Photo: Select Studios
If you want to look picture-perfect in your beautiful wedding dress, you have to invest in the proper undergarments. From comfy shapewear to no-slip strapless bras, we've got answers to every burning question you have about what you need to wear beneath that gown. Your next dress fitting just got way easier.
Q: I'm plus-size. How can I look thinner on my wedding day and still be able to breathe?
Shapewear doesn't have to feel like a vise. For the most comfortable opions, look for pieces made of lightweight nylon-Lycra rather than cotton, says New York stylist Erin Sumwalt. A one-piece like the Spanx Slimmer & Shine Mid-Thigh Bodysuit ($60, Spanx) whittles your stomach and hips and creates a smooth line. Pair it with a push-up bra; lifting your bust makes your waist look smaller!
Q: My dress is all sheer lace in the back. Do I need to go braless?
If you're an A- to C-cup, you can probably get all the support you need by having your salon sew cups into your gown. If you're a D-cup or larger, a bra will do wonders. Jessica Pfister of Le Mystere recommends buying a strapless bra, like Le Mystère's Soiree Strapless Bra ($74, Bare Necessities), then adding an extender to keep your bra in place at the base of your back where do no one will see it.
Q: I'm busty, and my dress has a sweetheart neckline. How do I keep my cleavage under control?
Before your first fitting, head to a specialty lingerie store and get measured for your true size. You want full support with no squeezing! A reducing bra, like the Aviana Embroidered Soft Cup Minimizer ($46, Linda, The Bra Lady), smooths the bustline using soft molded foam instead of cleavage-creating padded cups.
Q: I'm wearing a clingy satin gown. Which shapewear won't show?
Lightweight seamless shapewear should be invisible under even the most unforgiving dress. To avoid bra lines and wardrobe malfunctions, wear a one-piece and be sure it matches your skin tone, not your gown; white underthings may show through in photos — eek! We like Wacoal's Try a Little Slenderness All-in-One Body Briefer ($85, Bare Necessities).
Q: Is there such a thing as pretty shapewear? I'm not into the granny-panties look on my wedding night.
Control your curves with a half slip that fits like a snug miniskirt, for a vibe that's equal parts sweet and sexy. We love Modcloth's Framework It, Girl Contouring Half Slip ($43, Modcloth).
Q: How do I avoid the urge to hike up my strapless dress all night?
Embrace the power of double-sided tape! Stick some Commando Matchsticks Strips ($10; Commando) between your skin and the dress. If you're wearing a bra, add tape between the cup and your dress. It will stay where you want it — no yanking needed.