The Foundation of a Great Figure

HOW TO SOLVE 3 UNDERLYING PROBLEMS

By Meghann O’Malley Powell Photos By Rosh Sillars

We’ve all stood there, looked in the mirror and wondered, “Can I get away with wearing this? Is it too tight? Do I need to go up a size?”Most of us don’t realize that it might be what we are wearing underneath our outfit that is creating all that stress. Giving more thought to your choice of foundation garments could be the answer to all of your figure issues! Metro Detroit’s lingerie experts reveal our most common underwear mistakes and how to fix them.

Problem No. 1
The badly fitting bra

Rebecca Aughton, owner,
Bra~vo Intimates
517 S.Washington Ave., Royal Oak

Rebecca Aughton believes that the biggest mistake women make is wearing the wrong-sized bra. According to Aughton, most department stores carry only 3% of the sizes available, and women think that they need to fit within those limitations. Aughton says that most women wear a bra that is too big around.

If you wear a poor-fitting bra, it’s uncomfortable and affects the fit of your clothing.Women should typically be refitted for a bra several times during their lives: during puberty, after having a child, after menopause, and after any other physical change. The band of the bra should make a straight horizontal circle around your ribs. If your bra band is too big, the band will ride up your back, and the straps will fall off your shoulders.

“The band is the foundation of your foundation. If it’s wrong, the whole thing is wrong,” she says.

Aughton advises women to “get fitted by a bra fitter who has at least five years’ experience and who fits up to an H cup. I meet women who think they are 38C when they’re actually a 34E.”

Her best-selling bra is by Fayreform, a New Zealand import priced at $55. “Every bra will fit differently,” she says. “It’s like trying on jeans. … Once you wear a bra that fits well, you will look slimmer and better in everything you wear.”

Problem No. 2
No control over your own shape

Louise Miglio, owner,
La Corsetiere
123 E.Main St., Northville

Shapewear doesn’t just shrink your waist and hips by inches – it also can help you control your shape. For instance, maybe you love your curves, but you’d like a tighter midsection. Or maybe you just need your clothes to lie smoothly over a dress or skirt. Shapewear can help you get the look you want.

“The shapewear today is not like your old-fashioned girdle,” says Louise Miglio. Today’s shapewear is made of a microfiber material that’s comfortable, and smoothes and slims from just below the bust down through the waist and thighs.

Miglio recommends Curves by Berkshire, which retails for $15. “It’s lightweight, so you can comfortably wear it under white pants in the summer, and it doesn’t roll or cut into you like other shapers.” She also recommends the High Waisted Shaper by Sophie (above), which retails for $45. “This shaper is made of a much thicker material. It actually cinches you in a whole inch, and it comes in many different lengths and styles.”

Problem No. 3
Panty lines

Eleanor Walsh, owner,
Pretty Things
17116 Kercheval Ave., city of Grosse Pointe

Eleanor Walsh believes that visible panty lines and poor-fitting panties are a common struggle for women. If you are wearing the wrong panties, it’s not only uncomfortable, but it also draws attention. “If your panties don’t stay in place when you walk, or if they cut into you, you should try a different style,” says Walsh. “I’m not talking about as drastic as going from a boy short to a thong. It’s about finding the panty that is most comfortable and fits you best.” Different shapes fit different bodies.

Eleanor’s most popular selling panty is the Hanky Panky thong, which retails for $18.Model number 4811 became famous a few years ago when The Wall Street Journal carried an article on its comfort. As an alternative, panties with lace bands that lie flat to the body offer a smooth fit.