Spring Break
Hidden or not, lingerie has its trends
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Believe it or not, it's been five years since Baltimore's own Sisqo sang his heart out about "that thong-th-thong-thong-thong" in his ode to skimpy women's undergarments.
It was about that time that these unmentionables became not-so-unmentionable anymore. Thongs were present everywhere -- from the bargain bins at Walmart to the aisles of Frederick's of Hollywood -- in one of the biggest lingerie trends in recent history. Thongs that ranged from the practical, purely anti-panty line versions to ones embellished with rhinestones, suggestive words and yes, even strings of beads or faux pearls, were available for consumers across the nation.
But recently, as waistlines of jeans inch upward and as Britney Spears, once synonymous with all things sexy and thong-like, tumbles in a downward spiral, the popularity of thong has started to diminish. And, to the dismay of most men, they're slowly being replaced with more modestly-cut boy shorts, essentially the anti-thong as they cover all of the behind and then some.
"There has been a recent jump in sales of our 'hot pants,' which are the boy cut panties" says Dana, a manager at the Victoria's Secret in the Towson Town Center. "It's really catching on, for women of all ages."
The reasons for the recent surge in the popularity of boy shorts vary, but the most logical is that they're simply more comfortable. With boy shots there is a smaller possibility for the ubiquitous wedgie to occur. Boy shorts could also be an aftereffect of the recent 1940s and 1950s fashion flashbacks--many designers are making skirts with longer hemlines and demure, ladylike blouses, so more covering undergarments fit right in with the rest of the modest apparel that's currently in stores. Boy shorts also offer more coverage for the self-conscious, but they still come in a wide variety of cute styles and patterns. Victoria's Secret and other lingerie stores offer styles of boy shorts with lace, ruffles, bows and other embellishments that could never come in thong styles, due to lack of material for designers to work with.
Despite these changes, thong lovers, male and female alike, need not worry too much. Thongs are still far from disappearing into the land of tired trends -- they're simply sharing the spotlight with another subspecies of panties. Thongs still dominate the merchandise lines at both Frederick's of Hollywood and Victoria's Secret, two of the most popular lingerie chain stores.
"I'd have to say that I still prefer the thong -- no lines, no problems," says sophomore Jen Snodgrass.
Many women share Snodgrass' sentiment and remain strong supporters of thongs, since they solve the aforementioned problem of visible panty lines, become comfortable after some getting used to, and are stereotypically perceived to be the most alluring of the undergarment options.
"Men still tend to buy sexier lingerie for their girlfriends and wives, to say the least," says Dana. She adds that the gifts men choose for the women in their life tend to be the less practical items that most women, thong wearers or not, tend not to buy for themselves.
The thongs versus boy shorts debate remains up in the air--as long as stores keep the styles in stock, there will be fans of both undergarment forms. But some people stick by the old standbys that are always part of the underwear culture, like it or not. "When choosing between thongs and boy shorts, I would have to pick the historical granny panty. I really love the underwear that you can see actually sticking out of my pants. I mean why do you buy cute underwear if no one can see it?" says sophomore Kirsten Gage.
Since visible boy shorts bands just aren't quite as alluring as the old fad of a peek of a thong sticking out, new underwear-as-outerwear styles have emerged. "A lot of clients are buying mid-thigh length slips and are wearing them over jeans," Dana says. "Also, there's a big trend in wearing camisoles as everyday tops."
Fashion magazines like Vogue and Elle have been showing camisoles, paired with everything from a pair of jeans to a tweed blazer, on their glossy pages this fall. Camisoles are essentially fancy tank tops, made out of silky material and often with lace along the neckline and the bottom seam of the shirt. The idea behind camisoles is that subtle can be sexy. They are suggestive enough, but don't make the wearer look as though she is trying too hard to show off.
Camisoles are versatile pieces--they can be layered underneath a sweater with just a few strategic bits of lace peeking out, worn with casual pants to make an outfit dressier or paired with a slinky skirt and high heels for an old-Hollywood seductress look. For some they are a no-fail choice for a night out, but can also look good with a cardigan during the day.
Lingerie stores aren't the only place to find these tops anymore. Since making it into the mainstream, camisoles are prevalent in nearly every young women's store in the mall. Unique camisoles might be found on lingerie racks in vintage stores, alongside old-fashioned slips and pajamas, though it could be tricky to find one in perfect condition since the material is quite delicate.
While wearing camisoles helps women channel old-time glamour, sporting a slip over jeans is a homage to the era of bohemians and hippies. This look is a little harder to successfully pull off, since the slip itself is a more dramatic piece than just a camisole.
When choosing a slip to wear as outerwear, fashion experts suggest that wearer ensure to pick one that isn't too lacy or frilly, in order to avoid looking like the pairing was accidental. Brightly colored slips are especially popular, probably because they make it obvious that the wearer is not forgetting the final layer to her outfit. Also, the jeans worn underneath the slip should not be too thick or bulky, or else random bulges of fabric may ruin the whole ensemble.
The next time you are shopping at your favorite lingerie store, you have options beyond the same old bra and panty styles. Although it's thankfully unlikely that Sisqo will pen a new song dedicated to a pair of Underoo-style boy shorts or a silky camisole, that should be considered a good thing -- they're more difficult words to rhyme anyway. If you disagree, feel free to keep on listening to "The Thong Song" on repeat--just make sure to wear headphones.
