# Ask The Underwear Sales Girl! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 6, 2005, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-underwear-sales-girl/325003 "2005-10-06T04:13:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Meaty\_Beaty\_Big\_and\_Bouncy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c57346/32.png) [@Meaty\_Beaty\_Big\_and\_Bouncy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meaty_Beaty_Big_and_Bouncy)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2005, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-underwear-sales-girl/325003/41 "2005-10-06T18:06:32Z")
> [@zweisamkeit](#): > > Heh heh. Poor baby. 😉 > > [http://winstonlf.com/hotaru/me/boobs1.jpg](http://winstonlf.com/hotaru/me/boobs1.jpg) There, feel better? 😉 So, how _you_ doin’? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![notsosmart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f0a364/32.png) [@notsosmart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notsosmart)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2005, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-underwear-sales-girl/325003/42 "2005-10-06T18:13:56Z")
Well well, seems I’m quite the popular person today. > [@roger thornhill](#): > > I just wanted to mosey along and say that you write better than any lingerie salesperson I have ever met. So my question is: do you get a lot of customers say to you, “Wow! Your English is so good!! Why are you working at Victoria’s Secret as a salesgirl?” Well, thank you. Haven’t gotten any of those kinds of statements from customers, although they do seem to acknowledge the fact that I’m waaaaayyyy to good at selling stuff (example: Okay, I’ll open the credit card. You’re such a good salesperson, it’s evil!). I am only 21, though, so I’m taking what you and Hung Mung said as a compliment. Thankies. > [@Mooney252](#): > > Do they train you specifically to manage male customers – or do you pick up a technique on the floor? Nope, it’s just basic common sense. You see a guy walking in, and you can tell immediately he’s one of two types: he’s either nervous to be in there, afraid to look you in the eye while asking about garter belts, or he’s a little too excited to be in there, unable to look you in the eye while asking about garter belts because his eyes are glued to your cleavage. Jerks. Over time you pick up sets of questions to help narrow down what they’re looking for. “Something casual, romantic, or a little more edgy?” “Pajamas, a bra and panty set, or a sleep shirt?” “What’s her favorite color?” Etc etc etc. > [@mr bus guy](#): > > My question is: Are you hot too? I wouldn’t say hot, but since you asked for a picture, I’ll provide you with my myspace, which has a few different ones in the gallery. [http://myspace.com/4451352](http://myspace.com/4451352) > [@zweisamkeit](#): > > It’s not fair. You know what, I get a lot of flak from larger chested women saying “honey, you’re a stick, you can’t possible understand” but the truth is I think the whole situation is as stupid as you do. A year or so ago, a lot of people filed complaints that the lining of a certain bra we make kept puckering and wrinkling, thus making it look like you had wrinkled tinfoil stuffed down your shirt. The company eventually replaced them with a new double-fused lining, eradicating the problem. The point is, if you’re unhappy about the size selections (which I don’t blame you for being), go into the store and ask for the number for Client Relations. They’ll give you a number to call to voice your complaint. The company does listen, maybe it just needs to hear more opinions before it makes a change. > [@DooWahDiddy](#): > > What do you think about this? Does the order to set up the mannequins come from a higher power in a different city, or is it up to each individual store? And do you feel that VS crosses the line into pornography? I think that store looks kickass. I’d love to go visit if it weren’t just a wee bit too far away. At any rate, almost all stores recieve a packet every few weeks with instructions on how to set up windows, displays, cabinets, walls, etc. It’s mandated from the higher-ups. I will tell you that the mannequins in those window (and some other stores have them too) cost $10,000. Each. You can’t handle them without wearing latex gloves. Each mannequins’ body is shaped diferently, so they look more realistic. They even have life-like nipples which all differ in size, shape, and color. It’s insane. As far as pornography, no, definitely not. We aim to sell a need. Some people want racy underwear for special occasions, or like myself, just for every day. We do have a target demographic, we aim from preteens to teenagers with the bright, colorful hoodies and sweatpants and sparkly tank tops, and we aim for twenty-somethings to forty-somethings with the pretty lingerie and some of the kinkier stuff. A few weeks ago, our