The underwear check
October 4th, 2006Our bras and panties are not made to last. Panties that get tumble dried have their lives shortened considerably because excessive heat causes shrinkage and wears out the fabric and elastic. Bras (and hopefully you are not tumble drying them) tend to lose their elasticity with age. Multiple hooks on the back of a bra will allow you to tighten your under-bust as your bra ages, but not indefinitely.
Our bodies also change over time. Pregnancy, breast feeding, weaning, loosing or gaining weight, and aging alters our body shape. The size of our underwear needs to change along with our bodies.
When you do your seasonal closet cleanup, remember to clean out your underwear drawers as well. My suggestion is that you have at least 4 everyday bras, and at least 10 everyday panties that are comfortable and fit you perfectly (this excludes underwear for sports or special occasions).
Be sure to check your underwear regularly for fit and wear. Good dressing starts from the inside out.
October 4th, 2006 at 12:38 pm
O.k., number of bras is surprising! I change mine everyday. Not necessary?
October 5th, 2006 at 7:16 am
It does depend on how often you wash I suppose! The more often you wash, the less likely it is that you will need more than 4 everyday bras. Good bras are expensive and 4 would be the absolute minimum. This excludes bras for sport and special occasions though. It also may be possible to wear a bra for 2 days in a row.
October 9th, 2006 at 8:19 am
I often wear my bras three or four times before washing. Of course, I rarely wear them for longer than 4 or 6 hours at a time. I work from home, and have a small chest, so I pretty much go bra-less most of the day. And if I go out with friends and am wearing multiple layers–a long-sleeved tee and a short-sleeved top, for example–sometimes I’ll skip the bra, too.
October 10th, 2006 at 6:44 am
[…] Gap and Gap Body – you’ll find sweats, comfy knits and underwear marked down 60-70%. Remember not to ignore this portion of your wardrobe – checking your underwear regularly and lounging with style increase your style quotient. […]
February 5th, 2008 at 3:09 pm
I am also surprised by the number of bras. I have always changed mine everyday (and I don’t think I’m particularly stinky!)