Lingerie Hitches Ride On Outerwear Wave

Today’s lingerie department is the grown-up girl’s candy store, with an unbelievable array of colors, styles and materials.

Say goodbye to those white cotton waist-highs and indulge yourself with a bra and panty set for every day of the week.

Now, let’s talk about underwear as outerwear.

What Nicole Miller did for men’s furnishings, Marie-Hlne Miller is doing for lingerie, creating sophisticated and whimsical designs.

This Varga girl print bustier and hot shorts set is such fun to wear, I was hard pressed to find a comparable set for more or less. More modest women may choose to keep this set under wraps or relegate it to poolside as a retro-look swimsuit. As evening wear, I’d suggest throwing a blazer over the bustier and showing just a flirtatious little.

This set is by Bamboo by Marie-Hlne Miller. Lingerie from her second division, Hlne, is the less expensive line. Check them both out.

Designer version

Varga print bustier by Bamboo by Marie-Hlne Miller, $29

Matching hot shorts, $28

Above items available at major department stores

Black suede ballet flats by Isaac Mizrahi, $195

Total: $252

Dress For Less version

Graphic print bra by Josie by Natori, $18.50

Black cotton bike shorts by Calvin Klein, $18

Black leather ballet flats by Just Libby, $44

Above items available at major department stores

Total: $80.50

MEMO: Dress for Less runs weekly on Choices. All bargains featured in this column are available in book form. Send $9.95 to Dress For Less, 177 Sound Beach Ave., Suite 6, Old Greenwich, CT 06870.