Yesterday, my beautiful LA counterpart sent me this text message:

“You should do a blog post on sexy lingerie and where to find it. NOT some hoodrat Victoria’s Secret stuff but not stuff that’s like $200 … Is there a middle man?:)”

Well, if there is something I know about, it’s lingerie. I spent a good two plus years buying lingerie for Henri Bendel and I have two giant drawers dedicated to my undies alone. So, Miss Wright, this post is for you!

First, let’s start with a few things that every girl should have in her lingerie drawer:

Commando Tiny Thong, $22

Hollywood Coverups, $14.99

Hollywood Fashion Tape, $8.99

Strap Perfect, $11.99

Yeah, I know that last one seems a little queer. My mom insisted I own them and I reluctantly took them home with me to New York. They turned out to be a lot easier to use than my usual MacGeyver method of using a safety pin. So now, on to the fun stuff.

One of my favorite, favorite, favorite brands is Deborah Marquit. The price point is on the higher side, but it is literally handmade and beautiful! My favorite pieces are from the fluorescent collection, although all of her pieces are ridiculously sexy. I’ve had the pleasure of going into her store/design studio here in NYC. She’s incredibly talented and a very interesting woman.

Lace underwire demi bra, $185, Lace g-string, $55

Cosabella is another great line of lingerie that is sexy and more friendly on the wallet.

Amore Mio pushup bra, $56.25

Amore Mio Lowrider Thong, $20

Another personal favorite is Huit. It’s a great French brand that fits incredibly well and is very girly and fun. They also have a great line of basic bras for everyday wear.

Vertiges Magic Air Underwire bra, $79

Vertiges String, $47

I could go on for DAYS about this, but I have things to do, people. So here are a few of my favorite NYC lingerie stores:

Sugar Cookies

203 W 19th Street (between 7th and 8th)

212-242-6963

Journelle

3 East 17th Street (between 5th and Broadway)

212-255-7800

And for those of you who are NOT in NYC, don’t worry your pretty little heads… I’ve got you. Here are some great sites for online lingerie shopping:

Catriona Mackechnie

La Petite Coquette

Azaleas

Tell your boyfriend, “you’re welcome.”

xx,

WhyDid

People wonder why I don’t discuss my love life in my posts. Well, there a few reasons. One being that I’ve had some pretty traumatic experiences that aren’t ready to be discussed (yet) and another being that writing the details of my love life might mess up my game.  The current reason? I don’t really have a love life.  I have decided that I’m just not in the right place for it and there is no reason to subject someone else to my relationship ADD or lack of willingness to commit to anything serious.

Now, don’t take this the wrong way. I love the thought of sharing my life with someone special, but not right now. I’m actually happier than I’ve been in quite some time. I can do whatever I want, whenever I want and not feel guilty about it. I can sit around and partake in my “secret single behavior” without ever being judged. It’s really kind of amazing.

There are some little perks that may be missing by not having someone “special” in your life, but these are all things you can do yourself. So, if you are choosing a temporary bout of celibacy like me (or Lady Gaga), here are some sweet nothings to whisper in your own ear:

Floral Sex: I’ve said it once, and I’ll say it again, why wait for some dude to buy you flowers (probably the wrong ones) when you can hit any deli in the city and buy yourself some? They’ll brighten up your home and your mood.

What Lies Beneath: I always feel much better when I’m wearing beautiful underpinnings.  There’s no reason you should save your sexy lingerie for a special occasion. Every day is special.

Putting on the Spritz: Perfume isn’t just for a hot date. Nor should it really be meant for someone else. I always dab on my favorite scent before leaving the house, but I especially love to spritz it on right before bed.

Fall Down the Rabbit Hole: I mean, without getting too into detail… Why not enjoy yourself… alone? There is absolutely nothing wrong with that. You’re probably a whole lot safer healthwise both physically and emotionally.

Spoiler Alert: Whether you buy yourself something shiny or cook yourself your favorite meal, it’s great to pamper yourself every once in a while. Go to the spa, get a massage, get a manicure, feel good about yourself. There’s nothing more gratifying than knowing you can take care of yourself.

