Lingerie articles, tips & info

Corsets are ordered by your bust measurement in inches. 

• Corset sizes are in inches, "size 36" means "36 inches".  Please read measuring instructions carefully.

• Wearing a bra, wrap a measuring tape snugly but not tightly around the fullest part of your bust.  If you measure 36 inches, for example, order size 36.  If you are between sizes (like 35"), order the smaller size.  Corsets should fit snugly, you will be unhappy with a loose fitting corset.  Usually a corset is designed with a 6 inch difference between the bust and the waist and should give about a 2 inch gap in the back.  If you have a proportionately smaller waist, you can order the next smaller size, if you want less skin exposed in the back order a larger size.

Customer Photo (Thank you, Yahis)

Yahis made her gorgeous gypsy costume for Halloween 2008 using the Tesa copper corset (TE39094).  Yahis said the costume was a hit at the party and this photo proves that! 

Customer Photo (Thank you Shelley & Kirsty)

Kirsty (left) is wearing a waspie from Tesa, TE90069, Shelley is wearing a Dreamgirl corset DG4228 and completes the outfit with DG4328 in red.  You two look fabulous and we appreciate the photo! 

More info about the Dirty Red Ball.

Caring for your bras (article by Sophie)

Proper care can mean the difference in getting years versus months out of your undergarments. Important things to remember when it comes to caring for your bras.

• You should not wear the same bra two days in a row. Rotating them allows them time for the elastic to spring back to it is not constantly at a stretched point.

• You need not wash them after every wear, but rather after two or three times wearing.

• While you don’t have to hand wash, all manufacturers suggest it, and it will lengthen the life of your bras and panties. IF you choose to machine wash, do so on a gentle cycle and use a mesh bag if you have a top loading machine with an agitator. If your machine is a front loader or one of the new top loaders without an agitator then there is really no need for the bag.

• You should use detergent that is specific for lingerie. We suggest “Forever New“. The citric acid in the product removes all residues from the elastic better than other detergents allowing for the elastic to remain young for much longer.

• Absolutely NEVER put them in the dryer. The heat from the dryer will kill the elastic in no time. And if your bra feels too big, throwing it in the dryer is NOT going to shrink it.

• When traveling with molded style cup bras, it is the best to put them in a hard case to protect them from getting permanently smooshed.

Creating a Romantic Event

It's 8 o'clock; the love of your life is about to walk in on a dinner set for two. What will they find? Well, if their partner researched and did a bit of "romantic" planning they should be engulfed in a setting of dimmed lighting, soft music, beautiful ambiance and all the time in the world. If this sounds like something you'd like to plan for your next romantic evening... read on.

The first goal in planning a romantic dinner is to create the perfect mood. You should decide this now. Choices can vary from sensual to carefree. I'll address different foods & items you can have to set different moods in a bit.

Once you've decided what mood you want. The next thing you should do is decide where the ideal place that depicts this mood is. If you want an endless romantic night try and find a place that looks over a large body of water on the night of a full moon. Personally, my favorite way to achieve this is to rent a hotel room on the beach and have room service delivered and set up on the balcony or patio of the room overlooking the ocean.

If passion is your plan, try setting up pillows all around on your living room floor with a bed tray somewhere near filled with finger foods to feed each other.

Take some time and research different settings and places around your city to find the ultimate spot. The time spent will most definitely be worth it.

Now that you have the mood and place decided, it's time to plan the menu. Plan your meal around the mood you are trying to create. Here are a few complete dinner ideas.

Hopelessly Romantic (great for couples just starting to date)

• Meal of pasta, preferably the classic spaghetti marinara.

• Garlic bread.

• Spumoni or other Italian dessert.

• Bottle of vintage wine.

• White and red checked tablecloth.

• Soft Italian music playing in the background.

Passion

• Cook or order Indian food. Be sensitive to your partner's tolerance to spicy foods.

• Follow above suggestions.

• Buy a Kama Sutra book and practice a few methods on each other.

• Indian music playing in background.

Carefree & Romantic

• Find a place near the ocean or water.

• Prepare shrimp and/or a steak dinner.

• Bottle of your favorite wine, chilled.

• Soft jazz playing in background.

• Have your date either right at sunset or on a full moon.

Above all else, be creative. Each couple is different and has different tastes. The key to creating the "ultimate" dinner is finding those tastes!

