Faith Style

Sometimes its what you put on before you get dressed that makes an outfit feel sexy and gives you a boost of confidence. Lingerie serves two very important yet different roles. First, the right undergarments can lift, hold in, smooth out and enhance your body’s natural attributes. And second, lingerie can make you feel prettier, sexier and more feminine. And I give my personal guarantee that when you feel great, you look great. So take some time out of your overscheduled life to shift through your overstuffed drawers. Then see which bras, panties and shapewear you might need, from everyday essentials to the sexiest little something’s.

Bras

This may come as a surprise to some, but bras, worn regularly have a shelf life of about a year. How long since you changed out your bras?

1. Trial and Error. Are the straps stretched out? Have the cups lost their shape? Is the lace torn? A “yes” means you need to say bye-bye to the bra.
2. Fit. When was the last time you were measured for a bra? How do you know if you have a good fit? Is your bra comfortable or are you just used to the way it fits? Does it ride up in back, indicating it is too large? Does it create bulges, indicating it is too tight? Are your shoulders indented from the straps, indicating that the straps are carrying the weight of the bust? A bra is an engineering work of art. Support comes primarily through the band and cup construction.
3. The best place to start is to find a small specialty store where you can get good, personalized service and, most importantly, where the owners and employees know how to properly fit a bra. Department stores generally have a large turnover of employees, most of whom are only working part-time. It is hard for them to know the merchandise, and few have been trained in proper undergarment fit.
4. Flex Your Shopping Muscle. Once you have your nude and black go-to’s consider ways to liven up the work week. Gray, navy and forest green can also be worn under dark garments.
5. Bra checklist – t-shirt, strapless, special occasion and plunge.

Two great lingerie boutiques that offer free bra fittings with no appointment required: BEESTUNG Lingerie de Femme they are conveniently located at 2504 Yonge Street (north of Eglinton Ave) and/or The Bra Boutique at 5867 Leslie Street (north of Finch).

Bras are like shoes — they all fit differently. Size varies by style and manufacturer. And the size is not as important as the fit. If it fits well, feels comfortable, and looks good, then this is the size for you.

Panties

Of course you have your cotton pairs for the gym and your sexy, lacy ones for, well you know. The real revolution is in the underwear you put on for work. New seamless bottoms that create a sleek fit for any cut clothing is now easily accessible and promises no visible pantie lines.

1. Miss Match. Even if you select the world’s tiniest G-string, if it’s white, it will be visible under a white skirt or pants. White is never completely opaque. Choose a colour instead, that’s close to your skin tone.
2. Boy shorts are a great alternative to the thong under dresses. There’s no risk of indecent exposure or of having your dress “get caught” when you sit.
3. Panty checklist – thong, bikini, boy shorts and briefs.

Don’t discount shapewear, there are a variety of great products out there that will make you look and feel fabulous. My favourite line is Spanx! I own at least 6 pairs from full slips to bottom & legs. You should have at least one!

Remember the sexier you feel in your unmentionables the sexier and confident you’ll feel when you add the extra layers of your outfit. Opt for silk and lace slips, a stretch lace bodysuit or a lace and tulle bustier for some instant sex appeal. One of my favourite lines is Strumpet & Pink: they create knickers that are a complete concept. Exploring a woman’s sensuality and sexuality and making manifest her desires and fantasies combining concept, innovation and beauty. Their knickers are experiential and focus on feeling rather than objectification. Each pair is handmade with exquisite attention to detail, combining pure silk fabrics and cut on the bias in such a way as to accentuate the whole figure, tracing and disclosing the female form.

Here are a few fabulous sites that will help, to get you in the mood, answer questions and get you excited about taking your clothes off:

Faithful Tip

Want to feel instantly sexy? Wear those pieces you save for you know what and pair them with your everyday clothing. I bet you’ll notice a skip in your step and seductiveness in your smile.