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............

You don't have to just sleep in bed....

Now here’s a statistic we’ve got to change:

Fox News reports that according to an unscientific poll, just 10 percent of married women said they usually wear sexy lingerie in bed. More than half prefer a ratty T-shirt or comfortable pajamas, while a third sleep naked. This is the same survey that reports that nearly a third of the married women polled stick to their own side of the marital bed. Another third said they don’t have time for sex with their husbands.

Hmmm–could there be a correlation? Worn-out T-shirt…silk nightgown…no sex…sex. Perhaps we can all start by wearing something other than ratty gym clothes in bed. Maybe we need to proclaim one night a week go-to-bed-hot night and start right here with some silky smooth sleepwear.

Men's guide to buying Sexy Lingerie

We know that it is often hard enough for a woman to choose underwear for herself, so we can appreciate how difficult it can be for a man. For this reason we have put together a few pointers which we hope you will find useful.

Size

The most important thing when purchasing underwear is to get the correct size. Unfortunately this is also the most difficult part, because it confuses both men and women. First of all, you might want to ask someone who may know the lady's size like a friend or relative. Another option is to have a sneaky look at her underwear labels. When looking at her garments it is best to refer to ones that you know she wears a lot as women often have items of the wrong size which they never wear. If still unsure go for items that are easier to judge like babydolls which can come in one size or Small, Medium and Large. Once you have found out her all-important stats refer to our size chart for the perfect fit.

Let's put this in perspective. The size you buy will be construed to be how you see her. Erring too much in either direction can cause issues. Men are not so concerned with clothing, but let's pick something they are sensitive to. Imagine if your partner came home with a box of condoms, and they were the smallest size available. Do they really think of you that way? Or if you were to find some type of sex toy, and it were excessively large. Do you really leave her that unsatisfied? So take a little time, do your homework, and you will make the gift giving experience much nicer for everyone.

Style

When buying for a gift it is often best to go for something which is both sexy and comfortable. Think in terms of something she would pick for herself, not what you want her to wear. Body image is often an issue, and you don't want to get caught in the middle of that. Put some thought into what body parts she feels most comfortable with and choose lingerie to complement. If it is the first time you are buying lingerie for her it is probably best to play it safe. Don't forget her own personal style and taste. Pick colours and fabrics that you know she likes or you have seen her wear. Black always makes maximum impact and looks great on most women. White is a classic which is extremely wearable and discreet. If you want to be more daring, go for red but remember to try and stick to her personal tastes.

Garments

Play up good cleavage with a corset or bustier. If she is uncomfortable with her stomach region, try a babydoll or chemise. When buying knickers, don't buy her a thong if she only wears bikinis. She has clearly made a choice on which she prefers. Don't forget to accessorize- that special outfit can be complete with a luxurious pair of stockings. This is a quick guide to the key styles:

Chemise- A chemise is very similar to a babydoll. It is a delicate, short gown like garment but is typically tighter fitting around the hips than a babydoll.

Babydoll- Short, loose fitting gown. Babydolls focus on revealing the legs but can also add to the lady's cleavage. These are good for women who want to hide their tummy or hips.

Teddy- Bodysuit style Lingerie which essentially combines babydolls and bottoms to make one seductive piece of Lingerie.

Bottoms

Thong/ G- String- Thongs are essentially a thin piece of fabric which passes between the lady's buttocks and is attached to a band around her waist. These are popular as they reveal a lot of flesh and are skimpy. They are generally seen as racy and sexier than other styles of knickers but some women find them uncomfortable to wear. Tread lightly here, men. Unless you have already seen her wear these, or she has expressed an interest in trying them, don't go there.

Boyshorts- Most boyshorts cover the whole buttock area and go all the way down the lady's hips. They are very popular as they are comfy and sexy and come in a wide variety of styles and fabrics.

Bras

Some of the ones you may not be familiar with:

The Balconette- is uplifting and supportive creating a more enhanced cleavage. Sometimes these will only partially cover the nipple area. This bra holds the breast from underneath with less control at the top. This bra looks good underneath scooped necked tops and garments. Not usually suitable for ladies with larger breasts (over a D cup).

The Plunge- gives the appearance of increased cleavage. The breast is supported from the base and sides with less control at the front. This looks great under low cut tops and dresses.

