The Modern Materialist : lingerie

Guess the Product: A Modest Bra

Diana Vilibert — Thu, 14 May 2009 21:10:00 GMT

The concept behind this bra is pretty hilarious, in a disturbing and not at all sexy way. I'll give you a hint--it's not a ticking time bomb, despite how it looks. Well, not exactly:

This chastity bra puts the brakes on any groping action until the big (wedding) day in Japan, apparently. If an engagement ring is inserted into the "special slot" (that's what she said?), the countdown stops and The Wedding March is played. The bra also has holders for the marriage contract seal and a pen for pre-nups.

...Oh. My. God. In other news, women belong in the kitchen and should be seen, not heard.

[via Reuters]

Je M'appelle Sexy

Laureen Mahler — Thu, 14 May 2009 18:12:00 GMT

[$65, Kiki de Montparnasse]

Taking French lessons is already pretty sexy on its own. But combine learning French with this suggestive lingerie, and you'll be fluent in no time. The Aime-moi panties pictured above translate to "Love Me," and that's about as PG as this underwear comes:

[$65, Kiki de Montparnasse]

Fesse-moi = Spank me

[$65, Kiki de Montparnasse]

Attache-moi = Tie me up

[$65, Kiki de Montparnasse]

Mange-moi = Eat me

[$65, Kiki de Montparnasse]

Baise-moi = F**k me

Can't decide on just one pair? Get a set of all five designs for $295. Truly, learning a language has never been so much fun.

Good Enough to Eat

Laureen Mahler — Fri, 08 May 2009 19:03:00 GMT

[$42, Penthouse Lingerie]

Given our love of both cupcakes and undergarments, it's no wonder that we here at MM are completely smitten with Penthouse's new line of delicious lingerie:

Pictured above is the bra and panty set, complete with matching ruffles and cupcake motif sure to satisfy any sweet tooth.

[$55, Penthouse Lingerie]

The cupcake camisole is just about the cutest packaging around, and it features front ruffles and adjustable straps.

[$42, Penthouse Lingerie]

This cotton and mesh babydoll is the icing on the cake, with cupcake bra cups and a ribbon tie.

Check out Penthouse Lingerie's site for more cupcake designs, and suffice to say that they provide the deliciously sexy. I'm pretty sure you might have to whip up the actual cupcakes, though.

Around the World in 80 Bras: Winner

Steph Auteri — Fri, 01 May 2009 14:28:00 GMT

After asking my husband 5,000 times whether he read my Around the World in 80 Bras post, I finally had to send it to him via IM, and then make sure he read the entire thing and, after that, hestill wasn't sure which lingerie set I wanted, so I had to point to it, and but I allowed that he could buy me multiple sets if he so chose.

::sigh::

I try to be blunt and it's still too subtle for him.

Luckily, you, my dear readers, do not have to jump through such hoops. Because we'll be sending a pair of passport panties to one of our lucky contest entrants. And the winner is...

::drumroll::

Kat!

Kat: Please e-mail me with your size (lg, med, or sm) and your mailing address. Congrats!

Related: Around the World in 80 Bras

Around the World in 80 Bras

Steph Auteri — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 16:30:00 GMT

I was 21 when I bought my first and last lingerie set.

It was from Victoria's Secret...a rich purple tank that opened up in front and thong undies. I never wore it (ever). I finally got rid of it last year. I've since received another set at my bridal shower but, suffice it to say, I'm a Cookie Monster pants and tank top kinda girl.

At least I was, before I attended a launch party for Dames and Broads, a new lingerie e-commerce site searchable by country (and also by body type).

Let me tell you about it. But first, let me slip into something more comfortable...

Um. Just kidding. ANYways.

When Nerve Nicole and I first walked into the apartment where the launch party was being held, the first thing we saw was pretty pretty lingerie. Everywhere. Set up on coffee tables and end tables and side tables and consoles.

[$60, Dames and Broads] (This is the first set we saw, upon entering the apartment; gorge!)

Unfortunately (for you), they did not have women walking around in the lingerie, though there was one young lady from the company who had incorporated one of the Brazilian bras into her outfit and, man, did her cleavage look fabulous.

ANYways.