windows were set up with beautiful angora sweaters, victorian inspired lace bras with cameos attached in the middle, gentle sheer peach drapes in the windows, etc. The whole set-up was beautiful. No one seemed to have a problem with that. Then we left the mannequins the same way, put hot pink and black sparkly thongs and bustiers on them, and all of a sudden there were problems. It’s all the same guys. It’s just bras and panties, they wont bite you. > [@Winnie\[/QUOTE](#): > > Dear Underwear Sales Girl: > > When happening upon the last mega bra and underwear sale at VS, I excitedly pushed past the masses to find my bra size (36D or 36DD) and was horrified that the only bras available in D or DD were PADDED PUSH UPS. Please to be asking why bramakers are making push-up padded bras for girls who already own enough equipment in this department? The bras in the sale bins are usually discontinued colors or styles (example; the bra with the pink lace goes on sale, the one with the white lace does not). The plain, comfy, non-padded bras that come in D and DD cups in our store usually never go on sale, because the styles don’t change very often. They’re the good old classics, and since the company doesn’t mess with the style, we never have old colors or styles to put on sale. Make sense? And I’ve helped many a D-cup customer who looked at me like I was insane when I suggested a deep plunge push-up bra. After trying it on, almost 100% of them fell in love with the amount of support it gave them. Sometimes it doesn’t hurt to try something that you wouldn’t normally expect to work. > [@Caricci](#): > > Okay, so never mind the cup size. What’s the largest NUMBER size VS carries? Mostly it’s 36 or maybe 38, isn’t it? 38 is the largest band size we carry in the stores. > [@monica](#): > > Why are there underwires in so many bras? I mean, I’m a B cup. I don’t need an underwire. Underwire helps give support and shape. I’m a b cup, and I loathe anything without underwire. If you get the proper fitting bra, you won’t feel the wire and it just gives you a nice amount of lift and shape. It’s personal preference, really. We do sell a small amount of non-wire bras, but if you don’t like an underwire because you think they’ll be uncomfortable, go to a store and try on an IPEX demi. Then report back and tell me if you still hate underwire. 😃 > [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > Has any man ever come in and admitted he was buying the undies for himself (or his boyfriend/male SO/whatever) to wear? A few weeks ago, a man came in and without being loud or rude about it, politely let us know that he was buying the underwear for himself. We let him use the fitting room to try on, anything that he didn’t purchase that was left in the fitting room was damaged out of inventory and thrown out. It takes all kinds, as long as he wasn’t making anyone uncomfortable, we were more than happy to help. > [@Bricker](#): > > What is the correct way to measure for bra size? Get a tape measure, and measure snugly underneath your breasts, around the ribcage. On myself, this measurement comes out to a 27. Next, add 5 to this number. The result will be your band size. My measurement was 27. Add 5, and you get 32. I wear a 32 size band. Next, for the cup (you have to have some sort of bra on to do this, otherwise you won’t be able to accurately measure), measure around the fullest part of your chest. On me, this measurement is 34 and 1/2. Now, what you need to do is subtract your band size from the measurement around your actual bustline. On me, this would be 34.5 - 32. That gives a difference of 2.5 inches. A difference of 1 inch would be an A cup, 2 inches a B cup, 3 inches a C cup, and so forth. Ta-da! > [@](#): > > tremorviolet]OK, here’s a real question: > But…the danged straps fall down all the freaking time. I’d forgotten how annoying constantly having to adjust your straps is. They can’t be any tighter without digging into my shoulders. Is there any solution? Is there a type of bra that would work better for me? I had the same problem with the angels lined demis. They actually run a bit wider in the cups, which means the straps are naturally a little closer to going over the edge. You’re only a teeny bit smaller than me in the cup, otherwise it sounds like we have a similar torso build. Go back and try the Body By Victoria Shaping Demi. The straps on that one are set a little narrower, and the fabric somehow seems to “grip” my skin more than the angels did. These also have a little more elastic in the material, which will also help them to stay on. Alright guys, that seems like enough for the moment. I’ll get to anyone I missed during round three, right now I have some tasty egg noodles with butter and garlic longingly calling my name from the kitchen. ---
