In today's Reader Mail:
Dear BS:
I know this is kind of a weird question, but I'm wondering—I buy all my underwear at Victoria's Secret. Only I hate it, and would really like to branch out. But I don't know where to look. Will you ask people where they shop for theirs? I'm not talking about Agent Provocateur—I'm just wondering where everybody gets their everyday nice stuff.
Thanks!
J.
Oh! We have been wondering this as well. Our choice: Calvin Klein Underwear. It's as middle as the road as it gets. In fact, we are wearing one of their bras right this minute. Too much information, maybe? We can't say.) But we do wonder if this is one of those places people just throw up their hands and go to Macy's. We're curious, anyway—where do people get their underwear? Victoria's Secret? Target? We have no idea.
Above: a selection of CKU's best-selling items.
gapbody! for bras. and hanky panky undies.
I get all my stuff from American Eagle (Aerie?). I’m not such a fan of their other clothes because their sleeves tend to be too tight for my arms, but their underwears and bras (heather!) are cotton, mega-comfortable, cute prints, and relatively cheap.
yes to gapbody! the bras are super comfortable and the underwear fits really nicely (i.e. far better than victoria’s secret underwear).
We’re embarrassed but:
GapBody, esp when they have a good sale
or
(gasp)
Target – some of their bras hold up far better than anything else we’ve ever had, and they’re no less attractive/basic than Gap.
I love American Apparel hot shorts. I’ve been buying & adoring them for seven years now & they have never let me down. Cute & comfy, the only thing they’re not great for is the gym.
I second the Calvin Klein bra suggestion–Hanro also makes great bras. I find both at Loehmann’s or Filene’s Basement. Otherwise, they’re just too expensive.
I buy a lot of VS too, and I totally get what your saying. I feel like I hate them. Why do their sales people have to wear blazers? It looks creepy. Anyway, I second the CK. I have bought some really nice stuff from them and it holds up pretty well. You can usually find their stuff at the bargains stores, and they carry a lot of sizes (like a 32d).
Ugh I HATE victoria secret yet I just bought 6 pairs of underwear. I am small, like 5’2 and 110 lbs and I have to buy medium or large underwear there because it digs into my sides and makes me feel fat. Yuck gross spit venom.
Anyway, Hankypanky underwear is the best there is. Bras, I have good luck at Bloomingdales and just try a ton on until I find the best fit.
Thank you! I have this exact delimma! I have VS bras that I really like, but the style that works for me has been discontinued and the replacement style doesn’t fit properly at all! I used to buy panties from Lerner NY of all places (don’t laugh, the string bikini’s fit perfectly and had no panty lines) but they stopped selling undies.
I will definitely try gap body and see how their stuff works for me. Are their padded bras any good? I tend to get *visibly* cold, so I have to have a bit of padding to deal with that issue.
Old Navy mesh hipster underwear is the bomb. I used to buy Target but that shit practically evaporates after a few washes.
With bras, Gap Body and Target are both ok (again, just be ready to replace your Target bra pretty quickly); if you’re willing to spend a little time on your quest, Marshalls and TJMaxx usually have a ton of different brands at decent prices.
I only buy CK bras now as they seem to be really nice quality and worth the $$. Victoria’s Secret bras just didn’t last as long and it was always hard to find some that fit reasonably.
Underwear I get at the Gap. Very exciting, I know, but they have cute basics and I am not going to spend bank on everyday stuff.
I have to agree with GapBody. It is the best and so reasonable. Even the Old Navy stuff. I got awesome bras from Gap. They fit better than everything from VS.
What the shit is embarassing about Gap body!?!?! All my undies are from there, their lacy boy shorts are amazing! As well as their cotton boy shorts. They are full coverage, durable, and not that expensive. in fact i have to replenish.
I have two target bras that are awesome.
i won’t lie though, i do have a vickies bra or two that i don’t hate. but i hate all their undies… and anything would consider wearing is pink or has an effing DOG on it or something. I’m 27 years old, i don’t want a dog on my skivies!
hanky pankies are good too, but i have a question… i don’t get the one size fits all thing.. they are a little big on me, and i’m a much bigger person than my petite sister, who wears them exclusively. are they magic or something?
