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When it comes to basic colors for lingerie, what color comes to mind first? Black, white, or nude? If it were me, I'd choose white. White symbolizes purity and is also an easily accepted color that can match many outfits.

This article primarily discusses the advantages and disadvantages of white lingerie, as well as how to care for it. It's packed with details, and there's sure to be something unexpected for you.

The Origin of White Lingerie

 

Many people believe that pure white is achieved through bleaching, dyeing, or the addition of fluorescent agents, and that only a yellowish-white is the original color. Theoretically, this isn't wrong, but as for cotton, the main material for lingerie, its natural color is very white. Some decolorization treatment is not because the cotton isn't white enough, but because impurities such as cotton seeds, shells, and dust affect it. This is also why hand-picked cotton is more popular, as it has fewer impurities. However, due to the large domestic production and high efficiency of machine harvesting, hand-picked cotton is rarely used nowadays. If you need very white cotton fabric without color treatment, it's not impossible to achieve.

Silk, also a natural fabric, is inherently very white and even has a fluorescent bright white feel, with very few impurities, making it a fabric that almost doesn't need treatment to be white. Linen, on the other hand, is naturally grayish-yellow, and white requires decolorization treatment. Fortunately, linen is rarely used in lingerie.

In addition, as for synthetic materials, which are widely used, their natural colors are also white or transparent. Polyester is a milky white, and its white doesn't need much dyeing, but it won't be particularly white either. Its use in lingerie is very large, and basically, all non-lining parts must use it. Elastic fibers like spandex come in white, while the natural color of nylon used in straps is transparent and needs to be dyed to achieve white.

In summary, among the fabrics commonly used in lingerie, whether natural or synthetic, white is mostly a color that they inherently have, and the steps required for treatment are few. Synthetic fibers, many of which are extracted from wood pulp, such as modal used in lingerie, are naturally off-white or grayish-white, not very white, and require certain treatments to become pure white.

 

Advantages of White Lingerie

1. Less Likely to Cause Allergies

As mentioned earlier, because white fabrics do not use dyes but decolorizing agents, white fabrics or some light-colored fabrics are the least likely to cause allergies. Aromatic amines in dyes are a serious allergen for some people. If you are allergic to dyes, it may be due to aromatic amines. Natural materials or synthetic fibers, since most of their natural colors are white, are safe choices. They are basically pure white obtained after decolorization treatment, or even inherently white. Some fabrics' natural off-white or beige colors are also very safe.

However, since the white of many lingerie fabrics is not completely uniform, to ensure a high degree of color uniformity between fabrics, some processing may be carried out. For those with severe allergies, it is best to choose the original white or fabrics explicitly labeled as undyed.

 

2. Stain Resistant

White is the lightest color, so theoretically, it won't fade, which means no matter how many times it's washed, there's no need to worry about color changes. This means there won't be high requirements for detergents, and it's safest to wash white lingerie together without worrying about color bleeding.

However, when washed with other colored lingerie or clothes, it may be dyed, so it's best to wash white lingerie separately from darker colors. Many lingerie items are not recommended to be soaked for too long, one of the reasons being the fear of fading. White lingerie basically won't have this problem.

 

3. Matches Most Clothing Colors and Skin Tones

As one of the three basic colors, white lingerie can match most clothing colors and is a very versatile color. If you are a student, not keen on lingerie, or if your size is continuously increasing and you can't buy too many lingerie, white may be the best choice.

Moreover, white is not very demanding on skin tone. Many people may think that dark skin doesn't suit white, but in fact, white is not very demanding on skin tone. If pure white slightly shows off the dark skin, then off-white with a slight yellow tone or grayish-white will be much better.

White or near-white lingerie is a color that many people find most acceptable. Studies show that the color of lingerie can convey social information. Colors described as "young" include purple, yellow, and pink, while "old" colors include black, white, and grayish-white¹. If you want to give lingerie as a gift to someone, especially someone slightly older, white is also a relatively safe choice.

 

4. Cool in Summer

I think many people have experienced this: white clothing can reflect sunlight and reduce heat absorption, making it cooler than other colors, especially black. Although lingerie is worn on the inside, the fabric is not tightly woven and has pores, which also expose the lingerie to sunlight.

