If we mentioned the word “lingerie” to any person, we can assume that they may think of lacy, frilly, revealing clothing that is worn for mere minutes before it is being thrown all over the bedroom. It’s the stuff that we primarily see women wearing that is supposed to get men who are attracted to women SUPER wound up.
Thinking of lingerie in that sense isn’t wrong. The technical definition for lingerie, according to the Merriam Webster dictionary, is “women’s intimate apparel.” Once you think about this definition, the obvious loophole is that “men can wear this stuff, too.” So the definition there has already changed, since it’s not strictly just for women.
After breaking down that wall, we then have to think about whether or not traditional “lingerie” would be attractive for women who are attracted to men. Would they enjoy seeing their boyfriend in that sort of apparel? Or would they rather have him wear something on the more masculine side? Would it still be considered lingerie even if it’s not feminine?
A lot of these questions were spurred by this one picture from the internet:
We know it’s not a definitive statement, because every woman is going to think differently about what sort of clothing will attract them to a man. However, it got us thinking about whether lingerie can really be condensed into just one standard of clothing. Because lingerie is primarily meant to arouse a partner, why WOULDN’T a suit be considered lingerie for some people? If it turns them on in the bedroom, why not have their partner wear a suit and have them consider it as “lingerie?”
Unless wearing other types of clothing for sexual arousal is mostly considered “fetish”…but then is lingerie just a TYPE of fetish? Or does it just belong to its own category?
As you can see, this has become something puzzling to our brains at XDress. However, we would like to know what you all think of this! What do YOU consider “lingerie” to be? Is it primarily the frilly, feminine clothing that we think of first? Or do you think it’s broadened out to be so much more?
Have a wonderful day and happy XDressing!
Team XDress
27 comments
Wow Paulie
How did you get to that point with your wife?
what a great place to be;
So jealous
Due tell your stoty!
I love fem lingerie. It’s an escape and comfort level that helps me through the stresses of the day. I wear panties 24/7 and lounge around the house in nothing else with my wife. We are comfortable in panties and bras and stockings together. It brings us closer as a couple and more open to one another. We enjoy shopping and trying on lingerie for one another. I guess you can say fem lingerie plays a role in our relationship. So yes … lingerie to us is fem lingerie with lace and flowers and pinks and lavenders. It’s sexy and comfortable. But most of all it’s us.
I read the comments from keri and dave
Loved the perspective
Lingerie does create a feeling a suggestion of sex and sensuality
As for the purse i carry a man bag and get comments at work but I dont care its very functional as well as subtlety feminine
I feel good in an xdress panty bra set legs shaven toes in pretty polish my femme jeans and man bag light make up
I m me and i love and accept myself
Stevie
Guys have become much more liberated since I was a teen. That is wonderful to see happen. XDress and other web sites have been a huge plus.
Most may think of LINGERIE as a feminine item but we know that is not exclusively true. I am old enough to have seen women become more liberated when they burned their bras and stopped wearing girdles. In those days girdles and bras were referred to as corsetry/ Today the word corsetry has nearly disappeared. I wore my share of open leg and legged girdles when younger. Trust me they were not comfortable. However, as a crossdresser you were very much aware of wearing them. Today I see men enjoying the benefits of being liberated. XDress lingerie is certainly a part of that liberation. Let’s keep on moving forward.
As a side note. Yesterday I saw two guys walking together. Both carried handbags or purses. One was more fem than the other and his shorts, footwear, top and hair were all very feminine. It was wonderful seeing them so comfortable being themselves and not concerned if anyone noticed or cared. For all I knew they may have also been wearing XDress panties. Oh my.
I to carry a purse. Not a man bag but a purse. It does take a little nerve at first but like most things you do become more relaxed with time. I feel liberated when I do and I feel outward expression on femininity may help others that feel the same way to join in.
Great Blog and some interesting posts.
Lingerie – from the French for “linen” and meaning women’s underwear and nightclothes – is as arbitrary a concept as having a masculine or feminine noun in some languages (Spanish and French for example). When I say “underwear” many people think of a masculine pair of boxers or briefs, but when I use the word “panties” we tend to think of feminine styles alone. It sort of goes hand-in-hand with women having their own word for homosexual – lesbian – but the word we use for men – gay – equally applies to all genders. There is a functional limitation of language in that some terms are used as an umbrella and others are specialized.
If you want to use the term “lingerie” to mean something specifically sexy or enticing to a partner, then the definition is as varied as the proclivities and fetishes we all have. Lingerie could be handcuffs, garters and stockings, or bathers from a 1920s beach scene… The word then cannot have a universal definition.
For the purposes of this post and its questions however, I’ll answer from my own relative perspective and say that my culture has given me the definition that “lingerie” encompasses the styles, fabrics, and fashion generally meant for women with the intention to cause physical, emotional, or mental arousal – whether that be for the wearer or the viewer. Do I agree that the preceding definition is adequate or all-encompassing? Not at all. But that’s my stance on a lot of the cultural norms I live between, and if I want those norms and definitions to change, I have to be willing to smudge the lines and overflow the boxes things are put in. I love wearing a suit, I also love wearing panties. Sometimes just a birthday suit is enough for the occasion. The end result is a broader term for what “lingerie” is and how it can be used and a choice to vote with my lexicon and refer to anything worn to arouse as “lingerie”.