Intimates care

Intimates care

Proper care is the best way to ensure a long and lasting life for your lingerie purchases. By following these steps, your underwear wardrobe will remain fresh and in topnotch form.

Check the tags!

Manufacturers don't lie. While the tag guidelines are often brief, they are always correct. We always recommend that intimates be washed in a lingerie wash bag, which are often made of light synthetic mesh. By using a lingerie wash bag, you ensure that your intimates avoid the rough and tumble wash cycles and do not get twisted and stretched among any other wash items.

Should you remove your tag, following are some general care instructions:

DO:

Wash: Wash in cold water by hand, making sure to rinse thoroughly. If you prefer to wash in the machine, wash in cold water with like colors or separately always using a lingerie wash bag. ALWAYS wash colors separately, including similar lingerie products. Remember to hook, fasten or buckle products before you wash.

Dry: Drip dry or dry flat washed lingerie items, away from sunlight. If you must dry in the machine, tumble dry on a low and cool setting with items still in the lingerie wash bag.

Dry clean: If your tag denotes dry cleaning, you should always do so without fail. This instruction may infer that the fabric and structure of the item cannot sustain traditional washing methods or products.

DON'T:

Wash: Avoid washing you lingerie loosely with other products. Because of their delicate structure, many lingerie items can get twisted and stretched in this process. Avoid soaking or bleaching intimates in order to retain color and structure. Also avoid detergents you normally use with your other laundry.

Dry: Do not tumble dry loosely with other products. Once again, your items may twist and stretch. Also, avoid line drying, as creases and stretching may occur. Keep your intimates out of the sun! Finally, do not iron your lingerie. If absolutely necessary, use gentle steaming to remove wrinkles.

Silky Hands

Silky Hands

You never tried a hand peeling? Is the secret of silky hands and it must be applied twice a week. Moisten lightly your hands and massage with your fingers the backside of hands and your palms with the peeling cream, for about 3-4 minutes. Rinse with warmish water. Soft & silky Airs and graces? No way! A nail bath is the best preparation for the care program. Keep your hands in a vessel with warm water and special ingredients, for 10 minutes. Trick: one teaspoon of your favorite shower cream, poured in the water, is very efficient for a gentle soaking of skin and cuticles. Use 1-2 drops of lavender or rose essential too.

Anti-hangnails

After the bath you can easily remove the hangnails by pushing them with a special soft wood-, or plastic stick. Nails without hangnails grow stronger, because the nutritive ingredients and nail-treatment get exactly to their base, where the nail is structured.

What to Wear - Women - Panties

Panties

How do I solve the problem of panty lines?

Are problematic panty lines turning you into a panty pariah? These days there are more ways of tackling this age-old dilemma such as the obvious solutions provided by thongs, g-strings and v-strings. But for those of you who prefer a fuller coverage panty, seamless panties are also now available in both traditional cuts.

My panties are rising above my low-rise jeans.

Are peaking panties putting a damper on your lusty, low-ride look? Because the trend of low-rise jeans is showing no signs of abating, we offer a plethora of panties to accommodate your low-rise lifestyle. Low-rize, or "hipster" panties, and thongs that ride lower on the hip than traditional bikinies or briefs are one answer. We suggest the Cosabella Low Rider Thong or the Calvin Klein Seamless Thong for starters. Boyshorts are another great option and come in a variety of styles, prints and colors that can provide a coy accent to your look should the waistband decide to travel north.

My hips and/or bottom are spilling out.

Chances are your panties are too small. Many women assume that their panty size is the same as their pant size but in this day of designer fashion - where inconsistent sizing is all over the charts - there's no reliable correlation. So take a few careful minutes to pick your proper panty size by consulting and avoid discomfort and unsightly bulges.

Shapewear

Who wears Shapewear?

I think what you mean is "Who doesn't wear shapewear ? Shapewear is everywhere, from the red carpet - where Hollywood starlets use shapewear to create the perfect look beneath their couture creations - to any woman hoping to minimize or refine their figure with a little help. Create a trim, healthy and firm look with some shapewear selections from Freshpair.

Fashion Icon Sienna Miller

Sienna Miller - The Brit Girl

Fashion Icon Sienna Miller

Sienna Miller - The Brit Girl

Over the past year or so, Sienna Miller’s style—not to mention her personal life—has undergone WMD-grade scrutiny. So what’s a world famous fashionista to do? It seems that the Casanova star ascribes to every chic actress’s favorite maxim: looking good is the best revenge, looking great is even better. Miller has emerged from her time of troubles with a sleek new shorter ‘do and an even sleeker figure.

