Buy The Lingerie... For Yourself By Erin Renzi

Give a girl a matching bra and panty set, and she can take on the world. Well, that’s how I felt anyway, as I looked in the mirror admiring my new powder blue bra and panties from Victoria’s Secret. Up until this moment, I never really put much thought into my undergarments; I usually just bought bras and thongs from Aerie that I thought were cute and comfortable. If I found a thong to match the bra I was wearing, great; if not, no big deal. Men certainly didn’t notice and, at the time, neither did I. But after looking at myself in the mirror, I couldn’t remember a time where I felt more sexy, confident, or comfortable.

Once you feel beautiful and have confidence, you tend to think you are worthy and start to love your own body without the need for validation from others. If someone is seeking to feel more confident with their appearance, the first things they will generally gravitate towards are makeup, a new hairstyle, or trendy clothing. These are all great, and

for your-

self. By Erin Renzi

Representation of all types of bodies in the media have definitely paved the way for more self love. Lingerie stores such as Savage X Fenty and Aerie have begun to diversify their models in recent years. Only seeing tall and thin models in magazines and billboards can make self love difficult, because not many people have a body that looks like a supermodel’s. Seeing shorter bodies, curvier bodies, plus sized bodies, bodies with cellulite, and bodies with stretch marks modeling undergarments can help show many women that they too can rock a sexy pair of panties or a lacy bra. While we definitely have more work when it comes to seeing models who represent all body types, this is a step in the right direction.

However, many lingerie companies still perpetuate the idea that sexy undergarments have to be worn for someone else. As a former sales associate for Victoria’s Secret, I noticed that ad campaigns and new lines of lingerie were pushed out during the holiday season and Valentine’s Day, with the idea that wearing fancy

lingerie can be a great gift for your sexual partner. There’s no denying that putting on a lace bodysuit or a brand new bra and panty set for your partner to see in bed is fun, and can even make you feel more confident. But there’s no reason you can’t purchase lingerie to wear under your clothes when you know no one will see them. Loving your body while wearing a hot set of bra and panties for yourself will only help to grow your confidence and sense of self love.

Boudoir photoshoots in professional studios and even one’s own bedroom have become popularized through social media platforms such as Instagram and TikTok. Oftentimes, these pictures are gifted to a sexual partner or posted online for

It’s important now more than ever to dress and feel sexy for yourself. Due to the pandemic, it’s no secret that many of our normal routines have been put on hold: the dating scene looks quite different, getting dinner with friends doesn’t happen as often, and parties have come to a halt. Most people are working remotely, and so getting dressed to go to the office may not be necessary. Because of this, it’s really easy to wear clothes that are comfortable, not necessarily clothes you feel particularly confident or beautiful in. There’s no need to feel uncomfortable while working or attending classes from home, but trust me, throw on a matching bra and thong under your lounge clothes, and you will instantly feel more sexy and appreciative of your body.

Because we live in such a hypersexualized society, harmful stereotypes come with wearing lingerie. A young woman might choose to wear a thong or lace panties because of their comfort and practicality, but it is viewed as inherently sexual. Even if a woman is wearing lingerie as an act of self love and as a means of embracing her own sexuality, people may view it as a means of her trying to increase her sex appeal. I believe that the only way to combat this narrative is to continuously discuss how wearing lingerie can help encourage one to love themself more.

I am not saying putting on fancy lingerie will eliminate all of the insecurities you may have or make you love every part of your body right away. There are many days that I struggle to feel confident in my own skin; working on loving your body is a never-ending journey. Some days I feel