Mermaid Muses: Inner Beauty

Marina Nery by Zoey Grossman For Love & Lemons Summer 2015

As a lot of us have been told, it's what is inside that counts. I take this quote twofolds. One way to interpret this quote is to think, yes, beauty is only skin deep and it's your personality that truly matters and another (not as common way) is to apply it directly to your underwear. Yes, underwear. I think my obsession with underwear started when I read a quote from the book Gatecrashers by Madeline Wickham about 6 years ago... it went like, "Emily Favour [...] had probably been the sort of woman to wear expensive dresses and cheap underclothes". For some odd reason, there was something so sharp and witty about that quote. I just pictured Fleur, the protagonist taking a glimpse at Emily who looks so posh and done up and then smirking imagining what hideous (or worse, dull) little slips of cloth might be covering her privates. It makes Emily so much less of a intimidation than she could be. From then on, whenever I pictured the clothes that will decorate my future walk-in closet, not only was I considering Chanel bags, Chloe dresses, and Blahnik shoes, I fancied owning a lingerie set or two from Agent Provocateur, La Perla, and the sorts. Why? Because your breasts and vagina are beautiful and only deserve the best possible bed. Just kidding.

Now, before I go into detail about the magical effects of the right pair of bras and panties; I want to touch a bit on the history of brassiere and discuss my perspective on the controversial elements of it. I will only be discussing bras in this bit because underwear is a garment shared by most while brassieres are traditionally reserved for women. Although this isn't chronological, here I go... as many know, during the 60s, many women's rights activists "burned their bras" (however, this is a myth and they only threw them away) as an act of rebellion against the limitation placed upon the female body. Bras were a symbol of constraint and an item that symbolized feminine oppression. Truth be told, their reasoning is quite valid; historically, women have "used a variety of garments and devices to cover, restrain, reveal, or modify the appearance of breasts" which are uncomfortable and expensive. Ironically, the "modern bra" was a device created to oppose the even more constraining corsets which were popular before the bra's inception in 1910 by Mary Phelps Jacob. When patented in 1914, she described it as a product that was created to provide more freedom of movement. Even so, like many things (such as rap), society inevitably adopts new, deviant ideas and modify it to something socially acceptable product that fits the common ideology. Thus, bras that were once designed for comfort became a garment that modifies the appearance of the breast based on current beauty standards which explains the conical bras, push-up bras, and the likes. Bras became commercialized, widely available, and now inextricably tied in with women's daily wear.

Now, although hidden beneath a t-shirt or a skirt, an outfit without bra and underwear is simply put, incomplete. For many, it's a unnerving and strangely daunting venture to dare to leave your house braless. Personally, when I don't wear a bra when I go out, I feel somewhat vulnerable and can't help but glance down to see if my nipples are protruding through my shirt or not. From here on out, my post can go toward the direction of abandoning bras altogether as a token of bravery and rebellion but truth be told, I like bras. I may not like the subliminal intent of constriction and modification behind the creation of bras or the hyper-sexualization of it, but I like how I can use it as a way to make myself feel more beautiful (Granted usually only when I pair it with a cute pair of panties and maybe even some garters *insert winky face*). I think that's the key point. I'm not wearing it for the sake of others or to fit societal norms; I'm wearing it for myself. It's like make-up or false lashes or high heels. Yes, it's constricting and a pain in the ass to put on or take off, but there's something about it that makes YOU feel beautiful with it on.

So, let me tell you about looking lovely with lingerie. Unlike how Victoria's Secret makes it seem, you do not have to be a 6 foot tall, toned, tan South African or Brazilian babe to look sexy in lingerie. Nor do you need to drop $200 on that lacy pair of thongs and basque to feel fancy. Something that my mom told me that I adore and try to follow consistently is to match your bra with your panties. It's so simple but it can instantly make you feel just a little bit sexier. Now, I use the term "sexy" loosely. For me, sexy is not merely about being sexually attractive but also being tasteful and confident, and in my opinion, matching your bra with your panties does that. Next, go through your drawer and throw out all your intimates that are stained, torn, or broken. These are your intimates. They get more action than any lover your way. Choose nice ones. In order to lessen the amount of stained, torn, or broken lingerie, it's important to know how to properly take care of it. Lingerie is far more delicate than your usual garments and as easy as it is to just toss your bras with your t-shirts, to ensure long lasting lingerie, you need to invest your time and money in proper washing techniques. This includes hand washing with products as cheap and available as shampoo in luke warm water or investing in a lingerie bag. For more lingerie care tips, click here! And, take this advice or leave it, but it's time you stop buying those packaged knickers. You know, the ones that come in little plastic bags at Costco or the likes that your mom used to (or still does) buy for you when you were in middle school. Invest in panties of better quality and cuter design. Aerie often has sales, and you could get some cute pair of panties for prices as low as $2.99. If you are obsessed with lingerie and totally willing to rock some garters, baby doll tops, or corsets and can't find a reason to buy it (aka a person to wear it for), you are your own reason! Invest in them, enjoy them, and someday someone will be lucky enough to see you in them as well. Just imagine how glorious you will look in the mirror when you're waltzing around your house in a lacy kimono, silky garters, and a cute little corset. Lingerie has the wonderful ability to make you look so, so sexy and feel so, so confident. You do not need a significant other to make sure your underwear look as good as what you're wearing on the outside. If you really do want to show it off with seeming like a show off, host a lingerie party! Imagine you and your closest pals donned in nothing but cute lingerie, holding glass flutes filled with champagne, listening to some French cafe playlist you found on Spotify, talking about this and that. So. Much. Fun.

There's this huge taboo that society placed on women when it comes to enjoying or even expressing our sexuality; but you know what, lingerie wasn't created for men to ogle at pictures of models in a Victoria's Secret catalogue or for him to get a raging boner to see you with one on. There's no need to feel self conscious for loving lingerie. Just because it covers your private parts doesn't make it private. Revel in your beauty, in your skin, in lace and ribbons, and in your sexuality. The meaning behind lingerie changes based on the wearer. It can be a device that is used to seduce. It can be a device that is used to boost your confidence. It can be a device used to just keep ants out of your panties. Whatever the situation, use lingerie for you to do you. Feel sexy. Feel beautiful. Feel confident.

Cheers,

Estelle

PS Comment below with what makes you feel sexy, beautiful, or confident! Hopefully lingerie is now on your list!

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