Top 10 Panties of 2014

I admit it.  I'm a sucker for year-end countdown lists.  It seems like no matter what it is, as soon as I see a "Top whatever of how long" link or show, I'm sucked in.

I think it's because, as fast as time sometimes seems to fly, we also have a tendency to lose track of what was so important to us not that long ago...six months, a year, however long.  These silly gimmicks give us an opportunity to look back.

So...even though I've only been back blogging about a month, I've been buying and trying (way too many) panties all year.  So why not take a quick moment to revisit the ten I liked the most, with a few words about each.

So, here goes...

Just missed the cut:  Free People Whisper High Waist Undie

Okay, so I had to add one extra one.  It was worth it.  This panty is incredibly comfy, made of sheer mesh, with just a touch of lace trim at the leg.  In addition to being comfy, it's also just the right amount of flirty, with the see-through mesh.  It was sort of the best of both worlds.  I remember not wanting to take them off.

#10:  Stella McCartney Stella Lace Thong

Also somewhat sheer, but incredibly detailed, this was simply an amazing panty.  The floral lace and scalloped waist made this seem like less of a panty and more like a work of art.  Despite that, it felt as smooth and comfortable as something made out of cotton.  Just the thing of luxury I've come to expect from Stella.

#9:  Wolford Sheer Touch String

I hopefully said it all in yesterday's review.  It's a must-have basic.

#8:  Between the Sheets Come Out and Play Thong

Made of super soft and stretch lightweight modal, this panty is the ultimate in comfort.  In addition, it's stretch lace waist and two pretty bows add the perfect amount of femininity. 

#7:  Eberjey Pima Goddess Picot Edge Thong

Another just absolute must-have thong.  Once again it's stretchy cotton for a barely there look and super comfort.  The lacy edge and center bow give it the "girly upgrade".

#6:  Natori Bliss Smooth Briefs

2014 may just have been "Natori Year" for me.  It seemed like everything I tried on I loved.  The Bliss Smooth Briefs were my favorite high waist panties this year.  Done up with lace at the waist and hips, the body of the panty were made out of smooth and sensuous stretch nylon.  These panties are an absolute pleasure to wear.

#5:  Only Hearts Whisper Thong

Made from an Italian net mesh, these may just be the sexiest panties on the list.  Lightweight and stretchy...if they weren't so unforgettable, you may forget you were wearing anything at all.

#4:  Chantelle Merci Tanga Thong

Perhaps the most luxurious panty I got my hands on this year.  The Chantele name probably says it all.  Designed in France with a lace all-over look, the back also comes with a keyhole opening and center bow for even more seduction.

#3:  Elle MacPherson Dentelle Thong

My number 1 thong of the year.  I'm not sure what I can say that the picture below won't be saying better than me.  I don't think you could ever put more feminine detail into a panty than Elle did here.  It's only outdone by how comfortable it feels and how well it fits.

#2:  Else Signature High Waist Brief

I profiled the designer last week.  And with good reason, everything she creates is just stunning.  I got the opportunity to check out the Signature High Waist Brief and it was beyond my wildest expectations.  Made of silk in a high waist retro/pinup style it feels and looks like nothing I've ever owned before.  It is everything anyone could ever want in a panty.

#1:  Natori Feathers Girl (photos courtesy of the amazing Journelle.com)

Without a doubt the panty of 2014.  I can say with confidence that I didn't see anything else like it this past year.  It is a perfect combination of lace and mesh for a truly one-of-a-kind look.  The wide band of lace on both the front and the back give it this incredibly gorgeous and feminine look while the all-over mesh somehow makes it one of the most comfortable panties I own.  There aren't too many panties left that have a look that makes me stop in my tracks and stare.  This may be the only one that actually feels better than it looks.

I hope you all have an amazing and wonderful New Year.  I'll see you in 2015.  Be sure to make some room in your panty drawer for what's coming next...

Review: Sheer Touch String by Wolford

It was almost a little hard to believe that I was 20 posts into my blog reincarnation and had yet to do a product review.  I had remembered these as being some of the harder posts to do, for some reason, so perhaps I had been avoiding.  On the other hand, while it's always fun to talk to the reader about what I'm looking at from afar, it's always especially exciting to share intimate details about something I've been fortunate enough to experience first hand. 

Fittingly, the product up for review is one from Wolford, though maybe, not the type of product you had been expecting.  No, instead of talking about my latest pair of pantyhose from Wolford today, I decided to go in a different direction:  a pair of panties. 

