Shapewear For Women: Expert Advice From Tomima Edmark

From bodysuits to strapless bras, picking the proper undergarments for your Mother of the Bride or Mother of the Groom dress can prove to be an overwhelming process. You may have the perfect pair of shoes, as well as jewelry that suites your attire to a T, however, even with everything else chosen and styled, shapewear may seem like a foreign concept. Knowing the differences between a girdle and a waist cincher is not a given. This is why we sat down with HerRoom.com founder Tomima Edmark for her expert advice on picking the perfect shapewear for your special occasion dress. Read the full interview below!

Q: Many Mothers of the Brides/Grooms tell us their problem area is their midsection. What type of shapewear would you recommend for a Mother of the Bride or Mother of the Groom to pair with their evening gown, which will hide a midsection problem area?

A: The Torsette Shapewear style is made for Mothers of the Brides and Grooms!  It provides smooth shaping, while also allowing the MOB or MOG to wear her preferred bra. You get the torso-shaping and slimming that you need, while still having the option to control your bra needs without having your bust squashed. Torsette shapers vary in length from camisole to a briefer that ends at the top of the leg, to a mid-thigh length that offers extended shaping and slimming, and bodysuit styles that extend below the knee. Control levels vary from Light to Medium, Firm and Extra Firm. Target areas include waist, tummy, back, hips, rear and upper thighs.

Q: What are your recommendations on the best shapewear to pair with the below special occasion dresses?

A: The woman wearing this dress would need something strapless. My go-to would be a strapless bodysuit.  I would NOT get a strapless shapewear slip.  This is a common mistake.  Women don’t realize that those slips are for “posing.”  Once you start walking or sit down and stand up, they crawl up your legs and end up almost at your hip.  You will be chronically adjusting yourself the entire evening.  With this dress, you really only need shaping just below the waist since the dress gets full and will hide any bulges after that.

The design of the skirt on this dress is more forgiving, and means you would not need the shapewear to go all the way down the body. The lining on this dress seems  low, so there could be problems with many of our strapless undergarments showing.  But again, my guess would be the Va Bien Bodysuit with legs that I suggested above. You will need to have some leg coverage with this dress if you want a smooth line all the way down the sides. Or I would suggest a longline strapless bra:

First, you should absolutely wear a black piece of shapewear with this navy color.  Nude could work, but should any shapewear sneak out, black will look sexy while nude looks like “underwear.”

I would suggest a strapless bra with a wide back – thin back strapless bras tend to show.  And a nice pair of control top pantyhose – fortunately the dress has a waist seam, so the pantyhose should come to that point.

Ruching hides a lot- the issue will be to make sure there is not a line on your leg where the fabric is smooth.  I think this dress could have you wearing your favorite strapless bra. Then teaming it up with a biker short making sure the edge of the biker short is not binding.  For example, the style below:

Q: What size should women purchase shapewear in? Their true size? A size smaller? A size larger?

A: You should check the size chart and buy the size that ALL your measurements fit into.  Do NOT buy a smaller size.  All that does is make you uncomfortable, create more rolls and bulges, and creep up or down because it’s too small for you.  Manufacturers know what they are doing, so buy your true size!

Still uncertain on the shapewear best suited for your dress? Our stylists are happy to help! Email customerservice@terijon.com to get connected with a stylist! For more tips to wedding planning, be sure to take a look at our Mother of the Bride Survival Guide!