Ask Belle: Lingerie for Less
Jan 6, 2015
Hi Belle,
I need some lingerie for my honeymoon, but I’m not made of money. Â How can Bloomingdale’s charge $92 for this? Â Why would I pay more for a bra than a pair of shoes? Â Can you help me find something affordable? Â
I know this isn’t what you usually write about but Valentine’s is coming up, so other women might be having the same issue I am. Â Hope you can help me out.
-J
Oh my gosh, lingerie is so expensive.  Would you believe that bra you linked to is from Agent Provacateur’s diffusion (read: cheaper) line?  Their regular-priced  corsets run anywhere from $500 to $3,000.  Who knew lace could cost so much?  Let’s see what we can find in the under-$50 range.
H&M is a great place to start the lingerie search. Â The bras run in the under-$25 range, and they’re pretty as well as functional. Â I like this pale pink bra and thong set with black accents. Â This lacy, bright coral teddy is also a lot of fun. Â This pretty, black bra is a great option as well.
Other brands to try?  Aerie is another low-price option; their lacy bralette is kind of adorable.The b.tempted line from Wacoal offers lots of options, including these cute, lace tangas that are sexy and full-coverage.  BCBGeneration offers some fun choices at Macy’s (where there is almost always a discount).
Lastly, sale sections. Â Nordstrom, Anthropologie, The Outnet are all loaded with discounted lingerie choices.
I would also highly recommend the Cosmopolitan line at JCPenney (of all places!). They have very cute lacy bralets and usually have a much larger selection this time of year with V-Day approaching!
I would search https://www.figleaves.com/us/ they have a huge variety of sizes and price ranges. I’ve also seen some stunning pieces on etsy. Like this sheer black piece for under $40. https://www.etsy.com/listing/189777288/soft-camisole-top-made-of-organic-cotton?ref=shop_home_active_7
I did a boudoir shoot this past summer and found awesome lingerie options at Urban Outfitters! The quality wasn’t top notch but it looked great, photographed well, and the boy toy enjoyed it all 🙂 I would recommend it. Shopbop also has lingerie on sale a lot. The Elle Macpherson line is available at a few places and is great quality at the price point.
I’d suggest ASOS, too!
Try Nordstrom Rack!
I second this! Nordstrom Rack, Saks Off 5th, those types of places are great.
Does anyone have suggestions for folks with larger breast sizes? I love the look of some of those you suggested belle, but with a 34D-DD, I’d be popping out of the low coverage (but gorgeous) bras. Unfortunately though, options for us larger topped ladies tends to be frumpy.
LOL, There with you. I remember one Valentine’s day an Ex bought me a babydoll, and it didn’t even crest the bottom…
I’ve jsut gotten where I order from Bravissimo for most lingerie. Both herroom and Bare necessities have some prettier options for full busts, you just have to search for them.
Try a lacy balconette bra. I like the Fantastie brand (available at Nordstrom). Super supportive but sexy (I’m also a D cup).
Adoreme.com is a great site for all shapes and sizes. My sister told me about it and everything I’ve gotten has been great. Shipping is minimal (or they’ll have coupons), free returns and you get points. If you join the VIP club (worth it) just remember to skip the month if you don’t need anything right then, or let it add up and “splurge” without the guilt.
Hi,
Two nice European brands are Freya (often very cheerful) and Prima Donna. And a very sexy in a non-romantic way brand from the Netherlands is called Marlies Dekkers. Marlies Dekkers is a small brand with a very good quality, it has been worn by quite some famous women incl. Fergie, Nelly Furtado and Victoria Beckham.
Seconding Aerie! I bought a bunch of their underwear in New York when I ran out on a trip and it is incredibly comfy, even the all-lace ones. I’m also collecting some lingerie for my honeymoon, and love these brands – Stella McCartney, Mimi Holliday, Huit, Lascivious, Fleur of England, Chantal Thomass. All a bit pricey, but can be found on sale, especially if you look on french websites (I like dessous-dessous.fr), also the german/UK amazon sites and sometimes asos. Elle Mcpherson intimates were good too- the label is actually now Heidi Klum intimates – all the styles seem to be the same. Bendon (their Aus/NZ parent label) has a website with good sales, and on Stella McCartney too- not sure what shipping is like to the US, re bigger busts, Mimi Holliday definitely has styles that work, and maybe have a look at Claudette? The lingerie addict website is a great resource on sales/reviews.
Thanks Heather and MP for the great suggestions.
Belle- Heather’s post prompts a great idea for a V-day blog- What were readers worst valentines day presents? What should you (or your husband/fiance/bf/partner/family) never buy someone for valentines day.
A really good place to see what’s out there, lingerie-wise, is Journelle: https://www.journelle.com. They seem to carry mostly more expensive options, but they have some lines that are beautiful and on the cheaper side.
I love the btemptd line! Especially the Ciao Bella bra, it fits so well that I bought 5 colors.
I am shopping for my honeymoon too! I found some good buys on the outnet, asos, nordstrom, and amazon. Spurged on Journelle.
The flash sale sites (rue lala/ gilt etc.) often have deals on the higher end brands (especially cosabella and studio lanperla lately) that make them affordable. They are usually final sale though so you may want to try on some brands in the store to see if the sizing runs regular enough for you.
I’m of the firm opinion that you should spend as much on bras as you do on shoes. After all, they’re not trend items, so if you care for them properly, you could have them for years. And the difference between a badly-made, ill-fitting bra and a quality one that fits is night and day. So I think this is a great suggestion. Go to Nordstrom or a boutique, get fitted, find a few brands you like and then follow the flash sale sites and sales on online lingerie retailers (HerRoom, Bare Necessities, Figleaves) to stock up. All that said, a nightie isn’t really an investment piece, so go cheaper on the stuff you’ll probably only wear on your honeymoon or Valentine’s Day.
It’s funny you mention l’agent! I just bought a bunch of their stuff on sale- which becomes really affordable, with bras between 30-20 something. Don’t count them out! My only fyi is that sizing can differ, so if you can order several returnable sizes, or try them on in person, that would be most helpful. I also am not a huge fan of their satin options which I think can sometimes look iffy in person, but the danita style (in red satin) and their lace and mesh options are great.