Temptation Thursday: The Panty Post

It has dawned on me lately that The Panty Drawer has been talking very little about panties of late. It seems my interests have gone in the leg wear direction a little bit recently. To the panty lovers (and I still am one) I apologize. There's been plenty going on lately that I haven't talked about. This post is for you (and me).

Felina 'Gabrielle' Boy Leg Panty

Natori 'Dragon Flower Femme' Briefs

Eberjay Walk in the Clouds Brief

Freya Arabella Brief

Only Hearts Point D'esprit Ruffle Bikini

Lise Charmel Soir de Venise Shorty

Intenzioni Inamorata Brazilian

Eres Twist Rhythm Bikini

Aubade Beaute D'Ingres Tanga Thong

Chantelle Icone Brief

Dolce & Gabbana a catwalk full of pantless women

This Dolce & Gabbana collection was all about the classic pieces in which their brand is known for: leopard print dresses, sexy tailoring, and corsetry influences. I think it is a strong collection, and looks great on the catwalk, but I am a bit confused about the no-pants looks. Although the tailored jackets look fantastic, and there is no doubt this is a striking way to end a fashion show, I am not sure I really understand why they are all wearing panties and jackets. To me, this show is a blatant exhibition of clothing to be bought and worn: completely commercial, desirable Dolce & Gabbana, so why are the models bare bottomed?


I Love…

the classic suit worn with a suggestive bustier.

everything about this dress: the striking red, the jeweled waist, the draping, and the lingerie straps. It is very Dolce & Gabbana and very Sicilian.

leopard print and lace. Those words spell Dolce & Gabbana.

the layering of the black lace over the sunshine yellow satin.

tailored suits made from knits.

I Loathe…

tailored jackets worn without pants. But those cami-knickers do look beautiful.

dangerously short hemlines that look strange

a catwalk full of pantless women.

Daily Briefing

I'm a huge fan of briefs. I know that sometimes briefs are considered the less-sexy of the undergarments, but, on the other hand, especially for guys, they can provide the most comfort.

Sure thongs and strings can be sexy in that they are so revealing, and shorts will often do a great job of hugging one's curves just perfectly. But I don't think it always has to be a sexy versus comfort argument when it comes to briefs. There are plenty of great options available, that won't make you look like you raided your grandmother's dresser.

A perfect example would be the Icone brief by Chantelle (pictured here with the convertible molded t-shirt bra). Like all things Chantelle, it is perfectly sexy. Like most brief options, it also looks quite comfortable.

It has a gorgeous lace detail on both side panels. On the front and the back, however it is perfectly smooth, making it a great comfort option for anyone (even me!). It is made almost exclusively of polyamide (or nylon) so it will fit smoothly and feel comfortable all day long.

Judging by the pictures, it also looks great. It still looks great on the wearer, despite the higher waist and added coverage. Its the perfect melding of all things I love about panties. It's almost as if.....Chantelle made these with me in mind ;-).

Hanging By a String

When it comes to lingerie, I think it is often debatable as far what, exactly, constitutes sexiness. For me personally, it is often what is in the details. Being a big believer in the sexiness of stockings, garter belts, high waist panties, and the like, I guess it could be said that the more covered the body is, the happier, I am. Of course I don't look at it that way. Personally, I think the right amount of laces, satins, and tulles, done in the right colors of course, can serve to further enhance a body's inherent sexiness. Sometimes I like a little suspense. Sometimes its nice to leave a little to the imagination.

All of this said, I've recently been accused in a few comments of profiling a lot of "granny panties". While I firmly believe that full coverage does not necessarily equal granny, I'm more than willing to admit that sometime less can be more. I, too, can often be a fan of the smallest bits of lingerie, that leave almost everything out on display, with nowhere to hide. And since I am very very far from my elderly years, lets take a look today at some of the smallest pieces of lingerie available: the g-strings.

