The Hindu Business Line : Bra code!

It doesn’t matter how beautiful your clothes are, lingerie is the key foundation to looking good. Through years of seeing how a body shape can look different with the right-sized lingerie and how it can improve posture, I am of the opinion that women look slimmer and sexier if wearing the right fit of lingerie,” says Dalbir Bains, the woman behind Boudoir — the multi-brand lingerie and swimwear store in London.

Today the market is flooded with a wide range of lingerie choices, but buyers are often unsure how to pick the right fit.

Priya Sharma, a Delhi-based designer says, “Black, white and skin are the classics for every woman’s lingerie wardrobe. Red lace is again a must-have for that sexy feel. Nowadays there umpteen fun additions to the usual palette ranging from rich shades of purple and wine to soft pastels, pink, lime-green and blue. Also, small prints which were earlier restricted to teens, are now coming into vogue for all ages, as also multicolour dots, florals, circles, stars.”

Fabric choice

Apart from the fit and the choice of colours, a crucial factor in lingerie shopping is the choice of fabric.

Sheena Desai, who runs a lingerie store in Kolkata says, “The material is the most important factor in lingerie comfort; though most people equally favour nylons and cottons for bras, for panties the preference is definitely cotton. I suggest a blend of 3-10 per cent spandex in all lingerie. Fine polyester laces with floral patterns are also hot-sellers and can be experimented with.”

“Eight out of ten women wear incorrect bra sizes,” rues Nisha Somaia, director of the New Delhi boutique Revolution.

“Having endured a serious scarcity of well-fitted, attractive, good quality lingerie for years, I decided to stop complaining, stop searching and do something about it. Revolution, my brand that pioneered plus-size fashion for women, took the lead once more by foraying into the niche category of plus-size lingerie.”

The need is there for sure, but when it comes to availability this is what Nisha has to say, “Most manufacturers seem to have assumed that larger women don’t need or want great lingerie. And if you look around in the market, even today, there are almost no options for larger women.

Either they are forced to squeeze themselves into sizes that are too small or, if they opt for a looser fit for comfort, they lose out on shape and appearance as well.”

She suggests a few must-haves in every woman’s lingerie collection…

Multiway bra: This bra can be worn in a number of ways — including strapless, halter neck or with cross straps — and is available with both regular and transparent straps. This style gives women the freedom to wear any kind of top and not worry about teaming it with the right bra.

Lace or embroidered bra and panty sets: These are available in the favourite colours of red and wine. Of course, standard colours like white and black are equally popular.

T-shirt bra: This is a basic style with underwire and a moulded cup. The seamless design makes it the lingerie of choice for T-shirts.

Total support or crossover bra (non-wired bras): For yoga, meditation or exercise you need that extra comfort. These are a must-have for women who put comfort over style.

Girls’ boxers: A hot-selling style internationally. It is a cute addition to a woman’s lingerie collection and a good break from the basic briefs. The women’s boxers reportedly score over the thong today, according to a recent survey in the West!

Wonder bra: It comes with a padding of 1-1.5 inches thickness, which is strategically placed to give the bust the right shape suited to all clothing.

More Stories on : Knitwear & Hosiery | Gender

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