Corsets

Corset- A corset is a garment that consists of boning and lacing which molds the body into a desired shape. Corsets feel very supportive and sexy and show off the bust as well as nipping in the waist. Corsets are popular with most women as they make a small bust look larger and a bigger waist look smaller. Corsets can last for years and as a gift make the women feel extremely special and pampered. Please refer to size guide for advice on how to choose the correct size.

In the end, don't worry if you get it wrong. As mentioned above, most women have trouble choosing these garments for themselves. Priority 1, try to get the size right. Priority 2, pick something that she would enjoy wearing, not something you dreamed about last night (unless she already likes those kinds of things). Priority 3, don't get hurt feeling if she returns it. Think of it this way: would you rather she return it and pick something she will wear for you, or do you want your gift to sit in the back of her underwear drawer and never see the light of day.

Or the candlelight of that special evening, if you know what I mean.....

Lingerie 101

With the popularity of Lingerie boutiques in shopping malls across America the stigma of buying and wearing lingerie is now a thing of the past. However for women who’ve never bought lingerie before or are still a little shy about visiting a store here’s our guide for styles you are likely to encounter.

Baby Doll Set

A baby doll set encompasses a large category of lingerie items. Basically it’s a two piece set, consisting of a robe or loose billowy top and matching bottom. The top is always loose fitting and comes in just below the bust line, like an empire bodice. The top is very loose fitting and short, ending at or just below your rear. Baby doll sets are available in wide variety of fabrics from silk and satin to sheer lace.

Chemise

A chemise is a short flowing A-line gown that’s longer than a baby doll. The top usually has spaghetti or halter straps. The angular shape of a chemise looks good on almost every figure type. If you are concerned about your mid-section look for a style that has built in figure control. Sometimes a chemise comes with a matching bottom, but this varies from style to style. The fabric choices range from patterned and solid silks to very revealing lace, so there is something for everyone’s taste.

Camisole

A camisole is female undershirt. It is loose fitting and has thin spaghetti straps that go over the shoulder. It’s usually paired with a matching bottom. Camisoles are now also available as outwear. While they are not usually worn as formal office attire, they can be worn for casual occasions.

Corset

A corset is the opposite of a camisole. It’s a structured garment that has bones or ribs to force your body into certain proportions. The effects of a corset can be very dramatic, and can create a very enticing curvy shape. Some corsets are more difficult to wear than others, depending on how much shaping they are doing. If you’ve never worn one before choose something that’s not so difficult to get into. Corsets are also now being made as outwear. While not something you would wear to the office, they are perfect for a dinner party, club or night on the town.

Bridal Set

A bridal set, piegnoir or merry widow as it’s sometimes known also covers a wide variety of items. Basically it’s a set that consists of a bra, corset or camisole top. It also has matching panties, and usually a garter belt and stockings. The styles range from silk or satin sets with full coverage to skimpy string sets with very minimal overage.

Boy Shorts

If you’ve never heard of boy shorts think of sexy hot pants for your bedroom. They offer full coverage on the sides and some coverage on your rear. Conservative styles cover most if not all of your rear, the more daring styles give you partial coverage. Boy shorts are figure hugging or shaping, something those of us with less than perfect bodies will appreciate. They come in wide variety of fabric choices from comfortable cotton to see through lace.

Bikini

Bikini bottoms offer full coverage on your rear, and have thin straps on the side. They are available in loose fitting of figure hugging styles in a wide variety of fabric choices.

Thong

A thong offers full to minimal coverage in the front, and has thin sides usually 1″ to 1/2″ in width that come to a t shape in the rear. The t-shape gives you practically no coverage on your rear. Thongs are now worn just as frequently outside of the bedroom as they are in it. If you are wearing tight, or figure hugging clothing a thong is your best solution to combat visible panty line. Cotton, lycra or micro-fiber fabrics are the most comfortable for extended wear thongs.

G-String

While the back of a thong has very minimal coverage with a narrow strip a g-string offers you no coverage, with a simple single strand or string, usually 1/8″ or less in width, not for the faint of heart.

Garter Belt

A garter belt is made of piece of fabric that wraps around your hips and usually has four straps (one for the front and back of each leg). Sometimes the straps are attached to the lower edge of a corset or camisole top. These straps attach to the top of stockings, holding them up.