**Author:** ![crazyjoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f14d63/32.png) [@crazyjoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crazyjoe)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2005, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-underwear-sales-girl/325003/43 "2005-10-06T18:19:40Z")
> [@zweisamkeit](#): > > I’m assuming that you work at VS. > > Are different regions given different sizes in the stores? In the Detroit area, I never find anything above, say, a D cup; are there no bras with larger cup sizes at Vicky’s? And what about us small ribcaged, big boobed women? Why are we ignored, dammit (especially with the amount of boob implants done each year\*)? > > - although mine are of the natural variety You need to check into the MichiDoper thread 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2005, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-underwear-sales-girl/325003/44 "2005-10-06T18:21:50Z")
Is there a dress code for salesgirls? What can and can’t you wear? ---
**Author:** ![YaWanna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/bbce88/32.png) [@YaWanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YaWanna)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2005, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-underwear-sales-girl/325003/45 "2005-10-06T19:04:11Z")
Lots of bra questions already, but how 'bout an undie question: Can you recommend a “panty” ::shudder - I **hate** that word:: that absolutley, positively will not climb high up the cheeks? I know you might be tempted to recommend a thong, but my spouse would bust a blood vessel if I ever wore one again (don’t ask). Let’s just say that I kind of like the “boyshort” cut, or at least I would if they would cover the entire bottom of the cheeks & **stay there**. It drives me nuts to have to pull my damn undies down every 10 minutes or so, and I don’t want to wear “grannies” - I want something reasonably attractive. Also, I don’t like to wear anything but cotton, or at the very least, with a cotton-lined crotch. I used to like those VS cotton undies that had the wide elastic waistband, but a while ago I switched to a Jockey style that I can’t find any more. And if you do have something like that, how much would it cost to outfit myself for 2 weeks? Would I probably respond in disbelief at the number? Thanks, Underwear Sales Girl! ---
**Author:** ![Scissorjack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@Scissorjack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scissorjack)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2005, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-underwear-sales-girl/325003/46 "2005-10-06T20:19:39Z")
> [@notsosmart](#): > > A year or so ago, a lot of people filed complaints that the lining of a certain bra we make kept puckering and wrinkling, thus making it look like you had wrinkled tinfoil stuffed down your shirt. But think of the extra protection against Government Mind Control Rays {They put them in the lightbulbs, you know}. And where _do_ you keep the crotchless panties? I’ve looked everywhere. ---
**Author:** ![Hung\_Mung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a88e4f/32.png) [@Hung\_Mung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hung_Mung)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2005, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-underwear-sales-girl/325003/47 "2005-10-06T20:20:05Z")
> [@jrfranchi](#): > > I must read entire thread before making silly joke. Too likely that someone else already did. ☹ It’s okay, dude. In a discussion of underwear and those naturally well-endowed, we ALL win. In any case, it takes all my willpower not to flirt shamelessly with **zweisamkeit**. Ah, if only I weren’t so rich in moral fiber. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2005, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-underwear-sales-girl/325003/48 "2005-10-06T20:21:40Z")
> [@notsosmart](#): > > The point is, if you’re unhappy about the size selections (which I don’t blame you for being), go into the store and ask for the number for Client Relations. They’ll give you a number to call to voice your complaint. The company does listen, maybe it just needs to hear more opinions before it makes a change. What I’m wondering is, in this era of computerized inventories, why does it even take that? If a particular product is frequently all bought up, you’d think that would be a dead giveaway to stock more of them in the first place - and you’d think the computer would be set up to either automatically increase the orders of frequently out-of-stock items, or at least alert someone to the problem so that person could intervene. Seems this would be true about everything from DD bras at Vicki’s to 16x25x1 A/C filters at my local Ace Hardware. ---
