Fashion is ever changing and if there’s one thing we’ve learned it’s that you have to be true to your own style and comfort. Yes, that includes your lingerie. You may have thought camisoles and bralettes were for underneath your clothes, but have we got some news for you: wear whatever you want. That’s right, underwear and outerwear are becoming interchangeable with patterns, textures, and colors that are too pretty not to show off.
Whether you like to hide your lacy delicates like you’ve got a sexy secret or you prefer to incorporate it into your outfit, we want you to wear lingerie proudly.
How Fabric Feels
Quality lingerie is designed to feel soft and comfortable against your skin. After all, the intent was to have it as close to your skin as possible under other articles of clothing or for bedtime. Most lingerie is made from silk, lace, cotton, polyester, nylon, or a combination of any of these materials. Gentler materials like silk and lace require special care and attention in order to keep their shape and the integrity of the fabric intact.
Lace, for instance, can be pretty stiff and scratchy when you receive it because of a stiffening agent the manufacturer uses to stitch it to the fabric. If you happen to purchase a garment (or one was gifted to you) and it’s not as soft as you’d like it to be, there’s a trick you can use to soften it up:
Soak the fabric in vinegar/water mixture with a 1:2 ratio for 2 hours. Then wash according to the directions (gentle cycle or by hand). Hang or lay flat to dry. You can throw it in the dryer on the coolest setting
Shop for your Body Type
It seems like every article has to mention “shop for your body type.” The reason is because we want you to feel beautiful and comfortable. We tend to feel down when we find something we love on the rack, only to not love it on ourselves. Clothes are made to work for you.
So if you don’t have any idea where to start, let’s take a quick look at body types and lingerie that you’ll love:
- Hourglass (shoulders and hips are about the same size with a narrow waist): Check out bodysuits and teddies, but don’t forget to highlight your curves with waist trainers, and corsets.
- Triangle (curvy hips tapered upward to narrow shoulders): You can draw the eye upward with a pushup bra, corset, or bustier to balance out the top and bottom. V-shaped panties and bottoms are your best friend because they show off your best features.
- Inverted triangle (busty on top and tapers down to narrow hips): Bodysuits and long, flowing or A-line lingerie will help balance out your lower body making you look like a fashion model.
- Athletic/rectangle (your measurements are about the same from your shoulders to hips and waist does not taper): Create a tapered waist with corsets, bustiers, or push-up bras and A-line teddies for a curvier physique.
We’d like to mention that all body types are beautiful and you’re not limited to one style of lingerie because of your body. Always wear whatever you feel gorgeous and most comfortable in, because your opinion is the only one that matters.
A quick note on size: Women as a group tend to focus on the number on the tag without appreciating the look of the actual piece of clothing. Size up or down when necessary because it doesn’t matter what the label says. A well fitting set of lingerie does more for your appearance than a letter or number on a tag ever will.
Pro Tip: Ease Into Lingerie
Lingerie is supposed to be fun and flirty, but if you feel overexposed it becomes less fun and kind of scary. Don’t feel like you need to jump right into the ocean of skimpy loungewear and buy something that makes you feel uncomfortable in your own skin. This is your opportunity to celebrate your body in whatever way you choose.
So our advice to lingerie-newbies is to take it easy. Start with one piece at a time and see what works for you. Try different fits and styles according to your body type, but if those don’t work to your liking, try something else. Some of the most comfortable and sexy pieces on the market are the ones that don’t give too much away.
We want you to feel empowered so start with what feels most comfortable to you.
Stylize and Accessorize
There’s no rule that says lingerie can’t be part of our outfits. Whether we want to add a touch of mystery and playfulness to our wardrobe or dance around the kitchen in our underwear, we have a few suggestions to help you stylize your lingerie and seamlessly blend it into your outerwear.
1. Skip the Dress, Wear the Slip
Forget everything you know about slips. They don’t have to be drab pieces of sheath fabric that hangs from your shoulders under your dresses anymore. Some of us haven’t worn a slip since Mom made us wear that fluffy dress to Easter Sunday service. Have you seen the styles, cuts, and colors designers have created? Why are we hiding the slips?
Frankly, we’ve seen cocktail dresses with less fabric than these so-called undergarments. Some women still might feel a little exposed. To remedy this, throw a shawl, a shrug, or a jacket over your shoulders and put on some bicycle shorts or boyshorts under the skirt. There’s also a trend we’ve dug up from the ‘90s where women wear a basic t-shirt under their dress to give it that cottage-core, homey feel while still working the sexy, flowy slip-dress.
2. Camisoles Equal Fashion Tanks
Lace and silk are not meant to be hidden (even if it’s not the real deal, nylon/polyester blends make a very pretty material at a fraction of the cost). The silky smoothness is great for bedtime – for cold months when you want to wrap up in a dozen blankets, or for hot summer nights when you lay on top of your sheets. But you may be able to double your use for your nightwear.
A simple opaque silk camisole looks great under a blazer to give you a fashion forward look at the office. For lace or sheer fabrics, layer over an opaque fabric or bodysuit to stay modest within your business’s dress code. Pair either one of these options with a colorblocked or small-print pant and you’ve got an outfit that’s ready for the conference room and drinks with the girls after a long day.
3. Silky Shorts
We love a good lingerie set that comes with a pair of cute shorts. While these are probably not workplace appropriate (unless you’re working remotely, of course) there’s no better way to lounge than in a comfortable outfit. A bralette top and a matching robe will make you wonder why you don’t have a dirty martini in one hand and a romance novel in the other.
We wish shorty-shorts were more widely accepted as outerwear, but who says you have to play by society’s rules? Hey, as long as you’re covered up, it’s not breaking the law. So if you so dare, wear your lingerie shorts where ever feels comfortable. We recommend a body suit, a lightweight, seamless panty, or bicycle short-shapewear underneath to keep everything tucked in. But if you’re not planning to leave the house, get as comfortable as possible and feel incredibly seductive while you fold laundry or watch TV.
Pro tip: The Peek-a-Boo Effect
We don’t want to be overtly sexy in public all the time. We would cause panic in the streets from our sheer goddess-like appearance. But that doesn’t mean we have to banish our lingerie to the back of the underwear drawer and only wear beige from now on.
Finding lingerie that appeals to you with strappy, lacey, or studded accents that you can mix into your daily attire can add a pump of pizzaz to an otherwise basic outfit. Just think, with a few items, you can transform your closet into the hub of fashion.
Above All Else, Be Happy
If we have not emphasized this enough, our main goal is to help you feel sexy and stylish without compromising your comfort and integrity. It’s hard to be happy with your insecurities, but highlighting the parts of your body you feel most proud of can boost your confidence. If that means you go all-out like diving into the deep end of cold pool – then do it! But if you like to wade in the shallow end for a while, or you just want to dip your toe into the world of lingerie, shapewear, and clothing generally reserved for after dark.
Key Takeaway
As we’ve seen, lingerie can be easily – and almost indistinguishably – worked into our modern daytime attire. Fashion trends move in and out so quickly, it’s important to find styles that are the right size because well fitting clothes are always in style. Be a little adventurous today and find something that makes you feel like the sexy, powerful woman you are.