Recently in Lingerie Category

I'm loving the Emotion pieces from the Spring 2010 Hanro collection (Cami, $118; Brief, $42; Bra, $88 all of which are sold at Bergdorf Goodman and come in black and pale cream). The pieces are simple enough to wear every day, but sexy enough for those special occasions, especially given their matte sheen. I can totally see the bra looking super-hot peaking out underneath a white ribbed tank top! 

These past few Fashion Week seasons Spanx has taken over a suite in the Bryant Park Hotel to showcase their latest offerings. This time it was particularly exciting because in addition to their just-launched swim collection, they were previewing their Men's Spanx which are now available for pre-order and will be hitting Neiman Marcus exclusively on March 15. While I don't wear any of the full-body coverage or cami Spanx, I'm a big fan of their tights (I swear by Falke, but they rip easily. Spanx is way more durable), and I wear their bras every time I go to the gym. I know most people wear their bras to make their chest pop, but I actually wear them to keep everything secure and in place (I'm only a 32B so there's not too much to keep in place, but still when you're running...). Sure I could wear a sports-bra, but the Spanx ones are just as comfortable and they're infinitely more flattering! As for the men's Spanx that I previewed, they look just like your average men's undershirts, but when you feel them they feel just like a Spanx cami. I went to the preview with a male friend and he couldn't wait to try on one of the tees, so there's definitely a market for these out there (many men are just as insecure as we are about their tummies!). The collection consists of three styles of cotton compression tops all of which are meant to firm chests, flatten stomachs, improve postures, and support lower backs.

What do you think about Spanx for men?

Thinking back at all the Valentine's Days I spent with boyfriends I can't recall any where I got the guy something! Is that normal? Not sure...but I am sure that had I known about Pantygram my memories would be quite different! What Pantygram does is send a pair of red, lacey panties to your boyfriend/husband/love interest. The panty comes in a discreet package (frequently women have it sent to men while they're at work..naughty!), with a note attached that directs the man to a web page where he enters the verification code and gains access to a private, often suggestive message from his loved one. Women have sent panties all over the world to husbands stationed in Iraq, traveling on business to Canada, Bermuda, France, Greece, Germany, Japan, Puerto Rico, Romania...such a fun idea! I love that it lets you be as romantic or as playful as you like and it's totally frugal since it's available anywhere around the world for $24.95 :-)

I'm not into Victoria Secret at all. They had a huge sale a few years ago so I thought why not try some of their cotton underwear for when I'm at the gym -- while I've washed said underwear a number of times and they've maintained their wearability, their color was quick to fade and even though they were wearable for awhile, they lost their initial shape and became baggy in the bum region. The folks at Victoria Secret are geniuses when it comes to marketing, but the quality just doesn't live up to the hype (ain't nothing gonna make us look like Gisele!), and the prices are relatively high for a mass-market brand (especially considering their boring, and at times tacky -- do you really need the word "pink" emblazoned on your derriere? -- designs). Now VS has decided to come-out with a Hanky Panky knock-off and I'm downright insulted! I LOVE Hanky Panky. They look delicate, but you wash them a million times and they'll last (both the quality and color), plus they're so comfy I can wear them to the gym or, because they have no lines, under practically any outfit. Hanky Panky underwears retail for $18, the Victoria Secret knock-off version, called the Lacie, retails for $16. I received a sample of the VS version in a gift bag and have worn and washed it a few times now and quite honestly, as much as I hate to admit it, it seems to be identical to the Hanky Panky version. I'm still sticking with Hanky Panky though because for only $2 less why go with the knock-off when the original has proven its durability and quality time and time again? That said there's a special going on at VS 3 Lacies for $30, so if you're looking for some lacy bottoms and don't want to shell out $18 you can always give them a whirl.

Growing-up I was very self-conscious about the fact that I had very small breasts. So from a young age I began to splurge on lingerie -- I figured if I couldn't compete with my classmates on best boobs, I'd have the best bras (not that anyone besides the girls in the locker rooms ever saw them...just saying!). I have amassed a pretty ridiculous collection with everything from day-glow Deborah Marquit pieces to heart-flecked Moschino and leopard-print Dolce & Gabbana ones since then and while a recent break-up with my long-time boyfriend has put me on a self-imposed lingerie-shopping ban, I think I may have to add some Brulee to my collection. The just launched loungewear and lingerie line is made in NYC and features some of the sexiest, yet simple and under-stated pieces I've seen. The price points are not bad at all and they strike me as the perfect pieces to wear when you're trying to look and feel sexy, but be comfortable and casual at the same time. Kind of like if American Apparel and La Perla had a baby, no?

I've been having the worst time keeping my sweet-tooth under control lately! It's awful because even just a 2-3lb weight gain makes me very self-conscious. I've been trying to be better about my chocolate chip cookies and BLT on a bagel lunches, but I'm looking forward to a little help from Haute Contour. Haute Contour is the new high-end, fashion-conscious line from Spanx and it's launching March 26 at Neiman Marcus and Saks. Saks is actually hosting an event the day the line launches at their NYC flagship with the line's founder, Sara Blakely. As a fan of Spanx and their lower priced line Assets, I'm looking forward to checking-out this sexy take on shapeware. The line is full of sexy lace and sheer shaping camisoles, mid-thigh shapers, and lace thongs (looove the thong pictured above!), and is priced from $88 (for a thong) to $198 (for the camisoles).

Hard to believe that Stephanie Seymour, Chantelle's brand ambassador, is 40! She looks smockin' hot decked-out in Chantelle's Chantilly collection for their lookbook cover! I love that there is just a hint of transparency so it's sexy, but not too revealing. Check-out some pieces from the Chantilly collection after the jump!

I went through my big drawer of tights this morning and noticed that my Assets opaque (by Sara Blakely, it's the bridge line of Spanx for Target) tights are faring much better than my Spanx tights. Very strange considering I only paid $12 for the Assets and $38 for the Spanx. The Spanx pair had little balls around the ankle area but the Assets pair was smooth as the first day I purchased them. Needlessly to say this concerns me, I mean you'd think Spanx would be of higher quality since it costs triple the price of Assets! My friend Melinda told me one of her Spanx tights ripped at the toes after one use, that's like taking $38 and flushing it down the toilet. I needed to re-stock my black tights for the winter and guess where I went-- straight to Target and picked up 3 pairs of Assets opaque tights in black. (But I did pick up the dual sided black/blue Spanx at Bluefly for 40% off, too.) SPANX by Sara Blakely 'Tight End' High Waist Tights $38 at Nordstrom

Assets by Sara Blakely $12 at Target.

If you have tried both and disagree with me, let me know!

I go through phases of underwear obsession and buy dozens of the same style in various colors.  It was Cosabella soire thongs in the late 90s and early 2000's, but now, I am obsessed with Commando Thong Lowrise invisible underwear.  It is like being nude but better not to mention more hygienic.  Commandos are paper thin pieces of cloth cut in the shape of underwear without a single stitch of thread so it does not matter how tight your dress or pants, you will not have any lines!  There is nothing worse than evil panty lines on a smooth silhouette.  Grab a dozen of these in multiple colors and you'll become addicted, too.  $20 each.  At herlook.com 20% off with code USWEEKLY