Once a struggling agricultural town, Juruaia now bills itself as the intimate apparel capital of Brazil. And that title isn’t far-fetched. There are now 141 lingerie manufacturers in Juruaia, according to Joao Batista da Silva, the town’s secretary of commerce, industry and tourism (and the owner of two of the companies, Perlui and Sensual Lingerie) that equates to one per 58 inhabitants.

Brazilian Panty Boom to beat the recession

The international financial crisis  has also hit Brazil, but in Juruaia, the frilly panties are still flying off the assembly lines and retail shelves.

Twelve new panty businesses opened in Juruaia in September alone, and most space  in a half-constructed commercial building is already spoken for.

Several employees work after closing hours putting the finishing touches on a new line of lacy white camisoles that had to be shipped out soon there will never be a crisis for people who work with women’s vanity and men’s vices,” the owner said In fact, the only crisis in these parts is a labor shortage. If someone wants a job, and they know what they’re doing, there’s no lack of employment in Juruaia.  Many companies must recruit from neighboring towns like Guaxupe and Muzambinho.

Though most businesses here distribute only domestically — with the heaviest sales in populous Minas Gerais and Sao Paulo states — some take advantage of the relatively low shipping costs (it’s a lightweight product, after all) and export around the world. Del Laras products have made it as far as Japan and Europe.

The first lingerie business opened in Juruaia in 1991, when the then-mayor’s attempt to attract industry and jobs pulled in a lingerie maker from Goias state. Over the next few years, about a dozen more sprung up, mostly run by locals. In 1997, the Commercial and Industrial Association of Juruaia was formed, and the first annual Lingerie Fair of Juruaia was held in 1998. But it wasn’t until the last decade that things exploded.

The secret of the town’s lingerie success, according to Lucia Lorio  whose Lindelucy company is one of Juruaia’s oldest and biggest  is small town values. “From the beginning, since the pioneers,” she said, “we’ve had the habit of not speaking badly of the other businesses. That contributes greatly to the unity of the town.”

Lorio said she is not so innocent to think the crisis will not hit eventually. But she has recently expanded her offerings, hoping that the variety will help her coast through the downturn. Proof of her optimism is a 1,000-square-foot expansion of her store which is budgeted for this year and she recently hired three more employees. Juruaia not just a lingerie town as manufacturers have gone beyond just panties and bras and is diversifying  into pajamas, camisoles and men’s underpants

The humble pair of pants is the flagship garment, by finding out what it takes to make them we discover some uncomfortable facts about what goes in to our underwear; from the toxic sludge that poisons rivers to the dark and dingy carbon footprint, it might make your knickers feel a bit tight…

Cotton panties are environmentally unfriendly

Every year the people on this planet spend more than half a trillion pounds buying clothes. That’s a lot of money that could do a lot of good! We want to encourage consumer responsibility not only by exposing the problems but also by discussing solutions. We’re NOT expecting folk to go commando. On the contrary we’re hoping the fashion business will become a leading example of an industry that can pull people out of poverty and protect our environment. All without losing the core principles of making people around the world look and feel fantastic.

It’s a lot to take in we know, but change starts with the shopper so please stay with us to find out just what exactly is in your knickers.

If Youtube removes the video because ……..Oh shock horror it does contain cheeky bottoms I will convert it to a Windows movie and make it available for download, let me know if that’s the case.

Here is some info about cotton and other materials that are particularly unsustainable in their production.

Cotton is the most common natural fibre used in clothes today and has covered our naked bodies since the time of the ancient Egyptians and beyond. Today world cotton production is around 25 million tonnes a year, that’s the equivalent of 18 pairs of pants for everyone on the planet.

Such a massive industry has a substantial effect on the world, here’s a few facts about the cotton in your clothes that you need to know.

