Lingerie shopping made easy & ‘sexy’

A sexy set of lingerie might appear to be the most intimate gift for your girl, but buying it or rather buying the right kind of lingerie can be quite a daunting task.

Particularly, if you wish to increase your intimacy with her, a wrong choice can do more harm than good. After all, nothing can be as embarrassing for a girl than getting a sexy corset in a size that’s way too small, or big, for her.

So, if you want to avoid the untimely death of your relationship, better brush up your style sense before going lingerie shopping for your girl. We bring you a few quick tips:

Size and style rule the roost: The first step to avoid making a blooper is to know her actual size and her taste. While buying a smaller size may cause her embarrassment, buying a larger size can give her an indication that you think she is bigger than what she actually is. So, it is always better to do a little homework beforehand. Check out her lingerie drawers and examine the labels where her size too will be mentioned.

Similarly, having an idea about her style sense will be a big help. Buying a bold black corset may be a wrong choice for a girl who loves flowery lacey stuff. A bad choice can only make her cringe, so observe what she loves to flaunt when you get into some steamy action. If you manage to get even a little close to what she loves, know that you have hit the jackpot. After all, finding her something she loves to flaunt is the greatest achievement for a man. So, let the time be your guide!

Shop for her body type

If she is tall and slim: Garter belts cut the body horizontally and make your leggy lass appear all the more sexy. These belts accentuate the legs and highlight the curves in her body. These belts form the basics of sexy lingerie and stand a rare chance of going wrong. Just make sure you buy complementing stockings, underwear and a bra to complete the set.

If she is voluptuous and well-endowed: Nothing works better to turn a big bust line into a sexy cleavage than a corset. Not just that, it also takes attention away from her fuller tummy by giving it a flattening effect together with highlighting the waistline.

If she is bigger and fulsome: If you think a tight fitting corset or bra will squeeze your fulsome babe into a lesser size, you are heading into trouble. Rather than making her realise she is big, give her something that not only makes her feel comfy, but covers her rounds in the best possible way. A sexy negligee will do the best to hide all the sins. Something like a baby doll that‘s fitted at the bust and flairs down, her bum will not only accentuate her cleavage but will also camouflage her big bottom. Go for dark colours as they have a slimming effect; nets and see-through fabrics are absolute no-no’s.

If she is fit and athletic: Wanna make your tomboyish girl look sexy for a change? Boy shorts in a sexier style are what you must buy. Not only will they make her athel etic bod look curvier, they will also accentuate her well toned butt. Anything from a bra to a corset complements a boy short well. So go ahead and let your sporty babe pose sexy tonight.

If she is shy: Not everyone is blessed with a girl who is confident enough of her body and doesn’t mind sporting even the most daring of lingerie styles. If your girl is not very comfortable flaunting that tiny-miny underwear that you bought for her, just ease her by adding a satin robe. The robe will take away her hesitation and the satiny effect against her body will make her feel sexy and sensual. And you never know what else it does to her mind and you might just get lucky!

Points to ponder

– Make sure what you buy doesn’t accentuate or clings to a body part that she prefers to hide. For example a big tummy or thighs…you know your girl so better pick up something that flows down those areas making her look curvy.

– Your aim should be to gift something that enhances her best assets.

– Darker colours have a slimming look.

– When it comes to fabric, cotton is a big no, as women prefer it for everyday use and as a gift option, looks boring.

– Lace, silk and satin are the safest bets. They look sensuous and feel beautiful on the skin too.

– Go for lycra only if either your girl has a ten-on-ten figure or doesn’t mind showing off those buldges. The fabric has a tendency to cling to the body.

– Same goes for nets and see-through fabrics. Buy only if she is comfy carrying them.

Make the sales woman your friend for a day, tell her your choice and let her help you find the best piece for your princess.

Brow Beat: Fashion’s Victims

The West’s great fashion dilemma at the moment can be summed up thus: to shave or not to shave. But this is not about male stubble or hairy female legs.

It is about women’s eyebrows, and the question is, should they ever be completely removed? ”Fashion is an established prejudice,” said French fashion guru Pierre Cardin. Since we’re accustomed to seeing a woman with a penciled eyebrow, the very thought of absence of it is literally and metaphorically an eyesore.

