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in_omnia
in_omnia
17 June 2009 @ 06:18 pm
mentioning the unmentionables
I am pondering the quandry that is women's undergarments. Why is it so necessary that we avoid the evil of Visible Panty Line---or as it is so charmingly abbreviated on all fashion shows, VPL? Is it that the clothing simply looks better with no panty lines? Or does it stem more from a modest horror/embarrassment at the idea of knowing what others are wearing under their clothes?

I'm a little baffled if the latter is the case. I mean, don't we wear bikinis and speedos in public? There's no mystery about the panty lines there. And don't we consider modesty rather Victorian nowadays, anyway? Especially in the entertainment industry, from which all this NO VPL! propaganda arises. So why is it such a big deal for others to see what sort of panties you're wearing? Presumably, if they can't see them, they might not even be there. Is that an out of sight, out of mind thing? Or do people look at your non-visible panty lines and think, "Good gracious! That charming young lady is not wearing underwear!" And isn't that more horrifying/embarrassing?

I understand fashion rarely makes sense, but I can't help wondering what it would take for VPL to become a non-issue. And would that situation be better or worse than the current one?

Personally, I would just like to be able to wear pants with underwear that fit me properly. (That, in my case, means VPL. Alas.) There are certain types of non-VPL undergarments that I can't wear because they're just too uncomfortable, but even when I buy the more comfortable sorts of non-VPL undergarments, they end up uncomfortably bunched by the end of the day. So I haven't really gained anything...except, possibly, the avoidance of unnecessary scrutiny of my ass. So unfortunate.

Especially so for you, since you'll probably never be able to look at me without wondering what kind of bunchy non-VPL underwear I'm kitted out in. Sorry....

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Love Song: Ben Folds Five - Missing the War
Prepare a Face: thoughtful
 
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[identity profile] ludzu-alus.livejournal.com on June 18th, 2009 03:08 am (UTC)
I haven't read anything but the cut text and I just wanted to say: You had me at "vulgarity." :)
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[identity profile] in-omnia.livejournal.com on June 18th, 2009 03:17 am (UTC)
Yay!!! :D
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[identity profile] ludzu-alus.livejournal.com on June 18th, 2009 03:18 am (UTC)
More TMI!
Now that I've read the post... So true. Then again, I don't tend to think about it.

This does dovetail nicely with the conversation I had with my sister earlier today. But her topic was bras. Specifically the fact that they don't make bras big enough for her. No, really. Specialty stores, the internet, stores in England.... she's found a couple that will work but they don't fit. Today she told me the story of her latest trip to an undergarment store. My poor poor seester.

Also, did you hear about that town in Florida that just passed a law requiring all city employees to wear underwear and deodorant (what about that subset of people who are allergic to the stuff?!). And to cover up tattoos and wounds. The only piercings allowed are in the ears. No halter tops. And other restrictions.

http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/local/article1009923.ece
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[identity profile] in-omnia.livejournal.com on June 18th, 2009 03:31 am (UTC)
Re: More TMI!
That article is horrifying...especially the bit about the unsuccessfully pitched dress code. I mean, yes, you do need to be professionally dressed when you're representing your city, but really, to base your reasoning on the idea that men need to be kept from temptation?! What?! I'm sorry. I find sharply dressed men a little, ::fans self::, too sexy to handle. Maybe they just need to come in wearing wifebeaters and mullets. That'll keep me from wanting to jump their bones! Criminy!

We recently had an overhaul of our dress code at the library, but a lot of it's actually left to interpretation. You must be dressed professionally---no jeans, tennis shoes, or t-shirts---but the tattoo/underwear/jewelry aspect is left to our manager's discretion. And if you need special shoes, etc., there's room for exceptions.

And I feel for your seester! I don't have trouble finding the right size of bra, but the prevailing fashion outlaws anything but a nude colored bra with light-colored shirts. And I'm so, so pale that none of the typical bra colors work. I finally found one, and it was in just about every size but mine! Kinda makes me want to go into the bra-making business. Maybe I can learn to hand-sew them? And find a way to make VPL fashionable at the same time!
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[identity profile] ludzu-alus.livejournal.com on June 18th, 2009 03:46 am (UTC)
Re: More TMI!
I'd support (completely unintended pun - until I wrote it and now it's intended!) you in that. ;)
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[identity profile] pas-de-cheval.livejournal.com on July 4th, 2009 03:05 am (UTC)
Weeeel, first it's definitely important to have proper undergarments even if you have to search high and low and pay loads of cash. Well fitting undies (dare I say pretty?) are essential to self confidence and comfort. I must admit to seeing shades of gray here, seeing that there is definitely a bell curve. Visible undies are inexcusable as seen here: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/53/VPL_Visible_Panty_Line_2.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/12/VPL_Visible_Panty_Line_4.jpg

Mostly I think it's the combination of ill-fitting undies combined with ill-fitting clothing that is most disturbing: http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n217/jnetteb/vpl.jpg

Granted I wear full coverage undies, but make sure to do a butt check before I leave the house and will make any necessary changes when appropriate.

In summation, vpl is rather distracting. Should you say something? Let us not mention the visible thong issue. Ugh! http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0a/CSD_2006_Cologne_VPL1.jpg

We're not relegated to a life of floss undies, however, since many companies offer seamless undies like Jockey and Victoria's Secret.
http://www.jockey.com/en-US/Catalog/ProductDetails.aspx?CS_ProductID=13880&CS_Category=Underwear&CS_Catalog=Women&List=110&Ma=103
http://www2.victoriassecret.com/commerce/onlineProductDisplay.vs?namespace=productDisplay&origin=onlineProductDisplay.jsp&event=display&prnbr=CU-199115&page=1&cgname=OSPTYNOSZZZ&rfnbr=5445

Oh, and try Vicki's buff color. It's quite pale and works for me even in winter.
http://www2.victoriassecret.com/commerce/onlineProductDisplay.vs?namespace=productDisplay&origin=onlineProductDisplay.jsp&event=display&prnbr=CU-220134&page=1&cgname=OSBRPBBVBRA&rfnbr=5706
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[identity profile] in-omnia.livejournal.com on July 6th, 2009 12:00 am (UTC)
Yeah, the first two you linked and the thong were so visible that they were almost part of the outfit, but my problem is that the VPL I experience looks like your "ill-fitting undies combined with ill-fitting clothing" examples. Only my undies and my clothes fit great. Any undies I wear that *stay* *put* will show when I wear nice slacks. It must just be the shape of my arse or something, but the only underwear I've found that doesn't show when I wear pants is the stuff that rides up all...day...long. So uncomfortable. :(
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