Cotton is extremely susceptible to a large variety of extremely damaging pests which dramatically reduce the yield of the crop. Therefore, a vast range of pesticides and GM crops have been developed to overcome these pests and maximise profits for the farmers. They might improve the crops but the costs to health are horrendous. In the developing world, crops are sprayed with highly sophisticated machinery which protects people from these poisons (just one drop of which on your skin can kill).  However, in many developing countries there is no such protection with the result that approximately 1 million farmers are hospitalized each year with severe illnesses due to pesticide use. Today cotton farmers spend around $2billion per year on pesticides and in India you will find 1/3 of the world’s cotton farmers (10 million people) who cultivate about 5% of India’s farmland for cotton production but use 55% of all pesticides used in India.

Pesticide…

1. Poison the land so that it cannot be used for cultivating food.

2. Poison the farmers and their families if they cannot afford protective clothing.

3. Poison the food chain when it’s washed in to rivers through run off and is fed to cattle through the
   cotton seeds.

4. Are very expensive, adding to the costs of production for the farmer and the profits for multinationals
   who insist farmers who sell to them use their own brand.

GM CROPS are seen as a potential solution to the problems posed by excessive use of pesticides.  
It is claimed that they can reduce the need for pesticides by 80% which would mean that they are almost as friendly as organic. 

Today, GM cotton is widely used in the US – 73% – and Australia – 80%. 

However the main problems with GM crops (without entering into the ethics debate) are that they are owned by the multinational corporations who earn excessive profits from their use. This may work in rich countries but in countries like India, it means that:

1. Farmers cannot save seed for replanting.

2. Farmers are prohibited from supplying seed to anyone else.

3. Farmers must pay a very expensive technology fee, plus the legal fees of the corporations if they
   violate the contract.

4. Farmers must carry all of the risk of the crop but in effect do not own the crop.

5. Natural variety and biodiversity of cotton is diminished.

In essence GM crops leave small scale farmers without power or control of their own lands.
 
Polyester is a man made fabric which comes from oil. Aside from the fact that we are fast running out, it is made using heavy industrial chemical processes and is totally un-bio-degradable. So unless you are planning to keep the item forever, you should think what happens when you throw your polyester garments away. Just think of the landfill site.

Polyvinyl chloride, commonly known as PVC, is the third most widely used thermoplastic polymer after polyethylene and polypropylene, it is one of the most valuable products of the chemical industry.
It can be made softer and more flexible by the addition of plasticizers and is widely used in clothing either to create a leather like material or at times simply for the effect of PVC.  PVC clothing is common in Goth, Punk and other alternative fashions as well as in Fetish wear. PVC is cheaper than rubber, leather or latex and so it is more widely available and worn.

These plasticizers known as additives can leak out of the PVC at any time and are particularly poisonous to human health, the state of California is currently considering banning PVC as it has such strong links to cancer.

Leather is mostly tanned with Hexavalent Chromium 3 or 6. This is a carcinogenic heavy metal which poisons the ground for miles when the effluent from the tannery is not disposed of and managed properly. The cheaper the leather the more likely it has been produced using poor animal husbandry.

Acrylic based fabrics use a chemically produced substance called acrylonitrile, which is also used in the production of plastics. Acrylonitrile tends to break down easily in the environment, though there is some argument on this point. High levels of acrylonitrile exposure might be considered toxic, but the quick break down often keeps acrylicfabric marketed as environmentally friendly. We don’t recommend it as a healthy, happy fabric.

Corn starch (PLA – polylactic acid) – corn starch based materials are man made textiles which are being suggested as a more sustainable replacement for polyester. They are made from a much more renewable resource compared to oil based fabrics and biodegrade much quicker. However the farming that produces the corn is all done by massive agricultural conglomerates that have a poor environmental record and put profit before land protection. The crops are usually genetically modified.

Devoré designed items designed items are made from a process that burns one part of a dual fabric e.g. a silk viscose blend. The problem with this process is that it uses a highly toxic chemical which is highly polluting to the people involved in the process. This devoré technique is often found in scarf design.

