Archive for the ‘womens underwear’ Category
As we enjoy the beautiful sunshine and summer weather, the autumn and winter may seem like a long way away, but the shops are already gearing up for the season ahead and filling there rails with lots of beautiful autumn and winter clothes. As usual there are plenty of different fashions and trends from which you can easily find a style that will suit your body shape, personal style and lifestyle.
Winter fashion is often dominated by talk of winter coats and party dresses and this year is no different. But for most of the designers this year, there collections have moved into a whole new era of wearability. Gone are the days when designers could design just for their own artistic pleasure. In these hard economic times their collections need to sell and this was clearly evident in the elegant and stylish clothes that were also really classic and wearable. This winter looks to be another season with plenty of neutrals and minimalism, yet again we can all safely stick to the saying ‘less is more’.
Maxmara has always led the way in this classic, neutral style exhibited in their luxurious camel coats that have always been incredibly popular. But there will also be some brights with a peppering of bold reds, mustard and lemon yellows and electric blues seen on the autumn winter catwalks.
There will be some new silhouettes for the autumn, well they are not exactly new as they originated in the fifties and have come back into fashion periodically ever since. The rise of interest in vintage clothing could well be responsible for this interest in pencil skirts and a line skirts with nipped in waists, both of which are perfect for an hour glassed shaped lady.
Womens trousers will be incredibly flattering this winter with boot cut and straight cut styles dominating. These trousers are great for women of any age and shape and do an amazing job of lengthening the leg.
There will also be plenty of romantic and faded florals, animal prints and lace in black, nude and even pink. Some times some or all of these looks will combined for an eclectic and bohemian look. This was clearly evident on the catwalks of Ralph Lauren, Kenzo, Paul Smith and Dries Van Noten.
Capes will be back in fashion, as will maxi dresses and maxi skirts. Ladylike handbags were also all over the catwalks and classic styles ruled. Waists were cinched with skinny belts and sky high heels were complimented by a new style of much more practical and wearable mid height heels.
For all the sensibility and classic style around for the autumn and winter, there is still some fun to be had. White fur was used to create yeti like outfits. There were also black and white fur coats, shaggy fur coats and glossy black fur for a dramatic and very warm look. There was also a dose of theatrical style which combined bright colours in a flamboyant and chaotic way. This look was unsurprisingly seen at Jean Paul Gaultier, Jean Galliano, Vivienne Westwood and Dior amongst others.
Only a very few people what every their shape or size can boast to having a completely smooth silhouette. A lumpy silhouette can be caused by poor fitting women’s underwear, the way that you sit or stand or just the way that your body is. Getting the right underwear is key to a smooth silhouette in whatever outfit you choose to wear. Shapewear is the ideal way to keep that smooth and streamlined silhouette all day even when you are starting to get tired and stop holding your tummy in.
Although shape wear or control underwear is not the most glamorous looking underwear, it is a great basis for a very stylish outfit. Two of the most well known brands of ladies underwear for creating a smooth line are Sloggi and Trinny and Susannah. If you are looking for a slightly less control but a really comfortable pair of knickers that fit perfectly without any lumps or bumps, the Sloggi basic maxi brief is ideal. These are perfect for every day wear. For a bit more control Sloggi also have a control maxi brief which has a softly reinforced V-shaped front panel that gently smoothes and shapes the tummy. For a special occasion or a particularly clingy or tighter fitting dress, Trinny and Susannah have a range of magic and high waist pants which are actually shorts and slim, streamline and reduce the bum, tum and thigh areas. They not only change your shape but can also make you drop a dress size. Also as they reach right from the below the bust to just above the help to create a streamlined look for your whole outfit.
But why bother making all this effort when you can’t even see your underwear? you may ask. Well really the whole point of underwear is that it can’t be seen. If it is obvious in anyway either by sticking out from under your a clothing or by creating unsightly lumps or bumps, then it is ruining the look of your outfit. Good underwear will not only not ruin your outfit but it will positively add to it. Underwear is the foundation of any outfit and if you don’t get this layer right then there is little hope for the rest of the outfit. Shape wear works particularly well with very tight fitting or body con dresses but it is also important for looser fitting dresses as a smooth outline will help them to drape correctly. I will also be particularly beneficial when wear dresses that are bias cut, satin or jersey fabrics.
Depending on what you will be wearing the colour of your underwear is also important. For black clothes or evening wear, black underwear is the best choice as it will not show up underneath. For white or light clothes white underwear works well. For really sheer and slightly transparent clothing, flesh coloured underwear will ensure that no one even knows that you are wearing shape wear.
Dressing in a way which is not only reflective of your age and style but which also flatters your figure is often a difficult task to achieve. With so many boxes to tick many women tend struggle to find clothes which flatter their body. All too often women find an item of clothing that they like but when they try it on find that it doesn’t actually suit their body shape. Consequently a large number of women now believe that to wear something that accentuates their body in all the right places that they must sacrifice all of their style credentials. However, this is simply not true, there are a few simple tips which women should bear in mind when shopping for clothes which should ensure that they still dress in a way that compliments their body but which also ensures they look stylish.
It is common for petite women to want to appear taller but often a large number of such women struggle to find clothes which allow them to achieve this look. However, a top tip when it comes to this problem is wearing a block colour, as this will elongate the body and make it appear much longer than it actually is. When it comes to work wear, wearing a trouser suit which is all the one colour is the perfect solution. In addition to enhance the sense of height further it is highly recommended that trousers suits be teamed with a pair of high heels. Moreover the heels should be the same colour as the trousers being worn at the time, as the seamless flow of block colour will create the illusion that the wearer is much taller. However, if a woman is shopping for a dress it is still fairly easy to create a similar illusion, if it is a summer dress which to be purchased then a pair of nude shoes should be worn. Most women team summer dresses with the bare leg look so a pair of nude shoes will elongate the legs and make the wearer appear taller.
