Lingerie and Underwear Essentials

T-shirt bras: A great outfit begins with the right foundations. With that said, it is generally not stylish for your underwear to be a visible part of your outfit.  T-Shirt bras are ideal to wear under anything tight, close fitting or lightweight, removing all signs of lines and bulges. Women of all sizes can benefit from T-Shirt bras, but it is advised that women with a smaller bra size go for a T-Shirt bra with a demi cup. While larger cup sizes are better off with a full coverage cup to attain the best fit.

Nude bra: Nude does not solely refer to beige or tan shades, it simply refers to whatever colour is closest to your skin tone. Nude bras are best worn under lighter shade clothing and are a great option when wearing darker shade fabrics, should black not be desired. Contrary to popular belief white and black bras show through white clothing, therefore a nude bra is a vital addition to your underwear drawer.

Convertible bra: This bra is a great travel bra because of its versatile multi-way detachable straps. It is a good idea to have at least three convertible bras in your closet to avoid repeating the same bra on two consecutive days.

Seamless knickers: This default style is seamless and appears ‘invisible’, eliminating VPL (visible panty line).

Boxer shorts for men: Generally boxers have more breathing room than briefs. The choice is really a matter of personal taste. It is nice to mix it up and have a mixture of boxers and briefs in your underwear drawer, unless you are committed to one type of underwear. Boxer shorts are a popular choice due to their level of comfort, freedom of movement, increased coverage, flattering fit and increased circulation in the groin area, especially in warmer climates. A more aesthetic advantage of boxers is that you are spoilt for choice with a variety of materials, prints and patterns to choose from. Breathable cotton blends are the best selection for hotter climates. Colder climates require more insulating materials such as wool and flannel.

Briefs for men: Briefs give you more support and are ideal for sports or if you are sitting for long hours behind a desk at work. Tighter briefs will lower fertility. So if you are trying for a baby, loose-fitting boxers are the best choice. Be careful when selecting your briefs making sure the fit is right, including the elastic waist band, to encourage proper blood circulation. During warmer seasons wearing briefs can cause itch and skin irritations. Other not so charming qualities are the lack of style and print varieties as well as a tendency for briefs to lose their shape quickly. Therefore you will need to replace your briefs more regularly than your boxer shorts.

Purging your underwear
It is important to purge your underwear drawer frequently by getting rid of stained, threadbare or ripped underwear. Perhaps associate purging your underwear every time you get a haircut (men) or any time you shave or wax (women).

After care for your under wear
Not washing your bras or boxer shorts often enough can cause a build-up in bacteria. It is advised that you wash your bra after three to four wears and that you do not wear the same bra two days in a row. Hand wash is the most desirable option that consists of your bathroom sink, warm water and a tablespoon of mild detergent. Leave the bra to soak for fifteen minutes, gently pressing the bra for a few seconds afterwards, rinse well with clean water, squeeze out as much water as possible (without rough handling or deforming your bra) and hang in the bathroom to dry.  Don’t have the time to hand wash your bra? Then place them into a mesh zipper bag and into the washing machine they go. Choose a cold wash setting and once washed, drape the bras over a hanger to dry naturally.