Unfair trade
From the first textile mills in Lancashire to the sweatshops in Bangladesh and China, the problems
are very similar; the people at the top make too much money while the people at the bottom make too little. In developing countries farmers must also deal with unscrupulous middlemen who pay as little
as they can to make maximum profit at the expense of the producer.

GOOD PANTS
Power to the shoppers!

Now you have had an introduction to the problems with textiles here is what you can look out for when you shop:

What to buy and why:
Buy…

Organic and fair trade cotton still uses a lot of water in its production to cultivate the fields, but organic cotton farming on rain-fed land or using drip irrigation can reduce the water consumption buy 80%. Using natural pesticides means that the water can be re-used in the land, and people can farm without risk to their health. If you don’t ask where it comes from, they won’t tell you…

Hemp and hemp silk are sustainable fibres. Hemp is also known as ‘weed’ because of its ability to grow rampantly without the use of chemical fertilisers and other pollutants. Hemp fibre products are
fully biodegradable and fast becoming a popular choice for many eco-textile consumers. Hemp
requires minimal water to be cultivated. Only low impact bleaches (hydrogen peroxide) are used. 
No bleach is used in the silk of this fabric. Hemp silk is 60% silk and 40% hemp, it’s mostly produced
in China as this is one of the only places in the world where hemp has been allowed to grow,
although it’s now cropping up in the UK for everything from clothes to insulation.

Organically produced silk is produced naturally using organic compost, resins and berries. The sericin (a natural protein bi-product) is removed by boiling the thread in lye, the main ingredient of traditional hand-made Indian soap. They make their own lye by running water through ashes collected from outdoor cooking and dying fires. The whole process supports small groups of women in India and China. IMO Control (Institute for Marketology) is a Swiss based group specialising in organic certification, who are the only people to have a silk producer certified in China.

Vegetable tanned leather is a tanning process uses the bark of the oak tree instead of the heavy metal chromium. Leather can be sourced sustainably from free range and organic meat farms, a bi-product of the food industry and vegetable tanned using traditional methods. Don’t forget to ask!

Bamboo is a hand (and increasingly, machine) spun, light, silky natural fibre with an ivory glow. Bamboo is grown without the need for agro-chemical interference. Bamboo fibre has natural anti-bacterial properties; it is biodegradable, breathable, cool and offers superior water retention properties.

There are two ways of producing bamboo fibre:

1. Mechancial spinning which creates a linen style fabric – this is not soft enough for lingerie

2. Solvent process
Bamboo feels amazing and as it is in the early stages of development as a fabric are not ready to dismiss it even though the production techniques are not yet perfect. What is important to us is that bamboo is highly renewable and does not use pesticides and fertilisers and is soft and fine. Bamboo is a huge improvement on using: polyester, nylon, acrylic, cotton, lycras and polyamides.
Soy based fabrics are pretty environmentally friendly, they are a fiber made from tofu manu-facturing waste. One process to make soy textiles is to liquefy the waste and then form it into long, continuous textile fibers that are then cut and processed like any other of today’s textile fibers. It’s incredibly soft and feels similar to cashmere. 

Soy fabrics are known as vegetable cashmere, soy is much rarer and softer than organic cotton, Soybean fiber is a renewable resource and a byproduct of the food industry. Some soy fibers are organic, while others are not.

The organic soy fibers are greener than those from traditionally grown soybeans, but all soy textiles are better for the environment than most fabrics. Soft and smooth with a silky luster, soy textiles are becoming the first choice for the fashion industries sector that specializes in sustainable clothing.

Wool.

Sheep are native to the UK and produce a strong, durable, warm and soft fibre that has a great diversity. Like all intensive farming, sheep farming on a massive commercial scale has issues with animal welfare and sheep dip is frankly horrible for the farmers and the sheep. But farmed in a sustainable way where over grazing is avoided and the intensity of the animals is decreased which in turn reduces the need for artificial parasite control, wool is one of the most sustainable of British fabrics.

Look for designs with…

Digital Printing uses far less water than traditional silk screening, is efficient with fabric quantities and material wastage.

