underwear

Bliss Bodice and Bamboozlement Bloomers

admin — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 09:39:00 +0000

That which is covered or veiled in chiffon, silk or lace can intrigue more frequently than the rawly exposed. The scene that continues once the screen fades makes me smile more than any clinical documentation. (Obvious, boring, lacking subtlety...) Also, most agree that some sort of underwear is a practical necessity. Under the Root offers comfortable and charming designs of historically inspired but contemporary coaxing clothing. All items are hand-made, custom, made-to-order vintage reworkings that are not your corporate-endorsed inflatable Stepford silicon lingerie by any stretch of the imagination. And referring to 'clothing' and 'imagination' in the same paragraph is a delightful change. Inspirations include the burlesque, cabaret, can-can (not Cancun), circus, vaudeville (not Victoria's Secret), theater and stage.

I was reminded not only of literature, but also Toulouse-Lautrec's sketches and paintings of the female performers of Montmartre, such as the The Clowness (1895), depicting Cha-U-Kao. Despite their relative rarity in the rings, women have clowned throughout history, from Dorian Mimes in ancient Greece, to the 'Glee Maidens' of Medieval England. The seventeenth century French court jester Mathuine is credited with a joke used in circuses well into the 19th century: she was escorting a woman in to see the King when the lady sneered, “I don't like having a clown on my right side.” Mathuine promptly stepped around her and replied, “I don't mind at all.” I have no doubt that the “Tinker Bloomettes”—flamboyant elaborate pleats of turquoise and magenta—would have flattered her and could also wear well on stage today, or at a more private locale. Drama queens of any gender can invest in some arm spats.

The Bliss Bodice and Bamboozlement Bloomers are made of 'repurposed' butter-yellow ribbed cotton jersey and are trimmed with narrow dove gray lace. The straps are black grosgrain. If you favor petroleum-based buttfloss, that's your business, but if you're looking for something interesting to look at and delightful to wear, seek it 'Under the Root.'

Photo depicts Banniki Bloomettes by Under the Root.

Written by: Erika Mikkalo, July 1st 2009

Hot Boy Shorts

admin — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 22:47:00 +0000

By Girlie Pants

GirliePants is a fun company that creates cute and ironic designs for underwear and tank tops. The pair of underwear that I was sent were a royal blue color with a wickedly cute drawing of a flame on the butt that simply said “Hot” underneath. The design of the image is wonderfully playful, and I think I would wear the underwear all the time if they were actually comfortable. Maybe mine were a size too big, but I experienced the underwear riding up my ass all day long. The cut on the boy shorts is simply awkward. The short part is too short to be considered shorts, but they’re longer than plain-cut underwear.

In spite of the cut, the actual feel of the underwear was great. GirliePantss uses American Apparel for all of their designs so you know the cloth is going to have that soft feeling that is totally addictive. I wear American Apparel’s boy brief underwear as though it’s my uniform. If GirliePants decided to put their designs on a more comfortable cut of underwear, I would buy all of my underwear through them. The boy shorts from GirliePants are $14, compared to the $10 that American Apparel charges you for the same pair sans-cute design. I think an extra four bucks for some spunk is well worth it.

A final note: I’m curious about companies that use American Apparel for their clothing items. While American Apparel does create incredibly comfortable clothing in a socially responsible way, their advertisements are horribly sexist at best. Regardless of their labor practice ethics, why would a feminist (or at least female-friendly) company use products of a corporation that is known for its blatant objectifying advertising and an owner who has multiple sexual harassment charges filed against him? And yet, we still use their clothing for our feminist designs and I’m addicted to their underwear, socks, and thermal shirts.

While I love GirliePants’s funky designs and their desire to do something different, I challenge them to use a more comfortable cut for their underwear and to find a company for their clothing items that does not objectify women. And maybe my challenge for GirliePants is one that I need to make for myself as well.

Written by: Chelsey Clammer, April 5th 2009

Super Beaver Panties

admin — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 16:41:00 +0000

By Girlie Pants

I'm the kind of person who cannot tolerate uncomfortable clothing. That's not to say I'm perpetually sweatsuit clad, but I'm certainly not the type to hobble around in six-inch heels just because they're hot. I love fashion, but at the end of the day, I'm not willing to maim myself in order to look good.

Of course, my stringent standards of comfort apply 100% to my undergarments. A lady walks a fine line in this arena. A girl like me needs her undies to walk the walk (be practical) and talk the talk (be fun). The Super Beaver bikini panty from Girlie Pants does just that.

They're cute, that's for sure. The bikini is lemon yellow, one of my favorite colors. Wearing a sunny pair of panties makes your day better, doesn't it? A screen printed beaver sits right up front, wearing a cape, mask, and sweater labeled “SB” for Super Beaver. I tend to bristle at colloquialisms that liken my vagina to a rodent that lives in a marsh, but this design made me smile. It's not so much about the beaver. This time it's about the super, and I can get down with that.

The undies themselves were comfortable and well-cut, so they've earned themselves a permanent spot in my underwear rotation. The size (medium) fit me well, and I can wear them all day without ever thinking twice about them. Girlie Pants knows enough about what women want to make their products out of cotton (you gotta let it breathe, girls!), but with enough stretch so that they're neither baggy nor constricting. I wore this pair four times to test them out, and not once did they ride up or twist themselves into anyplace they weren't invited.

Girlie Pants makes undies that are cute, fun, irreverent, and comfortable, with a side dish of girl power. What's not to like?

Written by: Jess Brock, March 30th 2009

My Pussy Rocks Panties

admin — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 16:38:00 +0000

By Girlie Pants

These vibrant cherry red briefs are 100% cotton and made in the U.S. by independently-owned Girlie Pants, who prints their designs on American Apparel underwear. The thing that makes these panties unique is the front stencil, which stands out because the caricature on the front is of a hand with two fingers up in the classic and universal rock fork symbol. Above the hand in little black writing are the words "My Pussy Rocks." The fingernails on the hands are painted black, and there is a black band around the wrist. The coloring really makes the graphic pop.

When I recognized the design on the front of these little briefs, I did think it was a little crude—I mean, who puts these kinds of brash hand gestures on their apparel?—but I just had to have them! When I wore them, I changed my mind about the design. It made me feel kind of empowered as a woman. I felt a little bit naughty, and that was my little secret. I think they are cute too!

At first, I didn't think many people would wear this underwear. The sentiment (“My Pussy Rocks”) is definitely a bold statement. It’s certainly different than my typical underwear, and I have never seen underwear quite like this anywhere else.

After wearing them for the day, I found the panties very comfortable. They are cut bikini fashion and sit easily on your hips. The cotton fabric is comfortable, which means they can be hand washed or machine washed, and the undies are made for long-term wear. The fabric is thick enough that you know they are there, but light enough to be worn in the summertime. I am happy to add these unique panties to my collection.

Written by: Amber Whitman-Currier, March 18th 2009