But, history will bail me out in that there was a time in Europe when women regularly shaved their eyebrows. Leonardo da Vinci’s La Gioconda, better known as Mona Lisa, has no eyebrows. Italian painter Titian never liked women with eyebrows. He even got his paramour, a hoary old nobleman’s correspondingly young wife, to shave her eyebrows.

Edward Gibbon and Bulwar Lytton wrote in The Rise & Fall of Roman Empire and The Last Days of Pompeii respectively that the women of Rome never had eyebrows. Historian Arnold Toynbee corroborated this fact. The women of ancient Rome were influenced by Cleopatra, who had irritatingly thin eyebrows. But naturally, she shaved them off. The mildly raunchy Scottish bard Robert Burns wrote: ”On a damsel lovely and fair/ There shouldn’t be hair anywhere.” What exactly he meant by it is rather unintelligible and best left to his (or another’s) imagination, but the fact is, women’s eyebrows didn’t grow in medieval Europe. Even Radha of Jaydev’s Geet Govind has no eyebrows! Ancient Greek playwright Sophocles found Aphrodite, from whose name the word ‘aphrodisiac’ originated, more alluring and intoxicating for her lack of eyebrows.

Fashion follows icons. What an iconic figure does often becomes fashionable. In 1963, Playboy’s legendary playmate Zenith Thompson appeared without eyebrows. It became a trend for some time. Today, if Aishwarya Rai were to suddenly decide to go without her eyebrows, rest assured, many girls would try to emulate her. Remember, after all, that fashion is not about what makes people look beautiful. It is the cult following a new style acquires that is more important. So, there may now be the third category of no-brow after high-brow and low-brow.

The West’s great fashion dilemma at the moment can be summed up thus: to shave or not to shave. But this is not about male stubble or hairy female legs.

It is about women’s eyebrows, and the question is, should they ever be completely removed? ”Fashion is an established prejudice,” said French fashion guru Pierre Cardin. Since we’re accustomed to seeing a woman with a penciled eyebrow, the very thought of absence of it is literally and metaphorically an eyesore.

But, history will bail me out in that there was a time in Europe when women regularly shaved their eyebrows. Leonardo da Vinci’s La Gioconda, better known as Mona Lisa, has no eyebrows. Italian painter Titian never liked women with eyebrows. He even got his paramour, a hoary old nobleman’s correspondingly young wife, to shave her eyebrows.

Edward Gibbon and Bulwar Lytton wrote in The Rise & Fall of Roman Empire and The Last Days of Pompeii respectively that the women of Rome never had eyebrows. Historian Arnold Toynbee corroborated this fact. The women of ancient Rome were influenced by Cleopatra, who had irritatingly thin eyebrows. But naturally, she shaved them off. The mildly raunchy Scottish bard Robert Burns wrote: ”On a damsel lovely and fair/ There shouldn’t be hair anywhere.” What exactly he meant by it is rather unintelligible and best left to his (or another’s) imagination, but the fact is, women’s eyebrows didn’t grow in medieval Europe. Even Radha of Jaydev’s Geet Govind has no eyebrows! Ancient Greek playwright Sophocles found Aphrodite, from whose name the word ‘aphrodisiac’ originated, more alluring and intoxicating for her lack of eyebrows.

Fashion follows icons. What an iconic figure does often becomes fashionable. In 1963, Playboy’s legendary playmate Zenith Thompson appeared without eyebrows. It became a trend for some time. Today, if Aishwarya Rai were to suddenly decide to go without her eyebrows, rest assured, many girls would try to emulate her. Remember, after all, that fashion is not about what makes people look beautiful. It is the cult following a new style acquires that is more important. So, there may now be the third category of no-brow after high-brow and low-brow.

Harness your decorating spirit: Bling Your Bra for cancer research

You can don pink sweats and participate in a three-day run to raise awareness of breast cancer and funds to find a cure.

You can buy a pink ribbon and wear it on your coat to show solidarity with women who have breast cancer.

Now you can express your support on a whole different level.

“Bling Your Bra for Breast Cancer” is the latest fundraising idea from Melanie Bozak, owner of Crafts Cottage in Port Townsend, and her daughter Christy Spencer, who teaches classes there.

