Valentine’s Day has a way of making everyone suddenly aware of what they’re wearing underneath their clothes. Even if you’re single. Even if you’re wearing sweatpants and hiding in your dorm. Even if your plans involve nothing more than avoiding Instagram posts and bingeing “Sex and the City.”
There’s something about Feb. 14 that makes lingerie feel unavoidable — whether you’re wearing it for someone else or yourself. Lingerie is personal, adaptable and endlessly fun. It’s sexy and intimate without needing an audience.
When we say “lingerie,” we’re usually talking about a few different things at once.
At one extreme, there’s the Brandy Melville vibe: soft cotton matching sets, ribbed tanks with bows and boy shorts finished with big buttons. Simple “girlish” pieces like these feel more like elevated pajamas than anything scandalous. Perfect for studying, lounging or pretending that you didn’t think twice about your panties when the sweats come off.
On the other hand, there’s what most people think of as “real lingerie”: lace bras, satin slips, corsets and all glamorous underthings à la Victoria’s Secret. Think structural pieces with underwire, padding or shiny finishes that are designed to look dramatic even under clothes. Victoria’s Secret turned lingerie into a kind of aspirational fantasy: runway-ready bras, glittery sets and the iconic Angel wings that were never about practicality.
Somewhere in between these archetypes lives a growing category of lingerie-as-fashion: delicate pieces you thrift, style and wear outside the bedroom. Here, lingerie becomes an intentional style choice, bringing the fun, girly sensuality of lingerie to the real world.
Lingerie didn’t start out as flirtation or fantasy. For centuries, it was about structure. Corsets and petticoats shaped the body, protected outer garments and signaled status. By the early 20th century, undergarments softened. Silk slips replaced heavy layers, camisoles lightened and lingerie started hinting at elegance. It wasn’t meant to be seen, but it also wasn’t meant to be hidden.
The 1990s changed everything. Slip dresses became the ultimate cool-girl uniform. Kate Moss strolling in Calvin Klein slips. Carolyn Bessette Kennedy’s understated satin silhouettes. Lingerie went from invisible to aspirational. Worn under a leather jacket, paired with low-rise jeans or layered over simple white tees, it blurred the line between private and public.
Runways never let lingerie disappear. Jean Paul Gaultier’s corsets-as-outerwear, Dolce & Gabbana’s lace motifs and Versace’s sheer layering are just a few examples. More recently, designers like Chloé and Michael Kors have been layering satin and showing slips in theatrical, yet wearable ways. These runway trends made lingerie feel both aspirational and accessible.
Textures matter too. It’s all about how it feels on you, not just how it looks. Cotton sets are cozy and comforting, while lace and delicate mesh feel playful, tactile and powerful. Even small details like a satin ribbon, a scalloped edge or a bow can change your mood.
Nothing feels classier than sliding into silk or satin after a long day of classes. Doing a 10-step skincare routine while wearing lingerie makes the ritual feel extra feminine.
Fashion icons have proved that lingerie can be outerwear time and time again. Hailey Bieber sat front-row at an Saint Laurent show wearing a pair of silk lace-trimmed shorts. Kendall Jenner was once even spotted pairing a sweater with nothing but underwear and tights. Lingerie has become a high-fashion tool for styling, a way to mix softness with structure.
Vintage and thrifted lingerie has amplified this trend with Gen Z. 90s silk slips, sheer camisoles, lace-trimmed nightgowns — pieces that once belonged in someone else’s private life now get a rebirth. Worn with boots, under oversized jackets or peeking out from sweaters, they feel nostalgic without being costumelike.
Pair a satin slip with sneakers, a denim jacket or your mom’s old cardigan, and suddenly your “bedroom only” piece is a date-night uniform. Utilize your black lacy bra by letting the straps peek out from an off-the-shoulder sweater. It completely elevates the outfit!
Valentine’s Day is the perfect excuse to play with it. Couples gift lingerie and lean into the fantasy. Those who are single do too, but differently. A matching set doesn’t require a partner and a slip dress doesn’t need an audience. Wearing it is about confidence and mood. Knowing you have pink lace underneath your oversized hoodie can make you feel hotter and encourage you to flirt with the world!
On campus, the duality is evident everywhere. There’s the soft, practical cotton set you don’t intend on showing anyone, or the deliberate satin ensemble you wear out intentionally. It’s a little extra attention and a lot more fun, whether someone else sees it or not.
What makes lingerie so enduring is its adaptability. It can be cozy or scandalous, minimal or dramatic. It can stay hidden or become the star of your outfit. It’s empowering. On Valentine’s Day or any other day, wearing something delicate, sensual and playful is an act of confidence.
Maybe that’s why we keep wearing it. Vintage slips, breathable cotton sets, flattering lace camisoles, unbearably tight corsets — lingerie adapts to every style, every era, every Valentine’s Day.
Long after the pink decorations disappear and the chocolates are gone, lingerie stays in our lives. In drawers, under baggy jeans, layered intentionally or worn out on the town, it keeps coming back. It’s particularly special on Valentine’s Day, but also a year-round reminder that a little flirtation never goes out of fashion.
Arna Churiwala believes lingerie works its magic under clothes — and over them.
