Boyshorts and Girltrunks 101: Your Queer Underwear Guide

Boyshorts and girltrunks are increasingly common in the drawers of women and otherwise-identified people. I’m very passionate about always having cute underwear in general and this specific style of underwear specifically — especially these days when a solid boxer-brief can completely eliminate the need to ever wear pants! My underwear drawer is half thongs and half “girl trunks” — two styles that also meet my other intimate need, which’s no panty lines. Boxers for women are where it’s at.

Now, as a lesbian, I find myself often surrounded by others with similar preferences for boxer-briefs and boyshorts because LGBTQ Women and non-binary people have, historically, been especially inclined to wear boys/men’s underwear or “boy” cuts from the women’s section — and these days, unisex items produced by gender-expansive clothing brands. Back in 2015, we asked our readers what style of underwear they wear: 12% said boxers, 22% said boxer-briefs and 33% said boyshorts. I have no data to compare this to but I feel like this is probably more than the heterosexual and/or cisgender population.

What are Boyshorts and Girltrunks?

For years we’ve seen boxer-briefs or “Girltrunks” made for people who are not adult cis men (as in; no pouch for external genitalia) consistently get discontinued, but a new awareness of the market for this style has transformed the field in recent years. Especially of course TomboyX.

Also, I know that gender is a spectrum and a solid quarter of you likely don’t identify as female, but those words will come up a lot in this post because that is how fashion describes itself!

Underpants who identify as “boyshorts” run the gamut, especially with respect to coverage, so when I say “girltrunks” I’m referring to “boyshorts” (and sometimes men’s boxer-briefs) that cover your whole entire butt and then some. Here, I made you a graphic to explain the different types of underpants!

As you know, we like to diversify the imagery as much as possible here, but unfortunately underwear vendors prefer to focus on skinny white cis girls exclusively, even when modeling plus-size underthings! So that’s how that is.

Let’s begin!

Traditional Medium Coverage Boyshorts

The most common style of boyshorts stops just short of full ass-coverage. What makes this style different from traditional women’s underpants is the cut — they generally reveal less of the thigh and ass than traditional women’s briefs and have short, straight-cut legs and usually a lower waist. They’re exceptionally flattering and also very sporty/sexy. Sportysexy, if you will.

1. TomboyX Black Boy Shorts ($25) XS-4XL
2. Skims Smooth Essentials Boyshort ($24) XS – 4XL
3. Savage X Booty Short ($12-30) XS – 3XL
4. Third Love Pima Cotton Boyshort ($15 or 2 for $25) XS – 3XL
4. Lane Bryant Cotton Boyshort Panty with Wide Waistband ($10.50) 12 – 28
5. True & Co True Body Boyshort ($8 – $16) XS – 2XL
6. Calvin Klein Underwear Women’s Modern Cotton Boy Shorts ($15.80 – $31.50) XS – XL
7. Tommy Hilfiger Women’s Boyshorts (assorted colors) ($10 – $30) S – XL
8.Hanky Panky Signature Lace Boyshorts ($32) XS – XL
9. Maison Lejaby Nufit Boyshorts ($58) (XS – L)

High Coverage Boyshorts

Depending on precisely what you’ve got going on w/r/t your body and butt size, these boyshorts might cover up your whole damn butt!!!

1. MeUndies Women’s Boyshort Women’s Boyshort ($18) XS – 4XL
2. RicherPoorer Femme Boxer ($26) XS – XL
3. Hanes Premium Women’s Boyfriend Cotton Stretch Boxer Briefs ($17.99) S – 2XL
4. Tommy John Women’s Cool Cotton Boyshort ($24) XS – 2XL
5. DKNY Women’s Cozy Boyfriend Boxer Brief ($19-$21) S – 3XL
6. Zig Zag Minishorts With Optional Compression (for tucking) ($38+) (made to order)
7. Thinx Boyshort (Heavy Absorbency) XXS – 3XL%
8. Third Love Pima Cotton Boyshorts ($15) XS – 3XL

Girl Trunks / Boxer-Briefs for All Bodies

But the fullest coverage of all — a pair of underpants that will encase your entire butt and encircle the tops of your thighs — are boxer-briefs. Boxers for women! For centuries, intrepid lesbians have been scouring mens/boys underwear offerings in search of something that’ll do the trick. In addition to being super comfortable and nixing bunching up or panty lines that divide your buttcheeks on a diagonal plane, this style enables you to safely slip on a banana peel in a dress without letting the whole world know whether or not you wax your bikini line. Over the years, many women’s takes on this men’s classic have come and gone, mostly from Hanes and Calvin Klein, but it’s a new dawn, it’s a new day, and we’ve got plenty of options.

At the top of the pack is, of course, lesbian-owned TomboyX, who sells the exact style of underwear I’ve always dreamed of in a variety of colors and cuts. But they are not the only horse in the race anymore!

1. Hanes Premium Women’s 4-Pack Cotton Mid-Thigh Comfortsoft Waistband with Cotton Mid-Thigh Boxer Briefs $17.99 S – XXL
2. TomboyX Trunks ($25) XS – 4X (Leakproof ($32)
3. Skims Cotton Rib Boxers ($32) XXS – 4XL
4. Stud I Am $18 (S – 3XL)
5. Women’s Buck Naked Performance Boxer Brief Underwear ($22.50) XS – 2XL
6. TomboyX 6″ Fly Boxer-Briefs ($27) – XS – 4XL
7. Fruit of the Loom Women’s Fit for Me 4-Pack Microfiber Slip Short Panties (4 for $12.44) – 9 – 14
8. Girls Will Be Boys Signature Boxer Brief ($18.99) S- 2XL
9. Lucky Skivvies Gender-Neutral Boxer Briefs ($16.99 – $24 each) S – 2XL

Mens / Boys Boxer Briefs for Women

Prior to TomboyX entering my life, I got my underpants from the H&M boys section (size 12-14Y) because they’re completely a men’s style, but were spandexy enough to wear under leggings. Unfortunately H&M appears to be OUT OF STOCK of this item. Other longstanding favorites from the other side of the aisle, like Uniqlo’s seamless boxer-briefs and Target’s Mossimo boxer-briefs, have vanished from the earth. American Apparel had a very popular boxer-brief situation we even printed our own words upon, but apparently under new ownership, quality has degraded, and the new owner’s shop is currently sold out of the item. But we’ve still got American Eagle boxer-briefs, a consistent staple of a masc lesbian wardrobe, remains tried and true!

Some styles of men’s boxer briefs basically count as shorts as long as you never leave the house (which, these days, well). Depending on your between-the-legs situation, you may or may not be looking to avoid a generous penis pocket. I personally eschew boxer-briefs that offer “enhancing” or “sculpting” or even “support,” which means I generally stick to 95%-100% cotton boxer-briefs. Again I tend to loot the boy’s section for these (Fruit of The Loom), but here are some grown-up sized options:

1. Hanes Men’s Boxer Brief with ComfortFlex Waistband ($15.95) S – 2XL Mens
2. American Eagle 3″ Classic Trunk Underwear ($22.46) XS – 3XL Mens
3. Tommy Hilfiger Cotton Boxer-Brief 3-Pack $23.70 (These colors of that style of boxer-brief goes up to size 5XL for $29.63 for two pairs.)
4. Old Navy Soft Washed Built-In Flex Boxer Briefs 3-Pack $19.97 XS – 3XL Mens
5. Calvin Klein Men’s Cotton Stretch Low Rise Trunks (assorted sizes and colors, $19.99 – $64.50) Mens Small – XL
6. American Apparel Men’s Baby Rib Boxer Brief ($14) S – XL
7. Lucky Brand Moto Multi Boxer Briefs $36.50 S – XL Mens
8. H+M 3-pack short boxer shorts ($9.99) XS – 2XL Mens

Funderpants

Who doesn’t love fun? Everybody loves fun, and that’s a fact!

Fun Patterns and Graphics: Trunks and Boxer-Briefs

1. Mens Multi Tropical Leaf Print Trunks 3 Pack ($12.50) XS – XL Mens
2. Tomboyx 4.5″ Cry Freedom Trunks ($25) XS – 4XL
3. Paul Smith Dog Print Low-Rise Boxer Briefs ($30) S – XL Mens
4. Nick Graham Floral Boxer Briefs ($18) 2XL – 3XL Mens
5. MeUndies Women’s Boyshort in Slater ($16.99) XS – 4XL
6. Zine Art Boxer Brief ($14) S – XL
7. DC Batman Boxer Briefs 3-Pack XS – 2XL Boys ($36)
8. AEO Bolt 3″ Flex Trunk Underwear ($11.16) XS – 3XL Mens

Funderpants: Boyshorts Edition

1. MeUndies Cheeky Brief ($18) XS – 4XL
2. MJ Bloom Boyshorts Marijuana Bee Marijuana Flowers ($20) XS – XL
3. Glazed Galaxy Hipster Underwear ($8) XS – 3XL
4. Pool Party Boy Shorts ($20) XS – 4XL
5. Fruit of the Loom Women’s Wonder Woman Boyshort Panty 3 Pack ($13-$14) S – XL
6. Torrid Logo Mint Blue Pups and Stripe Cotton Boyshort Panty ($14.50) M – 6XL
7. Calvin Klein Women’s Ultimate Collection Boyshorts ($12) XS – XL
8. Pact Boyshorts ($12) XS – X

Rainbows!

1. Lucky Skivvies Unicorn Boxer Brief ($24) S – XL unisex
2. Diesel Damien Three-Pack ($42) S – 2XL
3. TomboyX MicroModal Rainbow Waves ($32) XS – 4X
4. MeUndies Color Scale Collection ($16 – $32) XS – 4XL
5. Torrid Purple & Rainbow Pride Heart Seamless Boyshort Panty ($11.55) M – 4XL
6. Levi’s Pride Two-Pack ($34.50) S – XL
7. Calvin Klein Pride Micro Low Rise Trunk ($24) (S-XL)
8. Next Gen Boy Shorts Black Rainbow ($20) XS – 4XL

 Okay what are you waiting for, TAKE OFF YOUR PANTS!!!!

Meet Jennifer, The Genius Behind RodeoH: The Autostraddle Interview

Welcome to Underwear Week, a whole week dedicated to your favorite bum-hugging clothesthings. As we said many moons ago, we feel a lady is at her best when she’s not wearing pants. And while our last adventure around this neck of the woods took us only as far as boyshorts, this time around we’re exploring the vast and many-flavored land of underwear. From edible panties to hoopskirts and history, we’ve got you covered. Just like your underwear. 

Oh, RodeoH. How you have completely revolutionized strap-on sex! I remember the day we first met. Before that our only options for strap-ons involved a lot of straps, time and effort. We worried that our seemingly durable sexy leather harnesses may shift and break and totally let us down in the key moments of passion. We heard rodeo and thought “bulls” or “questionable ethics.” We had no idea that one day the word would mean OH so much more. WERE WE EVER SO YOUNG?!

Guys, we love RodeoH harnesses so hard, not least of all because when you’re not using them to have sexytimes, they make a pretty sexy pair of underwear. And lez be honest, if a girl sees you sporting RodeoHs as undies, there’s a good chance you’ll be having some sexytimes in the very near future. So in honor of underwear week it seemed only right to interview the badass who brought us the RodeoH. We tracked down Jennifer Weaver, the thirtysomething San Francisco-based founder of RodeoH, and asked her everything you’ve ever wanted to know about her product and then some.

How does it feel to be the founder of the company that changed strap-on sex for an entire generation?

I know right?! To think that my knickers now have more then one function and live blissfully in the underwear drawer as the underoo of choice! In short, utter perfection, I tell ya. I can say, unequivocally, that it feels effing awesome-sauce. Though it is not nearly as incredible as making a product that promotes a positively upbeat QueerTastic lifestyle! I mean seriously, go us!

Where did the idea of RodeoH come from?

RodeoH was a collaboration for sure. Initially it was just a rudimentary crafty-cool underoo, with flimsy pieces attached to other pieces with string and duck tape. Well, maybe not duck tape, but you get the idea. After three months of developing, including – drum roll please – my mum’s 40+ years of quilting-crafty-expertise, the working prototype was born.

The second part was the name! Luckily, there was a pool of amigos to draw ideas from. Someone threw out “Rodeo” which immediately conjured images of “bucking bronco fun.” It was perfect, except for one little thing…it needed a finishing touch. That’s when we decided to insert the “H” for the “OH” effect. Rod-E-“OH.”

What was starting the business like?

It was start-up mayhem madness in the beginning! Think two years of 60 hours a week, eating $2 tacos daily. Thankfully, I had a wee bit of savings to pull through the first leg of the adventure, and if it wasn’t for our community, we would have never got this bad-boy off the ground. Seriously, the reason why we say the company is “Community Driven” is simply because RodeoH is 100% fueled by you!

What were you up to before you invented the best thing to hit the queer sex scene?

I was an Unemployed Urban Dweller. True story. I was smack dab in the middle of scrolling Craigslist ads on the regular. I remember joking with a crew of designers, programmers, local kids at the coffee house, all incredibly talented with even more incredible portfolios. We were basically musing [about starting a company]. Like today. As in now. Pick an idea and run with it, build something, anything just so we could get noticed. So, we did! Mission SF Style.

What are your dreams for the future of RodeoH?

To make sure that everyone has their Monday to Sunday Funday wear. We want to continue to build the lifestyle, everyday wear, all the while promoting our super not-so-secret agenda of showcasing an amazingly upbeat and positive image of Queer America and beyond! We want people to know they are amazing just the way they are, and the dream is to make that clear. RodeoH is simply a vehicle to drive that message home…there may or may not be a hidden metaphor in that sentence!

