Today I’m talking knickers, well, not just knickers, but all foundation garments. Like building a house, if the foundations aren’t solid, the house won’t be stable, your underwear has a huge effect on your overall look and how great you will look. Let’s start from the top!
Bras
Bra band too loose and riding up the back photo credit: Malingering via photo pin cc
Studies show that around 70% of women are wearing the wrong bra size and I think this would be accurate. So many people are wearing a band size that is too large, and a cup size that is too small, which means that their breasts sit lower than the optimal point which is half-way between elbow and shoulder. When your breasts are sitting lower, then you will find that you have a shorter waist and you lose your waist. I love it when I find a great fitting bra for a client and they try it on and then clothes on top and I hear them say “I’ve got my waist back!”.
A well fitting bra will sit horizontally around your body, under your bust, with the underwire sitting against your chest wall, and not sticking into your breast tissue. If the underwire doesn’t sit against your chest wall, then you will end up with the ‘mono-boob’, no separation between your breasts. If the band is too big (and when you buy the bra, the band should do up on its loosest hook, so that as the elastic stretches over time you can tighten it up), then it will ride up your back as the weight of your breasts pulls it up, and they will sit low.
Make sure that the cup is large enough – any spillage, over the top, out the side, underneath – means that the bra cup is too small. Keep going up cup sizes until you find the one that encases your breasts completely.
Not sure of your size? Here is a great tool to help your current bra size. Want more bra fitting tips?
Knickers
Be aware of how your knickers appear from the back photo credit: deepwarren via photo pin cc
The way your underpants fit is as important as your bra. If they dig in and create lines and bulges, this will show through your clothing. Underwear that creates muffin top is to be avoided. I usually advise going up a size or two to ensure that all the elastic in modern underwear doesn’t dig into your skin and create bulges. I will always remember hearing that Marilyn Monroe would refuse to wear knickers so that she didn’t have to worry about having less than a smooth line.
Be careful of the color you choose – those red knickers may be cute, but if they show through your lighter coloured skirt/dress/pants then the world will be focussing on them, not your smokin’ style! Nude or black are two pretty safe colours for your everyday underwear.
Be aware of how your underwear appears from the back. A full length mirror that you can see yourself behind in is important to ensure that underwear is just that, under whatever else you’re wearing, and not making itself obvious!
Shapewear
Knickers
That’s the word for the new fashioned girdle. But what I love is that shapewear now comes with many different options, from the granny pant knicker to the tank top with built in tummy control, either one that goes over or under your bra. If your legs need extra support you can try the short or long leggings, or even shapewear hoisery.
Rather than squeeze yourself into shapewear so that anything extra spills out the top or bottom, go for a slightly larger size so you get a lovely smoothing effect and you can still breath!
Figure out where you need the shaping. If you are an X, 8 or A shape you will probably prefer shapewear knickers or bike shorts. If you are an H, V or O shape a tank top is more likely to give you the smoothing you desire.
When your foundations are strong it’s so much easier to appear stylish!
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