Laser etching uses a laser to burn off the top layer of a fabric. It only uses a small amount of energy, no water and no chemicals and you get beautiful, creative and sophisticated designs. You can play with the pressure of the laser to created different effects with the same pattern.

Embossing is a great way to design without using any chemical process or dyes at all.

Fair trade is an internationally recognised certificate that is all about paying a fair wage for products or services wherever they come from. It means that a social structure to help educate and empower people working within these industries is put in place.

It is a way of improving the quality of lives of people at the same time as allowing and encouraging them to work and trade with the global community.

The 10 IFAT Fair Trade Standards are:
1. Creating opportunities for economically disadvantaged producers – alleviating poverty and encouraging sustainable development.

2. Transparency of all business management and commercial relations.

3. Fair Trade relationships provide continuity, during which producers and their marketing organizations can improve their management skills and their access to new markets.

4. Fair Trade Organizations raise awareness of Fair Trade and the possibility of greater justice in world trade. They provide their customers with information about the organization, the products, and in what conditions they are made. They use honest advertising and marketing techniques and aim for the highest standards in product quality and packing.

Morethanprettyknickers has one aim: to change the textiles industry for the better!

Zovo Lingerie Silk Chiffon Poolside Dress

What grabbed my attention though initially was the Panty sell out. If you buy two panties you get another pair free, very interesting. So heading straight to the panty listings on their website I damn nearly fell of my chair and choked on my beer.

Zovo's cotton lycra collection

These plain Jane nothing out of the ordinary boring bikini panties are marked up at an amazing $20 that’s a whopping £14 GBP. So fumbling for my calculator…tap tap, discount the one free panty tap tap, it works out at an incredible $13 a panty and look it’s only a plain Jane panty to boot.
What’s happened America? I can remember coming to the good old US of A for my holidays and coming back with a suitcase stuffed full of clothes because they were so cheap. Look and this might be a idea for your next vacation, forget Buckingham Palace and the changing of the guards and all the other London crap for tourists, we have a retail outlet here in Blighty called Marks and Spencers who second name is Quality.
You can get a similar cotton/lycra bikini panty for a fraction of the price.

5 Multiple Star Bikini Knickers

This Bikini panty not only looks more feminine, you can get a similar offer. If you buy one for $8.70 you get another half price at $4.35. Making a total of $13.05, but wait hold on to your horses it gets better. That’s not for 2 panties, that’s for two packs of 5 so you are ending up with 10 Bikini panties for $13.05, dont believe me? Here Check for yourselves so that is tap tap just over a dollar a knicker…….hell at that price it ain’t worth the trouble of washing them!.
So nip down to the travel agents and book your flights, buy yourself a huge suitcase, and we look forward to welcoming all you American panty shoppers later in the year. Just think the saving on the panties will cover the cost of your holiday…….
and just remember, even if your not interested in cheap panties ……..there’s more to England than bloody London!.

Invisible Panties for the Visible Panty Line Problem

Debenhams claim the seamless knickers are so popular now they are outselling every other style of lingerie in the chain’s 150 stores by three to one. Last year, Debenhams reported that sales went up to 1,800 per cent and have recently doubled when they dropped the price from £4 to £3.20 a knicker.

Most lingerie stores now offer a range of invisible knicker also called shapewear for that visible panty line problem. The seam free panty is manufactured using a stretchy polyester which fits like a second skin. The fabric is cut with a laser so the edges are sealed and don’t fray, thus eliminating the sewn seams of conventional panties.
I don’t have a problem with the VPL I have a problem with keeping my knickers on.

As fall fashions begin to flood retailers around the world, the store has made its prediction into what trends will be hot this season in lingerie and undergarments. Autumn and winter are distinct in the fashion world, as both seasons incorporate rich fabrics, textures, and colors to reflect those found in nature. This season, indicates a shift in underwear design that is favorable for the more conservative woman. More underwear brands are adjusting the sexiness of their designs, and offering more comprehensive solutions for a wider female audience.

