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The clothes you wear on the outside might be the first thing people notice about your style, but putting your best fashion foot forward starts with the clothes that no one else sees. A well-stocked underwear drawer doesn't just include a slew of adorable panty sets. A successful undergarment wardrobe needs a range of styles to keep you looking put-together no matter what you're rocking on the outside.
Underwear Basics
Any undergarment collection gets off to a good start with some basics to slip on under your go-to pair of jeans or casual T-shirt. A fitted full-coverage or demi-cup bra is the standard for most casual shirts that aren't too clingy or plunging. An underwire bra gives you a little extra lift for button-down shirts or shirts that need some filling out, and a minimizer bra will tame a larger bust when your shirt seams needs a break. On your lower half, a selection of cotton hipsters with full coverage across the back keep your delicate bits protected from stiff denim, but keep a wide range of colors available for days when you bust out khakis instead of a dark wash.
Deep Vs and Open Backs: Bra Complications
Your standard demi-cup bra with shoulder straps won't always cut it when you have shirts with open backs, plunging necklines or a complicated arranging of criss-crossing straps. A convertible bra is cost-effective way to solve most of your bra issues. Convertibles have detachable straps and sets of hooks so that you can turn your basic bra into a strapless, halter, racerback or T-strap bra for your more complex tops. For your selection of strapless or tube shirts, opt for a strapless or adhesive bra that leave your shoulders and back bare for display. Have a plunging neckline but don't want to go strapless? Invest in a U-plunge bra. You'll get the support of straps without having to worry about covering up bra fabric, because the front closure and cups scoop down over your ribs.
Panty Line Prevention
One of the biggest underwear dilemmas for women is panty lines. Pants that are clingy, tight or light colored can give away all your underwear secrets if you aren't careful. A thong eliminates the lines over your butt and thighs, but some women feel uncomfortable being so exposed. Full-coverage briefs in cotton alternatives like Lycra offer the same coverage as standard panties, but the seams lay flat on your body to eliminate the dreaded panty line. Lace or mesh boy cut hipsters are elastic all over, so there's no pinching or bunching to reveal through a pair of pants. For light colored pants, stick to underwear that is nude or similar to your skin tone, even if you are going the thong route.
Slimming and Shaping
When it's time to pull out all the fashion stops for a special occasion, what you wear under your little black dress is just as important as the dress itself. Tight-fitting dresses and skirts can leave your feeling pinched or squeezed, but body shaping undergarments are designed to create a smooth silhouette from bust to butt without the bulging that more traditional underwear might create. For all-over shaping, look for a one-piece bodysuit with detachable straps and built-in bra support that covers you from chest to thigh. If your dress is short, go for the body camisoles with built-in bras that look more like nude-toned mini-dresses than underwear wet suits.