After you've chosen a menu, it's time to stock up on your mood setters. An absolute must is candles, no exceptions with this one. Also, include soft music, chilled wine or champagne and flowers. Anything that can add to the atmosphere of the mood you're trying to create… do or get!

The following finishing touches are what will take your romantic dinner to ultimate. The planning, time it took to create and the atmosphere you've created is what will determine your success. Take extra care of the time of day you choose. A simple, elegant dinner set to the symphony of an extraordinary sunset can out do even the most elaborate of gourmet meals in a busy, trafficked setting. Don't forget to keep in mind the privacy you'll have as well. For added finishing touches try a few of these ideas.

• Hand feed each other while eating.

• Cook and/or prepare the meal together.

• Get dressed up even if you're just staying home.

• Try to include their favorite foods as much as possible.

• Use scenery to create the perfect atmosphere.

• Above all else, relax, enjoy a great conversation and have fun!

Is Sexy Bridal Lingerie Possible?   by Amanda Cotterill

From Amazon.com, The Lingerie Handbook by Rebecca Apson, a must read for lingerie lovers

Review
"How lucky we are that Rebecca Apsan is sharing her expertise and enthusiasm. I love how she celebrates women's bodies and brings out the little flirt in each of us."—Cindy Crawford

"If anyone knows lingerie, it's Rebecca. She makes 'unmentionables' addictively mentionable."—Dany Levy/Founder/Editor-in-chief, DailyCandy,Inc.

"La Petite Coquette is my favorite neighborhood pit stop to buy stuff for my secret sexy nights."—Betsy Johnson

Book Description
Rebecca Apsan is the lingerie evangelist. She knows that intimate apparel has the power to transform. That the right bra affects not only look, but outlook. That sexy silk or lace are feminine armor, offering a soft layer of protection against life’s vicissitudes. Her New York City store, La Petite Coquette, draws shoppers from around the world—and not just the celebrities who swear by it. New York Magazine sings her praises as “the best bra-fitter in the country”; so does Lucky. The Wall Street Journal wrote up her role in catapulting Hanky-Panky thongs onto every well-dressed woman’s must-have list—on their front page! She provided all the intimate apparel for Sex and the City. And now Rebecca Apsan is ready to divulge thirty years of wisdom and insider information about how underclothes can make the woman.

For a world where 85% of women are wearing the wrong size bra, The Lingerie Handbook is a complete tops-to-bottoms guide to bras, panties, slips, sleepwear shapewear, stockings, teddies, camisoles, and accessories. There’s the how-to on proper fit, including before-and-after photographs. Guides to matching the right underwear to different outfits. (T-shirts, jersey dresses, white pants, strapless gowns? No problem!) Straightforward advice on shopping, cleaning, organizing, and storing. But inspiration, too: how to cure body-image hang-ups by finding the right undergarments. And romance: how to find your own inner flirt, develop a unique style, and, when the occasion is right, how to dress to undress.

Written by Gill Fernandez for The Lingerie Post     March 22, 2008

I hope my colleagues in the industry won’t mind me speaking out for online retailers as a group as I am going to use this contribution to TLP to argue in favour of online lingerie shopping.

I’ve been reading the forum contributions and found a number of comments that were mildly against online lingerie shopping. The arguments against were security, size/fitting, touch & feel.

At the risk of irritating some people I am going to say that I respect their right to hold those opinions, but they are still wrong and this is why:

Security - As long as you shop with a reputable online store and look for the little padlock in the URL bar when you enter the shopping cart and check out process then you are more secure than shopping off line. The majority of online fraud is actually against the retailer not the shopper and if the shopper uses a credit card they have the protection of the credit card company behind them and will get their money back if money is wrongly taken. It is a fact that you are less safe using your card on the high street and at a cash point machine than you are shopping online in the privacy of your own home.

Size and fitting. If you know your correct size 99% of on line purchases will fit. A professional store will have sizing information and some form of help facility to check with. For the 1% of items that don’t fit you can take advantage of your statutory rights to return the goods for an exchange or full refund.

Touch & feel. I’ve heard this argument against all sorts of online buying. It is an understandable but frankly irrational response. Ask yourself have you used the same argument against shopping from a paper catalogue and how often have you picked up a cellophane or even box wrapped bra, checked the size and headed for the shop check out. Reality is we mostly shop with our eyes and providing the images on a web site are good enough you have no need to either touch or feel.