In addition to wireless, seamless enhancements to women’s underwear, many designers are adjusting the cuts and silhouettes of their products as a tribute to pin-up fashion of the 1940′s and 50′s. From halter style lingerie and full-coverage corseting, seamed stockings and High-Waisted Panties, pin-up lingerie fashion is making a comeback.

This shift is predicted to be in response to the past techniques for marketing underwear by major brands. For example, Victoria’s Secret is toning down their line to focus more on female buyers, rather than the previous sexiness appeal employed to encourage male interest. In addition, the brand will look to play up old Hollywood glamour while emphasizing the femininity factor of undergarment design.

Jesica Simpsons Breasts win award

Jessica Simpson breasts have received their first award. She came top in an In Touch Weekly poll to find the Best Breast in Hollywood. Tyra Banks came second followed by Scarlett Johansson in third.

The singer – who will release her debut country album this summer – has already launched successful handbag, footwear, sunglasses and swimsuit lines, and is hoping her Jessica Simpson’s Intimates panties will be a hit.

She said: “I like different lingerie for different occasions. I think that’s the best thing about it. You can feel sexy or girly depending on your mood.”

Jessica who is dating American football star Tony Romo – promised to include a range of ‘shapewear’ in the line, to help women combat visible panty lines under their clothing.

Jessica Simpson’s Intimates will be made up of bras, panties, nightwear and day-wear, and will be available to buy in US department stories and online by next spring.

Meanwhile, Jessica’s father Joe has denied reports he has a controlling influence over the singer and her younger sister Ashlee.

He said: “The media says that I try to plan everything. But Ashlee and Jessica don’t call me and ask me. They call me and tell me!”

Joe also said reports of him coming between Jessica and Tony were completely untrue, adding to Us Weekly magazine: “Jessica is as happy as I’ve seen her in years. Tony is a great guy. I love him to death. He’s just a good kid.”

Late last year it was alleged that Jessica was prepared to do a full
frontal nude scene in a movie.

Allegedly Jessica is so desperate to land the role and get the industry’s respect that she’s ready to go against her better judgment, and her family, by agreeing to bare all.”

“We wanted to address women’s number one panty complaint with humor and candor, while providing an easy and comfortable solution — our new wedgie-free Hanes No Ride Up Panty,” said Sidney Falken, senior vice president, Hanes brand. “Sarah’s uncanny knack for physical comedy and her
approachable personality, as demonstrated by her openness to speak out about her own wedgie experience, make her the perfect person to engage other women and ignite conversation about this campaign while reinforcing
our brand’s Comfort Fit promise.”

Currently available at retail stores, the Hanes No Ride Up Panty is made with super-soft cotton and rolled forward seams specially designed for a better fit that helps women stay “wedgie-free.”

“I am so glad that Hanes is conquering the dreaded wedgie because it can happen at anytime to anyone — I should know,” said Chalke. “For my first appearance at the Emmy’s, which was also my first time on the red carpet, I chose a gorgeous dress, but made a bad underwear selection. There were cameras everywhere so I had no opportunity to fix anything, especially a wedgie. Now I wear my No Ride Up panties because I love how they fit and I don’t have to worry about tugging them back into place.”

The multi-faceted campaign will include television, print and online advertising, as well as Internet-based social networking, all of which leverage Chalke’s approachable and candid sense of humor. The campaign will showcase the Hanes No Ride Up Panty as a comfortable and stylish remedy to misbehaving underwear. The TV campaign, consisting of two spots, will debut on March 11 with a spot during American Idol. Both spots were directed by actor Zach Braff and styled by celebrity stylist Jessica Paster.

Behind-the-scenes outtakes from the commercial shoot and Chalke’s own “Wedgie Dance” Video can be viewed on the wedgie free website Wedgie free panties
Visitors will also be invited to sign-up for weekly “Wedgie-Free Wednesdays” product giveaways, submit their own wedgie story and rate other stories using the “Blush-O-Meter,” and send humorous e-cards to spread the word about wedgie freedom. In the coming months, consumers will also be able to personalize the Wedgie Dance Video by uploading headshots of themselves and friends.

