With February 14th just around the corner, every lingerie, chocolate, and jewelry store around the country (if not the world) is gearing up for the epic Valentine’s Day rush. With that in mind, I wanted to change up today’s lingerie and stockings carnival by asking you a little question…
If I gave $1,000 to spend on lingerie, what would you buy?
Need a few ideas to get started? Why not check out Secrets in Lace, Figleaves, BareNecessities, Cameo Intimates [Editor’s Note: As of January 2015, this site appears to be defunct], or Agent Provocateur? I can’t wait to see your picks, and come back tomorrow for a very special, very romantic giveaway.
Rue La La is having yet another fantastic lingerie sample sale, this time from luxury Italian label, La Perla. The La Perla name is associated with lush silk, sumptuous lace, unrivaled elegance..and price tags into the hundreds of dollars. If you’ve ever wanted to try this line, tomorrow is the perfect opportunity. And don’t forget that Valentine’s Day is just around the corner! You can click on this link to join, or on the lovely lady at the bottom of the toolbar.
After choosing our stage names in the first burlesque class, it was time to decide on other important details…like song, character, and costume. I knew right away that I wanted my act to involve an afro, an attitude, and something skintight & shiny.
I also determined that I wanted Velvet La Soie (my character) to be a Louisiana native, a tough-yet-classy broad who could kick your ass six ways to Sunday but still clean up nice enough for the fanciest restaurant in town. I’ve always had a special place in heart for the Blaxploitation films of the 1970’s, and so my thoughts immediately drifted to larger-than-life vixens like Cleopatra Jones as inspiration.
After that, the next biggest issue was music. As my instructor, Miss Indigo Blue, emphasized, music sets the mood and conveys intent. It could even be considered the most important part of the whole routine. I settled in for a long evening of listening to my Ipod, and narrowed my choices down to three tracks: Beggin’ by MadCon, Bigger by Propellerheads, and Tie Me Up by Dirty Stop Out. After another hour or so, I chose The Propellerheads as my final selection. A rather silly YouTube video of the song is below, but hopefully you can get an idea of how I might work it. What do you think? Did I make the right selection?
Finally, we talked about costuming ideas. As I’ve mentioned before on the blog, I’ll buy anything, no matter how improbable, and I’d been waiting for an excuse to wear my gold lame boyshorts in public. Yes, I know. It’s tragic that I even own gold lame boyshorts, but what can I say? I really like to sparkle. A quick trip to the local Seattle American Apparel, and I picked up a gold bikini top and gold headband too.
Whew…I got a lot done this week, but I’m just getting started. Everything from finalizing the routine, to finding the rest of my costume, to working up the courage to invite my friends has to come next. I’ll suspend this series until after Valentine’s Day, but I’d love to get your feedback on where I am so far. Comment away!
For the past month or so, I’ve been feeling really cruddy. Sore throat, epic fatigue, pounding headaches and the like. I chalked it up to stress, seasonal affective disorder, or even outright laziness, but after feeling a little too bad for a little too long, I finally buckled down and went to the doctor–where I learned that I have “The Kissing Disease” a.k.a. Mononucleosis.
The good news is that the worst appears to be over. The bad news is that I probably could have been all better by now had I gotten diagnosed when I first started feeling bad and taken the appropriate steps.
Fortunately, most of my posts for the next two weeks are already planned (didn’t think I’d leave you in the lurch for Valentine’s Day, did you?), but I may be a bit slow returning comments or e-mails. I want to spend the next couple of weeks really trying to get well.
Please keep e-mailing, commenting, or tweeting at me, & believe me when I say that talking to you guys is some of the best medicine out there.
In the past few weeks, I’ve had several people ask me for tips on how to better organize their lingerie. Believe me when I say I haven’t got a perfect system yet, so we’ll probably revisit the subject more than once this year. However, these five steps have definitely helped me get started. As always, please feel free to comment with tips and tricks of your own. I definitely want to hear what you have to say.