My girlfriend wants to know if you’d consider sewing a pocket into the crotch of the RodeoH so the wearer can put a magic bullet in there while wearing them?

Absolutely! We are actually working on that now. The biggest problem we have run into with the addition of details, is the sheer cost of manufacturing versus product cost. The question we have to ask is would you pay 10 extra bones for a pocket detail? Hang tight though, we are working on it for sure!

Aside from RodeoH, of course, what are your favorite brands of underwear?

2Xist and CN2 or really anything clean in my knicker drawer, preferably long johns. Long johns, t-shirts and monster slippers are pretty much the uniform of choice in the office.

Do you have a celeb crush? Or many celeb crushes?

I definitely have some huge crushes, but I’m more of an equal-opportunity-local-crusher-kinda-person. In other words, I “gotts” to meet you to get my crush on. Let’s see. Top of the list? Jetta Vegas, Riley Connor, Jenna of the blogger sphere. Local crushes, July Munoz, Avery Christopher – we have a big bro-mance – and Sandra of SheVibe. Lastely, Thirteen from House. Yes. Thirteen is H-O-T.

hey homos this could be you

Who is your dream model for RodeoH?

YOU! Yes, I’m serious. We want the kid next door, the average Jack, Jill, Joey to rock our products and be our models. And of course we offer free RodeoHs to those wanting to be featured on our social media pages. So, what do ya think? Wanna? Oh come on! Do it!

Alright kids, you heard her! Go model! Jennifer, if you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?

I’m a born local explorer. Why be constantly on the road when there is so much beauty to be explored and enjoyed locally? I feel as though San Francisco is a big ol’ adult playground and I get to be Peter Pan on my little blue vespa, cruising around, enjoying everything.

What is your favorite local restaurant? Local bar?

Chow on Church and HiTops. If you every visit, get the Shandi – it is pretty much the bees knees.

Are you a dog person or a cat person?

Both. Weighing in at 15 pounds we have Rocco “The Billygoat” Cow Kitty, hanging with Puppy SideKick Micca-Chu! They wanted to get dressed up for the interview – it was their idea.

“they wanted to get dressed up for the interview.”

What was your favorite subject in high school?

Chemistry, of course.

What is your favorite ice cream flavor?

Banana or Coconut or BananaCoconut.

Do you have anything else you’d like to share with the Autostraddle community?

To the beautiful Autostraddle community, YOU ROCK OUR SOCKS OFF! We, the kids of RodeoH, want nothing more then to create a dynamic exchange of queer fun fashion fabulousness and invite you, in all your amazingness, to come play with us! If you are a photographer, designer, dreamer, blogger, artist, or just the average Joey and want to be involved, HIT. US. UP!

Briefly Noted: Underwear for Your Masculine Center

The gender politics of underwear are weird. What makes “men’s” underwear exclusively for men? Is it still men’s underwear if I’m wearing it? Why do I have to look at so many pictures of washboard abs and generous crotches? If clothing is how you express yourself to others, then underwear is how you express yourself to…yourself. Sometimes wearing men’s underwear is the smallest transgression we dare to make. Sometimes it’s the loudest secret we have. Sometimes it peeks out the top of our jeans. Sometimes it’s all we’re wearing.

So come all ye of varying genders, and let’s talk about underwear for the masculine of center.

Breaking Tradition

by anon

I’ve always been that kid with hyper-senses. A loose hair between my back and shirt drives me crazy. That ball of fuzz that forms in the toe of the sock after washing drives me crazy. Traditional underwear seams? Used to drive me crazy. It’s been almost a decade since I last wore a pair of traditional underwear. When I started college, my (then) girlfriend wore Hanes boy short underwear and I was excited to get in them. Get in a pair of my own, I mean. So it all started there; with this idea that I was still wearing girl’s underwear. The model on the little cardboard covering was a girl. So when I checked out at the register, it was okay. When my mom saw them, it was okay because they were girls’ underwear.

Fact: It’s really only men’s underwear if men are wearing it.

The next change happened about 4 years after that when I met my now (and forever) girlfriend. It’s another essay and several poems to explain how she changed my life. She taught me everything I know about sexuality and gender. Taught me, really taught me that it was okay to be me; whoever that me is. That’s when I got my first pair of men’s underwear. Actually, she got them for me in a surf/skate shop in Eilat, Israel, where we met. They were Rip Curl and they were teal and they were – and still are – my favorite pair of boxers. Over that year, I acquired several more men’s trunks, but was still wearing my girls’ boy shorts as well. It wasn’t until I got back to the States that I really changed my whole wardrobe.

I started buying everything that made me feel comfortable, and that included more men’s underwear so that I could be wearing them on the daily. I started with Hollister – my brand of choice at the time. Since then, I’ve branched out to American Eagle, Express, Hanes and even Champion. It took some time, but I’ve finally figured out what I like and what I don’t like, and I never realized boxers could be so different.

I heard you were gay, so I got you this rainbow of boxers

For anyone just starting to venture into the surprisingly wide world of boxers, I’m here to provide some recommendations. As a size guide, I’m a 32″ waist and I wear a size small.

1. Hollister – $16 a pair but can be found for less when they start pumping out good sales deals, like everything else Hollister. I like that Hollister has a white waistband and most of their boxers have stripes – I’m a sucker for stripes. They’re cut a little shorter than I like, and they ride up like crazy. There isn’t a band around the seam of the thigh and they end up riding up and feeling like a traditional pair of underwear. Other than that, they’re light and comfortable.

2. American Eagle – $12.50, but I only buy when they have a 2 for 20 deal. AE has the most cuts: Boxers, slim boxers, briefs, trunks, athletic cut and performance cut. The athletic cut is my cut of choice. They’re longer than the trunks, which I like. The more thigh coverage, the better. Unlike Hollister, these stay in place – no riding whatsoever. I mostly own solid colors, but sometimes they come out with some patterns, which I dig.

3. Express – These are cut slightly shorter like Hollister, but they’re tighter so they don’t ride. Actually, they’re a little too tight; if I had known, I would’ve gone a size up. But they feel nice paired with an Express suit.

4. Hanes – like anything else from Target, they’re cheap, so you can get several in one pack. It’s a good alternative when you don’t feel like spending 10+ bucks a pair. They’re also looser, if you like that fit, and they stretch out over the course of the day. It’s a thicker material – unlike the other brands – so I don’t pair them with skinny jeans, but definitely under a pair of sweatpants.

5. Champion – I recommend these for the athlete. They’re the longest pair I have, and they’re made with a lighter, more breathable material. They’re great under basketball shorts, when working out or going for a run. They air out the sweat more than a cotton pair. Nowadays, I’d check out AE’s performance boxer, but I got these before I knew of them. Also, they’re cheaper because, again, they can be found at Target.

Eventually, I’d like to add a little Calvin Klein (6) to my drawer, but that’s a top shelf boxer for my wallet right now. So if you’re shopping on more of a budget, I guarantee the American Eagle band peeking out above your jeans will be just as sexy to your human-love as Calvin Klein. It can be a little scary walking into the men’s department for the first time and especially purchasing men’s underwear, but it’ll feel so good knowing that you’ve fucked with at least one person’s idea of gender. And it’ll feel even better when you wear them for the first time.

Underwear Undercover

By Malaika

Bey rockin’ the calvins

When it comes to my personal preference in underwear, I’m all over the map. My favourite place on that map is where the masculine of centre underwear live: boyshorts, boxers, you name it – if it’s marketed for a man, it’s perfect for me. I have been known to reduce my food budget to make room for an expensive pair of European boxers (or two) while on exchange in France. I wore said boxers under my favourite pink and purple skirt with flowers on it and felt completely like myself – my secret butch side tucked safely away, only to be revealed to those I trusted enough to let in close.

I like pink and frills and makeup and sparkly stickers but when Kate made her butch gift guide, I had never seen a list of items that was more me. When it comes to gender presentation, I don’t want to be pigeonholed and my underwear reflects that. When I get dressed, I want my underwear to contradict my skirts; when I get undressed, I want the layers I peel off to be full of surprises and contradictions much like my body, much like myself.

Bois/Boys/Bois and The Little Boys Department

By Madi

I like to tell my closer friends, and apparently anyone on the Internet who will listen, that I have a dream to someday revolutionize pants. In my utopian view of the future of the clothing industry, clothes will be made, sized, and marketed based on body type – which may or may not be associated with sex or gender. In the meantime, on a quest to find the most comfortable and rad underpants for my physical and emotional person, I have found myself time and time again in the little boy’s clothing department.

As a member of the population who possesses less than, what I feel, is their fair share in derriere department, I often find myself with extra fabric around the back, resulting in less-than-optimal wedgie situations. That being so, purchasing underwear made for the segment of the population most at risk for outwardly-inflicted wedgies – that is, actual little boys – is a logical choice. My experience only extends to boxers and boxer briefs, as most of the fun boy’s briefs are too small even for my microscopic bum.

But a modest ass

For those of you thinking about taking the plunge into the wonderful world of underwear made for little superheros, I have a few words of wisdom. Shopping in the little boy’s department only seems shady if you act shady. Most little boys don’t buy their own underpants and you’re probably closer to the demographic generally present in that area of the store than you would generally assume. Don’t be worried if that pair of super snazzy boxers only comes in up to a size medium: if you stitch the crotch shut, you’ll probably be ok. Because trying on boy’s underwear isn’t generally an option, a good place to start with sizing is to measure your waist, or to look at what size waist people who wear your current underwear size generally have. Honestly, there will be quite a bit of trial and error involved.

For minimum wedgies and maximum comfort, the best fit has the crotch resting against your own, the waistband on the lower curve of your hips, and the bottom of the legs tight enough to stay put but not cut off circulation. This especially applies when wearing tight pants and/or working out/ moving around a lot. My favorites are the kind with visible elastic and the fabric that is kind of ribbed. When the fabric starts to pull away from the elastic waistband, you can either obtain new underwear like a practical person, or see it as a built in handle, like I do!

A good thing to keep in mind is that the tightness of your pants and underwear should directly correspond. You can wear tighter underwear with looser pants, but not the other way around. I do however prefer looser underpants with looser outer pants and also for sleeping. I bought this underwear in XL because I must have been feeling like a big kid on the playground that day, but they turned out to be large enough that I could probably wear them on the outside of my snowpants. Regardless, they are extremely comfortable and if you wear loose pants, I would highly recommend them.

Smaller does not necessarily equal better, but sometimes you have to make sacrifices when it comes to your underwear. It will probably be worth it to wear those underwear made for an eight year old even if they sometimes ride up to well above your belly button just so that you can have the bat signal creeping up above your waistline. You will rock a special kind of courage and attitude that day. Just try to pick that wedgie in private.

Next: Ariel Speedwagon trangresses bravely and Katrina talks underwear-as-outerwear.

NSFW Lesbosexy Sunday Is Going Commando

Welcome to Underwear Week, a whole week dedicated to your favorite bum-hugging clothesthings. As we said many moons ago, we feel a lady is at her best when she’s not wearing pants. And while our last adventure around this neck of the woods took us only as far as boyshorts, this time around we’re exploring the vast and many-flavored land of underwear. From edible panties to hoopskirts and history, we’ve got you covered. Just like your underwear.

click for all our underwear week posts

Sometimes you want to look at people in underpants and sometimes you want to look at people going commando. Sometimes the best type of underwear is no underwear at all.

+ The sex toy industry is booming! Alternet on What the $15 Billion Sex Toy Industry Tells Us About Sexuality Today:

People no longer have to drive to the porn store and make a face-to-face purchase,” Dallakian said. “Online ordering with discreet shipping saves you the embarrassment of exposing your kinks to strangers, and there’s absolutely zero risk of running into somebody you know while shopping.”

via sex-and-sensuality

+ What can we learn from sex by studying our ancient ancestors, apes:

Ryan also hopes his theories will help us fight the war on women: “And that we’ll finally put to rest the idea that men have some innate and instinctive right to monitor and control women’s sexual behavior.” And Ryan wants everyone, not just the gays to come out of the closet: “we all have closets we have to come out of. Right? And when we do come out of those closets, we’ll recognize that our fight is not with each other. Our fight is with an outdated Victorian sense of human sexuality that conflates desire with property rights, and generates shame and confusion, in place of understanding and empathy. It’s time we moved beyond Mars and Venus, because the truth is that men are from Africa and women are from Africa.”

via feelingslesbians

+ At The Daily Mail, Sophie Morgan, who was paralyzed from the waist down after a car accident in 2003, talks about how she totally has sex and everybody needs to get over this misconception that disabled people can’t have sex:

My life is lived mostly in a wheelchair. But I do have sex. There, I’ve said it. Disabled people have sex – and, what’s more, we enjoy it. I must talk about this frankly  because leaving this difficult issue to be skirted around or ignored altogether is a barrier to equality and inhibits the freedom of myself and others like me to enjoy such a basic human need.

via ancestry in progress

+ Lovehoney, who just so happens to sell french maid outfits on their website, claims “french maid” tops the “bedroom fantasy list” for Brits, followed by “Naughty Nurse” (they sell that outfit too) and “Sexy Schoolgirl” (also for sale).

via rastafeminist

+ At SF Weekly, Chris Hall talks about Sex-Positive Racism: Holding Alt Communities Accountable:

One thing that makes it impossible to discuss racism in queer and kinky communities is that white liberals have crafted their own mythology of racism. Breach this mythology, and you can be dismissed as being “too P.C.” or “hysterical.” The mythology comes in two parts: First, racism is something that uneducated, poor people living in the South do. It’s segregated water fountains and Bull Conner turning the water hoses on black people, and comes from living in trailer parks and listening to too much country music. The second part is that the solution to racism is to ignore race. 