Today's pair of panties is the Sheer Touch String, by Wolford.  While Wolford is much better known for pantyhose, they do also make some very high quality lingerie.  One main difference between the two product lines, however, is that, while Wolford is known for often going for daring patterns and colors for its hosiery, their lingerie is quite basic in appearance.  I suppose, in a way, it helps the two go hand-in-hand.  When you're the premier hosiery brand in the world, your lingerie should probably serve to compliment the hosiery, not attempt to compete with it.

If that is indeed what Wolford is going for, they can consider themselves successful.  The Sheer Touch String may be a basic, but it is far from boring.  But first, maybe it would be best to clear up a couple of things, one I've learned after being a fan of Wolford for so long, and one I'm observing about wearing this particular product.  Both things have to do with the actual name of the product.  First is the word "String".  It may conjure up the image of the well-known G-string in American culture, but, and you can probably tell by the picture, this is much more a thong than a G-string.  The front and back of the thong (or sting) are connected by wide bands of the panty material, not thin strings that we'd expect to see in a G-string.  Also the back is more of what you'd imagine in a thong as well.  I've noticed that, often times, European designers will call what we can thongs "strings".  I think that is really all that's going on here.  My second observation has to do with the word "sheer".  To be honest, I don't know why it's being used here.  If you expect a transparent, or even translucent sheer material, here, you will be disappointed.  There is nothing see-through about this product.  Rather, it takes on more of a satin look.  The material is smooth and ever-so-subtly shiny.  But it is not sheer.

If the lengths I've gone to point out these inconsistencies lead you to believe that I'm at all disappointed in this product, I'm not.  A couple things may have gotten lost in translation, here, so I just want to make sure it's clear what the product looks and feels like.  But like I said above the product, while basic, sets the standard in what a basic should be.  Its fit is perfect.  Its feel is amazingly smooth, comfortable and fine to the touch.  It is, of course, appropriate for any and all occasions and will always look amazing and look amazing on you.  You'll appreciate it under fitted clothes, but you'll probably want to wear it under everything.  The only hurdle here, is price.  It might be hard to convince most people to spend $62 on a basic panty.  But what you get for the money is a perfect thong that you'll feel very comfortable in and will probably want to wear every day.  And with Wolford quality, it'll last you a very, very long time.  There's more than a pretty good chance you'd go through 6 $10 thongs before you'd have to retire this one.

The Sheer Touch String by Wolford is made from 68% nylon and 32% elastane.  You'll want to make sure you hand wash it to extend the life as long as possible.  It is available in sizes extra small through large and in black and the very lovely "rosepowder" (a pinkish beige) which I'm wearing and is pictured above.  If you don't currently own and panties from Wolford, this is the perfect place to start...just be prepared to really want to go back for more.

New From Aubade

Aubade is a century-old brand that I will be writing much, much more about in the very near future.  I was first introduced to Aubade several years back, when I came across an absolutely gorgeous pink lace bikini in a lingerie boutique when I was traveling to Chicago.  This brand remains one of my very favorites.

I'm hoping some of the looks below help you understand why...

Belle en Cavale

 

Jardin des Delices 

 

 Prison of Desire

 

Reine Du Carnaval 

 

Russian Cancan

Boutique Shopping

I make it a point to shop the local lingerie boutiques whenever possible.  Not only is it a great way to help out the business venture of someone who shares my passion for lingerie, but it’s an excellent alternative to the huge lingerie chain(s) that lazily push mostly mass-produced crap at you (not that I have anyone in particular in mind). 

But perhaps the real bonus of shopping the boutique style shops over the huge retail chains is that you get to know designers you otherwise would never have heard of.  A good clothing boutique (lingerie or otherwise) can appreciate running a business where the economic factors are stacked against you and will want to help out others along the supply chain that facing similar odds against them. * 

The large retail chains (again, no one particular in mind) is just interested in getting you to leave their store with as many of their mass-produced units as possible…which is why they’re always offering you “Buy 2 $35 bras for $49.50”, or “Buy 5 $8.50 panties for $26.50” deals.  It’s so cheap for them to make, and the margin so high, that they’ll have you leaving the store thinking you got something for half off, or a couple of things for free.

Nobody starts out a business venture to go broke, of course.  But if you’re opening up a lingerie-related small business, it’s highly likely you’re doing it out of a passion for lingerie, not a desire to get rich.  In most cases, if you’re earning a living, you’re doing well.

But is that good enough? 

Fine lingerie is a luxury, of course.  But where does that money go?  In many cases, some of it goes to the shop keeper who thinks you, just for dropping (or logging) in, deserves something that sets you apart from the long lines at the mall.  Some of it goes to the designer, who created each piece in accordance to a vision that continues to inspire her or those who hand-crafted that vision into something personal for you, instead of producing it for the masses.

