# Women, would you wear lingerie for any reason other than to excite your partner? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 8, 2004, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-would-you-wear-lingerie-for-any-reason-other-than-to-excite-your-partner/273623 "2004-11-08T12:39:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Scarf-Ace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@Scarf-Ace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarf-Ace)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2004, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-would-you-wear-lingerie-for-any-reason-other-than-to-excite-your-partner/273623/1 "2004-11-08T12:39:13Z")
I’ve always wondered if women get anything out of wearing lingerie, or if they only wear it to please men. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Lioness](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a87d85/32.png) [@Little\_Lioness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Lioness)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2004, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-would-you-wear-lingerie-for-any-reason-other-than-to-excite-your-partner/273623/2 "2004-11-08T12:46:38Z")
Of course. Some women wear lingerie to feel pretty, for themselves. Some wear it because they grew up being taught that it was naughty and dirty, so wearing it makes them feel empowered and as though they’ve overcome their unfortunate upbringing. This is part of why I thought the whole Janet Jackson Superbowl was so sad. She’d been brought up in a very restrictive family, and probably wore the nipple ring to remind herself that her body is hers now and that she’s a strong modern woman. Then the whole world took it as proof that she meant to have her breast bared on national television, even though she repeatedly said it was an accident, because “why was she wearing a nipple ring if she didn’t want everyone to see it?” ---
**Author:** ![GingerOfTheNorth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/cdc98d/32.png) [@GingerOfTheNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GingerOfTheNorth)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2004, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-would-you-wear-lingerie-for-any-reason-other-than-to-excite-your-partner/273623/3 "2004-11-08T13:20:10Z")
Hell yes. I tend not to dress for other people, and my husband says it looks better on the floor, anyway. ---
**Author:** ![calm\_kiwi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc348/32.png) [@calm\_kiwi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/calm_kiwi)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2004, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-would-you-wear-lingerie-for-any-reason-other-than-to-excite-your-partner/273623/4 "2004-11-08T13:30:03Z")
Well we need something to cover the bum and support the boobs! Men or no men. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2004, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-would-you-wear-lingerie-for-any-reason-other-than-to-excite-your-partner/273623/5 "2004-11-08T13:44:35Z")
Yep, what they said. Although, the older I get, the more practical and less lacey my undergarments get. I think they’re making them itchier these days. But I get very excited on the rare occasions some store sells matching bra and panty sets in my size. I feel much more pretty wearing a matched set, even if no one else will see it. I stopped wearing merry widows and bustier’s under jeans after college, though. ---
**Author:** ![Scarf-Ace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@Scarf-Ace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarf-Ace)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2004, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-would-you-wear-lingerie-for-any-reason-other-than-to-excite-your-partner/273623/6 "2004-11-08T15:42:51Z")
> [@GingerOfTheNorth](#): > > Hell yes. I tend not to dress for other people, and my husband says it looks better on the floor, anyway. Heh :). So I suppose women like to feel pretty for themselves… Tell me if i’m probing too deeply into the female psyche… 😉 ---
**Author:** ![ruadh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@ruadh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ruadh)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2004, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-would-you-wear-lingerie-for-any-reason-other-than-to-excite-your-partner/273623/7 "2004-11-08T15:50:02Z")
Yeah, I like it. As long as it’s comfortable. ---
**Author:** ![Ghanima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Ghanima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ghanima)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2004, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-would-you-wear-lingerie-for-any-reason-other-than-to-excite-your-partner/273623/8 "2004-11-08T15:54:08Z")
It depends on how you define lingerie. For me, lacy bras/panties can be worn anytime, but The Sexy Nighty is pretty much worn as an overt suggestion that I am interested in interesting him. ---
**Author:** ![smartini](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/22d042/32.png) [@smartini](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smartini)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2004, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-would-you-wear-lingerie-for-any-reason-other-than-to-excite-your-partner/273623/9 "2004-11-08T16:06:00Z")
I agree with **GOTN** you have to define lingerie. To me that is a catchall for nice, more feminine undergarments and sleep wear…and runs the gamut from things you would wear everyday to things you would wear for one reason alone. It pretty much excludes the “laundry day” panties and bras we all keep in the back of the drawer and flannel nightgowns but beyond that it’s pretty much all inclusive for me. And yes, I wear it for me. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![smartini](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/22d042/32.png) [@smartini](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smartini)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2004, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-would-you-wear-lingerie-for-any-reason-other-than-to-excite-your-partner/273623/10 "2004-11-08T16:08:03Z")
