feeling comfortable and desirable.
The Fit
This is a common first step, but it’s one many women overlook. As consumers we’re so obsessed with the number or label on a tag than we are with how clothing actually looks and feels on our body. The size only matters when we’re talking about getting you the garment that will look its best on you.
Do find out your measurements. You can do this at home with a tape measure or go to a lingerie boutique and ask the sales associate if they do measurements. Most lingerie stores will fit you for free, but if you want to go in ready to make a purchase, here’s how you can measure yourself:
- Bras: Measure the widest part of your bust. That number will help you determine your cup size. Next, measure your band – this is the area just under your bust around your ribcage where the bra will clasp. Subtract your band from your bust. The number you come up with is assigned a letter of the alphabet. 1” = A, 2” = B, 3” = C and so on. (Example: If your band is 34” and your bust measures 37”, your size is 34C.)
- Panties and Underwear: Measure the widest part of your hips and butt.
- Any clothing that goes around your waist: You’ll need to measure the top waist (where you are most narrow, and the bottom waist (just above your hips).
Thankfully, because bras are based on specific measurements, they are generally more accurately sized. Unfortunately, with any other types of women’s clothes, we find that sizing is ambiguous and completely up to the designer. Online retailers are pretty good about utilizing a sizing chart; consult that first to help you make your best purchase.
Additionally, with bras, more designers are offering half-sizes because they’ve finally realized some women are too busy for the B-cup, but the C-cup leaves gaps and we don’t love gaps.
Don’t choose the size you “want” to be. Honor your body with clothes and lingerie that fit you now. You’ll be amazed that a size larger feels better and looks better. No one is going to ask you what the label says. And if they do, politely tell them to [explicit] right off.
The Style
If you’ve never walked the lingerie aisles before and only caught what is on the VS fashion show, you might feel intimidated by what you see. Don’t worry, it happened to a lot of us. The good news is that unless you’re strutting the runway with giant wings on your back, no one is going to tell you what to wear.
Do choose a style, color, and fabric that appeals to your taste. Ease into lingerie and enjoy adding a little lace or silk to your underwear drawer. There’s no rules with lingerie, meaning you don’t have to jump right into teddies and strappy garters if you aren’t ready for that yet. Be a little adventurous with color and texture first while still enjoying the coverage of a bra, camisole, or bodysuit.
Do buy lingerie for a specific event in mind (wedding, date night, ect.) and try to incorporate it into your everyday wear (if you want to) so you get more than one use out of the garment.
Don’t buy anything that you’re not going to wear. It looks pretty on the hanger but if you’re not interested in wearing it, it’s just money down the drain and taking up space in your drawer or closet.
The Color
Depending on what you’re wearing over your lingerie (or if you decide to make lingerie a part of your outerwear) color is very important. If you’re feeling feisty, buy bright and bold. If you’re feeling simply sexy, nude colors, blacks, and whites are great for daily wear.
Do, when wearing white, choose a nude color closest to your skin tone. Many women think if you’re wearing white then you should camouflage your underwear by matching the shade of the outerwear.
Do think about skin tone and shades. Are you autumn, winter, spring or summer? Some women have warmer tones to their skin while others are naturally cooler toned. What does all this mean? It basically means that some colors are better suited for you. Warmer tones like burnt orange, burgundy, and dark greens look great on a woman with autumnal features. Pastels look great in summer features, and primary colors are suited for spring. Winters are all about dark shades of every color.
Don’t stress too much about what colors go with what outfits. Aside from wearing white, there aren’t very many rules of color. Just wear what you like and what feels and looks good to you.
How to Wear Lingerie
You may be thinking, just put it on? That’s the easy, literal answer, but there’s more to the question “How do I wear lingerie?”
Do experiment with different styles, cuts, and colors under your wardrobe. A bralette that pokes out of a v-neck top or a slip that adds some strappiness to the back of a dress or top can be the clever accent you need to take the outfit up a notch.
Don’t overlook the support of shapewear lingerie. Not everything has to be frilly. Some lingerie is designed to give you the shape you want based on your body type. The idea is to enhance the natural shape of your body and accentuate your best features.
Do wear lingerie as part of your whole outfit. Lace camisoles over solid colors, bralettes under belted jackets, and silk shorties with a pair of nude bike shorts (just for a little extra coverage) can all be styled to look like a great outfit for parties, dinner with friends, or just because.
Don’t forget the accessories! Dress up your look with makeup, jewelry, and belts. Make it a game. How glamorous can you get? Once you look so overdone and you feel ridiculous (just hang in there with us for one more minute) start taking pieces off one at a time until you reach a level that is just right for you. We don’t all have to be like Dolly Parton – as amazing and beautiful as she is. You’ll know it when the right level of style and glamor meet comfort for your own taste.
Do remember to wash your new lingerie before wearing it. Trust us, even if every single person that handled that piece of fabric did wash their hands, you don’t know what it has gone through during manufacturing, shipping, and retail. Save yourself from the nasty germs that pop up from time to time and read the next section on how to care for your delicates.
How To Care For Lingerie
Do buy a lingerie bag for your delicates. Trust us, with undergarments you have to follow the washing instructions in order to keep them soft and intact. Lingerie bags keep your underwear from unraveling after being tossed around with the rest of your clothes that may have zippers, straps, or buttons that could damage the fabric.
Don’t ever throw your lingerie in the washing machine with the rest of your clothes without a protective laundry bag. Don’t use bleach or harsh chemicals that could destroy the fabric (and the rest of your clothes).
Do, whenever possible, soak your lingerie in a mixture of water, fabric softener, and gentle detergent. Hand wash and lay flat to dry. You can toss your lingerie in the dryer on a cool setting to fluff it back up after it dries. Always pay attention to the laundry instructions to improve the longevity of your clothes.
Above all Else
Do be confident in what you wear. What you put on your body is an expression of yourself and what you want to show to the world. Wear your lingerie with confidence because you are one boss lady.