The Hanes No Ride Up Panty features super-soft cotton, the TAGLESS(R) design Hanes is known for and is purposely designed to never ride up with rolled-forward seams that provide a better, more comfortable fit. Marked with the Comfort Fit seal, the No Ride Up Panty is available in a variety of colors and prints, as well as styles including bikinis, hipsters, hi-cuts, briefs and low rise briefs, and retails for $6-8 for a multi-pack.
Hanes products can be found at leading mass merchandise retail stores
nationwide and online direct to consumers.

Totally Sexy Lingerie has just released their new sexy lingerie styles for 2008 on their web site. The line includes some favorites from last year, a beautiful Valentines Day selection, and new sexy cuts and colors that haven’t been seen yet.

“I really thought about the timing of releasing the new products,” said the owner of Totally Sexy Lingerie, Bethany Smith. “I wanted to make sure that my customers felt that I was taking care of them by releasing a line that would be around all year, instead of releasing a line that would be disappearing right after Valentines Day.”

While Smith says that some of the sexy baby dolls and chemises that are especially popular around Valentines Day might wind up being discontinued if they are not selling after Valentines Day, there are no plans to terminate any of the erotic lingerie styles simply because they are seasonal.

So what are some of the styles being released this year that are brand new? One that Smith says she can’t wait to try is the Cross Hatched Net Stretch Lace & Multi Ribbon Thong Teddy.

“This lace up thong teddy is by far one of the sexiest styles we’ve ever sold, and I can’t wait to try it out myself… the thong cut is trendy and sexy, and the multiple laces add a cutting edge of sex appeal. Definitely erotic lingerie!”

Sexy Lingerie New Lines

For more information about Totally Sexy Lingerie and their new 2008 selection, contact Bethany Smith.

Totally Sexy Lingerie is an online lingerie store offering erotic lingerie for women, including sexy bras and panties, beautiful teddies, open bust lingerie, and all the classic styles women love most, including garter belts, sheer gowns, and bridal lingerie.

1. Know her style of panty: If your girlfriend or wife wears lacy, or skimpy thongs every day, don’t buy her huge cotton granny knickers. If she’s a bit more conservative, and prefers the large brief you might not want to get her a set that you’d see on an adult film star, unless you are certain she would enjoy a sexy night in wearing them…..so

2. Don’t be afraid to be a little adventurous: Let’s say white cotton bras are her everyday wear, and you know she’d like to wear something a bit sexier, for example a silk corset or a babydoll for those special occasions. Go ahead and get her that fancy, unexpected corset or babydoll. If you really want to take it up a notch, buy it in fire engine red or a deep purple.

3. Find out her size(s): Snoop through her lingerie drawer when she’s not home and take note of the size or, in many cases, sizes you see. Some women wear multiple sizes, depending on the brand and style. Your best bet is to buy whatever size you see the most of in her drawer.

4. Go smaller with panties; larger with bras: If you weren’t able to find out what size she wears, remember this rule of thumb, and you’ll stay out of the dog house. No woman wants a gift that implies you think she has a big rear and small breasts.

5. When in doubt, buy panties: There’s no such thing as “too many.” Women can always use another pair.

6. Don’t fret, shop online: If just the mere thought of walking into a department store’s lingerie section or a boutique like Frederick’s of Hollywood or Victoria’s Secret makes you feel like you’re on the verge of an anxiety attack, then don’t even think about it, let alone force yourself to go inside! Browse stores online in the privacy of your home.

7. If you’re ready to completely surrender, buy her a gift card: Unless your girlfriend or wife is anti-gift card, there is absolutely nothing wrong with giving her one to her favorite lingerie shop.

8. Keep the receipt, if you do get it wrong at least you or she can take them back, and not all’s lost…….. she will still love you for at least trying.

