Monday, January 12, 2009

Ladies, do you match?

So, first, a HUGE thank-you to everyone who commented on my "Author Photo" entry. I admit I am totally shocked by your picks; I thought #4 was by far the worst of the bunch, that it made me look moon-faced and elderly. #3 was my favorite by far, followed by 2, then 1, then 4--which I really didn't like that much at all. So, quite a surprise, indeed. I'm not sure yet what I'm going to do; I keep thinking if we do one more round of photos I might hit The One.

But I will say that after years of hating the way I photographed I was very surprised by how nicely most of the pictures we took came out. And that made me feel pretty good.


Something else that's been making me feel pretty good lately is my expanding collection of matching bra-and-panty sets. (Yeah, I'm talking about my underwear, so? We're all adults here.)

Soo, for years I haven't really owned anything remotely like a matching set. Well, I have, I just never really wore them together. I have a couple of velvet bras the hubs bought me when we were engaged; they came with matching velvet boy-shorts, which were adorable but tended to be too warm under clothes (in South Florida, remember) and also tended to slip cown or bunch unattractively. I also bought myself a few sets, but the panties always seem to get worn out so much faster than the bras, in large part because while panties are washed after one wearing, bras aren't. (Again, c'mon. I can't be the only woman in the world who'll wear the same bra for several days. If I'm doing something where I'm sweaty of course I change it immediately, but for day-to-day use...I dunno, am I disgusting for this? It's just bras aren't cheap and I don't have that many.)

Anyway. Yes, I don't have many bras. So there's this new store in Barnstaple called La Senza, and they have really nice, inexpensive stuff. So because I'm low on bras I bought a couple. And because they were half-price and the panties were too, I've ended up buying several sets over the last couple of months. With the result that I know own like six matching bra-and-panty sets.

And it's pretty neat, I have to say. It's kind of fun to have matching stuff. It makes me feel like a grown-up. And they're so pretty! I bought this one, for example, which isn't usually my style but is just so cute. Or this one. And several more that aren't on the website; a pinstripe set (I love pinstripes); a bright baby blue set, a red satin set with black tulle over it, a red set with black stripes...and all so inexpensive!!

So while I'm not always matching (I still have some older bras I love, that don't have matching panties) these days I seem to match more often than not. And so I'm wondering. Ladies, do you match? Was I weird for not matching before? Am I weird for matching now? Men, what do you think? I've heard that men could care less, is that true?

A few other things:

Urban Fantasy Land is having a "Best of 2008" poll, with some neat categories, so go on over and vote. I am actually nominated, which is cool as hell, in the "Best Demons/Zombies" category, but as I'm in the running against Mark Henry, Richelle Mead and Jackie Kessler, in addition to Justine Musk (my new Twitter friend, which just about stunned me out of my shoes), Jenna Black, and Kat Richardson, I haven't the proverbial snowball's chance. But you know, it really is an honor just to be nominated, so I'm content. Anyway, go on over and vote!! Link to the poll! Let's get some numbers over there!

And when I say "Go over and vote" I mean vote for whomever. Do not vote for me unless you really are crazy enough to think I deserve to win more than those other great writers. As has been mentioned all over the internet in the last few weeks, the Preditors & Editors poll has begun, and while (again) it is very exciting to see my name in it--although I don't know if I am this year, I haven't looked, but I know someone nominated me last year and I actually ended up ranking fairly high--it really doesn't mean anything at all save who has the most buddies with the most dummy email accounts. I love P&E; I think Dave does great work there.

But the poll...ugh. No offense, but you cannot tell me that award is fair, or that the winners always make sense. I hate polls like that, which are nothing more than popularity contests or seeing who can best game the system. When the top tens are consistenly filled with books, publishers, and authors of whom no one has ever heard, something isn't right.

Also. Our buddy Psynde has a new pet, a really cool fighting fish whom she has named Terrible, after one of my Unholy Ghosts characters (I let Psynde have a sneaky peeky at the ms). "Stunned" does not begin to describe my reaction, no shit. This is probably the most exciting thing that's happened to me in my entire career; someone actually liked one of my characters so much they named a pet after him. That shit just doesn't happen to me.

