We all have areas of our bodies that we'd like to lift, tuck, hide or enhance. Stacy London, TODAY fashion expert and co-host of TLC's “What Not To wear,” shares some undergarments that will help you look and feel your best.
The best way to look great in any outfit, at any age, is to start with great foundational pieces. There are such amazing pieces in the market to help shape, lift and slim that they are simply essential for you to look as good in your clothes as possible. Do not buy into the idea that there is some stigma attached to wearing any of these items. Use what you got and go out and get what you need to make yourself look and feel exactly the way you want — your absolute best! It's so easy. Get the right slimmer or shaper and wear the right clothes on top of them for your body shape and you'll always be in “control.”
Tummy slimmerOne of the biggest problem areas woman deal with is the tummy area. For those particularly over 35, this can be the bane area of any stylish woman. A lot of “tummy tamers,” which look like shorts, may tame your tummy, but bunch up around the tush. The slimmer from Flexees tames any tummy issues you may want to camouflage, but because it's a thong you can wear a clingy dress and not suffer from VPL (visible panty line)! To further emphasize the effect of a slimmer, look for great wrap dresses like those from Bisou Bisou at JCPenney, which ties slightly above your natural waistline and focuses the attention above the tummy itself! Slimmer: Flexees, $18; camisole: Banana Republic, $34; dress: Bisou Bisou at JCPenney, $70; earrings: Lee Angel; necklace: Banana Republic; bag: Kenneth Cole; shoes: Bandolino at Zappos.com
Small chest shaper
When you have a particularly small chest, it can be tricky wearing knitwear. You can look a bit “nippilicious,” even in a thicker flat knit, but more importantly, you want to make sure the “girls” look shapely in tighter fabrics. Foam, or molded cup, bras are best for this. (They are available with padding as well, if you choose to enhance your natural attributes.) They are smooth so there is no appearance of lumpiness underneath. The new bra from Warner's has a molded cup with no underwire for a great shape with total comfort. With a smaller chest, do look for fitted knits like the one from Cable & Gauge to wear over a bra to create a fuller appearance. Bra: Warner's, $32; panty: Calvin Klein, $20; sweater: Cable & Gauge, $48; shorts: Old Navy, $26.50; bag: Kooba; shoes: Nine West; jewelry: Wendy Mink
Hip slimmer & tush lifterWhen you want to slim down your lower half, you run the risk of slimming a thigh or a hip at the expense of your tush. Wearing a slimmer can pretty much flatten everything and take all the curve out of the tush area. But now Sassybax has created a hip and thigh slimmer that actually lifts your tush for more curve, which comes in handy when wearing your favorite jeans. When you are tall and curvy, look for a boot-cut jean, like the Calvin Klein pair, that balances your hips and thighs to also help show off your curves. Slimmer: Sassybax, $68; jacket: Mix It at JCPenney, $36; top: BCBG, $108; jeans: Calvin Klein, $69; earrings: Wendy Mink; bracelet: Wendy Mink; shoes: Steven
Large chest minimizer
Having a larger chest, particularly on a smaller frame, can make you look top heavy unless you are wearing the proper minimizing bra. You always want to look for something smooth that can minimize your chest at least one inch. The best minimizers can make the need for snaps or Velcro to keep button-down shirts buttoned obsolete. And the Fantasie bra is actually pretty, too! Rather than a matronly, unsexy bra, this bra is functional and beautiful. Also, look for a slightly wider than straight leg trouser or slight boot-cut to help keep a larger chest in proportion with your entire body by creating a bit of width on the lower half to match natural volume on your top half. Bra: Fantasie, $86; panty: Fantasie, $46; shirt: Club Monaco, $89; pants: Banana Republic, $78; earring: Branch; bracelet: Wendy Mink; belt: Banana Republic; handbag: Francesco Biasia; shoes: Steven
Full body slimmerWhat about when you just want a little extra slimming, shaping and all over confidence? Look to a great all-in-one suit from Donna Karan Hosiery. This piece holds the “girls” up, holds the tummy in, slims thighs and hips with no lumps or bumps and without feeling like you are a sausage wrapped in casing. This is the go-to slimmer for whenever you just want an all-over slimming effect. For $125, this may seem expensive, but it winds up being the only slimmer you'll ever need. You can wear more form-fitting jersey dresses, but look for a great waist-focusing one to create the most flattering hour-glass shape. Catsuit: Donna Karan Hosiery, $125; dress: Kay Unger, $250; earrings: Lee Angel; necklace: Wendy Mink; bangles: Banana Republic; rings: Branch; bag: R & Y Augousti; shoes: Tribeca at Zappos.com