Stop wondering right now; we have figured out why: This Thursday, September 23rd, the Spanish clothing brand Desigual is hosting an underwear party in the good ole US ‘o A. The first 100 people to line up clad only in their skivvies outside Desigualâ€s SoHo, New York City store will be allowed to choose any two items to take home for free. Any panty-showers remaining in line after the first 100 will get a 50 percent discount on their purchases. {Full Frontal Fashion}

Canâ€t make it on Thursday? Desigualâ€s 34^th Street store will hold a second underwear party on Tuesday, September 28th.

We have to admit that, if nothing else, this is an original promotion idea, right up there with taxi cab marketing. For those shy about their underwear, this is still a great opportunity for some entertainment. Imagine SoHo and 34^th Street residents heading out for their morning coffee and newspaper and finding a bunch of people in their underwear crowding around?

Not to mention that, if we listen closely, we might hear Lady Gaga rejoicing at the thought of hundreds of other pantless people lining the streets of New York.

A British survey recently found that 48 percent of the women surveyed prefer to keep their clothes on during sex, primarily to increase body confidence. {Telegraph} Lady Gaga explained a while back that her song “is about a girl who likes to have sex with the lights off, because she’s embarrassed about her body. She doesn’t want her man to see her naked. She will be free, and she will let her inner animal out, but only when the lights are out.” {MTV} We’re assuming this took place at a time before she decided to go without pants – a look that requires quite a bit of confidence. Lest you think it’s only the ladies, comedian Louis CK recently got Terri Gross’ Fresh Air radio show banned in Mississippi after an exchange where he confessed to keeping his t-shirt on during sex. “I definitely have sex with my T-shirt on, always. I haven’t had sex without a shirt on, God, since I was about 23…I don’t think anyone wants to see me looming over her. I think that’s an upsetting image. And then also, the mother-dog stomach that I get when I’m … you get the point,” he said. {Gawker}

Fashionista had a bit of fun with the findings and suggested everything from shoes and socks to necklaces, but the survey revealed that chemises and bras were actually among the more popular clothing choices. Yes, they’re technically clothing, but not the sweater or winter coat you may have been thinking of. If you prefer to keep a layer or two on for confidence? No judgments here, but we do have a few suggestions for next weekend, or whenever you decide to dance.

Apparently panties being thrown on stage has awakened a sleeping undergarment designer, or something. The weirdest part is that he wants to team with Jimmy Chooâ€s Tamara Mellon. Sheâ€s great at making shoes, and while sexy heels and lingerie are a pairing that lots of ladies (and guys) enjoy, it still seems like an odd step for the brand.

Styleite points out that Usher has been “flighty” with his plans to found a clothing line before, so perhaps heâ€s not all that serious about the idea.

Note to Usher: Stick with the fragrance promotion like countless other celebrities (now including Lady Gaga) do.

Pointy conical breasts anyone?

The collection also includes a fancy, backstitch satin bra with a shoulder-strap motif and a special garter belt, both limited edition pieces which will be shown in Paris at the French designerâ€s July 7 haute couture show.

“Lingerie is part of my DNA and of my heritage,” Gaultier said. “In my latest prêt-à-porter collection I revisited the conical bras and corsets worn as outerwear. This collaboration was a natural and logical step, especially since La Perla is the pearl of the lingerie, with the best savoir faire.” {Stylelist}

Gaultier announced his departure from Hermes a little over a month ago and has never had a full fledged lingerie line. Images of the all the pieces in the collection have not yet been released. {NBC}

“Cooperating with Jean Paul Gaultier filled us with satisfaction from the very start,” La Perla CEO Alain Prost said. “A perfect synergy immediately came to light between his vision and the values of luxury and elegance that have always been cornerstones in La Perla’s history.” 

Numerous complaints have been filed with the lingerie mega-giant for faulty garment construction that left everything from rashes and hives from (possibly) formaldehyde-tainted materials to poorly-secured (and projectile-like) metal hardware.

Victoria’s Secret, meanwhile, maintains that these injuries are a result of “misuse and/or abuse of the product” (how exactly does one “abuse” a bra?), and the company’s reluctance to address these numerous complaints in a more thorough manner makes us uneasy.  Sometimes beauty is pain, but this may be going too far.

Read the full story {Minyanville}