A Guide to Underwear by Curvy Girl Thin

For those that don’t know me: I’m Charli From Curvy Girl Thin, I’m 25, and I’m a Lingerie Addict. I kid you not, my life is filled with fantasies of black lace, sheer panties, and contour hugging satin.  I have a whole wardrobe devoted to my lingerie collection and frequently match my dress to my pants! I frequently lust after (and race out to buy) the latest lingerie and I’m continually updating my collection with pieces that are, quite frankly, completely frivolous and impractical!  Many of my items have been worn once -briefly! When Georgina suggested I share my love of lingerie with her lovely readers, I immediately searched through all my favourite sites for new purchases – trawling through site after site for something wow to share with you all, in a guide to underwear. Then I realised that a frilly, little, see-through number isn’t that useful. So I went back to my wardrobe and chose three items that I really couldn’t live without!

A lingerie staple for any girl, regardless of size, shape, or age, is a simple, moulded bra. It just has to be in any guide to underwear.

This Smooth Lines Floral Lace Padded Full Cup Bra in Teal Green from Marks & Spencer is my current favourite. This bra is a perfect staple for any wardrobe as it provides a smooth line beneath clothes whilst offering a great shape and plenty of support. The bra is quite a bargain for DD+ lingerie and costs only £19.50. The bra comes in sizes 30DD – 40G and it fits fairly true to size. For reference, I’m wearing the 36G.

What I love most about this bra is the lace detail that wraps around the side of the wide band and across the back.  It really helps create a smooth silhouette and tucks in my back fat nicely – always a plus! I bought the matching pants as I rarely wear mismatched underwear – I would actually prefer to wear no underwear than mismatched but I’m a little obsessive with my drawers! The No VPL Sheer & Opaque High RiseShorts are really supportive and the size 18 fit me perfectly. Good alternatives for an everyday bra are the Freya Deco and the Panache Elan.

A strapless bra is a must in my wardrobe and guide to underwear. I wear them under camisoles, bardot tops, and frequently under sheer tops as I love the look of my collarbones peeking through a sheer blouse. I understand that a lot of women shy away from strapless, claiming not to find the support that they need from the bra.  However, find one that fits – pair it with some sneaky boob tape and you’re away.

My favourite strapless (at the moment) is Bravissimo’s Contour Strapless Bra by Bravissimo. I’m wearing the 36GG and it fits beautifully. This suggests that, if like me you are between cup sizes, you may want to size up. To keep it nicely in place, I line the rim of the bra with boob tap which means the bra stays safely up even when throwing my wildest dance moves!

The band is wide which adds even more support and the detachable straps means it can be worn in multiple ways. It gives a great full and rounded shape to my boobs but doesn’t give much in the way of cleavage – unless I lean forward and wiggle a bit!

The bra is priced at £30 which is fairly standard for a strapless bra in this size range. Good alternatives are the Curvy Kate Luxe or the Elomi Smoothing.

What are your lingerie essentials? Did you like my guide to underwear? I’d love to hear any wonderful tips or suggestions you may have! Check out my blog, Curvy Girl Thin, for lingerie and pretty dresses galore!