So, I have this dress: A guide to finding the right undergarments
“So, I have this dress…”
Those words, those five little words that send a bra fitter into high alert.
Why, you may ask?
More often than not, the client has gone out shopping and fallen in love with her dream dress. That can be a wonderful thing. It can also be a nightmare when reality sets in and the client realizes they need an elusive undergarment that may or may not exist.
I remember the first time ventured into a lingerie store.
I was 18 years old and needed a strapless bra to wear under my grad dress. Not being of average size, I could not simply walk into a department store to find one. My mother took me to the lingerie store that used to be on Vaughn street in downtown Winnipeg. I was shy and embarrassed. The process was painful, literally and figuratively.
I ended up with a full out old school merrywidow that gave me Madonna-like torpedo boobs. It was a nightmare. I remember being uncomfortable, I remember being extremely self-conscious and wanting to get out of that dress and that corset as fast as possible. Had I known that that was my only option, I would likely have chosen a different dress.
Fast-forward 35 years, and it’s me on the other side of the curtain fitting people into garments for special occasions.
We have come a long way with design and fabrics, but still there are limits.
There are those days when the minute that garment bag gets unzipped, we know we are in for a challenge.
“I need a backless, strapless, push up, control top low back, plunging neckline thong back garment to go under my dress - oh, and it has to be comfortable.”
A unicorn, essentially what they are looking for is a unicorn - no such garment exists.
When you can go braless, no problem. But if you want an undergarment for shape, support or comfort, there are little to no options to offer.
(I’m no engineer, but how exactly would backless control top work?)
Fashion has come a long way over the years. Size inclusivity has opened up a whole new world for people of all sizes and shapes! That is a great thing.
It does however continue to pose a challenge because if you are bigger than a C cup, and you WANT to wear a bra, the style that is optimal for your choice of dress may not exist in your size and even if it does exist, you may not feel comfortable in it.
We have seen many grads and brides to be in tears when they arrive to us after having tried on hundreds of garments only to end that none of them works.
All this can be avoided!
We have one very, very important piece of advice for all women:
BEFORE you start looking for a dress, BEFORE you start trying on dresses, get a professional bra fitting.
It is critical, and here is why:
A professional fitter will know what is out there, what is available in your size and what will work for your body and different dress shapes.
You will get a clear picture of your size and how different bras can change your silhouette.
You will have the opportunity to try on strapless bras, corsets and shape wear. If you are not comfortable wearing a strapless bra (regardless of your size) - you will know to avoid even looking at gowns that require one. The last thing you want to be doing on your special day is constantly puling your dress. If you don’t want to struggle in and out of shape wear all evening, avoid body con dresses.
When you start your shopping experience in a properly fitting bra, you will feel better about yourself and how you look. Those dresses will hang properly on your body, and you will feel more confident.
You will save yourself time and frustration searching for that bra you need to make your dress work for you. On your special day, your dress needs to work for your body, your underwear should compliment your body and be comfortable.
There will be time for that boutique to order in something that might work for you before your fittings are scheduled.
So don’t be afraid - get fit and have fun!
And if you need a little bit more insight into what to expect from a professional bra fitting, learn about our process here.
Let the shopping experience begin!
- Susanne