Panties - Getting the Perfect Fit For Your Body Type

You might think off hand that getting underwear that fit was just a matter of picking your size, the style you like and checking out. In truth, getting a panty that fits perfectly is often much more challenging than that.

Is there one piece of clothing more critical than your panties? If you get the wrong fit, you are going to be an uncomfortable grump until you can find an alternative. In one of the all time stupid moves, I purchased a tiny g-string for the first time one summer. I slipped it on under some jeans and went out to run errands all day. It started out feeling a bit odd and quickly deteriorated until I was squirming around about as uncomfortable as possible. It made for a long day.

So, what is involved in finding the perfect underwear? The goal should be to find something that is comfortable and will not move about. To do this, there are two measurements you should focus on - your waistline and your hips. A panty that fits perfectly around the waist is useless if it rides up in an unwanted manner on your hips.

The perfect panty has some common characteristics. The waist band should fit snugly, but not be binding. If it leaves a hot red line around your waist, you need to go up a size. Your waistline, by the way, is where the natural crease occurs on your body. Many women pick a spot lower down on their hips. A trick to finding the waistline is to bend to your side. The crease line created is your waistline.

From the back, a good panty should fit snugly against the buttocks. This can be a bit tricky to determine since there are so many different styles of panties out there, but you are generally looking for a cupping action similar to what you get with bra cups. In many cases, this is a comfort fit. Your panties are not going to keep your cheeks from sagging over time, so go with what makes you comfortable.

The area where you panty runs around the side of your body is an area of much confusion for women. Let's be clear - certain panties do not fit certain women. You might like boy shorts, but find they ride up around the side of your hips. If so, you are going to be far more comfortable in a high cut underwear that rides up along the top of your hips. This will create a more comfortable fit that you can live with instead of constantly pulling at your sides.

As for between your legs from front to back, the rule is simple - no extra space. The panty should ride flush against your body. If you find it sliding up in the back, you might be wearing a size to small. If you find it getting baggy in the back, the opposite may be true as well. Try finding something that is comfortable across your hips and then go up and down in size to find a perfect match.

Panties tend to be out of sight, out of mind for many of us. Well, at least until they become uncomfortable! Take the time to try out different styles and fits. You might find you improve your quality of life by being comfortable day in and day out.

Buying Retro Shapewear - The Fifties Lingerie Fashion Revival

Fashion goes in cyles. Not so long ago girdles and corsets were objects of mirth - the lingerie that granny used to wear. Yet shapewear is suddenly cool again, clothing to be seen in!

Several factors underlie this growth in the popularity of shapewear - and the resurgence of burlesque as an entertainment plays a big role. The designer Jean Paul Gaultier also had a major influence when he resurrected the bullet bra, and satin shapewear generally, featuring them both on his perfume bottles and in his costume designs for Madonna. Suddenly shapewear is no longer an embarrassing secret but clothing to flaunt - underwear worn as outerwear is hitting the catwalks and nightclubs. Much of the current shapewear designs are modeled on fifties designs, for it was in this decade that Dior launched the 'wasp waist' look.

His couture fashion demanded a well-defined silhouette - at a stroke it was essential for any well-dressed lady to wear a girdle or corset simply to be able to wear what was currently fashionable. Retro shapewear, whilst paying homage to those fifties designs, brings them up to date with more modern materials. The rubber content of the material originally provided the elasticity of shapewear, but today lycra has supplanted rubber, offering controlled stretch. Lycra also eliminates the not uncommon problem of latex allergy and, importantly, can be made to offer increased support selectively in different places on a garment. However the features that typify the fifties shapewear, girdles, corsets and corselettes (all-in-ones) have been retained - the satin panels, the lace detailing and sexy sheer panels.

Girdle garter clips - how many? Look round the internet and you'll find suspender belts (or garter belts if you are American!) with four six eight or more garters. Of course the minimum four will work fine, although six is probably ideal, and more than six will add a sexy frisson to the garment, but will take far longer to clip to the stocking top! Do remember that if you are looking to recreate the fifties look that six to eight garters will be preferable as you'll also be wearing seamed stockings (fully fashioned if you are a purist!) - by wearing a garter belt with six or eight garters will give your stockings stability. It does not matter if a seamless stocking rotates a little in wear, but nothing looks worse than a stocking seam that snakes unevenly up the back, or side, of the leg!

Garter clip materials Much modern lingerie uses garter clips, with plastic both for the 'frame' and for the middle garter 'button'. Be very careful ordering online as the buttons on some of the cheaper designs are poorly designed, and the frame is flimsy - making it almost impossible to hook the stocking to the garter, or the garter pops open during wear which can lead to embarrassment! The original designs used a metal frame for the garter with a rubber button. The better retro designs still use this arrangement that ensures that garter clip can hold the stocking securely, even when the welt of the stocking is relatively thick.

