Have you bought anything from Ann Summers? What products would you recommend?

[TinaMumsnet]

Hi everyone,

We're looking to gauge general interest in Ann Summers and would love to hear about the products you've tried, thoroughly tested and would recommend to others.

The brand have also expanded their collection to include a maternity and nursing range, so we'd love to hear your thoughts on this too. Are there any pieces you think would be particularly good for expectant/new mums?

Thanks in advance for your suggestions!

@SalaciousCrumble complete with 'can we seduce you?' at the bottom of the page!

This thread reminded me of a lovely poem I think every woman should read:

I Threw Out All My Pants Today

I threw out all my pants today.

I did not like them anyway.

They were too tiny for my arse,

I’ve set my bottom free at last

It’s time to let my derriere

get loose and let it get some air

because, to tackle tasks with ease

your vulva needs a steady breeze.

Acrylic, nylon, polyester,

stuff that lets infections fester;

if it’s designed by blokes and chaps

it is not healthy for your flaps.

I do not know why anyone

would want to have a hungry bum

and spend, oh, twenty quid a go

on things that give you camel toe.

I’ve swapped my high leg, low rise lace,

my itchy guts, my squinty face,

for pants extending up my torso –

like a sturdy vest, but more so.

They come in packs of five, or triples,

they nestle underneath my nipples.

They are not made of see through netting,

they mop up when my boobs are sweating.

The question that we all should ask

is – Are these pants that multi-task?

and

Is it really underwear

if you can’t keep your keys in there?

I cannot run or dance or laugh

with my butt cheeks cut in half.

I cannot argue or clap back

with knickers half way up my crack

I can’t think clearly, I am edgy

when I have a giant wedgie.

These times are tough, resolve must harden

so be kind to your lady garden.

Be kind to yourself, full stop.

And let your body flow and flop

all over rigid patriarchy.

I’ve had it with this ‘should’ malarkey:

‘Should’ and ‘must’ can take a hike –

I’ll wear the fucking pants I like.

I haven't bought underwear from AS for a long time, I liked it when I was in late teens/early 20s, but in more recent years I have just bought cock rings and small vibrators from there. Agree with others that quality of underwear isn't great compared to price.
I quite like the idea of a sexy maternity and post-partum range, think it would have boosted my confidence not lessened it, but clearly not everyone agrees!

Great poem @KateMuff ! 😂

@TheRealForReal Did you also see these AS models..?

@PinotPony those models you have posted were not in the link mumsnet provided, which was all maternity wear. I'm not saying every single model on ann summers website is a toned size 8, but it's unrealistic to have models of that particular shape and size in the maternity range, as most customers shopping from that department will not look like that after giving birth.

And how can you gauge how it will look on your own body when it looks completely different on a thin, toned, size 8 woman, who has no cellulite, stretch marks, or loose skin? I have ordered lingerie in the past from AS that looked great on the model, but looked ridiculous on me.

Nope! The last place I would have bought or even though to have looked for maternity or nursing underwear (or any underwear for that matter) would be Anne Summers. I only have to think about that shop and I’m itching with the thought of scratchy lace and polyester. I like pretty underwear, but I would not class anything in the Anne Summers range as the type of underwear I would like, nor think it is particularly well made.

I hope that Anne Summers take note of the comments on this thread. The last thing on many (I know I don’t speak for all) women’s mind when growing, birthing and feeding a baby is looking sexy for their menz. Because, let’s face it, Anne Summers is designed for the male gaze. Not for women’s comfort or support during times that their bodies are changing.

this just feeds into the narrative of
'getting back to normal'
'keeping him interested'
'be a wife, not just a mum'
...as if being fuckable should be top of your list post partum.
I hate to mention it but it is also top of some men's list too and this just normalises that attitude.

I'm surprised that they'd need a specific maternity / nursing section. Most of their bras fail to contain my tits anyway so would actually make ideal feeding bras.

Yes can buy cock rings and small vibrators from the supermarket now so wouldn't go there for that, if I wanted nicer underwear I'd be more likely to head to Victoria's Secret.

