# Ladies: Do you coordinate your underthings with your outfits? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 6, 2005, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-do-you-coordinate-your-underthings-with-your-outfits/311241 "2005-07-06T03:02:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![OldBroad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ed655f/32.png) [@OldBroad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldBroad)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2005, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-do-you-coordinate-your-underthings-with-your-outfits/311241/21 "2005-07-06T13:43:43Z")
Back when working clothes **always** meant a suit or nice dress, I always bought matching bra & panties sets. When it worked, they were also matched to my clothes. Always also had matching shoes and purse. Once I had kids, there were usually higher priority things to worry about, and then the workplace became more casual and so did I. It was fun while it lasted. ---
**Author:** ![badbadrubberpiggy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/57b2e6/32.png) [@badbadrubberpiggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/badbadrubberpiggy)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2005, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-do-you-coordinate-your-underthings-with-your-outfits/311241/22 "2005-07-06T14:19:29Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > 'S my little secret. Are YOU Victoria?! :eek: (just found out that Vickie’s is having one of their semi-annual sales - I may have to put my lunch break to good use) ---
**Author:** ![Snickers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Snickers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snickers)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2005, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-do-you-coordinate-your-underthings-with-your-outfits/311241/23 "2005-07-06T14:20:30Z")
What?! No. Who has the time? I can barely wake up enough to get going - I’d be screwed without the shower. Most of the time, my undies don’t even match each other. If we’re going out, I’ll try to make the undies match, but I never match them to my clothes (except in the case of sheer tops and such). ---
**Author:** ![the\_Lady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bb73d2/32.png) [@the\_Lady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the_Lady)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2005, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-do-you-coordinate-your-underthings-with-your-outfits/311241/24 "2005-07-06T14:22:24Z")
It has never occurred to me to do so. And I probably still won’t - there’s only so much coordination this lazy girl is willing to do! ---
**Author:** ![Pythian\_Habenero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a6a055/32.png) [@Pythian\_Habenero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pythian_Habenero)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2005, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-do-you-coordinate-your-underthings-with-your-outfits/311241/25 "2005-07-06T14:30:31Z")
I generally don’t put a great deal of effort into matching _anything_, let alone my underclothes. But as it happens I tend to end up at least color-coordinated anyways, and that includes the bits of clothing no one’s going to see. When I do put effort into an outfit, I usually wear matching unmentionables simply because it feels incomplete if I don’t. ---
**Author:** ![Queen\_Tonya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/4491bb/32.png) [@Queen\_Tonya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Queen_Tonya)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2005, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-do-you-coordinate-your-underthings-with-your-outfits/311241/26 "2005-07-06T14:35:05Z")
I often do. Usually I figure out what outfit I’m wearing first, so reaching for the coordinating color in the undies drawer is pretty easy. It’s nice knowing if for some reason my neckline wanders over and a strap peeks thru, it’ll be less noticeable since it’s not gonna clash. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2005, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-do-you-coordinate-your-underthings-with-your-outfits/311241/27 "2005-07-06T14:36:54Z")
> [@badbadrubberpiggy](#): > > Are YOU Victoria?! :eek: \*Her \* secret is that she’s actually…Victor. (How else can you explain the discomfort of underwires, negligees, and everything else the female sex wears to entice the male? Not to mention the prices! And don’t get me wrong, I like that stuff, too, but still.) ---
**Author:** ![Pythian\_Habenero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a6a055/32.png) [@Pythian\_Habenero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pythian_Habenero)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2005, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-do-you-coordinate-your-underthings-with-your-outfits/311241/28 "2005-07-06T14:40:07Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > \*Her \* secret is that she’s actually…Victor. > > (How else can you explain the discomfort of underwires, negligees, and everything else the female sex wears to entice the male? Not to mention the prices! And don’t get me wrong, I like that stuff, too, but still.) Am I the only woman in the world who actually _likes_ corsets? ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2005, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-do-you-coordinate-your-underthings-with-your-outfits/311241/29 "2005-07-06T15:03:27Z")
> [@Pythian Habenero](#): > > Am I the only woman in the world who actually _likes_ corsets? I think I love you. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Lissla\_Lissar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@Lissla\_Lissar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissla_Lissar)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2005, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-do-you-coordinate-your-underthings-with-your-outfits/311241/30 "2005-07-06T15:15:53Z")
What type of corset? Tudor and Georgian are pretty comfortable. I’m not fond of Victorian or Edwardian- too much compression. I believe I own one matching bra and panty set. I was forced to buy it by a friend who believes _strongly_ in fancy matching undies. I never try to coordinate my underwear with my outer clothes unless I’m wearing something see-through or whatever. Too much thinking. ---
