Layla

Why is it that so many women have trouble finding the perfect fit? Because we focus so much time coming to terms with our body’s imperfections!

Then, picture this: you finally come to terms with your “pear shape”, “shallow breasts” or whatever feature it is that you hone in on as a problem zone and then…you get pregnant, have a baby, become a mom, and find yourself going through the whole process all over again! Maybe you’re amazing and can meet those challenges head on, but then you hit menopause and start battling the change all over again. It is part of the circle of life – once you’re finished with the journey, you’re actually not because a new phase is about to begin. We’re constantly growing, and instead of looking at it as aging or changing in a bad way, look at it as a new opportunity and a new challenge to redefine yourself from the inside out!

As your body changes, the effort to re-fit and re-furbish may come in the form of exercise (which of course requires snazzy workout gear) and a healthy diet, but properly fitting undergarments can mimic and support those efforts. So as we go into a new year with bright hopes for the future, look inward. Not all change is bad, because each and every one of us is beautiful! We might just need a little Spanx, or a little push up … and a little smile; knowing that you look good on the inside will make you look and feel a million pounds lighter.

1. Undies
This one is pretty self-explanatory. Whenever we want to shorten something and/or give it a “cuter” name, we always take the first syllable of the word and tack on the phonetic “e” sound. For example: Christina/Christy, Daniel/Danny, duck/ducky, homeboy/homey, Rolex/Roley.

2. Skivvies
I had to google this one to see if there was some historic background for this word. And there is…not. All I could find was that it is nautical slang of unknown origin. Well, whatever sailor first used this, it’s gained worldwide popularity!

3. Banana Hammocks
I think these are the reason people wear sunglasses at the beach, risking that awful raccoon-like “sunglass tan”, complete with two racing stripes on the side of their faces. Oh yes, banana hammocks are that bad. Need a visual? Show me banana hammocks.

4. Butt-huggers
This nickname describes exactly what your underwear does! For those of you who wear boxers, maybe you should give briefs or boxer briefs a try. You’ll probably be pleasantly surprised – I have witnessed many conversions in my experience. And your butt deserves a hug once in awhile.

5. Drawers
Hmm…underwear is kept in drawers…I suppose that is solid enough of a connection to validate this nickname.

6. Unmentionables
Would your grandfather or grandmother be comfortable talking about underwear, or even saying the word underwear? (If so, then think back to your great-grandfather and great-grandmother). It was around their time that “unmentionables” were really unmentionable. Forget about seeing any ads featuring models in underwear. You were lucky to even see any bare ankle action. It was a simpler time.

7. Intimates
I think this term has a dual explanation. One meaning of “intimate” is “closely personal”. That makes sense – your underwear is obviously something personal. Additionally, what you wear underneath can be used to add some va-va-voom to the bedroom – also another definition of the word “intimate”.

8. Manties
Man + Panties = Manties! Also known as briefs.

9. G-string
I kid you not, this is a definition I found online:

such a garment made of a narrow strip of decorative fabric and worn by striptease entertainers.

…wait, didn’t you say you owned one of those?

10. Smalls
This is a real nickname for underwear in the UK. And yes, its etymology really is the word “small”. I can only imagine how this nickname came about. I always did enjoy British humor.

Cameron Diaz rocked out in her Spiderman undies in Charlie’s Angels. Heidi Klum blew away the original Tom Cruise and all other copy cats with her rendition of the Risky Business underwear dance for Guitar Hero. Madonna is the all-time matron of on-stage high kicks in her intimates. Dancing in underwear is different than any other dancing you will ever do. Why? There’s no elaborate get-up to hide behind. It’s 100% you. So how does one go about perfecting the art of dancing in underwear? Here are my thoughts.

First and foremost, I can’t imagine why you would not be by yourself when dancing in your underwear. So when you’re alone, who cares? Do whatever you want. However, I understand that certain situations in life do arise. Underwear dance parties happen, which is where this entry may be beneficial, if not for more than its entertainment value.

