Source: @mrwilliamellis / @mrwilliamellis
A wise woman once told me that she was able to keep her feminine essence while working in the male dominated space of corporate america in the 80’s by, “ wearing fly shoes and sexy underwear” under her boxy business attire! I personally can’t do heels because I like to walk a lot and NYC streets are trash – but I did adapt the mentality of wearing something sexy under my clothes.
Source: @mrwilliamellis / @mrwilliamellis
I started wearing lingerie a few years ago. I always wore cute underwear that didn’t match my bra’s – I wasn’t putting that much energy into what was under my clothes and frankly, I didn’t care. It wasn’t until I participated in the Brown Girls Burlesque Broad Squad Institute ( A 6 week burlesque training program for women of color) that I started learning about lingerie and just how good this delicate piece of material makes you feel! In burlesque bootcamp we learned about the history of lingerie and were encouraged to wear pieces that complimented and highlighted our body type. During this process, I fell in love with garter belts and thigh high stockings! And now, I try to incorporate elements of lingerie into all of my daily wear.
Source: @mrwilliamellis / @mrwilliamellis
Even in baggy jeans and oversized shirts, I’ll sport a bright orange lace bra with with matching thong underneath – with no intention of sharing what I have on with any one else. It’s strictly for me. I’m even wearing lingerie as loungewear in the house, just because! One of the things I love about lingerie is that you can have a secret persona under your clothes that no one else knows about. I encourage you to look at wearing lingerie as a way of dressing for pleasure and self-seduction. That’s right- flirt with yourself! I personally like the texture of silk robes. I like the snap of garter belts. I love the design and structure of lingerie – it feels like wearable art on my brown body.
Also, I know what you’re thinking- how does she find lingerie to fit those tig-o-bitties? Lol.
Source: @mrwilliamellis / @mrwilliamellis
To be honest, I wear a 34-G bra and a medium panty so finding matching sets are difficult. For everyday lingerie pieces that I wear under my clothes, I’m finding luck with Wacoal Brands and Rihanna’s lingerie line. I go to lingerie boudoir to get custom pieces when I want to splurge, because feeling luxurious and glamorous is important to me!
Note: Check out this article on 10 Black-Owned Lingerie Brands to keep recycling your black dollars!
Love,
Empress
