Choose the Right Underwear

Pat writes:

Back in the days when women were modest, underwear was sometimes referred to as ‘foundation wear’.  I rather like this term, not that I am coy but because the right underwear really is the foundation for a flattering outfit. 

Long before we started Look Lovely, I was shopping with Tricia and found pair of trousers that I thought were just right for her.  She agreed that they looked promising, but said that she couldn’t try them on because she was wearing “the wrong knickers”.  I couldn’t see how that could be a problem, but she said she knew that she would not be able to tell if they really were a good fit unless she had one the right kind of pants.

Since then, I have carried out observations (subtly I hope) and noticed that many women appear to be unaware of the concept of ‘visible panty line’ – their under garment is too tight and so are their trousers.   Another very basic error is to wear white pants under black trousers, so that sitting down can reveal an unattractive band of white.  I have even noticed some women wearing brightly coloured pants under white trousers – not attractive.

Make sure that your bra is properly fitted.  Experts suggest that you should be professionally measured at least twice a year.  I suspect that many of us manage once a year at best.

Bear in mind that bras to wear out!  I recently acted as waitress at a charity event, and that evening on the telephone I complained to Tricia that my back hurt.  She questioned me as to which part of my back hurt and I said it was worst around the bottom of my shoulder bones – sort of mid-back.  Then she asked if I was wearing a bra that really fitted me.  I was slightly affronted, but when I undressed that night I examined the bra I had been wearing.  I found that the elastic in the back and side panels had lost its ‘ping’ – when stretched, it stayed stretched.  The fact was that my bra had worn out.

Fairtrade Tee Shirts

Most lists of style basics include a white shirt.  Recently Vogue magazine recommended that one should see the white shirt as “your new best friend.”  Vogue said, “ Start over with a new one, vow to always wash it in a renowned biological washing powder, add glo-white and spray lightly with starch before ironing. (Alternatively, get it dry-cleaned.)

After we stopped laughing, we said “No thanks!”

Most of us have got better things to do than to wash and iron an everyday garment with loving care.

We recommended the tee shirt as a style basic.  You can wear it plain with jeans, add colour with a casually draped scarf, dress it up with a necklace, shape it with a belt: use your imagination and you can wear a tee shirt for most everyday occasions.

This is one style basic that is reasonably easy to find with a Fairtrade label, or made from organic cotton or an environmentally friendly fibre.

The blue/grey long sleeved tee shirt pictured here is from Seasalt.  It comes in a darker blue and in a pink/white stripe, with sizes from 8 to 20.  It is 95% organic cotton and 5% lyrca, so it will fit well.  This style is ideal for wearing under jackets on cooler days as the long sleeves will not ride up.  The price is £31 including delivery.

Short-sleeved tee shirts are always widely available, but it is sometimes difficult to find brighter colours in organic cotton.  This bright pink one is by Jackpot and available from ascension in sizes XS to L, costing £14 plus a delivery charge.

Pat has bought a few organic cotton tee shirts from Toast over the years.  Their garments are a bit pricey, but they wash and wear well, and are beautifully styled.  The Toast spring/summer collection includes this organic jersey tee at £49.  It comes in sizes 8 to 18, and 3 colours – tangerine, reef blue (which looks like turquoise to us) and the shade shown in the photo.

For a Fairtrade top with slightly more structure, but a great amount of versatility, we picked this calico top by Khysibu at £25.  It is available online from Ethicsgirls.  It comes in 3 sizes and is made from 55% hemp and 45% organic cotton. 

Perhaps if we had professional, office-based jobs we might feel the need for a white shirt in our wardrobe.  As it is, we get along just fine without such a high maintenance garment.

Do you think that you need a white shirt in your wardrobe?  Tell us on Talk Back. 

Black Skirts

Until recently I thought that a ‘capsule wardrobe’ was a collection of items of clothing that could be combined in so many different ways that it would be possible to manage with only those clothes.  With experience and reflection, I now think that it is better to think in terms of a set of clothes which will provide the basis for a versatile wardrobe.  Anyone with a good set of wardrobe basics can add items to achieve an individual look.

Wardrobe basics should be the best quality that you can find, and should fit.  If you purchase expensive clothing with the intention of wearing it for several years it is worth cost of having your clothes altered to achieve a perfect fit.

A black skirt is a good starting point for building a basic wardrobe.   It is still possible to find one in the January sales.  The first skirt illustrated here is available from Bodenin some (but not all) sizes and costs £13.50 (sale price).   The second photo is from Evans, and costs £25.  It is machine washable (a further money saving feature) and comes in sizes 14 to 32.  Finally, John Lewis is always a reliable source of wardrobe basics.

In my opinion a wardrobe basic should be fairly conservative in style, so that you can wear it to all events.  The American fashion guru Tim Gunn has been quoted on skirt length, “If you’re under 35 and have great legs, you can venture up to 2” above the top of the kneecap. If you’re more mature-regardless of your great legs – then the hem can range anywhere from the top to the bottom of your kneecap. Under no circumstances should your skirt be higher than that – unless you’re in an occupational costume. And under no circumstances should your skirt be longer than that, unless you’re going for the matronly look. As for opaque tights, I love them but they do not excuse a too-short skirt.”

When shopping for a skirt, take the time to turn the garment inside out in the changing room to examine the quality of the seams and the hem.  Try on the skirt to ensure that the lining and seams lie flat and the zip doesn’t pucker.  You should be able to fit a finder underneath the waistband for an elegant fit.

In my opinion, a black skirt can be worn for most of the year, for most occasions.  However, in summer, and particularly for more casual occasion, a beige or khaki skirt will be more appropriate.  A plain skirt in one of these colours will be very useful.  I have my eye on this panelled skirt from Boden– they call the colour ‘almond’ – and am pleased to see that they have now extended their range of sizes from 6 up to 22.  This skirt costs £45, is 100% cotton and machine washable.