Don’t hold back. You’re already exposed…over-exposed, in fact. So don’t make it more awkward than it already is by, well, acting awkward. Read the next point.

Confidence is contagious. When you are nervous and uncomfortable, it shows. It’s apparent in your gait, in your stance, in your posture, in your actions, and even your speech. You look and feel like a turtle out of its shell…weird and out of place. So, when dancing in your underwear, you are not a weird turtle. Instead, you are Mikhail Baryshnikov, one of the greatest dancers of the 20th century. Your body is perfect, your technique is refined, and you could land a recurring role on Sex and the City any day. Read the next point.

Ignorance is bliss. Ok, so the former may not be true, but like I said, confidence is contagious. Act like you know you look good, despite the fact that you could use an extra trip to the gym every week. The psychological affects the physical, even when not necessarily true – when you feel good, you look good, and others think you look good too. And hey, if other people have a problem, ignore them, because it’s just that…their problem.

Have fun. Who knows why you’re dancing in your underwear in front of other people. Like I said, I’m not judging. My guess, though, is that it’s for something happy and celebratory. Chances are you’re supposed to be letting loose and having a good time, so do just that! You’ll be asked to do a Guitar Hero ad a la Heidi in no time.

Remember, dancing in your underwear is an art. Express your passion, be aware of your composition, and always exercise good taste.

Layla

What would the holiday season be without parties? Whether you are celebrating with friends or with family this season, you probably feel the weight of visual scrutiny from the moment you walk in the room. If you make some key choices on the right dress or outfit, it can make you feel confident that you’re walking in to impress. But if you make the right choices in your intimates, you can rest assured that your outfit will look fabulous and so will you.

Whether you choose to wear a slinky low cut dress, a pulled together pant suit, or even just a sweater with jeans, the right undergarments can set you ahead in all categories.

For a work holiday party or a New Year’s Eve extravaganza, you will most likely pull out the LBD (otherwise known as the Little Black Dress) or some other more colorful (and most likely) form-fitting number. These seductive and even sweet ensembles can pose a difficult dressing dilemma when you want your undergarments to be there doing their job behind the scenes, but not front and center.

So if you’re wearing something that requires a strapless bra, I suggest looking for the following:

* Wide sides/wings – this helps create “around the body tension” that you need when you don’t have straps and the band has to support your weight
* Silicone that helps it stay up
* Sits flat against your skin – padded or non padded, it should sit flat against your skin and not pop out or away from your body

If you’re petite or small-chested, look at this as a great opportunity to go au naturale, but I do suggest pasties or a tape-on bra like Fashion Forms’ NuBra.

If you feel like you missed a couple of trips to the gym, I recommend the alternative to lipo and I know the category may sound dated: shapewear.

Spanx has a range of products that can fit your different dress styles from full leg tights with less shaping, to high shaping power panties and shorts. Keep in mind though that for these pieces to do what they were intended you might have to wrestle to get into them! The results are definitely worth the struggle.

Maybe you opted for a more covered-up look on top, like a fitted blouse and slacks. If you went with this look, a great shaping option is a shaping cami. This can slim and tone your back and mid-section, making you look great in whatever you decided to put on.

For versatility, get something that’s high-waisted, because the only thing I can’t see anyone wearing for the holidays is a mid-riff bearing top unless you’re on vacation in the Bahamas! A high-waist piece that comes up to meet your bra allows the most versatility in shaping with whatever you decide to wear between holiday parties and ringing in the new year!

Is this whole financial crunch ordeal affecting your social life? Well, not to worry, here is a whole month’s worth of fun(ny) things to do in your undies!

1. Clean your house or your apartment. Your clothes won’t get all dirty this way! Just make sure it’s not so dirty that you might get a rash from something touching your skin (you should probably consider hiring a cleaning lady if your living quarters are in this state anyway). And be careful with harsh cleaning products.