Cheap and nasty

Yikes, no.

I am round, very plus sized. I have tried their lingerie and it looks like shit on me.

I've looked at the nursing bras and I'm thinking the last thing I felt was sexy as an exhausted new mum. I lived in my pyjamas for weeks.

Ann Summers bras are the only ones I wear at the minute because they're cheap, comfortable and wash well. They are much better quality now than they were 10 years ago imo. I wore them throughout my last pregnancy and postpartum (although these were from the main range not the maternity range). I didn't breastfeed my last baby but those nursing bras looked much nicer than the horrible things I had to wear when I breastfed my older 2 children. I did also like looking/feeling sexy during my pregnancy - some women do.

I buy my knickers elsewhere though as I prefer cotton for every day.

God no ! I was cutting sanitary towels in half and stuffing them in my bra for excess milk leak and wanted big comfy knickers for my poor deflated belly.

There sizing is weird and everything is so over priced. It all feels abit "90s" to me now .

@KateMuff

This thread reminded me of a lovely poem I think every woman should read:

I Threw Out All My Pants Today

I threw out all my pants today.

I did not like them anyway.

They were too tiny for my arse,

I’ve set my bottom free at last

It’s time to let my derriere

get loose and let it get some air

because, to tackle tasks with ease

your vulva needs a steady breeze.

Acrylic, nylon, polyester,

stuff that lets infections fester;

if it’s designed by blokes and chaps

it is not healthy for your flaps.

I do not know why anyone

would want to have a hungry bum

and spend, oh, twenty quid a go

on things that give you camel toe.

I’ve swapped my high leg, low rise lace,

my itchy guts, my squinty face,

for pants extending up my torso –

like a sturdy vest, but more so.

They come in packs of five, or triples,

they nestle underneath my nipples.

They are not made of see through netting,

they mop up when my boobs are sweating.

The question that we all should ask

is – Are these pants that multi-task?

and

Is it really underwear

if you can’t keep your keys in there?

I cannot run or dance or laugh

with my butt cheeks cut in half.

I cannot argue or clap back

with knickers half way up my crack

I can’t think clearly, I am edgy

when I have a giant wedgie.

These times are tough, resolve must harden

so be kind to your lady garden.

Be kind to yourself, full stop.

And let your body flow and flop

all over rigid patriarchy.

I’ve had it with this ‘should’ malarkey:

‘Should’ and ‘must’ can take a hike –

I’ll wear the fucking pants I like.

Bloody brilliant!

Christ alive. Is this a thing? Sex stuff for women who have just given birth?

You must be joking.

@KateMuff that poem is brilliant

When I’d just had my DD, I was too tired to even think about sex, for quite a long time. And TBH if we managed to get DD down for a nap, we just enjoyed the opportunity to drink an entire cup of tea in peace. Cheap looking sex clothes wouldn’t have enhanced anything, thanks.

I can just see the new post natal gift baskets full of nappies, nipple soothing balm, peekaboo bras crotch less knickers and cockrings. Oh and a Sophie giraffe.

Someone should take some photos of a real postpartum woman into the AS marketing meeting. Stitches, bleeding, stomach like a deflated balloon, leaky breasts boomeranging in size. Oh and debilitating tiredness.

I had a small and neat bump when I had mine but this was still the reality for me.

Seems like AS is just another cog in the machine of the patriarchy. At least have the decency to leave off women dealing with one of the biggest changes to their bodies they will have to deal with.

Sex after childbirth is the last thing we want to think about, thanks.

The quality of the toys in Ann Sumers are crap. Their rabbits used to be amazing, now they're rubbish and too small, so I prefer Love Honey. I do think there is a market for sexier maternity bras though. A lot of them are plain and frumpy, which I would wear for comfort but sometimes it's good to have the option to wear something sexy, even if you're pregnant.

Seems like AS is just another cog in the machine of the patriarchy. At least have the decency to leave off women dealing with one of the biggest changes to their bodies they will have to deal with.

Agreed RhusTox!

This is grim. I would actively avoid any company actively marketing sex toys to pregnant and post partum women.