Wolford Glamour Mini String (Coming Soon)

What Katie Did Harlow Thong

Lucy B Mink G-String

Tomorrow's Style G-String by La Perla

Simone Perele: Avant Premiere G-String

I.D. Sarrieri: 6700 G-String

Andres Sarda: Janis G-String

Victoria's Secret Tattoo-embroidered V String

Victoria's Secret Very Sexy V String

Stella McCartney Kate Beaming Silk Thong

One of Three

My theme of my One of Three post for this week is knickers. Not just any knickers, but knickers from one of my favorite designers: Kiss Me Deadly. For those not familiar with Kiss Me Deadly, I'd describe it as a less expensive and more vintage themed Agent Provacateur. Everything they make is extremely sexy, but much of it comes from a pin-up inspired look. Hopefully you'll like the three choices I came up with here.

Thanks, as always, for all of your wonderful comments last week. By a fairly wide margin, the Clara Swiss Dotted Pantyhose from StockinGirl were the winner, so look for a review of those in an upcoming post.

On to this week:

Jezebel Longline Knicker


This is probably one of the least practical things I've ever seen in my life when it comes to lingerie. But good god is it hot! I'm going to have to squeeze two pictures in here to make sure you see the front and the back.

The Jezebel Longline Knicker is made from sheer black mesh. From experience, I can attest that Kiss Me Deadly uses the softest mesh material I have ever come in contact with. It is sheer and see-through and looks just like mesh, but I swear to you it feels like satin.

The knicker comes way way up, ending just below the bust line. It has a small thing band at the top and an opaque mesh piece in the shape of a diamond down the middle. From the middle of the diamond shape is a satin band that ties into a bow in the back. The detail is simply amazing.

This piece comes in 4 sizes. It costs £22 .

Jezebel Cut Out Deep Brief

This one is similar to the Knicker above in that it is made from a sheer black mesh material. The Jezebel Cut Out Deep Brief comes up nowhere near as high, but it still has plenty of gorgeous detail.

The front of the brief comes up pretty high, stopping about two inches from the natural waist. It is completely sheer in the front, with the only detail being a bow on the middle of the waistband.

The back, however, is where all of the detail is. The sheer material continues throughout, but at the top of the brief, all across the waistband are satin ruffles that are quite large. In the top middle is a decent size cut out, that descends almost halfway down the back of the brief. Finally there are satin bows both to the side and to the center front.

It sounds like overkill to have me describe it. But if you look at the back of the panty in this picture, it is actually very well done and looks incredibly sexy.

This knicker comes in 4 sizes as well. It costs £17.50.

Diamond Van Doren Sheer Mesh Brief

I may have featured this before on one of these posts, but if so, I'm featuring it again. I love everything about the Diamond Van Doren Sheer Mesh Brief. Like the others, it is done in a sheer tulle material. But as an added twist, there is a diamond pattern that is done over the brief. It's almost like making a brief out of textured hosiery.

This brief sits much lower, coming up to just above the hips. It's done in sheer black mesh with a black waistband and a black bow. The front of the brief has a white leg band that turns to black on the back half of the brief, creating just a splash of contrast.

This is an incredibly sexy brief. I love the mesh. I love the subtle pattern.

This brief comes in 4 sizes. It costs £18.50.

So which will it be. Sheer black tulle mesh is definitely on the menu this week. But each knicker has its own subtle twists that make each sexy in its own way. I'm looking forward to giving any one of these three a try. Which will it be? That's all up to you. I can't wait to hear your comments.

A Lise Charmel Review

After reviewing that ridiculously gorgeous garter belt yesterday, it occurred to me that I had splurged for some Lise Charmel panties on a recent trip to a high-end lingerie store. So I'm back today to review those panties in what has quickly become a Lise Charmel themed beginning to the week!

The panties I purchased were the Belle De Nuit Brazilian Bikini. I had somewhat of a difficult time finding a great photo of these on line, so this one here will have to do. Just know that I bought mine in white, while the photo here is in black.

What drew me to these panties were the combination of delicate lace and soft satin. To me, it seemed like the best of both worlds. The panty is a brazilian style brief (a regular brief that is cut more narrow in the back), with the satin portion being the front of the brief and the lace being in the back.

The panty is incredibly comfortable. The satin feels soft and great while the lace edging in the front and full lace in the back feel very comfortable. It's certainly not the softest lace (that honor goes to La Perla in my book) but it's not at all scratchy either. In a minute or two after putting these on, they'll conform to your shape and feel comfortable all day long. So when you need a little extra sexy, these panties are perfect for the occasion.

