Blurred lines: how to keep a long under layer smooth - YouLookFab Forum

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Blurred lines: how to keep a long under layer smooth

catgirl

Veteran

Rae posted a cropped-over-long-tank look that I loved. My problem is getting a fitted underlayer that is going to show to look smooth and not lumpy over the waistband of the pants. What do you do about belts or belt loops, buttons and zippers? And never mind muffin top. Any suggestions?

http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....ircus-crop

Dressing

22 replies

Latest reply was from catgirl

Mo

(website)

Veteran

I tried the yummy tummy tanks and had horrible creep up. Honestly, the $6 Route 66 camis from Kmart work great.

catgirl

Veteran

Mine crept up too every time I sat and then I got a cramp. What will keep those belt loops flat?

Diana

Veteran

I wish I knew! It's not quite the same thing but I've had luck with a cropped sweater over a flowy underlayer (like a silk blouse).

catgirl

Veteran

Thanks, Diana! That I can do but the sleek look eludes me. Like this look except not sheer:

http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/ma.....ts-_-1_1_A

Gracie

Veteran

I've had no luck taming the hardware in that area. My best solution is to wear tunic/longer tops over a pull-on ponte pant or pants with a side zipper. Or have the underlayer be of a thickish, textury material that will camouflage the little bumps underneath.

bj1111

Veteran

i live with my muffin...i just call it a look.

deb

Veteran

Una, I have no idea so I am watching this thread. bj1111, I like the idea of calling my muffin 'a look'.

catgirl

Veteran

Muffin I can handle and am working on getting rid of! But what about the rest?

AviaMariah

Veteran

bj1111 - I like your attitude. This is the post of Rae's that made me try my "meow" sweater with stripes underneath. And now that I look at Rae's again, I think my sweater is going in the donation pile. My pants didn't have belt loops but the zipper showed through. I have no idea how to tame this.

April

Veteran

I would suggest sizing up in something like this: http://www.zara.com/us/en/woma.....22040.html

The fabric on these is pretty thick -- not like typical leggings. No buttons, and the high waist minimizes muffin-ness. If you sized up, I think these would look acceptably pant-like, not like the dreaded leggings-as-pants.

ETA: I see that these are only available in XS and S now, so sizing up isn't an option unless you could find an M in a real store. But surely someone sells an equivalent. Uniqlo had what they were calling "legging pants" http://www.uniqlo.com/us/store.....collection but in their maddeningly uneven availability cycle, they seem to be pretty much sold out. Still, this would suggest that a thick-ish pull-on pant is out there somewhere.

Anonymous

I don't wear a belt and wear an Express Cami to flatten the belt loops. It is not perfect and needs readjusting but it is the best I can come up with.

bj1111

Veteran

i use caslon cotton longsleeve shirts in a cotton tee material, not viscose. it provides a relatively nonslip underlayer that works well tucked if i have lace or cotton undies and jeans. i have to retuck during the day, just alternating sitting and standing causes the tee to get bunchy, but it's better than anything with viscose.

ETA...i also like heattech from uniqlo as a grippy underlayer and warm to boot. since i rarely wear belts, i just ignore the loops--again, a look.

JulieJohn

Veteran

Una, I also have this problem in spades. In fact, because I am at waist-height for our kitchen counter, I have torn little holes in several tighter tops that were over a button or fly (even though there was a fly-flap). I guess that's another reason not to do dishes.

It would be interesting to try a kind of maternity approach, where the jeans material only goes up so high, and the very top is a nice stretchy waistband. Or find side-zip jeans, like I had in the 80s. Those had a very flat front, and coincidentally, so did I.

rae

(website)

Veteran

For myself (and my gut! seriously, I always have a spare tire even when much lighter), I look for a ribbed or knit tank that is cut slim but has super expanding qualities. The best bet might be those Michael Stars one-size A-shirts... they look small but expand to many sizes larger without requiring much tension to do so. Kind of like those "magic" tops they used to have at mall kiosks. I also like Splendid but sized up 1-2 sizes. The one in my pic is J. Crew, kind of a fluke but the same idea.

Worst brands for this IMO: Hinge, James Perse. Much to spandex-y and clingy.

rae

(website)

Veteran

Like this:
http://www.michaelstars.com/ba.....-tank-0161

Also, if the underlayer is a bit long and can be "ruched" around the hips, that helps disguise the belt loops, too.

April

Veteran

Okay, here's a pair where you could actually size up, and they seem like pants more than leggings: http://www.uniqlo.com/us/store.....ging-pants

carter

Veteran

Leggings, side zip pants, jeggings work best for me. If I have to wear something with a front closure and belt loops, I'll wear a tight fitting silky-feeling gear-style cami under my long layer to help things lay down.

Parsley

Veteran

I like the smooth leggings idea, and I love these tops for layering:
http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/ei.....onalizedso

It's a knit but not clingy at all, and has a nice drape.
Pricy, I know, but I've worn mine to death.

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unfrumped

Veteran

So I have some pants whose fastenings just won't be disguised by thin knits-- hence agree need side zip sometimes.
One thing I do regularly is wear a belt under, to actually act as binder. I have one belt with the slimmest buckle ever-- lies almost completely flat-and I
position it to the right or left of my belly button instead of centered. That's because even with tailoring my pant waists are problematic. Whenever this belt wears out, I'm toast.

April

Veteran

If hiding a belt is the key concern (and it won't be seen), there's always the Invisibelt: http://www.invisibelt.com/invisablebelt.aspx

Anonymous

I use an undergarment similar to this one and sized up so that it is not tight:
http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/sp.....s-_-1_12_A
Mine was about $10 from Walmart. I think it is an "as seen on TV" item.
It is long enough to pull down over the waist of jeans/pants and makes a smooth layer under tops.

catgirl

Veteran

Fab suggestions. Parsley, I love that top and can see how it would work, but yeah, it is expensive! The best I've come up with is Rae's suggestion of ruching up a tank a little. The rise of the pants is also key, because in a very specific spot it's okay, but otherwise, it's all lumpage. Looks like legging-ish skinnies might be the best solution...