The Bodysuit by Mary Desaulniers
If you want to look polished outside, make sure
that what you wear inside is up to snuff. The
inner world mirrors the outer one, so we are told
in philosophical circles; nowhere is this more
evident than in the world of lingerie. How many
times have we seen a $500 dress suit scandalized
by the lumpy rolls or ripples emerging from an
ill-fitting bra?
A tailored outfit should look what it is meant
to do—make you look sleek and tailored. No surprises.
No bumps. No tell-tale bulges. That’s why when
it comes to fashion ethics, the bodysuit is indispensable.
What is a bodysuit? Also called a “snapsuit,”
“leotard,” or “onesie”, a bodysuit is an ingenious
blending of bra and panties together that you
can slip on, pull down and fasten with snap-on
buttons at the crotch. With that pulling down,
you can lessen the damage done by ridges, flaps
or belly rolls in one fell swoop of lycra. Lines
that normally show from the bottom of the bra
or from the waistband of the panties or stockings
are almost eliminated with a good bodysuit—provided
that you are not grossly out of shape. Unless
you are an amazingly trim size 4, your body hugging
silk gown needs a bodysuit to give that gown a
polished sleek look. It gives you that extra smoothness
under a figure hugging dress.
There are, however, a few challenges to wearing
a bodysuit. First, bodysuits are often sold according
to bra size which means that for those of us who
do not have a perfect body, a body suit might
be an ill-fitting enterprise. It might fit you
at the bust, but not anywhere else. The best bet
here is to find a bodysuit that is made from very
stretchy fabric which can provide you with a bit
more “give” in the hips and tummy areas.
A second challenge is the difficulty bodysuits
often pose for women in the washroom. Under an
evening gown, the whole process of unbuckling
and buckling the bottom fasteners of the bodysuit
can be a feat on its own. Tricky stuff indeed,
especially if your gown is made with layered chiffon.
But women have done worse in the name of beauty.
And considering the sleek lines that present themselves
when you emerge from the washroom, the agony is
well-worth the eventual poise.
Another word of caution about bodysuits :
They are most suitable for fairly well-shaped
bodies-- bodies that are well toned and evenly
shaped -- in all sizes. A bodysuit will help you
maneuver your way into a dress that is just slightly
too small, but it won’t turn a size 10 into a
size 6 or a size 16 into a 10. And if perchance,
you do eventually manage to stuff yourself into
a size 6, be prepared for a very, very uncomfortable
and unflattering evening. If you are a size 12,
get a size 12 bodysuit; it will still tuck in
your tummy and flatter your profile, but it will
never turn a medium body into a small one.
A bodysuit flatters a good body, but it is not
a miracle worker, Betty Halbreich says in "Secrets
of a Fashion Therapist." Here is a list of
what a body suit can and cannot do:
1. It can tame the jiggle in your backside, but
it will not create ”buns of steel.”
2. It cannot take the place of time spent on the
stairmaster or the treadmill.
3. Even the tightest waist cincher on a body suit
cannot give you a nineteen inch waist.
4. It can flatter a toned body and make you feel
slimmer, but it will not replace a sensible diet
and workouts at the gym.
5. It will make a great reward for personal goals
achieved in weight loss and inch loss—the trophy
of a great body achieved through hard work and
efforts.
A bodysuit is a must in every lingerie set; however,
use it with discretion and respect.
About the Author
Resource: "Secrets of a Fashion Therapist"
by Betty Halbreich ( HarperCollins 2005) A runner
for 27 years, retired schoolteacher and writer,
Mary is helping people reclaim their bodies. Nutrition,
exercise, positive vision and purposeful engagement
are the tools used to turn their bodies into creative
selves. You can visit her at www.GreatBodyat50.com
or learn how she lost her weight at www.greatbodyproteinpower.com