+ Here on Autostraddle, Ali has advice on harnesses for trans-women and tech-savvy sexytime panties, we’ve got 115 girls in their underpants, and underwear week is just chock-full of nether-region-related advice.

The dapperQ Underwear Survey Surveys Your Underwear Anxieties and Dreams

Welcome to Underwear Week, a whole week dedicated to your favorite bum-hugging clothesthings. As we said many moons ago, we feel a lady is at her best when she’s not wearing pants. And while our last adventure around this neck of the woods took us only as far as boyshorts, this time around we’re exploring the vast and many-flavored land of underwear. From edible panties to hoopskirts and history, we’ve got you covered. Just like your underwear. 

By Ariel Speedwagon

As Autostraddle was gearing up for underpants week, dapperQ was having underwear ideas of our own. As part of our ongoing mission to explore the wide world of transgressing men’s fashion, we wanted to get a sense of how all of our readers thought about their underoos. We put out a survey, and 270 – 270! – responses later, here we are.

One thing that’s important for you know: at no point in this survey did we ask about gender identity or restrict it to certain kind of respondents. The information about gender we received was voluntary. We had answers from trans women, cis women, butch women, people who are not women, trans men, and lots of people who didn’t bother talking about their gender directly. People, their underwear, their genders, the ratio of their hips to their waists, the convex or concave nature of their crotches – we wanted everyone to reply. Obviously, dapperQ has a key audience of masculine-of-center folks, and based on responses to the essay questions, I assume that that’s mostly who answered. From this, we pulled all kinds of data. There are charts, people. And statistics! Never let it be said we don’t take our work seriously.

Here’s what we found:

1) Boxer briefs 4eva

We asked about two situations: underpants when it’s just you and underpants when you’re expecting company. No matter the situation, one thing’s clear: dapperQs luuuuuuv boxer briefs. Two-thirds of our respondents said they wore boxer briefs in either situation. The rest of the responses were split almost evenly between boxers, fun-style y-front underpants, women’s department briefs, and women’s department boy-cut underpants.

2) People can either find underpants that affirm their gender, or they just don’t care.

It’s important to us to know if it’s even possible to find underpants out there that make you feel good. And here’s the thing: 50% of you can find underpants that affirm your gender. And as for the rest of you, you just don’t really care one way or the other.

Regardless of where they fell on the affirmed/not affirmed/don’t care spectrum, most people agreed: it’s stressful trying to buy underpants in underpants departments that they weren’t assigned to at birth. To quote one of many respondents:

“I almost passed out the first time I bought boy undies. I wish that had been easier. I expected someone to shoot at me. Probably just refuse to sell to me, or laugh, really. But still. Racing heart, whole deal.”

And, of course, the is the far and away the most cited problem…

3) Respondents really, really, really want “men’s”-style  underpants that have fun patterns and do not have incredibly spacious crotch pouches.

It makes a certain amount of sense that, in the “men’s” department, most of the underwear has crotch pouches. That said, our respondents really wish they didn’t. Even respondents with convex genitals said they generally needed something less roomy. Which, of course, begs the question: what do people do with all that space?

+ + +

As a part of the dapperQ underwear survey, we solicited ideas: what are the underpants features you’ve always wanted and never been able to find? It’s an understatement, putting it mildly, to say that the masculine-of-center female-assigned underpants market is underexplored. We are not a large market, to put it mildly; we’re out here as per the usual, making do with what we find, making compromises, et cetera, et cetera. But that doesn’t mean we don’t have dreams. Let’s take a look at what some of the dapperQs had to say.

1) Give us some affordable and attractive options
The people want some style. Specific requests were made for polka dots, glow in the dark, classic cars, stripes, bright colors, pastel colors, rainbows, dinosaurs, frogs, superheroes, hearts, different shades of pink, colorful waistbands, camo print, checks…we’d like some extra pizzaz that doesn’t cost a ton of money.

There was a lot of discussion about how frustrating it was that the nice/fun men’s underpants cost so much. And it’s true: Hanes briefs sell in a multipack for less than $10 while a single pair of the much-loved American Apparel briefs cost $14. Some of the queer-specific underpants are upwards of $20. When it comes to small designers, it’s impossible to price things competitively with a giant multinational company. And that’s a major problem because we are no,t generally speaking, a rich people.

“I expect to hear an “aww” echoing up from across the world as you read this: My sweetheart has a made a tradition of customizing underwear for me for gifts – ironing on glittery and velvety letters that spell out things like “tenderqueer,” “que hermoso,” and other sweet inside jokes and affections.”

2) Solutions for that time of the month

To quote: “This is TMI I guess, but I wish there was a way to not have to wear girl underpants under my boxers during my period. I cannot deal with tampons or DivaCups, so I used a pad of some sort, but then I need to wear briefs. I sometimes put a pad in my men’s briefs, but I really prefer to wear boxers. So usually I wear two pairs of underpants, and that gets a little bulky.”

RIGHT? There’s nowhere for that to go. I for one love the wider crotch of the men’s brief generally but if I want to wear any kind of external menstrual protection – forget it. Has anyone come up with a good solution to this?

2.5) Other concave crotch design problems

Other design incompatibilities were mentioned in particular – lack of lining for the down theres, awkwardly placed seams, and – of course – the pouch problem.

“More lining under my vagina, as in women’s underwear. I don’t need the extra lining in the front, I need it underneath.”

“It irritates me (literally) that boxer briefs don’t have the double gusset type of thing that I need with my beloved girl parts. Things sometimes chaffe that should never chaffe, and in summer it can get a little… unpleasant.”

3) Pack it up, pack it in
I love my underwear, but they can’t hold a soft pack. I wish gender affirming undies were as cheap as other undies. It’s really just another flap of fabric! Where to put the packer? Soft or hard pack – anything at all – this being built into underpants was a HUGE desire.

And a few other great ideas: condom pouch! Tiny pocket for lube or condoms! Pee funnel! The possibilities are endless!

+ + +

So, that’s a taste of what we’ve got. And now, of course, dear readers: How do you straddle cost versus style? How do you deal with the great pouch problem?  What are your underpants dreams?

Three Tech-Savvy Panties for Futuristic Sexy Funtimes

Welcome to Underwear Week, a whole week dedicated to your favorite bum-hugging clothesthings. As we said many moons ago, we feel a lady is at her best when she’s not wearing pants. And while our last adventure around this neck of the woods took us only as far as boyshorts, this time around we’re exploring the vast and many-flavored land of underwear. From edible panties to hoopskirts and history, we’ve got you covered. Just like your underwear.

It’s time to tech your queer panties, because who doesn’t want panties you can control with a remote? Yes, y’all, I am talking about vibrating panties. Panties that vibrate. And considering my other writing here on Autostraddle, it’s not surprising to find out that I consider this the perfect merger of technology and pleasure. Here’s three pairs of panties similar to the ones we’ve recommended, the difference being that they buzz and you have to charge them every once in a while.

Babeland Remote Vibe Panty

via Babeland

The standard remote control panty. The ties at the sides mean this particular panty is highly adjustable (from 25″ to 65″ hips) and also that these panties are flirty and cute. The remote has a 16 foot range, meaning that there’s a lot of partnered fun and surprises to be had. The little pink vibrator (splash-proof) gets tucked into a pouch in the panties and then you’re ready to go. Babeland even suggests wearing them in public (hey, 16 feet, the possibilities are endless. Or at least endless up to 16 feet). These remote controlled panties can be on your bum for $49.

Similar look: These made me think of Jasmine’s photo for Chrysalis, included in the Underwear Week Gallery. Basic black panties – can’t go wrong!

Club Vibe

via luxevibes.com

The Club Vibe is made for music – just plug in any iPhone, iPod or MP3 player and let the music turn into vibrations. Or let ambient sound control what’s happening to the vibrator (I think that’s why they call it the Club Vibe – you can go out to a club and the bass you’re dancing to will work like a charm in your panties). The louder the music, the greater the intensity. Gives a whole new meaning to feel the music. This product is made by OhMiBod, a company with a history of merging tech, songs and sex. This is very similar in construction to the Babeland panty in that the bullet vibe slips into a little pouch. The cool thing about this one in particular is that it’s a bullet, so you could totally use it with any other toy that takes a bullet vibrator. A lot of the reviewers on the Good Vibrations page also said they use this vibrating panty during loud movies, which I never would have thought to do. You can put music in your panties for $49.

Similar look: This is a thong! So it’s quite similar to the Tanga style featured in Thongs 101.

FixSation

via Smitten Kitten

These are not really functional panties. These are panties made to be worn during penetrative sex, but I still figured they would be relevant to your interests. Basically this is a clit vibrator made to be worn during partnered sex, but it doesn’t get inserted like the We-Vibe does. This makes it perfect if you want a couples vibrator but aren’t into the penetration that the We-Vibe offers.  It’s totally hands free once you get it going, but it doesn’t have a remote like the others. Still, it’s technology plus panties and really quite sexy – I think it would be nice for strap-on sex and/or fisting. They’ve got sizes from Small to XXL, any of which can be yours for $79.00.

Similar Look: Gabrielle’s Non-Lingerie. ‘Nuff said.

Plus Size Underwear For All Gender Presentations

I could talk about shopping for underwear all day. Seriously, I actually have an entire closet that is full of bins of lingerie and three of them are all underwear.

For me, underwear comes in four major categories, with the lion’s share of my collection in the first two categories. First, sexy times underwear. Second, everyday cute. Third, loungewear underwear. Fourth, underwear I would wear on stage or otherwise need for costume purposes.

When shopping for underwear for plus size bodies, it’s important to remember that there’s a range of body shapes for plus size bodies! Some folks carry weight in their bellies, some have flat bellies and bigger hips, some have a big booty. Therefore, not all underwear is created equal and doesn’t fit equally. I’m going to walk you through some of my favorite underwear retailers for Femme of center folks, and at the end of this article will delve into masculine of center underwear for the big and tall. (Love a gendered fat euphemism.)

Sexytimes Plus Size Underwear

This is totally my favorite category for many reasons. Sexy underwear is creative, synthetic, shiny, lacey, sparkly, stretchy, loud, demure, fiddly and impractical. It is as wild and wonderful as you want to be.

Torrid (found in most malls and online) has a lot of really sexy underwear. They have a huge selection of lace “cheeky” shorts in a ton of colors and styles (including leopard) up to size 28.

Torrid Red And Black Cross-Dye Allover Lace Cheeky Shorts

They also carry a lot of different styles of thongs.

Torrid White With Leopard Print Thong

Simply Be (a UK brand) carries a great line of retro-inspired underwear. The high waisted Gok Wan panties are a favorite of mine. Check out these madly adorable high waisted polka dotted darlings!

Simple Be GOK WAN HIGH WAISTED PANTIE

Simply Be also carries a lot of hot hot hot underwear. I love a semi-sheer panty. It’s business in the front, party in the back and makes for a cute reveal when your suitor realizes that they can see through them.

Simple Be CURVY KATE ROMANCE SHORT

Bare Necessities carries a good variety of plus size underwear, including the brand Elomi. This style is so perfect for a sultry, romantic sexy look.

Elomi Valentina Brief

Frederik’s of Hollywood carries some plus size panties up to size 3X. These lace heart beauties are so adorable!

LACE HEART PANTY PLUS

Plus size shopping is like hunting. You’ve got to know where to find the best stuff and from there, where and how to get the best bargains. I feel like a genius when I can get underwear at 75% off retail, so I often scour the Ross plus size section. They have my favorite brands for a deep discount. Delta Burke (which you can also buy at Macy’s) makes some surprisingly great intimates. She often incorporates spandex and lace, which does double duty of hugging your curves while decorating them. Another Ross brand is XOXO, which tends to flow in the direction of great patterns, like teal and hot pink leopard, black and pink polka dot and, most recently, found in Philadelphia and Portland, neon pink.

Everyday Cute Plus Size Underwear

A cotton panty is an important staple for vaginal health (for those plus size folks who have vaginas, of course). You need to let it breath in there, especially during tights-wearing weather. So my everyday go-to is cotton. My favorite resource for cotton is Cacique (the Lane Bryant brand). Personally I love their cotton string bikini. This is the one I feel fits my tummy the best and feels most comfortable while still looking sexy.

Cacique Sassy cotton string bikini panty

Cacique also carries a ton of other cotton panties in a variety of silhouettes and I’ve always appreciated their endurance. I feel like Cacique cotton is good value for the money. If it’s going to be an everyday sort of underwear, I need it to last a long time.

A lot of my plus size pals like the Cacique cotton boyshort hipster. This one is unfortunately heterocentrically named “boyfriend hipster” but we can just call that “special friend hipster.”

Cacique Sassy cotton boyfriend hipster panty

Other folks I know really like thongs for comfort, but for me they’re too fiddly and stay firmly in the sexy times category.

Loungewear Plus Size Underwear

This category is basically anything I find too bulky to wear under clothing but love to wear around the house. “Full coverage” and some “Boyshort” underwear I think are too fiddly for me to feel comfortable in out in life, but I like to wear them under loungerie or with a tank top. Some people like to wear boxer shorts for this type of pursuit but I like underwear.

Bonus points for hilarious messages on the underwear, like these from Cacique.

Cacique You Wish ruched cotton hipster panty

I also like the Torrid cheeky boyshorts for loungewear, but some might love these for everyday cute, depending on how they fit!

Torrid Turquoise And Purple Lace Cheeky Shorts

Costume Plus Size Underwear

When you’re a performer who wears outfits that are often basically see through, you need to know what underwear is good on stage. Like ruffle butt panties! They’re great under a tutu, but would never look good under most of my dress silhouettes.

