Maidenform Ad Early 1960's
When I was a teenager, my older sister worked at Robinson’s Department Store in the foundations department. There was a time when lingerie was lingerie and foundations were foundations. Lingerie was the beautiful stuff you wore in private moments. Foundations were the bras and girdles you wore so that your clothes fit you well.
I think we should go back to calling our undergarments “foundations.” If we did that, then we would have a better understanding of the importance of well-fitting undergarments. A bra that doesn’t fit will visually add 10 pounds and a matronly look to the clothes you worked so hard to make. A protruding stomach and “hip fluff” will ruin the line of the garment.
Although I’m a nag about making sure my readers/listeners are wearing the right bra, the importance of a quality bra was driven home to me the other day while I was at Nordstrom’s for my fitting.
Because of the economy, I had to put off buying new bras. But it had reached a point that I couldn’t put it off any longer. I usually will wear a fitted sweater to my fittings. It helps me get a better visual if I put the sweater on after I put on the bra I’m trying on. The bunching and bulging really shows up after I put the sweater on. If I look good in the sweater, then I know the bra is a keeper.
Surprisingly, my size hadn’t changed. But I went with a different brand than I had before–Fantasie. These are not inexpensive bras by any means. But the difference was night and day between what I had been wearing and the new bras. As they say in the commercials, the new bras help me look more “uplifted and youthful.” I seriously looked 10 pounds lighter. (As an added bonus, a well fitting bra will reduce shoulder and back pain–the shoulder straps shouldn’t be holding everything up. Think European style where the bra band does all of the work)
Since moving to California, I usually am bare-legged ten months out of the year. In the dressing room, I was noticing the impact of not wearing super-control-top pantyhose. Every bulge and pooch showed. I looked kind of dumpy. Not the image I want to convey. Either I’m going to have to get serious about Buns, Thighs, and Abs of Steel or I’m going to have to wear the undergarments that will give me the look I desire.
So why am I talking about undergarments on a sewing blog? Because if you are dissatisfied with the way your garments look on you, you might consider that the problem is with your undergarments and not your sewing ability.
My grandmother was a seamstress. She made custom, fine lingerie for the high-end store in town. Though she did tell me that she only wore her “foundations” when she went out. Otherwise, nada. They were too nice for every day wear.