This article is a guest post.
—
Your go-to bra is perfect for everyday outfits, but when it comes to dressing for a special occasion, the average bra and panty set might not be quite up to snuff. As noted by Adam & Eve, the right undergarments can accent your fabulous, and this couldn’t be truer than when it comes to evening gowns and wedding apparel. So whether you have a special occasion looming on the horizon or you’re just looking for the perfect foundation pieces to add to your lingerie collection, keep these helpful tips in mind when shopping for shapewear.
Evening Wear
Office parties, fancy birthday dinners, anniversary celebrations, black tie galas—the list of occasions where you may need to wear a cocktail dress or evening gown is endless. But before you even purchase a gown, you should be thinking about what you’ll be wearing underneath, according to Women’s Health Magazine. For example, if you’re a C cup or larger, you may want to stay away from backless numbers, as backless bras rarely give ample support to bustier ladies. After you’ve found your dress, consider the little things. Rocking a slinky or clingy gown? Opt for seamless panties—and not much else in order to avoid awkward wrinkles and bulges. Have a more tailored, but fitted, dress in mind? Try structured shapewear for a line-free effect.
Wedding
Whether it’s your big day or you’re simply celebrating with the bride and groom, wedding wear requires the right undergarments. Much like with other formal occasions, there are a variety of dress styles—and just as many lingerie options to wear underneath.
For the Bride
When it comes to what to wear beneath your wedding gown, there are a number of factors to consider. Of course, you want something comfortable but pretty, hidden yet flattering. You likely spent hours searching for the perfect dress, but the fact of the matter is your undergarments have a big impact on how your dream gown fits when you walk down the aisle. The last things you want are visible straps, lumps, or lines. When shopping for the perfect wedding day lingerie (wedding night lingerie is a different story, and a different shopping trip altogether), look to the style of your dress first to select the perfect pieces.
Low or No Back
As mentioned before, backless gowns can be tricky for those women who have larger busts. That being said, if you fall in love with the perfect wedding dress and it just so happens to be backless, go for it! Ask your seamstress or the bridal salon handling your alterations to sew in cups or a bustier for hidden support. If you have a smaller cup size, opt for an adhesive bra or cups that offer strapless, backless coverage.
Plunging Neckline
For dresses with a plunging neckline, traditional bras and shapewear are out of the question. A bra or bodysuit with a special cutout in the front to accommodate low necklines is a must in this situation. While a bra in this style will likely have added support built in on the sides, a bodysuit makes sure everything stays put with a one-piece design.
Strapless
One of the most popular styles for brides, strapless gowns offer a variety of necklines, from straight to sweetheart. To keep from tugging on your top all night long, choose a strapless bra that features grips on the sides or a longline bra that has a corset like bodice. As Brides Magazine points out, some gowns, especially those that are particularly structured up top, may give enough support and shape that you can skip a bra altogether. Keep in mind that this can be true of all wedding dresses, not just strapless styles.
Formfitting
Many brides want to look sexy on their big day and opt for a gown that hugs their curves. Mermaids, trumpets, fit and flares, as well as sheath and column dresses all provide that va-va-va-voom effect. But the advantages of these shape-skimming styles are also their downfall. Wearing a formfitting dress often makes it difficult to achieve a seamless silhouette. This is where shapewear comes into play. Smoothing bodysuits and individual foundation pieces such as Spanx help give you added support where it’s most needed. Shapewear ranges from minimal to maximum coverage, so choose the type that matches your comfort level and preference.
While the timeline for buying your foundation pieces is more fluid than many other aspects of wedding planning, make sure to select your undergarments after the initial fitting (to adjust for any alterations that may happen) but before your final fitting appointment. Also, bring them with you in order to get a full visual of the finished look before the big day arrives.