Torrid Blue Striped Mesh Rumba Briefs

I also secretly stash the underwear that looks like sexy underwear but is absolutely not see through in any way and won’t budge when you’re doing movement pieces to wear on stage. Basically the underwear equivalent of bikini shorts.

I also know a lot of people who enjoy lingerie for the stage who rely on panties from Biggalslingerie.com (NSFW link).

Masculine of Center Big and Tall Underwear

There are a lot of foxy underwear options for the Masculine of Center Plus Size person, or the euphemism “Big and Tall”! I am of course writing these recommendations based on what I like to see on masculine of center folks I might be interested in getting undressed. A word to the wise to all queers – if you are on a date wear your best-looking, newest underwear! It shows your date you care about your appearance and what she/he/they think of you!

Calvin Klein has been a favorite of mine for a long time. They go all the way up to 5X and cut a clean line. Boxer briefs are a classic style and can double as a harness in a pinch! (Just stick the base of the dildo in the underwear flaps and hold it steady. You can also score Calvin Klein boxer briefs at Ross/Marshall’s but usually they don’t carry beyond a 2X.

Black boxer briefs are a perfect date night staple.

Calvin Klein Boxer Briefs

These Under Armour boxer briefs come in bright red and go up to a 3X. I love how whimsical and bright the red is!

Under Armour Boxer Briefs

I was surprised when I found this Fruit of the Loom brief mimicked the American Apparel briefs that are so fashionable amongst the smaller masculine of center folks. This pack of 5 comes in teal and goes up to 2X.

Fruit of the Loom Ringer Briefs 

For further whimsy, Tommy Bahama makes boxers that go up to 5X!

Tommy Bahama Boxer

And if you want to go genderqueer, I highly recommend a pair of black Hanes briefs over a garter belt. I saw a Femme friend do it while I was visiting a porn set for the forthcoming sequel to Courtney Trouble’s Lesbian Curves and it was soooo hot.

Playlist: Under Where?

It’s Underwear Week! If Autostraddle owned an underwear store, it probably wouldn’t play the weirdo Top 40 that plays in Victoria’s Secret. And if I ran it (or Stef, probably even moreso with Stef), it would probably play a lot of Jock Jams.

Here’s the perfect soundtrack to eating cereal in your cotton briefs, straddling a hot girl in your boxers, or really just thinking about panties.

These are songs about underwear.

Playlist: Under Where?

[STREAM IT HERE]

I Wanna Be Your Underwear – Bryan Adams
T-Shirt & Panties – Adina Howard ft. Jamie Foxx
Annie Don’t Wear No Panties – Erykah Badu
Yellow Polka Dot Bikini – Brian Hyland
Thong Song – Sisqo
Underneath It All – No Doubt
Underneath Your Clothes – Shakira
Underwear – Magnetic Fields
The Panties – Mos Def
Boxers – Morissey
Fresh Pair of Panties On – Snoop Dogg
No Panties – Trina
Change Clothes – Jay-Z

Songs About Underwear from Autostraddle on 8tracks Radio.

Things I Read That I Love #66: Reading In Underpants

reading in underwear, obvs

HELLO and welcome to the 66th installment of Things I Read That I Love, wherein I share with you some of the longer-form journalism/essays I’ve read recently so that you can read them too and we can all know more about Jehovah’s Witnesses! This “column” is less feminist/queer focused than the rest of the site because when something is feminist/queer focused, I put it on the rest of the site. Here is where the other things are.

The title of this feature is inspired by the title of Emily Gould’s tumblr, Things I Ate That I Love.

This week we have TWO entire TIRTLs for you. The first is a traditional TIRTL, the second is themed for Underwear Week. Enjoy!

Leaving the Witness (February 2013), by Amber Scorah for The Believer – This was fantastic, truly, just amazing. It’s about a girl who was raised Jehovah’s Witness and then moved to China to convert people there and her whole world opened up.

Big Bang Theories: Violence on Screen (February 2013), by A.O. Scott, Manola Dargis, Alessandra Stanley and Chris Suellentrop for The New York Times – A really good four-part situation about violence onscreen, which is something I’ve been thinking about lately A LOT because marathoning TV shows on Netflix, as I often do, really makes your head explode from all the head explosions! —> “As violence permeates what we see on movie, TV and video-game screens, critics for The Times consider the impact. A.O. Scott and Manohla Dargis, co-chief movie critics, explore the history and mythology of on-screen violence. The TV Watch columnist Alessandra Stanley differentiates between different types of violence on TV, while Chris Suellentrop puts video-game carnage in perspective.”

A Path To Disaster (April 1994), by Susan Karlin for Entertainment Weekly – This week in “accurate premonitions,” an early piece about Edward Furlong who I used to be super into.

The Crime of His Childhood (March 2013), by Wendell Jamieson for The New York Times – “It was the crime of my childhood, of another, rougher Park Slope, and in the end it would destroy a family. We didn’t know the Mieles, but I always wanted to know what happened, and what happened afterward — how they had held it all together, or not. I wanted to know what happened to the “crazy man,” and who he was. But most of all, I wanted to know what had become of that little boy.”

The Cruelest Crime (The Sexual abuse of children: the victims, the offenders and how to protect your children) (December 1984), by Cheryl McCall for LIFE Magazine –  It’s amazing to me how much of this conversation was new when this was written, just how different social attitudes were. I remember when I was in middle school, very early 90’s, sex abuse was becoming a thing more people were talking about, like Oprah and Roseanne were talking about it, and we were being warned/educated about it in school. In this piece, none of the child abusers are being charged with crimes because their victims are “too young to be reliable witnesses.” Certainly things aren’t “good” now by any means, but I was surprised by the things in this article that were stated like it was new information.

Hunger Pains (June 1996), by Joyce Ross for Allure, includes photographs of ill patients with eating disorders by Mary Ellen Mark – “A rare look inside an eating‑disorder clinic reveals the hard‑fought recovery of women who’ve spent their lives battling anorexia and bulimia.”

That’s Not A Droid, That’s My Girlfriend (February 2013), by Aubrey Belford for The Globe & Mail – This is at first another article about lonely men with robot girlfriends, but then it gets into lots of artificial intelligence stuff, like the science of it and current advancements in the field and leading researchers. I kinda wish they’d mentioned Battlestar because they get into how robots are portrayed as enemies in American pop culture but friends in Japanese pop culture, but other than that I found this very intriguing.

The Sins of The Fathers (May 1995), reporting by Barbara Maddux, text by Claudia Glenn Dowling for LIFE Magazine – In 1987, LIFE published a piece about the Linda and Dean Damm and their family, who were homeless in Los Angeles. Readers responded with “$9,000, two used cars, toys and job offers. A plastic surgeon volunteered to remove Linda’s tattoos. Actress Cindy Williams donated bunk beds.” Within four months of receiving those gifts, the family was back on the street, the parents having spent it on drugs and alcohol. They catch up with the Damms eight years later to find them much worse off than they’d been in 1987. With photographs by Mary Ellen Mark.

Diary: Fan Fiction (March 2013), by Katherine Arcement for The London Review of Books – In which a college student explains fan fiction to the readership of The London Review of Books.

The Last Man Up (March 2013), by Christopher Solomon for Runner’s World– “Like a lot of things in Alaska, the annual Mount Marathon Race in Seward is famously brutal, even dangerous. Which is precisely why Michael LeMaitre ran it–the last day he was seen alive.” (In addition to the story itself, there’s also just some really beautiful writing in there about Alaska, FYI.)

The Extraordinary Science of Addictive Junk Food (February 2013), by Michael Moss for The New York Times Magazine – I gave up most processed foods a few years ago when I recognized the absolute correlation between eating processed foods and having a series of uncomfortable stomach-feelings as well as overall uncomfortable life-health-feelings. I was lucky enough to be raised in a no-junk-food household as well. But not everybody has that choice, and that’s a big problem! Anyhow, basically this is about how that stuff is for real addictive, and the actions that haven’t been taken to stop it and the science that goes into making cheap and terrible food.

Here’s some special TIRTL links for Underwear Week!

But What If You Get Hit By A Taxi? (April 2007), by David Colmon for The New York Times – “Novelty underwear, for decades the butt of jokes and the joke of butts, has, in the last two to three years, turned into a serious business, capturing a significant share of the $1.1 billion men’s knit-underwear (that is, excluding boxers) market. In all their goofy glory, briefs in bright colors, zany prints, new materials and daring cuts are undermining the classic white brief’s long-held status as king of the hill…. It is hard to believe, so eyebrow-raisingly offbeat, and atypically masculine, are many of the selections.”

My Father’s Fashion Tips (July 2007), by Tom Junod for GQ – I linked to this in a previous TIRTL, but it is really just super-good, and if you wanted to re-read it today you could pay special attention to his father’s rules about what kind of underwear men should be wearing.

An Open Letter to Urban Outfitters on Columbus Day (October 2011), by Sasha Houston Brown for Racialicious – “I doubt that you consulted the Navajo Nation about using their tribal name on sophisticated items such as the “Navajo Hipster Panty”. In fact, I recently became aware that the Navajo Nation Attorney General sent your company a cease and desist letter regarding this very issue. I stand in solidarity with the Navajo Nation and ask that you not only cease and desist selling products falsely using the Navajo name, but that you also stop selling faux Indian apparel that objectifies all tribes.”

Behind, Beneath and Between: Tracing The Thong (August 2011) by Natasha Stagg for Dis Magazine – The history of the thong!

Bad Panties (September 2008), by Alice Bradley for Nerve.com – “Bad underwear is different. No longer comfortable or attractive, bad underwear is worn on laundry days, or when you have the worst period in menstrual history and do not want to destroy a good pair. You only wear the bad underwear when you are staying inside. It doesn’t matter how much clothing you plan to wear over it; the bad underwear stays at home. No one may see the bad underwear, ever… This rule is what compelled me to wear my ugliest underwear on the night in question.”

Uniqlo: Cheap, Chic and Made For All (June 2012), by Jeff Chu for Fast Company – “‘Our underwear used to just be cotton, but we wanted to see if we could create something out of synthetics,” he says. With the Japanese materials-science company Toray Industries, Uniqlo created a stretchy fabric called Silky Dry, a name that pretty much explains how it’s supposed to feel, even when the wearer is Sweaty Gross. (Uniqlo is in the process of rebranding it “Airism.”) “I wear it every day,” Yanai says. “It makes customers happy–and that makes me happy.”

Lingerie’s Great Leap Forward (August 1986), by Lisa Belkin for The New York Times – A look at the lingerie industry during a transformative time (a year after the introduction of the racer-back bra, apparently!) when women’s shopping habits were changing and everybody was buying more and better underthings. Factoids include “readers of Ms. magazine buy more lingerie than the readers of Cosmopolitan.”

The Joy of Spanx (June 2004), by Candice Dyer for Atlanta Magazine – “Sara Blakely was fussy with her design. She demanded a cotton crotch and a waistband made with special webbing that does not feel like a tourniquet. “All of these men were just looking at me when I made these specifications,” she says. “So I leaned over and said, ‘Have you ever spent an entire day in a pair of control-top pantyhose?’ That shut them up.”

Calvin’s World (September 1995), by Michele Ingrasia for The Daily Beast – Remember what a HUGE controversy it was when those Calvin Klein underwear ads came out that everybody said reminded them of kiddie porn? I do. This is about that.

What It’s Like to Be a Lesbian in the Lingerie Industry (November 2012), by Lingerie Lesbian for Jezebel – “The funny thing about being a lesbian in the lingerie industry is that it feels like a paradox: I see versions of myself everywhere and nowhere at the same time.”

You Need Help: Harnesses For Trans* Women

Do you know how many questions we get about sex? Formspring, emails – hell, I’ve even been facebooked! More than once! But at least the last time I answered a question via facebook, I figured that the answer could spark a potentially meaningful conversation about sex. Talking about sex is something that we don’t do enough, as a society. So we’re going to start answering a few more questions about what we do in bed. Welcome to You Need Help: Sex EDition. Disclaimer: not everyone answering questions will be a medical professional. These are our opinions. These articles about sex are to promote conversation, so if you agree or disagree with what we say, please feel free to leave it in the comments. Discussion, much like sex, is a healthy part of life. And as always, You Do You. Or someone else.

We got this question a little bit differently than the way we get most of our questions (formspring or email). This question actually came in the form of a comment on You Need Help: Real Talk About Your First Strap-On. I thought the question was so interesting – I didn’t know the answer and I got curious. So what was the question that had me from hello?

As a trans* chick with not much going on “downstairs” I’m intrigued with using strapons instead of my actual bits, just not sure how best approach it. Can anyone recommend harnesses with a little extra room in the crotch that won’t break the bank?

I’m happy to report that I’ve got a few recommendations for you, and just in time for underwear week! I emailed Dr. Carol Queen, the staff sexologist at Good Vibrations (one of our favorite toy retailers). Dr. Queen has answered questions for us before: you may remember her from the Vibrator Storage round-up. She got me in contact with Coyote, one of the Good Vibrations buyers (she purchases all the toys/harnesses/lube/fun sexy stuff that Good Vibrations can then comfortably recommend to all their customers). Together they took me through three (s)excellent options.

