T.A.L.K.B.O.U.T

Archive for April, 2008

There are three kinds of lingerie in the world. There is that used strictly to bring on the act of sex. Fishnet stockings with a sheer camisole set, for example. Or a g-string and a half-cup bra. Then there are lingerie pieces that serve to enhance or control the body’s natural beauty. Corsets, garters, and bustiers are examples. Finally, there is the sexy lingerie. This is lingerie used in the art of romance. Silk negligees and lacy panties, for instance.

Marketing of sexy lingerie is aimed toward the everyday woman, the working mom or career lady who has to spend every day in a man’s world. The lingerie these women want to wear on the weekend doesn’t include granny panties and a T-shirt. It isn’t a trampy, uncomfortable outfit either. They want lingerie that is tasteful and classy enough to wear on a regular basis. And comfortable. If they can’t enjoy wearing lingerie, they don’t want it at all. Men buying lingerie for their ladies need to realize this.

It is important to say here that sexy is a subjective term. It depends really on the psychology of those involved. What one man thinks is sexy might be utterly atrocious and distasteful to another. Take sheer lingerie. One man would find the idea of seeing his lady’s body through the lingerie very sexy and stimulating. Another man would think it too revealing and unimaginative. In order to determine where they stand on the matter, men could answer the following questions:

1. Do you get aroused seeing fully-clothed women?
2. Would you go or have you ever gone to a striptease?
3. When you and your lady get time alone, what do you do first?

This strange set of questions can tell men a lot about what they think is sexy. It will also reveal to them some of their attitudes about the act. Men who climax early during intercourse shouldn’t buy trampy, skimpy lingerie. A sexual encounter shouldn’t be over in five minutes. Men who find themselves aroused in the presence of fully-clothed women usually have a good imagination. A simple body-suit for their women can prove provocative to them. Men who frequent the striptease or the nearby go-go club might need more. These shows desensitize. The sexy or romantic style of lingerie just won’t cut it. These men need to see skin. A thong or backless panties might help some men along. Finally, the last question. On the weekend, after the work week is done, men and women reunite in a more relaxed atmosphere. They have a chance to remedy what might be days of sexual frustration. Men who want sex first won’t need alluring lingerie. A simple bra and panty set will suffice. Men who expect to spend a romantic evening with their ladies before commencing with sex should go for the silk chemise or camisole set.

So, what does sexy lingerie do for a relationship? Depending on what men feel is sexy, it can either lead to or instigate the act of making love. In the lingerie world, sexy style lingerie points to that which is alluring and attractive, without becoming pornographic. It is the comfortable silk or satin nightgown. It covers enough of the body to leave things to the imagination. But since sexy is a subjective term, it has come to include all types of lingerie, whether they reveal nothing or everything.

Silk has a long history, beginning in the Far East. It was harvested with the silk that silkworms create and made into all sorts of different types of clothing. Silk was at one point so expensive that only rich people could afford it. Not so anymore. It has become widespread, and most people will find silk lingerie at their nearest department store.

Silk lingerie is valued for its softness and shiny appearance. It has many variations, and is sometimes known as charmeuse or chiffon. No man-made material properly emulates silk, but fabrics like rayon copy the properties. Rayon is popular because it can be machine washed. Rayon is also valued for its other properties. Unlike silk, rayon doesn?t hold in heat. This makes it popular in hot and humid climates. Still, rayon is not a completely natural fabric, and doesn?t hold the high-esteem that silk does.

Even though it has beauty beyond compare, lingerie made from silk is not easy to care for. It demands special attention. Silk lingerie cannot be washed in detergent. It cannot be bleached either, because bleach is too harsh for the fibers. Washing by hand is the best way to keep the fabric looking new. Just use lukewarm water. Do not twist a silk garment, for it is easy to misshape. Rinse to remove the soap and lay to dry. Make sure you look on the tag for washing instructions. Some newer silks are sturdy enough to withstand a wash cycle.

Silk lingerie is usually embellished with lace or ribbon. This adds a feminine touch as well as an extra treat for the eyes. It can be found online and in local stores. An online specialty shop might offer better prices. Bricks and mortar stores have to pay monthly rental and insurance. Because of this, they cannot afford to lower their prices. Most online lingerie shops can afford to sell their pieces for a lower price, because the sellers sell directly from their apartments or homes. This doesn?t mean to say that online shops are always cheaper. Small shop-owners don?t always buy in large quantities. This is because much of their business is buy-on-demand. The owner of a physical location may buy in larger quantities to save money, since suppliers will offer a discount for bulk purchases.