**Author:** ![DiosaBellissima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2005, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-underwear-sales-girl/325003/49 "2005-10-06T20:34:14Z")
> [@Corrvin](#): > > What I want to ask is **why the big sizes are down on the bottom racks and the teensy sizes up at the top**. Isn’t a 34A likely to be 5’ tall, compared to a 38-40 band size who is likely to be taller? I can either look at bras at eye level, which are approximately the size that would firmly secure a packet of airline peanuts to a large chemistry textbook, or get down on my creaky knees to search the bottom-most racks only to discover that **there isn’t anything over a D-cup anyway**. > > Every time I go bra-shopping, no matter what store, it’s always me and my sisters-in-boobage wandering the aisles forlornly, looking through B- and C-cups, squealing when we find the lonely DD and get to choose whether we want black or sex-toy peach. The small-chested women zip in, grab their pink and turquoise and black-lace-embroidered pushup cutout snapfront lacedown thingymabobblers and are out for half the prices. > > It’s un-freaking-fair, I tell you. > > Corrvin > who was badly beaten by the cleavage fairy and still a bit resentful Speaking as a 40 D (who, clearly, can no longer shop in Victoria’s Secret), I suggest you try out Lane Bryant. Granted, you might not fit into their clothing, but they have a HUGE range of bras. I know that in store they go down to a 34 and up to a 48, B cup through DDD. The stuff is comperable in price to VS and adorable to boot. They also have a strapless for big boobs that ACTUALLY stays up- SUCK ON THAT VS!\* 😉 Oh and their website doesn’t have the cute, seasonal stuff that the store does, but: [Citey](http://lanebryant.charmingshoppes.com/Shopping/product.asp?product_id=LBFR0003&nav=LB)[Mc Cite](http://lanebryant.charmingshoppes.com/Shopping/product.asp?product_id=LBFR0002&nav=LB)[Cite](http://lanebryant.charmingshoppes.com/Shopping/product.asp?product_id=LBCR0010&nav=LB) (But yeah, I really suggest you go take a look in the store). \*When I was a 36 C, I got one of VS top of the line strapless things and it never stayed up- ever. Worst $45 I’ve ever spent. ---
**Author:** ![bizzwire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/958977/32.png) [@bizzwire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bizzwire)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2005, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-underwear-sales-girl/325003/50 "2005-10-06T22:18:40Z")
Could you give Tara Reid my phone number? I’d appreciate it. ---
**Author:** ![DiosaBellissima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2005, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-underwear-sales-girl/325003/51 "2005-10-06T22:23:42Z")
> [@bizzwire](#): > > Could you give Tara Reid my phone number? I’d appreciate it. Sweetie, she doesn’t wear bras. If she did, she wouldn’t have gotten all that press a while back. ---
**Author:** ![bizzwire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/958977/32.png) [@bizzwire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bizzwire)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2005, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-underwear-sales-girl/325003/52 "2005-10-06T22:45:13Z")
> [@DiosaBellissima](#): > > Sweetie, she doesn’t wear bras. If she did, she wouldn’t have gotten all that press a while back. sigh… Oh…it’s just as well…I would have just ended up having my sport with her, then flinging her away like yesterday’s paper, anyway… ---
**Author:** ![Billdo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/billdo/32/315_2.png) [@Billdo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Billdo)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2005, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-underwear-sales-girl/325003/53 "2005-10-06T23:00:19Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > Is there a dress code for salesgirls? What can and can’t you wear? The Smoking Gun posted a copy of a [Victoria’s Secret Dress Code](http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/victorias1.html). Is what they have posted accurate? ---
**Author:** ![Scissorjack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@Scissorjack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scissorjack)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2005, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-underwear-sales-girl/325003/54 "2005-10-06T23:07:10Z")
> [@Billdo](#): > > The Smoking Gun posted a copy of a [Victoria’s Secret Dress Code](http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/victorias1.html). Is what they have posted accurate? Wow. None more black. ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2005, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-underwear-sales-girl/325003/55 "2005-10-06T23:47:22Z")
