The Silver Lake boutique, Panty Raid, is celebrating their 5 year anniversary this year. In homage to their (under) wares, let us pay dues with a simple compare/contrast set-up.
Ambiance:
Victora Secret: Once they did away with the trashy-boudoir look of the 1990s (the red plush carpet, chandeliers, tassle lamps? I don’t 100% recall because the store frightened me as a child), they went for a cheap-bathroom type feeling, filled with high-gloss white “ceramic” tile, white formica tables, and vaulted ceilings. When one is looking for skivvies, VS apparently believes that a store should be about the same temperature as a meat locker.
Panty Raid: Small and inviting. Dimly lit. Delicate textures and colors. Small nooks filled with lace. Little to no white formica. Most importantly: warm.
Price:
VS: Specializing in both over-priced and bulk-buy underpants, an undergarment here can run anywhere between $5 and the price of a pair of decent shoes. The cotton undies seem worth it, because if you buy your undies from Wal-Mart, people can tell (it’s how you move, trust me). If it’s adorned with stuff, it’ll probably 1) fall apart and 2) chafe.
PR: You’re not gonna find cheapies here. Designer names are key– along with designer prices. A bottom-half starts around $13. Not the place to stock up, but a few pairs will be a nice splurge.
Wares:
VS: Addressed somewhat earlier. Almost everything is branded with some sort of VS logo. The Pink collection is particularly heinous, with playful words and phrases (and sometimes, sparkly crap) adorning your lady parts. Uncool. The lace is cheap and shreds if you don’t wash most of it by hand, which you will never do. The bra padding is fake-looking and lumpy. Nighties– the simple variety– are ok-ish.
PR: Really, buy anything (so long as you can afford it). Modal unders are trimed with delicate lace, that doesn’t come apart in the wash. The sexy boyshort silhouette prevails, with thongs being in the background. There are tanks and camis galore; most tops have matching bottoms. Size runs are a bit limited, because of the size of the store. Nighties, no matter what, are amazing. Almost nothing can be described as “trashy.” That’s what Frederick’s is for.
(Photo courtesy Panty Raid’s Myspace)
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3 responses so far ↓
1 Kendra // Jan 23, 2008 at 1:34 pm
i heart panty raid! great post.
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3 susie // Jun 29, 2008 at 12:01 pm
Disagree with your comment about Victoria’s Sceret. I’ve been wearing their bras, panties & lingerie since I was in highschool. I can tell to one thing if you take care of your lingerie they last forever. And i’m not talking wash by hand either. Some of you people have to talk lessons!!
Don’t make any comments if you don’t know what your talking about. Wouldn’t even step foot in Panty Raid. And I’ve even tried other expensive designer barnds as well
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