How To Wash Your Bras & Delicates

Lace, satin, and baby-soft cotton. These are the fabrics my lingerie is made of. They are dainty and sophisticated, yet also protects my girly parts. When it comes to washing your delicates especially your bras, you’ve got to take very special care of them. How many times have you accidentally thrown your favorite bra into the wash with your other clothes only to find it warped and shrunken later? Or you’ve got a sweat stain on that white satin bra you like so much and you think it’s ruined forever. The secret to keeping your bras in tip-top shape…do it the old fashioned way and hand wash.

Unlike panties that you can throw in a delicates bag and put in the washing machine, bras need extra TLC. Get some tips and keep reading on KisforKinky.

This is part 5 of 6 in our Kisforkinky x Model Liberation 'She' collaboration.

Underneath

For many of us, underwear is just functional. We put it on to support the girls or to protect our womanly parts. There's no lace, no frills, and no fuss, but boy is it boring. Ladies, they may do the job but there is absolutely nothing attractive about granny panties and 18-hour bras. Get rid of them! If it looks like something your mother would wear or maybe even your mom bought it for you, trash it. For models undies can be even more blah than usual. A nude bra preferably strapless and a nude thong is our required uniform for photo shoots. Because of all my practical undies, a real problem arose. When I actually wanted to look sexy for a hot date or even for myself, I had nothing to wear. I had a few basic full-coverage black bras and plain colored panties but that was it. My underwear needed an overhaul.

The first thing I had to do was stop thinking of it as underwear and start calling it lingerie. There is a big difference. Undies are what you use to cover up while lingerie is what you wear to embrace and enhance your precious goodies. It is made of luxurious fabrics like lace, silk, and satin that feel soft against your skin. While breathable cotton is highly encouraged for your lower half, you can go all out on the top with pretty bras. I prefer bras with support that still look alluring, so my eye tends to gravitate toward balconettes, t-shirt bras and the occasional demi-cup. Besides these, there are a few other types of brassieres that I believe every woman should have in her lingerie drawer.

Black Lace
It's as classic as a martini. Just look at all the detail in the fabric. The delicate eyelets and the fleshtone mesh peeking through. This bra reminds me of something a French woman would wear. It's very delicate but sophisticated. This particular one is from Truth or Dare by Madonna, so you know it screams sexy. It has underwire, but is a more relaxed fit for those days you're just lounging around the house. I love wearing black lace under a white button-up shirt so that someone possibly could sneak a peek of it when I'm leaning over. Business on the surface, but underneath it's all play.

Floral Print
What says feminine better than flowers. Floral prints come in different colors from white to black with red roses and anything in between. This one is by Gap Body and features bright orange and yellow on blue satin. It's so hot it's tropical. The longline cut is similar to a bustier but with straps, so there's lots of va-va-voom. This style also great for ladies that are a little busty. If you want to pair this bra with panties, pick something solid that's got shine and a punch of color.

White and Structured
Something that Marilyn Monroe would have worn. This bra is full coverage without looking matronly. The silhouette is reminiscent of that 1950s sort of cone bra the Hollywood sirens used to wear, but with a modern twist. This H & M bra is lightly lined and has this really pretty scalloped trim paired with a nude mesh. It's also a convertible bra so you can wear it with or without the straps. Works great under a sweater or even a crew neck shirt.

Yes, bras are designed to hoist up your bosom but they can also be quite nice to wear. You can match your bra with your panties or mix it up with separates. See how pretty lingerie can be. It doesn't matter if you're showing it off to the world or keeping it a secret for yourself, buy lingerie that makes you feel like a million dollar baby. You definitely deserve to spoil yourself every now and then.

Underneath is part 4 of 6 in our KisforKinky x Model Liberation "She" collaboration. Photographs by Angel Jordan.

Aerie Keeps It Real

No retouching. No airbrushing. No photoshopping. No supermodels. American Eagle Outfitters debuts a new campaign for its intimates line that promises to keep it real. Yes ma'am. The lovely ladies featured in the new Aerie ads have not been digitally altered. Gasp! Waistlines have not been narrowed. Tattoos have not been removed. And if you look closely, you can even see STRETCH MARKS. How much more real can you get! I'm loving this campaign already.