They were originally priced at $158, but they've been marked down by over 50%. They now cost $76. Still probably too rich for everyday wear. But a decent price for the most special of occasions.

High on Wolford

When it comes to lingerie, Wolford obviously makes its name from leg wear. It's of the highest quality, its supremely comfortable, and its design can often be a step or two ahead of all others. It is definitely among the finest of all leg wear.

That can often result in its lingerie line being overlooked. Like its leg wear it is comfortable, high quality, and durable. Unlike its leg wear it doesn't typically feature many bells and whistles. It has an understated design but makes up for it by how great it feels.

Case in point is the Satin Lace Panty High Waist that I'm reviewing today. Despite its luxury price tag, it won't stun you with its looks the way panties from La Perla or Eres do. While other lingerie lines feature less coverage withe tulles and laces, this panty has lots of coverage and is far from transparent.

That's what I love about this panty. I spend a lot of time here profiling high waist panties, and this one is one of my favorites. While it may not be appropriate for every situation, when you get a chance to wear it, you remember why they are so necessary. And there are few things in this world as nice as satin. This panty looks great and feels even better. Its the type that you can wear all day long and be glad that you chose to do so.

It comes in black or a very pretty lake blue. The waist of the panty rises just above the navel, up to the natural waist. The front and back is nothing but solid satin throughout. The only design is a lace detail at the leg openings, which is really nicely done. The fit couldn't be better. There are few panties as soft and smooth as this one.

It is available in the two colors in extra small through large. It is made from 73% nylon, 18% elastane, and 9% cotton. It also has a matching bra. It costs £48.00 ($78.55). Check it out. You'll feel good that you did.

One of Three

First a quick update. I ran a similar post last week involving tights, and I thank everyone who chimed in on my three selections. Ultimately, I settled upon the Trasparenze Capriccio Tights. As soon as they arrive and I get a chance to wear them I will give them a review for all.

In the meantime, this week I am looking at panties. I want something brief-like that is also classic, sexy, and has plenty of sheerness. Once again I have narrowed it down to three possibilities and, once again, I humbly seek reader advice as to which of these I should buy.

Playful Promises Miss Showgirl High Waisted Brief

I have not purchased anything from Playful Promises before, but one look at the Miss Showgirl High Waisted Brief has me thinking that this may be about to change. I stumbled upon these recently while browsing La Magia looking for new styles and stopped dead in my tracks. This showgirl is a showstopper.

There is quite a bit to like about these. They possess many of the attributes of the vintage pin up girl panty that I am always a huge fan of. They have a high rise that ascends to just below the navel. Despite the coverage, they are made from a sheer material that leaves little to the imagination. Finally, they have four vertical columns of stitching, two in the front that end with pink buttons in a keyhole detail.

The panty is a lilac color which makes them even that more unique as this style is most often done in black. The stitching and the buttons are both florescent pink, while the keyhole detail is outlined in lilac satin. Are these panties not completely gorgeous? They are available in small, medium, and large and cost £13 ($21).

Kiss Me Deadly Alouette Brief

I have had the opportunity to buy a few different items from Kiss Me Deadly, and they are all among my favorites. Kiss Me Deadly, who often draw inspiration from classic literature, claims that the theme behind the Alouette line is a Hans Christian Anderson story that's "full of female characters and great quotes". I must confess, I last read Hans Christian Anderson about 15 years ago in high school, but I can find no fault with the finished product, born from the Anderson image.

While also briefs, the Alouette has less coverage than the Miss Showgirl. It sits lower in the front, while still providing a good deal of coverage in the back. It is done in rose laden black lace. It also has a large pink bow in the back. As you can probably see from the picture it is very sheer, save for a lace overlay across the front. It is described by KMD as the most glamorous basic you should own. Who am I to argue?

It is part of a set that also includes a plunge bra and waist cincher with six removable straps. Of course the set wouldn't be complete without a pair of stockings, which KMD can provide as well. The briefs come in small through extra large and cost £16.25 ($26).

