In “the old days” I used to trot along to Marks and Spencer’s when I needed new knickers and could buy a pair, or pack of pairs in a single colour to go with my other underwear.
For some time now, I have only find two options - buying staggeringly expensive single pairs designed to match other lingerie bought at the same time, or buy a multi-pack, only one pair of which will approximate to the colour I want.
I thought this was a French thing but looking at Marks and Spencer, John Lewis and even Sainbury’s on line, it seem that the same practice pertains there.
What do other women do? Just wear non-matching underwear and not care about getting run over by a bus???
I have some matching sets that are only ever worn when I go to the doctors, etc. The rest of the time I “harmonise” rather than match. But M&S knickers have changed. I bought a pack when last in London and they have changed the cut of them so no longer a perfect fit.
I now get bras from proper shop as have discovered that to get one fitted is a nice luxury, so get a two pairs of the matching knickers too. And can augment as needed with “harmonising” ones
Interestingly (or not), it’s not a pair in Dutch, it’s simply een onderbroek or an undertrouser.
I suppose much like un pantalon in French for a pair of trousers. I feel a delve into etymology coming on.
I suspect the pair comes from leg parts originally being separate (you can see this in older paintings - hose perhaps?) that were attached to the top section.
I agree, M&S was my go-to for centuries but the quality of their stuff has gone down markedly. I’m resigned to accepting French prices and now buy packs of knickers in my local Leclerc. Never gone for the frilly / girly / matching bra and pants look - good functional white suits me and in my Leclerc there are packs of white ribbed pants that fit really well because they hug the body - and can be washed at high temperatures.
I did mention it was for women and I used the term “knickers” which is rarely used for men’s underwear I think…
That’s what I was trying to do but I can’t find any- only these ghastly multi-packs with 3 or 5 in, only one of which is anything like the colour that would harmonise
That’s exactly the kind of thing I could do with but haven’t found - but then it never occurred to me to try Leclerc! Do they have other colours at all?
They have quite a large lingerie section in our (quite large) Leclerc so certainly they do a variety of colours - sorry, never noticed though whether the style I buy comes in other colours as I always grab the white ones.
Lidl do underwear from time to time, but I’ve no idea about their quality.
Lidl.
Not the quality Marks & Spencer used to have but a good source of packs mixed or plain colours - reviews are reliable to find the better ones - and the odd matching tops and bottoms sets while taking time to look for something else.
Products always online, either wait for free ship offer as it’s flat rate 5 euros in .fr (occasionally less collect from local shop with Mondial Relay or drop box), or sign up for their newsletter on a “get 5 euros for that” offer.
Tried the mixed ones - poor quality and suffer from the “only oneof them is a colour I could use” problem Never managed to find packs of all the same colour though…
Will give Leclerc a go - anyone got any other suggestions?
Hi Angela, my ‘go to’ knicker supplier is currently Auchan, fortunately there is a huge store ( Châteauroux 36 ) approx 40 minutes away from me (Creuse 23). There I can find the black / nude shades sold in threes which are seam free
All the supermarkets with varying availability of brands eg Dim or Sloggi or Petit Bateau, hangar shops like Kiabi, and then standalone shops like Etam, Princesse tam tam etc. Also check out your local specialist who prob stocks Aubade and all sorts of nice brands. There’s a very nice underwear and pyjama and peignoir shop in Bergerac called La Pince à Linge.
Lidl have nice fabric bio cotton knickers etc but always in size 52 so I have never bought any there. Their baby vests are marvellous though.
Thank you so much for the suggestions @Dawnt , @KarenLot and @vero . I shall have a look at these places. My local specialist shop, where I got the bras and a couple of pairs of very expensive knickers, didn’t seem to have Aubade but I was in a bit of a rush, so will go back and check.
I do like my annual visit to local lingerie shop. It is like being transported to another world as shop is basically same as in 1950 ( the merchandise isn’t thankfully) and they are very lovely and cosseting. I have found that things have changed as I age and my basic M&S stuff no longer performs as it needs to, and I was wearing totally the wrong size!
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Never managed to find packs of all the same colour though…