Every suburban mall-goer may be emulating her signature boho chic look of skinny jeans, flowing tops, and long locks, but, like a true trendsetter, Miller has already switched style lanes and left the wannabes in the dust. Her recent red carpet turn at the American film Institute’s closing night gala swapped the ubiquitous haute hippie pairing of ‘70s boots and beat-up denim in favor of sky-high sex kitten heels and a poured on strapless black body-suit worthy of another British fashion icon, The Avenger’s Emma Peel. She may be persona non grata among the citizens of Pittsburgh, but the fashion aristocracy remains charmed by Sienna Miller's ever-morphing sense of style.

Having turned the world on with her free-flowing brand of boho chic (she's among the key culprits behind everybody and their mother now wearing tunic tops and tucking their jeans into boots), Miller has of late gone seriously method for her role as Edie Sedgwick in Factory Girl, chopping her locks and going mad for mod. Perhaps not coincidentally, designers have followed suit, with swinging '60s silhouettes and Op-Art prints dominating runways from New York to Milan. Of course, by the time the rest of us catch up, Miller will likely be on to her next fashion incarnation, with the ever-vigilant trendspotting hordes sure to be staking out a front-row seat.

Perfume & Cologne

Perfume & Cologne

To wear to that special event, to give as a gift, or just for everyday - get on the scent to great online shopping for the best women's perfumes and men's colognes and aftershaves at the best prices.

• Fragrances are often described like fine wine - with top, middle and base notes that describe which scents are released as you wear them.
• Remember, before you settle on a perfume and cologne for yourself, try wearing it for several hours to interact with your unique skin chemistry. What smells good on your friends may not offer the same results for you!
• The general variety of fragrances for women from strongest to weakest: perfume, eau de perfume, eau de toilette and cologne.
• For men, it's cologne or eau de toilette (basically the same in strength) and then aftershave, which only lasts or several hours.

A good online buying tip is to choose a site that sells a variety of scents, and searchable under a variety of criteria such as brand, men's or women's fragrances, gift sets, clearances, etc. One site may have slightly higher prices but provide free shipping or gift wrapping, while another may offer a greater range of scents. As with anything else, it really pays to shop around for the perfect fragrance for yourself, or as a gift.

What to Wear - Men

Sure, getting dressed for the office or a big night out does take some careful consideration. Should it be Frank Sinatra retro or Johnny Depp casual modern today? Boxers of Briefs? We'll leave you to your own devices on that one, but when it comes to underwear - whether you're wearing it under that designer suit or as outerwear to the gym or tennis court - we're here to give you a few answers to your frequently asked questions.

What should I wear to the gym?

If you actually go to the gym to work up a sweat - as opposed to hanging around the smoothie bar and handing out business cards - you should be wearing something that has 'wicking' power. What is wicking, you ask? Wicking is a process in which a performance fabric moves moisture away from your body, allowing it to evaporate quickly, keeping you cool and dry. And then of course there's the matter of fabric that has breathability. Calvin Klein addresses both these issues with their Pro-Mesh line of underwear. A perfect choice for the gym is the Calvin Klein Flexible Fit Tank Top 2-pack, which will keep you cool and let you show off your muscles at the same time. And because every dedicated jock should have the right support, there's also the Pro Stretch Jock Strap. For those days that you want to practice for the Tour de France, slip into the Calvin Klein Pro Stretch Cycle Short. The Baskit Action Mesh line utilizes modern fabric technology, resulting in a cotton blend that has both wicking power and super-soft feel. For your bench press duties, we suggest the 2(x)ist 50 Cent Square Cut Tank. If you're a trendy jock, check out the Papi Camouflage Jock Strap or the Andrew Christian Brasil Jock Strap with colored contour pouch.

I need a change from basic white.

Yes, change is good. Here at Freshpair we're right in step with the latest trends. Beyond basic black or white, there are a variety of fashion colors available from the top underwear brands. From the 2(x)ist Varsity line, there are short sleeve crew neck tees in royal blue, green and crimson that are perfect for wearing under a button-down or on their own with your favorite pair of jeans. From DT Underwear there are royal blue and green tennis pro low rise briefs, while at Baskit, fluorescent colors accent contour pouches on briefs and boxer briefs. The upscale Adam + Eve line has a luxurious pima cotton long sleeve Henley shirt that comes in fatigue green. Diesel continues looking toward the future with a Stripe Enjoy Tank and Stripe Enjoy Trunk which is accented with multi-stripe panels. If you're a demanding color collector, then the Tricot Nylon Crew T-Shirt from Players should satisfy all of your chromatic cravings: It comes in red, forest green, burgundy, purple, silver and more.