These people, these designers, these brands, they are here because they know we all deserve better.  Without them, we’re left without choices, without the ability to find what inspires us, rather than what someone else says we should have.

With that in mind, I’m back to try to express what inspires me.  I promise to get off my soapbox now, and keep this blog light, like I think the original one was.  Over the past few years, I’ve come across so much amazing lingerie and hosiery, while all along never forgetting my old favorites.  I’ve missed having this outlet to share what I’m loving with others, and I’m glad to be back.  In the weeks and months ahead, I’m going to try and keep in mind why I came back here.  I know I’ll have so many amazing things to share, and I can’t wait to get started…

*And that is the extent of what I learned after many years and tens of thousands of dollars in business school.  All right there.  I blew it all on one post.

Profile: Else

Sometimes the panties find you…

Even though it’s been almost two years since I pulled the plug on my other lingerie blog, there are still certain times when I find myself back in the blogger mind state. 

 

When I try on a new piece of lingerie, or I’m trying something from a designer I’ve never tried before, there are times when I’ll start writing the review in my head.  Despite the fact that the words were no longer being typed out, I couldn’t escape them circling around my head, as I experience my new purchase. 

 

That was most certainly the case with the Else panties I recently purchased.  The signature high waist brief was quite honestly like nothing I had ever seen before. 

 

It is done in a retro/pinup style, with the panties rising up towards the natural waist.  It is contoured to fit the curves of the wearer, hugging all of the right parts. 

 

But it’s what the wearer is being hugged with that makes these briefs so amazing…and that would be silk.  The panties are made from almost entirely silk (94%) with just a small bit of elastane so they can stretch to fit comfortably.  

The hand-crafted details on these briefs are stunning.  Down both the front and the back of the panties are V-shaped panels that are done in Chantilly lace. 

The lace details are simply gorgeous, just oozing both generous amounts of sophistication and femininity.  When I found them on sale at the boutique near where I live, I was speechless…but also disappointed as all they had left was Medium size.

I couldn’t resist, though, and still had to have them.  Fortunately for me, they run a little on the larger side and the Medium fit just perfectly.  I may own quite a few pairs of panties, at this point, but these may just be the star of my collection.

 

 

Else is located in Istanbul.  The atelier was founded by Ela Onur, who was raised in her family’s lingerie business.  

She grew up surrounded by lingerie artisans and designers and put every bit of that experience into her products.  The focus is on creating pieces that are both timeless and luxurious, blending both aesthetics and comfort.

 

She is involved in the design of every garment that comes from Else, with her goal being to share her passion and inspiration her customers. 

It takes just one look at a piece like the Signature High Waist Brief to see every bit of that passion and inspiration.  Just one try for me made me a loyal customer going forward…   

 

Josephine from Dollhouse Bettie

I am absolutely obsessed with Dollhouse Bettie.

Be certain that Dollhouse Bettie will have its very own post on this blog some day.  But for now, just know that it is a lingerie boutique located in the Haight-Ashbury district in the heart of San Francisco, California.  Those who have been fortunate enough to visit that area probably know about that it is credited with being the home of the birth of bohemian movement and, later, the hippie movement. 

Dollhouse Bettie's style harkens back to a day where lingerie was less about minimalism, and more about enhancing one's sensuality.  I'm a huge fan of their retro and pinup styles.

One of their latest masterpieces is the Josephine collection.  It's hand-cut in a delicate eyelash lace and it is amazing to look at.  I hope you enjoy it...

Eyelash Lace Bra & Mini Slip

 

Longline Bra & Brief

Damaris

Damaris is another fairly new name to the lingerie world.  It was begun in 2001 by Damaris Evans, from her kitchen table, at the age of 25.  Damaris prides itself on creating high fashion avant-garde designs.

One of my very favorite things about Damaris is their claim that, before them, no one had ever heard of "bottom cleavage".  Is that true?  Who knows?  The fact that they can even make that sort of claim is probably the important thing....right?

 

Jaguar

 

 

Narnia 

 

Panther

 

Sugar Plum

 Tiger

 **Special thanks to Nancy Meyer for the use of these photos.

Seduction From Escora

Escora is a designer out of Germany.  Starting out in 1862 as a Corset manufacturer, Escora has been designing lingerie for over 150 years, now. 

The Escora motto is "The Key to Beauty".  Their designs, however, are not for the feint of heart. 

Anastasia

Cleophia

Nuria

 

Samira 

 

Valentina