T minus 3 days until Valentine’s Day. Are you ready?
Dim the lights, pour some bubbly into heart shaped glasses, toss red rose petals across the bed, and hang a few g-strings from the lampshade. Enter significant other who finds you nibbling on chocolate covered strawberries, wearing nothing but candy hearts … cue ‘Everything I Do’ by Bryan Adams.
Remind you of last Valentine’s Day? Well I have no idea what gets you in the mood, and now you know what does it for me, but I thought it would be a great idea to pry into the life of some of our worker bees at Freshpair and find out just what gets their hearts pumping.
Meet the Fantastic Four:
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We all know Layla, our resident fit specialist. Also a lingerie designer, Layla sees herself as an entrepreneur, an artist, and an OCD nerd. |
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Who could forget, Justin, writing posts from a guy’s point of view. This underwear-topic aficionado enjoys art, yoga, and Bloody Marys. His favorite holiday is Christmas and his favorite color is blue. |
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Now meet Jess, a copywriter here at Freshpair. Don’t expect to find Jess anywhere in the city on weekends in the winter. She loves to spend her time snowboarding somewhere, anywhere, just not near the city. Her summer days are spent cruisin’ with friends looking for the best outdoor brunch spots and bars with gardens. |
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And finally, I’d like to introduce Carlo. Carlo works in the Marketing Department at Freshpair. He’s currently amusing himself playing basketball, trying to learn Russian, and listening to The Hood Internet. Carlo hopes his girlfriend doesn’t read his posts. |
Why not? Well let’s read on and find out…
Me: What do you like to see your guy/girl wear everyday, i.e. around the house, in bed, watching tv?
Layla:
If my apartment weren’t a bazillion degrees all year round (overheating in the winter, too hot in the NYC summers), I would love if my boyfriend wore dark plaid slouchy pjs with a tight fitting white tee! I love that look, it makes me think “classic man”.
Justin:
For around the house I’ve never been one to encourage hanging out in pajama pants and slippers all day. Sunday is a holy day for many, and I like to celebrate by going to yoga (i.e. gay church) with my significant other. After showering, if he can’t be bothered to get dressed again, I let him slide. He’s earned some lounge time. For me, boxer-briefs are kind of like shorts, but tighter! I recommend the C-IN2 Lo No Show Army Trunk. I like the Blue Night color because it’s casual and good for everyday exposure. Matched with a nice white t-shirt and you’re set!
Jess:
I’m a big fan of boy shorts on girls and a little color is always nice.
Carlo
She has a thing for my v-neck t-shirts, so I bought her some in her size (though she still steals mine) – she wears those over a pair of Free People boy shorts. It’s cute, but not scandalous (after all, you probably shouldn’t have scandal all day long). Also, she steals my ADAM Henleys for lounging around on winter Sundays.
Me: When it’s time to set the mood, what do you put on to attract your mate?
Layla:
Well, it doesn’t take much, but I love lace, so really I wear lace to put me in the mood. I think underwear or not he’s sort of always in the mood!
Justin:
To get the person currently in my bed, or on my couch, or in my kitchen, excited I’m a big Calvin Klein fan. I find them comfortable, they have great fabrics, and are very sexy, especially in white. The Steel series is sort of amazing. In addition to underwear, I think that chest hair is sexy, so I like to wear something low cut, just so that you can see some skin! DKNY feels like a second skin and is very flattering, no matter what you’re working with.
Jess:
Luckily, she also likes boy shorts on women. But the way to make boy shorts hot is to go for something a little revealing.
Carlo:
Calvin Klein Pro Stretch trunks tend to encourage youthful folly, jubilation and hijinx.
Me: What does your mate wear to attract you? What really gets your motor running?
Layla:
So funny! He’s gonna hate me but I made him buy a pair of Calvin Klein Steel Boyshorts. I love the way they are booty hugging and really have a great sexy shape… he humors me!
Justin:
I’m single, so unfortunately I don’t have the luxury of a partner who knows what I like, so when I meet someone I’m kind of gambling. I can usually tell if he’s going to have nice underwear by his shoes; they always tell a lot about taste and what a person is into. For example: high top vintage Nike’s on a gay man: colorful briefs. Track shoes, loafers or lace ups: boxer briefs. For me, I’m into light-colored briefs in solid colors.
Jess:
Ok, so this is kind-of odd, but she loves to prance around in this leopard print chemise and there’s something about that animal print that just gets me all excited!
