Posts Tagged ‘undergarments’

Valentine’s Day Tip

Monday, February 8th, 2010

This Valentine’s Day, eff buying the chocolate, BE the chocolate.

Sexy!

Sexy! by ♔•ℂℴã₡ℏ•αÐdïcԵ•♔ {Ɗ⍺ʐʑℓℯ ℳҿ} featuring Karen Millen shoes

Tags: ,
Posted in Personal | 1 Comment »

Underneath it All – Finding the Right Underwear (Bottoms)

Sunday, January 31st, 2010

Underwear

In my earlier underwear post, I discussed the roles of  bras and camisoles.  Today I want to talk about those jewels we wear on the bottom; i.e., panties, body shapers and hosiery.

Bottoms

Panties are the most varied of these, coming in a myriad of styles.

  • Granny panties are the classic close-legged high-rise panties. I turn to these during that time of the month.
  • Bikini panties, the abbreviated version of the brief, have a lower-rise waist, and usually slightly higher-rise leg holes. Commonly used in general wear situations, this type is favored by younger women because they are considered more fashionable than their full-sized counterparts.
  • Low-Rise panties work with low slug jeans, skirts and pants. Any other panty simply will not do as showing ones panties violate all the rules of fashion.
  • French Cut panties are basically bikini panties (and may even be low-rise bikini panties) with legs that are cut high up on the hip. This style of leg opening often reveals skin at the hip-joint and a portion of the side of the buttocks as well. These became popular for their esthetic design – making the legs appear longer – more than for their practicality.
  • The Thong, T-Back and G-string panties were all designed and have become popular among women who truly wish to avoid showing any panty-line. While very esthetically pleasing, wear with extreme caution and do adhere to the fit principles. If too snug these panties not only can be very uncomfortable but can cause some physical damage. They also tend to reveal areas of cellulite and flab that would be less conspicuous with another style of underwear.
  • Hipsters are the newest craze in panty styles resembling short pants. Generally, they have low-rise waists and are cut to the top of the thigh at the leg opening, offering full or nearly full coverage of the rear. Most women have taken strongly to them because of their popularity and comfortable fit.

Shapers are garments designed to give the appearance of a firm and toned body. These are excellent for controlling slight bulges in ones figure. They perform wonderfully for women who have been working to lose weight and are experiencing sagging in areas where their weight-loss has out-paced their exercise routine.

  • Girdles are designed to give control and shape to the hips and thighs only.
  • Corsets are designed to add definition and shape to the waist and upper torso.
  • All in One Step-In Body Briefers are a mouthful to say but work beautifully and shape bust to thighs.  My absolute favorite right now is the Dr. Rey Shapewear All-In-One Step In Body Briefer Shapewear.
  • Also available are shapers that extend from the bra line to the ankles for women who may need/want a full-body redefining.

Hosiery.  Chosen for its looks and its compliment to the outfit being worn, hosiery generally falls into one of three categories: stockings, pantyhose/tights, body stockings.

  • Stockings in many ways are women’s counterpart to socks. Ranging from knee-high (traditionally worn with pants) to thigh-high (with elastic tops to hold them up or garter belts to which they are secured) stockings can be found in a wide range of weave designs to offer almost infinite variety for all types of occasions.
  • Pantyhose.   Designed in 1959, pantyhose cut down the number of foundation garments needed. Since their invention, they have been introduced in a variety of styles offering a variety of functions. Pantyhose are available in as many varied weave designs as traditional stockings, but offer body shaping that stockings do not.
  • Body Stockings are garments that in most cases seem impractical, but have developed something of a following as a replacement for undergarments. The body stocking (or body sock) covers every part of the body from at least the breasts to the toes, and may include openings for necessity in appropriate places. Body Stockings are often chosen by women who feel too modest to be fully naked in situations where nudity is expected or who desire to have the shaping and support that the hosiery offers.

Tags: , , , , ,
Posted in Body Analysis, Personal | 4 Comments »

Underneath it All – Finding the Right Underwear (Tops)

Sunday, December 27th, 2009

Beneath it All

Beneath it All

Ladies, when you’re shopping for that perfect outfit, don’t forget to consider the quintessential items that should go underneath; Undergarments.  That includes everything from Bras and Camisoles to Control Tops and Body Shapers.  These often forgotten pieces can truly make or break your look.

When selecting foundation pieces, the two important factors to remember are fit and function.

Begin by visiting your local lingerie store.  Work with a trained sales specialist to select properly fitted garments that meet your specific needs.  After making that first visit, shop with ease on the Internet.

Maidenform is a leading manufacturer of bras, panties, and shapewear offering high quality, comfortable and well fitting products to its customers.

Another online distributor to consider is Bigger Bras.  Bigger Bras offers a large selection of bras, lingerie, medical support bras, nursing bras and more. In addition to brand name plus size bras (up to size 50K) and lingerie such as Aviana, Empress, Empriente, Goddess, Playtex, Vanity Fair and one of Oprah’s Favorite Bras, Le Mystere, Bigger Bras has an impressive selection of bras for the smaller woman beginning at size 32 AA.

To assist you with understanding the various functions of undergarments, I’ve put together a list summarizing the more common undergarments available for women today, descriptions of their specific functions and purposes, and some tips for wearing them well.  Today’s list focuses on those lovely pieces worn on the upper body.

Garments intended for upper body coverage fall into two categories: those for coverage and modesty, and those for support.

Camisoles fall into the former category. Camisoles (String-strap t-shirts, shells, shifts, and demi-slips) provide coverage for the upper torso of the body.  Designed in most part to be worn under other garments, it’s not uncommon to see them rocked solo.

Brassieres provide support for the girls and come in a number of styles for specific needs.

Sports bras, those snug-fitting, cupless garments that resemble a cut off athletic tee, are usually made of Lycra or other stretchy fabrics. Sports bras are designed to protect the breast by holding them closely and securely to the body during physical activities such as exercise.

Under-wire bras are designed with some form of ribbing or ‘boning’ inserted in the base of the bra’s cups. They provide definition and extra support to the breasts. If you have large or oddly-shaped breasts, this is the bra for you.

Padded bras have padding added to the cups. These are great for girls like me that belong to the itty bitty titty committee.  Padded bras also benefit women who have lost weight and notice some shrinkage in the breasts.

Half-cup/Push-up bras’ purpose is to lift and support the breasts from the underside.  Wear this type of bra with low-cut and scoop-necked blouses and dresses to avoid brassiere peak-a-boo. Half-cup/Push-up bras are also great for creating cleavage and giving the appearance of significantly larger breasts.

Strapless bras have no over-the-shoulder support straps and are designed to wear with strapless garments. Many strapless bras extend farther down the torso to provide added support, however newer versions are little more than skin-adhesive silicone cups that are adhered to the breasts and offer some minor shaping and support.

Be sure to catch part 2 of this 3-part series by becoming a subscriber

Tags: , , , , ,
Posted in Body Analysis, Personal | 2 Comments »