The art of choosing your underwear 

How many different underwear combinations do you own? Well, how long is a piece of (G) string?! Underwear options are as endless as your imagination, with all the different colours, fabrics and functions under the sun. But if we’re going to look at actually choosing your underwear, we need to start somewhere. So we’re going to explore underwear in all its forms and discover how what we choose matters.

Basic Underwear

No frills is incredibly apt for this style of underwear. It’s a style that avoids embellishment or detailing. Many basic styles are made with cotton, although basic style control briefs are constructed with stretch panelling to offer more support. On the top half, you’ll find seam free T-shirt bras are popular as a basic style. There’s enough coverage without being too overbearing. This style avoids the extreme, so bikini briefs and hipster briefs are iconic looks.

Try:

• • Bikini Briefs – for unfussy convenience
  • Hipster Briefs – for low cut waists
  • Light Compression – for all day comfort

Sporty Styles

High impact or low impact, sporty styled underwear is all about stability. Sports bras shun underwire in favour of more practical stretch based support. Similarly, sporty styled knickers tend towards the shorts style. Lines are smooth and seams are minimal. The idea is that this underwear isn’t going to rub or chafe whether you’re running a marathon or breathing through yoga poses.

Try:

• • Boy short briefs – for minimal chafing
  • Control briefs – for ultimate support
  • Sports bras – to prevent bounce

Sexy Looks

Remember that sexy is just as much about what makes you feel attractive as how you look. So sexy styles of underwear cover a multitude of features. Some women prefer the tiniest thongs in vibrant colours. However, others feel great in a full bodice or cami. One thing that sexy styles hold in common is that they tend to be designed with some level of embellishment. This prettifies your underwear and not only looks cute, but makes you feel like you’re wearing something special.

Try:

• • Thongs – for skimpy sexiness
  • Shaping Cami – to feel elegant
  • Corset – for sexy curves

Shapewear

Underwear works great as a foundation layer smoothing your body for the outfit on top. Shapewear is designed specifically for this purpose. Using varying levels of compression you can gently smooth your line from bust to hip. High waisted control briefs prevent any bumps around your waist. Similarly, shaping skirts or shorts ensure that your shape is streamlined all the way down your thighs.

Try:

• • Shaping Shorts – for a smooth line
  • Support Girdle – for waist compression
  • Shaping Slip – to support a dress line

Occasion Foundations

Underwear for special occasions varies wildly. Some occasions blur boundaries with the sexy and others with shaping. For a special occasion, you need to find underwear styles that make you look and feel the part, whilst still providing a good foundation for your occasion wear. Clingy dresses require a smooth silhouette, for example, and structured tailoring always looks better on a strong and supported shape. This is where shapewear can offer the best of both worlds with full body shaping that also looks as pretty as a picture. 

Try:

• • Shaping Bodysuit – to look great whilst still shaping 
  • Open Bust Shaping Shorts – for reliable support and flexibility of bra
  • Laced Panelling – for feeling a bit special

Invisible Lines

Secret underwear styles are those which do not betray evidence of their existence! Maybe you have a low cut or high hemmed outfit in which you’re worried about underwear flashing. Or alternatively clingy cuts that reveal underwear seams. For this, you should look at styles that are either very small or very big and ideally seamless. Thongs are an increasingly popular style to avoid VPL, but you can equally go for shorts that carry the compression down your thighs.

Try:

• • Seamless Designs – for clingy clothes
  • Nude Colours – for light fabrics
  • Thongs – to escape VPL

Underwear styles are as varied as the women who wear them, so the beauty of choosing your underwear is that you’ll be set up for anything! This is why at Elle Courbee we offer a range of styles and cuts to suit your mood and the occasion.