High-cut panty, tanga, boyshort, control brief, bikini, shaping panty… buying the right type of panty isn’t as simple as you might think!  Just as there are many different body types out there, the number of different panty varieties available also seems endless! To help guide you towards the best choice and to explain how the right panty can help improve your figure, we once again turn to Raymonde Tranchemontagne, Wonderbra’s Senior Design Manager.

Ms. Tranchemontagne, based on your experience, what are the most popular panty types?
It is difficult to say that one type of panty is more popular than another because the final choice is often influenced by taste or needs. First we have to define what women are looking for in a panty and then compare several models to find the one that works best for them.

How do we choose the best panty for our body type and desired comfort level?
Every woman dreams of having a wonderful figure and they can come closer to this ideal by identifying the feature they wish to conceal and then finding the garment offering the best solution. Some panties offer tummy control, others reduce the roundness of the hips, and still others provide lift for the derrière.

We often see references to “slimming” or “shaping” panties – but how can a panty actually shape our body?

To reduce roundness and add control to the necessary areas, the choice of fabric becomes important as it relates to the percentage of Spandex and how it is integrated. All these details, combined with the cut that we work on during the adjustment of the model, allow us to create a slimming panty with specific targets.

So there are different levels of control and support available when it comes to shaping panties, as there are for bras?
When it comes to panties, we tend to talk about control. And indeed, there are several levels of control depending on the desired effect.

Can women of all body types benefit from this feature?
Certainly, but I would say that you would find a greater variety and wider choice in sizes from medium to XXL.

Finally, what advice would you offer to women who are interested in trying a slimming panty for the first time?
Don’t make the mistake of selecting a smaller size, because the garments have already been designed and adjusted to shape the figure. The ideal is to try on a slimming panty of the proper size in the fitting room and compare what your figure looks like to when you wear your regular panty.

RaymondeTranchemontagne

Nearly every woman knows that embarrassing feeling when she realizes her bra is visible through her clothing. Sometimes, it’s because of a see-through fabric; other times it’s due to the colour of the bra itself. But which bra colours should be worn with which clothing colours? And which fabrics allow for the greatest range of bra colours?

For help in answering these and other questions, we asked Raymonde Tranchemontagne, Wonderbra’s Senior Design Manager, to walk us through some simple rules for avoiding unwanted exposure.

Based on your experience, what are the best underwear colours for remaining discreet?

Look for colours that are close to your skin tone. If you’re Caucasian or fair-skinned, this means colours like nude, skin tone, ivory, light pink, taupe, etc. If you have darker skin, look for darker colours like mocha, sand, or black. It’s a simple rule actually – the closer the bra is to your skin tone, the less it will show through your clothing.

Are there ways to wear bolder underwear colours whithout having them show through clothing?
Yes, as long as they’re worn with clothing of similar colours and not with pastels. Ideally, you should stick with darker coloured bras under dark clothing. And avoid white, especially under black clothing!

Does the fabric type of the bra play a role in how visibile (or invisible) it is, under clothing?

Yes, non-textured or seamless materials will always be more discreet. If you’d like to add some variety to your bra collection, look for bras with a light design, without too much colour contrast.

For a more “natural” look, what do you recommend?

A molded, seamless bra – with or without underwires – will give you the most natural appearance. Certain styles incorporate a foam inner lining for added comfort, opacity, and no show-through when worn underneath a t-shirt or silk clothing.