How Often Are You Really Washing Your Bras?

Ask any woman how often she washes her bras and you'll probably be told it is none of your business! If pushed, she'll undoubtedly say she does it after every wearing. As we all know, that isn't exactly the truth.

How often are you really washing your bras? It is the rare woman that does it after every wearing. Why? Well, it has to do with the cleaning process. A bra should be hand washed and then hung up on a line to dry. That requires a lot more effort than just throwing it in the washer and dryer.

Most women wash their bras intermittently. We all have a rotation of bras. You might have anywhere from three to six that you just wear one after the other. When time permits or your think the bras are duty, you'll take the time to wash them. Yes, it sounds a bit nasty, but that's the way we all seem to work if we are honest.

And what about those women who wash them every time they wear them? The vast majority of you [it certainly doesn't include me!] are throwing them in the washer and dryer. To each their own, but bras cleaned in this manner tend to fall apart. You can go through tens of thousands of excess dollars in bras over your lifetime if you keep taking this approach.

So, how often should you wash a bra? As a general rule, you should wash it after every second wearing. Now there are obvious exceptions to this rule. If you just finished running five miles, you really need to wash that sports bra before wearing it again. If you wear a particular bra only every so often, that should probably be washed after each wearing as well.

There are some definite steps you want to take to make your bra last as well. Hand washing is a must. Bras are called "delicates" for a reason. Washers and dryers will leave them out of shape and in tatters. Make sure to use an undergarment detergent, which tends to be less harsh that chemical clothing detergents. Finally, let your bras air dry. The heat in a dryer is devastating to the plastic areas of your bra.

Bras are one of the fundamental parts of any wardrobe. Take care of them and they will last for a surprisingly long time. While washing frequency is important, it is really how you wash them that will make all the difference.

The Lingerie Football League - No Joke

The idea of mixing lingerie with the NFL Super Bowl produced the lingerie bowl, a marketing stunt designed to pull in viewers. Well, they're taking it to a new level. Yes, there is a lingerie football league and it starts play this coming September.

As you might imagine, the lingerie game is played slightly differently. Instead of 11 versus 11, the teams each have seven players on the field at any one time. Yes, the ladies do play in lingerie, although they really stick to brief. They also wear pads and helmets, so the effect isn't really what one would imagine. There are no women running around in corsets or anything like that.

The rules of the game are generally the same as most football games, but there are exceptions. No punting or field goals are allowed, which already makes this better than the NFL. The field is only 50 yards long, which is half as long as what you see in the NFL. Each half is only 15 minutes long as well.

The Lingerie Football League has 10 teams spread out across the country. In no particular order, they are:

• Dallas Desire


• San Diego Seduction


• Seattle Mist


• Los Angeles Temptation



• Tampa Breeze


• Atlanta Steam


• Miami Caliente


• Denver Dream



• Chicago Bliss


• New England Euphoria

So, is this just a joke? Well, it certainly seems like the idea of a marketing team somewhere. That being said, the teams are playing for real and the game is essentially the same thing you see in the Arena Football league. The players were helmets and play with pads, so it isn't a complete joke.

It goes without saying that the league certainly falls into the exploitation area of marketing similar to beer commercials and what have you. I am sure you can come up with your own opinions on that perspective, but I am more interested in another subject. Playing football in lingerie - doesn't that sound uncomfortable? These women are definitely not wearing sports bras. Running without a sports bra is bad enough, but tacking people as well? Ouch!

I actually enjoy watching the NFL during games. I would get fired up about the offensiveness of the Lingerie Football League, but this league has failure and bankruptcy written all over it.

How to Buy Lingerie For the Woman in Your Life

Lingerie is a very intimate gift; and one that can keep on giving! But, buying lingerie for your lover can be a bit intimidating. How do you know what size she is, what would look best on her, what style she'd like and be most comfortable in, etc? These are all important questions to ask yourself, although, they may not always be the easiest to answer.....correctly. Hopefully these pointers will help.

What's Her Size?

Figuring out what size she wears is a great place to start. The best way to get her size correct is to find some time when you can, respectfully, peek in her "panty" drawer. Take a look at both her underwear size (can be listed as both S, M, L, etc or 2, 4, 6 ,8 , etc) and her bra size (these are listed with both a letter and number, for example 34C, or 38B).  You'll need both these measurements to get the piece that fits her best.

