Ask Angie (and everyone): camisoles under dresses - YouLookFab Forum

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Ask Angie (and everyone): camisoles under dresses

Scarlet

Veteran

This has been on my mind for awhile, and Kate's post just brought it to fore (http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....wrap-dress). When you wear a camisole under a dress how do you avoid having a line across your backside where the camisole ends? I have actually contemplated cutting camisoles off at the ribcage to get around this, but then I would need to own a lot more for tucking into pants as well. Do other people have this problem?

Kate-hope you don't mind me making an example of your post, but it is exactly the situation I mean.

Dressing

26 replies

Latest reply was from HeleenH

Lynne

Veteran

eek - i've never noticed this. None of my dresses are that fitted, but I will check in future...

JuliaInGermany

Scarlet, if you have a sewing machine, you might try to rip open the hem and use a zigzagstitch to avoid fraying. It might even work without any sewing. You could try it on an old cami to see if it works. That way you avoid the double layer of fabric at the hem, but it's still long enough to tuck. Hope that helps.

Scarlet

Veteran

Lynne Yes I guess I tend to wear my dresses fitted on the hips. Especially if it is a knit material.

Julia-that is a clever idea--it would kill the extra bulk of the seam but leave the length for tucking. I don't have a sewing machine, but received money as a gift to buy one...

Lynne

Veteran

Good suggestion, Julia! Scarlet, perhaps it would be better to get someone to overlock the seam for you; overlocking is a stretch stitch with 3 or 4 threads interlocked that gives a flatter finish than a zig zag stitch. You could ask at your dry cleaners, they often have a mending service that can do this sort of thing.

Heather

Veteran

Scarlet, I have a knit dress and I wear a cropped cami with it. The cropped cami actually came from the lingerie department at a major department store in the shape wear section. It does not show lines at all.

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

OH dear, I never thought to check for lines at all!

I don't think my cami has a line at the bottom; it's soft and doesn't really have a hem.... Mmm, I have no dresses here to try it with.

Isabel

Veteran

In the summer, I wear a Second Base demi cami. One of THE best things that I have learned on this forum ! So your idea of cutting it is a good one !

http://www.secondbase.com

crasdy

I own the same BR wrap dress as Kate, and I usually wear it with a camisole. The line across my backside drives me nuts. I've taken to wearing the dress with high-waisted shapewear, and I tuck the camisole into the shapewear. The line is a lot less noticeable now, but it's still there. I need to get one of those Second Base camisoles.

Vix

Veteran

1) Full slips (minimizes cling to boot)...I have black, grey, and pale blue

2) Hacked off cheapo camisole or "bralette" over bra (I buy these in more "color-colors")

3) Silk long underwear-style tank camisole (black, white)...these tend to be so thin and non-clingy that they disappears under all but the most fitted dresses

Can you tell this is an issue for me?

Steph

Veteran

I don't have this problem with most dresses I wear, but I wore a wrap dress the other day and was worried this would be an issue. I was also concerned that the bottom of the cami would curl/roll up, which would make for an even more visible line. I ended up tucking the cami into my tights and didn't have an issue. Not sure what I would have done if it were summertime!

Frances

Incredible timing! I just noticed this exact issue the other day. Lately I find that BR tops and dresses tend to be so low-cut that they necessitate a cami or tank underneath, but I hate the obvious line across the backside this causes. I am actually in Seattle on business right now and found myself tearing through the local Macy's yesterday, trying to find a short-cut, seamless cami to resolve the problem. Trouble was, I ran into that problem of not being able to find one in small size in stock. Seattle seems like a great town, but I'm sorry to say, the Macy's needs a makeover.

Jonesy

Veteran

Hmm, I don't wear camis under dresses, or under anything really, so I can't add any perspective--just thought I'd commiserate :). I hate fussing with layers of undergarments, and worrying about lines and bulges across my back--so annoying!

lynne

Veteran

Another recommendation for the Second Base camis. There are several styles and many colors. Truly one of the best fashion inventions ever!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Yes! I'm with Lynne. I was going to suggest second base camisoles too. Also, I wear shorter camis with frocks and tuck them into my broeks (that word comes from the Dutch word broekje = undies). I look like a 5 year old but who cares.