GapBody is amazing! You can get really great stuff (especially undies) on sale.
I also like Calvin Klein bras, which I purchase at Century 21, Marshalls-like stores. I have nothing good to say about DKNY bras or Vera Wang bras. Poo.
I was actually just thinking about this this morning…my mom sent me some Calvins and they are the best ever!!!
Also, KC, I agree with the VS Pink comment…once you’re out of college, it’s time to give up on that line…it really bugs me when I see grown women wearing sweatpants with PINK on their butts.
I am not a fan of VS in general, but I must defend their underwear, which I’ve been wearing for years. I like cotton, and their cotton bikinis fit me great — not too skimpy, but not as unflattering (on me, at least) as briefs. Maybe I should be wearing solids at my advanced age, but I like the cute, bright (and logo-free) prints that you find in the sale bin.
Andy warhol always bought his underwear at Macys .
Try the Townshop or Intimacy if you’re in NYC….VS is straight up cheap and they don’t even carry my size!
I have nothing but good things to say about Target underthings. They are good quality and especially nice when you find them on clearance!
Ugh, I had a huge problem with this. My odd bra size is really hard to find and I was constantly having to compromise on size and then toss out bras after a few washes made them too big.
I recommend buying bras at specialty shops, even for your basics. You can get properly fitted and have salespeople help you find exactly what you’re looking for. It may seem more expensive but I think they fit so, so much better and last longer than VS, so price per wear is about the same. My favorite brands are gossard, aubade and princesse tam tam, all of which are comfortable, attractive and have various styles from basic to over the top sexy. Then I bring the bras to gap and find colour matching undies to go with my fancy new bras–my tits might be worth the splurge, but I’m not spending $50 on boy shorts.
2 Words, One Place: Nordstrom Rack.
Try Azalea’s boutique at 223 E 10th st, NYC They have beautiful lingerie !and also Bloomingdale’s in NYC and sometimes the store Century 21 , downtown NYC
I love Aerie too, for both bras and undies! They are so simple and cute! I’ve had mine for about a year now. I wear them all the time and they look and feel the same as the day I got them. Amazing!!
I also buy all my bras at Filene’s Basement or Marshalls. Generally Calivin Klein, but I also have one DKNY bra that I love (many of them don’t fit right) I like it because it has highly adjustable straps and I find that my CK bra straps stretch and can’t be tightened enough.
I highly reccommend a professional bra fitting– I went to intimacy in Atlanta and I learned alot about how a bra should fit which I now apply to my discount bras.
This may be really boring, but I buy black Jockey string bikini undies in bulk. They are comfy cotton without being embarassingly granny-ish.
I got bra-fitted in Selfridges in London and again in Nordstrom in SF, and in a small boutique in SF. I can’t recommend it highly enough. I also got bra fitted in Bloomingdales but they told me I was 34D/DD which was clearly not true. Your best bet is to go to a specialty boutique. There’s one or several in major cities. I converted to Chantelle bras (about ~$70 a bra) from much cheaper bras, and I haven’t looked back. They fit much better, and they last much longer (or at least I take care of my bras much better). No one may see them, but you’ll feel the difference. For underwear…VS and Maidenform cotton stretch hipster.
American Eagle’s (aerie?) 8 for $25 sales are truly a wonderful thing. all of their underwear fit really well, and they usually have a pretty large variety of super cute prints. i hate their bras more than anything though
i’m a pretty uncommon size (32C) so when i try to find bras in my size, it takes forever, and they are usually really ugly. the town shop has a great selection of size, cut and print, as well as an outstanding staff (ask for cierra). Also, check out macys.
As for brands, Elle McPherson Intimates and DKNY are pretty, functional and stand up well to wash. I have heard that Elle McPherson runs small though, and from my own experience, i can say that DKNY runs a bit large.
For basics, H&M bras are actually surprisingly comfortable and long lasting. GapBody is great for simple bras and panties
I also wear calvin klein. They fit me perfectly and are pretty consistent no matter what style. I buy them from bloomingdales or any other department store.