I have always been voluptuous, buxom, full-figured, whatever; I have never been fashion model thin or even close to it.
So foundation garments are my friends. They shape and mold my flesh into a womanly figure to help sell my femulation.
I have been femulating for about five decades and during that time, I have tried a variety of foundation garments.
Early on, when I was borrowing lingerie from my mother, bras and girdles were my mainstays. Mom owned a variety of girdles, but stuck with one style of bra, i.e., the traditional white, shoulder-strapped, rear-fastening style.
I tried them all and had my favorites. When I began shopping for my own foundation garments, I stuck to bras and girdles like Mom owned ("like Mother, like Son").
That is until I visited a lingerie shop in Kingston, NY. The little lady who ran the shop probably had seen it all, so when I mentioned I needed some foundation garments for my Halloween costume, I don't think she believed me. However, she was very helpful and after measuring me up, she suggested a heavy-duty all-in-one and handed me two models to try on.
The first all-in-one did nothing for me, but the second one did wonders. The proprietor insisted on examining me wearing the all-in-one and after giving me the once-over, she gushed about my great girlish figure. I enjoyed the compliment, but I was a little embarrassed and could not pay and get out of the shop fast enough.
I was sold on all-in-ones and wore them until they more or less stopped selling the heavy duty models. The lighter duty models were still available, but just did not have the same molding and shaping power of the heavy duty models, so I had to find something else.
I experimented with different things and finally found a combination that approximated an all-in-one: a longline bra, a high-waisted brief girdle, and a corset-style waist cincher. That was a heavy duty combination that, at times, was uncomfortable, but it worked and I stuck with that combo for a dozen years.
Spanx came along and I was intrigued, but I did not indulge in that modern line of shapewear until Avon started selling Bali's Spanx clone. With my Avon rep discount, I decided to try a high-waisted brief.
Wow!
Shapewear had come a long way; the Bali brief did a better job than the trio of foundation garments I had been wearing. Initially, I wore longline bras with the high-waisted brief, but after getting fitted for a "Bombshell" bra at Victoria's Secret, I dumped the longline bras and began adding Bombshells to my wardrobe.
Recently, I added Bali's cami torset top to the mix. It is a cami with the front cut out to allow you to wear whatever bra you wish. Meanwhile, it smooths out your back and eliminates the back fat that has long been an issue that I thought I would never conquer.
It took a half century, but I am finally all set! I now have a very womanly figure sans hormones or surgery.
Stana
ReplyDeleteYou are talking me into giving the new figure shaping garments a try. The last time I followed one of your suggestions I ended up at Newport News and ordered 3 pair of heels, a jacked, a skirt and top and a dress.
Pat
Dear Stana,
ReplyDeleteQuestion: When you order slimming foundation garments and check the sizing charts, do you order the size indicated by your current dimensions, or do you order one size smaller (since you are hoping to have the garment give you temporary new smaller dimensions)? I will appreciate your sage advice.
Thank You and Love You,
Sheila.
Pat --- Sorry about that! LOL
ReplyDeleteSheila --- It's complicated. I think I will write a post about sizing to answer your question.
ReplyDeletei will consider bali panties. Comfortable, soft and neat under my clothes. Just a little puff out on both sides but that's okay.
ReplyDelete