fancy underthings with brook there.

January 26, 2016

brook_there_reading_my_tea_leaves_IMG_3963This post is sponsored by Brook There, a sustainable clothing and lingerie company selling garments that are designed, cut, and sewn in the United States.

Sometimes you need fancy underthings; impending holidays loosely related to love notwithstanding.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: there’s something about a matching set of bra and underwear that just do a body good. Or, perhaps more to the point, they do a mind good. And at this time of year, fancy underthings are at least twice as magical as they are in the warmer months. At the time of writing, I’m sitting freezing near to death in a cafe. I have yet to take off my hat or scarf. My ears are starting to ache from the particular tyranny of wearing a hat all day long. I’m wearing wool sweatpants and thick socks tucked into my boots. I’ve got on a camisole and a long-sleeved t-shirt. Everything’s covered up by a blanket of a sweater. As my mom would say: It’s quite a look. And I admit I’d feel frumpy if not for the fact that I’m wearing the matching little duo you see above underneath it all. 

I’m the first to admit that I’m a romantic, but my love affair with matching underwear has everything to do with me and nothing to do with making myself appealing to a Valentine or anyone else (happy accident is all that is). A matching set of underwear is a secret, you see. It’s a private little thing to grin about while ordering a slice of pizza or standing in line at the post office. I might look like a disheveled worker bee hunkered in this freezing cafe, but actually I’m a hot little mama with matching silk undies. See?

Loving on myself and personal enthusiasm for matching lingerie aside, it’s clear that not all of these fancy things are created equal. The offerings in the Maine-based Brook There shop make a particularly lovely choice if you’re in the market for a little something new. Brook There lingerie is designed by owner Brook DeLorme, and cut, and sewn in the United States—from organic, US-milled cotton when possible. They take their dedication to sustainable fashion seriously. You can read more about the Brook There ethics and fabric choices, right here. And here’s a little more about three of their most popular styles right this minute:brook_there_reading_my_tea_leaves_IMG_3837The Lilac and Black Lace Organic Cotton Lingerie Set is sexy without being cheesy; sweet but not saccharine. brook_there_reading_my_tea_leaves_IMG_3846The organic cotton fabric made with with 6% spandex is soft as can be and stretchy enough to be comfortable, but not baggy. The bra straps are thick and substantial enough to feel practical without looking only utilitarian. brook_there_reading_my_tea_leaves_IMG_3857Next up, the Tub Dye Blue Organic Cotton Triangle Set Lingerie acts as a bright spot in the dreary winter. (Talk about a little secret underneath all those layers.)brook_there_reading_my_tea_leaves_IMG_3870Brook hand-dyes the organic cotton fabric in her studio in Maine before sending it to Massachusetts to be cut and sewn. The double-layer cups provide extra support.brook_there_reading_my_tea_leaves_IMG_3882If you’ll allow me to play favorites for a minute, the Black Alchemy Organic Lingerie Set would be my choice. The old-fashioned, full-coverage cut of the bottoms and the little bits of silk strike just the right old-timey starlet note for me. No surprise, I love the understated neutrals.brook_there_reading_my_tea_leaves_IMG_3938And just for you: Brook There is offering Reading My Tea Leaves readers a whopping 30% off with the code VALENTINE30RMTL. The code expires on February 2, 2016. You might not be able to tuck away your woolens just yet, but damned if you can’t still feel sexy.

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10 Comments

  • Reply Mary Kate January 26, 2016 at 12:53 pm

    Looks dreamy, but does anyone know how the support is for the larger-chested? I’d love to get away from underwire but there are very few bras that provide enough support to get away with that!

    • Reply Erin Boyle January 26, 2016 at 4:11 pm

      Hi there! You should definitely be in touch with Brook There! They can help you out with specific questions about fit and sizing that might work for you!

    • Reply Heather January 27, 2016 at 1:36 am

      I looked at their site (because these did look beautiful), but they have a very limited size range. The cup sizes are A/B, B/C, or C/D and bands are 32, 34, or 36. I would say these are not designed with larger-chested women in mind. I know I’m not in that size range. Which is a shame because some of us bustier (or curvier) women would like matching environmentally friendly undies too. 🙁 Until someone comes out with the an organic minimizer, I’m stuck with traditional choices. I would love the tub dyed blue set though. I’m a sucker for things that remind me of the sky.

      • Reply Erin Boyle January 27, 2016 at 9:18 am

        Sorry these aren’t the right fit for you!

    • Reply s December 6, 2019 at 10:37 am

      I know this is late in the thread, but in case others are reading this thread for information on Brook There bras, the definitive answer is: absolutely not. I wear a 32D, and ordered the 32C/D. It was woefully insufficient in providing and support. Straps were too stretchy, not enough fabric to cover breast tissue, etc. And you would never know this since the models they use are all size A/B cup–all of them it appears. This bra will look nothing like it does on the models if you have a D cup, or even a not-firm C cup, in my opinion. And returns are somewhat a nightmare. They received my return 3 weeks ago and have yet to send any notification that they even received it. All for a rather expensive bra, I might add, that provided zero support. I wanted it to work so badly, and thought with the extra structure (their pixie bra, not pictured here) and sizing it would. Definite no.

    • Reply Mira October 29, 2023 at 11:48 pm

      Hard no. I know this is an old thread but I tried their most supportive (pixy) bra and it’s laughable. I wear a 32d/dd and it was a total waste of money. And they don’t take returns….. so $70 literally down the drain. Notice how every single model for them either has augmentation (i.e. doesn’t actually need support) or has an A/B cup. I’d like to see someone with a solid, natural and average 36D/38D wearing one of their bras.

  • Reply Natalie January 28, 2016 at 10:33 am

    So grateful for the discount! I probably wouldn’t have taken the jump and ordered a set without it, and now I am so excited! I’ve wanted to get a nice, well made set of lingerie for years now (as opposed to the offhand purchase of a bra here and a couple pairs of underwear there when things needed to be replaced). I went with the Midnight Muse Organic Lingerie Set and I can’t wait for it to get here!

    • Reply Erin Boyle January 28, 2016 at 2:05 pm

      So glad to hear it! Midnight Muse! Perfect.

  • Reply ER October 17, 2018 at 11:26 am

    I, too, hated Brook There. Underwear was as soft as cardboard. Customer service offered zero help. Avoid them at all costs!

    • Reply ERIN BOYLE October 17, 2018 at 11:31 am

      Fascinated by this review. Not at all true to my experience!

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