Pairing your undergarments with your clothes sounds simple enough – black with black, and white with white. In reality, it is a touch more complex than matching the colour of your underwear to your shirt. Different undergarments are meant for different occasions and are cut to flatter different necklines, silhouettes, fabrics, and body types. Just like anything else in your closet, starting with the fundamentals is key to building a great wardrobe and it doesn’t get more fundamental than what’s worn underneath. Let’s break down it down:
Colour
On a day-to-day basis, the most practical colours you can own are solid black, white, nude, and grey. These colours tend to go with most pieces of clothing depending on their composition, but the real secret is to find undergarments that match your skin tone perfectly. The most common mistake made is by pairing white with white, when all that does is make your underwear shine through like a flashlight. To truly get that invisible look, you have to pair white with the nude that matches closest to your skin tone so that the underwear blends seamlessly into your body.
NAJA, a new lingerie company created by actress Gina Rodriguez aims to provide a nude bra and pantie for every skin tone.
Bras
Demi cut, full coverage, racer back, strapless, wireless, unlined, lightly lined, plunge, scoopneck plunge, bralette, etc. – just a small snapshot of the silhouettes that exist for bras. Although some pieces with cut outs fall outside of the norm and require specialty bras like the plunge or bralette, most necklines will be served by a basic t-shirt bra, strapless bra and backless bra. A wireless t-shirt bra offers the most flattering and seamless look, and a nude colour strapless bra works for most strapless tops and dresses.
The T-shirt Demi Bra, approx $50 CAD, Victoria’s Secret
The T-shirt Wireless Bra, approx $50 CAD, Victoria’s Secret
Very Sexy Multi-way Bra, approx $71 CAD, Victoria’s Secret
Underwear
Similar to bras, there are several different cuts of underwear including the thong, cheeky, string bikini, bikini, boybrief, and boyshort.
The cheeky, string bikini, and bikini silhouettes offer mid-level coverage for a relaxed fit. They’re comfortable and are great for wear with most bottoms. Boybriefs and boyshorts offer full coverage, which are great for times when you need more support like during exercise.
Thongs offer the least coverage, but the most seamlessness underneath clothing. If you’re wearing a body-conforming dress or dislike visible panty lines, then thongs are the best option for a seamless look.
No-Show Sexy Thong, approx $15 CAD, Victorias Secret
Calvin Klein Three-Pack Stretch Cotton Thongs, $31.50 CAD, Hudson’s Bay
Vintage Lace Bikini, $16.20 CAD, Aerie
Follow Winnie on Twitter and Instagram