Underwear

[Smuttyandfun]

I usually refer to ladies underpants as panties, a thong, or just a scrap of lace. The men in my stories usually wear boxers, though once or twice I referred to them as underwear.

 

[EmilyMiller]

If the text reads "she was wearing nothing but underwear," do you picture a woman in bra and panties or just in panties?

Bra a panties (maybe other things as well depending on context) but definitely bra and panties. I have no problem with the use of “but” in the sentence as well.

Em

 

[AwkwardlySet]

Bra and panties, but I also claim my exclusive right to imagine that underwear the way I want, which is some lacy thong and a bra that doesn't hide much

 

[MillieDynamite]

Camisole and French cut panties, no bra. All lacey and feminine. Yeah, that's how I like Jo, so that's how we roll.

 

[EmilyMiller]

Camisole and French cut panties, no bra. All lacey and feminine. Yeah, that's how I like Jo, so that's how we roll.

Sounds lovely

 

[Euphony]

I'm not saying there aren't situations where the delineation is critically important but it feels few and far between.

Readers are going to breeze past with no serious thought, hunting for more usual bigger narrative game or just rely on future author context clearing up any minutia fog as needed.

The statement as it reads and left to standalone (if it is required to do heavy narrative lifting) seems troublesome.

If it is not, then it's needless fixation which is a cousin of procrastination.

You can write the scene more traditionally with just a touch more supporting context then, if it still feels absolutely necessary, cut it to only the supporting standing bones in revision.

That gives you the macro view and ability to move pieces around.

Think of it like trying to plot chess moves with a full board and pieces in front of you v. trying to script moves and counters only in your head.

Give yourself every advantage.

 

[MillieDynamite]

The question isn't how we write the details. The question is, how do we fill it in with our own minds. This isn't a writing question; it's a personal preference question.

I'm not saying there aren't situations where the delineation is critically important but it feels few and far between.

Readers are going to breeze past with no serious thought, hunting for more usual bigger narrative game or just rely on future author context clearing up any minutia fog as needed.

The statement as it reads and left to standalone (if it is required to do heavy narrative lifting) seems troublesome.

If it is not, then it's needless fixation which is a cousin of procrastination.

You can write the scene more traditionally with just a touch more supporting context then, if it still feels absolutely necessary, cut it to only the supporting standing bones in revision.

That gives you the macro view and ability to move pieces around.

Think of it like trying to plot chess moves with a full board and pieces in front of you v. trying to script moves and counters only in your head.

Give yourself every advantage.

 

[AG31]

Bra and panties, probably. If it was just panties, I'd expect use of panties, or knickers from the Brit folk.

"Panties" is an automatic turnoff for me. I've learned to live with it, if the rest of the story's tone is OK.

To answer the question, context would dictate whether she was just wearing or underpants, or underpants and a bra. Knickers is just fine. I wish we had an analogue in the U.S.

 

[Euphony]

The question isn't how we write the details. The question is, how do we fill it in with our own minds. This isn't a writing question; it's a personal preference question.

Fair.

But then this thread is nothing but a poll of personal preferences which is fine.

When someone posts something to the AH, I think it's fair to assume it leans more a writing question (how to best express the idea through as few words as necessary) than sexual picadillos talk.

We DO have a fetish forum for everyone to check in on their personal sexual likes and understandings if that's all the OP is looking for.

 

[MillieDynamite]

Also true, but we talk about personal preferences all the time. What puts you off a story is one example. Also, our writing method isn't strictly about writing. Nor is the coffee shop and reading room, What are you Listening to, and so forth and so on. I am a minimalist in character description, painting with a broad stroke and allowing the reader to fill in his preference. However, the line given is very spartan in details and might leave a little to much for the reader.

Fair.

But then this thread is nothing but a poll of personal preferences which is fine.

When someone posts something to the AH, I think it's fair to assume it leans more a writing question (how to best express the idea through as few words as necessary) than sexual picadillos talk.

We DO have a fetish forum for everyone to check in on their personal sexual likes and understandings if that's all the OP is looking for.

 

[MillieDynamite]

She wore a pair of French cut frillies.

"Panties" is an automatic turnoff for me. I've learned to live with it, if the rest of the story's tone is OK.

To answer the question, context would dictate whether she was just wearing or underpants, or underpants and a bra. Knickers is just fine. I wish we had an analogue in the U.S.

 

[Euphony]

However, the line given is very spartan in details

Which is why I suggested more context with the caveat of, if the author was 100% committed to spartan prose, flesh it out more, cut away until you have just enough to keep it barely standing.

and might leave a little to much for the reader.

I honestly have no idea why we are debating the pedantics of where the just personal preferences line ends and the writing considerations begin other than my being publicly addressed for having a differing line than you.

Weirder still not just allowing very capable AH readers to decide for themselves what this thread is or isn't and pick and choose what they themselves find relevant.

Seems all very unnecessary.

 

[stickygirl]

Underwear makes it sound like a police report - it's gender free.
Cami and nicks for a UK version

Panties sound like the big things you wore on your first date because didn't think you'd get laid and they're comfy. But that's culture n language innit? Same with 'baby-girl' which has me reaching for a rape alarm.