Are men still wearing silk underwear?

There are some things that will never go out of style: Caribbean vacations, champagne with the ladies and the luxurious feel and comfort of silk underwear. Magic Silk will satisfy all of your silk needs from the sexy Silk Knit Brief to the sensual Silk Knit Boxer Brief to the cheeky Silk Charmeuse Print Thong. For the classic Hugh Hefner look, we recommend the Silk Solid Charmeuse Kimono and the classic Silk Lounge Pants.

Do I need to go to a department store to buy multi-packs of underwear?

Sure, if you like putting up with pushy shoppers, inattentive sales clerks and parking tickets because you've waited in line at the register too long. And then there's the added fun of traveling all the way to the store and realizing that everything in your size is sold out. Sound like fun? We think not. We offer many choices of underwear multi-packs and t-shirt multi-packs here at Freshpair such as the 2xist fly front brief 3-pack and the Hanes Boxer Shorts, 2(x)ist Crew Neck T-Shirts and 2(x)ist Athletic Shirt 3-packs. The trendy C-IN2 brand offers V-Neck T-Shirt 3-packs, Square Neck Tank Top 3-packs and Bi-Fly Profile Brief 3-packs.

I'm just a jeans and t-shirt kind of guy.

We realize that you're a rebel with or without a cause and that you just want the right t-shirt to throw on with your favorite pair of jeans. For your daily outerwear requirements there's the Puma Daily Cotton collection. Puma Daily Cotton Stretch short-sleeve t-shirts come in either a crew or V-neck and there's also a long-sleeve tee option. Munsingwear also offers choices of crews and V-necks while C-IN2 offers them in super-soft pima cotton. If you want to take the luxe level up several notches, there's the Hanro Cotton Ribbed T-Shirt made from a very refined microfiber blend.

Do I have to stick to solids or is it ok to wear prints?

Not only is it ok but we encourage the dabbling in prints from time to time... and with number or printed design underwear choices these days, you may want to make it part of your daily routine. The most daring foray into the print frontier appear on the classically styled men's briefs from DT Underwear. From Hawaiian motifs to military camouflage to retro 70's poster art prints, DT Underwear is the word in embellished undergarments. For the classic whimsically printed boxer shorts look, Magic Silk offers printed Charmeuse items. If you want to go trendy, we suggest some printed briefs from Ginch Gonch. Relive your carefree boyhood with fire truck and superhero-style stars.

What to Wear - Women - Bras

What to Wear - Women

Bra

My bra is riding up

Are you getting that creeping feeling in your bust area? Does your bra seem to have a mind of its own? You may need to adjust your hook and bring it out one level. If this doesn't work, you may need to loosen your straps. If the straps are adjusted too tightly they may cause the band to rise, creating awkward lines and discomfort. Most importantly, make sure your bra is the right size by checking our sizing chart

My straps are always falling down.

The falling bra strap may have worked for Marilyn Monroe and Brigitte Bardot, but you can't pretend you're a movie star every day. If your straps are feeling gravity's pull, make sure you are buying bras with adjustable straps so you can freely gauge how they will fit. However, straps that are too tight may cause lines and discomfort - but reducing your cup by one size may provide a solution. Consult our bra sizing advice to determine if you are buying the right size for you.

My bra is giving me strap marks.

Today's busy working women have enough problems - like trying to fit business meetings in between lunch and yoga class - without their bras giving them grief. Are unsightly and painful strap marks bringing you down? Many women try to create the right lift and support by adjusting their straps too tightly - the problem may be that you're wearing the wrong size bra. Check your size and choose a bra with added lift or underwire for more support. Make sure your bra is full cup and avoid demi. If you are larger in the bust, try a minimizer or full coverage bra.

What should I wear under tanks or with spaghetti straps?

We know - that white-bra-strap-peaking-out-from-under-a-red-tank look isn't winning you any fashion accolades this season. And you're certainly not about to go bra-less - we're not living in the 1960s, for goodness sake. The most obvious solution to this problem is a strapless bra, we have the strapless bra to solve your wardrobe dilemmas. If you fear the "quadraboob" look - the unfortunate illusion of four breasts - that can come from a slipping strapless bra, try a bra with clear straps. For a trendier look, select a bra with a thinner strap in a color that accents your outfit and don't be afraid to let the strap show.