If you can't find an opportunity to do this, try chatting with her best friend or sister; someone that knows her well and knows you and your love for her. They might be able to provide some helpful advice, especially if they shop with her from time to time. Or, find a moment to creatively ask her, without giving your intentions away of course.

Probably the worst idea is to guess at her size. If you get it wrong there's a strong possibility that your gift will make her feel upset and/or self conscious instead of sexy, and you just might be in for a night of unhappiness instead of the passion you were hoping for.

What Will Look Best on Her?

While size is important so is buying the right piece of lingerie for her body type. For example, if your partner is voluptuous and "well endowed" in the bust, a negligee (a loose often sheer gown) or baby doll teddy (a short gown that is fitted around the bust then flares out near the hemline) is a great choice for her because it helps draw attention to her assets; her beautiful curves and bountiful bust, while hiding things she may be less comfortable with like a large belly or bottom.

On the other hand, if your amour is tall and slim, a nice corset (a tight fitting garment that usually covers the bust and cinches the waist) and garter belt will help make her smaller bust and curves more noticeable while the garter belt helps to accentuate her long and sexy legs.

In general, buying lingerie that will suit her unique and beautiful body will be pretty easy if you simply look for pieces that enhance her assets and help hide those areas that you know she may feel......less than thrilled about.

What Will She Feel Most Comfortable In?

You also need to really consider your lover and her personal style. If the piece you buy is too far away from what she will feel comfortable in, you may not be doing anyone any favors.

At the same time though, if the two of you have discussed certain fantasies and these include unique lingerie that under normal circumstances wouldn't remind you of her; in this case, it's probably alright (and will likely even be fun) if you go ahead and buy a piece like this. Just make sure it's a mutual fantasy you've discussed together, and not a personal one of yours you're just hoping she'll agree to.

On the quest for the perfect piece of lingerie that will make your partner feel comfortable, it's also important to look at the fabrics that the pieces are made from. Lace, satin, and silk are probably the best material choices for situations in which you're just not sure what type of material she'd like. They feel nice on the skin, are comfortable and usually aren't too over the top style wise.

Lingerie also comes in leather, velvet, Lycra, and even PVC (polyvinyl chloride). Buying pieces made of these materials is best done when she is with you and can try them on though. It's usually really important that lingerie made of these types of materials fit really well simply because of the way they hug the body.

Presentation Is Also Important

The finishing touch on an intimate gift like this is how you actually present it to her. You can simply wrap up the package and give it to her as a stand alone gift. Or, you could also give her the lingerie as part of a larger gift that will help set the mood for the evening. For example, you might want to create a basket or gift bag and include some scented lotions, candles and /or a bottle of champagne; things like this that will look nice as well as help create a romantic atmosphere to go with the sexy lingerie.

Now that you know a bit more about what you're looking for, your lingerie shopping trip will hopefully be much more fruitful, and your special night with your special lady will be all that you both had hoped for.

Should Your Underwear Match Your Bra?

Most women understand there are definite color combinations that work from a fashion sense when it comes to one's outfits. Ah, but what about the foundation garments? Should your underwear match your bra or is it really not that big a deal?

Presented with the question of whether panties and bras should match, most women would automatically say they should and rightly so. We are taught from a young age that outfits much match. Surely this applies to our undergarments as well, right? Right? Still, the question bears some consideration. After all, who is really going to know if we wear blue panties and a black bra while at work assuming there are no romantic adventures going on? It is a valid question, but one never knows when you might end up in a compromising position. This is why your panties and bra should match as a general rule.

Although your undergarments should always match, there is room to broaden the exact meaning of "match."

Specifically, we can find room to maneuver with panties. The classic consideration that a red bra should be matched with red panties simply isn't always true. You can also go with what are known as neutral color panties.

The neutral colored panties have an additional advantage in that they can be worn with a variety of bras, which means you don't have to buy the matching panties to the bra if you are looking to save money. As you well know, the prices of bras and panties can be surprisingly different. We are all looking to save some money these days, so this strategy can make a real difference when you are shopping.

There is one area that does get abused by women when mixing and matching bras and panties. While color seems the most important aspect, the actual texture of the two foundation garments is definitely an important second factor. You know this instinctually on major mismatches. You wouldn't wear a sports bra with a g-string. The same should go for other undergarments with less contrast. Similar textures and materials tend to go together much better.

Match the color and texture of your undergarments is a smart rule of thumb to follow with your outfits. To save a few dollars, consider stocking up on neutral panties you can mix and match with different bras.