Have you ever wanted to turn back the clock and get your 20-year-old face back? No? Well, you're not alone; more than half of the 1500 women surveyed said they felt their most beautiful and successful in their thirties and forties. This tells us what we've known for a long time: women can feel their best at every age. Psychologist Dr Sandra Wheatley said,
"It’s a sign that we are valued for who we are and what we are capable of, not just what is on the surface. Feeling beautiful is tied in with confidence and life experience." (italics added)
And here at Secret Drawers Lingerie, we agree. In fact, we take it one step further. We believe that if women are beautiful and successful at 40 because of their life experiences, then their beauty gets even better at 50, 60, and beyond.
Meryl Streep, 60 and breathtaking, by Brigitte Lacomb, Vanity Fair
Beauty isn't about a two-dimensional image shone back at you from a piece of glass. Beauty is about confidence, experience, and knowing who you are and what you want. Vashti and I have proven this by taking some of our biggest steps in our 40's and 50's, and feel great about it.
We encourage any woman to drop by Secret Drawers Lingerie and see how the right undergarment can remind you of your feminine beauty. We know that your beauty is within you, we just aim to give you a daily reminder you can wear on the outside.
This week marks the delivery of a new Lejaby design: the Envie de Cotton. I suspect this is soon to be a favorite of many.
This bra has the unique feature of being mostly cotton, as the name suggests. In Secret Drawers Lingerie's history of 14 years, this is only our fourth bra that has been mostly cotton. Most manufacturers won't make cotton bras because cotton is less forgiving than more modern materials and so requires more skill and care.
But the people at Lejaby don't shy away from more challenging designs. Lejaby makes some of the most exquisite pieces we've ever seen, and this one is no exception. The Envie de Cotton mimics the blue jean in its appearance and it's accented with button details. It's a full-cup bra, meaning that it offers full support, and has coordinating panties or thong available.
Blue jeans are the comfortable, second skin that most of us rely on for weekend comfort. With this bra and panties set, that comfort can be with you everyday.
1. Save your white lingerie for wear under light-colored clothing. If you wear it under dark-colored clothes, those dark colors can rub off making your whites less than pristine.
2. Always wash your whites with other light colors. Dye can come off in the wash, making your whites look dingy.
3. Always hand-wash your lingerie in lukewarm water. You've invested in your beauty and comfort and hand-washing your underthings every two-to-three wearings will keep them looking their best and prolong their life. It also helps keep stretch fabrics fitting you well, and not becoming stretched out.
4. Our favorite detergent is Forever New. You can pick this up at Secret Drawers Lingerie or order it online, if you can't drop by in person. This product is great because it has been designed to be delicate and will not harm the exquisite fabrics found in our lingerie. It also has a lovely scent. If you find yourself without this product, a gentle shampoo can be used in a pinch.
5. If you've found your lingerie stained or discolored, dissolve some detergent in the sink, and let your items soak overnight. Especially with Forever New, it's amazing what will come out using this method.
6. Rinse out lingerie well; leaving soap in your lingerie can harm fabric. Roll your lingerie up in a towel to remove excess water. Don't twist or wring out the garments. Then lay flat to dry.
7. If you must use a washing machine, a front-loading model is more gentle than a top-loading one. Always put items into a mesh bag, and of course, use the gentle cycle.
8. Never - ever - put lingerie in the dryer! It is the sin among sins in the lingerie world.
If you follow these tips your luxurious garments are here to stay, which is important, because underwear matters.
Memorial Day is coming up and while for some this means picnics and fireworks, for us at Secret Drawers Lingerie, it means the official emergence* of white lingerie. Just in case you're not a Miss Mannors follower and want to get into your whites early, we thought we'd provide a few tips on wearing white lingerie.
Who wears white?
Lots of people, actually. White is now officially considered a "color" and not a neutral, so many designers use it to make a fashion statement. White lingerie runs the gamut from traditional panties, like those many of us grew up with, to the devastatingly sexy bra and rio brief set in the Menton line by Prima Donna, seen left.
Isn't white just for brides?
White certainly is a bridal favorite, but we get requests for it from many. Peeling away layers of clothing only to reveal the sweet innocence of white underpinnings is seen as very romantic for many.
So, are there any rules for wearing white?