Last year, the mother-daughter duo organized the first Passionately Pink for the Cure Event in Port Townsend to raise money for the Susan G. Komen Foundation.

This year, they are adding a two-day scrap-booking retreat at the Harborside Inn, plus holding a Passionately Pink fundraiser on Oct. 18, when the winner of the Bling Your Bra contest will be unveiled.

“The public is invited to vote by putting quarters in the cups,” Bozak said, referring to teacups, not C-cups.

Women — and men — are invited to enter the contest by taking a bra and decorating it with ribbon, lace, sequins, beads, fur or feathers — whatever takes their fancy.

To inspire people, Bozak is offering free workshops at 11 a.m. today, 5:30 p.m. Monday and 1 p.m. Friday, and inviting people to bring a bra and whatever decorations they want.

“You can go nuts with embellishments,” Bozak said.

For ideas, she looked up “decorate your bra” and found photos of women modeling flamboyantly fun creations they had made. One bra had a strings of lights; DIY belly-dancing bras had rings of coins and gold chains.

“When I saw the bacon and eggs one, my mind started racing with ideas,” Bozak said, referring to a bra with bacon-strip straps and cups that look like fried eggs.

Another photo showed a group of women, obviously at a party, all wearing bras completely covered with pink marabou feathers.

The blinged bra can serve as part of a Halloween costume, Bozak said, worn either inside or outside clothes.

Theme creations, like a Madonna bra, are another possibility.

The foundation garment doesn’t even have to have to belong to the person entering it, she said, but could be purchased at a thrift store.

“I have a friend who is buying a giant bra to decorate, and another one who is thinking of using a demi-bra,” Bozak said.

The entries — identified by number, not name — will be displayed in the store a week before the Oct. 18 fundraiser, with voting continuing at the fundraiser, when the winner will be announced.

Passionately Pink for A Cure event is a drop-in event starting at 10 a.m. with a raffle, bake sale and crafts table.

Dedication ribbons will be sold and displayed on the wall, and information about breast cancer prevention and screening available, Bozak said. Donations are also requested at the door.

“It’s really about women helping women,” Bozak said.

You can don pink sweats and participate in a three-day run to raise awareness of breast cancer and funds to find a cure. You can buy a pink ribbon and wear it on your coat to show solidarity with women who have breast cancer.

Now you can express your support on a whole different level.

“Bling Your Bra for Breast Cancer” is the latest fundraising idea from Melanie Bozak, owner of Crafts Cottage in Port Townsend, and her daughter Christy Spencer, who teaches classes there. Last year, the mother-daughter duo organized the first Passionately Pink for the Cure Event in Port Townsend to raise money for the Susan G. Komen Foundation.

This year, they are adding a two-day scrap-booking retreat at the Harborside Inn, plus holding a Passionately Pink fundraiser on Oct. 18, when the winner of the Bling Your Bra contest will be unveiled. “The public is invited to vote by putting quarters in the cups,” Bozak said, referring to teacups, not C-cups.

Women — and men — are invited to enter the contest by taking a bra and decorating it with ribbon, lace, sequins, beads, fur or feathers — whatever takes their fancy.

To inspire people, Bozak is offering free workshops at 11 a.m. today, 5:30 p.m. Monday and 1 p.m. Friday, and inviting people to bring a bra and whatever decorations they want. “You can go nuts with embellishments,” Bozak said. For ideas, she looked up “decorate your bra” and found photos of women modeling flamboyantly fun creations they had made. One bra had a strings of lights; DIY belly-dancing bras had rings of coins and gold chains.

“When I saw the bacon and eggs one, my mind started racing with ideas,” Bozak said, referring to a bra with bacon-strip straps and cups that look like fried eggs. Another photo showed a group of women, obviously at a party, all wearing bras completely covered with pink marabou feathers.

The blinged bra can serve as part of a Halloween costume, Bozak said, worn either inside or outside clothes.

