Sunday, January 31, 2010

Let's Talk Unmentionables

I know that there has been talk around the fashion blogosphere in the past about what everyone wears when they get home from work, with discussion ranging from comfy pants to the same thing as at work to some sort of compromise. Personally, I do all of those things, but after Rand commented that he never got to see my in my nice clothes, I started making a concerted effort to look nicer in the evenings. And my weekend dresscode is all over the place too. I like to be comfortable, but too many days in a row of dressing like a slob start to make me feel like a slob. I have found that a pulled together causal outfit makes me feel good about myself, but still allows me to be comfortable. So I try to wear a scarf with my T-shirt, or put cute flats on instead of tennis shoes. And I don't know about you, but I actually feel more pulled together and presentable on the outside, if what I am wearing underneath my clothes is pretty and matching as well.

I started thinking about this the other day when Lane Bryant asked me to check out their new line of Valentines lingerie at Cacique. Of course I agreed to check out all the cute new things since I love thier stuff and I can really have a hard time finding things in my size that are pretty. Please, I haven't been able to wear anything from Victoria's Secret in years. And curvy girls like to have pretty underthings too! What I am working my way around to saying is that it's great to pull out some pretty lingerie for Valentines Day (and I certainly recommend checking out Caciques V-day options!) but I don't think that it should be reserved for just V-day or other special occassions. I think well-fitting, pretty undergarments are a great way to start your outfit every day. I think I stand taller, and feel better on the days that I do.
Anyway, I'm not going to show you any photos of my underthings, b/c this just isn't that kind of blog, but here are some great V-day and other-day unmentionables from Cacique.


And I want to hear what you think about this. Do you "dress" all the way from the first layer out? Or do you not worry about what is underneath?
___________________________
Lane Bryant provided me with a $50 gift certificate to check out their Valentines items at Cacique. Honestly, I shop there all the time anyway, so this didn't influence me at all. I mean, I have a Lane Bryant store credit card, for Pete's sake! I love their stuff. If you have any questions about giveaways or reviews of products on this website, please read this post and feel free to leave a comment there. I read and reply to all comments.

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

I feel so unkempt if my underwear don't match. I always buy in sets and wear them in sets. I too love pretty, lacy things but am realizing that I could use some basic cotton sets as well.

I do tend to wear cheap panties during "that time" as I also hate to wear underwear that aren't perfectly clean and unstained. With cheap panties its easy to toss them if necessary.

Becky said...

I'm a huge fan of pretty under things and sleepwear. I have a boyfriend now who appreciates it, but I have always worn nice underthings that make me "stand tall" as you said. Thanks for posting about Cacique! Their stuff is really pretty!

Nana Erin said...

I can't afford to do both, really. I dont have much money for clothes, so what I do have, I spend on what is visible. I just can't bring myself to spend money on something no one sees, plus I have one of those rare men that prefer a tank and a pair of panties to anything else, and I'm happy to go with that.

Totally Inspired said...

I think when you have on a good "foundation" it makes for a better outfit. I have been matching the undies since college. I find that wearing the best undies, makes your clothes look better. For women like us, who are voluptuos, if we have a sagging bra, it makes your stomach look bigger...whereas if the "girls" are standing at attention, your stomach looks flatter.. try it.. good undies make the outfit.. and when they match, i agree, its a confidence that you carry inside. (oh.. and hubby likes pretty lingerie too...)

EvaNadine said...

i used to only wear matching undies sets, but then i sort of fell out of the habit. these days, i dont wear matching sets, so much as i try to have each piece of underclothing be appropriate for what will be worn over it. (ie, no black bras under white tops!) this often means that the tops and bottoms of my underclothing dont match each other.

dear fiance has commented more than once, though, that i dont really have anything nice + sexy, so methinks that will be the v-day gift this year. ;)

Kelly said...

