Style Imposters - Getting the look for less

No doubt there are a lot of women out there who really would love to wear expensive lingerie. It makes them feel good, which makes them look good. But not all of us can just crush our credit cards under mountains of debt to do it. So, what about the rest of us?

Well, the idea is that you can get very similar styles to some very high end items, but spend just a fraction of the price. Will they be exactly the same? No, that isn't likely. Even if an item is vastly over-priced, there is a certain amount of cost that goes in to these that make them so precious. But if you want to get 90% of the way there, for less than 20% of the cost, read on.

One of the biggest reasons some of these brands charge as much as they do is because, SURPRISE, they can!! People line up to buy them, even if only to say "Look, I'm wearing a "Chemise de Snooty".

Another reason they have to charge so much is because they pay huge amounts out in marketing and merchandising. Those ads in the glossy magazines don't come cheap. Or the billboards in Time Square. So they have to recoup that money from somewhere.

Enough about that. What you are no doubt interested in is "How do I find these items?" Well, periodically we will try to show you some items that we think are fairly comparable, one from a high end company and one from a much more reasonably priced line. We won't try to convince you a $5 Ebay special is the same as a designer original. But we will try to provide a reasonably priced alternative and reasonably well made outfit.

Babydoll

LEFT: Dolce and Gabbana Charlize Babydoll $233

RIGHT: Elegant Moments Lace Bodice Babydoll Set $20

Both of these lovely outfits have a stretch lace bodice and sheer body. Both are made from combinations of man-made fibers, including nylon. The D&G piece is the babydoll only, with the matching thong costing an additional $94. The Elegant Moments outfit is a set.

Chemise

LEFT: Cosabella 'Pearl' Babydoll Chemise $125

RIGHT: Fantasy Lingerie Sheer Chemise $31

Lingerie Sets

LEFT Chantelle Intimates 'Caprice' Bra and Tanga Bra $115, Tanga panty $68

RIGHT: Fantasy Lingerie Lace Demi Bralette Set $24

Before I get all kinds of flaming from my readers, let me repeat one more time: you ARE NOT going to get high fashion for low dollars. Yes, there will be a difference in construction quality. Yes, there will be a difference in the feel of the material. And you will be buying online instead of a fancy specialty store.

But look at these up-sides:

• We are talking about something you wear on special occasions, for a special purpose. These clothes do not have to survive long term wear and every day washing.
• All the items here are manufactured using man-made fibers. Just varying degrees of the same processes. So we are not talking about "silk and a sow's ear".
• You get 90% of the style for 10-20% of the price.

Now, if you use a small portion of your savings for a nice bottle of champagne, the differences will become smaller and smaller as the evening carries on............

Picking the Perfect Bridal Lingerie

For those who are about to get married, and want to look sexy on the wedding night, opting to wear the right kind of bridal lingerie is a sound idea. Face it, the wedding night comes around only once in a lifetime (in some cases, anyway) and it is an ideal occasion to look alluring and also feel more beautiful.

Before you even start your search, you first need to decide on what your goals are. I know, that sounds way too practical. But it will help you decide what direction you need to go with your shopping. Do you want to look seductive, or demure? Erotic, sensual or sexy (not the same thing, look it up)? Your decisions here set the course for what follows.

Next, consider the idea that you really want TWO sets of lingerie. Think about it; you will be getting dressed and taking pictures for a couple hours, the actual wedding and more pictures are a couple more hours, and all the while you are highly stressed. Then, at least a couple hours dancing and making merry at the reception. By that time, what you have on under your gorgeous dress will feel like workout clothes. Is that really how you want to look and feel on your magical wedding night?

So what you really need is one set of lingerie that will give you proper support, and keep all your "treasures" safe and sound. And you also want them to make you feel as though you are the most beautiful woman in the world. Then, you want a set of lingerie that is meant to be seen by only 2 people, you and your betrothed. That can be more for show, since you may not actually be wearing it for very long anyway......

Wearing a corset under an informal wedding gown might be inappropriate. A corset is a very constraining item, so it is more appropriate for very traditional dress. You might look to wear a bustier instead, which is a little more "style over substance". There are many choices including strapless numbers or tight fitting basques. Just make sure it complements your wedding dress. Take the time to evaluate different styles to see what feels right. You may even find something that you may not have considered wearing before.

