What many brides don’t realise is that, just like building a house, creating your best possible look on the big day begins with foundations in other words, lingerie! Your bridal lingerie has the power to sculpt and shape your body, affecting the fit of your dress, your posture and even your comfort throughout the day, so it’s crucial that you get it right.
With 70% of women thought to be wearing the wrong size bra every single day of their lives, it’s really important to get fitted for even the most basic of underwear. But when it comes to your bridal smalls, you will really benefit from the services of a professional lingerie fitter. A really knowledgeable lingerie professional will not only be able to ensure that your bra fits perfectly, but also that it makes the most of your assets and sits well under your dress.
Bra options
The bra you choose for your wedding day will be largely dictated by the style of your dress, although your shape and the amount of support you need will also affect your choice. If you do have a larger or smaller than average bust, bear this in mind when choosing your wedding dress; it’s not unheard of for a busty girl to buy a strapless dress and then find it impossible to source a bra that sits discreetly underneath and if you’re blessed in the bust department the last thing you want to do is go bra-less on the biggest day of your life! Here’s a brief rundown of the different bra styles available and the dresses they work best with.
Strapless / Multiway
Usually taking a balconette shape, strapless and multiway bras offer maximum flexibility and are suitable for wear under most strapless dress styles. They’re also great for cross-back, halterneck or one-shoulder dresses as you can mix and match the straps at will.
Frontless / Plunge
Ideal if the front of your gown plunges deeply, a frontless bra isn’t really frontless but often uses a clear, virtually invisible or decorative strap to join the cups at the front. If your dress has a less deep neckline, a plunge bra is a perfect solution and offers great support and shape whilst remaining invisible under your gown. Most frontless and plunge bra styles are available in halterneck options.
Backless / Low back
If your dress has a low cut back or is backless, perhaps with lacing detail, you’ll need a bra that can’t be seen from behind. If the gown has straps, a low back converter could be ideal this is a lingerie extra’ that converts an ordinary bra into one that crosses low down at the back and fastens at the front, around your tummy. If your dress is strapless, one shoulder or halterneck, a stick-on backless bra is probably your best option. These self-adhesive, underwired bras come in either a single or two sections and simply stick onto your skin. They’re not ideal if you’re very busty but offer good support and some extra padding for smaller busts. Another option in this scenario is to purchase a well-fitting strapless bra, and then have a dressmaker sew it into your gown before cutting away the back. When your dress is fastened, it will hold everything in place.
Shapewear
A professional lingerie expert will be able to advise you on shapewear to suit your figure and your chosen gown. This can range from things like control pants, hosiery and shorts to smooth out problem areas, through to specialist lingerie and corsetry. For instance, if you’re quite busty and your dress is strapless, a longline bra or even a bustier can offer extra support. Likewise, if your gown is very fitted you may feel more confident with the extra support a bustier or basque offers, or if you’re self conscious about your midriff, a bra and waist nipper combo might give you a more streamlined silhouette and of course this type of lingerie is a quintessentially bridal’ treat for both you and your new hubby!
Image Sources
Bridal Lingerie Photo Shoot
Multi-way Bra
Frontless / Plunge
Backless / Low Back
Shapewear