Nylon/Lycra® spandex support has the comfort of underwear, the feel of hosiery and the power of a shaper—all in one. The tight, microfiber weave closely hugs the body for seamless, body-shaping support. Designed with a nonbinding waistband and leg openings. Nylon/Lycra® spandex; hand wash.
By SPANX®; made in the USA.
Spanx is the greatest invention for slimming your waistline, hipline, thighs and bottom. Spanx is available in light support to firm support.
Available in three styles; the footless mid calf shaper, the power panty and the under bust high waisted power panty sold in the hosiery department at Nordstrom at Fashion Place and prices begin at $20.

The cap sleeve shaper is the newest invention to hit the undergarment market. This shaper is fantastic underneath dresses no line and holds in an excess skin to give you a smooth line. Available in black and nude and can be purchased for around $36
The cap sleeve shaper top looks like a layering piece, but it is packed with a punch by holding in the tummy. This top remedies the dreaded muffin top. Available in black and nude and can be purchased for around $36

This high waisted shaper gives excellent support to the tummy, rear and thighs. No worries about any rolls or bumps in this smooth toner. Polyester/Spandex and available in black or nude. $19.99

Body Suits are back! If you need a smooth line with out the roll of the camisole…then this is the solution. Great with a thong back and extra room in the torso. Available in three colors pink, cream and black. $12.99

Nordstrom sees sales of Spanx increase around 30 percent during the holidays.
With less time to exercise and more opportunities to eat, women flock to the brand to help conceal strange lumps, muffin tops and VPLs, visible panty lines.

“Models get airbrushed. We get Spanx,” said Sara Blakely, the Atlanta-based founder of Spanx.

The idea for her first product came when she clipped the feet off a pair of pantyhose so they could be worn underneath pants but wouldn’t show with sandals. Since 2000, Blakely has come up with dozens of shapers with varying coverage, from underwear to full-body slimmers, that have become popular for their comfort and affordability.
To add to the appeal, Blakely gave the products quirky names, such as the Slim Cognito Bodysuit, Power Panties and Tight-end Tights.

Although a woman might not let on that someone else does her gift wrapping, the source of her slimming, smoothing and shaping has become a topic of discussion, thanks in part to Spanx’s celebrity following.
Tyra Banks has flashed her Power Panties on her talk show. So has Oprah, who put Spanx on her annual taste-making list of favorite things in 2000. Comedian Molly Shannon held up her dress to reveal her Spanx while making a speech earlier this year.

Jessica Alba and Gwyneth Paltrow are other devotees from the red-carpet set.
Susan Atkinson, a Phoenix loan officer, has relied on Spanx since having a baby about a year and a half ago.
“I tend to rely on them more during the holidays, when you put on a pair of slacks and they’re just not quite right,” said Atkinson, 37. “Spanx is for our generation. Whatever else is out there, I don’t know about, because nothing else is talked about.”

Spanx products are sold at department stores, including Neiman Marcus, Dillard’s, Nordstrom and Saks Fifth Avenue, plus other retail chains and boutiques. A lower-priced line called Assets is available at Target.
In January, Spanx will launch Bra-llelujah!, a $62 bra that promises to banish back fat. Blakely said she’d like to eventually make activewear and swimsuits, too.

Any 27 year old still living at home needs more than a shopping spree, its little wonder she would fall in love with a man who would be stupid enough to blow a fortune on her…. Get off the Paris Hilton and Britney Spears panty train Kimberly tut tut…. I blame the father!!

Model Isaac Cohen — who is said to still be dating the Toxic singer despite rumors that they’ve split — was spotted at the posh lingerie store La Bra looking for a Valentine’s Day present. He walked out with a black silk La Perla tuxedo shirt that set him back $358 — as well as seven pairs of panties, reports a source, who add, “I guess it was one for each day of the week.” The pop princess and Cohen have been on-again/off-again, and observers were puzzled by a recent whirlwind tour of gay clubs in Los Angeles and Las Vegas, but if Isaac can truly convince Brit to put on some underwear, just imagine the other things he could do for her.

