Drawer Etiquette
Joelle said in the early morning on May 14, 2008
Do you fold your underwear? I’m just curious. I’ve never really been a big underwear folder, though, in my defense, I’ve not had any bureaus or dressers in which to keep them folded for a decade. They’ve been living in various storage trunks and Rubbermaid yard-sale post-college contraptions. I decided to become a grown-up, so I recently bought some chests of drawers for my bedroom. And I have since discovered I’m ambivalent about how to handle my unmentionables.
Folding seems like such a hassle. They’re not that big. I’m not a thong-wearer (though I do own one or two for some unknown reason), but it’s not like they’re grandma’s bloomers, for pete’s sake. Yet, I noticed this weekend when I packed for my trip that when I folded my panties, I was able to fit more stuff in my suitcase, which leads me to believe the same applies to my drawer.
When I finally got my dresser and started to put away my clothes for the first time. I realized that my panty population had exploded like Mogwai after midnight and I had far, far, far more panties than one woman should really own. And not broken down, thread bare, saggy-butt panties, either. Decent knickers! Some lacey, some comfortable. Sexy ones, even… but many. Oh, so many. Huh. Where did they all come from?!
I suppose I could thin the herd a bit and toss the ones I don’t like/wear, but then after that… what? Fold? No fold? Just throw them in to mingle with the one-off socks and the get-lucky lingerie?
*sigh* 
Being a grown-up is hard.
Moxie Design Studios™
from Golden, CO
I always start off with the best of intentions, out of the dryer, fold, into the drawer. But a day or two later everything devolves into a disheveled mess. Eh.
from in yer pants
I never fold them. No point. (And I still have that orange, tie-dyed thong.)
from Tampa, FL
I am a folder. Not sure why, because in a day or so the drawer is in complete chaos.
*shrugs*
“Where did they all come from?!”
Perhaps your underwear drawer is the secret location for Phase 2 of the Underpants Gnomes’ 3-phase business plan.
And I’m a folder. If I don’t fold, and there is no order, I lose my fucking mind. I tried dumping it all in the drawer without folding once...I had to take it all out the next day and fold it up. Drove me nuts.
Ok, I have to admit, I’m not only a fold-er, I’m an organizer. I have two drawers for undergarments, and bras and panties share one drawer. so - bras are organized on one side, with those that are more function than form towards the front, those that are really just for show (and I would either fall out of or lose bloodflow) toward the back.
Panties are likewise organized into categories. I admit, I have one pile for “that time of the month” - you know - the ones with enough substance in the crotchal region to satisfy the needs of a “feminine napkin” (that term sounds better). Then the panties for “the rest of the month” get organized into sexy vs. just comfy, and then organized by color, because...um...I guess because I’m a little OCD.
You know, writing that all out, I think maybe I have a problem. Let’s not go into how I sort socks.
from Santa Barbara, CA
I’m a folder...there were a few times I tried to take the lazy way out and just toss them all in, and yea I couldn’t fit as many in. But besides that, do you know what pairs you own and sometimes feel like wearing a certain pair? Because sometimes I do, and when they aren’t folded I can never find a specific pair--it’s much easier to sift through when folded.
from panty drawer
Not a folder, either. It’s not like they get wrinkled!
from bremen, germany • Cocktail: gin & tonic
i recently went back to folding. we got bigger dressers so it seems like it makes more sense now and honestly, i just find them quicker now. my favorites are in the front row - not so favorite in the back. i have a few color-piles and style-piles [hipsters on hipsters and so on...]. so now i usually find the ones i want even when i can’t turn the light on in the morning because the man can sleep in, and i have to admit i kinda like it. sometimes i’m a nerd like that
from bremen, germany • Cocktail: gin & tonic
@tracy - your drawer sounds great to me so you’re not alone with your OCD there :D
When I was skinnier and had 30 (yes, that is not a typo) matching bra and panty sets from VS, I was a folder. Now that I have had to resort to “big girl” undies I no longer fold. I guess the fun is gone. Also (because nobody cares) I have never even tried a thong. Perhaps when I get skinnier again I will try--I know the thong has made many fannies happy.
from San Diego, CA • Cocktail: slightly dirty Grey Goose martini
Wow! More people fold their undies than I thought. Whenever I’ve folded, like some of you, I start off with good intentions, but then it quickly turns into this free-for-all. I’m more of an organizer, too, Tracy. I have all the sexy things on one side, bra and undies on one side and then socks crammed in wherever they’ll fit. lol
from West Palm Beach, FL • Cocktail: Champagne Bellini
Someone once told me:
“Life is too short to fold your underwear.”
So since I’ve heard that phrase, I stopped doing it. It’s a real time saver. Haha
from San Diego, CA • Cocktail: slightly dirty Grey Goose martini
@Kathy: dude, it IS. Not having to fold the undies? I just throw them straight from the basket into the drawer and close. The end.
“Let’s not go into how I sort socks.”
Tracy—I so want to know how you sort your socks. Seriously. Please.
If I don’t fold, I don’t know how many underwear I have left. And not knowing *that* drives me bonkers. It’s different for me, though, I think. Our underwear is materially more substantial.
I don’t know if I’m turned on or a little disturbed by this dialog.
from Tampa, FL
Argh. Tracy made me realize that I may have a problem. As I have my stuff sorted as she does, with the whole ‘period panties’ thing going on as well.
Hey, at least I know that I am not alone!!
LOL
And yeah, lets not get into the sock thing!
from Dallas
I have THREE drawers dedicated to underthings...yes, it is a sickness. I don’t shop for it that often...but, when I do, I hit the HUGE sales and usually come home with three or four large bags of lacy things.
The top drawer is for the matchy-matchy combos. You know, the ‘show and tell’ stuff. *wink*nudge* The bras are folded over the matching knickers and arranged by color and style. That way, I can find the most ‘appropriate’ attire for my little black dress or other special outfit.
The second drawer is for all of my other bras, folded over neatly and divided into styles...then color within styles.
The third drawer is knickers - - and I have so many it isn’t funny. I fold them over in half, then roll them up. Then, they are arranged by style (boyshorts, thongs, hipsters) and then by color WITHIN style.
Yes, I am one seriously OCD girl when it comes to underthings. Because, sometime you just HAVE to be able to find that black lace number within seconds.