Underwear Basics

As the weather gets warmer, we wear clothes made from thinner fabrics, often in pale colours.  If we have the good fortune to have warm weather, we may choose sleeveless tops, low cut necklines or perhaps strapless dresses.

All of these summer styles require the right underwear if you wish to look smart.   The picture to the left shows a basic white bra from Debenhams.  The smooth finish would make it for perfect for wearing under a tee shirt.

Of course, whatever style, the most important part of buying a bra is getting the correct fit.   It is a good idea to be measured at least once a year, more often if you have gained or lost a significant amount of weight.

You may find that your measurements can vary from one shop to the next, as retailers often have their own philosophy about bra fitting.

If you need to shop via the Internet take a look at the Evans website, which has a video on bra fitting.  Evans has a good selection of pretty bras in larger sizes, but the information on the video applies to anyone needing help with bra fitting.

Bras need to be replaced on a regular basis, as the elastic does become stretched and then the bra will no longer provide the required degree of support.  If you remember to wash and store bras in accordance with the manufacturer’s guidance, you should be able to prolong their life.   

Many bras are labelled ‘hand wash only’, and you may find this very difficult if you are always short of time.  We suggest that if you do want to put them in the washing machine that you ensure close the hook fastening, put the bras into a netting laundry bag (or bags), and wash on a ‘gentle’ programme with a mild detergent.  We do not recommend putting bras in the tumble drier. 

Your underwear wardrobe should contain both black and white or cream bras so that you can wear the appropriate shade under your outfit.  The black bra on the right is from John Lewis and is a reasonably priced at £12.

When considering suitable underwear for summer, you will find that a cream or flesh-coloured bra is less obvious under white clothing.  A bra with straps that can be crossed at the back, or a racer-back bra would be a useful way to keep straps out of sight when wearing a sleeveless garment.

As well as choosing bras that will provide a good foundation for your wardrobe, give some thought to your lower half.  We’ve all heard of the perils of VPL (visible panty line), so try to make sure that you wear the correct size so that you won’t be bulging in the wrong places.

When wearing white or light coloured trousers it is important to choose the right style of knickers.  Try to find an honest friend to tell you how you look from the back!  A small thong may not be the most flattering undergarment, even though it may be comfortable in warm weather.

Many summer dresses and skirts are unlined and would look better worn over a slip.  These simple undergarments can be difficult to find; John Lewis stocks them in black and neutral.

Above all, wearing the right underwear will give you confidence that you look your best, and then you can feel free to enjoy summer.  

Basic Shoe Wardrobe for Spring

Sometimes it seems that your wardrobe is full of shoes, but you have nothing to wear.  It could be that you keep buying the same style or type of shoes.

Your basic shoe wardrobe for spring should include four styles of shoes.  The illustration shoes an example of each shoe style.

Everybody needs a basic walking shoe.  I know women who wear high heels all the time – I admit that at there was a time when I always wear heels.  Now I regret it!  Give your feet a break and wear sensible shoes when you are doing the grocery shopping or walking the dog.  The shoes in the illustration come from Land’s End and cost £45.

There will be occasions when you want to look smart, and feel under-dressed in anything but heels.  I’ve selected a pair of navy sling backs by Hobbs, as the heel is a reasonable height, and the open heel gives the shoe a light touch, appropriate for spring.  These are available online from John Lewis (£139).

If you work in a professional environment, or like to wear skirts in the day, you will find a pair of smart flat shoes essential.  The pair shown here would also look good with trousers.  They are in black patent, a practical colour combined with a bright finish which gives a nice spring touch.  They are by Sam Edelman a tmy-wardrobe for £109.

My basic shoe wardrobe for spring includes boots because bitter experience has taught me that the weather can still be cold for weeks to come.  These boots from Boden cost £149 and in my opinion look more tailored than the ubiquitous slouchy boots.  If you are tempted, take a look at the customer reviews on the Boden website as it appears that the sizing is very generous.

Classic blouses or shirts

A few classic blouses or plain shirts will always be a useful addition to your wardrobe.  Our recommendation is to choose a plain or subtly striped blouse so that you can dress it up or down.

A classically cut plain blouse such as the one shown above (from my-wardrobe.com) can be worn with a suit for the office, or teamed with jeans and a chunky cardigan for casual wear.

All the blouses or shirts used to illustrate this article are on sale at substantially reduced prices.  These garments would be a good buy at any time, but something this useful really is a sale bargain.

The pink striped blouse (right) comes from Joules and would brighten up a work outfit on a dull winter day.

Think about your general style when choosing a wardrobe basic.  If you almost never wear formal clothes a tailored blouse will not slot into your wardrobe.  Consider looking for a less structured shirt.  The chambray shirt shown below is from White Stuff, and would make a useful addition to a relaxed wardrobe, but could look smart enough for a casual workplace.

On the other hand, if your wardrobe mainly consists of classic or formal clothes, your best choice would be a garment like this black and ivory striped blouse from Wallis.  It could be worn with a basic black skirt for a professional work environment.  Pop a white or cream cardigan over for a more casual outfit. 

When choosing a blouse to form part of your basic wardrobe, take time to ensure that the fit is right.  The shoulder seams should sit neatly at the top of your shoulders, and the sleeves should end just below your wrist bone if the blouse has full length sleeves.  If you are petite, you may find that a blouse with ¾ length sleeves is more flattering.

 You should be able to move your arms comfortably.

Try on the blouse and button it up in the changing room to make sure that it fits neatly over your bust, and there are no unsightly gaps between the buttons.  There should be at least one spare button either sewn to the label or packaged in an attached envelope.

Check to see if the garment is machine washable.  A dry-clean only garment will add to your regular wardrobe care costs. 

    

Jackets to bridge the seasons

Once again the shops and online boutiques offer a bountiful selection of jackets, in the full range of styles from casual to classic.

A jacket is a wardrobe basic at any time of year, but they are most useful when the seasons are changing.   In autumn or spring the weather often changes between morning and evening.  A jacket can give you a warmer layer without the bulk of a coat, while giving a more structured style than a cardigan.

When choosing a jacket, bear in mind the overall look of your wardrobe.  The denim jacket above (from White Stuff) would be a real bonus to a casual wardrobe.  With the current trend for denim with denim it would be very fashionable with jeans; it has enough structure to work well with a tunic and leggings for a slightly dressy look.

At the other end spectrum, the wool blazer from Land’s Endis just right for pairing with smart trousers or a pencil skirt.  In the illustration the blazer is shown with jeans, demonstrating the versatility of this classic design.

If you are building an office wardrobe, here are two jackets in different styles.  The boxy jacket from Coastwill look great with a sleek skirt, fitted dress or slim trousers.  Joulesoffers this very feminine tweed jacket that you could wear with a skirt on work days, and dress down with jeans at the weekend.

As well as thinking about your style, consider your body shape when choosing a jacket.  The Joules tweed jacket is cut to emphasize a neat waistline, while the cropped jacket from Coast would suit a straight, athletic figure.

A waterfall cardigan jacket is a good shape for those with a generous figure.  Take a look at the cut and fall of the fabric to ensure that the garment is flattering.  This cardigan from Evans is trimmed with eyelets, and falls in a good straight line.

A jacket is a basic building block for a versatile wardrobe.  When you buy a jacket that is right for your style and body shape, you will find that the garment gets a lot of wear.

Before purchasing a jacket take time to examine the seams and buttons (including spare buttons) to make sure that all stitching is intact.  Try to buy the best quality that you can afford.

 

 

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