What should I wear under tight tees and sweaters?

You want to look and feel sexy and the baggy blouse look just isn't going to fly. You want to wear a tight shirt. These days, many shirt styles are cut more fitted and are tighter in the bust. Smaller busted women may choose a fitted shirt for a sexy look that allows the nipple to show through, wearing it with a bra that has a microfiber, seamless. This will round and smooth the bust line but allow your breast's natural shape to show through. For the same natural look that avoids nipple exposure, try a lightly-padded, molded bra. These will provide a clean, rounded and natural looking line. Larger busted women may prefer a minimizer with full cup coverage, such as the Wacoal Slimline Seamless Minimizer Bra.

There are wrinkles across my bust under my shirt.

You've heard that saying "A wrinkle in time saves nine"?
Well, a wrinkle across your bust area saves nothing, nada, zilch. If the fabric of your shirt is smooth across your bust, you may see lines or seams under your shirt. Chances are you are wearing a bra that is too large in the cup and may need to go down a size. Check your cup size and order your new bras accordingly. Also, make sure y

ou select a bra in a seamless fabric, such as microfiber, or a bra described as being seamless such as the Wire Free Bra by Warners. You may even want to try a bra with a hidden underwire for that ultra seamless look.

My breasts are bulging out around my cups and under my arms.

Are you in the midst of the Battle of the Breast Bulge? If so, your bra is most likely too small in the cup or your straps are too tight. Loosen the straps and/or increase your cup size. You may also want to invest in a bra with side panels that flex according to your shape.

My favorite bra has been discontinued.

Don't panic. Try checking the same brand/manufacturer for similar products. With styles changing all the time, many designers may discontinue a certain item but retain the same basic structure and essence throughout their line. If this doesn't work, start from scratch and enjoy a new brand. First, find your proper size and then think about the specifics that were so appealing in your old style before beginning your new search. Our Customer Care Representatives will be happy to help you find a replacement style.

DSquared got inspired by the raceway

Twin designers Dean and Dan

Taking cues from the hit animation, Cars, DSquared got inspired by the raceway, perhaps NASCAR or Formula 1. “It’s Clean Mc Queen! (Steve!!)” makes one think that the twin designers, Dean and Dan, have seen the movie cars more then once.

With “Steve” being somewhat of a theme showing up on belt buckles and patches, the collection pushed raceway slogans to a cheesy cool. “DSquared Fuel Injection” and “DSquared Speed Way Pit Crew” were just some of the branded slogans embellished on the backs of jackets and over all’s.

With support from the ING Renault F1 Team you can bet that DSquared inspiration is real. The fashion brand and racing team presented the Jne 25th catwalk show with racing cars and all. The clothes themselves were quite official race gear looking.

Coveralls played a big part in the collection. A black leather overall with the sleeves wrapped around the waist became what would be the racecar drivers uniform while an all out denim piece became his pit crew’s uniform. The “irresistible plumber” became “the irresistible Formula 1 men”.

DSquared always knows how to put a lot of sex into their designs and this Spring Summer 08 collection was no different. A pair of mini purple trunks with DSquared signature across the buttocks was styled with a pendant necklace, runners and a great pair of abs.

Colors were bright and came in shades of purple, orange, green, red and yellow. They worked as accents on the outfits’ simple base colors like the racing stripes carried through out most of the collection. Patches were another thread that bound the collection. Used on hats and pants much like the sponsor patches you see for the drivers and crew.

The collection was fun and as always DSquared put on a good show. Formula 1 just may be associated with fashion a bit more, in the near future.

Candice Held unveiled the Spring / Summer 2008 collection

Candice Held

Los Angles based designer Candice Held unveiled the Spring / Summer 2008 collection of her eponymous line at Lightbox at Smashbox Studios in Culver City.

Although this is only the second time Candice Held has released a collection, it is plain to see that she has an undeniable talent and love for scarf dresses and the eye to give the fashionistas what they crave.

This season’s collection is made up almost entirely of print style scarf dresses, all beautifully designed and keeping with next spring’s craving for prints. While bright colors are generally not my favorite, I instantly fell in love with more of these ensembles than I have time to list, and I was certainly not alone as a full audience applauded exit after exit.

Thirty-five pieces split into five different sections - original prints on silk, silk prints, cotton collection, vintage collection, and quilt dresses, all of which follow the same basic theme, a feat other designers this season could not manage.

