spring clean your lingerie closet + sex room to turn yourself back on
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time to read 4 min
hotter sex (and style) starts with your lingerie closet + toys
Most of us aren't tired of sex. We're just tired of our usual suspects: same positions, same routines, same lingerie, same toys.
Think of your lingerie closet like a time capsule. Open yours and you'll probably find at least one thing you haven't worn in years, another thing you forgot you owned and maybe a few relics from a lover you'd rather not invite back into the conversation.
But if your lingerie, toys and sex life are running on autopilot, chances are high your appetite has already moved on. See what's worth reviving and what's ready for retirement.
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rediscover lingerie + sex toys that deserve a second life
shop your own nightstand
whether you're talking sex toys or lingerie sets consider the ones that no longer light your fire... can you discover hot new ways to play?
add a charge
go on a recon mission for all the sex toys buried in your playbox that just need to be charged. plug in and give them new life.
book a play date
with vibrators that have settings you haven’t explored yet. can you find a use case for that rapid-fire, random pulse setting that feels like it's fighting for its life? worth a shot.
get handy
that sex swing isn't going to assemble itself. hunt down everything still living in its original packaging and get on it.
leave temptation where you can see it
crystal wands, plugs or other playthings that double as objets d’art? display them to add a little fire to the ambiance and keep playtime at your fingertips.
release your catsuit from captivity
Catsuits aren't just for role play anymore. While it's been sitting in your closet waiting for the right lover, the right night or the right reason, it's Tuesday and you're alive. Dress accordingly.
turn toys into jewelry
dust off that gold vibrator necklace or that cock ring cuff and style them for play outside the bedroom.
assume a new position
if you've got a go-to sex position that's not doing it for you, it's probably time to look into other options. new angles, new props, new toys, new partners. even better, shop for a new one.
try a new routine
if your foreplay game is basically a rerun from last week's episode "wake me when it's over," add a blindfold, an ice cube, a playlist. resuscitate if possible.
see what your alter ego likes
your alter ego shops and styles differently. let her test drive those sky-high, fuck-off heels and that saucy little flogger. let her dare your body to find new levels of pleasure (or get clear on your "no thanks").
keep the pieces that cause trouble
If your lingerie drawer is full of sensible options, you might need a new strategy. Rethink the pieces that make you strut hard, flirt harder and completely throw your evening plans. Panties that unzip. Stockings with exposed toes. Heels that are completely impractical. The things that not just have a pulse, they charge yours.
retire toys or lingerie you can't save
create new memories
anything that reminds you of an ex that deserves zero mind time, whether it’s a toy, tool, playlist, chemise or cuffs? byeeee.
know when to let go
inventory all your lingerie. anything that shows signs of color fade or too much wear + tears, introduce them to your nearest recycling program.
see if it's still good
anything that’s past its expiration date — lubes, condoms, lovers (kidding…ish) — need to retire.
refuse to settle
think, that once gorgeous kimono, those six-inch-heels with a broken buckle, those thigh-high boots that no longer hug your thighs… you’re ready for an upgrade.
do a visual check
have your toys seen better plays days? no one wants a banged-up toy when they're banging. say goodbye and don't look back.
remember who you are
if you're not the same person who bought that lavender chemise, why do you still have it?
invest in at least one "that's not me"
That erotic part of you who loves to play and explore isn't always the one doing the shopping. Dress her up and let her out to play even if she's just styling a layering piece like gold-plated pasties.
make room for your next obsession
grab some skills
life's too short to be using the same hand tricks you learned in college. make your skills match your fantasies with a workshop you can Google in minutes.
visit a sex shop with no agenda
hit up your friendly neighborhood sex store to explore new possibilities, chat with an expert on staff or get ideas that unpeel new layers of you.
find heels that ruin your concentration
hunt down heels so insanely hot you give yourself a foot fetish.
book a class that changes your walk
pole. burlesque. dance. movement. anything that follows you home
kink up your decor
make the room complicit. furniture. pillows. restraints. if your bedroom looks like it's got its own stories, you're doing it right.
never under-estimate your stockings
thigh highs, garter belts, leg ties, straps, bands, restraints… make every day your sexiest leg day on record.
your lingerie closet should be as interesting as your imagination. is it there yet?
stock your closet with luxury lingerie
pair new lingerie with sexy reads
claire coghlan
claire coghlan is an award-winning editor, author, speaker, ghostwriter + writer for New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Vanity Fair, Vogue, Forbes, InStyle, Women's Wear Daily and more.