Britney Spears Dirty Panty For Sale no Bidders

And why is visiting a Gay club so puzzling, I have visited Gay clubs and I’m not Gay. There is a great time to be had in these clubs, and without the threat of some drunken asshole, often the kind who frequent the straight clubs, wanting to put your lights out.
Gay people on the whole are more civilized, and certainly know their limits and how to behave.

Okay1001 uses for a pair of panties.
1/ Stuff a pair into Britney Spears gob and say now STFU

This year, instead of giving up chocolate or alcohol for lent, donate a bra to charity and as an added incentive, participants will receive a 15 percent discount off underwear.
A web site specializing in bra’s for curvaceous women size D-L, is calling for women throughout the U.K. to send the company their unwanted bra’s during Lent, 21 February – 7 April, to be distributed to homeless women thanks to the help of national charity Crisis.

So this year, instead of giving up chocolate or alcohol for lent, donate a bra to charity and as an added incentive, participants will receive a 15 percent discount at specialty underwear Web site upliftedlingerie.co.uk

To get involved with the bra amnesty, simply package up unwanted bras, any size and style, including nursing bras and maternity. Just make sure they are clean, then send them to arrive no later than 7th April, together with name and e-mail address to Uplifted Lingerie, Howard Road, Clan Works Unit D, Bromley BR1 3QJ, and the sender will be emailed a 15 percent discount voucher.

Jamie Chapman, director of Upliftedlingerie commented, “We recently carried out a survey which concluded that over 50 percent of women in the U.K. own between 10 and 15 bras – yet just a third of women wear all of them, and 15 percent wear only one or two. As there are plenty of unused bras out there, we decided to partner with national charity Crisis to put all these bras to good use.”

He continued, “I understand that it takes some effort to clear out your drawers – that’s why we have added an incentive with a discount off all underwear and nightwear on our Web site. So go ahead – join the bra amnesty.”

Mick Bateman of Crisis said, “Looking and feeling good is vital in helping homeless women build their self-esteem. All the bras donated will be gratefully received by Crisis and will make so much difference to so many woman’s lives.”

UpliftedLingerie is a Web site specializing in affordable underwear size D-L, featuring all the high street labels including Panache, Gossard, Freya, Charnos, Lepel and Shock Absorber. All deliveries and returns are free.

I guess some people would just call me a cynical bastard….. well look, I love seeing generosity and I love seeing people helping each other out, but if I get a sniff of any underlying motive then I can’t contain myself.
There is fierce competition in the world of lingerie, and merchants like most businesses have to come up with new ideas and gimmicks to grab headlines which in turn create sales, but this in my opinion is stooping a tad low.
Being homeless whether it be through drug, alcohol abuse, or whatever, is not something I would want to experience in my lifetime. Often victims have to make their homes under bridges, in shop doorways, or any place where there is some kind of shelter from the elements. With nothing more than maybe some cardboard, or a old blanket to keep warm, its certainly no bed of roses.
They have very little in the way of possessions, and I know if I was a female I certainly wouldn’t be jumping for joy or shouting from the rooftops “I’ve been saved” if someone took pity and handed me a secondhand bra.
It certainly wouldn’t go anywhere near to making me “look and feel good” if the rest of my clothes looked like some Salvation Army throw outs, and as for my self-esteem, come on who are these people trying to kid, another persons bra!….. really!
Of course and here is the main objective in my opinion, if you donate your bra they will give you 15% off your next lingerie purchase. It really is something, why not practice what some companies and individuals do and that is be generous without all the baloney and fanfare. Why not just give 15% or more of all sales to Crisis so more shelters can be built and more resources are available to get these people back into work, and to obtain a feeling they belong once again, by becoming a valued member to society.
Most people when they have a clear out its not just bras gentlemen, its everything, and if they are caring and considerate enough they will take it all to a charity shop.
Now given the choice of getting back into the community, or receiving a used bra……… is there any doubt which one most girls would opt for.
Crisis welcomes any donations