Lingerie alternatives: can we replace $80 Victoria's Secret Bras with peanut butter and peeps?
February 7, 2007 8:46 PM Subscribe
Lingerie alternatives: can we replace $80 Victoria's Secret Bras with peanut butter and peeps?
Hi everyone,
I'm doing research for a blog article about whether there are cheaper (and more exciting) alternatives to store-bought lingerie.
Maybe there are household items that you can use to spice up V-Day without spending a fortune?
I would love any ideas you have on the subject. Please indicate if you're a man or a woman, so I can understand where you're coming from.
P.S. Unless otherwise noted, I will credit your contribution using your 2+2 login name. If you want a different name or don't want to be quoted at all, let me know in advance.
Hi everyone,
I'm doing research for a blog article about whether there are cheaper (and more exciting) alternatives to store-bought lingerie.
Maybe there are household items that you can use to spice up V-Day without spending a fortune?
I would love any ideas you have on the subject. Please indicate if you're a man or a woman, so I can understand where you're coming from.
P.S. Unless otherwise noted, I will credit your contribution using your 2+2 login name. If you want a different name or don't want to be quoted at all, let me know in advance.
This post was deleted for the following reason: please make the smallest effort to tailor your question for the metafilter community before you ask it.
Response by poster: Sorry, it's me again. When I said "I will credit your contribution using your 2+2 login name," I actually meant "your metafilter loging name", of course.
posted by m2002 at 8:54 PM on February 7, 2007
posted by m2002 at 8:54 PM on February 7, 2007
A Honey Bear. I'm not going to get explicit, but I will suggest that there are no fewer than three ways to use this item for feminine sexual pleasuring.
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 8:56 PM on February 7, 2007 [1 favorite]
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 8:56 PM on February 7, 2007 [1 favorite]
mm peeps. I mean, uhm...store-bought lingerie doesn't have to cost $80.
As for household items - ice, clothing line, soft fuzzy fabrics.
For cheaper store-bought items, you can get a decent "back massager" at "novelty-gag-gift stores" (I live in Texas, and anything more risqué than that can't be sold here!), Wet brand lube which is an okay-tasting one, chocolate body paint or powder, etc.
(I'm a woman who has one VS set she never wears.)
posted by jesirose at 9:15 PM on February 7, 2007
As for household items - ice, clothing line, soft fuzzy fabrics.
For cheaper store-bought items, you can get a decent "back massager" at "novelty-gag-gift stores" (I live in Texas, and anything more risqué than that can't be sold here!), Wet brand lube which is an okay-tasting one, chocolate body paint or powder, etc.
(I'm a woman who has one VS set she never wears.)
posted by jesirose at 9:15 PM on February 7, 2007
And regarding texas and vibrators, not true! Most metro areas have sex shops where they sell all kinds of nefarious items, not disguised at all. There is some kind of law about how many vibrators you may have on your person at one time, and so people do get arrested for selling such stuff some times. Also all the local porn shops get raided occaisonally for selling what they always sell, and then the store owner pays a fine and nothing changes. Sorry for that light derail.
posted by RustyBrooks at 9:31 PM on February 7, 2007
posted by RustyBrooks at 9:31 PM on February 7, 2007
How about girlfriend in boyfriend's button-up shirt?
How many men here say that they can resist that?
posted by idiotfactory at 9:36 PM on February 7, 2007 [2 favorites]
How many men here say that they can resist that?
posted by idiotfactory at 9:36 PM on February 7, 2007 [2 favorites]
Girl here, if he's a sports fan... sort of going off of idiotfactory's comment.
Wearing nothing but a Toronto Maple Leafs jersey can be pretty attractive I hear.
posted by apfel at 10:04 PM on February 7, 2007
Wearing nothing but a Toronto Maple Leafs jersey can be pretty attractive I hear.
posted by apfel at 10:04 PM on February 7, 2007
Sorry, it's me again. When I said "I will credit your contribution using your 2+2 login name," I actually meant "your metafilter loging name", of course.
Hmmm...cross posting?
Never heard of 2+2...
posted by Deathalicious at 11:26 PM on February 7, 2007
Hmmm...cross posting?
Never heard of 2+2...
posted by Deathalicious at 11:26 PM on February 7, 2007
Here's a cheaper and more exciting alternative to Victoria's Secret: normal cotton underwear.
I find it a whole lot sexier than a whole bunch of lace and wire.
