A Demure Bodysuit Is Alternative to Too Sexy
DEAR HOT: I have a good body. My boyfriend is begging me to show it off with bustiers and bra-tops worn as regular clothing. I’m not a prude. I’m just not the bustier type. Is there anything I can buy to please him without offending myself and others like myself?
--P.E., Agoura
DEAR P.E.: Your dilemma--how to look hip but not too hot to trot--is commonplace, given the current popularity of the bras-in-public trend. And though we can sympathize with your boyfriend (we, too, know men who think it’s a woman’s duty to wear bustiers in public), we think it’s more important for you to be comfortable first.
There’s an attractive compromise this fall from Hanky Panky Ltd., the New York-based lingerie firm. The company, some of whose styles are part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s permanent costume collection, is now offering Victorian-style bodysuits (pictured). They appear to show a lot, but, in fact, do not. Made of stretchy cotton knit and trimmed with lace, the teddy-style bodysuits can be worn over jeans or skirts, and ought to make any man forget about bustiers and bras in a flash.
The bodysuits are $62 and come in black and white, sizes small and medium. They’re available at Lisa Norman Lingerie (1134 Montana Ave, Santa Monica; 8706 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood; 2942 Beverly Glen Circle, Los Angeles).
DEAR HOT: I have some tailored jackets left over from last fall that I want to wear again, but they seem so boring. Do you have any ideas to liven them up so that they’ll look at least a little different from last year?
--U.M., Pasadena.
DEAR U.M.: After an entire spring and summer of neglect, your jackets certainly do need something to make them feel wanted again. We’ve seen lots of jackets (and blouses, too) in the stores embellished with beading or dotted with funky charms and antique buttons on the lapels, sleeves and pockets. You can easily sew the same kinds of things on yourself. Make sure the thread you use matches the color of the jacket, and if you’re not sure about placement, pin the items before you sew them.
We’ve found great beads at Berger Bead Specialty Co., 413 E. 8th St., Los Angeles, which is wall-to-wall beads, buttons, charms and other accouterments. For great antique buttons try Chameleon, 8422 W. 3rd St. in Los Angeles (near the Beverly Center). Thrift and antique stores and flea markets are also great places to find mismatched buttons and private school emblem patches.
Little Makeup on the Prairie: La Prairie, the pricey skin care line owned by that tres chic social gadabout Georgette Mosbacher, has just introduced a new line of makeup, available at Neiman Marcus, Beverly Hills. This makeup is formulated to double as skin treatment, and features a wide range of red lipsticks, as well as blush, foundation and nail color. Like the skin care regime, the stuff isn’t inexpensive: $22.50 for lipstick, $30 for blush, $50 for foundation. But who said beauty was cheap?
Hot to Shop often gets ideas from our shopping-fanatic friends, but we also want to hear your moral dilemmas, smart advice and gripes on shopping. Please write to Krier and Stein, Hot to Shop, Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, CA 90053. Questions may also be faxed to 213-237-4712.
