For most of us, the thought of an underwear makeover is right up there with trying on bathing suits or getting a tooth extracted.
“The right undergarment is going to add polish to your look,” says Julie Mervis, manager of Inner Self at Westfield Shopping Town at Old Orchard, a store that carries private label intimate apparel. “Not only is it a physical purchase, it’s a psychological one as well. With the right undergarment, you’re going to have the emotional confidence that you need to pull together an outfit.”
So, how do you find the perfect undergarment?
“The No. 1 mistake that women make when shopping for a bra is that they don’t get measured,” Mervis says. “They would rather squeeze into the wrong size than admit that their size may have changed. Because of this, three out of four women are wearing the wrong size bra.”
We found two brave women who agreed to be fitted and advised.
“My bras feel good, but I wish they would support me more,” says Debbie Tometz, 44, from Deerfield, a consultant for a medical instrument company. “I feel like I need a little lift, but I really don’t want to wear an underwire. I find that they’re so uncomfortable and I don’t want to look like an armored tank up there.”
After trying on a few different styles that didn’t give her the lift she wanted, Tometz agreed to try an underwire bra. Inner Self’s Cotton Comfort Bra ($26) fit perfectly and, much to her surprise, felt great.
“The underwire bras today have been greatly improved,” says Mervis. “The old wires have been replaced by more pliable materials that make for a more comfortable bra.”
When it comes to underpants, Tometz prefers a French cut, comfortable, cotton brief, but thought it would be great if she could minimize “everything below the waist.”
“[Underpants are] a little bit of trial and error,” says Mervis. “You should take into consideration your lifestyle and the clothes you’re going to be wearing.”
Tometz found what she was looking for in the Contour Thigh Slimmer ($23) shaper that gives her coverage to mid-thigh. “It sucks me in without giving me leg bulges or making me feel like I’m wearing a girdle.”
Michelle Weiss, 36, of Chicago, works in a women’s clothing boutique and is a self-described “lingerie fanatic.” However, she had yet to find a natural looking bra with lift and cleavage. “I tried the Miracle Bra and, believe me, it didn’t work any miracles on me. I would love to find a bra that gives me some cleavage.”
Weiss also says that although she has been wearing thong underwear “forever,” she would like her rear end to look “lifted and smaller.” She was adamant that she would not try anything that would give her a “great big panty line.”
After trying on a number of different styles that Weiss deemed “too over-the-top padded,” she fell in love with the Gel Satin Push Up Bra ($34). “I can’t believe I have cleavage. This is the va voom I’ve been looking for.”
A search for the perfect panty wasn’t quite so productive, as panty after panty was rejected because of unsightly lines. “I guess I’m just not willing to give up my thongs.”
Wearing her new foundation garments, Tometz took a long look in the mirror. “Wow, I should have done this a long time ago. I can’t believe how much better this looks.”
What a better foundation can do
Julie Mervis says wearing the wrong size bra can lead to a host of problems. Here are some of the most typical ones and her solutions:
– Back bulge. Try increasing your band size. If you are wearing the correct size, you won’t see bulge.
– Four breasts. Not enough cup coverage. Try a different size or style.
– Unibreast. Typically the result of wearing a sports bra or shelf bra that gives no separation. Try a sports bra with cups or, if you are large chested, wear a minimizer. It will separate and hold you in.
– Underwire chafing. Wrong cup size or underwire is hitting in the wrong place.
The best solution to almost all bra problems is get measured for proper fit. If you are too modest to have someone else do it, here’s how to measure:
Take a measurement around your ribcage and add 5 inches. Then measure around the fullest part of the breast. For every inch of difference, add a cup size. For example, if the ribcage is 32 and the fullest part measures 34, you are a 32B.
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E-mail ctc-woman@tribune.com