Mary Green Nouveau Retro Blush Silk Pantie

When it comes to classic retro lingerie, few do it better than Dollhouse Bettie. That would most certainly include the Mary Green Nouveau Retro Silk Pantie, pictured here in Blush color. Mary Green is a San Francisco designer who sells much of her product through San Francisco-based Dollhouse Bettie. Judging by the silk pantie, I'm going to really like Mary Green.

This is a high waist panty done in a 'retro full cut'. It's done in luxury stretch silk charmeuse. The website boasts that they are one of the most comfortable "to show up on the scene". The silk material tells me that they're going to feel great. They are further embellished with stretch lace inserts that descend down either side of the front of the panty.

Exclusive of trim they are made entirely from silk and lycra. They are available in small, medium, and large and can fit up to a 42 inch hip. Finally, they cost $31.25.

As you can probably tell, I am madly in love with all three of these styles. Which to choose? Well, that is up to you. As always, I am looking forward to hearing any and all opinions on these.

Key To My Heart

It's been a while since I shopped at La Perla. No, I'm no less in love with...well...pretty much everything they make. It's just that sometimes it can be too difficult to just look, without buying. Why? Because the stuff they make is part foundation garment, part artwork. Their products are in a class by themselves to the point where few bother even trying to imitate.

Today I had a look at the Castle Key High Waisted Brief by La Perla, and my jaw literally dropped. Anyone who has been reading my blog since it began probably knows how I might feel about this particular piece of lingerie. It's a throwback to a different place and time. It embodies vintage classiness while it oozes sexiness that a g-string a fraction of its size could never come near.

Like a pin up panty, it rises high, elevating above the navel. It has a wide silk waistband that sits...at the waist. It is see through tulle with an extra layer down the front and it is embellished with lace embroidered detail at the hips.

The backside is a double layer of tulle with a zipper that descends halfway down the garment to make it easier to put on and remove. It is hand made in Italy, entirely from silk and elastane. It is perfect.

It is available in black and white (personally I prefer the white because the detail just pops better). It is available in petite, small, medium, and large. Even as La Perla goes, it is quite expensive at $244. But I'm tempted, oh so tempted. Could any other panty be so......me?

Bettie Ruffles Some Feathers...

New at Dollhouse Bettie is the Victorian Lace Ruffled Rumba Pantie. Now, believe it or not, I do not actually own any ruffled panties. But these certainly have me intrigued.

It's got what looks to be about 5 rows of elaborate lace encircling the panty. Dollhouse Bettie claims that these are softer than most of the Rumba Panties available. Finally, they look especially cute because the white lace covers a bright red material. The color combination really works.

They're available in small to extra large. They cost $21.

Should I get these? Do I need these. What kind of panty person am I if I don't even have a pair of ruffled rumbas in my vast collection?

Stella is a Star

A somewhat recent purchase of Stella McCartney panties made a big fan out of me. Her designs, along with the fit and feel of her garments, make for very attractive lingerie.

The latest in Stella panties is the Dolly Snogging Boyleg Briefs. Stella has always made good use of tulle in her panties, but the lace detail here is an added nicety. The floral lace design almost completely covers the top of the panty and then slowly dwindles as you work your way down to a single flower on the outside of the cotton reinforced crotch. The floral work on top of the tulle makes for a gorgeous look and allows for plenty of flesh and just the slightest amount left to the imagination. This panty is very very well done.

It is done in a taupe color. It includes an embroidered lace trim and is 85% polyamide and 15% elastane. It includes a scalloped edge and is partially lined. It has a regular rise and is available in small, medium, and large. It is my experience that items on net-a-porter do not last very long, so if you want a pair of these lovely panties for yourself, you probably shouldn't wait. They are $65.

I Gotta Admit...

Okay. After another week away from the blogging machine, I owe you, the reader, much much more than this. And it is coming, I promise. But for now, I'll be ending the week with one of my least sexy posts ever. Y'all will just have to forgive me for it.

I hate cotton panties. Hate them. Find them useless. Beyond that, I'm not a big fan of Victoria's Secret. I tolerate them due to the fact that they're one of the few lingerie stores in my area I can walk into and shop in and, well, sometimes you need that in-person experience. But, as I've always said, one of the more rewarding things associated with me starting a blog, was that it opened my eyes to the so many different non-Victoria options out there.