Sasha Couture

via Spareparts

Because who can say no to a harness that sounds like a v. fancy Burlesque dancer and has a built-in garter belt? No one. No one can say no to that harness. The Sasha has two fabric panels for optional padding between skin and dildo. Because of it’s fabric ties, it also can convert from booty-shorts to high-cut panty. It’s stretchy, durable and (praise Lesbian Jesus) machine washable. Coyote says that this harness would be good if you’re interested in tucking. It also falls into the category of ULTRA-FEMME. It employs an O-ring that fits toys from 1.25 inches to 2.25 inches in diameter and comes in a wide variety of sizes, from XS to 3XL (I’ve included the sizing video here, because it has very good advice about how to think about the fit for this harness).

The Sasha goes for $152.00.

The Deuce

via Good Vibrations

Coyote specifically recommended this harness for those who still want access to their bits during sex. But before you click on the link, I want to warn you that Spareparts markets this harness to men. We know that we’re not recommending this harness to men. I was actually kinda shocked that people in the sex toy industry had made that marketing choice, as everyone I have ever talked to in the biz is pretty well aware of the difference between gender and the bits between our legs. But marketing choice aside, this harness is made for some bits no matter how you identify and will certainly not pinch you in a way you don’t like. If you’re having trouble picturing what the use of this harness might look like, there’s a handy (NSFW) video below. Again, if you’re bothered by the gendered marketing here, I’d urge you to skip to the next harness.

Though I’ve never used this particular harness, I will say that I live or die by my (very similar) Spareparts harness. It’s the best control I’ve ever had with a harness and (thank Lesbian Jesus for the second time) it’s machine washable. It’s also more on the gender neutral side of things for those of us who are not comfy in the ULTRA FEMME category. The Deuce can be yours for $136.00.

The Tomboi Brief

via Spareparts

Dr. Queen sums up her recommendation of this one perfectly in one sentence: “In an era when even girly-girls may wear boy-cut shorts, this one might also be a contender.” This straight up looks like briefs and is ultra comfy – no weird pinchy straps, all lovely undies fabric. I can (and have) fallen asleep in brief-style harnesses after fucking, that’s how comfy we’re talking. The trick though (and this also applies to the Sasha Couture) is that fabric harnesses do stretch during sex. In this case, that’s kinda what we’re looking for, but research your sizing with this one because you don’t want it to be so stretchy and comfortable that you don’t have a hell of a lot of control. And surprise! There’s a video for that! It’s very similar sizing to the Sasha.

The Tomboi Brief is the least expensive of these three at $76.00.

Please note that you can’t return any of these harnesses if you have a sizing issue. If there’s any question about the proper size for you, Good Vibrations provides live chats with personal shoppers.

Why Are All These Harnesses So Expensive?

Don’t think I ignored the last part of your question – the part about the harness not breaking the bank. But I looked high and low for you and this is just generally what harnesses cost. And believe me, sex toys, much like surgery, is a place where you don’t really want to bargain hunt. Not that you don’t want to get an inexpensive toy (example: one of my favorite vibrators only costs $25) but rather you don’t want to rule out the pricier options point blank. Sometimes cheaper toys and harnesses sacrifice quality or safety of materials for price, which is a thing you do not want when you’re dealing with genitalia. Hell, it’s a thing you do not want when you’re dealing with potentially ruining an intimate moment.

Let me tell you a story about my first harness.

I got it for free. It was supposed to be high quality leather and I was like, cool, I will take it. It came recommended as a good starter harness. After flirting a little with the attendent, the harness magically had no price when they rung it up. I am not one to look a gift queer in the mouth.

After a few months of use (and tender loving care), I was fucking with it and all of a sudden I had no control with it – it was just BAM, now the harness is too loose. It seemed like the laces no longer held together. And what was worse was the giant scratch on my back. One of the metal pieces in the rear of the harness, just at the small of my back, had popped free of the leather and gouged my skin. Moment = ruined. Bandaid hunt required. And I managed to break that harness whilst fucking despite it’s quality. Imagine how easy it will be to break one that’s cheaply made. You’ll just have to buy another one anyway, which is a massive waste of money and will do a lot more bank-breaking than shelling out only once. Better to buy one that’s comfortable, durable, easy to care for and that you’ll have for a long, long time. Invest the money now, save face (and money) later.

Have a fave harness? Please let us know in the comments. This is by no means an exhaustive catalogue of harnesses for trans* women, simply a place to start. Happy harnessing! Everyone masturbate all the time! (What, you thought I was kidding when I said I would close every You Need Help with masturbation?)

Femme-ish Underwear Realness Two Ways

Welcome to Underwear Week, a whole week dedicated to your favorite bum-hugging clothesthings. As we said many moons ago, we feel a lady is at her best when she’s not wearing pants. And while our last adventure around this neck of the woods took us only as far as boyshorts, this time around we’re exploring the vast and many-flavored land of underwear. From edible panties to hoopskirts and history, we’ve got you covered. Just like your underwear. 

By Gabrielle and Hansen

How Lace Trim Changed My Life, by Gabrielle

I’m a femme-ish human who wears underwear every day. The everydayness of my relationship with underwear is worth noting because I regularly put my butt into tight thin things that hug the various shapes of my body, including the natural shapes (intentional) and the shapes created by underwear lines (unintentional). And here’s the thing: the widely prescribed solution for underwear lines, thongs, just don’t work for me. I mean I used to wear thongs as a teenager but then I got hips and a little more cushioning around my middle and all of a sudden thongs started doing the opposite of what I wanted them to. Their waist bands dug in, creating an indent on my hips that is way more noticeable and personally uncomfortable than the outline of bikini cut undies showing through my flimsy skinny pants. So what’s a femme-ish lesbo who doesn’t want to go commando and doesn’t want to wear thongs ever again to do?

Then, as though a magical fairy appeared out of the sky to solve my problem, I discovered lace trim.

Underwear does not have to have intrusive elastic that digs into you, does not have to shape your pelvic basket with an underwear frame of skin indents. You can find your favorite shape femme-ish underwear with this one magic detail and all of a sudden you won’t see its outline underneath your body-con skirt or your jeggings or whatever hot little number you’re wearing. Since lace trim is wide and soft and doesn’t have that skinny strip of elastic material made by the devil, it just lays flat against your curves. And your date will be like, Is she even wearing underwear? What does it even look like? Lace trim, you guys. Life changing.

I buy mine pretty much exclusively from The Gap, but here are some other cute options for you.

Panties
Panties

Ode to the Hipster Cut, by Hansen

My love for hipster cut underwear is a lot like my love for vanilla ice cream. I can go into any specialty ice cream store, complete with 32 to 947 flavors, and I will order vanilla. Why? Because it’s tried and true. You know what you’re going to get. You will never be disappointed. I am endlessly teased for my devotion to vanilla ice cream, and although sometimes I go craaazy and get cookies and cream or mint chocolate chip, my favorite will always be the standard vanilla. It is the same with the hipster cut.

I have always been a “Ooh, that’s pretty!” kind of consumer, so sometimes I end up with undies that are less than comfortable. But the hipster cut seemed so boring, you know? That was before I was introduced to Bonds Hipster cut undies. Can I just say that this one brand and one style of underwear changed my life? I just counted, and I have sixteen different pairs of Bonds in my drawer. If that isn’t devotion, I don’t know what is. A few of my pairs has lasted me four years and the elastic has never worn out and the fit is still perfect. I mean, look at this advertisement for Bonds Hipsters versus No Shows. No Show wearing women are dancing around with uncomfortably rigid choreography and the Hipster women get fun colored hair and slow-mo jump sequences. If that doesn’t sway you, I don’t know what will.

Unfortunately, because Bonds cost an arm and a leg to ship to the US of A, I’ve resorted to trying other hipster cut brands. But you know what? They’re still great. Hipster undies are large enough to cover your ass, comfortable enough to move around in, and secure enough that you will never be reaching into your pants to pull the damn things up. You know what I mean. Hipsters can be seamless for tight pants/skirt situations, bright colored for days when you need fluro underwear (there are some days this is just necessary), and even lacy for when those undies might be shown to someone special. When hipster underwear is this versatile, comfortable, and reliable, why bother with anything else?

Panties
Panties

What’s your favorite kind of femme underwear?

Do Away With Your Naiveté: Let’s Explore the World of Lingerie

7 Things to Know about Lingerie

by The Lingerie Lesbian

Welcome to the lingerie post for Autostraddle Underwear Week! As you probably guess from my name, I have way, way too much to say about lingerie, so when I started this article I wanted to write everything. Happily, my girlfriend talked sense into me and I decided to boil down the 7 things about lingerie that I most wanted to share:

Fifi Chachnil Bonjour Paris Poupée Rose

1. “Lingerie” means so many different things

Although bras and panties get the most love, there are so many other facets of lingerie: from corsets to pajamas, babydolls to blindfolds, garter belts to latex gloves. Basically anything you wear under your clothes or to bed or that was inspired by historical underpants can be covered under the ‘lingerie’ umbrella – and I’m ready to embrace all variations.

2. It isn’t necessarily about sex…

One thing that bugs the hell out of me is that sometimes when I mention my interest in lingerie, I get a little *wink wink nudge nudge* expression that implies that I’ve just fluttered my eyelashes at them and suggested that I’m free later for some show and tell. Just, no – what I really want to be talking about is different underwire shapes and color trends.

FYI by Dani Read Binding Brief

3. …But sometimes it is.

That lingerie is sexy is rarely disputed –  but a good thing about that is that once you’ve already entered the land of “sexy,” there’s a lot more freedom to have fun and experiment. There are plenty of gorgeous light bondage concepts built into lingerie (like that bondage brief) and there are some fantastic Kiki de Montparnasse panties that say ‘Leche-Moi’ (Translation: ‘Lick Me’) on them. Is it weird that I think that’s kind of adorable? (and totally DIY-able)

4. Lingerie doesn’t have to be for a special occasion

Lingerie can be expensive and also impractical, which is why it is often reserved for special occasions. But really, can’t something be a special occasion because you’re wearing lingerie? I think any underwear that makes you feel special should be enjoyed as often as possible.

VPL STRIPE B BRA: FERN

5. It doesn’t have to be girly

The word “lingerie” may conjure up a world of pink and bows (think Victoria’s Secret), but if you look beneath the surface, there are a ton of smaller, often US-based brands with a decidedly androgynous aesthetic. Some of my go-to androgynous brands: VPL, FYI by Dani Read and new brand Relique.

Toccara Jones via Italian Vogue

6. Love it or hate it, everyone has a lingerie saga

No matter who you are or how uninterested you think you are in lingerie, I’ve found that everyone has their own story to tell – bras that never fit, embarrassing gifts from strange relatives or a favorite pair of knickers that never lets you down. You wear it next to the skin so it’s hard not to have strong feelings associated with your experiences.

Maison Close Villa des Lys Catsuit

7. Forget practical: amazing lingerie is often about fantasy

I feel like lesbians have a reputation for seeking practicality above all things when it comes to fashion. Now, don’t get me wrong, a great thing about being gay is that it often means you get the chance to opt out of impractical pieces of clothing that can be considered socially necessary for most women (high heels, ruffled blouses, pants without pockets) and that can be excellent. But clothing and dressing up can be fun all on its own and some of my favorite lingerie has almost no relationship to something that would be normal or acceptable to actually wear in public. What can I say? Sheer lace catsuits and panties too frilly to fit under pants are ridiculously awesome.

Lingerie Wishlist

by Intern Chelsey

When I was just a baby gay, I was convinced that in order to be a lesbian you had to wear boyshorts and sports bras. As I’ve become more comfortable with myself and my sexuality, I’ve realized that your underwear doesn’t define you in any way other than what you prefer to wear. Wearing lingerie for myself feels empowering, and I honestly feel most comfortable in balconet bras and lace underwear.

Asos has some set’s that I’ve got my eye on. I like that their site has a large variety of high end, as well as afforable, lingerie.

Asos

I adore the lingerie (and bras and underwear) from H&M. Their website is seriously lacking in variety, but the store is where I have bought some of my favorite lingerie, so I suggest shopping in person.

Topshop has really amazing separates, if you’re not into matching sets. I really love their variety of high waisted underwear.

Topshop

They always have a large variety of bras with padding and without, and I’ve found they have the best range of sizes. 

Lez Liberty Lit #15: A Blind Date With Literary Knickers

Welcome to Underwear Week, a whole week dedicated to your favorite bum-hugging clothesthings. As we said many moons ago, we feel a lady is at her best when she’s not wearing pants. And while our last adventure around this neck of the woods took us only as far as boyshorts, this time around we’re exploring the vast and many-flavored land of underwear. From edible panties to hoopskirts and history, we’ve got you covered. Just like your underwear.

by carolyn & riese

Books! They are really great. You just won’t believe how great they are. You may think that the Internet’s great, but that’s just peanuts compared to books. Welcome to Lez Liberty Lit, our column about literary shit that’s happening that you should probably care about. We’re aiming to put one of these together twice a month.

The name “Liberty Lit” was inspired by the short-lived literary journal produced by Angela Chase at Liberty High School in 1994.

Underwear Week

In celebration of Underwear Week, here are some types of underwear inspired by lesbian fiction:

Cropped Pants
Panties

In Strange Women by Miriam Gardner, bloomers and black lace panties are the subject of scandal (it was the 1950s).

Sarah Waters writes about corsets and wearing only stockings in Fingersmith.

In Ash by Malinda Lo, Ash strips to a camisole before dressing up as a boy.

Michelle Tea mentions wearing baby-doll underwear and no underwear in The Chelsea Whistle.

Nicole Griffith mentions going commando in Stay.

Radclyffe talks about wearing a robe with nothing underneath in Above All, Honor.

Robyn Lawley reading in her underpants via robyn lawley eats

Lit Links

S. Bear Bergman writes a defence of reading.

Malinda Lo is relaunching Diversity in YA, her project with Cindy Pon celebrating diversity of all kinds in young adult fiction.