I'm a dude, by the way.
posted by Deathalicious at 11:28 PM on February 7, 2007 [1 favorite]
I find it a whole lot sexier than a whole bunch of lace and wire.
I'm a dude, by the way.
posted by Deathalicious at 11:28 PM on February 7, 2007 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Not to derail my own thread, but here's a pretty interesting documentary about sex toy laws in Texas (not porn but NSFW either).
Thanks for all the great suggestions so far. I have to say, I'm very partial to the normal cotton underwear too.
Keep up the great suggestions. Thanks!
posted by m2002 at 11:43 PM on February 7, 2007
Thanks for all the great suggestions so far. I have to say, I'm very partial to the normal cotton underwear too.
Keep up the great suggestions. Thanks!
posted by m2002 at 11:43 PM on February 7, 2007
It doesn't have to be Vicky's secret, that's about the least imaginative kind of lingerie you could buy anyway. What about something vintage and amazing like Twisted Thrift lingerie, something high-end and simple like Eres, something costumey and victorian-inspired like Ophelia Fancy, something couture like Yes Master, or something cozy like Skin.
I could go on all day - there's more to lingerie than a cookie-cutter mall store!
posted by ukdanae at 3:38 AM on February 8, 2007 [6 favorites]
I could go on all day - there's more to lingerie than a cookie-cutter mall store!
posted by ukdanae at 3:38 AM on February 8, 2007 [6 favorites]
Best answer: "I could go on all day."
Ummm.... Please do. =)
posted by m2002 at 3:56 AM on February 8, 2007
Ummm.... Please do. =)
posted by m2002 at 3:56 AM on February 8, 2007
haha okay! here are some of my favourites:
Amazing corsetry: Eternal Spirits
Beautiful English lingerie: FleurT
Italian couture: Guia la Bruna (check Etam.com for a cheaper diffusion line)
French over-the-top: Chantal Thomass
European Loungewear: Lounge Lover
Larger-cup designers: Miss Mandalay and Jodi Gallaer
Institutions of lingerie: Aubade, Parah, and Valisere
Beautiful romanian brand: ID Sarrieri
Hand-made English label: Made by Niki
Bumless knickers inspired by Victorian underwear: N de Samim
Australian loungewear/lingerie: Bulb
French loungewear/lingerie: Elise Aucouturier
French lingerie (hard to find): Bien fee pour toi
Argentinian lingerie: Susila Tantrik
Amazing New York label: Kiki de Montparnasse (beautiful sex toys too!)
Rock-chick lingerie: Bela's Dead
Bad name, beautiful lingerie: Cotton Club
btw, i'm the editor of a lingerie weblog - for even more, check my profile!
posted by ukdanae at 4:40 AM on February 8, 2007 [16 favorites]
Amazing corsetry: Eternal Spirits
Beautiful English lingerie: FleurT
Italian couture: Guia la Bruna (check Etam.com for a cheaper diffusion line)
French over-the-top: Chantal Thomass
European Loungewear: Lounge Lover
Larger-cup designers: Miss Mandalay and Jodi Gallaer
Institutions of lingerie: Aubade, Parah, and Valisere
Beautiful romanian brand: ID Sarrieri
Hand-made English label: Made by Niki
Bumless knickers inspired by Victorian underwear: N de Samim
Australian loungewear/lingerie: Bulb
French loungewear/lingerie: Elise Aucouturier
French lingerie (hard to find): Bien fee pour toi
Argentinian lingerie: Susila Tantrik
Amazing New York label: Kiki de Montparnasse (beautiful sex toys too!)
Rock-chick lingerie: Bela's Dead
Bad name, beautiful lingerie: Cotton Club
btw, i'm the editor of a lingerie weblog - for even more, check my profile!
posted by ukdanae at 4:40 AM on February 8, 2007 [16 favorites]
Ummm.... Please do. =)
Might I redirect you sir, to Aubade's "Leçons de séduction" ? Just roll over the numbers and click.
posted by XiBe at 4:57 AM on February 8, 2007
Might I redirect you sir, to Aubade's "Leçons de séduction" ? Just roll over the numbers and click.
posted by XiBe at 4:57 AM on February 8, 2007
I have a friend who is into knitting lingerie and I know there's been some books that have come out recently with lingerie knitting patterns.
posted by Melsky at 5:28 AM on February 8, 2007
posted by Melsky at 5:28 AM on February 8, 2007
ukdanae, what about plus-size lingerie? You forgot the plus-size lingerie.
posted by lleachie at 6:19 AM on February 8, 2007
posted by lleachie at 6:19 AM on February 8, 2007
Hi lleachie,
A very good point. Sadly high-quality plus-size lingerie is harder to find, and especially for bras, the sizing is a big issue.