2. Blow-dry your hair. If you have hair like mine, it needs to be tamed, trained and put on a leash before it’s ready to leave the house in the morning. When it’s hot and humid, there’s nothing worse than having to turn on a machine blowing out more hot air and aiming it at your own head. So my suggestion is this: blast the AC, strip down to your skivvies, and get that mane under control!

3. Take a dip. If for some reason you’re at the beach and have inexplicably decided not to wear or bring a bathing suit, sometimes it’s okay to wear your undies to wade into the deep blue. Ladies, maybe you want to keep your shorts on, and guys, make sure you’ve got something that stays opaque while wet…unless you’re in Europe, then you can ditch the undies altogether.

4. Sprawl out on the couch and watch a good movie. If you have roommates, get their okay first or you may be living alone shortly after. If you live alone, why aren’t you just in your underwear all day every day anyway?! Don’t forget a big bowl of popcorn.

5. Take a cue from Joey on “Friends” and cook. Joey was naked, but this post is about things to do in your underwear, thus the slight modification. This is a great idea because 1) it gets hot when you cook, and 2) the smell of what you’re cooking won’t cling to your clothes. Remember, nothing that splatters.

6. Dance. Jam out to your favorite song on full blast – why not, there’s a big dork inside all of us. Let him or her out once in awhile. It’s therapeutic.

7. Stare at yourself in the mirror. You already do this anyway. I’m just saying…it’s okay.

8. Shop online. No one’s looking, you don’t have to talk to anyone, and no one’s going to come up to you and pester you about how you’re doing today…perfect! Plus, you’ll already be stripped down to take measurements if necessary.

9. Sleep. Okay, obvious, I know. But sleeping in just underwear is especially soothing and comforting when you’ve got a nice, fluffy, warm comforter to curl up under.

10. Join the Naked Cowboy in Times Square. I’m sure he wishes he had some company every now and then.

11. Model for an art class. You get paid for standing, sitting, and stretching. They look for all body types too, so no need to worry about not looking like a model or a body-builder. Just be sure to verify that it’s not a nude studies class.

12. Participate in ImprovEverywhere’s Annual No Pants Day. You get to be part of a humorous social experiment, and you’ll make at least one person laugh out loud.

13. Sunbathe in the park. When the sun is strong and you’re starting to look vampire-esque from the long, cold winter, it’s time to darken the pigment on that epidermis of yours. All you need is a towel, a pina colada, suntan lotion, some friends, and you’re set.

14. Participate in the annual Kona Underwear Run. It’s a fun kick-off to the grueling Iron Man race, you’ll be in beautiful Hawai’i, and you can even help raise money for the West Hawaii Special Olympics athletes so they can travel and compete.

15. Shake it! Shake what your momma gave ya. Shake it like a salt shaker. Shake it like a Polaroid picture. Just let loose and shake it like no one’s watching.

16. Take a pole-dancing class. From what I see at the gym, the participants in the class are in their highest heels and bootie-baring short shorts, so you should feel right at home in your undies. Keep it classy, ladies!

17. Do your laundry. You aren’t wearing any clothes, which means this is your chance to launder your whole wardrobe. Nothing beats the scent of Fresh Alpine Breeze on your clothes. This activity is probably best saved for those who have a washer/dryer in their apartment or home.

18. Work from home. Just make sure your Skype camera is turned off during those conference calls.

19. Body paint. Express your artsy side by covering yourself in color and throwing your body against a canvas. Run, jump, breakdance…it’s up to you. Start the interpretive art movement.

20. Jell-o wrestle. I don’t know how or where you would do this, but it sounds like fun. Why Jell-o? It contains fewer calories than pudding, and tastes better than mud.

21. Feature yourself as the centerfold in your own calendar. Sports Illustrated will regret passing up on you, I’m sure…and your significant other will probably be happy with this one.

