Opinion

Japanese culture has long valued the beauty of what is hidden. In traditional kimono dressing, inner layers such as juban (undergarments) are chosen with as much care as the outer robe. This aesthetic of layering, softness, and discretion lives on in Japanese lingerie design, where even the tactile experience is part of the beauty.

My son received a microscope this Christmas just gone and while playing around with it, we popped a sleeve cuff under the lens and well, that got me to thinking about doing a deep dive on lingerie fabrics. You can read about how jacquard is woven or how smooth nylon is, but actually seeing it? I found it fascinating.

What is a sign that a clothing brand is really, truly committed to sustainability? One answer I keep coming back to is providing a repairs service on its products. This is not to say that brands have to offer repairs to be sustainable. Very, very few lingerie brands currently offer this, even among the ‘eco friendly’ ones.

Knowing what you like is great. But really boxing yourself into a single aesthetic/style is not, especially if you’re just buying that underwear design over and over because it’s the same one you’ve always shopped for, without investigating the other options out there and whether they might work for you too.

If you’re practising yoga in lingerie, there are a few important considerations to keep in mind when purchasing. The right lingerie can enhance your experience, providing comfort, support, and an empowering sense of inner beauty and confidence.

Uncomfortable underwires, cups that gape/wrinkle or dig in, constantly having to pull the straps back up onto your shoulders… all of these are signs that you may need a different bra size. Breasts change size and shape as we go through life, so if you’re still just buying the same size you’ve worn for years and years, it may no longer be the best one for you.

I’ve previously written about how I’ve been trying to live more sustainably since 2019, and as time goes on I’m finding that the less I buy, the less I feel the need to buy. I also know I have way more lingerie already than is actually necessary for one person to own.

Think of this as a roadmap to the internet’s largest communities of lingerie addicts: a State of the Union for lovers of silk and lace. I’m going to introduce you to the most important social media scenes, breaking down the barriers of how to use each site and what to follow first.

If France is the lingerie capital of the world, then Poland is the full-bust lingerie captial of the world. Seriously, if you wear above a D cup size (especially if you’re well beyond that letter) and you don’t know about Polish bras yet, you’re missing out.

There are many misconceptions about the fabrics and materials used in the making of lingerie. One is that lace is itchy and meant only for the bedroom. Another is the confusion between embroidery and lace. Let’s clarify some of these concepts.