After making a beeline for the sparkling wine (delish), we began to circulate around the room, holding up panties and bras and behaving like 12-year-olds. We soon noticed (using our extreme powers of perception) that the lingerie was organized by country. And herein lies the beauty of Dames and Broads:

Different countries value different body types, and the cut of their lingerie reflects this.

And so, we became enthralled listening to the stories behind each cut and embellishment on each racer-back bra and big-bootied panty. For example:

[$97/$88, Dames and Broads]

England is way into embellishments like peepholes and sheer details, not to mention push-up "balconette" bras, named thusly because men used to peek over theater balconies to get a glimpse of the dramatic cleavage.

[Bra - $110/Panties - $51, Dames and Broads]

In Turkey, lingerie is made to accentuate curves...especially the hips (think belly dancer!). Their pieces create an exaggerated hourglass figure (look at that v shape in the panties above).

[$85, Dames and Broads]

The Brazilian lingerie was made for my booty (though I lust after the English sets the most). They're the ideal for pear shapes, because they value a big behind, and their panties showcase that, using a low rise in the front and more fabric in the back (brallelujah!).

By the time I left the party, I was totally convinced that every woman — including myself — needed and deserved a bit of lingerie-induced glamour. (Are you listening, Michael? Two-year anniversary coming up! That purple, $88 set with the high-waisted panties up above would make such a nice gift. 36C, large on bottom, kthnxbai!)

By the way, we're giving away a pair of passport panties to one lucky reader:

[$45, Dames and Broads]

Ladies: Tell us which body part you're dying to accentuate, and why.

Men: Let us know why you feel that the woman in your life deserves a nice pair of panties.

The powers that be (um, me) will somehow choose a winner by next Friday.

Meanwhile, visit the site to sign up for their mailing list, or follow them on Twitter!

Related: Maison Close's NSFW Collection

Syrian Lingerie Seduces the World

Laureen Mahler — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 14:03:00 GMT

In an article recently published by Der Spiegel, the mysterious world of Syrian lingerie is revealed in no small detail. It turns out that Syria has become a hub of all things exotic, lacy, feathered, musical (yes, musical) and otherwise. Here are a few scintillating samples:

Lingerie is made from everything imaginable, including wire and vinyl,

feathers and cell phones,

and birds and leaves.

Salon.com also gives some insight into the relatively new phenomenon of edible underwear in Syria, which is nothing like the cheap candy stuff made in the States. These panties are made from pure fruit and sugar, cooked and rolled out into a wafer-thin fabric. Now that's a test drive I can get behind.

The styles and concepts behind Syrian lingerie are truly endless: they include everything from musical knickers to remote control undergarments that fall open at the push of a button, and they cost anywhere from $3 to $20 per piece. Talk about bang for your buck!

So why, you might ask, is Syria the new lingerie paradise? According to a lingerie seller at the Hamidiyeh souk in Damascus, "In a culture where there is always the danger that the man may find a second or third wife for himself, wives want to make sure their husband stays loyal to them... mothers believe their son-in-law will be less interested in other women if his wife surprises him with more and more new gimmicks at home."

While the world of Syrian lingerie may be out of reach beyond marketplaces such as Hamidiyeh, you can get your hands on a book devoted to the topic:

[$25, Chronicle Books]

The Secret Life of Syrian Lingerie intersperses vivid photographs and interviews with women who, I have no doubt, possess a far more varied unmentionables collection than I ever will.

Have Sex with the Lights On...Kind Of

Diana Vilibert — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 21:21:00 GMT

Looking for a compromise between sex with the lights on and sex with the lights off? The key might be the right lingerie:

Playtex has released a line of glow in the dark lingerie to celebrate the 10th anniversary of its Moonwalk Charity to raise money for breast cancer research. Find out more about the Moonwalk Charity here, and keep your eyes out for the glow in the dark lingerie after the May 19th anniversary.

This Underwear Really Makes an Impression

Laureen Mahler — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 17:18:00 GMT

At first glance, these panties look pretty standard. They're lacy, black, and a whole lot nicer than most of the undies in my drawer (except those Ginch Gonch, of course). But look a bit closer, and you'll see tiny beads and seams sewn into the, um, inner butt-cushion type part. Does anybody know the name of that part? Anyway, these panties are called Souffrez pour Moi, and they're designed to create impression-style tattoos on the wearer.