If you are a sports enthusiast who likes to wear sports lingerie for outdoor running, you can especially feel the different temperature experiences brought by different colored lingerie. It's summer now, and white lingerie can be cooler and more comfortable, making it a better choice.

 

5. Aesthetically Pleasing

Most white lingerie is basically not ugly. A lot of ugly lingerie is often due to the color coordination, and if white lingerie is ugly, it's usually related to the lingerie's own design style, not the color itself.

Of course, it's inevitable that white might be boring, but if designed well, white lingerie can also be very beautiful. If there's an unfamiliar brand and you're not sure if the color and style will look good when you get it, choosing white is generally the safest. The probability of not looking bad after buying it is higher than other colors. White also doesn't have to worry about color difference, and there will be fewer situations where you are disappointed after buying.

White lace lingerie is also very common, and it's a safe option. As long as the craftsmanship and fabric itself are not cheap, they are basically very eye-catching. Some lace may not be able to be dyed because of its fragile structure, and lace is usually white in its original color, so there are more white lace lingerie options. At the same time, white can highlight the texture of the lace itself and is not easily distracted by the color itself.

If you are not someone who loves to chase trends, or if you hope that the style of lingerie will not easily go out of style, white is also a very good choice. It is basically a style that will not be eliminated, and it will still look good after a long time. It is also because of this reason that if you want to choose different styles of lingerie, different types of lingerie to maintain the same color, whether it's sports lingerie or large size lingerie, then white may be the best choice. Because manufacturers will definitely include white when making lingerie. No matter what kind of lingerie you choose, white lingerie can basically be found.

 

Disadvantages of White Lingerie

1. Easily Yellows

 

Yellowing is inevitable for white lingerie. One reason is that some white fabrics are originally slightly yellow, and over time, their decolorization treatment becomes less effective, returning to their original color, which easily changes. The second is that lingerie encounters ultraviolet rays or long-term washing with detergents, and chemical reactions will inevitably occur, causing the fabric to yellow.

To slow down the yellowing of lingerie, use a milder lingerie detergent, wash with cold water, and avoid direct sunlight. Many white lingerie yellows because of the oxidation of residual detergents or sweat. You can soak it in water for a while and re-wash it with a detergent that is not easy to residue, which can also restore its original whiteness.

Many folk remedies use lemon, white vinegar, or baking soda. I personally understand that these things have too high an acid-base degree, so it's better not to use them.

Yellowing is inevitable, but since the lifespan of lingerie is not very long, it needs to be replaced after a while. So, with proper care, it can still maintain its whiteness and brightness before being discarded.

 

2. Not Suitable for Slightly See-Through White Clothes

Although white lingerie is basically versatile, it is helpless in front of white clothes themselves.

Of course, it's not that all whites are not suitable, but some slightly transparent whites, thinner white fabrics, may show the white of the lingerie. In severe cases, it may be like an X-ray, revealing the entire outline of the lingerie. Although I personally said that there is no need to worry too much about the trace of lingerie, if it is as obvious as an X-ray, it must be avoided.

Some school uniforms or work clothes may be white, and you can't change them yourself. At this time, you have to try to avoid white lingerie and choose nude colors.

 

3. Stains are Obvious

For most people, obvious stains may be a disadvantage. White lingerie may get dirty after wearing it for a while. Because of the structure of lingerie, it is not easy to clean the corners and edges, especially under the arms and the edge of the steel ring, which are easy to hide dirt. But I think this is also a double-edge d sword.

For people with cleanliness obsessions, obvious stains are an advantage. For those with cleanliness obsessions, white can well highlight the dirty traces after wearing lingerie, making it easier to clean.

Of course, for some people without cleanliness obsessions, this may also be a very serious disadvantage. Whether it hides dirt mainly depends on whether the fabric itself is easy to clean. In fact, the color itself has nothing to do with it, and white only plays a highlighting role. However, if white lingerie has hard-to-remove stains, it is also easy to clean with bleach, and there is no need to worry about fading. But remember not to use it on silk, as silk will be melted by bleach.

To avoid stains affecting the appearance of lingerie, timely cleaning is very important.