22. Go skiing. Apparently this is not a completely strange thing to do in your undies. But don’t fall. It will hurt.

23. Eat! In the name of quality control, test the elastic on your underwear and see how much it can really take. Everyone will know it’s for the sake of consumers everywhere and not because you’re just looking for any excuse to be a p-i-g. Also, with no restricting pants on, your eating potential is boundless.

24. Study for the bar exam or GMATs. There’s nothing like pursuing a higher level of education, expanding your horizons, and preparing for a life-altering entrance exam in your underwear. Why, you ask? Well, why not. You’re about to start a new chapter in your life. Go in with a bang.

25. Go to a nudist colony. Do people say “ho ho ho” to you when you’ve never been dressed as Santa Claus before? In fact, now that you think about it, it was nowhere near Christmas or even December when that comment was addressed to you. Well, no worries. When you go to a nudist colony in your underwear, you can probably reinvent yourself as the colony prude.

Test these out, and let me know how they work out for you in the comments section!

Are you in a gift-giving funk? Here is an at-a-glance gift guide that will cut your shopping time in half. (And give you more time to shop for yourself! Who said you weren’t generous and considerate of others…) All of these items are available at Freshpair.com so you don’t even have to drive anywhere. Santa couldn’t have given you a better present.

For the Men in Your Life

Mr. GQ: his jeans are tailored, he moisturizes daily, and sports the D&G sunglasses to run to the corner store even when it’s not sunny out.

- C-IN2 Time Sphere Sling Support Lo No Show Profile Brief
- 2xist Liquid Cotton Square Cut Brief
- Calvin Klein Bedazzled Low-rise Trunk
- DKNY Grid Brief

Mr. America: try to hide his protein powder and he’ll put you in a chokehold.

- Patagonia Capilene 2 Zip-Neck Long Sleeve
- 2xist Fusion Trunk
- Calvin Klein Micro Modal Long Sleeve Crew
- Russell NXT Compression Pant
- Champion Double Dry Seamless Rib Tank Top

The Minuteman: he rolls out of bed and can be ready to go in a minute or less but still manages to look great. Comfort is key.

- Diesel Emanuel Flannel Lounge Pant
- Hanes Comfort Soft Waistband Knit Boxers
- Hugo Boss Boxer Briefs
- Bjorn Borg Fun Stretch Boxer Brief

The Urbanite: underground style is his thing, and he’s always got to have what others can’t get their hands on.

- Clever Concert Trunk
- Gigo England Flag Trunk
- DT Underwear Starman Brief
- Sexy Bastard Y Front Underwear

For the Women in Your Life

The Fashionista: her heels get stuck in the lawn at the park, and with her, no outfit leaves the house un-steamed.

- Le Mystere Dream Lace Boy Leg Panty
- Wacoal Luxe A Rose Is A Rose Contour Underwire Bra
- OnGossamer Biscayne Lace V-Plunge Bra
- Calvin Klein Essentials with Lace Camisole

Miss Marathoner: the spinning instructor knows her by name, and she has a gold-plated name plaque on her gym locker.

- Patagonia Active Mesh Sports Bra
- Falke Athletic Light Three Quarter Tights
- Champion Powerback Wire-Free Sports Bra
- Moving Comfort Endurance Long Sleeve T-Shirt

The Style File: she can go from Central Park West style one day to downtown boho chic the next. Stylists would pull hair and trample each other to root through her closet.

- DKNY Belle du Jour Underwire Balconette Bra
- Diesel Cotton Rib Shelby Chemise
- Free People Animal Print Tank
- Elle MacPherson Coranto Contour Bra

The Minimalist: if it doesn’t conjure up images of the MoMA, she doesn’t want anything to do with it. Simple and chic are the way to go.

- Natori Underneath Underline Contour Underwire Bra
- ADAM Cropped Harem Pant
- Calvin Klein Perfectly Fit Underwire Bra
- Le Mystere Tisha Underwire Bra

Layla

Out of all of the items in my closet and drawers, it’s my intimates that I love the most. Now I’m biased, and I’ll be the first to admit it! I’m an intimates designer, so I take extra notice of the materials and pieces I put against my skin.

