How do you layer your shapewear?

I think all of us at one time or another have wondered about the proper sequence of undergarments. Let’s say you have a pair of pantyhose, a panty, and a piece of shapewear. In what order do you put them on? Do you wear all of them or forfeit something? This question was posed to 13 shapewear vendors including Spanx, Bali, BodyWrap, Va Bien and TC Fine. We were stunned to hear they all had the same response. It was, forget the panties, put on your pantyhose, and then put on your shapewear. Are you surprised? We were. For starters, most of us felt panties should be worn. The reason the manufacturers feel they aren’t necessary is because they all make shapewear with a cotton crotch or an accessible crotch. Therefore, shapewear is specifically designed to eliminate the need for panties. In a poll of the women, the responses fell roughly along age lines. The younger crowd agreed about not wearing panties. Many had tried panties on under their shapewear, but found that the panty created an additional line - even when they tried laser edge cut panties like Commandos. The more mature crowd simply likes the idea of panties and wouldn’t consider not wearing them. The reason pantyhose go on first is because if put on over shapewear, they tend to slide down due to the slick nature of the shapewear fabric. You can spend the night feeling your pantyhose inching down your body and finding yourself in the ladies room several times in order to pull them back up. The panthose can also cause a line that otherwise would be smoothed out if shapewear was put on over it. Now, that said, there are several shapewear pieces that have silicone gripper tape along the legs to keep the shapewear in place. Putting this gripper tape on top of pantyhose renders it worthless, and could possibly cause a run in the pantyhose. So, there can be some conflicting results in this situation. Personally, this is what I do. I don’t wear panties. I also don’t wear pantyhose. If I want leg covering, I buy thigh-high stockings. Since my shapewear of preference is a biker short style, I first put on my thigh-highs, pull up my shapewear, and make sure the top of my stockings are secured by my shapewear. Now, I really only have one layer on, I’m comfortable, not hot, and have a very simple solution when I need to visit the ladies room.

Boyshorts aren't just for boys

When people hear the word "Boyshorts," that is exactly what they think: Tighty whiteys worn by boys. Since women have been invading men's closets for centuries, it was only a matter of time before we hit their underwear. But boyshorts have come a long way since Julia Roberts donned a pair for a photo shoot in the mid 1990s. Fortunately, women's boyshorts have taken on their own evolution over time, adding beautiful, delicate details while maintaining comfort.

Here are the Top 10 Virtues of Boyshorts (with apologies to David Letterman):

10 - Comfort

9 - No visible panty llnes

8 - Extra coverage

7 - Some panties have extra lycra that gives a free tummy tuck and hip smoothing

6 - No embarrassing moments as you do a Marilyn Monroe over a storm grate

5 - Versatile ~ can go day to evening

4 - Are paired with beautiful bras to create a luxurious lingerie set

3 - Tomboys can feel sexy too

2 - They keep from riding up your back side and you don't have to send out a search party ~ like with many g-strings

And the number Virtue of boyshorts:

1-Strong enough for a man but made for a woman

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.....

Sheer panties, no worries.

Sometimes you have to go out wearing a thin material such as when you're going to a dinner party or other formal event. If you're wearing something like that, you don't want to go out without underwear on, as thin materials can ride up or jump which is surely what happened to those Hollywood starlets who were caught sans drawers by so many paparazzi cameras. At the same time you don't want your panty line showing either. That's why sheer panties are perfect for this sort of occasion. If you're wearing a thin material outside of your underwear, sheer panties can provide the support and protection you're looking for in a good pair of panties but they won't reveal that panty line which is kind of tacky.

Invisible In More Ways Than One

The best thing about sheer panties is that you really won't know you're wearing them. Sheer panties are light like silk panties but they're also made from such soft and thin materials that you'll forget you're even wearing them. This makes them ideal for formal functions as well as any other function when you just want to wear a comfortable, and invisible, pair of panties.

Be Careful Of The Color

Even though sheer panties hide that unsightly panty line, they will still show if you get a color that contrasts what you happen to be wearing over them. For example, if you're wearing a pair of sheet panties that are black and you're wearing a white see through formal dress over them, they are likely to be visible. Unless that's the look you're going for, make sure you are wearing the appropriate color of sheer panties for the color of garment you happen to be wearing over them.

Sheer panties will leave you feeling as though you're not wearing underwear, they're invisible, and they'll make you feel sexy. If you haven't tried a pair of sheer panties, you might want to consider them the next time you have to wear something such as a formal dinner dress.