Undergarments
Your Guide to Undergarments
What's best for under the dress
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The pursuit of the perfect dress is top priority for nearly every bride-to-be. Less talked about but equally important is what she will be wearing underneath it. "The type of undergarment a bride will need is entirely dependent on the style and the fabric of her dress," says Monica Cotto, fashion editor for Elegant Bride magazine. "If she's wearing a big, full dress, she can pretty much wear whatever she wants beneath it - even nothing!"
Here are some tips for the key pieces of lingerie to pair with some of the most popular wedding dress styles.
Strapless
Surprise, surprise - you're going to need an excellent strapless bra. "You don't want to be caught on camera adjusting yourself on your special day, so make sure you look for a strapless bra that offers proper support and comfort," says Norah Alberto, senior style director of Maidenform. Have an expert in the lingerie department help you with the fit and then try moving around a bit to see if the bra stays in place - lean down, dance and raise your arms to mimic a hug. If the bra works well in the store, try it on with your gown as soon as possible to ensure that there are no surprise peaks. Alberto's top pick from Maidenform is The Dream Strapless Push-Up Bra, available at Macy's, JCPenney and on Maidenform.com.
Slinky Spaghetti Straps or a Form-Fitting Mermaid
Slinky dresses are typically made from unforgiving fabrics like silk, satin, chiffon and crepes that accentuate every single lump, dimple and imperfection, Cotto warns. Some ladies might be fine with an extra lining, but most will need some sort of shapewear, such as those offered by Spanx, Victoria's Secret, Hanes, Bali, Flexees and Maidenform.
Made from comfortable, lightweight and usually seamless fabrics, these shapers come in a multitude of designs - briefs, boy shorts, full-legs, high waists, whole body suits and more, all designed to slim thighs, sculpt waists and flatten tummies. The same undergarments are standard for form-fitting gowns that leave little to the imagination. "The goal when looking for shapewear is to find something that does its job without making an appearance," advises Alberto.
Halter or Low Back
There really are so many options for bras out there right now, says Cotto, from U plunges for keyholes or low-cut fronts to adjustable straps for halter tops or backless styles. Maidenform's Invisible Options Push-Up Bra has clear straps that can be converted to a halter, criss-cross, demi, low-back criss-cross, low-back halter and even a low-back demi. "This bra is a great investment even after the wedding day," says Alberto.
Women with smaller breasts might be able to forgo the bra entirely in favor of a pair of basic, silicone nipple coverings, such as Hollywood CoverUps or Fashion Forms Breast Petals. "Although we at Elegant Bride don't think there's anything wrong with nipples," Cotto notes. But if you'd prefer at least a little coverage, another good option is SassyBax Very Bare, a backless bra that sticks to your sides and has a removable halter strap. This bra even makes backless and strapless possible.
General Advice
In general, it's best to go with materials that smooth and mold to the body. The whole point is not to see anything, so skip the lace on the bras and panties and watch out for seams on the smoothers or shapers. Another helpful tip when shopping for bridal foundation is to choose items in the color that's closest to your skin tone so that it will disappear under your gown, offers Alberto. And definitely do a few dry runs along the way. Take a couple pictures of yourself wearing the dress with the undergarments on, ideally in the type of light in which your wedding will take place. Your dress might be surprisingly see-through and necessitate an extra lining or different undergarments.
"With thin crepe, you can see everything," says Cotto. "Which is likely not your intention if you're having a more formal or church wedding."
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