So, all of that said, you probably realize by now that I'm going to write about cotton Victoria's Secret panties today. You've probably also realized that I'm going to tell you how much I love them. Life can be funny, can't it?

Amidst the many things I dislike about cotton panties, the one thing I do like, is how they bring me back to a different time. I was five years old (swear it) when I first snuck into a panty drawer only to realize that panties were so much different than what I had to wear. They were cut differently, but I probably didn't notice that as much as the many different colors and patterns. They were also much softer than my "boy briefs" of that time. Needless to say, I had to have them. It would be years later that I discovered nylon and satin panties...but they did little to change my mind about my love for panties.

Fast forward to the present and Victoria's Secret recent unveiling of the not-so-cleverly titled "VS Undies". Hey, they're cotton panties, how creative can you get, I guess. They're the Signature Cotton that VS has always had, but they're redone to be a great deal softer and, bless their heart, stretchier. At the usual 5 for $25, I gave them a shot, and I do love them. There's still nothing exciting about them, but they feel great, and that's sometimes all you need. They're only about 150,000 times better than the PINK collection. Let's put it that way.

At any rate, I'm still all about tulle, lace, and pin up panties, never fear. But these are probably a sensible, if not exciting, addition to any collection. They come in a ton of colors and patterns sizes XS-XL. They're available, in sting, thong, string bikini, bikini, brief, hiphugger, and, of course, boyshort.

Now, about the boyshorts...

Someone needs to help me out with this one. Why, in the many styles and options in panties available, does there need to be a boyshort? We need a panty that mimics the male boxer short (even if they ironically fit miserably on men)? Is it just to mock people like me? I just don't get it. If I never had to wear a boxer short again, I'd be happy. I can't believe choosing it when you're a woman. Oh well...I digress...

Latest From La Perla

The latest from La Perla is the About a Woman Short...currently, as far as I can tell, only available directly from the La Perla website. The front of the short is plain stretch cotton, save for some detailing at the top of the short.

The reverse, however, is a lovely floral lace detail. It is completely see-thru stretch tulle with some embroidery around the leg openings, which rise up to create a sort of cheeky effect. Unfortunately this is the only picture of it I could find. Strangely, this picture is all over the Nancy Meyer website, and yet...the panty is not available...very strange.

At any rate, it costs $160 and is available in XS-L in blue, black, and ivory. The blue may be the best choice, as the detail really pops in that color. It is comprised of 50% polyester, 25% cotton, 20% nylon, and 5% lycra. I'll be keeping my eyes open for more pictures of this lovely panty that I can post here, but in the meantime, I encourage you to check out the ones on their website because this is certainly a thing of beauty.

For Fans of Animal Prints

A new line of lingerie has come out from Dolce & Gabbana that is quite stunning. It is nylon, tulle, lace combinations in lovely leopard print.

Pictured here is the camisole and tap pant that are part of a line that also includes a demi bra, thong, and brief. The collection itself is appropriately called the "Annimalier Collection".

In the camisole, pictured to the left, thin black straps give way to leopard print cups that are perfectly accented by black lace which the website calls "delicate". The cups are tied together nicely by a black bow. From there it's nothing but lovely, slightly transparent, tulle animal print. The back of the cami has no lace detail but is all tulle from about the middle of the back down.

It is made in Italy and is 92% nylon and 8% elastane. It is available in sizes small through large. The cami will not come cheap, however. It costs an amazing $275.

Of course, if you buy the cami, you're only half-done. You'll need a bottom to finish off the look. That can be done for $120 if you opt for the brief or even less ($95) if you like the thong.

Personally, however, I'm a bit partial to the tap pant. I'm always a full cut panty type of person, and I think in this particular case, it looks absolutely amazing when paired with the cami. Unfortunately, this means shelling out a whopping $150. But hey, its D&G and it's made in Italy. You didn't think this set was coming for cheap did you?

But honestly, take a look to the right here. Tell me you don't love that panty. Tell me you don't want to wear that.

The fabric makeup is the same as the cami. As you can probably tell from both pictures, the entire panty is adorned with a generous amount of black lace, encircling the entire leg openings. The center of the waistband also has a small black bow adornment.