See? The single life is highly underrated. I’m enjoying it for the time being. The more you take care of yourself, the more likely you’ll be able to care of someone else when you’re ready. Besides, I share my bed with the most handsome man every single night, Smitty Lebron Smith.

xx,

WhyDid

It’s winter and it’s cold and the holidays are over, so basically the only things to look forward to are either a vacation or summer. Below are ten little things that you can do right now to get you out of your mid winter slump:

1. Put a sachet in your lingerie drawer. I swear by it. My boyfriend always comments on how nice I smell.
2. Bleach your teeth.  Sounds incredibly vain, but it will instantly brighten your face and is proven to make you look younger. Try Crest WhiteStrips or Go Smile.
3. Belt out your favorite song at the top of your lungs (extra points if you do this while jumping on the bed in your underwear).
4. Take a bath. Fill up the tub with yummy products, light a candle, and turn off your phone.
5. Put on your best underwear. Even if no one is going to see it, you’ll know you’re wearing it and you’ll just feel sexy.
6. Get a pedicure (or give yourself one). Use a bright, cheery vacation color or your favorite color from the summer to remind you of those sunny days.
7. Volunteer. Doing something for someone else who is less fortunate will always give you a new perspective on things.
8. Fake a summer glow. Either go to your local tanning salon and get a spray tan or try it yourself at home. I am a big fan of Model Co.  Tan in a Can.
9. Make a fruity summer cocktail. Have some girlfriends over and sip on a Bikini Martini and reminisce. Nothing cheers you up like a little girl time.
10. Read a juicy beach novel.  If you can’t be out causing trouble and caught up in a scandalous love triangle of your own, get caught up in someone else’s. One of my favorite beach reads, Trading Up, Candace Bushnell’s first (and in my opinion, best) novel.

It can be very stressful trying to come up with a thoughtful and useful gift for your honey. So below I have outlined some Do’s and Don’ts of holiday shopping in order to keep you out of the dog house.

What she absolutely does NOT want:

• Don’t bother trying to buy her clothes. Unless you have (successfully) done this in the past, I would skip it. Plus, you don’t want to have the awkward moment of buying a size 8 when she’s really a size 4. Never buy her a sweater. This is what her Aunt Helen is for.
• Nix the gift certificates. I know it sounds good in theory and kind of a no fail option, but you are wrong. Gift certificates are completely thoughtless and lazy and trust me, she’ll recognize that. Put in the leg work and get her a real gift.
• Perfume is way too personal for you to be picking out for her. That’s something she should buy on her own. I also think it is kind of cheesy and trite.
• Lingerie is iffy. I personally love lingerie, but it is essentially a selfish gift, no? Save it for Valentine’s Day. If you do opt for lingerie, be sure that it’s La Perla or Myla and not Victoria’s Secret. This is no time to be stingy.
• Jewelry is tricky. There is only one surefire option in jewelry, diamonds. Unless you are very familiar with her style or willing to dish out the $$ for diamonds, I’d hold off. I have a personal horror story about jewelry on Christmas. Picture this: your boyfriend calls you from the Diamond District and tells you how he is the most amazing boyfriend in the world. You are now giddy with excitement (thinking you are finally getting those diamond studs). He shows up with Swarvoski crystals. And ugly ones at that. 
• Any type of kitchen appliance. Enough said. 
• Pajamas. Could you be any less sexy?

Some better options:

• Cashmere slippers, www.henribendel.com
• Dell Inspiron Mini9 laptop, www.dell.com
• Something for her pooch, www.trixieandpeanut.com
• Spa treatments (make them for two!) www.spafinder.com
• Photos of the two of you or a scrapbook. Hey, I get it, times are tough. When she sees all the work you put into this, she won’t be thinking about a price tag.
• Tickets to her favorite show or ballet www.ticketmaster.com

In all honesty, my favorite part of any gift is the card. Believe it or not, I do have a soft side. The thought that goes into your gift is far more meaningful than what you actually buy her. If she throws a tantrum or diva fit… maybe it’s time to re-evaluate…

Any of you ladies reading, email me your most horrific holiday gift stories and I will post the best ones! whydidyouwearthat@gmail.com