Do You Need Expensive Lingerie to Have Good Sex?

Nov 29, 2007 @ 11:12am

Our favorite Project Runway moment came two seasons ago, when Santino Rice's lingerie got slammed by Michael Kors. "I think it's not very sophisticated," said the designer. "I think lingerie's supposed to come off, is what I think!" shrieked Santino.

But that's part of the problem.

We know some girls who can't bear to strip in anything but designer bras. There's an entire industry to back them up - Agent Provocateur, Kiki de Montparnasse, Catriona MacKechnie, all with panties that cost more than James Jeans (or, yes, champagne!).

We know a lot of girls who aren't confident at parties unless they have expensive handbags or killer high shoes. But is there also a tribe of women who can't perform in the bedroom unless their lingerie is runway quality?

Personally, we're a big fan of t-shirt bras and tie-dye undies (and sorry if that was an overshare). But there's got to be something sustaining the million-dollar industry of very expensive underthings. Is Agent Provocateur like Viagra for fashion girls?

posted by guest

Nov 29, 2007 11:41AM

I think it's so ridiculous...I wear mostly Victoria's Secret and American Eagle undies/bras/tanks...and everything is always adorable and yet affordable.

It's not like guys give a crap anyway. They just want to get the lingerie off of you!

posted by guest

Nov 29, 2007 11:45AM

I gave up on expensive undies the second my ex said (unprompted) that his favorite bra of mine was also the simplest and cheapest--a playtex, under-wire free, white, demi. Works for me!

posted by Laia

Nov 29, 2007 11:50AM

The one time I tried to spruce things up with nice underwear it uhh.. came right off and went completely unnoticed. Also, like 11:45am guest, I get the most compliments on my cheap cotton underwear from urban.

posted by guest

Nov 29, 2007 12:00PM

Yeah, I've pretty much given up as well. I feel like most guys just want you naked, and they really just want you buck naked. While I'll throw on a cute pair of Calvin Klein boy shorts, that's about as far as I go!

posted by guest

Nov 29, 2007 12:18PM

This post is so poorly framed. Viagra? Are you honestly suggesting underwear a performance enhancing drug? What you mean, most likely, is that people hide their insecurities through fashion.

Honestly, those luxury lingerie brands you named make beautiful items. They often compliment the female form in such marvelous ways. You won't find any padded bras, for example, at Agent Provacteur. Whereas at Victoria Secret, I'm hard pressed to find a "sexy" bra that doesn't double my cup size. That, in my opinion, is a worse offense for a woman's insecurities. VS disguises a woman's body with a false fantasy, where Kiki, Agent, Eres, etc. compliment it. I think that is more worthy of a discussion than what you've posted above.

-T

posted by hellonheels

Nov 29, 2007 12:21PM

I don't especially care what guys think of my underwear...after all, as Santino so wisely noted, it's only coming off. But I find that I feel so much more confident and put together if I know I have on attractive, coordinating undergarments. I'm not talking La Perla...VS will do.

For sleeping though, nothing beats American Eagle boy shorts. They're soooooooo comfy!

posted by guest

Nov 29, 2007 12:28PM

I Love Lingerie. Why wear Gap cotton when you can go to Century 21 and get D&G and Roberto Cavalli for less than Victorias Secret? (which, by the way, is outrageos considering the cheap fabric they use). Why settle?

posted by guest

Nov 29, 2007 12:36PM

i would rather pay 30 bucks for a pair of underwear than a pair of shoes that are a lot more. in fact, i do. something about having great foundations does something to my confidence.

posted by guest

Nov 29, 2007 12:38PM

I like wearing nice undies too, but just for my own sake. It makes me feel sexy. As far as expensive skivvies and sex? In my experience, as soon as the guy sees my bra, it's comin off in a few seconds anyway. The best underwear complements have been for my Target and Gap bras anyway!

posted by mckeb753

Nov 29, 2007 1:00PM

i feel like a lot of the time, women think they are doing it for men...but as other commenters have noted, most men don't really give a crap...unless they paid for it or picked it out

posted by guest

Nov 29, 2007 1:07PM

I am in a relationship with a man with no fashion sense. Although he definitely can't tell the difference between Victoria's Secret and La Perla, I refuse to wear cheap lingerie. Even if I wasn't in a relationship and knew that nobody would see me naked, I love to wear $300 bras. They make me feel amazing. And while I wouldn't mind a few pairs of Louboutins, I tend to spend more on lingerie than on visible accessories like shoes or handbags. It is all for me and not at all for men. I get so excited over a beautifully constructed bra. That said, I usually wear my $300 bra with a Hanky Panky thong (my favorite).

posted by alison

Nov 29, 2007 1:07PM

the best? black bikini underwear from Felina in super soft cotton and a white or grey men's undershirt. Affordable, yet still luxurious.

posted by guest

Nov 29, 2007 1:49PM

Hell no. Any girl who can't drop it like it's hot in a potato sack isn't a real fashionista anyways.

You should be able to get him up, even if your duds aren't up to par.

posted by elle

Nov 29, 2007 2:04PM

major LOLz to guest @ 1:49 and yea, i totally agree.
that said, i think plenty of women SAY their buying the lingerie for their man (or any man) but really, they're just rationalizing a pricey purchase...

posted by Jacqueminette

Nov 29, 2007 3:12PM

A Domina friend of mine describes me as a "lingerie fetishist". There is absolutely no relation between what I choose to wear under my clothes and whether or not anyone is going to see it. For me, it's about the ritual of putting them on: the cotton gloves to help slide into the nylons, adjusting slightly the bra strap or garter belt, checking to be sure the seam on the stockings is straight. It's an enthralling experience for me.

Naturally, this doesn't happen every day; I certainly have a supply of "regular" underwear.

Also: As someone who has an entire dresser dedicated to underpinnings, I have to say that AP makes decidedly low-quality products. Most lingerie companies are selling sex, not quality.

posted by guest

Nov 29, 2007 5:42PM

I love beautiful lingerie but I just don't have the time to take care of it. I would hate to buy a 300 dollar bra only to ruin it in the washing machine. Instead, I buy, almost exclusively, all black undergarments (unless the outfit requires a nude color.) I feel the sexiest in black lingerie and since it's all interchangeable, it's as if I'm always wearing a pretty, matching set.

posted by guest

Nov 29, 2007 6:03PM

I totally agree with you, Jacqueminette, especially about AP. Never understood the hype--they are like a British Victoria's Secret.

posted by Annmarie

Nov 29, 2007 10:27PM

The only ones I really crave are the cotton ruffled kind from Steven Alan (which are currently onsale for $20...and yet I still dont want to buy!) And even so, I think I picture myself wearing them around the house when no one else is there more than when a guy will be...

posted by guest

Nov 30, 2007 3:29PM

My fella's an odd one, he says he likes silk and satin underwear, and sometimes really appreciates it. And then when I go and spend more than I normally would on something really feminine and gorgeous... he's totally oblivious to it. Grrr. I like So Shei for lingerie anyway - very lovely, and not too pricy. I hate wearing plain cotton smalls - beautiful matching sets in great material and unusual, elegant colours make me feel chic inside-to-out.
Agent Provocateur aren't too well made, no. Coco de Mer are far better - I've one black silk bra from there and it's the most beautifully constructed item of clothing I own.

posted by guest

Dec 19, 2007 2:38PM

I think lingerie should be both beautiful and comfortable. For my everyday lingerie I love Undrest, made of supima cotton. I love Spoylt for my designer level lingerie. And my favorite lingerie shopping online is definately BellaBellaBoutique.com. They have amazing labels, from affordable to designer, for all.