There really is only one serious disadvantage with online shopping and it is this: If you shop in the high street you normally take your purchases home with you on the same day but with on line shopping you have to wait to receive your goods. This single disadvantage is happily outweighed by the many advantages, which include:

Convenience – you can shop at any time and anywhere. The world is your high street.

Choice – there is a vast array of lingerie out there with many designs and manufacturers represented in the online stores. It would be impossible for a high street store to carry all these lines and no high street could accommodate enough stores to give the shopper the choice available on the internet.

Privacy – undies are an intimate item and it is good to be able to browse and buy from the privacy and comfort of your own home.

I hope that I have convinced those that are reluctant to buy online to give it a try.

Baby Doll Lingerie: A Must For All Women   by Amanda Cotterill

In today's world, baby doll lingerie has developed the reputation of being timeless and classic. Babydolls are regularly updated and remade for dedicated fans. However, many fans are unaware of the short but interesting history of the babydoll. Provided here is a brief guide to the history of baby doll lingerie.

Women's nightwear has evolved and changed over time. By the 1930s, short and sensual were the order of the day. Women often wore short negligees with matching "bed jackets," which were short, sensual and sometimes trimmed with feathers or lace. Out of these bed jackets came the first baby doll lingerie pieces.

Although the garment had been around for decades, the name "baby doll lingerie" was first introduced when Carroll Baker appeared in one in the 1956 film "Baby Doll." Both the film and the lingerie were a smash success. Babydolls of the 1950s were relatively simple flared negligees with a hemline that reached approximately six inches above the wearer's knee. Baby doll lingerie was sometimes trimmed in feathers or lace, similar to the older bed jackets.

It was around that time that a daywear dress in babydoll style was introduced. The dresses maintained the short, sensual feel of the baby doll lingerie, but were more solid and appropriate for public view. Meanwhile, the nightwear version of the babydoll became increasingly more sensual. Gradually creeping shorter, and featuring ever more daring fabrics, baby doll lingerie made the switch from simple nightwear to true sexy lingerie.

Today, vintage baby doll lingerie can be highly valuable. Collectors often search for babydolls that date to the 1950s or 1960s. However, the item has also continued to evolve. Today a sheer babydoll or lace babydoll is easy to find. Hemlines now run the gamut from the traditional six inches above the knee to barely skimming the buttocks. Necklines range from a more traditional scoop neck to a deeply plunging, cleavage-enhancing V-neck. Babydolls are even available that more closely resemble the older bed jackets, featuring one or two front closures.

For those who prefer a bit of modesty, matching panties in a similar material are readily available, often sold as part of a set. More demure styles are also an option for those who prefer who more coverage. These styles are just as sexy as their more extreme cousins, often enhanced with fake fur, lace or other detailing.

Whether you are searching for vintage-style or more modern baby doll lingerie, you will find sizing a breeze. Unlike many lingerie items, babydolls are designed to fit a bit loosely. Some are offered in one size fits all designs, while others are sized according to dress size. This ease of finding a piece that fits may be partially responsible for the babydoll's continued success.

Whatever the reason, baby doll lingerie appears to be here to stay. An instant classic in its heyday, the babydoll has remained a luxurious and sensual option for women of all shapes and sizes.

Plus Size Lingerie Confidence   by Andrea Dilea 

It can be really hard to cultivate a good body image if you're a heavier woman. Maybe you keep comparing yourself negatively with your friends, or with women who are lighter and smaller than you are. Unfortunately, there's no quick and easy way to build confidence in your self-image--the process takes time and energy. The first step is simple and difficult at the same time: you need to acknowledge that you are the way you are. Then, you need to promise yourself that you'll spend all the time you need to on taking care of yourself, by monitoring your diet, exercise, grooming, and pampering routines. If you don't do it, no one else will!

When shopping for lingerie, it's important to have confidence in your body image. Become familiar with your body by examining yourself in a full-length mirror at home. See how you look not only in a variety of outfits, but also in lingerie. Take a look at yourself in your favorite bra and panties, or in fancy lingerie. Take note of your best features. These are the features that you want to emphasize when shopping for clothing. Highlighting your strengths will not only make you look great, but will also help you feel confident and comfortable in your body.

