Holiday Lingerie! Festive Styles and Where to Buy Them

A quick programming note: my budget did not include a big holiday editorial series this year, but part of that is because I have a different project I’m pitching to a few other outlets, so hopefully I’ll be able to share that soon! If you’d like to revisit previous year’s editorials, you can see them all here. Looking for tips on how to incorporate lingerie into your holiday outfits? This post covers everything from strapless bras to shapewear to strappy bras to stockings!

I thought that instead, since many folks are, you know, doing some lingerie gift shopping this time of year, both for themselves and for others, I’d take the opportunity to share my favorite pieces of festive lingerie AND some of my personal favorite places to buy it. This list is NOT sponsored, and it’s not meant to be universal or all-inclusive. This is the answer to “Sweets, where do you buy YOUR lingerie, with your personal real-life dollars?” The shops featured here are the ones I personally trust and return to for my own lingerie needs again and again, and two of them even have brick-and-mortar locations here in New York City! They carry a wide range of products and sizes, plus a mix of every day and special occasion lingerie.

Let’s go shopping!

 

THE RACK SHACK
Brooklyn

If you’re looking for a supportive, affirming bra fitting and a lingerie shopping experience that emphasizes color and style over beige and boring, The Rack Shack is one of my absolute favorite, most welcoming places to shop. Lingerie boutiques in New York City have to figure out how to manage desire for lots of inventory with very little space to put it in, but Laura, owner of The Rack Shack, seems to have a magic sense of what will work together in her store so that there are delightful choices for core, plus, and DD+ sizes.

You can find underwire bras, chemises, robes, stockings, bedroom/boudoir items, and, excitingly, every single style and color from Nubian Skin, a collection of nude lingerie especially for darker skin tones. Most recently I’ve picked up a strapless bra, the sparkly Curvy Kate bodysuit I’m wearing here, and a velvet robe from The Rack Shack, pieces that aren’t available at all, let alone in my sizes, in department stores or most other local lingerie boutiques. The shop also hosts a range of after-hours events, from designer meet-and-greets to poetry readings and music nights! This is a true community store, as well as a can’t-miss lingerie shopping destination.

Featured pieces available in Brooklyn at The Rack Shack:
Sparks Fly Bodysuit by Curvy Kate (sizes 30D-40J), wearing 34GG (garters by Ellesmere)
Luna Astrology Skirt by Playful Promises (sizes XS-XXL/US14), wearing XL/US 12

BRAVISSIMO
Soho NYC/Online

The full-bust specialist has finally opened their first New York store! Located in Soho near other major shopping destinations, Bravissimo specializes exclusively in 28-40 band sizes and D-L cup sizes. You won’t find the most daring boudoir styles here, but you will find a huge range of basics, colorful embroidery and lace, wire free bras, camisoles with built in bras, sports bras, sleep bras, and strapless bras, as well as a huge range of wardrobe items cut specifically for different bust sizes including sleepwear, swimwear, athletic wear, dresses, shirts, and coats. Bravissimo stocks major full-bust brands like Gossard, Panache, Freya, and Fantasie, but they also make their own in-house label, with details that are hard to find elsewhere, like the gorgeous lace back detail on the Alexa bra. I’ve been a customer since 2009, and some of my favorite lingerie sets of the last decade have been Bravissimo purchases. They made a huge misstep in opening in New York City with no nudes available apart from beige, they currently don’t offer plus sizes, and I’d like to see more sophisticated wardrobe design choices (why is practically every party dress this season velvet, and why have they never offered a simple black knee-length strapless cocktail dress?), but for the most part, if you’ve ever wondered “why isn’t X available in my size?”, I’d recommend paying Bravissimo a visit.

Featured pieces from Bravissimo in Soho: Alexa bra and brief by Bravissimo, available in sizes 28DD-40J and XS-2XL, wearing 34GG and Large (plus Playful Promises Luna Astrology skirt from The Rack Shack)

BARE NECESSITIES
Online

Bare Necessities is exclusively online, and it’s a hugely comprehensive resource for a range of lingerie needs, from plus and full-bust sizes to hosiery to sleepwear to sports bras to nursing bras. I know I can count on them if I need to restock basics, get some new stockings, or find a reliable US retailer for a new seasonal style that hasn’t been picked up by a local store. I couldn’t resist buying this sparkly “Unicorn” color way of my beloved Elomi Matilda set, a great everyday bra that’s gotten a special glittering embroidery for the holiday season.

Featured pieces available at Bare Necessities: Matilda bra and full brief by Elomi, available in sizes 32GG-JJ, 34G-JJ, 36-40 DD-JJ, 42 DD-HH, 44 DD-G, 46DD and Medium-4XL, wearing sizes 32H and Large

FIGLEAVES
Online

I’ve been a Figleaves customer for a decade, and they remain one of my favorite lingerie e-retailers. As you can tell from some of the other shops on this list, I like CHOICES and OPTIONS, and this is a perk online retailers are perfectly positioned to offer their customers. Figleaves has a huge range of inventory, and they too offer sleepwear, hosiery, swim, lingerie, and more! You can find beloved brands like Dita Von Teese alongside tried and true favorites like Fantasie and Panache.

They used to only have a UK website, and since launching a separate US site I’ve noticed some differences in US/UK inventory and prices, but for the most part I like going to Figleaves for basics-with-a-twist, like this gorgeous (and comfy) green Twilight set by Fantasie, as well as for styles that are hard to find locally. Like Bravissimo, Figleaves also has their own in-house labels for lingerie, nightwear, and swim.

This Juliette set is a Figleaves exclusive available in a range of colors up to a GG cup, with lots of different shapes available so folks can choose the pieces that suit them best.

Featured pieces from Figleaves:
Juliette basque and lace short by Figleaves, wearing 34GG and XL with stockings by Playful Promises
Twilight bra and high waist brief by Fantasie, wearing 32H and Large

PLAYFUL PROMISES & KISS ME DEADLY
Online

I’m really trying to be chill about Playful Promises, but as you can tell from, you know, basically my entire blog this year, I’m just in love with what the company’s doing. I get so excited for each new collection to drop, waiting to see what beautiful pieces are coming my way. They have me considering buying a quarter cup bra, y’all, a thing I have never once dared consider before!

While I don’t wear retro/vintage clothes exclusively, I do like a retro flavor in my wardrobe, and Playful Promises strikes the perfect balance of contemporary, retro, daring, and elegant in their designs, all with a with a dash of cheekiness. If you want a more truly retro experience, Kiss Me Deadly is the perfect resource. Their own brand styles are based off classic lingerie styles like girdles and deep suspender belts, and they also carry guest brands that are DD+ friendly like Playful Promises, Katherine Hamilton, Harlow & Fox, and more!

Featured pieces available at both Playful Promises and Kiss Me Deadly: Felicity Hayward Self Love bra, brief, and suspender belt by Playful Promises, wearing 34H (it comes up quite firm, I probably could comfortably wear a 36GG) and XL/US 12
Red Seamed Stockings by Playful Promises, wearing US 12-14

***Wishing you all a holiday season that is full of peace and well-being. I’ll see you in 2020!***

All photos by Sylvie Rosokoff

December 11, 2019 by Sweets | 0 comment