The big wigs at Aerie and American Eagle decide to go the unconventional route for this one. The idea of not airbrushing any of the models for the shoot is almost ludicrous. No one does that, especially when it comes to lingerie. Most intimate apparel lines sell you a fantasy or something unattainable. Aerie does just the opposite. At the same time the photos are also fantastic. Yes there are pretty girls, a glam a squad, and a fancy location but not much more frills. The hair, makeup, and styling are all so minimal and natural. It makes this whole campaign look warm and approachable unlike the images we see from other lingerie companies. Not only do you feel like you know these girls, but you know that you're just like them. A real woman.

Once again, this is all so refreshing. We can all learn so much about body image and loving yourself by seeing girls who are proud of their so-called flaws putting it all out there. These women are brave. You'd have to pay me a lot to show off my stretch marks. But don't be fooled. These may not be supermodels, but they are models. It's not like Aerie just picked some normal women off the street and put lingerie on them. Regardless of the casting choices and marketing agenda, this is still a great message. Let's hope this campaign encourages all of us to love our bodies no matter what shape or size.

Sound off: Are you loving Aerie Real? Do you think campaigns like this are just a fad or here to stay?

Bras, Wings, and Sparkly Things

Did you watch it? Did you tune in for the sexiest night of television? Nearly 19 million people sat at home on Tuesday night to watch the annual Victoria's Secret fashion show. For weeks we've been impatiently waiting to see the long-legged angels strut down the runway. We've all seen the behind-the-scenes photos and had fun with the little online videos, but enough with the teasing. Let's get to the real stuff. Ok, I have a confession to make. I actually didn't watch the darn thing. Unlike the golden days of yore, the show doesn't do anything for me anymore. The over-the-top costumes, the abundance of push-up bras, all the feathers and jewels. It's just too much, but it's still missing the mark. I've come to realize that Victoria's Secret and I don't have the same relationship we used to. Gosh, this feels like we're breaking up. Don't worry, Vicky it's me not you.

Over the years I've come to expect more from the brand but accepted less. VS once dazzled us with amazonian women like Tyra and Heidi Klum who had curves and pizzazz. Now we're supposed to be entertained by crazy party girl Cara Delevigne. She's no angel. In fact, Cara reminds me of this one friend I had back in college. She was a riot, but so unpredicatable that you didn't want her showing up when your parents came to visit. Geez. Anyway, the gigantic angel wings used to be a favorite of mine. Oh how they bounce and add such drama as the models walk down the runway, but now they look ridiculous. You can't strap a bunch of emoticons to a girl's shoulders and call those wings. Are you crazy?! Obviously that whole section of the show was not intended for my demographic. Neither were the musical performances. Taylor Swift and Fall Out Boy are definitely not on my sexytime playlist. After hearing all the hype and seeing way too many sneak peeks before the show even aired, I opted to sit this one out. If you think you missed out, here are some highlights.

Vicky, we've got to fix our relationship. I've got a few ideas. Stop trying so hard. To hold my attention all you've got to do is keep it simple and classy. I don't want to see little skinny girls pretending to be sexy, give me the real thing. I want real curves, real personality, variety, and music that I actually like. Also in the words of Tupac "I don't want it if it's that easy." We've seen so many photos and teasers from the show, that I don't even need to watch the actual show. Why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free? I'm not saying that the fashion show wasn't a bit fun. It definitely had its moments. All I'm saying is that it could be better... way better. Stop selling yourself short.

What did you think of the annual Victoria's Secret fashion show?

On Fire: Geometric Lace Bra & Knickers

This may be a bit intimate, but I figured I'd share it anyway. My lingerie is straight up boring. There's no color, no fun, and no va va voom. Because my job requires me to wear undies that won't distract from the clothes I'm modeling, most of my undergarments are nude, black, and blah. Deep down inside I know that I'm a sexy minx, so why not fully embrace that in this naughty lace set.

Oftentimes ladies get new lingerie on Valentine's Day from a boyfriend, husband, or boy toy. But why wait for a man to get you what you want? This triangle shaped bra with matching panties are perfectly priced for the frugal fashionista at only $36 for the set. Delicate lace detailing with a contrasting black band combine to make this look sweet and spicy. I can just imagine wearing this and dancing around my apartment while I make sexy faces in the mirror. I don't need an audience. On second thought, if you're cute, witty, and happen to appreciate my silly dance moves, you're welcome to watch. But don't kill my vibe. So back to these lacey knickers, you know what to do...

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