 

[Kelliezgirl]

Underwear makes it sound like a police report - it's gender free.
Cami and nicks for a UK version

Panties sound like the big things you wore on your first date because didn't think you'd get laid and they're comfy. But that's culture n language innit? Same with 'baby-girl' which has me reaching for a rape alarm.

Agree on that "baby-girl" thing. Total creeper vibe.

 

[MillieDynamite]

I'm not arguing with you. Only giving my opinion.

Which is why I suggested more context with the caveat of, if the author was 100% committed to spartan prose, flesh it out more, cut away until you have just enough to keep it barely standing.

I honestly have no idea why we are debating the pedantics of where the just personal preferences line ends and the writing considerations begin other than my being publicly addressed for having a differing line than you.

Weirder still not just allowing very capable AH readers to decide for themselves what this thread is or isn't and pick and choose what they themselves find relevant.

Seems all very unnecessary.

 

[theWollstonecraftWoman]

I neither care about what the woman is or isn't wearing, what her shape is, or if she has auburn hair. Therefore, I skip over this looking for something about the man. If the description of the man is equally lifeless, I'll skip the story.

 

[ElectricBlue]

Which is why I suggested more context with the caveat of, if the author was 100% committed to spartan prose, flesh it out more, cut away until you have just enough to keep it barely standing.

I honestly have no idea why we are debating the pedantics of where the just personal preferences line ends and the writing considerations begin other than my being publicly addressed for having a differing line than you.

Weirder still not just allowing very capable AH readers to decide for themselves what this thread is or isn't and pick and choose what they themselves find relevant.

Seems all very unnecessary.

It's getting your knickers in a twist, innit? But then, Americans don't do that so much, coz knickers don't seem to be the thing over there.

Here in Australia, we get the additional options (some of which have been mentioned already) of knicks, frillies, lacies, and undies. The last one, of course, leads directly to Reg Grundies, which is rhyming slang.

Australians are a romantic lot, as you can see from that last cultural curiosity.

 

[Euphony]

It's getting your knickers in a twist, innit? But then, Americans don't do that so much, coz knickers don't seem to be the thing over there.

Here in Australia, we get the additional options (some of which have been mentioned already) of knicks, frillies, lacies, and undies. The last one, of course, leads directly to Reg Grundies, which is rhyming slang.

Australians are a romantic lot, as you can see from that last cultural curiosity.

The context of "seems all very unnecessary" was the points addressed right above it. My other posts even support authors rough drafting excess context and pairing down in revision if they feel it best. Opposite of having a garment terminology discussions issue.

I guess you just really wanted to tell that joke?

 

[stickygirl]

Wouldn't simply be easier to say she was naked?
If we were all naked women wouldn't have to stress about clothes and men could put their money where their mouth is.

 

[MillieDynamite]

He was saying that my opinion of where it should or shouldn't be posted was unnecessary; he had already determined that if this was a personal preference thing it didn't belong here.

It's getting your knickers in a twist, innit? But then, Americans don't do that so much, coz knickers don't seem to be the thing over there.

Here in Australia, we get the additional options (some of which have been mentioned already) of knicks, frillies, lacies, and undies. The last one, of course, leads directly to Reg Grundies, which is rhyming slang.

Australians are a romantic lot, as you can see from that last cultural curiosity.

 

[ElectricBlue]

He was saying that my opinion of where it should or shouldn't be posted was unnecessary; he had already determined that if this was a personal preference thing it didn't belong here.

No, I wasn't saying anything about any one person, or where anything belonged, or anything with animosity at all. It was merely to chuck in the Australianism, and to add the Ref Grundies thing. Don't take stuff so personally, Millie - I wasn't responding to your post, and I wasn't referring to your opinion. Your comment above is your words, not mine, and your interpretation is wrong.

 

[Euphony]

he had already determined that if this was a personal preference thing it didn't belong here.

Absolutely not and the key wiff on our disagreement.

But then this thread is nothing but a poll of personal preferences which is fine.

which is fine = free to exist. As my post on possible writing considerations in case anyone was thinking in those terms *should* have been.

And confused you may have misunderstood my meaning when it was anything but I said....

Weirder still not just allowing very capable AH readers to decide for themselves what this thread is or isn't and pick and choose what they themselves find relevant.

I just don't see how any of my post are pro censorship.

 

[MillieDynamite]

Not you @ElectricBlue, @Euphony. I have no idea what @Euphony means by a Key wiff. I wasn't assuming we had a disagreement at all—just a failure of opinion alignment.

 

[Trionyx]

OK, everyone, pull up your big girl panties and …

Sorry, I just had to.

 

[bestkeptsecret678]

I would probably, unless context made me think differently, assume that underwear meant just panties.

If she were wearing just her bra I wouldn't say "She's wearing just underwear." I'd say "She's wearing just her bra."

Wearing only underwear = panties

Wearing only undergarments = bra & panties, notwithstanding the time period, as they could be bloomers