Do you believe that a special underwear style, color or fabric can help the wearer feel confident, beautiful or sexy? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
Bra shopping is the bane of my existence. Panty shopping? Rarely a priority. So, I ignored that the big box store was out of size L triangle bralettes and tossed a size M three-pack into the cart with the cage-free eggs and branzino. I ignored that the lace-trimmed panties I ordered from some off-brand Amazon store had zero elastic at the waist. I ignored that my trusty t-shirt bra’s hook closure was scratching my back—and not in a good way.
What finally sent me to the fitting room? I ignored laundry in the dryer while at my dad’s house, and his caregiver folded the load of shame for me. Why hadn’t I gotten around to tossing that threadbare thong and the stretched out strapless? Embarrassing. It’s so much easier to neglect yourself when you don’t have witnesses.
Try ons did take forever, but I’m very happy with my lingerie haul of soft, supportive, lacy and racy things.
When we update our spring wardrobe, what lies beneath may be taken for granted. After all, few people are privy to our skivvies. Using what you’ve got is budget-friendly, too. But, as our bodies or lifestyles change, having the right support under our clothes can actually help support who we are now, physically or emotionally.
Breast size after age 50 can fluctuate from weight gain or loss, bloat, hormonal ups and downs or even exercise
Of course, anything that is stretched out, stained, threadbare, ripped or that has an escaped underwire that’s trying to shank you like an inmate in a supermax prison should be headed for the trash. But these are far from the only considerations as we mature. Pop open your undies drawer, and let’s have a look, shall we?
Consider an undie update if…
The first thing you do upon arriving home is take off your bra. You stalked into your bedroom and cast that thing off like an exorcist expels a demon. It’s been poking, binding or itching you all day. Shop with comfort in mind.
You may like:
Cacique Comfort Bliss Lightly Lined No-Wire Bra (starting at $45, lanebryant.com)
LIVI High-Impact Wicking Underwire Sports Bra ($60, lanebryant.com)
Strapped In Bralette Luxe ($100, lasette.shop)
As our bodies or lifestyles change, having the right support under our clothes can actually help support who we are now, physically or emotionally.
The hooks are hard to see. They call those bra closures hooks and eyes. So why are they hard on the eyes? Starting around 40, presbyopia makes it harder for us to focus on nearby objects. If you’re in the store, look for a bra with contrasting hardware. You can also try a front closure bra that uses a clasp instead of hooks.
You may like:
ENBLISS Front-Close Racerback Bra ($54, soma.com)
Cacique Totally Smooth Full Coverage Front-Close Bra ($65, lanebryant.com)
Leading Lady® The Lora - Back Smoothing Lace Front-Closure Bra ($49, jcpenney.com)
You are in perimenopause and have irregular bleeding or heavy sweating. Aunt Dot could call or text first before showing up, but noooo. Try period panties with a built-in liner.
You may like:
Knix Leakproof Boyshort ($22, knix.com)
Moon Time Store Period Panties Reusable Menstrual Underwear ($29, shopperiodpanties.com)
These dowdy things won’t do date night justice. If you’re a lady in the street but a freak in the bed, it may be time to “Usher” in some sexy new pieces. And you can be cute and covered in a pretty slip, camisole or robe. G string vs thong is far from your only option.
You may like:
COLETTE & SEBASTIAN Juliette Black Lace Lingerie Set ($230, anyalust.com)
Savage X Fenty Ruffle Luv Underwire Slip ($75, savagex.com)
YEMAYÁ EMBROIDERY BODY ($376, ihuoma.co)
You’ve gained or lost weight. If so, your bra size has likely changed. “Your lingerie drawer may be packed with cute, pricey bras, but if they’re not working for your breasts, body and wardrobe it’s time to toss or donate and go shopping,” Lois Joy Johnson, a beauty and style editor who focuses on women 50 and older, shares on aarp.org. A few signs you need to better support your girls: wrinkled or gaping cups, slipping straps, band hooks that are holding on for dear life. “Breast size after age 50 can fluctuate from weight gain or loss, bloat, hormonal ups and downs or even exercise (especially upper body weight training and swimming!). Don’t be surprised if your size is different than what you expected,” shares Johnson.
You may like:
Her foolproof sizing tips, listed here. You might also consult a bra size chart or bra size calculator online.
You are wearing more casual clothes. For many of us, post-pandemic, silky blouses or suit jackets are shoved to the back of the closet. Post retirement? Same thing. The structured, lace-embellished lingerie that used to mean business may show through knit tops or tees. A simple T-shirt bra with molded, smooth cups is versatile enough for workdays and weekends.
You may like:
Wacoal Comfort First T-Shirt Bra ($68. Wacoal-america.com)
Maidenform Everyday Full Coverage Cushioned Underwire Bra (regular price $48, sale price $24, Maidenform.com)
Savage X Fenty Microfiber T-Shirt Bra ($50, savagex.com)
Of course, anything that is stretched out, stained, threadbare, ripped or has an escaped underwire that’s trying to shank you like an inmate in a supermax prison should be headed for the trash. But these are far from the only considerations once we reach our 40 and 50s.
You want to minimize the look of back fat.
You may like:
Spanx Bra-llelujah!® Lightly Lined Full Coverage Bra ($68, spanx.com)
Back-Smoothing Wireless T-Shirt Bra by Comfort Choice (starting at $35, catherines.com)
Dreamwire Back Smoothing Underwire Bra (regular price $48, sale price $24, Maidenform.com)
Your “nude” undies are somebody else’s skin tone. Peach ain’t peachy when you want your brassiere to disappear.
You may like:
Nubian Skin Naked Bra ($73, nubianskin.com)
Skims Unlined Full Coverage Bra ($54, skims.com)
Harper Wilde Base T-Shirt Bra ($45, harperwilde.com)
You have bladder leaks.
You may like:
Knix Super Leakproof Bikini ($29, knix.com)
Zorbies Women's Leak Proof Absorbent High Waist Panties ($39, zorbies.com)
You have thigh chafing.
You may like:
Some of the intimates solutions and other tips here.
You put everyone else first. Time to treat yourself? Consider some pretty little things from Black-owned brands.
You may like:
Savage X Fenty Wallflower Bustier ($75, savagex.com)
Carmella Plus Size Bodysuit ($65, anyalust.com)
IHUOMA Divine Feminine Embroidered Body ($298, ihuoma.co)
Do you love or hate shopping for lingerie? Have your tastes changed over time? Let us know in the comments below.
Note: All prices are subject to change.
