Want to look your best?

If so, it starts with wearing the appropriate foundation pieces.

Your foundation pieces are just as important, if not more important, than the clothes you wear over them. What you wear underneath your clothes will affect the way your clothes look on you.  Knowing what your lingerie wardrobe should consist of will allow you to dress for success, look amazing, and feel fantastic!

Step 1: Get Fit by a Professional Bra Fitter.

It doesn’t matter what kind of lingerie you have if it doesn’t fit properly. Getting fit by a professional bra fitter will ensure you are wearing the right size bra. Just like not all jeans or shoes fit the same based on size, the same is true for bras.  Although you may be a 34C in one brand, does not mean you will be a 34C in all bras. Certain brands and styles fit women differently because women are all shaped differently.

How to know if your bra fits correctly:

Your bra wire and the bridge of the bra should rest on the rib cage. The wire should line the outside of the breast so it does not damage delicate breast tissue.  If the band is rising up in the back, it (the band size) is too big.  80% of women wear the wrong bra size.  Most women wear too small in the cup (damaging breast tissue and preventing lymph nodes from excreeting harmful toxins) and too big in the band (causing premature sagging, back, shoulder and neck pain, and no breast support). It is helpful to visit a lingerie boutique that has certified trained fitters who can really show you the best brands and styles for your body shape.  If you live in the Maryland, visit a la mode, located on 32 West Street. They have certified fitters on staff every day and a wide selection on bras and panties. (www.alamodelingerie.com)  

Step 2: Start with the Basics

Your essentials are key. Every woman should have a couple nude and black seamless “t-shirt” style bras. Nude, not white, bras should be worn under white blouses. Thongs or boyshorts that lie flat against the skin are a must to avoid panty lines. Hanky Panky makes a great beginner thong. The soft lace fabric is wider in the back, so it’s very comfortable, even for those who are not used to wearing thongs. LyMystere, OnGossamer and Cosabella also have amazingly comfortable thongs. Mary Green, OnGossamer and Hanky Panky also make great seamless boyshorts.

Step 3: Match your Foundations to Your Clothes

If you wear skirts or dresses that have clingy fabrics, wear a slip.  If you wear tops with plunging necklines wear a plunge bra. If you have blouses or dresses that are sleeveless, have narrow straps, or a racerback, you need a strapless bra (pref. one in nude and one in black) and a racerback or t-back bra. Bra strap converters are great to have because they hide regular bra straps (see Hollywood Hookups Bra Converter http://www.alamodelingerie.com/hollywood-hookups-bra-converter-1428). If you wear low rise pants wear low rise panties. Showing a little lace or color from a gorgeous bra is fashionable, showing a little panty is a fashion faux pas.

Step 4: Be Careful

Foundation pieces are delicate and should be treated as such. You need to rotate your bras. Just like wearing a shirt four days in a row would be disgusting, the same rule applies to your bra. Your bras should be washed after 3 or 4 wears. How you wash your undergarments is extremely important to their longevity.   Hand washing is best and lingerie or delicate detergent should be used. Gentle Care lingerie detergent is a good one to use. If you are going to machine wash, your bras should be put in a bra wash bag so that the shape of the bra is not damaged and the hooks do not snag your other clothes. Panties, slips, etc. should be washed in a lingerie wash bag. ( http://www.alamodelingerie.com/fashion-essentials-bra-wash-bag-178). Never put your undergarments in the dryer. Hang dry in a place away from heat. Perfumes, lotions, sunscreen and sweat break down lycra, so if you use any of these you should wash your bras after wearing.

Step 5: Livin’ Up!

Every women should have something sexy in her lingerie wardrobe. You might be surprised what wearing sexy lingerie can do for the ego. A beautiful bra and panty set, a sexy nightgown or a garter to hold your stockings up can spice things up and make you feel ultra feminine.  So, look in your lingerie wardrobe and your clothing wardrobe and determine what’s missing. To complete your essentials visit www.alamodelingerie.com.

Sarah Platt