1) First of all, throw away anything ratty, worn out, discolored, faded, threadbare, or that has stretched elastic, holes, or underwires poking through. No, I don’t care how much you love it or how pretty it used to be. We’ll get you another. I promise. ;-)
2) Second, divide your remaining lingerie into piles. I use three: lingerie worn frequently to semi-frequently, lingerie worn once or twice and never again, and lingerie that’s never been worn at all (brand new and/or with tags still attached). You may need more or fewer categories depending on how much lingerie you own, and on what kind of sorting system works best for you.
3)Donate everything in that last pile to The Salvation Army, Goodwill, or a local battered women’s shelter. My day job is in the non-profit industry, and I know for a fact that these places never have enough new women’s underwear. In addition to all that good karma, you’ll also get a tax break. However, please do not donate anything worn (and that includes worn-out) to these facilities. You wouldn’t want to wear someone else’s dingy undies, neither do the people who use these services.
4)Find other uses for lingerie in the second pile. For example, my Momma used to keep a bagful of lingerie that wasn’t “quite right,” and use it for dust rags. If it helps, think about it as another kind of recycling. If something won’t work well as a dust rag (for example, your lace teddy from the 1980’s would scratch the good furniture), throw it out. No exceptions.
As an aside, I know that some women like to keep their old knickers around for when Aunt Flow is visiting. While I understand that logic, I’m not sure I agree with it. For me, the days I’m feeling least sexy are also the best times for good underwear. No one is saying you have wear a silk chiffon thong during that time of the month, but a nice pair of black microfiber boyshorts would work just as well and make you feel even better besides.
5)For things you love and wear often, use them as a guide to future lingerie purchases. You can refer to my article from last year, “How to Buy Lingerie You’ll Actually Wear,” which outlines 10 steps for rebuilding your lingerie wardrobe, from getting a professional bra fitting to buying lingerie that looks just as good under your clothes as it does without them to purchasing multiples of the same piece.
What are some of your tips for keeping your lingerie organized? Tell me in the comments!
I know two posts in one day is a bit unusual, but I’m really interested in getting your feedback about something.
For the past year or so, I’ve been updating my blog everyday. I love writing and I love lingerie so I never run out of things to talk about, but I’m not sure if I can keep this pace forever.
Before making any changes though, I want to hear what you think. Do you need a fresh, daily fix of The Lingerie Addict? Or would you prefer fewer (albeit more detailed) posts spread out over the week?
Let me know! And if you’d like to share more, feel free to comment below or e-mail me at candykane29@gmail.com. I always respond to e-mails. :-)
Lots of Love, Treacle
P.S. I nearly forgot the obligatory lingerie photo. Here’s Masha Novoselova for La Perla from a couple of seasons back. ;-)
Way back in July, I mentioned lusting after these Cette Spirano Panythose available exclusively at Brabarella (I love that name, by the way!). Well, when it comes to lingerie, I almost always get what I want, and so these tights arrived at my doorstep just last week.
Made in Belgium, the Cette Spiranos are composed of a 93% Nylon, 6% Lycra, 1% Cotton blend and are availble in three sizes–Small, Medium, and Large. They fit a minimum hip/height measurement of 34″/4’10” and a maximum hip/height measurement of 44″/5’11”. These pantyhose also feature that all-important cotton guesset, along with reinforced toes, and flat seams. Their most amazing feature, however, is the spiral pattern running the entire length of the leg, from waist to toe.
At 5’8″ and 150 lbs., I ordered size Large and am pleased to report that the tights fit comfortably true to size. They stretch easily, are very durable, and hold their shape even after extended wear. My favorite part was a bit of surprise…you see, the spiral pattern is actually raised slightly off the leg, making these tights not just a delight to wear but also to touch. At only $27.00, they cost a bit more than what you may find in a department store, but I believe the unique design and superior quality makes them well worth the cost. These tights are perfect for adding a little pizzazz to a traditional business suit or for making a cute miniskirt extra funky. If you buy them, be sure to let me know what you think!