Carlo:
Pirate chic, is that a style? I love vintage styles. Not the rib-breaking corset kind (I feel guilty, are you doing that for me?) or the pointed-cup bra kind (I feel terrified, are you doing that for me!?!), so “vintage-inspired” is probably a better description. Chantelle and Wacoal Luxe are my current favorites.
Me: Working with underwear is a daily dose, do you have any underwear pet peeves? It could be on others or yourself…
Layla:
I hate underwear that rides up, bras or panties, I just hate seeing it through clothing when the whole point is that it not be seen!
Justin:
I don’t consider myself too judgemental when it comes to underwear; I mean they’re just going to come off anyway! However, there are always those times when you just kind of cringe at the sight of guys’ thinking that little kids underwear is cute. Like those Christmas boxers with the snowmen from a grandmother, or Power Ranger underwear or underwear with fire trucks or race cars or puppies on them. Not cute. Period.
Jess:
I’m totally totally not into seeing anyone’s underwear on the street. For the ladies that means no thong triangle peeking up out of the jeans. And guys with your rumpled boxers poking out of the top of your pants, pull them up past your mid-thigh and invest in a belt. It’ll help everyone have a nicer day.
Carlo:
Underwear puns. If you must make one, please at least be brief.
Me: What do you think about underwear enhancement, whether it be padding or shaping. Is this cheating?
Layla:
I think whatever makes you look and feel good and that doesn’t interfere with setting the mood. I know some shapewear or pieces can seem cumbersome, but there are some really cute pieces that function out there and it is just a matter of finding something that works.
Justin:
Enhancement is a good thing. We all want to look our best. Buying underwear that is cut to enhance and shape where you want it to is OK, because you’re not really cheating. You’re just working with what you have to the maximum degree without surgery! However, padding is cheating, and it’s a dicey move. Once naked, you are, well, exposed and the truth will prevail!
Jess:
I have one friend who has no butt. And I’m not exaggerating. Literally, it looks like it got shaved off in a horrible accident. When we were younger, she used to wear two pairs of pants to make up for it. But now she wears those butt pad underwear (and yes, she wears the guys pair). I figure, if she’s happier with the way she looks, I’m happy. And it’s not really cheating, because anyone who goes home with her is going to find out anyway. It’s not like she can cheat those right into bed with her.
Carlo:
I don’t know what it feels like to be shaped or padded, but I do know what it’s like to be lifted and have my “profile enhanced” (to get a sense, replace the word “sling” with “noose”). Cheating or not, anyone willing to put themselves through that has already received their punishment.
Me: Does your significant other find it weird that you work in underwear?
Layla:
Can I tell you how many times I have to tell people what I do and cringe inside?! I have to prepare myself for either a gawk eyed sort of reaction or something skeevy. Thank God when I met my boyfriend he really avoided all the normal male reactions which intrigued me. I love that he sees it as a job and a passion, but for me I have realized when you work with models, underwear/bras, and say crotch, breast, and boob on a daily basis you really do become desensitized to things that make most people giggle!
Justin:
Again, I don’t have a significant other so it’s not the first thing that comes out when I meet a new guy. However, if he sticks around long enough to see my underwear drawer, then he starts to ask questions. This usually leads to stealing of my underwear and subsequent breakup.
Jess:
She LOVES it! It means we both have the hottest underwear collections of any of our friends!
Carlo:
She had a tough time accepting it until I explained that while I work in underwear, I’m always fully dressed. I’m not allowed to make bad underwear jokes anymore.
Me: Thank you, everyone! That was great. Now get back to work.
Want to see some suggestions from our distinguished panel on what to get for your significant other?
Well, here’s what Layla suggests getting for your guy:
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| Diesel Emanuel Flannel Lounge Pant 00C9YRQKN | 2xist Pima Cotton Crew Neck Short Sleeve T-Shirt 2905 | Calvin Klein Steel Cotton Gripper Trunk U2707 |
Justin thinks these are the best gifts to get your guy:
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| C-IN2 Blue Night Lo No Show Army Trunk 1823-BLN | Calvin Klein Steel Micro Hip Brief U2715 | DKNY 3-Pack Classic Cotton V-Neck T-Shirt 53131 |
Jess already picked up some of these cute pieces for her girl:
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| Free People Geo Floral Boyshort F897W307 | Calvin Klein Perfectly Fit All Day Lace Boy Short F2861 | P.J. Salvage Safari Chemise SAF-CE |
And Carlo suggests any of these for your girl:
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| Wacoal Luxe Amazing Lace Push Up Bra 55847 | Chantelle Africa Shorty 2694 | ADAM Long Sleeve Henley Shirt ABJS28 |