Organize Your Lingerie Drawer for a Sexier You

Is your dresser crammed with uncomfortable bras, stretched-out panties and tangled hosiery? If so, it's time to take action. There’s no reason to hoard lingerie that has begun to fray or doesn’t fit. Get rid of those unflattering unmentionables, and don't mention them again. Summer is a sexy time of year, so don't celebrate it by being old droopy drawers. Here a few simple steps to start the streamlining process. 

Next, sort everything by category, making separate piles of bras, underpants, socks, hosiery, camisoles and sleepwear.

Now ruthlessly examine each of the piles. Jettison anything with tired elastic, holes, runs or pulled threads. Ditto any items you no longer wear because they pinch, itch, ride up, fall down or generally don’t match your lifestyle. Or maybe you still do wear them, and shouldn't. Be honest with yourself: If those lacy babydolls aren't your thing, 86 'em.

Once you've eliminated the articles you don't — or shouldn't — wear, it's time to make sure your lingerie wardrobe is balanced. (But before replacing any tattered garments, you might want to head to a reputable shop and have yourself measured if it's been a while.)

Here’s a breakdown of the essentials:
 

• T-shirt bra. A smooth-cup style, lightly lined or molded for a sleek look under clingy knits and cotton tops.

• Convertible bra. One with straps that can be rearranged to work under racer or halter styles, or removed for strapless looks.

• Demi bra. With wider-set straps and cups with a straighter line across the bust for more décolleté, but also to wear under square and scoop-neck tops. (Fuller-busted women might prefer a balcony or semi-demi style.)

If you wear a particular style of bra all the time, you should have several. Black, white and nude are staples, but don’t shy away from colors and hues, especially if you wear a lot of dark colors and opaque fabrics.

Stick to the cut you like best: bikini, brief, hipster or thong. Most women’s fit problems have to do with “bun coverage,” Nethero says. “Women tend to shift panties back to cover the bun, which just leads to wrinkling and riding up,” she explains. Instead of tugging, try a different size or cut — or maybe a different brand. And make sure the elastic is snug: If it’s loose at the leg, you’ll get wedgies; loose at the waist, the panties will slip down.

You may prefer to sleep in an old T and boxers, or your birthday suit, but you'll need suitable sleepwear — clean, free of holes and relatively modest — for when you are a guest in someone else’s home. Think pajamas, or a silky gown, and a robe to go with them. Stock up on a few variations with season and location in mind: The Hamptons in the summer, Aspen in the winter. . . 

Otherwise, quantity is up to you. If you like fresh jammies every night, then stock up.

Amanda Sullivan, owner of the Perfect Daughter, a business that specializes in “chaos control,” says the key to keeping drawers neat is access. “Think about what you reach for daily, and put it where it’s easy to get,” she says. “Then store it in a way that’s simple for you to maintain.”

Fold bras in half, tucking the straps into the cups, and spoon them in your drawer from front to back, placing everyday bras toward the front. “If you have a bra that you only wear with a specific garment, save drawer space and keep it with the top or dress it goes with,” Sullivan says. Keep bra-and-panty sets together; otherwise, maintain a separate drawer, or section of a drawer, for panties. Fold and sort them by style or color (you might consider making one stack black, white and beige; another, colors and prints).
 

Sullivan says a drawer for each category is ideal, but not everyone is blessed with a walk-in closet fitted with custom cabinets. To make the most of limited space, use drawer dividers and stash related items together. For example, if you sleep in T-shirts, there may be crossover between your bedtime Ts and your workout clothes, so keep them together.

And when you acquire new items, keep quantities under control by getting rid of old ones — all year around.

Katie Kretschmer is a freelance writer and editor who lives in New York and specializes in fashion.