Lingerie made of silk looks exotic. It forms to the body loosely. Its shiny texture appeals visually, and the feel is soft and smooth. Silky lingerie comes in so many different styles, including everything from the short camisoles to the teddies and longer negligees. It has always been the romantic choice; now that it is affordable for everyone, silk has become the standard in lingerie wear.

When buying silk lingerie, take a good look at the price. If it seems too low, read the label. Some lingerie sold as silk is actually satin. Silk is shiny on both sides. Satin is shiny on one side and dull on the other. This is due to differences in the manufacturing processes between the two. Study the fabric. Are there any rips or tears in it? Does it have any thin spots? Silk is valuable. It will last a long time if it is properly taken care of. Like other things taken from nature, silk deserves our respect and attention.

Lingerie has a long and prosperous history as enhancers of the female form. It is believed that the first example of lingerie for women originated in the Mediterranean. This was two thousand years before Christ. The field of womens lingerie has grown and flourished ever since. Now, it is popular among all classes of people. It appears all around the world. It is also a multi-million dollar industry, with newer styles and functions appearing on a regular basis.

There are two different classes of lingerie for women. One style enhances what women already have. Another style hides what women don’t want to have. Bustiers and corsets can fit in both classes. Corsets have a slimming effect, making the waist appear smaller and curvier. Bustiers push up the breasts, enhancing and forming the bust.

Bras are a type of women’s lingerie, although they have been so mainstreamed as to be a normal addition to most women’s closets. Bras can serve many functions. They support women with bigger busts, aiding in back support. They can pull up drooping breasts, and enhance with gel and other fillers. With a pair of matching panties, bras can also attract.

Lingerie has come a long way from the days of burlesque. Seedy motels and back alley shops were the breeding ground of lingerie back then, when men with insatiable appetites went to Burlesque shows to see their fantasies enacted on stage. Women with skimpy or stringy clothing danced. Some took pieces of their clothing off and taunted the men with them. Now, women can do the same thing for their own men, without the inhibition of those older days. Womens lingerie has come into the light, and there exist many gorgeous and tasteful pieces. And what is not tasteful is acceptable in other circles and with other purposes. The g-strings, thongs, backless panties and fishnet stocking with leather are a look that serves to sell sex. This sex sells between a couple in the bedroom or on the pages of Playboy.

Some popular styles of women’s lingerie include:

Camis: These sleeveless tops usually include spaghetti straps and flow over the body. They sometimes include matching panties.

Chemise: A short, straight nightgown, light and soft.

Teddy: Imagine wearing a loose-fitting bathing suit with frills and lace.

Baby Doll: A particular style of lingerie. This was invented in a 1950′s movie of the same name. It is a very short nightgown that accentuates the bust. It stops just above the hips and usually comes with panties. The fabric floats away from the body, while it clasps around the bust.

Kimonos and negligees: These are not lingerie, per se, but can be worn over top of it. For women who chill easily in the shorter pieces, this can make the difference between whether they wear lingerie or not.

Womens lingerie was originally made from silk and satin. It represented sexuality and comfort. Now lingerie is made of a lot of different fabrics, each with its own meaning. Leather lingerie denotes danger and carries with it a rebellious attitude. Velvet lingerie is soft and exotic. Cotton is for modern women who dislike frilly, sassy clothing. Lycra, a relative of spandex, is used for a sporty, tight-fitting look.

There is nothing quite as sweet (and dangerous) as buying your loved one lingerie. What it says is “You’re physically attractive to me and I want to see more!” Of course, this attraction-factor also makes buying lingerie hard, because if you get it wrong and it doesn’t make your loved one stunningly beautiful, you’re likely to end up defusing a volatile situation. This doesn’t have to happen. With a few tips to buying your woman (or man) lingerie, you can find just the right piece.

The first thing to remember when shopping for lingerie is to remember who you’re shopping for. Just because you might like that lacy, stringy black teddy doesn’t mean she will. Find out what she likes. You should have a general idea, but if you don’t, there’s no shame in admitting it. Take a peek in her underwear drawer. Look in her closet. Ask her. Talk to her mother. How you find out isn’t important. If you find that she’s a jeans and T-shirt kind of gal, don’t go out and buy her a see-through teddy with spaghetti straps. Does she like tight clothes? She may enjoy wearing something form-fitting, like a Lycra or spandex teddy. She might also like corsets or bustiers that flatter her figure.