Jamaica Kincaid discussed her new novel, See Now Then, with NPR.

If you haven’t checked out “The Banal and the Profane,” Lambda’s series chronicling a week in the life of a queer writer, do so now.

Elizabeth Taylor reading in her underpants via Literary Hoarders: People Reading

Writer Edna St. Vincent Millay’s love letters to silent film actress Edith Wynn Matthison are totally adorable.

Zadie Smith, W.H. Auden, David Foster Wallace and other famous authors had killer course syllabi.

Queer Books Please wrote about the problem of categorizing books across intended audience, genre and amount of queer content:

“What is required to label a book as lesbian fiction–besides, of course, explicit labeling by the publisher or author? Does someone need to identify as a lesbian? Does that need to be romance–or at least, sexual attraction? Personally I don’t need sex and I don’t need explicit identification or labeling in the text to be interested in a book as a piece of queer fiction. (I hope people don’t mind the use of the word queer. A part of me worries that the word has sort of radical implications. And I know my mother still can’t say the word queer because it feels rude and shocking to her. But for me it isn’t meant to be politically aggressive, but rather a better way to be inclusive when describing my tastes.) I’d say any book that allow for the possibility of queer genders and sexualities is at least queer enough that I’ll consider talking about it here on the blog. That’s a pretty big net to cast.”

reading in superman underpants

The current short story boom does not really exist, argues Laura Miller.

Here is how to buy your way on to the New York Times bestseller list, if you are so inclined. (Also: ick.)

Everyone keeps writing likeeeeee thisssssss.

Make your own classic sci-fi pulp fiction covers with the PULP-O-MIZER.

The bracket for this years’ Tournament of Books has been released. Contenders include Gone Girl, Where’d You Go, Bernadette, Building Stories and Bring up the Bodies.

Elizabeth Hand wrote about fictional women who fight against the patriarchy.

Brooklyn Based has three reading lists for people who still love books.

Female reviews are still outnumbered by male reviewers at major literary journals.

This interview with Toni Morrison in the Paris Review from 1993 reads like it was conducted yesterday. Morrison discusses her writing habits, editors, gender, race, language and the chaos of the world:

“It is not possible for me to be unaware of the incredible violence, the willful ignorance, the hunger for other people’s pain. I’m always conscious of that though I am less aware of it under certain circumstances—good friends at dinner, other books. Teaching makes a big difference, but that is not enough. Teaching could make me into someone who is complacent, unaware, rather than part of the solution. So what makes me feel as though I belong here out in this world is not the teacher, not the mother, not the lover, but what goes on in my mind when I am writing. Then I belong here and then all of the things that are disparate and irreconcilable can be useful. I can do the traditional things that writers always say they do, which is to make order out of chaos.”

librarian in underpants

Famous novels renamed, Strunk-and-White style.

The best blind dates are with free ebooks.

At the Lesbrary, Laura reviewed Sister Spit, an anthology edited by Michelle Tea. Danika reviewed The Collection: Short Fiction from the Transgender Vanguard, edited by Tom Leger and Riley Macleod. Casey reviewed Among Other Things, I’ve Taken Up Smoking, by Aoibheann Sweeney.

At Lambda Literary, Courtney Gillette reviewed L is for Lion, a memoir by Annie Rachele Lanzilloto. David Blaustein reviewed Writing with Scissors: American Scrapbooks from the Civil War to the Harlem Renaissance, by Ellen Gruber Garvey. There are also lots of upcoming books to look forward to this month, by authors including Jean Borich, Lillian Faderman, Kate Bornstein, Katherine Forrest, Matilda Bernstein Sycamore and more.

Don’t forget to check out all the awesome book-related things we published recently: Malaika reviewed Barbara Sjoholm’s Incognito Street. Vanessa wrote about the first LGBT-inclusive Jewish children’s book.

Bettie Page reading in her underpants via pinterest

Events To Watch Out For:

March 7, Los Angeles: Malinda Lo will be speaking and signing books alongside host Cecil Castelluci. Mysterious Galaxy (2810 Artesia Blvd.), 7:30 p.m.

March 8–9, Chicago: Chicago Zine Fest is on this weekend. Events will be held at Columbia College and Quimby’s Bookstore – visit the schedule to see where to go when.

March 11, New York: Jeanette Winterson and A.M. Holmes are having a conversation and you’re invited. Purchase tickets online. Leonard Nimoy Thalia at Symphony Space (2537 Broadway), 7:30 p.m.

March 16, Long Beach: Literary Women of Long Beach to celebrate female-identified authors will be held at the Long Beach Convention Center (110 Pine Ave.), 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

March 20–24, New Orleans: The five-day 2013 Tennessee Williams/New Orleans Literary Festival will honour Tennessee Williams and feature queer authors Ayana Mathis and Michael Cunningham and a ton of other awesome people.

March 23, Boston: Queer poet Andrea Gibson will appear with musician Shira E at the David Friend Recital Hall at 8 p.m. See the Facebook event for details.

March 24: If you submit a request by March 24, you can get a free copy of the April 2013 issue of POETRY magazine.

March 31, San Francisco: Sister Spit, starring Michelle Tea, Ali Liebegott, TextaQueen, Tamara Llosa-Sandor, Daniel LéVesque and DavEnd, is touring! Catch them at the San Francisco Public Library (Koret Auditorium, 100 Larkin St.), 2 p.m.

Know of a queer event with literary merit? Send it to us!

via vintage lesbian on pinterest

What We’ve Been Reading:

Riese: I finished Without a Net: The Female Experience of Growing Up Working Class and it was great. Michelle Tea edited the anthology and at least half of the writers are queer and all the stories are pretty short if you have attention span problems. There’s stories from Dorothy Allison, Eileen Myles and diane diprima, but also a lot of writers I’d never heard of before. I would absolutely recommend it.

Carolyn: I read Pierre Bayard’s How to Talk About Books You Haven’t Read, which I am basically in love with. Bayard advocates for an extreme historical materialist approach to literature in which, because no one can (or probably wants to) read every single book in everyone else’s canon, the context of a text has priority over its actual content. Since I worry constantly about not being to read everything I want to, this book basically handed me a cup of tea and reminded me that books are supposed to be fun and it is OK to not care about Proust.

Liquor in the Panties: Silk Panties for Underwear Week

Welcome to Underwear Week, a whole week dedicated to your favorite bum-hugging clothesthings. As we said many moons ago, we feel a lady is at her best when she’s not wearing pants. And while our last adventure around this neck of the woods took us only as far as boyshorts, this time around we’re exploring the vast and many-flavored land of underwear. From edible panties to hoopskirts and history, we’ve got you covered. Just like your underwear. 

Let me tell you a secret: vodka-based drinks are the easiest. You can legit do anything with vodka because it has little to no taste, unless you get something specialty. This vodka drink is especially easy because there’s not much fancy about it, but it looks really lovely which means you look v. fancy without having to put in a crap ton of effort. Today, we’re making Silk Panties. This falls into the fruity category of drink and tastes more like juice than liquor. It’s not art. It’s not complex. It’s juice. But sometimes that’s what you need is some boozey, boozey juice. And it has panties in the name, which is great because underwear week/may be relevant to your interests. Panties panties panties. Let’s make a vodka drink.

 Silk Panties

Ingredients:
+1 1/2 oz vodka (I’m using Absolut).
+1/2 oz peach schnapps (I’m using DeKuyper, but you can use anything without the number 99 in the name).
+1 oz cranberry juice (not the sugary stuff, not cranberry juice cocktail. Straight up, boring cranberry juice).
+a jigger to measure all this with (please measure! Measure with pleasure!).
+a cocktail shaker (I will be using a Boston Shaker).
+a Hawthorne strainer.
+ice cubes.
+a martini glass.
+a peach (we’re gonna slice it for garnish).
+toothpicks (to make the peach look nice in the glass. Get some that are a bit on the long side).

All the things you’ll need for Silk Panties

Instructions:

Start by chilling your martini glass with ice (it’s the little things).

I’m also going to take a brief interlude here to tell you that the person photographing this drink-making-panty-extravaganza is my mother (I am visiting my family for the day). There’s nothing like discussing the kinds of photos you want out of this while saying “Panties” over and over again to your mom. And having her saying it, completely straight faced, right back at you. Panties.

Chill your glasses with ice so your drink will stay cooler for longer.

Add your vodka, peach schnapps and cranberry juice to the metal tin of your Boston shaker. Add a healthy helping of ice (about halfway up the tin). Don’t go too high on the ice because the pint glass portion of the shaker needs to fit comfortably.

Here’s the tricky part. Put the mixing glass into the tin at a tiny bit of an angle and whack it to create a seal. Then shake your panties. Keep one hand on each half of the Boston shaker to prevent accidents. I find it works best shaking vigorously over your shoulder.

Give the glass on top a good whack to create a seal, otherwise you will be covered in cranberry juice. I have learned this the hard way. Avoid my mistake.

Empty the ice from the martini glass and strain the drink into the glass. By the way, you could serve this in other glasses, but given the drink’s nature as something that looks like it belongs in Sex and the City, I thought the martini glass was especially appropriate. Half of what’s cool about making drinks is creating an atmosphere and experience; the glassware is part of that experience. Plus I find that it’s really easy to smell the peach when you raise the glass to your lips if the glass is wide at the top. Plus plus martini glasses are easy to garnish (maybe because they’re just kinda pretty on their own). Guys, I’m drunk off this Panty Juice.

Slice your peach and skewer it with a toothpick at a diagonal. This will make it stand nicely.

Pop it in the drink and serve. And be careful – this is a really juicy drink, so it won’t really feel like you’re drinking alcohol. Please sip wisely. Cheers! Panties! Panties for all!

Om nom nom peach.

Here’s some gay, gay silk panties! Panties panties panties!

How To Own It: Non-Lingerie

Welcome to Underwear Week, a whole week dedicated to your favorite bum-hugging clothesthings. As we said many moons ago, we feel a lady is at her best when she’s not wearing pants. And while our last adventure around this neck of the woods took us only as far as boyshorts, this time around we’re exploring the vast and many-flavored land of underwear. From edible panties to hoopskirts and history, we’ve got you covered. Just like your underwear.

Happy Underwear Week! Did you like Hansen’s DIY underwear tutorial? I thought it was rad. And since now you are all underwear making experts, I want to show you how to wear just the idea of underwear. Reason: you know how having sex while partially clothed is super hot but not all that practical if you really want to get in there? This is going to solve that problem for you.

via Maison Close

The brilliant folks over at Babeland really nailed this one (sorry, I had to): it’s lingerie, but you can have sex in it because it actually isn’t even fully lingerie. It’s just the outlines of it.  Designed by the French lingerie company Maison Close, this clever thing is “designed to frame the erogenous zones instead of covering them up, highlighting your assets.”

Le Petit Secret Lingerie, from babeland

When I first saw it, I laughed. I mean it’s pretty funny. But it’s also such a ridiculously good idea and super sexy, so obviously I wanted to try to make my own version.

Really Easy DIY Non-Lingerie

You will need:

Lace trim
Hooks & Eyes
Sewing stuffs

1. First and foremost, you need your measurements. For the bottoms, measure around your hips and around the tops of your thighs. For the bra, I’m making a bandeaux instead of the shape of the original, so measure around your ribs right below your boobs and then again right below your armpits. You should maybe write the measurements down as you go.

2. Cut the lace trim to the desired lengths. Now sew the hooks and eyes to the ends of each piece of lace, making sure that the lace will lay flat and not twisted when it’s fastened on your bod.

3. I’m not going to model this for you  But look how nice it looks on this brown paper!

Want A Lady Superhero On Your Butt? League of Ladies Undies Can Make That Happen

Vanessa’s Team Pick:

Welcome to Underwear Week, a whole week dedicated to your favorite bum-hugging clothesthings. As we said many moons ago, we feel a lady is at her best when she’s not wearing pants. And while our last adventure around this neck of the woods took us only as far as boyshorts, this time around we’re exploring the vast and many-flavored land of underwear. From edible panties to hoopskirts and history, we’ve got you covered. Just like your underwear. 

When I heard it was Underwear Week here at Autostraddle, I was a little bit excited but also mostly anxious. Don’t get me wrong – I love looking at ladies in undies and I think it’s important to talk about our options when it comes to undergarments, but personally? I don’t have much to say when it comes to underwear. I found a style and cut I didn’t mind back in middle school (Victoria’s Secret bikini cut, heyo!) and I’ve faithfully bought the same kind of underwear for the past…12 years. When I see it written out like that it maybe seems a little bit pathetic, but honestly, much like my attitude toward makeup, I’ve just never cared. I have a hard enough time finding cute clothes that I can afford and feel good in. I don’t have time to worry about what’s going on underneath it all.

But you guys, then I heard about The League of Ladies, and now I may have to change my mind about everything. This company is creating superhero underwear for ladies, featuring real women of note. I know. Suddenly I’m like, Victoria who?!

what if this was on your butt? what then?
via the league of ladies

I first discovered The League when Policy Mic interviewed the designer behind the project, Shelly Ni. It seems that the Victoria’s Secret Pink Loves Consent panties prank from last year is part of what sparked Ni’s decision to make actual undies with a message, which makes my sudden desire to quit buying the Vicky S. products I’ve been relying on for over a decade in favor of her design even more poignant! No but seriously, who can say no to superhero women on your butt? I for one would never tell a superhero lady to get off my butt. Ever.