ooops, wrong attribution… I agree with **Ghanima** that you have to define lingerie… ---
**Author:** ![UrbanChic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9dc877/32.png) [@UrbanChic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UrbanChic)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2004, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-would-you-wear-lingerie-for-any-reason-other-than-to-excite-your-partner/273623/11 "2004-11-08T16:36:52Z")
> [@GingerOfTheNorth](#): > > […] my husband says it looks better on the floor, anyway. So does mine. Since I would only wear it for him and has a take or leave it attitude, I haven’t purchased any in years. I still buy pretty undies and brassieres but they’re for me. Now, if we’re in Victoria’s Secret together (it happens) and he states a preference, unless it’s horribly uncomfortable, I’m going to buy it. ---
**Author:** ![Indygrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@Indygrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indygrrl)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2004, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-would-you-wear-lingerie-for-any-reason-other-than-to-excite-your-partner/273623/12 "2004-11-08T16:42:14Z")
I wear pretty panties and bras, and I try to wear sexy pajamas, although colder weather makes it more difficult. I hate wearing a t-shirt and sweats or long johns, I much prefer silk pj’s or something attractive. ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2004, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-would-you-wear-lingerie-for-any-reason-other-than-to-excite-your-partner/273623/13 "2004-11-08T17:17:16Z")
Guess I’m the freak in this crew, I wear whatever as far as undergarments (just cotton basics, nothing hideous but nothing lacy either), so if a matching bra n’ panty set makes an appearance on my person, some lucky fella is about to get some. I only wear “nice special” underwear for the benefit of the menfolk. Kind of like if I shaved my legs. I’d only do it for a change of pace, to please someone particular. I don’t think “lingerie” needs to be defined. If it’s plain cotton panties it’s just “underwear.” pajamas are just pajamas. Lingerie is fancy. ---
**Author:** ![Mehitabel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@Mehitabel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mehitabel)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2004, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-would-you-wear-lingerie-for-any-reason-other-than-to-excite-your-partner/273623/14 "2004-11-08T17:23:16Z")
Super-sexy stuff, day to day, naah. It’s not like they exactly give it away and there’s possible damage to be considered–bra straps can start to stretch, if you’re caught in the rain sometimes your dress or blouse will leach onto the fabric, etc. Went out once with a white bra and came back in a monsoon with a blotchy pinkish bra. This is not a TMI thread, so I won’t go into certain times of the month and certain…uh…bacterial…never mind. But that would also preclude the fanciest stuff. Elegant, well-constructed everyday lingerie does make you feel better, though. Depends on who’s gonna see it. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![SusanStoHelit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7ab992/32.png) [@SusanStoHelit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SusanStoHelit)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2004, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-would-you-wear-lingerie-for-any-reason-other-than-to-excite-your-partner/273623/15 "2004-11-08T17:26:43Z")
I will put “sexy” lingerie if I’m wearing a dress that needs the extra shaping. However, I also put on my sexiest underwear whenever I’m about to take a brutal exam. I figure that if I look good, I’ll do good (although obviously not in Grammar 😉 ) ---
**Author:** ![Abbie\_Carmichael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/49beb7/32.png) [@Abbie\_Carmichael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Abbie_Carmichael)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2004, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-would-you-wear-lingerie-for-any-reason-other-than-to-excite-your-partner/273623/16 "2004-11-08T17:31:36Z")
To answer the OP, no. I hate lingerie. I don’t think of “lingerie” as pretty bras and undies, as you’ve gotta wear both every day. When I think lingerie I think bustiers, teddies, etc. The only decent lingerie I can find in my size is outrageously expensive and looks bad on me anyway, so any attempt to wear it would be sort of like shopping for a bathing suit. ---
**Author:** ![tremorviolet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e47774/32.png) [@tremorviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tremorviolet)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2004, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-would-you-wear-lingerie-for-any-reason-other-than-to-excite-your-partner/273623/17 "2004-11-08T17:46:33Z")
Wearing sexy lingerie _does_ kinda turn me on so I’m wouldn’t just wear it for a partner. But it’s kinda linked. What turns me on more is the idea that my partner finds it sexy and wearing it is something I can do to turn him on. But I’m almost always disappointed because it seems like most guys really prefer “naked” which, truthfully, is kinda boring…