Theme creations, like a Madonna bra, are another possibility.The foundation garment doesn’t even have to have to belong to the person entering it, she said, but could be purchased at a thrift store.”I have a friend who is buying a giant bra to decorate, and another one who is thinking of using a demi-bra,” Bozak said. The entries — identified by number, not name — will be displayed in the store a week before the Oct. 18 fundraiser, with voting continuing at the fundraiser, when the winner will be announced.

Passionately Pink for A Cure event is a drop-in event starting at 10 a.m. with a raffle, bake sale and crafts table. Dedication ribbons will be sold and displayed on the wall, and information about breast cancer prevention and screening available, Bozak said. Donations are also requested at the door. “It’s really about women helping women,” Bozak said.

Types of bra

Thanks to the dedicated efforts of the modern-day designers and manufactures, today women have as many as 20 different types and styles of bras to choose from. Back in the 1920 when bras first came into existence they were only garments meant to support the breasts. Today, multiple bra types are available at shopping malls, designer stores and other shopping places. Designers have developed bras to suit various stages of breast development. Specific bras are available for different age groups. In fact, bras have everything to do with fashion and style, as women can now choose a bra according to their level of comfort and style and bras that exactly go with a specific kind of fashionable clothing. Give below are some of the most popular bra types that women need to know.

Training Bra
As the name suggests, these types of bra teenage girls accustomed to the use of bra. Specially meant for pre-teen and teenage girls, the training bras are smaller in size than the standard size available and are devoid of any underwire support.

Full Cup Bra & Demi Cup Bra
Full cup bras are provided with underwire support and provide the breasts full support whereas demi cup bras have cups that reach just above the nipples. Demi cup bras expose breasts to the maximum.

Padded Bra
These types are bra are specially preferred by women who have smaller breasts. Padded bras are also much popular with teenagers, as they provide their breasts a fulsome look.

Underwired Bra
These bras are provided with cups which may have underwire support or may not have. Some women like this bra type a lot as it lifts breasts while others complain being the underwired bra a little painful.

Strapless Bra
The strapless bra goes quite well with dresses like tube dresses and halter tops. Women prefer to wear strapless bra with dress that keep their shoulders exposed or bare. These types of bras either are devoid or straps or come along with detachable straps.

Convertible Bra
These bra types feature detachable bra which women can adjust according to their requirements. Convertible bra are specifically meant for backless dresses and halter tops.

T-shirt Bra
These types of bra are meant for t-shirts. Even when women wear skin hugging t-shirts, these bras may not be visible as they are devoid of a raised seam.

Minimiser Bra & Maximiser Bra
A minimiser bra helps large-breasted women to make their breasts look smaller. On the contrary, the maximiser bra (also known as push-up bra) works to enhance the breasts and give a fuller look to women’s breasts.

Sports Bra
These bra types are meant for those women who do rigorous physical exercise on a regular basis. These bras provide comfort and hold the breasts in place while in motion.

Built in Bra
Bras that come built-in with clothings are referred to as built-in bras. Swimsuits and tube tops come with built-in bras.

Shelf Bra
This type of bra leaves upper half of the breast and the nipples exposed. These bra types are not designed to provide comfort but to arouse sexual desire.

Peephole Bra
A peephole bra is provided with numerous holes around the nipple area. This bra is also not meant to provide comfort or support, but for sexual pleasures.

Maternity Bra
These are actually expandable bra that can be adjusted to the sensitive and larger breasts of pregnant women. As the breasts become larger during pregnancy, the maternity bra also adjusts itself to the changing size.

Nursing Bra
These bras are specifically designed for women to help during breast feeding. Women can easily breastfeed by pushing the flap to one side while keeping the breasts supported during the process.

The availability of so many bra types makes it easy for women to go with a bra type that exactly suits their requirement and purpose.

Essential fashion tips for apple shaped women

Do you know who is apple-shaped? Those women that are blessed with thick waist small hips are termed to be apple-shaped. Fashion tips for women vary depending on the type of figure or body they have. The most important thing for a fashionable woman is to be aware of the body type she has. Once you are aware of the body type you have, you can actually go for the fashion tips that would work in your case. For now, we are going to list some of the most essential fashion tips that can make apple shaped women look really impressive and eye catching. Follow below.

