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Your Guide to (Fun!) Lingerie Shopping

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Written by Teal Dye
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Written by Teal Dye
Ever wish that perfectly-fitting, gorgeous lingerie would just appear in your wardrobe without having to actually shop for it? Well, we can't achieve quite that level of magic, but we know coming in to a store to try on lingerie can be a bit of an intimidating experience. As experienced fitters and educators, our goal is to make it as fun and comfortable as possible. We've not only made our displays and fitting areas feel like a luxurious indulgence, but our staff also makes excellent BFF cheerleader ego-boosters for an unforgettable visit. Follow our tips for a treat-yourself experience trying on lingerie and corsets! Get into a good headspace We have pieces that flatter many body types, but not every piece will be right for every body. We all have different ways we like things to fit, varying torso lengths, styles that work better on us, and parts of our bodies that we're self-conscious about. Finding the right pieces can be perfectly empowering, but be prepared to be a bit patient and to be open-minded about trying on lots of styles. (Sometimes a piece that you skim past on the hanger will turn out to be your favorite when you try it on!) Also, try not to focus too hard on the size you’re wearing-- the way it makes you feel is more important than the number on the tag. Above all, remember that the clothes are there to be right for you, not for you to be right for the clothes. Think of your trip as a sexy experiment that will teach you more about what you want and need in a great piece of lingerie! Come prepared to get sweaty-- but try not to start that way! To make you feel your best in the mirror and in close quarters with our staff, we suggest you plan your trip when you can come fresh and showered, and not dripping wet directly from hot yoga! But don't sweat it if you're coming in after work or a day out and about-- bodies are bodies, and they’ don't need to smell like roses (thank goodness, I’m allergic). If you're feeling a little self-conscious, especially after pulling clothes on and off under the lights, don't worry-- we keep the temp cool, and we’ve got you covered with our “Freshen Up” kits in the store. We want you to feel comfortable, not concerned about your scent. How to dress for the dressing room sesh If you know that trying on lingerie turns you into a self-critical monster sometimes, we encourage you to dress up for the occasion. Go for it- do your hair, put a bit of your regular (or even going-out) makeup on, maybe even put those heels on or your hit-the-town outfit and come on in! Little things like this will go a long way for your self confidence and make you shine in that mirror. If you don’t feel like getting dressed up, we get that too. Simple black yoga pants make an excellent option for wearing under soft lingerie and corsets, giving you a change to try things on and show them off to friends or partners without flashing the whole store. How NOT to dress for the dressing-room sesh
  • Please don’t come without panties. We want to make sure your pieces fit, but we can’t let you try on bottoms without a layer. (Our lingerie only goes so far on the first date!)
  • If you want to try on corsets specifically, we suggest you wear separate bottoms- pants, shorts, skirt, yoga pants, full coverage panties, ruffled knickers, you name it, instead of a dress, jumpsuit, or romper. The flatter the clothing lays against your body (unlike bulky jeans with a belt), the better.
  • Unless you’re looking to layer your corset over your dress or one-piece, dresses can make it hard to try on corsets. You have to pull them down halfway on your hips or take them off altogether. But if you’re a dress-only kinda person, just pretty please don’t forget those panties!
 Bring your gear If you’re shopping to wear lingerie or a corset under a specific garment, we encourage you to bring that piece. Saying, “it goes up to about there, and down to maybe here” only helps so much, and we want it to fit perfectly for you! Same thing goes if you're thinking of pairing a corset as a top with a special occasion skirt, dress, or pants for outerwear. You'll be able to make sure the pieces really go together, get the correct fit, and make sure that colors harmonize or that the trim coordinates. Bring whatever you need-- jewelry or accessories you're considering, shoes you want to rock with your seduction, other lingerie pieces you want to wear with your newest find. At the store-- ask for recommendations Once you've arrived, feel free to browse around and check out the inventory, but also don’t be afraid to ask one of our staff to help point you in the right direction when picking pieces out. We know where all the goodies are hiding! We also know which pieces are longer, shorter, padded, skin tight or flowy. We've seen just about everything on many different bodies, so we can help you anticipate how well something will work for you. We’ll likely ask you some of these types of questions:
  1. What type of clothing makes you feel sexy?
  2. What body parts do you want to show off?
  3. Which would you rather hide?
 Let us help you get fitted, too! We’ll likely (gently) insist on helping you put on the corsets- they take bit of practice, and if you're not used to wearing one, we can show you what correct lacing and tying looks like, how to lace or unlace yourself from one, and how to break in and care for your new corset. We can measure you and tell you what size and styles to look for in the future. And, we'll adjust the tightness of the lacing to find that sweet spot of structure and comfort, so you know what it's supposed to feel like and you can do a test run on moving, bending, and sitting. As for soft lingerie? We probably know some tricks to get that babydoll to sit just right, or that chemise to show off the girls perfectly. As long as you don’t mind us being in the dressing room with you, we’re happy to assist with all those straps and hook-eye closures, the garter straps and other bits you might not be used to wearing. But, you need to ask, because we’ll never just assume you want our help and we don't want to seem intimidating or pushy. You'll see when a piece is a good fit- you’ll usually stand taller, touch it on you, wiggle around in it, and smile. We’ll be sure to point out the signs when we see them, because we know what it looks like when someone's made their perfect match! A word about size ranges, prices, and personal expression We are always expanding our collections of apparel and getting new treasures in every month! We carry a variety of different brands, cuts, fits, and sizes to flatter a variety of body types and personal style preferences. At all times, we have both soft lingerie and corsets in store that will fit approximately sizes 0-26/28. We don’t have a designated plus-size section, so you’ll find all the pieces of the same style next to each other. (Some of our styles, however, do have modifications in the upper range of sizing to better fit bigger bodies or add support to larger busts.) If you’re looking for something and can’t find it, let us show you where to look. We also price our pieces consistently across our size range, because we don't believe that people should pay more or less based on their body size. Finally, although our collections tend to be more feminine in style, we don't consider our apparel to be "women's" lingerie. Anyone of any gender is welcome to try on our lingerie and corsets-- we're accustomed to helping everyone who's interested in our apparel, so you don't need to feel like you need to explain anything or feel shy about asking for our assistance. Ready to shop? Now that you're fully prepared for your shopping trip, plan your day. We think that lingerie shopping should be savored and not rushed, so leave yourself plenty of time to enjoy the displays and atmosphere of our welcoming little space and to fully take in how each piece of lingerie makes you feel when you're relaxed and having fun. We love when you want to take selfies in the dressing room, so feel free to do a little impromptu modeling and even to share your pics if you feel daring! With our location in Old Town Alexandria's lovely boutique district, there's plenty of strolling and browsing to do. Bring a friend, grab a bite at one of the nearby bistros or cafes, pop into a salon, and make a decadent day of it. It's also a sexy variation on date night with your sweetie-- get dinner or drinks, come try on lingerie and pick something out together, and go home to put it to good use. Questions? You can always feel free to give us a call or email us at info@lotusblooms.com-- or drop a comment right here! We look forward to seeing you in the store.

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