I love pieces that work double duty, and when you think about each piece of intimate apparel like that, you can see how much more value and versatility you can get from them. There are only so many things you can do with a coat, but a cami can be an all-star in any girl’s wardrobe. Think about all the material options you have too! Here are some of my favorite all-star materials that you’ll commonly find in intimate apparel.

Cotton
Whether it’s a basic pair of printed panties or a luxurious pima/mercerized cami, cotton keeps you cool underneath all the winter layers. We’ve all had that experience of walking in from the cold outdoors to indoor heating and breaking out in a sweat. Cotton absorbs that and keeps you cool in those rapid climate change situations.

Silk
Silk keeps you cool in the summer and warm in the winter, not to mention it begs to be touched. Talk about double duty – wear a silk cami under a suit or paired with a sweater and jeans. Get one with a touch of lace that can be dressed up with a sweater and skirt for evening, or with a blazer, jeans, and scarf for a casual weekend look.

Modal
My winter fave, its buttery smooth hand and warmth feel luscious against the skin when lounging around the house on a chilly winter day. Even in the summer, modal is amazing against skin that’s sensitive in case you’ve had overexposure to the elements.

Microfiber
A sleek microfiber (either nylon/spandex or poly/spandex) bra will give you the most seamless look under holiday eveningwear, tight-fitting sweaters, and also makes care easy by being washable and durable!

Goldilocks and the Three Bears. Three Blind Mice. Gold, silver, bronze. Small, medium, large. Red, yellow, green. Breakfast, lunch, dinner. And, if you remember from high school physics, objects with three points of contact or three sides are the sturdiest. It seems like three is the winning number, which is why we now have three contributing authors at The Underwear Observer.

I’m very happy to introduce you to Layla, who will be posting tips and advice on the fit and function of your intimates. She’ll address common problems that everyone faces when it comes to underwear, and answer the questions that your mom can’t. Layla will also be answering questions from Underwear Observer readers who are facing a fit challenge – the Dear Abby of the underwear world, if you will. The go-to girl when you need a shapewear suggestion. The holy grail for holiday party under-attire recommendations. A lexicon for all things lingerie. I’ll stop there, but you get the idea. She’ll answer your questions about underwear!

Justin

While recently dusting under my bed I came across a stack of library books I checked out a couple years ago. It was at a point in my life when I decided that I’d be “green” as well as economic by borrowing versus buying books. Sounds good in theory, but returning them is never as fun or as much of a priority as going to pick them out – kind of like clothes.

As I turned to leave the library my eye fell upon a framed print of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, after the famous Albrecht Dürer etching from 1504. What struck me as I examined the innocent yet doomed faces is what they were wearing…or rather, what they weren’t wearing. Like many interpretations of the biblical story, Adam and Eve wear leaves to cover themselves up. Supposedly they frolicked around naked, but when presented to the public, artists cover them up with various flora and fauna. The more I thought about this the more I was confused. Why not use buckskins? Were Adam and Eve vegetarian? Did they not have access to sharp objects? Was non-violence part of the whole schtick in the garden? In my opinion, the leaf is the original sin in a long history of impractical underwear. Another offender would be the Tarzan loincloth. If anything, Tarzan would be wearing a leaf tied with branches, as he was far more primal. And I doubt he would have taken the time to tie some cloth around himself.

Fast-forward about 500 years and you’ve got women wearing something called a C-string. When I recently heard about this underwear style I was confused and couldn’t picture how “C” shaped underwear would really work. Then I did a Google search and still couldn’t wrap my head around it. How does it stay in place? Perhaps some sort of suction mechanism or double sided tape? The only other thing that comes to mind is squeezing the thighs to ensure the “C” stays in place. All in all it seems like a lot of work. I would almost say the leaf and branches might be a better option.