> [@notsosmart](#): > > Underwire helps give support and shape. I’m a b cup, and I loathe anything without underwire. If you get the proper fitting bra, you won’t feel the wire and it just gives you a nice amount of lift and shape. It’s personal preference, really. We do sell a small amount of non-wire bras, but if you don’t like an underwire because you think they’ll be uncomfortable, go to a store and try on an IPEX demi. Then report back and tell me if you still hate underwire. 😃 Pardon me, because I think you are a font of foundations wisdom and I am learning alot–but underwires suck. I did the whole VS thing last vaca (we went to Mall of America–to see what we could see). Daughter and I splurged on VS–fitting and all. Salesgirl very nice etc. Apparently I am a 38 Cor D–don’t remember off hand and am too lazy to go look in the undie drawer at present. I got some Angel something. Sure, it was comfy in the dressing room, but try to live my life in it. I am back in my CoolMax sports bras and sighing. I bend, stretch, pull, push–you name it at work (I’m a nurse). Underwire hurts like hell after about an hour. I think this may be anatomical on my part–even when I weighed 120 lbs in college (I am 5’7"–and I am not fat now), I always have had a small roll (for lack of a better term) just under my boobs. Trust me, the underwire digs into that as soon as I sit down. Since I work 12 hours shifts, I DO sit down upon occasion. There is no hope for me, I can tell. I am doomed to Granny bras and Sporty Spice clothes. ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2005, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-underwear-sales-girl/325003/56 "2005-10-06T23:52:41Z")
The interesting part of the dress code has to do with head coverings. They are only allowed for employees who observe a recognized religion that requires a head covering. I have to say I can’t quite picture members of those religions working at VS in the first place 😉 My question: Is there a proper name for the style of panties (I love that word, so I’ll say it a few more times: panties panties panties panties panties panties panties. Mmmmmmm, panties…) that I guess get called “boy shorts”? Actually, I mean the ones without “legs”. I seem to remember, in my youth, seeing the words “briefs” (aka “granny panties”), “hip-huggers” and “bikini” used to describe, in descending levels of coverage, the three basic styles of panties. The type of panties I’m curious about have the low leg-holes of “briefs” but the low-cut waistband of “bikinis”. In the back, they [usually] completely cover the bottom. I don’t know why, but I find those extremely sexy. How about a poem? I propose a toast to heat! Not the heat that ignites and burns down shanties But the heat that excites and brings down panties! ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2005, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-underwear-sales-girl/325003/57 "2005-10-06T23:58:35Z")
Hmmm. Actually, I managed to answer my own question by looking at the VS site. “Boy Short” it is, I guess. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2005, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-underwear-sales-girl/325003/58 "2005-10-07T00:00:47Z")
> [@Corrvin](#): > > What I want to ask is **why the big sizes are down on the bottom racks and the teensy sizes up at the top**. Isn’t a 34A likely to be 5’ tall, compared to a 38-40 band size who is likely to be taller? You mean they’re actually carrying 34As now? (I’m 5’9", by the way.) ---
**Author:** ![soulmurk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b782af/32.png) [@soulmurk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/soulmurk)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2005, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-underwear-sales-girl/325003/59 "2005-10-07T00:30:58Z")
> [@notsosmart](#): > > I wouldn’t say hot, but since you asked for a picture, I’ll provide you with my myspace, which has a few different ones in the gallery. [http://myspace.com/4451352](http://myspace.com/4451352) I have absolutely nothing informative or intelligent to add to the discussion at hand. I merely wanted to say that you do not give yourself nearly enough credit, and I think I just fell head-over-heels in love with you. ---
**Author:** ![roger\_thornhill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@roger\_thornhill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/roger_thornhill)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2005, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-underwear-sales-girl/325003/60 "2005-10-07T01:21:00Z")
Oi, not so fast, **murk**! I may only have heard of two of her favorite artists (Britney Spears and Tatu - the Russian lesbian designer duo if I recall correctly), and I am most certainly “stupid, rude, boring, self-absorbed, airheaded, manipulative, dishonest, _and_ just plain annoying”, but I’m suddenly into Gothic. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-underwear-sales-girl/325003.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-underwear-sales-girl/325003.md?page=4)