Did you know that 85% of women are wearing the wrong bra size? How are you supposed to dance, laugh and love the night away without proper support? Since we know you’ve been working hard, thanks to our Bride Ready fit tips, it’s time to show off those svelte results with the best supporting team. Be U Weddings has consulted Chicago’s finest in shapewear to bring you their flawless foundation tips, tricks, and insight!
Dottie’s Delights
Photo by Julia Franzosa Photography
“I think a lot of women don’t realize the importance of their foundations overall, but for your wedding day, it is even more important!” owner and designer of Dottie’s Delights, Stephanie Kuhr, tells us. “A properly fitted undergarment ensures that everything is sitting smooth where it is supposed to, and will make you feel younger, slimmer, and more comfortable. They can make or break your dress and overall look!”
Kuhr, no stranger to shaping a silhouette, received a degree in fashion design and pursued work in theater costume departments. After crafting one-of-a-kind pieces for pin-up, burlesque, and belly dancers in 2009, her desire to outfit Chicago women in high quality, vintage-inspired lingerie took center stage. Kuhr, who was accepted as a designer in residence for the Chicago Fashion Incubator in 2010, stresses the priority of underpinnings for brides. “Your undergarments and dress shopping should go hand and hand: you should either bring your undergarments to your dress fitting, or your dress to your lingerie fitting if at all possible,” she says. Kuhr also advises to keep the fabric weight of your dress in mind when selecting lingerie. A structural gown can conceal heavy foundation pieces, such as corsets, bustiers, and girdles, while a flowing, thinner gown will require seamless nude shapewear. Dottie’s Delights can be found in Chicago at Florodora on S. Dearborn, Mignonette on Belmont or shop online . Get 15% off online for BE U readers with the code BeUWed (sale items excluded).
{intimacy}
900 North Michigan Ave # 3, Chicago, IL
Photo courtesy of Pink Memo
The brain child of the nationally acclaimed “Bra Whisperer,” Susan Nethero, {intimacy}, a chain of lingerie boutiques, seeks to transform women’s body image. “A woman’s confidence will soar with a bra fitting,” Nethero says. “A dramatic body transformation uplifts her shape and enhances her personal style. She is amazed by the new level of confidence she never believed possible.” What better way to feel on your big day? The secret lies in the fit and fashion of the European designer brands sold at the boutique. They provide undergarments that are available in more than 90 sizes (ranging from A to K cup) and often not found in department stores. Not only will an {intimacy} stylists fit you in the proper bra, they will teach you how to properly wear your bra, a must for brides-to-be. Chicagoland boutiques include a location on the Magnificent Mile in the 900 North Michigan Shops and most recently in Oakbrook Center. For more inside tips from the walls of {intimacy}, head over to Glossed and Found where Graham Kostic recently sat down with Nethero to “size up” matters.
La Bellissima
10 North Williams Street, Crystal Lake, IL
Photo courtesy of Prima Donna
For Kathleen Basista, owner of La Bellissima in Crystal Lake, remaining realistic is key. Echoed by many of the shapewear experts we spoke to, it is important know your body and breasts’ unique needs, as that will affect what you can and cannot wear under a bridal gown. With five years of experience fitting the ladies of the Northwest suburbs, Basista notes it’s vital to understand what your undergarments can and cannot accomplish. “If you are over a D cup, a deep plunge is not going to work for you; likewise, if you are wearing heavy shapewear, a light fabric will show all the facets of the underpinning,” she tells us. I can tell you from my own experience that her shape-up shop talk rings true – she is the “bra guru” for the suburban bride! Like so many, I was outfitted in the wrong size by a common retailer, but with the help of Basista, I found a spot-on strapless bra for a wedding. I danced the night away and never worried about my strapless shifting. Basista also reminds us that just because your everyday t-shirt bra works well, it will not cut it for your walk down the aisle! “Just as you have shoes or an outfit for every occasion, you need a bra that caters to your gown.” Visit La Bellissima to settle your own undergarment unrest!
Photo courtesy of Victoria’s Secret
Hopefully, with the help of our shapewear experts, you will find supporting pieces that make you feel as beautiful as your gown. If nothing else, take a cue from the above Victoria’s Secret photo shoot, and have a little fun in your newly fitted bridal lingerie! Choose Vavoom Pinups to assemble a boudoir shoot to deliver to your groom-to-be the morning of as a tempting teaser of things to come- ooh la la! Put your “best bra forward” with the proper foundation to feel your best on your wedding day and the night of.
[...] Leave a Comment First, we covered your wedding day foundation fundamentals in “Put Your Best Bra Forward.” Now, we’re tackling the to-do’s of getting gorgeous, so you can focus on the most [...]