Meanwhile many curvaceous women strive to find clothes which make their bodies appear slimmer than they are. However, as such they often feel they cannot buy any item of patterned clothing but this is simply not true. Curvaceous women can wear patterns although care should be taken to ensure that the print is not quite small and not too fussy. A delicate floral pattern would be great for the spring/summer months as this is very on trend this season.
What is more investment in a good pair of underwear can also be very beneficial. Depending on the body shape of the woman in question it is possible to buy underwear which tackles the problem area and makes it appear flatter or perkier than it actually is.
Women should be aware than dressing to flatter your body does not mean that you have their sense of style, rather it possible to marry the two together.
Whilst some would argue that underwear belongs underneath your clothes and not on show, there has, over the last decade, been a constant theme of underwear inspired clothes that are both delicate, feminine and sexy. Back in the nineties, Jean Paul Gaultier designer that cone bra for Madonna for her Blond Ambition tour. There were various other designs by Jean Paul Gaultier and many others which were inspired by lingerie including Calvin Klein’s delicate and minimalist slip dresses. Since 2008, these underwear inspired pieces have been beginning to make a come back with corsets, big knickers (worn as shorts) and delicate lacy camisole dresses being key features.
For spring summer 2010, there were plenty of catwalk collections joining in with this trend. At Bottega Veneta, a cream bustier with white edging along the seams, worn with cream cropped trousers and a cardigan. At John Paul Gaultier, Dolce & Gabbana and Dior corsets were all teamed with silky and Lacy lingerie pieces. At Chistopher Kane sheer layers revealed white bras and at Just Cavalli a pink satin bra was layered over a mesh vest. At Marc Jacobs a blue satin bra worn over the top of a jacket with a pair of knicker like shorts and a Loewe, a bright orange bra was worn with a neutral skirt and coat. Vintage lingerie was also a key inspiration at many of the shows with plenty of lace and nude, neutral tones.
There is no doubt about it the underwear trend is a bit risque and is designed to catch peoples attention and push boundaries. It is also very desirable in many ways including the way that it can enhance the shape and is very delicate and feminine. There are two main threads to this trend, the very fitted corset and bra style of clothes and the looser more romantic camisole and slip styles.
Whilst you may be thinking to yourself, there is no way that I would go outside the house with my undies on show, there are ways to wear this trend that don’t look trashy or cheap. Evening wear for example often has some corset shape to it. You can sometimes find very gorgeous camisole tops that are just too beautiful to wear underneath your clothes and would look great as everyday tops worn with jeans or under a suit jacket. There are also plenty of lace embellished camisole and vest tops that have the feel of a beautiful piece of lingerie but are not too revealing.
A few simple pieces of advice when wearing underwear as outerwear or underwear inspired pieces:
- Avoid see through clothes. This does not leave anything to the imagination!
- If a piece looks too much (or too little) on its own, try layering it under a shirt, jacket or over blouse.
- select what you wear carefully, it should be subtle, pretty and feminine rather than full on sexy.
- If in doubt, have a good look in the mirror or ask a friend to assess if it is suitable and tasteful.
- You can often get away with underwear inspired pieces more in the evening than daytime.
So you have been invited to that all important event and you can’t wait to go. You have spent hours trying on and shopping for evening dresses and have finally found the perfect dress. All that is left to do is to decide on the accessories to wear. No matter how gorgeous the dress, the right accessories can make or break the outfit. Accessorising an evening dress is key to looking amazing, so pick your accessories carefully and don’t forget to try on the whole outfit in advance to check that it looks as good as you hope.
This beautiful satin gown (pictured above) is really striking and a feature in its own right. It therefore needs subtle and stylish accessories that do not detract from its beauty. A simple pair of black heels and black cover up is all that is required, perhaps a simple and plain black clutch bag. The detailed neckline would look best without a necklace or with a very simple pendant necklace and small hair accessory perfectly balances the pattern on the lower half of the dress.
Each type of accessory should be considered carefully and chosen to balance and compliment the dress. You should also consider the outfit as a whole to ensure that you are achieving the right balance of accessories and dress. Often with evening wear accessories less is more and the most stylish look is achieved with just a few simple pieces.
Here are some of the key accessories to consider when putting together your evening outfit.
Jewellery -as mentioned before, less is often more. Think about the colour, sparkle, length and shape of your jewellery. A complicated neckline will need a very simple necklace that hangs at just the right height. A small diamond (or similar) pendant is very elegant and looks great with almost any type of evening wear. Before you select earrings decide how you will have your hair. A pair of long earrings will usually look better with short hair or an up do.
Cover up -when travelling to and from an evening party or during the evening, you may feel slightly chilly and want to cover up. You may also feel slightly self conscious of showing your shoulders and prefer to cover them. Boleros are the most practical and stylish type of evening cover up but wraps also look really good and formal with an evening gown.
Underwear -whilst not strictly speaking an accessory, underwear is an important part of your outfit and contributes towards its overall success. Make sure you choose underwear that does not show at all and streamlines your shape.
Handbag - A small clutch bag is the perfect handbag to carry when wearing an evening dress. For a simple dress pick out a beautiful beaded clutch, for a more elaborate dress a simple black clutch will be perfect.
Hair -If you have medium length or long hair, an up do will look really formal and compliment your evening dress. You could choose a feather or sparkly hair accessory which will draw peoples eyes towards your face. Remember to balance and co ordinate with any jewellery that you are wearing.
Shoes -black high heels (if you can walk in them) are the best option for evening wear. Other alternatives include gold or silver heels or embellished ballet pumps for those that cannot wear heels.