Can Women's Lingerie Be Sexy and Comfortable At The Same Time?
Author: Kelly Reyes
Can women’s lingerie really be sexy and comfortable? If you
ask most women, they would probably opt for lingerie that offers
some freedom of movement. Now, with the variety of options
available, we can have our cake and eat it too, whether you are a
size 6 or a size 20.
Lingerie comes from the French word “to lounge” or “laze about”. So,
women’s lingerie serves two purposes. The first, is to make the
woman look and feel attractive. The second , is to provide a
comfortable “lounging” ensemble for the private domain.
If comfort was the only motive for women’s lingerie, then why not
just throw on a cotton nightgown and be done with it? In more recent
times, women’s lingerie has taken on a more racy connotation than in
the past. Historically, it was not meant to be revealing or
titillating (with the exception of certain arenas). For example, in
Victorian times, women’s lingerie was an important part of the
bridal trousseau. The elaborate nature of the bride’s dressing gown
and the richness of the fabric was a status of wealth and
prosperity. In this context, women’s lingerie was meant to be a
celebration of femininity and of the transition from bride to wife.
With the advent of the burlesque tradition (particularly in later
years when the art became strongly associated with the strip tease),
women’s lingerie moved into the realm of fantasy. In the burlesque
performance, women’s lingerie took on a sexual connotation, although
this was hinted at and never overtly expressed. By wearing exotic
ensembles of lingerie and outrageous costumes, burlesque performers
fed into male fantasy and desire.
Today’s women are constantly on the go, so intimate apparel is not
just for lounging or the voyeuristic pleasure of the opposite sex.
Women’s lingerie provides freedom of movement. Nowadays, lingerie
like bras, panties, slips and hosiery can provide breath-ability and
wear-ability for women of all shapes and sizes. Even special
occasion lingerie emphasizes the comfort factor. Exotic women’s
lingerie such as corsets, bustiers and thongs can be found in
reasonably comfortable styles. Of course, if you prefer lingerie in
more elaborate get-ups, you can easily find what you are looking for
either online or in a store.
Designers of women’s lingerie are now recognizing the fact that
women do not want to squeeze and rend themselves into impossible
shapes. A woman, no matter what her size or shape, can walk into a
store and feel confident that she will find intimate apparel to suit
her needs and taste. Lingerie is all about choice, as there are now
a variety of options to choose from.
It is interesting to note that the variety of plus size women’s
lingerie has virtually exploded. Whereas before, it was near
impossible to find sexy women’s lingerie for curvier shapes, there
are now several retailers who specifically cater to this segment of
the population. While the image of the size four model is still the
prevailing notion of beauty in the fashion world, curvier figures
are also being recognized as attractive. Designers of lingerie are
slowly but surely realizing that plus size women are a growing
market for intimate apparel and rising to the challenge of
accommodating fuller shapes.
Women’s lingerie is also about positive body image, confidence and
self esteem. It is perfectly acceptable for a woman to wear lingerie
“just because” and for no one else’s pleasure except her own.
Lingerie designers are encouraging this confidence by creating real
options for real women.
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