Diana

Veteran

I love full slips under dresses as well - especially with tights as it prevents the dress from sticking to your butt.
Most camis don't work that well for me under clingy dresses because they tend to roll up to my (high and defined) natural waist. I am considering getting some little bandeau type things for the summer... I have a friend who swears by cheap croppped juniors tube tops under dresses.

nicoleb

(website)

Veteran

LOL Angie that last sentence made me laugh out loud for real XD

I don't have anything constructive to add..I don't think i've ever wore a cami with anything tight enough to create a line, but it seems like you've gotten a lot of great feedback!

Scarlet

Veteran

Vix - cheers to someone as concerned about their backside as I am I have often fantasized about having a full slip, but the one that I have that is not also low-cut has lace that looks to under-weary for work. Where did you find yours? Are they silk or polyester?

Angie - I love your description My problem is my broeks are practically nothing due to concerns about other lines on my backside! Possibly I have a special backside anatomy that warrants all these concerns

Steph - I thought of this as well when I saw you in your gorgeous DVF dress. I have this problem with all my wrap dresses.

Heather - I didn't even know such a thing existed! I will check the lingerie department next time.

Now if only second-base would expand to Germany. In the mean time I think I will head to H&M and employ a little snip snip action.

Auburn

Veteran

Scarlet,
I have seen (but not yet purchased) boutiques that sell what appear to be similar to bandeau bikini tops, except in camisole fabric and in basic colors like white, black and nuded. They are meant to provide cleavage coverage for low dresses and the like, but then none of that lumpy bumpy-ness through the torso. I believe you can wear them with and without a bra, depending on how much support you need. I'm not familiar with secondbase, but perhaps you can keep your eyes out for something like this...?

Vix

Veteran

Scarlet --

I am always on the hunt, that's for sure! Streamlined silk nightgowns can double as slips, too.

I'm not sure if you're looking in the US, but I'd check online bra/lingerie shops if so.

I have my eyes on WinterSilks, Peruvian Connection (~$40 for a full silk one, I'd have to cut out the shelf bra), plus the HerRoom/Bare Necessities sites. I know that Calvin Klein and Commando both have very minimalist, sleeker styles in synthetics but I've yet to buy.

Two of my plain edge, nicely "straight" neckline'd ones are ancient (12 years old) and came as underlayers for sheer dresses -- one's silk, one's a mysterious blend. Obviously that's no help, but FWIW while the silk feels better the other gets the job done without overheating me.

I've found others locally -- some new, some vintage. One of the newer ones is stretch silk...and I must confess that I've worn it backwards to get the "straight" neckline with no one *apparently* the wiser, so shhhhhhh (see attached).

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Vix

Veteran

ps I usually get the "disappearing" silk camisoles from outdoorsy retailers like REI, LL Bean etc (and discounters!).

Scarlet

Veteran

Thanks for the tips, Vix. That dress is gorgeous on you, by the way!

P.S. I don't know if you saw, but I posted a more detailed photo of my M. scarf over the weekend. It's still not the greatest as my real camera is hiding, but I did promise...

Vix

Veteran

Scarlet --

Am running out door with time to respond once, but thank you for posting the close-up of the scarf elsewhere -- it is (as imagined) GORGEOUS, crappy camera or no. Sounds like you have been getting your cost/wear down with it this winter; glad it's a fav for you!

Also thank you for comments on the dress. I posted a review of it [Ann Taylor] on YLF as it's one of the first faux-wraps I felt worked well-ish on my Rectangle'd self and had a nice heft to the fabric. Even though it would easily work on those with hips to fill it out more....

Have worn it repeatedly since purchase, so it filled a hole

ButterflyLady

(website)

Veteran

I'm busty, so I often have this problem - I recently bought two of http://www.needundies.com/bras.....p-top.html, one black and one white. I like them because it's also not as warm as wearing a second layer in the form of a camisole in the summer.

A friend of mine also suggested buying cropped tube tops in different colours to wear under wrap tops and dresses.

Scarlet

Veteran

ButterflyLady, thanks for the tip--a brand that is actually sold in Germany, hurray! But where in heavens these days does one find a cropped tube top?

ButterflyLady

(website)

Veteran

Scarlet - I wondered that, but here in the UK they are sold in cheaper shops that cater for the teenage customer in the summer - they sell them here in a chain called New Look, but I can't link to them because they have their winter stock in store now.

HeleenH

Veteran

Scarlet, since you are in Germany, have you already tried the brand Mey? I like some of their underwear for having no visible lines, they also have singlets and shirts. Mainly white, skin and black though.