[Ninette van Kamp]

Designer Ninette van Kamp's pieces use artfully placed seams, beads, and textured fabric to create patterns in the skin. In other words, if you've ever wanted a flaming eagle soaring over an erupting volcano imprinted on your ass, Ninette is your woman. Not that, ahem, I've ever considered such a thing.

But seriously, the real story here is pretty interesting. Ninette embarked on this project with the following in mind: "Women have always been encouraged to achieve an unrealistic state of ideal beauty, even in cases where it is detrimental to their health. This is apparent in more extreme examples like the Victorian corset and Chinese foot binding. Women, it seems, are willing to suffer for the sake of beauty." Her aim with the Souffrez pour Moi concept was to explore how beauty and suffering are subtlely intertwined.

[via I Love Bad Things]

I'll Wear the Tuxedo, You Bring the Champagne

Laureen Mahler — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 16:37:00 GMT

[$125, Kiki de Montparnasse]

No pants required!

I absolutely love this collection of quirky-sexy lingerie from Kiki de Montparnasse. It has all the beauty of standard lingerie without the overdone frills and girly-girl cuts. More, more, more after the jump:

[$195, Kiki de Montparnasse]

The garter belt tank.

[$295, Kiki de Montparnasse]

My personal favorite: the lusty, lacy boxing shorts.

[$395, Kiki de Montparnasse]

The "Boyfriend Shirt," just for girls.

Chocolate + Thongs: A Recipe for Disaster

Diana Vilibert — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 16:31:00 GMT

What happens when thongs and chocolate come together? Pretty much what you would expect:

The company promises that your body heat will start melting the chocolate thong as soon as you slip it on. You know, as if it's a good thing. Are we all in agreement that this seems like a bad idea, or did I not get the memo that melted chocolate in your nether regions is the new "hey, let's try whipped cream!"?

[$10.98, The Lighter Side]

Find Her Sweet Spot

Alex Zalben — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 16:02:00 GMT

Want to always find her sweet spot? Then you'll want to pick up this lingerie. Can you guess why? The answer is in the picture:

Yup, if you look in the bottom left of the undies, that's a GPS box. So next time you... head down, you can have a friendly female robot saying, "Turn left in 100 feet." Just kidding.

[$800, Lindelucy]

[Via Gizmo Watch]

[NSFW] Revenge of the Pearl Necklace

Alex Zalben — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 14:03:00 GMT

Tired of having your man snickeringly ask if he can give you a pearl necklace? Then why not take sweet, sweet vengeance (or, you know, break up with the a-hole)? If the choice is ironic revenge, then you might want to look into one of these (and, I might mention, everyone else, avert your eyes):

Yup. That's a pearl dude thong. Sa-weet.

[$60, Thongs and More Online]

[Via TrendHunter]

Related: Most Nuts Lingerie Ever

What's Under Those Panties?

Diana Vilibert — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 18:13:00 GMT

Usually, I like my lingerie sexy, frilly, and girly--leaving little to the imagination. The sex appeal in the panties below may be subjective, but I think we can all agree they indeed leave absolutely nothing to the imagination...

I can't decide if these uterus undies are making some sort of feminist statement or if they're best worn over leggings as part of a superhero Halloween costume.

[$11, Etsy]

Most Nuts Lingerie Ever

Alex Zalben — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 13:25:00 GMT

Guys, you have no idea what you're in for. The lingerie I'm about to show you is nuttier than any other line you'll find on the market. Don't believe me? Here you go:

I told you it was nuts, but you didn't believe me. Sorry. It's a line of male lingerie from XDress, by the way.

[$15-$26, XDress]

[Via Trendhunter]

A Cracking Good Trend [NSFW-ish] - Part 2

Alex Zalben — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 22:00:00 GMT

Hey, remember when I posted about that new butt cleavage trend that's sweeping the nation? Well, there's more where that came from:

Am I a horrible person? Yes, yes I am.

[Rufskin Denim]

[Via Trendhunter]

Maison Close's NSFW Collection

Alex Zalben — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 22:00:00 GMT

You remember last week when we all decided that the new "butt crack hanging out" look for lingerie was a little gross? Well, get ready for Maison Close's new collection which, for the most part, is just some very loose lengths of rope. Totally NSFW, in case you couldn't guess:

[Maison Close]

[Via TrendHunter]