Linleigh's Panty Picks: Sexy, Comfy and Affordable

Since when did underwear become intimate apparel? When we stopped buying underwear in a sushi rolled clam shell tri pack? Now it's delicately displayed on individual hangers with price tags of $18-$45 a piece. Honestly, it's underwear! You put it on UNDER your clothes and most days, unless your address is the Playboy Mansion, nobody sees it. Ok, so I am not going back to the tri pack, but I am not paying those prices either.

So I did some underwear investigation. The most important factors, it seems, are comfort and price. First, I polled my friends, the fashion forward as well as the fashion complacent ones. My friends are wearing: Hanky Panky, On Gossamer, DKNY, Calvin Klein, Honeydew, Hanro and Victoria's Secret. My friend, Jodie Robinson, owner of Anne Michelle, a one-stop shopping gem of a specialty store, says her customer buys the wide thong and the thin thong Hanky Panky the most, but she confides that their knock-off private label Hanky Panky called "Lucy B" is just as good, for less money. She also sells Commandos especially in the summer as they are tissue thin and can be worn under white and sheer garments without a trace.

(Commando girl short)

Intuition, another fabulous specialty store in West Los Angeles, which features the hottest trends in clothing and accessories, also sells Hanky Panky individually for $18 and in a more economical 5 unit gift pack for $82. But their most unique item is Garment Guard which is a disposable self adhesive panty liner, 7 units for $8. If that is too pricey, you can buy Always or Kotex disposable thong panty liners found in any drug store for just pennies a piece.

(Hanky Panky traditional thong)

 Since Hanky Panky has been Queen Bee of panties, I've found that nearly every intimate apparel company has their version of this lacy lingerie.  Victoria's Secret has the best "knock off" value whereby you can purchase 3 for $25.

(Calvin Klein pure mix modal boy short)

Other notable panties came from Macy's and Bloomingdale's. The DKNY boy short is sublime in a 96% modal/ 4% lycra blend for $12 a pair. I recommend the nude color almost always since it blends well with your skin color and never presents a problem showing through sheer fabrics. Calvin Klein does a nice panty in all the silhouettes, the hipster, the thong and the boy short in a fabulous 90% modal/10% elastane for $10-12 a pair. Even the tried and true Maidenform does a respectably comfortable and well priced panty at $9 each.

(Maidenform "Smooth" bikini)

But my last stop on this panty brigade was Target. Their best rated panty was the Gilligan & O'Malley Ultimate 3-pk Modal Bikini for $9.99. Their customers raved about the sheer light weight comfort and fit of this panty. Now that you have the skinny on "underwear versus intimate apparel", go dipping into the sea of  panty possibilities!

(Gilligan & O'Malley Modal Bikini)

  Linleigh Richker is a Los Angeles Wardrobe Consultant. You can reach her at www.linleighstyle.com.

Comments

[Russ Richker]

Although I have never posted a comment
about a Womans blog on underwear, I felt
compelled to respond to this article.
I offered to help my wife with this fresh & exciting article,( ok...I begged),as what husband doesn't want to be involved in panty research!
Alas,I was rejected! However,I prefer the boy
shorts,although I don't know any boys wearing these!
Thongs are always nice and black is always in style!
Congrats on your new website!
Love ,Russ

[Maribeth]

Linleigh, I like your articles - they are full of good info. I just wanted to let you know that I used to buy Hanky Panky panties - until I found a perfect imitation for a fraction of the cost at COSTCO of all places. They are Maidenform and are something like 6 or 8 pairs for 13 bucks. Isn't that crazy? But honestly they are almost exactly the same with the lace at the top! Just wanted to pass along....

[Linleigh Richker]

Thanks, Maribeth for this information. I love Costco. I will check this item out next time. Much appreciated. Linleigh

[GinaBee]

Personally, I find On Gossamer panties the best. They are super thin - and so - even in a thong - you can barely feel them. Would love to see a piece on bras too Lynleigh!

[Jennifer Brown]

Great post! I got an email from Marcia Plager (my relative through the Remes side) and had to comment. Your writing is creative & fresh while getting to the point with wit and honesty! Great website & I'll be back!

[Linleigh Richker]

Gina Bee,
Bras, eh? That's a whole other enchilada. But I'll put it in the shopper hopper.
Linleigh

[Linleigh Richker]

Thanks Jennifer,
Be sure to subscribe to this website. That way you'll get a notice when something new posts.
Much appreciated for your viewership,
Linleigh

[mary jo]

I love your Target find and will have to check them out. I'm an on-gossamer, hanky panky, and only hearts girl but would love to cut down on the price tag :)

[nancy heim]

Linleigh,
Hi...love these articles....and your website....can't wait for the next update!

Best,

Nancy (Heim)

[John Ray]

You have written a very impressive post providing highly valuable information. You have a very good feel for getting the right information out to the people through blogs. I am also very impressed with the website as a whole. Keep up the good work.

[billige mobiler]

I really liked the Commando Short. This would be perfect for my girlfriend. :-) -R.B.M.

[Daphn]

Usually I do not write on blogs, but I would like to say that this article really convinced me to do so! Congratulations, very nice post.