The League of Ladies is in its infancy, but Ni seems like a smart spunky human who is going to blow us all away with the help of her superwomen, and she’s got the design portfolio to back her up. Things are pretty mysterious right now but you can get the inside scoop by joining the League of Ladies mailing list, or check the company out on Tumblr and Twitter. So far they’ve given us a sneak peek at the design for Marvelous Marie Curie (her superpowers are glowing in the dark & winning the Nobel Prize, duh) and the early sketches for Frida Kahlo.

carmen are you dying right now?
via the league of ladies

Basically I can’t wait for these to go on sale, and I have never ever had that feeling about a pair of underwear before so I had to tell you about it. Who’s joining the League of Ladies with me? I think these are the perfect undies to wear as we plot to take over the world.

Thongs 101: Thongs Are More Than The Sum Of Their Parts

Welcome to Underwear Week, a whole week dedicated to your favorite bum-hugging clothesthings. As we said many moons ago, we feel a lady is at her best when she’s not wearing pants. And while our last adventure around this neck of the woods took us only as far as boyshorts, this time around we’re exploring the vast and many-flavored land of underwear. From edible panties to hoopskirts and history, we’ve got you covered. Just like your underwear. 

By Daniela and Caro, The Lingerie Lesbian

There are few underwear topics that engender as many polarized feelings as the thong. I know almost equal numbers of thong-lovers and thong-haters who are both ready to evangelize on the topic of why having a thin piece of fabric dividing your butt cheeks is amazing/horrendous. Well, we’re here to represent the “thongs are amazing” side of the argument.

Before we get too far in, let’s make sure you know your thongs.

The G-string: Infamous for being itty bitty, people seem to think it’s the only kind of thong there is. It is no more than a couple of inches of fabric in the front, held together by a couple of strings no thicker than the laces on my shoes. The back string can be unusually short, pulling the side strings down for a V look. This is by far my least favorite type of thong. Because there is so little of it to go around, it has nothing else to hold on but you and it will not let you forget about it unless all you are doing is hanging out sort of naked in your house. Not a beginner’s thong.

I feel like that twig symbolizes the comfort level of a g-string

Micro thong: Think the hip straps of a g-string with a little more fabric. Instead of strings everywhere, the micro thong still has super narrow sides but provides more coverage – at least in a thong context – in that the back string is about an inch thick. Usually, the micro thong will sit more comfortably on your butt, particularly in comparison to the permanent wedgie that is a g-string.

T-Back: Quite a bit more substance to go around, this thong earned its name because it looks like a wide T from the back. One of my favorite styles, the T-back has wider side straps and a longer, wider back that allows for more comfort and coverage. I like it because the wider straps sit better on the hips, meaning that – as long as they are the right size – they are more likely to sort of hug your hips, instead of digging into you like an itty bitty string would. These are my go-to for super fitted dresses or other sort of outfits where I want no panty lines on my butt or hips.

Lacy and Comfy

Tanga: Coverage everywhere, except for your butt. This is the best thing ever. I love tangas because I think the name is awesome and also because I can wear them all day, everyday without having to worry about all that fabric bunching up under my jeans. Some people refer to them as “cheekies” but I think tanga is way more becoming of a term.

Lacier and Comfier

The Fit

I’ve found that thongs in my regular size fit my hips but feel too short in the back, which is the main reason people get the wedgie feeling wearing them. However, going up a size usually means that the front panel is too tall, making the whole thing look baggy. To even things out I recommend starting out with a low-rise pair one size larger than your regular size. Also, go for the wider straps for a smaller chance of wearing something that will dig into your hips. Keep it short, too! Sometimes it takes a second for people to get used to wearing thongs, so wear yours first for a couple of hours only so you can figure out whether you like the fit in a mental space that doesn’t involve cursing the next 10 hours of your day.

Keeping it simple

Panties
Thongs

1. Hanky Panky is the thong queen brand. This brand is well-known for comfort, and their Signature Lace Low Rise Thong ($11.90 – $22.50) stand up to the test. Even though they are a bit above super affordable in terms of price, I think they’re worth it; they are one of the few brands that makes a cute thong that won’t shred in one wash. Their sizing is pretty standard too, so once you find the size that fits you best in their brand, you can go online and buy any new colors or styles confident that they’ll fit.

2. Calvin Klein has a line of Women’s Invisibles Thong ($10 – $37) that stands true to their name. Their material is super thin and it sits flat against your body, making them the best option for tight dresses and skirts.

3. Commando fits similar to the Calvin Klein invisible thongs, but their low rise thong ($15.90 – $20) have the added bonus of coming in a lot of fun patterns that don’t disturb the thickness of the material at all.

4. The Barely There Flawless Fit Seamless Thongs ($7.65 – $16.00) have a wider front, so they are similar to a regular bikini and a really good choice if you are trying out thongs for the first time.

Every little bit counts

When worn with an entire outfit (matching bra + garter belt + stockings) a thong is often the best option to keep the whole thing manageable and not involve too many layers of fabric. So, if you are interested in a more elaborate look, the Lingerie Lesbians recommends:

Thongs
Thongs

Mimi Holliday Confetti Bomb Bow Back Thong ($42.88): Mimi Holliday’s thongs are just like girly heaven – I mean how much better can it get than a red and pink spotted bow on your butt? In this bow-lovers opinion, you can’t go wrong here.

Bordelle Webbed Thong ($190): What I love about this thong is that it manages to have bows (sense a theme here?) and still be both badass at the same time. Although it covers a little more of your bum than the average thong, it’s definitely still in the spirit.

Myla Luna Skirted Thong ($85): This is simple, lacy and lovely – one great thing about thongs is that they’re so little that every detail counts. Delicate lace really stands out on such a minuscule piece of clothing.

After looking at Caro’s suggestions, I remembered my favorite brand to window shop: La Perla. If La Perla’s Secrets thong ($138) is as totally out of your price range as it is from mine, then rest assured you can find things slightly kinder to your pocket in Natori’s lacy thongs ($18). You can always just keep it simple, for a more affordable start.

In conclusion, thongs are not the monster some paint them to be – they can be fun, versatile and definitely easy to pack! Don’t knock ’em til you’ve tried ’em, you know? After all, Carmen did seem to be pretty comfortable twirling around Shane in that fantastic get-up.

Thank The 50’s For Your Underpinnings (And Other Fashion Freedoms)

Welcome to Underwear Week, a whole week dedicated to your favorite bum-hugging clothesthings. As we said many moons ago, we feel a lady is at her best when she’s not wearing pants. And while our last adventure around this neck of the woods took us only as far as boyshorts, this time around we’re exploring the vast and many-flavored land of underwear. From edible panties to hoopskirts and history, we’ve got you covered. Just like your underwear. 

By A.E. and Abby

Come along, queers, and gather round for story time. We’re talking about underwear this week, and though most of what we’ve been covering has been pretty light and fun and fashion-y, we wanted to take a moment to hop in the wayback machine and talk about underwear in a historical context.

Anyone? Rocky and Bullwinkle? Mr. Peabody and Sherman? Anyone? Bueller? via Wikipedia

Did you all just fall asleep on me? I know, I know, but I promise this will be interesting. Also this is about your queer elders. Show some respect. And tuck in your shirt.

Tonight I remember the time I got busted alone, on strange turf. You’re probably wincing already, but I have to say this to you. It was the night we drove ninety miles to a bar to meet friends who never showed up. When the police raided the club we were “alone,” and the cop with the gold bars on his uniform came right over to me and told me to stand up. No wonder, I was the only he-she in the place that night.

He put his hands all over me, pulled up the band of my Jockeys and told his men to cuff me – I didn’t have three pieces of women’s clothing on….They cuffed my hands so tight behind my back I almost cried out. Then the cop unzipped his pants real slow, with a smirk on his face, and ordered me down on my knees. First I thought to myself, I can’t! Then I said out loud to myself and to you and to him, “I won’t!” I never told you this before, but something changed inside of me at that moment. I learned the difference between what I can’t do and what I refuse to do.

When I got out of the tank the next morning you were there. You bailed me out. No charges, they just kept your money. You had waited all night long in that police station…You drove us home with my head in your lap all the way, stroking my face. You ran a bath for me with sweet-smelling bubbles. You laid out a fresh pair of white BVD’s and a T-shirt for me and left me alone to wash off the first layer of shame.

– Stone Butch Blues

Though Stone Butch Blues is a fictional account of 1950s working-class, lesbian bar culture, the “three articles of clothing” rule that Jess is arrested under for wearing men’s underwear is real. And it is much older than you might realize. This wasn’t just McCarthyism at its finest (although that did have a lot to do with it); laws outlawing cross-dressing or “masquerading as the opposite sex” actually go back to the mid-nineteenth century. Jess’s wearing of men’s clothing wasn’t just a social taboo, it was a criminal act. And it’s because of the real-life women who took enormous risks to their personal safety, and who physically fought to wear whatever undies, clothing and footwear they damn well pleased that we can have underwear week at all.

Starting in the 1840s and continuing well into the 20th century, ordinances were passed in cities making it a crime for a man or a woman to appear in public “in a dress not belonging to his or her sex.” In the nineteenth century these laws had little to do with any sort of moral outrage over men and women wearing clothes that were atypical for their sex. Homosexuality in the way that we know and understand it had yet to become part of the larger social consciousness and certainly didn’t induce the same sort of reactionary gay panic that it would later. (Omg! The gays are taking over!). Rather, the laws had far more to do with the broader changes happening with regards to industrialization and the move to more populous, urban spaces. ¹

Prior to the Industrial Revolution and the resulting expansion of urban living, most people resided in small towns and villages where everybody knew everybody and everyone was all up in each other’s business all the damn time. But in some ways, living like this was good because it was simple. When you spotted someone on the street or when you needed a service rendered, you knew the person you were about to interact with. You knew if they were going to try to cheat you out of some money or if you could trust their word. Who needed the internet when you had a personal Yelp in your mindbrain? But as people moved away from towns and into cities, the dynamic changed. Suddenly they were surrounded by strangers, by unknowns. Which brings us back to these cross-dressing laws. The increasing need to rely on first impressions in order to accrue knowledge about someone’s character led to a growing anxiety about how to interpret appearances and manners in order to suss out a person’s class, background, character and, ultimately, their trustworthiness. Clothing and dress was literally a person’s public face.² The thought that clothing might be used to mask someone’s true nature, rather than to reveal their character, was incredibly unsettling in this period.³ Thus, cross-dressing laws were less about gender policing (although that is inherently a factor), and more about trying to ensure that first impressions were as accurate and reliable as possible. By the time we get to the 1950s, however, these laws continued to be enforced almost exclusively because of a moral panic over “deviant” sexualities that would surely rip apart the very fabric of American society and turn us all into pinko commie dykes.⁴

I mean, I know that’s our gay agenda.

Whew. So that was some quick and dirty context for y’all. Ready to fast-forward and get back to the 1950s? Sure you are.

After WWII there was a significant migration of women who self-identified as lesbians to urban spaces. The result of which was that a bar culture began to form as bar owners realized that lesbians would pay good money for a safe space to socialize. These bars were essential in fostering a sense of community, particularly among working-class and young lesbians. The bars were also a space where women were freed from societal norms with regard to clothing and gender.⁵ Although WWII had made pants acceptable to be worn by women, skirts were still the norm. Pants were seen as incredibly casual – butch women in the 1950s searching for dress pants remembered that they had to get men’s trousers specially tailored because dress pants for women didn’t exist at the time – and more something that you would wear at home that out in public. But in the bars, women had the freedom to adopt a masculine presentation.

Keannie Sullivan & Tommy Vasu at Mona’s, via foundsf.org and the Epic Autostraddle Gallery

Elizabeth Lapovsky Kennedy and Madeline D. Davis’s “Boots of Leather, Slippers of Gold” is is one of the best studies of working-class, lesbian bar culture in this period. Based on interviews with 45 different women in Buffalo, NY, the work details everything from the nature of bar culture to the personal relationships these women had (both romantic and otherwise). The women interviewed describe how, unlike the 1940s when women only frequented bars on the weekend and were far more covert about wearing masculine clothing, working-class butch women went the bars most days of the week and took an immense amount of pride in their appearance.

Since they went out to bars every night, not just on weekends, they had to have appropriate butch clothes for both casual wear and for dressing up. Regulars at Bingo’s in the midfifties remember white butches wearing sport jackets, chino pants or sometimes men’s dress pants, and men’s shirts – button-downs, western shirts, or tuxedo shirts with ties on the weekend. When out during the week, they would dress more casually in shirts and chinos. Among younger white bar dykes in the late fifties, blue jeans and t-shirts became popular, particularly during the week….Black studs adopted a more formal look even on weeknights, wearing starched white shirts with formal collars and dark dress pants whenever they went out…none of these butches, white or black, ever carried purses.

The wearing of masculine clothing was about more than simply playing the butch role within the bars; it was a very obvious and public “fuck you” to the societal norms that butches and studs found oppressive. Butch women remember distinctly that their everyday uniform of jeans and white t-shirts was an unmistakable signal of queerness. And underwear (or lack thereof) often played an essential role. One woman explained, “butches, we’ve always worn T-shirts. That was our thing, right? And most of the time why did we wear T-shirts, because we didn’t wear a bra….We just threw them away and put on T-shirts. And boy, when you wore a T-shirt – Wow! They didn’t look to see where your tits were. Oh, you have a T-shirt! We were the Original.” For other women, binding was the way to go. Whereas disregarding a bra entirely was an in-your-face “Yeah, I’m a woman in a t-shirt and jeans. Come at me, bro,” those women who chose to bind cultivated a more ambiguous appearance. But an ambiguous appearance also meant uncertain safety. Though some women could, and did, pass and could use their appearance as a cover and protection when they were on the streets, the times that they weren’t read as male were extremely dangerous because they couldn’t possibly be anything other than queer.