From V-neck empire dresses to the A line skirts shown, it is hard to choose a favorite from this collection as the majority of pieces captivate the notion of casual elegance while exemplifying and complimenting the female form

Handbag Cleaning Tips

How to Take Care of Your

Handbags and Purses

Zippers
Keep these fasteners working smoothly by running a piece of natural beeswax (found in hardware stores) over a zipper's open teeth.

Exteriors
Leather, of course, is a skin, so keep it happy and moisturized with a leather conditioning cream. There's no reason to treat it with a protectant or a silicone spray. Caught in the rain? Run for cover, then dab—don't wipe—moisture away.

Handles and Straps
Residue from lotions can discolor and age material—another good reason to keep hands clean.
Also, don't overstuff a bag; too much weight can weaken stitching or damage straps.

Alligator
Keep your alligator or crocodile bag supple by applying a leather conditioner (like Apple Brand). Use a soft, lint-free fabric like a sheepskin knit (found in shoe repair shops) and test conditioner in an inconspicuous place before using all over.

Suede
A suede brush can do wonders, but for serious stains, it's best to see a pro.
When storing, wrap leather handles or straps in cloth so they don't rest against the suede and leave blotches.

Fabric
Cloth bags attract dust, so when you're done using a bag for the season, give it a light dusting with a lint roller before storing covered.
For deeper stains or markings, take to a repair shop.

Snakeskin
Experts warn against using any type of product on snakeskin, which is quite fragile. Over time, scales will begin to lift.
When that happens, you can have the bag lacquered, but the treatment may change the appearance of the scales.

Patent Leather
Separate light patent leathers from darker-hued bags to avoid discoloration.
To clean, take a piece of cheesecloth, dampen with a bit of white vinegar and rub. Wipe off with a clean piece of fabric.

Tips!
Flannel dust bags, which often come with higher-end handbags, are a must when it comes to storage. Don't have one on hand? A soft cotton pillowcase works well.

Help your bag retain its shape by placing loosely balled-up, white, acid-free tissue paper or bubble wrap inside it when it's not in use.

If your bag is looking dull, our experts suggest a neutral polish like Meltonian by Kiwi ($3; at specialty shoe stores), which is safe for any color leather and should be applied with a soft piece of fabric like cheesecloth, then wiped off with a clean, dry piece of the same material.

Makeup Removal Options

Makeup Removal Options

Make-up that goes up must come down at the end of the day. Let your skin breathe with all of its pores and don’t let no day leave its marks on your face – night by night remove all your makeup from face, neck and cleavage. To make this a less burdening ritual, choose one that’s on your liking. Pick a texture that delights you, so you’ll never get tempted to go to sleep with your makeup on. The most popular makeup removers are the cleansing lotions, followed by the cleansing gels and foaming textures. If you’re not feeling that responsible about this whole rigorous makeup removal thing, just use the cleansing lotion – it’s quick and doesn’t need any rinsing. If you prefer gels, keep in mind that these involve removing the texture by rinsing with water. For a happy complexion, set a water filter system, that will hold back all the impurities from the water.

At first there was the soap

If you want to remain faithful to this vintage face cleansing technique, solid soap is pretty popular among us. Just be sure that you’re doing it quite as it should be – use a product that’s specially made for face cleansing and proper for your skin type. Get the perfect soap at the drug store that contains hydrating and nourishing ingredients. You can also opt for soaps that contain exfoliating particles, but don’t use them just twice a week. If you want to treat acne, antibacterial soaps are reliable allies.



Alternative options

Even if you’re in a lack of time, there are solutions to get out face clean of it. Try to remove your makeup with makeup removal towelettes that are already dipped in makeup remover lotion. If you’ll notice that your skin begins to get dry, partially or on extended areas, the best is to get mobilized and resort to the good old cleansing formula. There are some very practical options, 2 in 1 for example, that will remove your makeup, but it contains tonic lotion too. The sensitive skin around the eyes needs special attention. It is very sensitive and more predisposed to immature wrinkles, so the area needs some cautious interventions. Remove the makeup of the eyes using a gentle remover, specially made for the eyes.

Also take special attention to the quality of the cotton pads – 100% cotton, fluffy and soft – and when you’re removing the eye makeup make sure you’re doing it with gentle motions to avoid skin irritation and redness.

It’s good to go to bed with your complexion clean, but skin shouldn’t be “squeaky clean” it should have some natural oils left behind – so don’t over-cleanse it, this may lead to serious dryness of the skin.