I definitely pay attention to my intimate layers. I'm a lingerie-aholic (I spend WAY more on nice bras than I do on like, uh, any other part of my wardrobe). The second something stops making me feel pretty (if it's old, dingy, faded, or just not that great anymore) it goes in the trash. My underwear is more important to my sense of self-confidence than my outer layers, really.

I don't always match. If I'm wearing a white skirt and a black top, I'll wear plain nude bottoms but my bra will still be cute. And if I have a sleek top I'll wear a boring smooth bra but I'll have some crazy undies under my skirt. I think making myself match every day would be really limiting! I do it when I can, but I won't let my outfit be dictated by the idea that everything underneath has to be a matching set.

Fiona said...

I would love to match every day, but as per the last few comments, I find often the bra doesn't go with the top or the knickers don't go with the bottom. So I match underwear with my clothing. I really want to be a lingerie set kind of girl though! What to do?

GB said...

Tina I'm totally with you- I love to have pretty stuff on underneath it all as well.

On a related note- do you have any recommendations for a good bra that is comfortable(no underwires)+made of cotton+ provides good support (I'm a 40D) + is pretty and affordable. I'm asking a lot here aren't I? :) I would love to know your thoughts on this topic. Might be good material for your next blog post..

Goober said...

When it comes to my underthings I am all about comfort. I found a comfy bra at Kohl's last year and bought enough to last for a long time. My clothes are what make me feel pretty, not what's underneath. Unless I expect someone is going to see what's under my clothes, I'm all about cotton and comfort :)

Stephanie said...

Oh, my undies are in such a sad state! I used to have a drawer full of matching sets. Now, just one jumbled up pile of nothing matches. Well, I do have like 3 sets. I have to say, I don't really think of it anymore. Too worried about the outside. Love that you still match. If it wasn't for you, I wouldn't have ANY matching sets! Ha!

Kari said...

My bra and undies rarely match - although I always get a special kick when they do! - but I definitely feel better when I wear undies that are comfortable and make me feel pretty. Even a T-shirt bra will do the trick if it's comfortable, in good condition, and gives me a good shape.

I have a certain few pairs of "reserve" undies that are pretty much only worn when I have no other options - getting down to the "bad undies" is a clear signal that I need to do laundry!

BBM said...

i agree with the ladies on this one ... you have to have a good foundation. undergarments maybe one of those things where you think, "really? that much?" cuz not a lot of people see it! but its soooo worth it. it totally changes the look of your clothes!

the fancy undegarments i save for the oooh-la-la occasions. but for my everyday, i wear either my plain cacique or fashionbug bra in black or nude and matching control top undies.

and Ms. Tina - I blogged about your tights dilemma - http://bigbeautyfulmess.blogspot.com/2010/02/tights-dilemma.html

you're awesome! :-)

Kari said...

Tina, RE: your question about tailoring the waistband of my jeans, I recall that it was about $20 to get the waistband taken in. Totally worth it for the great fit!

Sheila said...

I am in total agreement about dressing nice around your significant other - it was something I let slack with my ex, and I really feel that it made a negative difference to how we treated each other (and how I viewed myself). I always wear jeans around the house and a nice sweater or t-shirt (or some layered pieces).

However, for underwear, I am strictly function-oriented. The bra is picked out based on the outfit I'll be wearing (colour or lift or definition), and the panties are the same. If they match, it's fun, but I don't deliberately do that very often. I do tend to buy bras and panties in batches (twice a year), so they all kind of go together anyway.

Excellent topic!

K said...

I actually read something a few months (perhaps longer...) ago that said no woman should have any under things that don't make her feel cute and sexy so over the next few weeks or so I decided it was time for me to get rid of any panties that I didn't feel cute in. If I didn't want a boy to see me in it then why have it? I have since cleaned out my drawer and thrown out all the not so cute things and bought a few new things and I have to say...it really does help! Knowing that I look good all the way through makes me feel so much better all the way through. I would really recommend every woman to do the same. After all, even if no one else is going to see it, you know whats going on under there...and why not have a sexy secret hidden away? :)