Attaching the stocking Yes there is a correct way to attach the garter to the stockings! It is sensible to wear thin cotton or nylon gloves when putting on stockings as particularly the genuine fifties vintage stockings can easily be snagged by the slightest roughness of the hands. The stocking should be put on the foot, then the material gathered and gently pulled up, carefully checking that the seam runs straight up the back of the leg. Now the rear garter should be clipped to the stocking - the garter and the clip should be positioned above the keyhole in the welt if the stocking is a fully fashioned variety, otherwise in line with the stocking seam. The remaining garters should then be attached, ensuring each strap drops straight down and not at an angle.

Retro or real vintage lingerie? Some people will only wear the genuine vintage whilst others are happy to wear the retro shapewear copies. There is a certain pleasure to be derived from knowing you are dressed in underpinnings with direct historic links - and it really makes an interesting topic at dinner parties - strangely enough it seems to intrigue men as much as women (or maybe not so strange!). However if you are thinking of going down the fifties lingerie route, be aware that lingerie of that era is not easily found in all sizes, it may have slight discolorations or other storage marks like rust spots. The flip side is that such vintage lingerie is likely to hold its value and if well looked after can be looked on as an investment you are able to wear!

A Lingerie Checklist For Women

Buying and wearing lingerie is all about feeling sexy. When you feel it, you project that feeling and others will take notice. There are many different ways you can go with lingerie. Here is a checklist of options you may not have tried.

When buying lingerie, it is vital that you think about what you want to achieve. For some women, the goal is to limit the coverage of skin. With others, it is not so much about showing your assets as it is about hinting about what might exist. Whatever your approach, there is a piece of lingerie for you. Consider whether you have all of these in your collection.

Corset - The corset is a take it or leave piece of lingerie. The corset is worn around the midsection. It is squeezed tight and pushes the breasts upwards. It is a classic lingerie look, but it can also be uncomfortable.

Thongs - There are actually many different types of thongs. They run from the smallest g-strings that are basically a string running around your waist with another running front to back to pieces with more material. The sensation of wearing a thong is one many women do not like. If you feel this way, try moving to styles that have a bit more cloth. Regardless, the thong is a very sexy look that can really catch the attention of your partner.

Camisole - The camisole is an underappreciated piece of lingerie. A cotton or silk camisole should be worn from the breast down to your belly button without an underlying bra. Combined with a bikini panty, it is a look that will warm up things quickly. As a major plus, it is incredibly comfortable as well.

Garter Belt - The garter belt is a classic lingerie piece. It consists of a lace band that runs around the waist and has clip straps dangling down to the legs. These are then attached to sexy stockings. Every woman should have at least one garter belt in her collection of lingerie.

Teddy - Another comfortable option is the teddy. Often sold with matching panties, it is a smallish robe that fits over the shoulders and rides down to the thighs. It is worn open and is a piece of lingerie that entices by suggesting what might be found underneath instead of simply showing it. A teddy is very comfortable to wear, making it a favorite among many women.

Obviously, there are variations on these general lingerie pieces, but they represent the major pieces you should have in your lingerie arsenal. You never know, after all, when you might need them!

Lingerie - A Zillion Options For Every Woman

Every woman should spice things up every so often. In addition to putting a bit of spice into a relationship, it can make you feel sexy. A sexy woman is a confident woman. Fortunately, there are what seem to be a "zillion" options for every women regardless of her style preferences and body shapes.

Mention lingerie and many women picture tight corsets and garter belts. They also picture uncomfortable materials and cuts that might not emphasize their best assets. After all, not all of us can look like Angelina Jolie or Hallie Berry. Well, the good news is there are many different ways to look sexy and just as many different types of lingerie to make it happen.

The first thing to keep in mind with lingerie is the sexy element of it is often not in what is shown, but what is hinted at. A g-string may look great on a 22 year old Brazilian beach model, but a sexy low cut bikini panty might be a better choice for a 35 year old in Chicago. The key is to wear what makes you feel sexy and confident. If you are worried about showing off an asset that maybe you are uncomfortable with, things aren't going to go real well. That being said, let's take a look at some sexy options.

Women were bras all day long. A quality bra can really make a look, and the same goes for lingerie. That being said, a romantic, private evening might be the time to consider a sexy alternative. How about a silk camisole that rides down to your belly button? With thin straps, it is a look universally commended by men. Wearing it with a bikini or thong panty can result in an outfit that will make any man pay attention.

Moving a bit lower, underwear is an issue. If you have a nice derriere, show it off with something skimpy in the thong or bikini panty line. If you have nice legs as well, you can tie it all together with a panty/garter belt combination that draws the eyes up the legs. It is a classic sensual look in the lingerie fashion world, one that is a winner nearly every time.

The classic lingerie piece is the corset. It is worn tightly around the midsection and pushes up the breast. If you pull up pictures of lingerie models, you will always see at least one. Personally, I find the corset uncomfortable. It is difficult to feel sexy when you are tied up like an inmate in an insane asylum. That being said, lingerie is all about personal taste, so go with what you like.

Ultimately, the lingerie you choose should be comfortable and make you feel sexy. When you feel sexy, you convey that to those around you. In short, buy what you like and things should work out well.