Searching for the perfect pair
MANILA, Philippines - A real woman knows the value of good underwear. I, for one, have about three drawers (and counting) full. It’s a bit much, I know, but there’s something about intimates that I just love. Underwear is something special, something you wear just for yourself. Well, sure, on the off chance someone (your boyfriend, perhaps? Wait, what boyfriend?) does see it, then I guess it doesn’t hurt to be wearing something fabulous. But I’m a big believer in looking fabulous under all these layers I wear for show — in looking fabulous just for myself. My philosophy on underwear is that both panty and bra should always match (red panties, red bra; black panties, black bra; nude panties, nude bra, etc. — only the colorblind have an excuse), that said underwear set should also match my external clothing (if I’m wearing navy blue today, then you can count on my underwear being navy blue too, or some other complementing color), that they should always be comfortable (with the exception of thongs, because eww, panty lines, I'd rather be uncomfortable), and that they should never, ever be seen unless their exposure is part of your overall look (the whole point of underwear is that its under your wear, please don’t show off your colorful bra straps, it’s tacky).
Sure, shopping malls have hundreds, even thousands of options. But with size, fit, color, style, padding, fabric, quality and comfort to consider (especially since these garments caress your most intimate of parts), it’s difficult to find a pair that really fulfills all these requirements. Sometimes I’d rather not wear any when they don't meet the standards I so exactingly demand from intimate apparel. Most people sacrifice at least one or two for the other, resulting in an ill-fitting cup, a sloppy strap showing, or underwire digging uncomfortably into your skin, among other underwear-related horror stories. Just another case of fashion over comfort, in order to justify purchasing the super cute lace print bra and panty set bought on a whim. But how many times have women been victimized by the promise of sexy, fabulous underwear only to give up when they realize their nipple pops right out of the bra cup, rendering the pair completely useless? Or the uncomfortable squishiness of the panty strap revealing the unflattering reality of your love handles? You’ll soon find both pairs shoved to the very back of your drawer, never to be used again.
The search for the perfect underwear is endless, and the best thing to do is really go straight to the experts. Etam, for one, has just released a new line of bras called Beautysoft, which supports the ample-bosomed without the discomfort of my personal pet peeve, the underwire. Utilizing a new flexi-feel technology developed in-house, the bras have the comfort and support of the highest quality, and come in a variety of sexy, sleek and simple designs that are sure to fit right in your closet. With matching panties and perfectly fitting bras, what’s not to love? It’s definitely a perfect addition to my closet.
