Do you remember the first time you wore a bra? In our late teens, having your first underwear is an exciting moment. It leaves you feeling suddenly sophisticated for the first time, and our first experiences with lingerie are likely to stay with us as the years pass.
When we are young, we need maximum support as our bodies change and develop, and through our teenage years to early twenties, underwear is much more about functionality and support than the way we look. Over the past few years, the market for 15-25 year olds lingerie sales has grown by over six percent, showing increasing concern with the way we look inside, as well as out.
By the time we reach our twenties, underwear becomes all about expressing our personalities. We look for fun, flirty and fabulous fashions that reflect who we are and what we do. As our bodies change, so do our views on underwear, as we experiment with new styles, trying out G-strings, padding, boxer shorts and tankinis as well as traditional two-sets. Women in their twenties tend to favour styles which are fashionable, colourful and fun.
The next decade sees most of us change our priorities. With many women having children in their thirties, the bra we choose has
as much of a bearing on practicality as it does on looks. While we are developing a true identity in terms of our dress sense and style, life means it isn’t always possible to let that identity spill over in to our underwear drawer – we are as likely to buy seven types of bra all the same, for example, as we find ones that are functional and comfortable, as indulge in frothy lace numbers or sexy camisoles and basques.
However, when we reach our forties and fifties, everything changes again. Our underwear is all about us – who we are, what we want to be, and how we can feel fabulous. No longer restricted by our changing figures, we are comfortable with who we have become and have an innate sense of style which has been developed and honed over the years, leaving us confident, self-assured and completely comfortable in our own skin.
For many women, this is the point that we become truly liberated with the types of underwear we can choose – we know what works and what doesn’t, and we can have a fabulous time trying out new fashions and styles in different colours, shapes and materials. Whether we opt for a plunge bra to flatter a skimming dress, or a t-shirt bra for under casual clothing, we have a real sense of how our lingerie has a bearing on our personalities and mood. Research shows that the market for lingerie sales for women between fifty and sixty years old has grown by over ten percent in recent years2, because we are becoming increasingly sophisticated, understanding the importance of a great underwear product to boost our confidence. Style, quality and comfort are all key factors for our generation.
Despite the starring role underwear has in the life of every woman, statistics show that up to eighty-five percent of us are wearing the wrong sized bra at any given time. When you think of the significance of our underwear in our everyday lives, this is a surprising fact. As we get a little older, we need strong silhouettes, great support and a comfortable fit, meaning that it’s more important than ever before to go for a fitting and make sure you buy underwear from a reputable brand which you can trust. Our breasts change size and shape because of factors such as weight gain or loss, menstruation or pregnancy, and this means we may need more than one size each month to get the best fit.
By Jessica Fowler, who is currently conducting research into support bras for women.
About The Real Supermum
French Knickers all the way.. I like to feel sexy even on an off day.. I like my underwear to match too.. you never know if your gonna get hit by a bus or something & a hunky male nurse has to cut your clothes off
hehe x
I remember my 1st bra I think it was a 28 -A ha I used to stuff a pair of socks down there as had nothing – still don’t! Thank god for the gel inserts I say x
I say ladies boxer shorts however my underwear has to match colourwise.. Have to be colour co-ordinated!!
i had my first bra at 11 just glad by the time i was 13 i had a nice size set lol xx
Frenchies or lady boxers lol unless I’m on a period and then it’s ‘granny knickers’ as Phil calls them haha x
I had my first bra aged 11 not that I had much to fill it lol.I eventually grew boobs aged 17. I like wearing french knickers as they make me feel that little bit sexy x x
In my late teens-early twenties, i always wore very sexy underwear, always had to match.. even if it was dead uncomfy. Now, being only 26, i cant be naffed. I dont have time to pluck my eyebrows let alone hunt for matching smalls. I shouldnt really admit this, but the knickers i brought for after my c-sec (picture, big, high waisted, lyra ones) are my fav, STILL. So comfy! Thankfully they are not grey, they are black. Wearing the other halfs boxers are a fav too. If im making an effort i have some french knickers somewhere (not that the OH is here to see them, he works so blimen much). Granny pants ROCK!! xx
Frenchies all the way, comfortable & sexy…really suit the shape of my bum, good for a cheeky spank from the otherhalf aswell
lol x
Thongs or “period pants” for me lol always has been. x
French knickers all the time x x x
I have to say from the age of 14 to about 19 it was all about experimenting what style I liked, had to match and look good. Then I got preg and it was about what’s comfy. I’m now 23 and the only time I worry about what I’ve got on is when I go to physio as they will see it even tho I have a parnter we been together too long to care what underwear I’m wearing!
Thongs or me period granny nickers pmsl xx
Honestly….granny knickers all the way. In the last year I have worn ‘girl boxers’ about 5 times, a tjong once. Granny knickers all the way. Oh and my partner says girls bums look sexiest when in knickers
xx
Thongs, French knickers or period pants lol.
My first bra i was 11 as i developed early. And i always have to wear a matching set without fail! Frenchies are the best x x
Thongs All The Time Even At 8 Months Pregnant Lol x
Lady boxers lol chucked all thongs out ages ago1 xx
i had proper bras at 13, and needed them lol, at one time i was all about pretty, matching underwear, then pretty, sexy underwear but now i’m a mother, my main concearn with underwear is that its clean x
i cant really stand french knickers the lace sticks up my bits and rubs them lmao.. thongs every day except wen i wear my granny pants ‘period pants ‘ i call them granny knickers too emma lol.. i try to match my underwear.. had my 1st bra about 11 32a i think i were :s lol.. then they seemed to grow over nite haha like wooooo where they sprung from :L haha xx
tbh i can not be bothered to search through all my underwear draw so what ever gets picked up 1st is what goes on lol i do love french knickers, the odd thong, but i love ‘comfy’ pants lol x
When i was younger it was nothing but thongs….. Now though its French knickers all the way
x
i wore thongs but always preferred french knickers. but now (25) i just don’t care lol. as long as i am comfortable x
tried thongs cant do them ewwwww gave up so wear whats comfy now lol
I think I got my first bra wen I was 12. AA lol why wore a bra with no boobs to put in it I dna lol xx
i used to waer ‘normal’ knickers with cutie pics on but now its lace/thongs n yes i still have my ‘on’ knickers as well xx