**Author:** ![Madd\_Maxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Madd\_Maxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Madd_Maxx)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2005, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-do-you-coordinate-your-underthings-with-your-outfits/311241/31 "2005-07-06T15:28:18Z")
Hell, I’m a (straight) guy and I match my underwear and clothes if I have an appropriate combo. Orioles t-shirt on a casual Friday gets my baseball boxer briefs. Redskins jersey gets football boxer briefs. Black underwear and socks for a black shirt etc. You get the picture. Some outfits require certain underclothes, others don’t. ---
**Author:** ![Corii](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/aeb1de/32.png) [@Corii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Corii)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2005, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-do-you-coordinate-your-underthings-with-your-outfits/311241/32 "2005-07-06T15:39:09Z")
> [@hillbilly queen](#): > > I don’t just mean in a practical way like, wearing a black bra under a black blouse, or white panties under white pants/skirt. > But, what if you had a pair of panties, that just happened to match your favorite purple sweater? Would you be more likely to wear those panties with the sweater? Nope, heck I don’t even wear matching underthings… unless it’s a surprise for the hubby. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![FaerieBeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e95f7d/32.png) [@FaerieBeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FaerieBeth)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2005, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-do-you-coordinate-your-underthings-with-your-outfits/311241/33 "2005-07-06T15:54:14Z")
> [@Pythian Habenero](#): > > Am I the only woman in the world who actually _likes_ corsets? Nope, you’re not! I spend way more time in corsets than I care to think about. As to the underwear question, my answers would have to depend on the outfit. If I’m in a dress, chances are my undies match and compliment the outfit, too. I have lots of “librarian” and “school-teacher” dresses, so I make up for being the picture of modesty and temperance by wearing fancy, lacy underthings. If I’m in jeans and a t-shirt, nine times out of ten I’ll just be commando in the jeans and have on a plain cotton bra. When I am corseted? Everything matches. That’s the beauty of making those outfits yourself. ---
**Author:** ![Pythian\_Habenero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a6a055/32.png) [@Pythian\_Habenero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pythian_Habenero)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2005, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-do-you-coordinate-your-underthings-with-your-outfits/311241/34 "2005-07-06T16:14:14Z")
> [@FaerieBeth](#): > > Nope, you’re not! I spend way more time in corsets than I care to think about. Woohoo! A fellow crazy person! ---
**Author:** ![Avarie537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/48db29/32.png) [@Avarie537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Avarie537)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2005, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-do-you-coordinate-your-underthings-with-your-outfits/311241/35 "2005-07-06T19:02:32Z")
I used to match my undies to my scrub pants when I worked at the vet’s office. But that was only practical - if my pants split, it wouldn’t be quite as obvious. ---
**Author:** ![FilmGeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@FilmGeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FilmGeek)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2005, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-do-you-coordinate-your-underthings-with-your-outfits/311241/36 "2005-07-06T19:12:39Z")
I never match. It strikes me as kind of creepy, somehow. I buy all my underwear (I hate the word panties) on sale at Victoria’s Secret (usually about $2 a pair) and I try to get the most obnoxious ones. Those make me happy. I have camoflauge, pink green and blue randomly sized polka dots, bright fuschia stripes, etc. My bras are a continual bane on my existence, and are usually white or beige. ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2005, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-do-you-coordinate-your-underthings-with-your-outfits/311241/37 "2005-07-06T19:57:18Z")
Oh man, I have enough trouble coordinating the stuff people can actually see, without worrying about whether it matches my damned underwear. ---
**Author:** ![Queen\_Bruin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Queen\_Bruin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Queen_Bruin)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2005, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-do-you-coordinate-your-underthings-with-your-outfits/311241/38 "2005-07-06T20:10:59Z")
> [@Pythian Habenero](#): > > Am I the only woman in the world who actually _likes_ corsets? Nope, I loves me my Fredericks’ Ultimate Corset! ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2005, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-do-you-coordinate-your-underthings-with-your-outfits/311241/39 "2005-07-06T21:09:44Z")
All of my undergarments are white. Few of my outer garments are white. You do the math. ---
**Author:** ![pinkfreud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pinkfreud/32/17603_2.png) [@pinkfreud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pinkfreud)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2005, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-do-you-coordinate-your-underthings-with-your-outfits/311241/40 "2005-07-06T21:35:04Z")
I do coordinate my underwear with my outerwear, and I am a bit embarrassed to admit it. This somehow seems like a teenage sort of thing to do, and I am in my late fifties. It just makes me feel good to have pretty undies that match or complement my clothes. You know that old saying that most of our mothers told us, about always wearing nice underwear in case we get taken to the emergency room? Once when I went to the emergency room during an acute gall bladder attack, the emergency room nurses oohed and aahed over my pink bra & panties. So at least Mom was right about something. I suspect that during busy times, the triage nurse who decides which patients get treated first is probably doing an underwear inspection. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-do-you-coordinate-your-underthings-with-your-outfits/311241.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-do-you-coordinate-your-underthings-with-your-outfits/311241.md?page=3)