Anyway, stop on over to Psynde's blog to take a look at Terrible in all his fishy glory and say hi to Psynde, and let's keep our fingers crossed that my horrendous luck with fish (every time I try to have one it dies within a few hours) doesn't extend to Terrible.

And I think that's it for today.

12 comments:

Qwill said...

I always match. I think this is because I have an older sister who helped me with lingerie, makeup, etc. when I was young. I care, so I'm not sure I care if men care! :) And lastly, everyone is entitled to match or not match - whatever makes them comfortable!

Charles Gramlich said...

I don't think Lana has a single matching set.

Seeley deBorn said...

For the most part, no. But I do try to colour coordinate.

Venus Vaughn said...

I used to have massive knockers. Now, thanks to the marvels of modern surgery, I have more sensible-sized knockers.

I tell you that to tell you this - for a good part of my life, matching B&P sets were not an option for me. I guess the manufacturers think that the very-well-endowed should be so grateful to find something that fits, they won't care about sexiness.

Now that I have the option, I go for matching as much as possible. In fact, I have a rule (mostly enacted to curtail my spending, but fun nonetheless), no bras without matching panties. And, if I have the option, I do buy two pairs of panties for each bra.

kirsten saell said...

That's totally cool about the fish named Terrible. We had one--he lasted about six months before he got fin-rot.

Cool about being nominated, too! Congrats!

As far as underwear goes, I don't match. The chances of me finding a bra my size with matching panties I can live with are...well, let's just say I'm hearing Mr. Spock's voice in my head right now, and he doesn't like the odds.

This is my bra--in a G34.

http://www.divabras.com/Products/Simone-Perele-131380-Andora-Minimizer-T-Shirt-Bras-from-France__131380.aspx

I will wear it until I die, or they stop making it.

Robyn said...

Venus, sing it. I have not had the surgery, and so matching sets are pretty much out of the question. I do try to match colors when I can.

Anonymous said...

I've bought the wife many matching sets and doubt any of them got more than one wearing as a matched set.

Stacia said...

Aw, Qwill, you're so feminine and stuff. :-)


Yeah, Charles, I didn't either, for years. It just has never been something I cared about. But now I'm finding it fun. :-)


I did try that on occasion, Seeley, but then, it's pretty easy for me as the vast majority of my stuff is black. :-)


Yeah, Venus, I've heard that complaint and it's just terrible. will say that though it does me no good at all, there does seem to be a wider variety of pretty bras for generously endowed ladies in England.
That is a fun rule! :-)

Stacia said...

Oh dear, kis. I hope that doesn't happen to Terrible the fish. I'd hate to think of something bad happening to him. :-(
Well, I'm glad you found one you like! Like I said above, shipping may be a pain in the ass etc, but it's worth a look at some UK sites like the one I linked to above. If you like you can have them shipped to me--at least for the next couple of months!--and I'll mail them across to you or mail them from the States when we get there.
Seriously. The offer is there.


See above, Robyn. I'm happy to accept packages and send them on their merry way.


Ah well. It is tricky to match everything. I'm not matching at the moment in fact. But at least you buy them for her which I'm sure she appreciates. :-)

Tyhitia Green said...

Ah, sometimes I match, but most times, nah. If it's clean, who cares?

My best friend harasses me about the matching thing. She's like, "What if you're in an accident?" I'm like, "Who cares? I'm more concerned about my health and not about some stupid color coordinated underwear for godsakes!" LOL.

You need to catch some bra sales. When you go back to Florida, check out JC Penney's if there's one near. They have good bra sales.
:-) And Victoria's Secret.

BTW, I liked pic #3 the best. :-)

Stacia said...

Hee. Tyhitia, I always wondered about that too. My mom is an ER nurse and I promise, they don't care what your underwear looks like!

Thanks for the vote! Funny, of my family and friends--people who know me in person--#3 is also the clear favorite. That probably means something.

Tyhitia Green said...

That means were supposed to be friends, didn't ya know? ;-)