Types of Foundation Garments and Accessories
Shape wearers also known as foundation garments play a major role in the world of fashion and established designers have continued to meet the need for these garments leading to numerous retail and repair services all over the world.
Foundation garments or shape wearers are undergarments, which are worn to change the wearer’s shape to a more slimmer or fashionable figure. The most common foundation garments and accessories include corsets, brassieres, body suits, control briefs, girdles, garter belts, control slips and control camisoles. They are worn on different parts of the body and most retailers try to match foundation garments to their outer garments.
Corsets are historical garments worn by both men and women and serve the purpose of shaping the wearers body. These garments are loved by brides that wear them under their traditional gowns or as the top of the gown. They are viewed as sexy and shape altering garments, since they accentuate the wearer’s hips and bust giving her an hourglass figure with a tiny waist. Though these garments are controversial, the current designs are well made to keep the wearer comfortable while still staying fashionable. Classic Victorian designs and modern luxurious fabrics have been combined to create the most dazzling garments and most retailers provide a wide range of beautiful, waist reducing, tight lacing corsets.
These undergarments have been a part of women’s garments for centuries. They are used to support, cover and elevate the breasts thereby shaping the wearers body. These garments enhance cleavage while lifting the breasts to a particular position. Most retail shops sell different kinds and sizes of bras. Some are for every day use while others are specialized, nursing or sport bras. There is a wide range of bras available in retail shops, which include seamless strapless, silicon, self-adhesive, padded among many others. Brassieres are made from several materials such as spandex, cotton, nylon, embroidered and retail shops stock them in different colors and sizes. Women select bras for practical reasons such as supporting their breasts but also for fashion and therefore go for the most attractive ones. Retailers have no choice but to meet this need and they have to stock bras, which are creatively designed.
Women and young girls as underwear, lingerie or foundation garments commonly wear body suits. Retail stores also have body suits designed for toddlers and younger children. These suits should be stylish but comfortable and with adequate leg space. These garments are made from several materials, designs and come in various colors and sizes. There are several retailers and suppliers that provide a wide selection of dance suits from soft-footed tights for younger children to stretch stirrups, from footless tights to mesh footed for all dance occasions. They cater for both adult professionals and young armatures and have a selection of suits that are made from spandex/cotton or Lycra combined with either supplex or nylon to increase comfort and enhance performance.
Control briefs are foundation garments that help to eliminate or reduce panty lines, they flatten the stomach while shaping and lifting the wearer’s buttocks. They are ultra soft and lightweight to shape and smooth the wearer. These briefs control the tummy while offering extra support and some of them have padding on the buttocks and hips to make large those particular areas. They are ideal for all outfits and most occasions. They are mostly made from a combination of spandex & nylon and come in various colors and sizes. Briefs can either be long legs, high waist & long leg, seam free control or seam free high and waist control.
These are elasticized flexible garments worn mostly by women over their hips and waists to make their bodies appear more slender. Girdles are mostly made from elasticized fabrics and most of the modern ones are designed to smooth and shape the wearer’s figure to produce a more attractive and aesthetically pleasing silhouette. Most of these garments extend from the wearer’s waist to her thighs and are still very popular with women that prefer to shape their figure using a garment. Some retail shops also have maternity departments selling these pieces of garment made to not only fit but also comfort an expectant woman for the entire pregnancy period. These garments support the pregnant woman’s stomach and they also relieve pressure from areas such as the back preventing or reducing pain and fatigue.
These are used to hold stockings in position and are mostly made of different materials such as lace, cotton, heavy cloth or leather. They are mostly part of stocking and are matched to stocking of similar colors. Garter belts normally come with several straps, which vary in number to keep the stockings place for a long period. They also have different features such as zippers, attached panties or matching thongs, to make them more romantic.
Control camisoles are popular undergarments, which offer control of the wearer’s waist, abdomen and bust. Most of them are designed with inbuilt bras and are lightweight, sleek undergarments, which are among the most user-friendly shaping garments. These garments cover the wearer from above the bust to the waist or below it. Most of them minimize busts by 13/4 inches and are ideal for wearing as base layers under semi-opaque or sheer blouses. Some of them have comfortable straps that perfectly cushion the shoulders and can be worn without bras since they have soft cups that support the wearer’s bust comfortably and without flattening. Some of these camisoles have molded bras, which are fitted with under wire for support.
In conclusion foundation garments and accessories offer body control in three ways namely, light, medium and firm control. They are ideal for women of different sizes that want to look smoother and more toned without being flattened. Most of the stores selling this garments and accessories have online stores with accurate details and pictures of various products. They also stock the most stylish but comfortable garments to cater for a wide variety of needs, tastes and preferences.