Webster’s defines “Granny Panties” as… well, actually, Webster’s doesn’t have a definition for them but we all know what they are, right?
Granny Panties is that collection of undies that are a little old, a little tired, perhaps faded or stretched from too many washings. You typically wear them when you’re not feeling your best or when you don’t plan on anyone else seeing what’s going on underneath those flannel pajama bottoms. Am I right?
Years ago, after I lost my baby weight and to embrace my new size, I decided to throw away any underwear I owned that could comfortably fit me and three friends. I replaced those 12 pairs of faded briefs (the ones I purchased at Mervyn’s before starting 10th grade!) with a collection of seamless thongs and comfortable bras. In an attempt to make it easy on myself come laundry day, I bought everything in white, nude or black and I was quite happy with my choices. For years now I’ve clung to this scheme, replacing the older stuff with new options in the same colors. No lace, no silk, no prints for me… I want to be comfortable! My husband? He couldn’t care less! Whenever he catches me in those basic bra and panty sets he’s too busy trying to coax me out of them to comment on the lack of bright colors I wear.
But recently I needed to buy some new bras and Target didn’t have my size in the basic model. What they did have in my size was this pretty lacy bra with crisscross ribbons in the middle that sort of brought to mind a sexy milkmaid. (Not like, a trashy milkmaid, more like a milkmaid who got her MBA and volunteers on weekends) Anyway, since I was in a hurry I threw it into the cart. Fast forward to later in the week when I put the bra on for the first time and saw myself in the mirror. Did my arms always look so toned? Was my neck always so graceful and swan-like? Maybe it was the fact that I’d been drinking so much water lately because I looked great! Moment of adoration over, I threw my shirt on and went about my day. That night when I was changing Dave gasped, he might have even cursed soundly but the gist of the outburst was “Where did you get that bra?!” I turned around wearing my gigantic oversized pajama bottoms (we’ll get rid of those in a different post) and my new milkmaid bra, about to put on my equally gigantic faded t-shirt and he was staring at me like I was a Victoria Secret model… and really, when your wife has been wearing beige cotton underwear for 10 years and she suddenly tries on black lace, I guess I sort of was a Victoria Secret model in that moment.
The bra was a big hit and the next morning when I put it on again I realized why I’d felt so great the morning before… the bra made me feel pretty. Something about having it on made me feel more confident and infinitely more sexy even if I was just in jeans and a t-shirt. It was like Superman, only instead of turning into a superhero, I could remove my overworked-mommy clothes and turn into a sexy woman in 0.2 seconds! Many of you probably clued into this whole ‘wearing pretty underwear makes you feel pretty’ thing years ago. But honestly, at 31 years old it was a revelation for me and I wanted to share the idea with those of you, like me, who’d never considered it before. I’m not suggesting you go out and replace all your chonies with trashy lingerie (unless that’s your thing, in which case, go for it girl!) what I am suggesting is that you try mixing it up. Maybe it’s your very own milkmaid bra, maybe it’s a bold lipstick or a pair of high heels… try out different styles until you find the thing that makes you feel beautiful, and sexy even if no one will ever see that bra but you.
When we feel confident it positively affects everything we do and if a bra from Target can change the way you feel about yourself, why not embrace the black lace? ~Rachel
