How to Buy the Basics on National Underwear Day

You might think that National Underwear Day is all about celebrating the sexy garments you keep for best or treating yourself to something special, and of course, it can be about these things if you want it to be. But let’s not forget the backbone of British underwear, the practical pants that need to stand up to many washes and the sturdy bras that have to offer you support and nothing much else apart from perhaps the odd bit of lace detail. So what underwear staples should you always have in your drawer and where on the Internet can you find the very best ones?

A Bra for Any Occasion

There are few problems with bra advertising. Firstly, most of the ones you see on posters are the sort of bras you keep for special occasions and secondly, they all seem to have be made to fit a certain size. Or rather, they could fit many different sizes, but bra manufacturers only seem to make the nice ones for women with small boobs, and anyone with an ample bosom who’s ever had to find something nice in their size can testify to this. It is for this precise reason that buying bras on the Internet is so wonderful – not only do you have a wider choice of retailers and styles, but it’s possible to find your particular size without too much hair-pulling and stress. For example, Gossard specialise in sizes large than a D-cup in a wider choice of styles covering both comfort and more detailed pieces.

But what about this ‘bra for any occasion’ business? Well, it’s one thing to have a comfortable bra, but I don’t think there are many women who actively seek out a basic absolutely-no-frills-whatsoever style. Most want a combination of support and style because even if you’re not buying for someone else’s benefit, you look for a bra that YOU want, whatever the occasion. Just make sure it fits in all the right places.

Everyday Pants

Once you find some comfortable pants or knickers, you want to stock up so you never run out again. A pair of pants that doesn’t have you twisting about in discomfort throughout your working day is a thing of wonder, yet so many of us go through life wearing ones that make us squirm. Yes, there are times when posh, slightly less comfortable pants are called for, but we all need something a bit friendlier for everyday wear too. Marks and Spencer  are a good source of everyday undies on multibuy deals (they have a 3 for the price of 2 offer on knickers right now) and with M&S you know you’ll get a quality pair of pants that will stand up to more than a few washes. There’s nothing worse and your knickers coming apart at the seams after you’ve only had them a week or two.

Tights That Actually Fit

We’re told that a well-fitting pair of tights exists somewhere in the world, yet we’ve never met anyone who has worn them. As useful as they are (because who really wants to wear stockings to work?), tights can also be an absolute nightmare, a Lycra nemesis you have to do battle with on a daily basis - too big and they go baggy around the ankles, too small and you’re constantly having to pull them up without drawing too much attention to yourself. You thought uncomfortable knickers were bad? They haven’t got anything the damage a pair of bad tights can do to your nervous system. So why wear them at all, you might ask? Well, why should women have to give up wearing skirts of dresses in the winter? Shops just need to step up a bit more and offer better tights in more sizes. Luckily the Internet has tools such as Pretty Polly where customers aren’t limited in not only size but also types of tights. So once you find that perfect pair, stock up while you can.

So buy all means buy something smart and sexy on National Underwear Day, but don’t forget those times when all you want is to NOT be reminded that you’re wearing uncomfortable undies every second of the day. For these occasions, replenish your reserves by taking advantage of all the amazing underwear the internet has to offer.

By Anna Scott, 5th August 2016