5 lovely friends for your lingerie

4 section mesh wash bag from The Container Store.

Lingerie wash bags – these mundane looking lingerie bags are terribly underrated. Just put all your tighty-whities in and pop them into the washing machine. They won’t get damaged or entangled with other items and last longer. Also, very essential if you are lazy and don’t want to run a whole wash cycle just for your underwear. One tip though, don’t buy a tiny wash bag, and go for a bigger size.

Silicon Nipple pasties from Undercover Glamour

Nipple cover ups – Hello, my slinky black dress. You know the one I am forced to wear braless for fear of my bra spoiling my “look”. Get at least several pairs of silicon stick on nipple covers for dresses and sari blouses. These do not last forever because the glue eventually wears off so don’t wash them roughly.

Double sided tape from Hollywood Fashion Secrets

Double sided tape - I HATE button down shirts, seriously. They will be my undoing one day, I tell you. So anyway, next time you are wearing a button down shirt or a particularly naughty “V” neck keep your bra from showing by sticking some tape between the button lapels or glue the neckline to your skin.

Gel Cookies 

Gel cookies – Oh hooray for cookies! Not the chocolate chip ones (egad the calories!) These little babies can go inside any bra and give you that instant lift. Also useful if one of your breasts is bigger than the other, pop this into the cup of the smaller breast.

Bra strap cushions from Hollywood Fashion Secrets

Gel strap cushions – If you are a fuller busted lady or if your breasts are growing at a monstrous pace thanks to you being 4 months along or if they are undergoing their monthly change with the hormonal cycle and weigh a ton; push them under your bra shoulder straps to make life a little easier. These also reduce rashes, shoulder and neck pains.

Should I buy Lingerie online?

La Senza promotion on Majorbrands.in

Gosh, I have been away from my blog for so long! While I have many great ideas about the lingerie related things that I want to write about, I have been having trouble writing. See, my forte is Lingerie not writing. But I try, ok? So here goes..

Today I want to talk about the virtues of shopping for lingerie online vis-à-vis in a regular store. I do have a confession before I start though; I may or may not be addicted to shopping online. I am very down with shopping for things like, say a spatula or a toothbrush online but I know I am heading towards murky waters when it comes to shopping for lingerie online.

So here is the ultimate comparative table of the two (I love lists and tables, don’t you?!)

Shopping online for Lingerie	Shopping at a store
If you are a lazy bum like me. Snuggle in bed and shop away. +1	Run from store to store looking for xyz bra in 34DD and in pink. +0
Privacy guaranteed. Almost. +1	Creepy uncle looking over your shoulder +0
Not sure of your size? Not sure how the style will look on you? You may be in trouble my friend.  +0	Ask the sales lady for help, try on multiple items.+1
Ordered the wrong size? Wait for a month may be 2 before your item is replaced. -1	Are you one of those finicky girls who like one thing one minute and hate it the next? Exchange easily and instantly. +1
Customer care staff on the phone who know shit about lingerie. -1	Not a big plus here either but at least you get to try things on before you commit. +0
So you bought 5 panties for 499? Tore in the first wash? Most online companies cut corners by importing cheap items from china and re-labeling them. -1	You get what you choose. +1
Product looks different than what you ordered? Wait endlessly and follow up every day to get it exchanged. -1	Won’t happen unless you shopped without your glasses. +1
HUGE variety of things to choose from. +1	Tiny selections, most stores don’t carry sizes beyond DD cups. -1
Naughty lingerie, need I say more? +1	What is a teddy? -1
Big discounts and sales almost every day. Great if you love a bargain. +1	Discounted items maybe 3 times a year. And I miss it every single time. -1
International brands! Hooray! +1	Most stock only Indian brands. +0

So here is the final tally, Online shopping +2 and shopping-in-store comes close at +1. 

While I am all for shopping online, I do so only if I already know what I want. Shop online if you are pretty familiar with a particular brand and know how it feels /looks on you. I would not recommend cheap promotional deals or brands that no one has ever heard of. Do research on international brands before you shop. I prefer buying things like nightwear, camisoles, robes, socks and other non-fitted items online. Also, most online store have a great selection of lingerie accessories like wash bags, nipple concealers and double sided tapes. 

So Online stores are recommended if you are a savvy lingerie buyer who knows what works best for her.

The Ten commandments of Lingerie

1) Thou shall not choose the same bra size as your sister/friend/mom.

2) Thou shall not wear a bra that is too small to look bustier.

3) Thou shall not make the back band reach up for the stars.

4) Thou shall not wear seamed bras under t-shirts.

5) Thou shall not wear the same bra everyday (even if it's your best bra and you love it)

6) Thou shall not tumble dry your bras with your jeans.

7) Thou shall not buy a bra just because the nice sales lady said its your size.

8) Thou shall not be a softy, there are great underwired bras that are super comfortable and super supportive.

9) Thou shall not buy the same size in every brand. Fitting might vary even in the same brand across styles!

10) Thou shall invest in a good sports bra that supports your girls.