I couldn't be more intrigued by this set. I would love to see it and feel it on for myself. Sadly, I don't know who is shelling out $425 for a cami/panty set. I know I'm not. Not in this economy...and maybe not ever. But I thought this was worth taking a look at anyway....didn't you?

More Sheer Goodness

Yesterday I discussed the new Stella McCartney bodysuit that I positively adore. As I said in the post, for now, I am only watching it online and sadly not wearing it. I can only hope that that changes at some point.

What I have had the opportunity to wear, out of Stella's collection of lovelies, is the Eve Giggling briefs, pictured here. I am a huge, huge fan of sheer panties. After seeing that these had been marked down (to $45.50 from $65), I knew the time to act was now. As a quick aside, I have to say the vendor, NET-A-PORTER.com, got these panties to me in record time. They shipped the day of my order, and I believe they were in my mailbox a day or two later. For someone as big into immediate gratification as me, that is huge.

But, anyway, on to the panties. They are called briefs, but they are not briefs in the sense of the pin up briefs that I review here quite often. These are more likened to a low rise bikini. I often worry about buying panties that fit as such because they can sometimes turn out to fit disastrously on me. Fortunately, this panty does not fall into that category. The fit is quite perfect. In fact, this can be a good option for situations where I don't want my panties to peek up above my jeans. I've been known to throw caution to the wind most often in terms of that concern, but this will be a good panty around for cases where I want to be sure there is no panty peeking up. That said, these are probably the most comfortable low rise I own. Not once have I felt uncomfortable or as though I needed to adjust. Furthermore, the sheer lace is quite comfortable, and not the least bit scratchy. I got used to the feel of the material immediately.

Other than that, what else is there to say? In addition to being sheer, these panties have a very pretty design. The edges have a nice scalloping all around, and they're a somewhat unusual, but well done, orange color. This turned out to be a great addition to my panty collection. And there's still time left, if you happen to be a small, to make it part of yours.

These panties are 70% polyamide and 30% elastane. If you do buy them, please note, they are hand wash only. A matching bra and thong can also be purchased as part of this line from Stella.

A Missed Opportunity

Yesterday I arrived home to find a booklet containing La Perla's Valentine collection in my mailbox. It wasn't the largest thing in the world. As a matter of fact, it only had four looks in the whole booklet. But hey, anything new from La Perla is always going to be greeted with intrigue on my part.

In this particular case, intrigue turned to lust and then finished in disappointment in a matter of seconds. I needed to look no further than the first picture in the booklet to run the full gamut of emotions. They were all caused by the Indomitable Culotte, pictured on this post.

Initially, the beauty of this thing stopped me dead. Can you blame me? Just look at this panty. The panty is see through black lace with a generous amount of flower embroidery. The detail in this panty is absolutely stunning. The leg openings are adorned with embroidered flowers, leaving for a beautiful detail on the openings. As you continue up the panty there is more flower embroidery interrupted at points with just plain see through lace. Above the hips is a sort of silk waistband in all black. Finally the lace and flower continues above that and finishes in more embroidered detail well above the navel. All in all, the fabric makeup is 45% nylon, 30% silk, 20% cotton, and 5% spandex. I could only imagine how good this looked and felt on.

Then came the disappointment. The panty is a....thong. As I looked at the picture detail online, I couldn't believe it. I mean, they had to have a full panty that looked just like this somewhere, right? Wrong. They sell the brief, but its medium waisted and looks absolutely nothing like this. How could La Perla screw the design up this badly? For a brief moment (pardon the pun) I thought La Perla had come out with the retro panty to trump all others. But no, it's a thong. It's not even that I have that big of an issue with thongs, but it just flat out doesn't work on this particular style. Why all the coverage on the front and so much less on the back? How does this make sense?

The back has an interesting design. The waistline of the panty dips into a deep V-shape that ends about halfway down the backside. From there, the panty picks back up before turning into a thong towards the bottom of the panty. The waistband continues around the waist uninterrupted.

Really, I would've loved this panty if not for the needless thong design that just doesn't seem to belong there. It's really disappointing, I think. It's probably a moot point anyway, as there's no way I would've shelled out the $295 for these. Nonetheless, I feel like a piece of art was ruined.