What to Look for When Buying Fine Lingerie

When it comes to buying intimate apparel, you can't be too hasty. After all, when it's time to bare (almost) all for that special someone, you don't want shoddy stuff. If you're going to spend the money, make sure you're getting quality by watching for the signs of good construction.

Quality Stitching

Examine the stitching on the item to make sure that the stitches are sturdy, as well as the thread itself. If the stitching is well done, the seams will be symmetrical with no gapping areas where the distance between the seams and edges of the fabric are inconsistent, or where the stitching veers off and the cloth pieces aren't properly connected, leaving a hole. Make sure the stitching isn't strained when you stretch and pull the garment and that the thread itself isn't flimsy or fraying. Mind you, there's also such a thing as thread that's too strong; if the garment is made from delicate fabric, thread that pulls and rips into it when you tug is a very bad thing.

Sturdy Fabric and Construction

Obviously, you don't usually want the fabric for your lingerie to be thick and heavy, but you do want it to be sturdy enough to hold up to being put on, taken off, and moved around in. Look for reinforcement around high-stress areas, such as the arm holes and crotch area, whether it's an extra layer of lining fabric or a strong, folded hem. Make sure that the areas that should stretch can stretch a little more than they need to.

Secure Detailing

Lingerie garments are decorative, so it's common for these slinky, sexy items to be adorned with all sorts of lacey, beady embroidered or sequined bits. These kinds of adornments are often where you can see the quality of craftsmanship; if that stuff is glued in place, rather than sewn? Not high quality. Look for secure stitching, but also careful placement of these decorative items; they shouldn't be in areas where they're going to interfere with your movement or get rubbed off.

Signs of Comfort

You don't usually get a chance to try on lingerie and test it for comfort, so it's important to be able to assess. For one thing, if the fabric doesn't feel soft against your fingers, it won't feel nice against your body. If the elastic seems to have a little too much spring to it and not enough give, it will likely squeeze uncomfortably against you. Check the underwires in bra areas to make sure they don't twist in towards the body or bend at strange angles.