If you can see panty lines, you should be wearing shapewear, boyshorts, or a thong. Visible Panty Lines (or “VPLs”) are a HUGE fashion no-no, and your girlfriends should flag you if you have them. Thongs are sexy and the ultimate in avoiding panty line disasters, but if you’re wearing light colored or clingy fabric, beware of sneaky cellulite. Underwear has come a long way since the dark ages, and we don’t want all that work to have been for nothing, do we? There are boyshorts, thongs, and even high waisted, knee length body smoothers (such as from the Assets brand I mentioned a few days ago). Just to make sure we’re clear: There is no excuse, EVER, to have visible panty lines. Check your jeans, your capris, your pencil skirt, even your yoga pants (especially your yoga pants!). Be aware of what you can get away with briefs in and what will require a different style.
-Gap Body makes some outstanding seamless boyshorts, panties, and thongs, and their prices aren’t bad! You can find similar styles at Target, all the department stores, or if you want a higher end brand, check those bargain basements!
-Make sure your panties fit in the waistband- I love seamless and stretch lace that doesn’t dig into my hips and leave that awful cut-in line if I’m wearing clingy fabric, like jersey.
Hanky Panky has gotten lots of press in the last few years- and for good reason- they’re cute, comfortable, and the stretch lace doesn’t cut into your hips. The downer: they’re about $18 a pair! The compromise? Buy on sale, at a bargain store, or better yet, buy the versions Gap body and other retailers have started making. Trust me, they’re everywhere if you keep your eyes open.
Hanky Panky has gotten lots of press in the last few years- and for good reason- they’re cute, comfortable, and the stretch lace doesn’t cut into your hips. The downer: they’re about $18 a pair! The compromise? Buy on sale, at a bargain store, or better yet, buy the versions Gap body and other retailers have started making. Trust me, they’re everywhere if you keep your eyes open.
-Think shapewear. Assets by Sara Blakely is the less expensive version of Spanx, as I’ve mentioned before. Spanx, you’ve definitely heard about by now, unless you
’re living under a rock, in which case, you should thank whoever told you about the Wink Spot! Oprah talks about her Spanx and how she doesn’t know how she lived without them. Tyra Banks has lifted up her skirt and shown hers off. Nearly every starlet on the red carpet wears them, even if she’s in incredible shape, for just a little extra smoothing and control under those clingy dresses. There are all different cuts for various uses: slips, knee length shorts (no panty lines!), footless tights, footed tights, even a no wire bra (this was a Spanx thing that I’ve never tried but was supposedly incredibly comfy and great for all-day wear. Consider that wearing shapewear doesn’t make you old or frumpy- it makes you conscious of your fashion choices and it makes the your friends see your sleek figure and wonder how you were blessed with it and they weren’t! I’m 5’9’’ and a size 4/6, and I wear Spanx with some of my dresses- they just make them hang better! My Spanx were a freebie at an old job, but remember, you can get the less costly Assets line at Target or invest in some Spanx at most major department stores.
’re living under a rock, in which case, you should thank whoever told you about the Wink Spot! Oprah talks about her Spanx and how she doesn’t know how she lived without them. Tyra Banks has lifted up her skirt and shown hers off. Nearly every starlet on the red carpet wears them, even if she’s in incredible shape, for just a little extra smoothing and control under those clingy dresses. There are all different cuts for various uses: slips, knee length shorts (no panty lines!), footless tights, footed tights, even a no wire bra (this was a Spanx thing that I’ve never tried but was supposedly incredibly comfy and great for all-day wear. Consider that wearing shapewear doesn’t make you old or frumpy- it makes you conscious of your fashion choices and it makes the your friends see your sleek figure and wonder how you were blessed with it and they weren’t! I’m 5’9’’ and a size 4/6, and I wear Spanx with some of my dresses- they just make them hang better! My Spanx were a freebie at an old job, but remember, you can get the less costly Assets line at Target or invest in some Spanx at most major department stores.Some Undie-Care Tips:
-Throw away all those baggy granny panties. Baggy panties that are sagging in the tush and go up past your pants’ waistband are doing you zero good!
-Keep a scented sachet or even a bar of glycerin-free soap (the kind with glycerin will make a big mess) in your underwear drawer- whatever you like- lilac, vanilla, peony…it’s just nice to open up your drawer in the morning and start with a freshly scented base when you’re getting dressed!
-Always, always always: wash your bras and underwear in cold water, on a delicate cycle. Bras have hooks- hook them. The hooks will tangle with lacy edges or other delicate fabrics if you don’t, or they can get bent out of shape. A lingerie bag is a cheap and well worth it investment. Stockpile those Bed, Bath, and Beyond coupons!
-Don’t put your delicate underthings in the dryer. Your dryer is a monster. It will morph your underwires, shrink your underpants, and pill the fabric on your camisoles. So, by using a drying rack, you’re saving money two ways: less frequent replacement purchases on your underwhatsits, AND your energy bill. And who doesn’t love to live at least a little bit green?
Tomorrow: Building your Underwear Wardrobe
and Friday: The Final Tips and The Never EVER List
Stay Tuned!
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