Well, at Secret Drawers Lingerie we don't believe in rules, but if you'd like a couple of suggestions:
White lingerie will show under light-colored clothes. If you're looking to keep things hidden, try a color that's close to your skin tone. Of course, we believe it's perfectly acceptable to show off exquisite lingerie, but we'll leave that up to you.
If you are choosing white for bridal, try a molded cup with a skinny strap like the Twist line by Prima Donna, seen right. The smooth cups will give your breasts the boost you want under your dress with straps that are easy to hide.
While you should always look for a good fit, for whites it's particularly important not to have too tight a fit. White can show lumps and bumps more easily than other colors.
White looks particularly stunning on people with a darker skin-tone. If you're naturally light-skinned, try some self-tanner.
Just remember, whites are no longer just boring, everyday wear, or to be saved for a wedding day. Whites now come with every purpose in mind from nice to naughty, so indulge in a new crisp, clean piece this summer.
* And yes, of course we carry white lingerie year-round. Beautiful accoutrements simply cannot be dictated by the calendar.
Other than being breathtaking, talented women, of course, they also happen to love Bravado lingerie! Between the three of them, they have ordered at least 16 of Bravado's luxurious and comfortable maternity and nursing bras. And they aren't the only ones.
All three picked up the Essential Nursing Bra Tank (seen right), designed to take a woman from early pregnancy, through to breastfeeding. This popular tank as been featured in lifestyle magazines like American Baby and In Style, and is available in six colors - there's no need to give up fashion when you become a mother. This is the one piece of maternity wear you can throw on, and walk out the door feeling both comfortable and beautiful, safe in the knowledge that when baby is hungry, nursing will be easy to accommodate too.
The cotton/spandex top isn't see-through, even in white, and it slides up to reveal a double-molded, full-support bra - no shelf-bras here! The well-designed clips on each strap allow for full breastfeeding access, but they are so discrete only you'll know that this tank is for nursing.
Looking at the quality of the material and design, it's obvious that Bravado understands that women want to feel stylish and comfortable at all points in their life.
And while at Secret Drawers Lingerie we do sell a lot of the tanks, even more popular is the Body Silk Seamless Nursing Bra (seen right). The number one word our customers use to describe this bra is "comfortable". Women come back pregnancy after pregnancy to buy this bra. Moms ourselves, we agree - no woman should have to be uncomfortable just because she's pregnant or nursing.
This bra has simple sizing of S-M-L-XL, accommodating from a 32B to a 46F. This works because the material is specifically designed to melt into your body, and flex and stretch with you throughout pregnancy and nursing. Four hooks on the back band also help adapt to changing sizes.
And just as great, this bra comes with removable foam cups to hide breast pads or nipples, and sturdy, easy-to-use clips allow for one-handed feeding access.
In every detail, Bravado owners, and moms, Kathryn and Shery show they understand what moms and soon-to-be-moms want.
Nena and I have chosen Bravado as our only line of maternity wear at Secret Drawers Lingerie for one simple reason - they're the only bras we would wear if we were pregnant! In pregnancy, underwear definitely matters.
Secret Drawers Lingerie is lucky enough to be located in the beautiful Comox Valley on Vancouver Island. Here, we enjoy breathtaking views of Mt. Washington, the Comox Glacier, and the Pacific Ocean. In fact, we can enjoy these views while drinking coffee in our pajamas.
Or we could, if we lived in The Shores at King Coho. Our beautiful model on the right is lucky enough to be relaxing in her BedHead pj's on a balcony in one of their beautiful condos. The greens, and hints of blue and yellow in her outfit fit in perfectly with natural, peaceful surroundings.
While we're on the subject, we love the beautiful wooden arches, and granite counter-tops found in the condo bathrooms. Our model's black-and-white, sunflower, BedHead pajamas go perfectly with the modern, clean lines of the rectangular, white sink and dark, granite counter-tops.
Our model didn't mind taking as many shots as we wanted as the tile floors are electrically heated. Cuddly, sunflower, BedHead pajamas should always be accompanied with warm toes.
(She also looked longingly at the body massagers built into the shower, but unfortunately we had to pull her away for other shots. Being a model can be tough sometimes.)
And finally, Nena's personal favorite, an exquisite Bella Notte robe worn by our model in a library complete with built-in bookcases and hardwood floors. With this much space, Nena would finally have a place to put all the books she voraciously reads.