• Apple shaped women should go for tops that are soft and free flowing. Tops with much detailing should be avoided by women with an apple-shaped body.
• Avoid wearing tight synthetic tops, as they may work to highlight those parts of your body that you do not want to attract attention to. Therefore, you should not wear so much tight clothing that may heighten the problematic areas of your body.
• Different combinations of top and lower work for different body types. Those with an apple shaped figure should go for light colour lower and darker shade tops.
• Always dress in way so as to attract attention towards your arms and legs rather than towards your waist. Apple shaped women can look more feminine in a blouse which is flowy and full.
• Accessories are going to play a major role in detracting attention from your waist. Wear eye-catching ear rings and bangles, so eyes get attracted towards your pretty face and beautiful arms.
• Go for a top which is made of thin and light materials. Any clothing that his shoulder padded should a complete no-no for apple-shaped women.

These were some of the most essential fashion tips for apple shaped women. Be a fashionable women, follow fashion tips according to your body type see eyes rolling over you. For more such specific body type fashion tips, keep visiting.

Fashion tips for pear shaped women

As discussed earlier, fashion tips can be specific to specific body types. Women can be petite, tall, pear shaped or apple shaped. While trying to look fashionable, women need to make sure that they dress according to what the body needs. Whether it is the size, the colour or the texture of clothes, these can really vary depending on the figure and the body size of women. Given below are a few essential tips to make pear-shaped women look elegant and eye-catching. Have a look.

> Opt for vertical lines, as they will make you look slim.
> Pear shaped women can also go for light colour top and a dark shade lower. While going for this light-dark combination, women can attract more attention towards the light colour top than the dark colour lower.
> One more important thing for pear shaped women to do is to make their bottom look smaller. While doing so, you will automatically be adding broadness to your upper body. This, in turn, will add a proportion to your overall figure, thinning down below.
> Do not wear skirts that are tapered. If you wish to camouflage saddlebags, go for free flowing a-line skirts.
> Pear shaped women are always advised to wear slim fitting clothes including tops, cardigans, sweaters, tops etc.
> Women with a pear shaped body can also choose to wear a waist belt over their tops for extra addition.
> Always remember to accessorize the top part of your body quite well.
> One the most important tips for pear shaped women is that they should try to keep their shoulder line strong. Therefore, avoid wearing items that have a sloppy shoulder line.

How to add shape to your body using lingerie

How to avoid panty lines

Fashion tips for petite women

Fashion tips for different persons may vary depending on the body type they have. So, if you have a petite figure, you should opt for fashion tips that apply to petite women. So, small size women have the challenge of finding quality fashion clothes that make them look taller. To make your petite frame flattering with fashionable clothes, you also need to be innovative with your wardrobe.

• All the small size women, short women or petite women can follow the following women fashion tips specifically meant for their body type.
•  Women with short neck should avoid wearing clothes that have high collar. To make your neck look longer, wear deep neck clothes complemented by a long necklace that hangs a few inches above the navel.
• Short women should also avoid wearing shoes with strings. Go for an open shoe which keeps your ankle exposed or the one with a strap to keep the toes together.
• Another essential fashion tip for small women is to wear a belt (or a scarf) to the skirt or pant. The belt should hang downward toward the legs.
• The myth that very long skirts can make your legs appear longer has been laid to rest. Short women or petite women should go for skirts that hang downward only till the ankle level.
• A good tip for small women would be to wear pants that are straight and cover your shoes.
• Short women also need to keep away from wearing thick clothes, as it would only add some extra weight to their overall appearance.
• Short women with some extra pounds should wear clothes that fit them properly. Remember, oversize T-shirts only make you look without any shape.
• It would be a good fashion tip for petite women to avoid wearing fabrics with large prints. Large prints will have a predominating effect on your small figure.
• High-heels are a must with every petite woman. Matching stilettos with long straight pants can provide you a slim look always.
• A combination of bright or light top and dark bottom (or the opposite) should be avoided if you are small in size.

So are you ready to be creative with your wardrobe to make your smaller frame look fit and slim? If you really have an eye for fashion, spend some time weeding out your wardrobe. Get rid of clothes that do not fit or flatter. And remember to follow the fashion tips for petite women listed above to enhance your petite frame.

2 Strand twists