Even if someone was passing, the wearing (and buying) of masculine clothing didn’t come without its risks. When purchasing clothes, many women made up a story about purchasing something for their husband or boyfriend. Those who didn’t remember that shopping for clothes meant anxiety over being exposed and facing ridicule. But worse than the embarrassment was the (often violent) harassment by both the police and straight men. Many women mentioned the “three articles of clothing” rule in their interviews with Kennedy and Davis (though some claim it was actually two articles), and one woman remembered her very near miss with arrest because of this.

I’ve had the police walk up to me and say, “Get out of the car.” I’m drivin’. They say get out of the car; and I get out. And they say, “What kind of shoes you got on? You got on men’s shoes?” And I say, “No, I got on women’s shoes.” I got on some basket-weave women’s shoes. And he say, “Well you damn lucky”‘ ‘Cause everything else I had on were men’s–shirts, pants. At that time when they pick you up, if you didn’t have two garments that belong to a woman you could go to jail…It would really just be an inconvenience….It would give them the opportunity to whack the shit out of you.

via Boots of Leather, Slippers of Gold and The Epic Autostraddle Gallery

Street harassment and fights were also a routine occurrence, and it was an essential part of the butch ethos to take on any challenge that came their way. It was understood that you had to be strong, and that you stood up to a challenge. “You would naturally get up and fight the guy…we all did it at that time. And we’d knock them on their ass, and if one couldn’t do it we’d all help….But you never failed, or you tried not to….You were there, you were gay, you were queer and you were masculine.” Engaging in physical fights was about more than proving toughness or saving face though, it was the only way for these women to make a space for themselves.

I think that’s the only way we could act then. We just didn’t have any ground except what we found for. Especially like Iris and Sandy for instance, on the street people just stared at them. I would see people’s reactions, I would see them to me if I was alone too, but I would see reactions when I was with my friends, and the only safe place was in a gay bar, or in your own, if you had your own apartment. Out on the street you were fair game. – Toni

Sick of hiding, and tired of only accepting the meager scraps that society gave to them, butch women physically fought for the right to be visible. They risked arrests, assaults and beatings to wear the clothes they wanted to wear. Without them we might not be able to have underwear week. The risks they took, and the momentum they built by fighting back against police harassment, eventually culminating in the Stonewall riots and the start of the gay liberation movement, are the reason that Autostraddle can tell you what the best boxer briefs in all the land are. They’re the reason we can even sell you You Do You boybriefs without being concerned that you’ll be arrested for wearing them. Without being particularly political themselves, and simply by living their lives the truest way that they knew, these women put things in motion.

So walk proudly into Uniqlo and buy some boy briefs – you probably don’t have to make an excuse to the cashier about buying them for your boyfriend for fear of legal action. Courts stopped prosecuting cross-dressing cases in 1974, at least in New York State. And the ACLU says in states/counties/cities that still do have cross-dressing laws on the books, anyone arrested under that law should fight it in court because the law will likely be ruled unconstitutional. And say a big thank you to Dear Sweet Lesbian Jesus that we had some foremothers willing to fight the fights that would eventually ensure our legal gender presentation and would lead us down the path of choosing some bum-cuddling soft cotton with which to swaddle our gay buttocks, regardless of “sex-appropriateness.”

¹ N.B. There is so so much history here, and so many interesting things I (Abby, the historian person) could talk to you guys about! I wish I had time and space to talk to you about cross-dressing in vaudeville and how it was seen as incredibly wholesome, family-friendly entertainment for much of the nineteenth century, and then the changes that occurred to make it well…not so wholesomely received anymore. And I want to tell you guys all about the history of romantic friendships and the deeply intimate relationships women cultivated with other women, and that was socially acceptable and highly encouraged! But, alas, this is but a simple piece about cross-dressing laws and underwear, and so I have to give you the quick and dirty version of history. BUT if this is a thing you want to learn more about I highly suggest starting with Odd Girls and Twilight Lovers by Lillian Faderman, and then falling down the history rabbit hole from there.

² There was a massive uptick in the number of etiquette books published in this period, all aimed at the newly formed (and rising) middle classes, as well as those in the working classes who were beginning to have both time and money for leisure. Not surprisingly, the cultivation of one’s appearance and manners were the primary focus of these manuals in an attempt to help people navigate and be successful in this rapidly changing society.

³ It’s not a queer history by any means, but if you’re interested in this period I (Abby, the historian person) highly recommend Karen Halttunen’s Confidence Men and Painted Women: A Study of Middle-Class Culture in America, 1830-1870. It’s a really great study that delves into these anxieties surrounding appearances and sincerity in the mid-nineteenth century.

⁴ Interestingly enough, there was a moment after the end of WWII where many lesbians thought that they had entered a brand new (read: open and accepting) world for women loving women. Lisa Ben, the editor of a short-lived post-war lesbian periodical, Vice Versa (the first of its kind in America – it’s a zine! Well, kinda.), wrote a euphoric article in 1947 claiming, “Never before have circumstances and conditions been so suitable for those of lesbians tendencies.” (Faderman, 129)

⁵ Even though the bars didn’t conform to societal norms, they did create their own–the butch/femme dynamic was an incredibly strict divide and, with very few exceptions, women had to conform to one or the other in order to participate in bar culture.

Recommended Reading

If you’re interested in reading more about this period (because there is so much more, you guys! And we know you’re interested because, lezbehonest, you’ve gone past the footnotes) here are some good books:

Odd Girls and Twilight Lovers: A History of Lesbian Life in Twentieth-Century America, by Lillian Faderman

A Desired Past: A Short History of Same-Sex Love in America, by Leila J. Rupp

I’ll be straight with you guys, this is not the best book out there; it gives, to my mind, an overly rosy view of queer history, but what it does well is give an overview of this history in an immensely readable way. This is a good introductory book.

Confidence Men and Painted Women: A Study of Middle-Class Culture in America, 1830-1870, by Karen Halttunen

Stone Butch Blues, by Leslie Feinberg

This is fiction, but if you’re looking for something to give you a feel for this period it’s really pretty excellent.

Boots of Leather, Slippers of Gold: The History of a Lesbian Community, by Elizabeth Lapovsky Kennedy and Madeline D. Davis

It can be hard to get your hands on a copy of this book – I bought my copy used through Amazon – but if you can it is so, so worth your time. Most college libraries will probably have a copy if you don’t want to buy it.

The Persistent Desire: A Butch-Femme Reader, edited by Joan Nestle

This is another one that can be hard to find – used book sellers and libraries are your friends.

Idol Worship: 30 Photos of Bettie Page In Underwear

Welcome to Underwear Week, a whole week dedicated to your favorite bum-hugging clothesthings. As we said many moons ago, we feel a lady is at her best when she’s not wearing pants. And while our last adventure around this neck of the woods took us only as far as boyshorts, this time around we’re exploring the vast and many-flavored land of underwear. From edible panties to hoopskirts and history, we’ve got you covered. Just like your underwear.

This is a special UNDERWEAR WEEK EDITION of Idol Worship, a (typically) biweekly devotional to whoever the fuck I’m into. It’s is a no-holds-barred lovefest for my favorite celebrities, rebels and biker chicks; women qualify for this column simply by changing my life and/or moving me deeply. This week I’m having a lot of feelings about the oft-pantsless Bettie Page.

The Resurrection Party was one of the first parties I ever organized. Over 100 people had to have been there, all dressed up as “the people they wished were rising from the dead on Easter.” (Once upon a time I had quite a sense of humor, huh?)

I was Bettie Page.

At the time, it was a bold choice: I’d come to college a year before a wholesome, big-eyed girl next door and was beginning what became my, um, downfall transformation into an adult. My infatuation with pin-ups is a natural extension of my forever nostalgia for a mid-century period I never even existed in. But to choose to embody that? That seemed altogether, well, subversive. Like me turning all the stuff I worried about upside-down just by having the guts to perform it on-pointe and be aware of it at all times. Deeper down, it symbolized sort of an inner shift where I was changing. Those were the final days of a period I collectively scrap as “my past.” I was about to change.

I wore Libby’s orange bathing suit, retro with a built-in skirt- I wore it. Me with the body issues and the self-imposed idea that I was forever unattractive branded onto my then tiny, tiny brain. (I expanded it in years to come.) Me, the girl with fake hair, wearing a bathing suit and my mother’s cardigan.

It was a proper send-off to being a good girl.

Bettie Page was born in 1923 on April 22, and by the fall of 1950 she was a (yawn) secretary. One day when she was casually walking along the beach alone (I’m melting) she met Jerry Tibbs, who became the first photographer of her new-fangled modeling career. A girl who used to pretend to be famous with her sisters as a teenager was living a fantasy of her own.

Bettie Page embraced erotic art from a strictly rational standpoint, explaining her work often as simply that – work. Or really, playing around.“It was all pretend.” Just havin’ some good ol’ BDSM erotica fun. Not that she didn’t enjoy it – she admits to an affinity for being in the nude, indoors and out. In fact, Bettie Page wanted to be remembered for encouraging chicks to get naked. To be down with their naked selves. For that we can all be grateful.

The BDSM photography which Page earned a reputation from is not all she did, though, nor how her career started. Before she became an erotic model (and even as she worked as one) she did more mainstream pinup work; just your typical mouth-open-drooling 50’s woman with a great ass. But once she met Cass Car, a musician who ran “camera clubs” where artist could “fully express themselves in the world of erotic art,” her mark on the world was signed, sealed and delivered.

From there, a new kind of pinup was born. A new kind of sexy. A new kind of normal. And Bettie Page’s impact, despite resistance from the government and mainstream media, was a new set of sexual norms. She became recognized for her modeling work and her overall beauty and was transformed into an icon while taking photographs where she was engaged in sex play with women and sex play involving kink. She was a Playboy centerfold, “Miss Pinup Girl of the World.” She was what the world wanted. Bad. And we needed it too.

In the Pantheon of Women Who Changed Our Attitudes About Sex, Bettie Page stands in the center. Or maybe she just lords above it. After all, the greats – from Madonna to Dita von Teese – owe their sexual work in part to Page’s first unraveling of America’s boundaries, to her cult following and to her ability to show us what the dark underside of Marilyn Monroe’s bright white dress really looked like. Bettie Page subverted a conservative culture just by embodying it at the same time as she admonished it. She was Marilyn Monroe – without the dress. She never pretended to be interested in the dress. And she never pretended to be afraid to take it off.

Bettie Page was an American Beauty who looked like she has a lot of secrets. And that was what was so sexy about her.

That, and the underwear.

Make A Thing: Let’s Sew Some Underwear

Welcome to Underwear Week, a whole week dedicated to your favorite bum-hugging clothesthings. As we said many moons ago, we feel a lady is at her best when she’s not wearing pants. And while our last adventure around this neck of the woods took us only as far as boyshorts, this time around we’re exploring the vast and many-flavored land of underwear. From edible panties to hoopskirts and history, we’ve got you covered. Just like your underwear. 

It’s underwear week! Isn’t that fun? Why buy new underwear when you can make it, am I right? I’m actually incapable of calling my underwear anything other than “undapants,” hence, the title of this tutorial.

Undapants

Supplies Needed:
– fabric with some stretch (repurposing an old t-shirt would be perfect for this project)
– a small piece of 100% cotton fabric if your fabric is not cotton
– elastic thread
– fold-over elastic for the waistband (Important!: Regular knit elastic is scratchy, fold-over is soft and perfect for clothing)
– a paper bag or a piece of paper for pattern
– a pair of your favorite underwear
– sewing machine

Level of Difficulty: Beginner sewing knowledge would help you out for this, but it’s a very basic pattern, so let’s not get our undies in a bunch (oh you see what I did there?)

1. First, we’re going to make a pattern from our favorite pair of undies.

2. Lay down your underwear and trace around them. Yes, it’s really that simple. Fold them in half for the front and back to create a half-section to cut out. We’ll cut it on doubled-over fabric so we have a better chance of ending up with a symmetrical garment.

3. For the front, don’t make my first mistake and remember to curve out the bottom part of the sides so it meets with the side from the back.

4. Make sure your pattern edges line up properly. Pictured above is how mine ended up at first. That’s the beauty of making a pattern: you are allowed to entirely fuck it up because your fabric won’t be wasted yet.

5. Line up your pattern piece with a doubled edge of fabric so you only have to cut half as much. I’m all for shortcuts.

6. Alright, we’re going to start sewing. I used a loose zig-zag stitch because I wasn’t sure how the elastic thread would go, but this seemed to be the best way. Line up your sides and the crotch-seam of your underwear, but don’t worry about the liner yet. Use the smallest seam-allowance you can execute.

Tips: Be gentle! Don’t stretch your fabric or it will end up weird and wrinkled when it is done. Use five million pins. You won’t regret it.

7. Try on your underwear. My cat is really excited to be modelling for you. Keep in mind that if your fabric edges roll, they’ll seem a bit small until you sew the leg holes and the top seam to keep it from rolling. You want to be comfortable in them. If they’re too big, take in the sides slightly, and if they’re too small, well, you might have to add a bit of fabric at the sides or start over.

8. To sew the leg holes, I skipped adding a strip of elastic and just used the elastic thread. Pin pin pin pin. Use a very small seam allowance.

9. Sew the liner in. I hemmed it, then sewed it to the back and sewed a half-inch at the top of either side to tack it on.

10. We’re almost done! I pinned the fold-over elastic to the front of the underwear with the plush, soft side out. I used a loose running stitch to sew it on, purely for ease.

11. Sew two rows of stitches; the middle and then the bottom of your elastic. Finally, all done!