Jennifer Manuel Carroll - Underneath It All: A Girls Guide to Buying, Wearing and Loving Lingerie

First, a sincere debt of gratitude to my best friend and longtime husband, Dean, for his support during this project, and his acute appreciation for nice lingerie. To Lisa Wogan, who has been a wonderful friend and cherished colleague through my whole writing career, your encouragement and editorial eye have been invaluable. Thanks to our agents: Tara Mark, for getting the ball rolling, and Jennifer Unter, for keeping it in the ballpark and running with it. My appreciation goes to editors Sarah Pelz and Deborah Brody for their editing expertise. Kudos to Robin Kilrain, a longtime writing buddy and crackerjack copy editor, and to Leela Corman, illustrator of cool girls. To all the women who contributed their personal lingerie stories, thank you. We wish had room for all the tales, juicy as they were.

And lastly, but mostly, I want to acknowledge my coauthor and friend, Jennifer Carroll, for bringing me in on the project. It was a most delightful experience and so much fun to work with a lingerie expert extraordinaire who is not only creative and hardworking, but also kick-in-the-panties funny.

INTRODUCTION
Love Your Underwear, Love Yourself

1 Lingerie
A BRIEF HISTORY, FROM TOPS TO BOTTOMS

2 Your Lingerie Style
FROM SIMPLE TO SEDUCTIVE

3 Lingerie 101
A LEXICON OF LINGERIE

4 Sizing Matters
A PERFECT FIT FOR EVERY BODY TYPE

5 Bare Essentials
HAVE YOUR BASICS COVERED

6 Behind Closed Doors
HOW TO DRESS FOR SEX-CESS

7 Bridal Lingerie
FROM WEDDING AISLE TO HONEYMOON SUITE

8 Lingerie Longevity
CARE AND STORAGE OF YOUR INTIMATES

APPENDIX A
SHOP TALK: Tips, Tricks and Where to Go

APPENDIX B
SIZING IT UP: International Size Charts

LOVE YOUR UNDERWEAR, LOVE YOURSELF

Lingerie is one of lifes pleasures. Shouldnt it be something you love? If youve been reaching into your underwear drawer every day for the same old style of panties, putting yourself into an uncomfortable bra or thinking you dont look good in lingerie, we have news. Whether you have minimal cleavage, an ample booty, or an apple- or pear-shaped body, there is beautiful lingerie out there for you!

The state of your underthings can actually change your state of mind. How many of us have picked a pair of panties we liked because we were feeling good that day? Or rummaged around our drawers for a pair we disliked because we woke up feeling down in the dumps? Instead, imagine putting on sexy French lingerie underneath your business suit and feeling excited and empowered, or putting on a flirty bra beneath a T-shirt and feeling feminine and confident.

Lingerie should be chosen with as much care and thought as you choose your makeup. You need the perfect foundation before you start making yourself beautiful with blush, mascara, eyeliner. Lingerie is the same way. A foundation that fits well means more-flattering clothing. Your undergarments can make or break your look: smooth T-shirt bras make that tight white T look like a million bucks; the right panties under tight pants will have people doing a double take (and not because you have visible panty lines); and shapewear can smooth out lumps and bumps in that clingy cocktail dress. We could go on and on. And we will.

Just like fashion, lingerie is a form of self-expression. When you pair a corset top with a pencil skirt, or switch out plain hosiery with nude fishnets, youre showing your sense of style and making a statement. Intimate apparel also mimics fashion by following color and cultural trends. You probably wouldnt wear the same style of shoes for years on end, so its logical that your tastes and choices in lingerie also evolve and change through the decades.

In our twenties, we primarily dress in lingerie for our men. In our thirties, we learn to wear and appreciate lingerie for ourselves. In our forties, we can either run into a rut or learn about new styles and how to wear them. In our fifties and beyond, we may feel basics are the way to go, or we may choose to splurge on luxury lingerie as a treat. As decades go by, we discover that wearing lingerie transcends putting on a bra that fits. Its more about embracing our femininity, enjoying our bodies and cherishing ourselves.

No matter your age, with the help of this book you will learn how to enjoy lingerie in everyday wear, transforming the concept of underwear into lingerie you love. Both lingerie virgins and veterans will gain insight into their own lingerie styles and receive practical tips on how to confidently and correctly wear intimate apparel. From bras to hosiery, well sort it all out and expose what these underpinnings are all about. Well suggest brands for every shape and budget. Brides-to-be will benefit from our tips on wedding and honeymoon lingerie. Well give you a little history lesson, chronicling important lingerie dates, events and milestones. We will even give you seduction scenariosin the event your imagination runs less than wild.

All youll need to do is invest a bit of time determining your style and needs. Well hold your hand and walk you through it. Trust us, it will be well worth the investment. Think youre alone in the process? Au contraire! We have included personal stories from women of all ages and with all different body types about their escapades and experiences with lingerie.

So lets get going and find out whats really underneath it all. But before we do, heres a little about us and how we came to write this book.

Jen: My Love Affair with Lingerie

When I grew up in the 1980s, lingerie was as much a part of fashion as it was part of pop culture. If you remember the lace anklet socks and pumps, you know what Im talking about. From a young age I was significantly influenced by the fusion of lingerie and everyday wear.

In junior high I worshipped Madonna: I sported white, fingerless lace gloves and layered multiple lace shirts over my training bra. I even donned a fake above-the-lip mole one year at camp. (It was eyeliner; shhh, dont tell anyone.) By the time I was in high school, it seemed like a natural progression to shop at Victorias Secret and Fredericks of Hollywood at the local mall.