What does her personality tell you she likes? A tomboy isn’t going to want a lacy, frilly gown. Try to force the issue and see what happens. In this case, maybe a thong or a pair or two of boy shorts would go over well. On the other hand, if you regularly see her walking around in next to nothing, and you know she’s got a kinky side, something more risqu? would be an order. Perhaps a bikini set. Maybe something more dramatic. A sheer chemise with fishnet stockings. Maybe a whip to go with it. Or you can just buy a naughty maid or sexy nurse costume and dispense with the whole charade.

Fabric is a big consideration when buying lingerie. There are a myriad of comfortable, sexy fabrics out there. Some of these, like silk and satin, are popular with lingerie designers. Other fabrics appeal to men (and women) interested only in what lingerie can do. “Exotic” fabrics like velvet and leather, for example. They’re not always comfortable. But they bring sexiness and allure to a new level. Cotton is new on the lingerie scene. Its comfort is unrivaled. It is also reasonably priced.

Buying sexy lingerie for plus-sized women isn’t as difficult as it might seem. These women often need more support around the bust. A wired bra, a corset or bustier will accessorize with another piece of lingerie to give her both comfort and support. If she is larger around the waist, go with a flowing chemise or negligee. The important thing to remember with larger-sized women is that they don’t usually feel comfortable in their bodies. Get them lingerie that accentuates the things you find attractive, and show her that you think she is beautiful.

Not much is said of buying lingerie for men. It might be because women generally know what their men want. Or maybe men aren’t as particular. But with choices growing daily, men’s lingerie can be hard to choose. Only one body part needs to be covered. But what do you cover it in? A thong, briefs, backless shorts? What fabric do you buy? Leather is a quick attractant. Silk is luxurious. Lycra, a relatively new fabric for lingerie, is form-fitting and sexy. Just as with buying women’s lingerie, find out what your man likes before shopping.

Exotic lingerie isn’t what it might appear to be. Exotic can mean something from another, far-off land. It can also mean “intriguingly unusual.” What makes this important is that even the simplest nightgown can become exotic with a little bit of lace or ribbon. Of course, coupled with exotic lingerie, is erotic lingerie, since the two are often placed together anyway. Lingerie that is given an exotic rating usually covers very little of the female body.

Exotic style lingerie feeds into the male desire to see women in next to nothing. But stringy panties, short lacy nightgowns, and things that make the female form more voluptuous have become familiar. So familiar that what used to be considered exotic is now banal and outdated. Instead, what has become exotic is just what used to be boring. Corsets, garters and garter belts, and bustiers, once a part of standard female attire (albeit covered), have changed status. They’re not as simple now. Different fabrics and different styles have given old-style “underclothes” an erotic reputation. Not just erotic. Risqu?. Seems men of today still like ‘old-fashioned’ women.

Much of the exotic types of lingerie we see today have their roots in the burlesque tradition. Corsets, bustiers, and sheer underwear were standard dancer’s attire. Many wore slippers and gloves. They carried fold-out fans, which they used to tantalize the audience. Burlesque was all about celebrating the outrageous and thumbing its nose at convention. Lingerie in the exotic style and outlandish costumes were the focal point of the performance. Burlesque allowed single men to watch their fantasies acted out. This in a time when gentlemen were expected to act as such. Of course, when sexual norms became less restrictive, the burlesque tradition lost much of its audience. Why pay for it when you can get if for free?

Type of fabric has a lot of influence on what lingerie reaches exotic status. Although satin, lace, and silk were considered exotic at one point, they have since reached and passed the novelty stage. Today’s exotic lingerie might include those made from velvet or leather. Pieces made of these materials are harder to come by. And more expensive than their counterparts.

So far, women have been the main characters in the exotic-style lingerie story. But men also belong in this tale. Men’s lingerie has come into its own over the past few decades. It’s not just about boxers or briefs anymore. G-strings and thongs have attacked the men’s lingerie market. Backless and/or crotchless versions of these styles are still growing in popularity. And new styles, including the very exotic-looking “ring-slings,” are popping up every day. Ring-slings can hardly be called clothing at all. Most of the time, they cover the essentials. Thin strings then pull up and go around the man’s neck to look like suspenders. Suffice it to say that there is no shortage of lingerie for men, some more risqu? than women’s versions.

Not surprisingly, exotic lingerie seems destined for association with eroticism. Like other erotic tools, this style is best shared in the privacy of the bedroom. Whether it is a sheer teddy or a half-cup bra, a naughty maid’s suit or a veiled chemise from India, exotic is intriguing. And erotic.