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STYLE MATTERS: Women's underwear sales support the economy

By Judie Schwartz & Evelinda Urman, Special to the Rocky

Published January 31, 2008 at 12:05 a.m.

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Style Matters: Here's a roundup of some interesting fashion news that's come across our desk.

* Underwear by the numbers: According to Allure magazine, underwear drives the national and global economy. In 2003, American women bought 894 million pairs of underwear. That's a lot of panties. In 2002, French women spent an average of 18 percent of their annual clothing budget on lingerie. Mon Dieu!

* Men in girdles: Let's face the bloated facts: Belts are losing the battle when it comes to containing male beer bellies. Unlike women, men have few options other than sucking it up, and we know that doesn't work for long. Leave it to the Wacoal company to come up with a men's girdle, which they call "exercise wear." Dubbed the exwalker, the company claims it is not a girdle, but a health product. Men who wear the girdle are forced to take longer strides, thus supposedly burning more calories while toning their thighs and hips. Right. Of course, you are talking to the women who bought Slimquick-Turbo Cell Shorts, a garment that was supposed to eliminate cellulite and reshape the waistline.

* Block that lotion: We Coloradans know the importance of slathering on sunscreen. But according to InStyle magazine, certain products can reduce the effectiveness of sun- block ingredients. For example, using DEET, a popular bug-repellent ingredient, with the lotion can break down the active components, so consider switching to a DEET-free formula. Sunscreens work by interacting with the skin, so don't apply creams or lotions under the sunblock. These products form a barrier.

* It's a boot; no, it's a sandal: For the woman who has everything, including a low tolerance for waiting around the nail salon for pedicures to dry in the winter, how about a pair of Bootie Pies? These faux-sheepskin-lined boots eliminate wait time thanks to their collapsible patent leather tips. Feet stay warm while exposed toes dry, $128. Bootiepies.com

* Snapping up gift cards: According to an article in The New Yorker, the National Retail Federation estimates Americans purchased nearly $25 billion in gift cards in 2007. But who really benefits the most from gift cards? We argue it's the merchants because recipients usually spend more than the amount of the card. Stores have a name for this phenomenon: "uplifting" spending.

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