I also adore the luxury of the Bella Notte robe. It's in a silk-velvet which can only be truly appreciated in person. It's longer in the back, allowing multi-colored glints of light to trail gently behind you as you move. It drapes beautifully over a woman's curvaceous frame.
Our summer BedHead pajamas are here in fun, new patterns including sunflowers, peacocks, an Asian theme and even pure white and tan stripes for those seeking a classic look. Their 100% fine cotton sateen fabric is cool enough for warm summer nights but soft enough to make you want to cuddle up with a good book. BedHead pajamas are proudly 100% made in North America.
The budding nature found in spring and summer was the obvious inspiration for many of these new designs, including the green peacock feather set seen to the right. Rich blues and greens work with a multitude of skin types and evoke images of colorful summer fields.
BedHead's unconventional black-and-white sunflower pajamas, seen left, might not scream the gold and green found in nature, but this unusual design adds a fun sophistication to your nighttime wardrobe. These too are make in 100% fine cotton sateen.
Secret Drawers Lingerie is still carrying the flannel Eiffel Tower design in the night shirt and pajama as well, for those looking for something a little warmer or with international flair.
Vashti and I are going to spend our lazy summer Sundays in one of these beautiful patterns and keep a look out for the fall collection: it's still a surprise!
We, at Secret Drawers Lingerie, love the idea that women in their 40's are driving lingerie sales. Why shouldn't the gorgeous women of Sex in the City (in their 40's and 50's, by the way, see Kim Cattrall, below) and Courteney Cox in TV's Cougar Town strut in lace and silk baring their beautiful bodies? Beauty and sex appeal doesn't disappear because you hit a number on the calendar. Our customers follow the trend and are in their 40's and 50's rediscovering their bodies with excitement. Plus, they now have the time, money, and wisdom to pamper themselves.
One third of women over forty said they were having more sex now than 20 years ago - and more than half had more orgasms.
Unlike those in their twenties, older women said they had no inhibitions when it came to spicing up their sex life.
Woman in their 40's are now proud to buy more stockings, suspenders, thongs, and bras than women in their 20's. These women really like their spice.
Model Elle Macpherson, 47, has a hugely successful underwear line as does Liz Hurley at 44. Now, more than ever, it's time to recognize that throughout life, underwear really does matter.
Hanky Pankyis a lacy line including thongs, boyshorts, camis, and more, and they truly show that spring has sprung. We just barely manage to keep these on the shelves. If our customers are any indication, these really are the most comfortable thongs on the market, and they even come in an ultra-low-rise variety.
For the summer, Hanky Panky has brought out a new pattern: a bright kaleidoscope of butterflies accented with sky-blue trims. To the left is the spaghetti-strap, unlined cami skimming the top of the lace butterfly thong. The cami straps adjust for the perfect fit.
This cami would look great under a linen jacket, light for the summer, but we think it looks fabulous all on its own too.
To the right is the matching boyshort. These panties have a medium rise and cover the hips and backside with blue lace trim around the waistband and leg.
The name might say "boy" but the look is all girl as a bottom tends to look lifted in this cut.
Come see us in person for many more choices. Patterns like these definitely prove that underwear matters.
Lingerie. A word not in widespread use until 1852, from the French, “things made of linen”. Lingerie was introduced into the English language as a euphemism for “scandalous under-linen”.
While most lingerie made today is no longer linen, we, at Secret Drawers Lingerie, like to think that a tiny bit of scandal remains.
Whether your taste runs to dark and seductive black, fiery and feisty red, or smooth and creamy white, lingerie is too beautiful to keep in the bottom dresser drawer. Beautiful underthings lift you up from the puff of your chest, to the raised tips of your smile. They are a personal gift you give yourself, or a smoothing and sculpting skin given to the moment. They are a reminder of femininity, beauty, or even whimsy. What you wear underneath informs everything you wear over-top.
At Secret Drawers Lingerie believe that all women deserve fun, flirty, and fitted bras, underwear, nighties, robes (a sample Bella Notte seen in our store, left), and other goodies in the most decadent silks, lace, and new materials like micro-fiber. We aim for a fun and personalized experience in our store, at our events, hopefully some amusement will spill onto the web as well. Look here for laughs, facts, promotions, and information on our ever-popular fashion shows. Drop by here to take a moment for yourself, get inspired, and remember, underwear matters.
