I love to shop for shoes, clothes, accessories and home goods. However, shopping for underwear has proven in the past to be a painful experience. I draw on a memory of shopping for cute but sensible panties at a shop known for its undergarments (no names need to be mentioned). I frequent this shop, so I know what styles and what sizes perfectly fit my "junk in the trunk". Seeing that it was an annual sale and the dressing rooms were overflowing with customers, I decided to browse the bins and displays and find my items to purchase. Everything seemed to be going well. I had a bag full of pretty underthings, and then a store attendant appeared...the dark angel of undergarment shopping. She asked to help me, which I kindly said, "no, thank you." But she proceeded in trying to assist me. She said she noticed I was picking out size smalls...and after she gave me a quick up and down glance she said in a smug voice, "I think you should try our mediums." Appalled by her comment, I told her that I was quiet aware of my size and I have several of the same undergarments in size small at home. Granted, I was wearing baggy sweats and a hoodie, which made me appear a little amplified, but how dare she undermine my choice of purchases.

Feeling really perturbed, the attendant eventually got the hint and moved on to another customer. But, her comment lingered in the back of my mind. After what seemed to be an hour or so of agitatedly rifling through bins of thongs, briefs, boyshorts, etc., I gave in. I said "maybe she's right. Maybe I am a medium." I spent the next 15 minutes exchanging all my smalls for mediums and then proceeded to the cashier.

To my dismay, when I finally washed my purchases and set out for their first use, I found that all my undergarments were too big. They were too loose around the waist and sagging around my cheeks. Ugh! If only I remained confident in my initial size choice. So, lessons learned: Know your undergarment size. Know what styles and cuts work best for your figure. I found that the article, "Undergarmentology: A Guide to the Perfect Panty," would have helped me stay on the right path in this instance. If you have these undergarment woes, you, too, should read it. Good luck and happy shopping!