Luckily, there is a growing trend among designers to come out with larger-cup bras. You'll find that the back sizes range from 30-38, which might make you think it's not plus-size, but in most cases, it really is. Many women have their back size way too big and their cup size way too small, so a woman who thinks she's a 40 or 42 might actually be a36 or 38 but needs a larger cup size. I was aghast when i visited Lane Bryant in the US and found that their idea of "larger sized" lingerie was a huge back size and a smaller cup - they only go up to a DDD!
For example: I'm a US size 16/18, originally thought i was a 38/40 D and turned out to be a 34G. I can't even buy a bra at Lane Bryant because their cups are far too small and the backs too big - the band around the back is where the bra is supposed to support you, rather than the straps, so you should have a tight band so that even if you take the straps off, the bra still stays put and supports you.
So that was the long answer. The short answer is, for plus-size bras try a few larger-cup brands like:
Le Mystere
Miss Mandalay
Empriente
Jodi Gallaer
Rigby & Peller
Kalyani
and get sized anywhere but a big chain store - places like Victoria's Secret can't size you as a 34F if they don't have that size in stock. A good rule of thumb for finding a place that will size you properly is to look at Le Mystere's website for places that stock them, you can even schedule fittings online.
For loungewear, etc.,
Sexy Panties and Naughty Knickers has a wider size range, and corsetry is always a popular choice as you can buy in a much wider range. Along with Eternal Spirits there is Velda Lauder, CorsetCurves and Revanche de la Femme
If you're not looking for amazing quality, try Hips and Curves as it has a good variety. Lane Bryant's non-bra offerings in Cacique are pretty cute as well (my favourite suspender belt is from them!).
posted by ukdanae at 6:43 AM on February 8, 2007 [1 favorite]
A very good point. Sadly high-quality plus-size lingerie is harder to find, and especially for bras, the sizing is a big issue.
Luckily, there is a growing trend among designers to come out with larger-cup bras. You'll find that the back sizes range from 30-38, which might make you think it's not plus-size, but in most cases, it really is. Many women have their back size way too big and their cup size way too small, so a woman who thinks she's a 40 or 42 might actually be a36 or 38 but needs a larger cup size. I was aghast when i visited Lane Bryant in the US and found that their idea of "larger sized" lingerie was a huge back size and a smaller cup - they only go up to a DDD!
For example: I'm a US size 16/18, originally thought i was a 38/40 D and turned out to be a 34G. I can't even buy a bra at Lane Bryant because their cups are far too small and the backs too big - the band around the back is where the bra is supposed to support you, rather than the straps, so you should have a tight band so that even if you take the straps off, the bra still stays put and supports you.
So that was the long answer. The short answer is, for plus-size bras try a few larger-cup brands like:
Le Mystere
Miss Mandalay
Empriente
Jodi Gallaer
Rigby & Peller
Kalyani
and get sized anywhere but a big chain store - places like Victoria's Secret can't size you as a 34F if they don't have that size in stock. A good rule of thumb for finding a place that will size you properly is to look at Le Mystere's website for places that stock them, you can even schedule fittings online.
For loungewear, etc.,
Sexy Panties and Naughty Knickers has a wider size range, and corsetry is always a popular choice as you can buy in a much wider range. Along with Eternal Spirits there is Velda Lauder, CorsetCurves and Revanche de la Femme
If you're not looking for amazing quality, try Hips and Curves as it has a good variety. Lane Bryant's non-bra offerings in Cacique are pretty cute as well (my favourite suspender belt is from them!).
posted by ukdanae at 6:43 AM on February 8, 2007 [1 favorite]
What about adult sized underoos? I've been looking for both male and female versions. Does anyone know where to get some of those?
posted by kookywon at 7:55 AM on February 8, 2007
posted by kookywon at 7:55 AM on February 8, 2007
While some of the above links are great, I'd hardly call them "alternatives" to $80 bras. Instead of "peanut butter," they're more like "high-end ganache."
They're more alternatives to VS boredom.
posted by artifarce at 8:26 AM on February 8, 2007
They're more alternatives to VS boredom.
posted by artifarce at 8:26 AM on February 8, 2007
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by m2002 at 8:49 PM on February 7, 2007