My, oh my does the time fly! Even though I attended my first burlesque class several weeks ago, I haven’t had a chance to sit still long enough to write out my experiences. Let me fix that right now.
I am smack dab in the middle of a six week Introductory Burlesque class taught by the famed and fabulous Indigo Blue of Miss Indigo Blue’s Academy of Burlesque. In six weeks, I’ll not only learn a bit about the history of burlesque, I’ll also create a character, craft my very own burlesque routine, and perform it in public at two shows in the Seattle area! I’m not a performer by nature so that last part makes me slightly nervous. On the other hand, I’m super excited about trying something new. After all, what better hobby for a Lingerie Addict than burlesque?
The first class was all about fundamentals. We discussed the political origins of burlesque and learned that it used to be a form of protest art performed exclusively by men in response to people who abused their power (such as government officials). Later, in the mid-1800’s, women adopted burlesque as a way to critique traditional ideas of sexuality and gender. Unlike those other famous female performers, ballet dancers, burlesque artists invoked meaning through puns, winks, innuendo, and laughter. They defied notions of what it meant to be a “good girl” and put their bodies on public display, eventually resulting in disapproval and outright condemnation.
Burlesque has never really been fully legal, but as more sexualized dancing became available (i.e. strip clubs), so too did burlesque. The early 1990’s saw a burlesque revival and Neo-Burlesque took center stage with the creation of events like Tease-o-Rama and the worldwide popularity of artists like Dita von Teese. Now, there are thriving burlesque scenes all over the world and the movement shows no signs of stopping.
After this brief history, the class spent some time discussing character names and how to pick one. Indigo Blue emphasized that our character’s name was an important part of setting her personality. Was she a coquette? A seductress? A vixen? A good name could convey any, or even all, of that. I struggled with finding the perfect name for my as-yet-undeveloped character. Tipper Velvet? No, too perky. Alanna Monroe? No, too bland. Cocoa Velvet? No, too unsophisticated.
Finally, with the assistance of my good friend K. and Yahoo’s Babelfish, I found the perfect name…Velvet La Soie. I’ll introduce you to her later on this week.
Q: Sweetie, I need help finding plus-sized backseam stockings for garters. Any thoughts? I wear L-XL, but hate a stocking that is too small. Thanks!
A: Hmmm…I rarely recommend them, but I think Leg Avenue would be your best bet. They’re the only manufacturer of plus-sized, stretch, backseam stockings I’m able to find. Hips and Curves has the nude/black version in stock for only $7.95. Hope this helps, and please let me know how they work out!
Got a question for The Addict? Ask me here or e-mail me at candykane29@gmail.com. I can’t wait to read (and answer!) your questions.
Edit: Steph just got back in touch with some great plus-sized backseams over at Stockingirl too. The Gigi Retros and Red/Black Contrast Seams retail for $29.99 and are both available up to size 3XL fitting a maximum height/weight of 6’1″ and 210 lbs. The Marissa Bi-colors (pictured right and a personal fave) retail for $22.99 and go up to size 2XL fitting a maximum height/weight of 6’3 and 220 lbs. Stockingirl is also running a Valentine’s Day special where can you can save 15% on your purchases with the code 321. And don’t forget that you can always check out this post from last October–Stockings, Tights, and Pantyhose for Curvy Gals. Happy Shopping!
Knickers Blog [Editor’s Note: As of January 2015, this site appears to be defunct] , one of my favorite reads, is holding a drawing for £150 of lingerie from Fleur of England (makers of the robe pictured above). All you have to do is help them out by completing a very brief reader survey.
As an added bonus, everyone who finishes the survey receives 5 exclusive lingerie coupons–just in time for Valentine’s Day! The coupons are to the following stores for the listed amounts:
Both the survey and the coupons expire February 1st, so hop to it! Contest open to US, UK, and Canada only. Find all the rest of the details here [Editor’s Note: As of January 2015, the site this linked to has become defunct].
