The pinup

It is perhaps with more than a little excitement and dread that a girl comes in to get fitted for underwear for the first time. It’s a right of passage for many girls: the day the all-purpose cotton camisole comes off and the maidenly bra, also done in hardy yet comfortable cotton, come on. Fraught with anxiety (sixth grade is bad enough without having to worry about cup sizes) and nervousness (particularly when the parental units are along for the ride), the trip to the department store, or if you’re lucky enough, high-end lingerie shop, usually ends up in underwear you could call, at best, utilitarian – unless, that is, Mom has a yen for sexy undies for youngsters.

When you start making your own cash is when things get interesting. A little independence, a good eye for style and comfort, and a couple swipes of the credit card go a long way – at least in the underwear department. With more than a few highend labels setting up shop in the underwear industry (which boomed in the ‘90s – what with those sizzling black and white photos of hot models in various states of dishabille), complete with designer price tags, the luxury underwear market is often closed to modern women looking for a little pick-me-up on a working girl’s budget.

At Debenham’s, the British shop transplanted to Shangri-La Plaza Mall, the selection is staggering. There are pieces retailing for P300 (in styles that are nothing to scoff at) and up.

Wishing for those comfortable men’s briefs Sarah Jessica Parker wore during bathroom scenes in Sex and the City? All-white panties in thin cotton come in brief-shaped cuts that feel breathable yet still look stylish. In the mood for something funkier? Bras embellished with impish pompoms nestled seductively underneath the cleavage are great alternatives to plain pieces. And if prints are more your style, there are some Mediterranean-inspired pieces in bright paisley and some more suited to the beach. Feeling French? Dainty panties decorated with ruffles along the bottom are decidedly chic and sexy. It’s certainly the kind of thing you’d expect a pouty Emmanuelle Beart would slip on after a night of champagne at some sophisticated nightspot. And for those who want to hook up with underwear that’s slightly more risqué, Debenham’s designer labels, like Presence, are the answer. Lace-patterned bras cup and shape to create cleavage that simply sizzles. Provocative styles, like corsets in pink silk and black lace, can enhance anyone’s shape – giving the skinny a more hourglass shape, and reigning in those with more than generous curves.

The Victorian woman, who lived in an era of bone corsets and whaling, and subdued femininity may be far gone, but the pinup girl, who’s brash and bold and all about luxuriating in her shape, be it skinny or voluptuous – well, that girl resides in all of us. It only takes a nice set of underwear to bring her out.