You should make the final decision based on what you want, although people will suggest different garments and try to give you advice. It’s you that has to wear the items and you who need to feel sexy in your chosen bridal wear. You might select items such as a satin corset and stockings, a bridal bustier and perhaps satin gloves. Or you might want to choose something different like a sheer bralette and panty set with a lovely crinoline . The most important thing is the overall effect on how you feel, so you will want to take this into account when choosing apparel.

Remember, go for something that will enhance your best assets. Honestly look at yourself in the mirror and decide what to accentuate. Do you really like your bustline, or are you more proud of your behind? Do you have a curvaceous hourglass figure, or long legs? This is one time for every woman to put aside her body issues and say, "You know what, I've got a really hot ......"

There is much more to your wedding day than just choosing the right gown and best bridal lingerie. You will be the absolutely center of the world for your friends and family for this short period of time, and you want to embrace every second of it. Then your wedding night should be one that you remember for the rest of your life. The right choice of bridal lingerie just makes the whole thing better.

How to throw a Sexy Bridal Lingerie Shower

Back in the old days, bridal showers were real June Cleaver/Donna Reed events (for those of you too young to get the reference, Google it....). Somebody writes down what the bride-to-be says when she opens each gift, because that is what she'll say on her wedding night. Someone else keeps all the ribbons and makes a bouquet that is used at the rehearsal. And everyone makes a big deal out of the third 4-slice toaster, just like they did the first two.

Fast forward to the modern era. Woman are now in charge of their own lives, and actually have a purpose beside carrying for their husband. Getting giggly over every little double entendre has lost its appeal in a time when people are comfortable with their sexual nature.

The bridal shower is not about the gifts. It is an event of community, where friends and family of the bride-to-be gather to honor her, and wish her well in the new phase of her life.

So how do you go from an event that reinforces the old domestic-goddess attitude, and is instead a celebration of both the emotionality and physicality of the modern woman.

How about a Sexy Bridal Lingerie Shower?

Once you decide to throw tradition to the wind, make it clear that the shower is for sexy bridal lingerie in the invitation. You can find some great invitations for sexy bridal lingerie showers online, or you can get creative and make your own. Just be sure the invitations are clear that gifts are to be some form of sexy lingerie.

You’re probably asking yourself if a sexy bridal shower is a good idea when you think about the bride-to-be’s mother or Aunt Edna. You have several options if you are afraid some guests might be offended or embarrassed when surrounded by sexy or erotic lingerie.

One is that you can ask the bride-to-be’s opinion. Her mom may not mind a bit—in fact, she may enjoy it as much as anyone else would! Another is to limit the shower invites to women you know would enjoy buying and giving sexy lingerie. In other words, the sexy bridal lingerie shower could be limited to close friends of the bride-to-be. The third is to say the heck with it, and just invite anyone you’d like and refuse to worry about anyone’s reaction. After all, they can decide not to participate in the sexy bridal lingerie shower if they feel uncomfortable with the idea – but not many people do.

Setting the tone for a sexy bridal shower can be exciting and amusing. Give over to your wild side when it comes to thinking about decorations and games. Again, the Web is a great source for erotic items that would make terrific decorations for a sexy lingerie shower. You’re sure to find some enticing games as well.

Any time you give a shower of any kind, people are going to ask you for suggestions for gifts. If you’re giving a sexy bridal lingerie shower, you’re going to get those requests, to be sure, so plan ahead.

First of all, learn the bride-to-be’s size! It won't do her any good to receive erotic lingerie that doesn't fit, so get her size for lingerie, bra and panties. Next, you’ll want to do some research into great online sources for everything from all-out-sexy bridal lingerie to elegant bridal lingerie to naughty bridal lingerie. Pass on the websites to friends and relatives for their shopping convenience.

Having online bridal lingerie shops to browse will put your shower invitees at ease if they’re a bit hesitant or embarrassed about shopping for bridal lingerie of any kind. If you aren’t planning to surprise the bride-to-be with a lingerie shower, you may want her to do some browsing and compose a wish list for her guests to choose from so she gets just the lingerie she wants.

Finally, the big question: Do you tell the bride-to-be or surprise her with a sexy bridal lingerie shower? The best answer to this is if your friend is the least bit shy about intimate matters, you should probably warn her first. If she’s a bit of wild child, don’t tell her. Maybe she’ll love the idea of a erotic lingerie shower, and, besides, if she does enjoy a walk on the wild side once in a while, she’ll appreciate a thong more than she would a spice rack any day. You may be surprised to find out Aunt Edna does too!