Lacy on a Sunday Afternoon
This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.
When it’s just too cold to leave the house, sitting around in heavy sweats can make you feel like you’ve added extra pounds. Lounging around in colorful lingerie, however, is all about feeling body confident. The popular label Eberjey makes a lively version of those traditional red long johns – red-and-white striped cami and tap pants ($94) – that will do the trick (Laina Jane, 45 Christopher St., 212-727-7032 or www.eberjey.com). And Cosabella – which is perhaps best known for its mesh thongs – offers silky smooth camisoles and cropped pants in pretty prints ($40 and up) that are perfect for settling in at home. (For availability, visitwww.cosabella.com).
If you want to slip something sexy under your woolen layers when you’re out, the girls behind Belabumbum (pronounced “bela boom boom”) can help. Belabumbum is the brainchild of college mates Heidi Rauch and Alyssa Weiss, who both ditched their initial careers. “I was a serious U.N.-style diplomat,” Ms. Rauch said. “[Ms. Weiss] was doing improv comedy at the time, and I wished I could just quit my job and sell underwear.”
Part of Ms. Rauch’s work included a stay in Latin America, where she came to favor the cuts of lingerie, especially as related to the derriere. With Ms. Weiss, she launched Belabumbum, meaning “beautiful bottom” in Portuguese, to do for the backside what the push-up bra did for the front.
Belabumbum’s signature Copacabana line is a mix of soft stretch laces in a variety of colors. Styles like boy shorts and bralettes can be mixed and matched ($14 to $64 at Azaleas, 223 E. 10th St., 212-253-5484, and other locations). “We do a lot of lace silhouettes. All the camis we make have built-in support – the kind of thing you can wear as lingerie or put under a cardigan,” Ms. Rauch said.
Belabumbum Baby allows new moms and moms-to-be to feel sexy with feminine nursing bras, maternity thongs, and other functional separates. “Alyssa’s pregnancy was a big influence on why we went in that direction. We do a lot of loungewear and tops that are built to nurse in. You can nurse discreetly and still look cute,” Ms. Rauch said.
