If you are wearing something slinky, don’t get hung up on whether bridal underwear is “beautiful” or not – it probably won’t be. Above all, it needs to be functional, in a neutral colour match to your skin tone. Even ivory on pale skin can give a strobe-light effect and show through bias-cut dresses. Often, a dress is so figure-hugging that the only thing that is going to work is an all in one Spanx from right underneath the breasts. There’s nothing pretty or sexy about this kit, but it works. You can change into something more flattering for your wedding night if need be.
2. Pretty details are not your friend
A satin bow will always show. One bride I designed for found a fine lace pair of knickers that matched her skin tone and thought they were invisible – until her groom pointed out the satin bow at the top, which showed through her dress.
3. ‘Tit tape’ has many uses
If you’re going backless, try a backless bra with sticky wings, such as the Fashions Forms Go Bare Backless Strapless Bra, Black. They do work – but test them out first. One bride found a great strapless bra with not quite enough stickiness, so she covered every last millimetre of the inside of the cups in tit tape (double-sided tape for the body) as insurance. This is not an entirely glamorous story: the bra stuck to her skin so firmly that it took two bridesmaids to remove it when she tested it out, but it worked on the day.
A bride at Jean Paul Gaultier's couture show on Wednesday. Not the desired underwear effect.
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A model at Jean Paul Gaultier’s couture show on Wednesday. Not the desired underwear effect for most non-catwalk brides. Photograph: IAN LANGSDON/EPA
4. Alterations aren’t just for your dress
If you wish your bra was just a bit lower at the back, or don’t think it is going to stay up on its own, it is easy to alter it or stitch it into your dress. One bride I designed for took a shapewear slip, attached it to a bra with stick on tabs at the side, and had the back of the bra altered and lowered. Then she attached extra long white bra straps to the top. Admittedly, getting undressed afterwards was a bit of a mission.
5. Size matters
This might be seem obvious point, but make sure you buy the right size knickers. Don’t be precious about it – going one size bigger than usual might help avoid bulging. But also be careful you don’t go too big, as I have heard of a bride who managed to lose her pants walking down the aisle. (Nb. Eagle-eyed bridesmaids are essential.)
6. Allow yourself a lot of time to select the right underwear
This means trying out underwear at your dress fittings – not rushing out to buy it afterwards – and standing near the window during fittings so you are getting natural daylight to spot any lines. You should also take pictures of yourself from different angles to ensure flash photography won’t ruin the illusion.
7. Going commando is always an option
If you want support but can’t find anything that doesn’t leave a visible line, you can always find a pair of seamless shapewear tights and chop off the feet and part of the legs. If you don’t need underwear for support then don’t bother wearing any – that’s one way to avoid the lines showing. In that case, do prepare for any weather, especially if you are not wearing a bra. Even summer evenings get chilly, and no one needs to see that much of the bride.
Shopping list: the best ‘invisible’ underwear I have found ...
Fashions Forms Go Bare Backless Strapless Bra, 'Nude' Fashions Forms Go Bare Backless Strapless Bra, ‘Nude’ Photograph: John Lewis
Seamless knickers
• Microfibre Intimissimi laser-cut french knickers are seamless and very comfortable.
• I also like Calvin Klien’s invisible hipster shorts.
Seamless knickers with support
• Maidenform Sleek Smoothers Shorty
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• Maidenform Weightless Comfort Thigh Slimmer Shorts, ‘Nude’
• Bodywrap’s Firm Seamless High Waist Thigh Slimmer, Bodywrap Lite Waist Line Thigh Slimmer, Bodywrap Firm Seamless Waist Line Briefs and the Bodywrap Lite Torsette Body are all excellent. Bodywrap can be difficult to get hold of outside the US, but try Shapewear.co.uk and eBay and Amazon.
Shapewear slips
• The best I have found for a slinky backless dress is the Bodywrap slenderiser – it can be easily altered to fit a lower-backed dress and will hold you in all day.
• Also very good: Bodywrap Seamless Firm Underwire Bodyshaper and M&S Firm Control Body is available in Natural and Fawn.
Strapless bras
• Calvin Klein Push Positive Strapless Bra
• Princess Natural padded strapless bra
• Bodysilk Strapless Padded Balcony
• Stella McCartney Smooth Strapless Bra
• Scandale Sirene Balconette Bra
• And for larger-breasted women (from C to G) the Wonderbra Ultimate Strapless Bra.
Tit tape
Hollywood Fashion Tape, £8.99 Hollywood Fashion Tape Photograph: Amazon
Not all are created equal. Some peel off your skin or stick to your clothes. These stay put where you want them to.
• Fashion Forms Tapes To Go
• Hollywood Fashion Tape
Bras for backless styles
• The M&S Ultimate Multiway Bra with low back converter may work better than a strapless bra, depending on your neckline.
• For something truly backless with sticky wings (that don’t lose stickiness after one wearing) try Fashions Forms Go Bare Backless Strapless Bra.
And if you are going bra-free
• Pretty Perfect Nipple Daisies, pack of five Pairs for Single Use from Amazon
• By Perfection, pack of two silicone nipple covers