Many plus size women have a favorite feature. For some it is their breasts, others love their waist, and some have great legs. So keep in mind which knockout feature you want to highlight and buy clothes that emphasize it. You'll feel sexy knowing that you're emphasizing your gorgeous figure.

The secret to shopping for lingerie, is to look for items that enhance your most attractive features, and distract from unflattering features. Plus size women should shop for looser, or flowing lingerie that clings to the curves of the bust and hips. Too loose however, may appear as if you are wearing lingerie that is a few sizes too big. Search for the 'flow factor'. Taut lingerie is a no-no, unless you are a very slim woman with very little fat on your body. Even then, many thin women do not prefer to wear tight lingerie, as it shows off the flaws in a very obvious manner. You want the sensual curves of your body to be showcased, and nothing else.

Lingerie was designed for two things: to emphasize your curves, and to help you feel bold, daring, sexy, and amazing. No matter what size you are, or how large or small your body is, you can find lingerie that will flatter your figure. If you have curves, make the most of them by wearing lingerie that's tailor-made for your body. Women of every size deserve to show off their individual styles, so find the lingerie that works for you, and then wear it with pride!

Historical Tribute to Exotic Lingerie

Want to know why we think of certain lingerie as exotic? The idea of lingerie and what has made it what it is today can be traced through several centuries of history. Through the history of exotic lingerie, women have not necessarily changed the focus of what lingerie should do for them, but instead, have focused on the best way to expose what they want and hide what they don’t want. For those interested in knowing why lingerie is like it is today, they can look into how it was.

The first style of lingerie has been traced back to ancient Rome and Greece. This type of lingerie was seen as a corset. However, the corset was used only to push up the women’s breasts so that they could be seen outside of their dresses completely. After this particular stage of lingerie faded out as a fashion, lingerie became a focus of support.

The two main areas that lingerie focused on for support is the bust and the buttocks. The silhouette was one of the fashions that were used in order to expose both of these areas to the fullest by adding support. Corsets and bells were used to define and bring out these specific areas of a woman’s figure, especially during the Middle Ages. The evolution of this continued into the Renaissance, where things such as padded silhouettes for support and cones to shape the breasts came into style. It was during this time that the corset became popular to make the abdomen flat and the busts big. Women began to use whale bone in order to make the corset tighter around their abdomen. This was to the point of breaking ribs in their body.

It wasn’t until the eighteenth century that the flattery of the corset became something that wasn’t as harsh to a woman’s body. Instead of focusing on the corset for breasts, exotic lingerie began to focus on hoops that would go over the waist in order to make it smaller. The S-silhouette also came into play, which allowed women to have an exaggerated buttocks, small waist and large breasts.

The end of the nineteenth century divided exotic lingerie into two categories. One held corsets in order to support the figure of the breasts while stockings, held up by garters and suspenders helped to create a different look for the buttocks. It was the beginning of the twentieth century when industrialization became more popular that corsets began to go completely out of style. In 1913, the first bra was invented by Mary Phelps Jacob by tying two handkerchiefs together with a string. This was softer and more comfortable than a corset and allowed for women to be comfortable while working in factories.

The Roaring Twenties twisted the entire figure of women, moving to an attractive look by having a flat chest and straight hips. Chemise and bloomers were invented in order to stay light and loose-fitting on women, allowing them to look small and flat. However, it was only one decade later that the figure was back in style. In the 1930s, the first form of elastic was also invented, making it easier for women to keep a sexier look with exotic lingerie, while not having to suffer from things such as tight fitting corsets.

In the 1970s, women began to wear less and expose more. The mini-skirts were a popular way to do this. It was with this change in fashion that it was also required to change what women were wearing underneath, which pulled for the invention of the bikini strap underwear, and eventually led to the wearing of thongs. Today, lingerie is a popular and comfortable way of achieving the look that is desired with the breasts and the buttocks. New inventions and ways for the right support are continuously coming into style to help women achieve the best look.

From corsets to thongs, under garments for the looks have developed and evolved for the benefit of both men and women. Knowing where lingerie has come from and what it has allowed women to expose through their bodies allows you to find what you want when learning how to shape your body with lingerie.

Rick Freedom is an aspiring author & entrepreneur whose interests include dating, love, lingerie & thongs. For more info, visit www.1sexythong.com