Question about matching undergarments - YouLookFab Forum

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Question about matching undergarments

Aziraphale

Veteran

I have a question for you ladies who only wear matching bra-and-panty sets: what is your approach if you want to wear white on the bottom and a dark top? Do you make an exception and mix a dark bra with light panties? Or do you wear a nude bra and panty set, and not worry about it if your bra strap peeks out (or of your nude bra shows through your black top, which can also happen, depending on the fabric)?

I don't normally wear white pants, but I have two pairs of white shorts and I mostly wear them with black tops. A black top requires a black bra, and white pants -- even if they are made of thick fabric -- usually require light-coloured underpants.

This is purely a question of interest, as I don't own any matching bra and panty sets.

Dressing

23 replies

Latest reply was from Beth

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Team Matched Pretty Undies reporting for duty.

My thick white jeans are fine with black knickers. Otherwise I go nude bra and knickers with black cami:

Hanro Women's Moments Cami

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Simone Perele 'Delice 3D' Molded Underwire Demi Bra

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Hanky Panky 'Logo To Go' Boyshorts

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cindysmith

Veteran

I'm with Angie. Nude underwear.

Banoffi

Veteran

I'll admit that I've mixed colors on the top and bottom if I'm wearing black/dark and white on the bottom or vice versa, but I don't like doing it.

Aziraphale

Veteran

Angie: lol, I thought you might reply! Ah, a black cami. That would work, although not for me because I don't like the extra layer in the summer.

cindysmith: do you care if your nude bra strap shows? I've got a lot of summer tops that have open necklines or are sleeveless, so sometimes my strap peeks out. For some reason I'm OK with this if it's a black or coloured bra, but not a nude bra. But maybe I'm just being too anal retentive.

Banoffi, do you find you avoid wearing black and white for that reason (i.e. it forces you to mix underwear colours, which you don't like)?

Joy

Veteran

I either wear all nude or black on top, lighter on the bottom or, more often now, a dove grey undies set. I should look for another. I do wear a cami or tank layer even in summer for many reasons and have adjusted. Almost always it is white under a white top, although matching it to the bottom will give a column of color that can work under anything.

Hanky Panky 'Retro' High Waist Thong (4 for $60)

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Betsey Johnson 'Forever Perfect' Underwire Demi Bra

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Sal

Veteran

I guess I often mix and match. I wear matching sets on occasions but sometimes I wear body suits or cotton boy pants etc.. If wearing white pants I wear dove grey or nude or blush pants and would not hesitate to wear a black bra.

I prefer blush pink as my nude for bras - it is slightly prettier if a strap shows. I wear a 36D or 34DD so the straps are often thick and slightly fugly.

Aziraphale

Veteran

Joy, I'm wondering if I need to give camisoles another try. Maybe a loose one made of a silky material would do the trick. I don't like anything clingy in the summer though.

Sal, my favourite "nude" bra is actually a blush pink. It's what I wear with loose white tops where the neck might slip sideways and show a strap. It's not quite invisible under white tops, but looks fine. With more fitted white tops, I wear a proper nude bra that you can't see at all. I'm with you -- I hate fugly thick nude "old-lady bra" straps, but sometimes these bras are necessary. I wear a 30DD bra so I know what you mean about how sometimes the straps ain't exactly dainty.

Gaylene

Veteran

I can't quite believe I'm discussing my undies on the Internet, but here it is!

Like Angie, I'm a big fan of pretty, matched sets, but find they work best when I'm wearing dresses or a column of color. Otherwise, I match my bra to my top and resort to plain nude or black knickers which I keep for just this purpose.

I rationalize my decision by maintaining a pretty bra is way more important to my psyche than the color of my knickers.

ETA: Another person here who is mystified by the allure of the camisole. Tried a few, but ended up using them as summer sleep tops.

Aziraphale

Veteran

Lol Gaylene, here's to sharing with strangers on the internet! (It's a funny thing, because technically I am a stranger to everyone here -- I've never met anyone in person, and possibly may not ever -- but a lot of you sure don't feel like strangers!)

I agree that pretty bras are more important than pretty undies. (Pretty undies always migrate crackwards on me anyway).

Style Fan

Veteran

I am pretty certain very few people know what kind of undies I wear. YLF members are a special group! I match my undies to my clothing which makes a lot more sense to me. I have nude bras for light coloured tops. I do not own nude or light coloured undies because I don't wear light coloured bottoms.
I only wear a camisole when necessary. I don't like extra layers especially in the summer.

lyn67

Veteran

Good question! I do mismatch black on top and nude on bottom if wearing white pants and a black top. I like to have the same color bra with the top, for exactly the peaking out problem-but guess I could survive showing by accident even a small amount of a pretty satiny nude to my skin, strap, too. (Better than white in any case!) Otherwise will match them, too:-).

Sara L.

Veteran

I match my bra and undies to my clothes - black bra with black top, nude undies with white or light colored pants. I wear matching sets when I can, but I don't worry about it if matching doesn't work with my outfit.

Anonymous

I am kind of all over the map with undies. I have a lot of pretty matching sets but find I mostly wear mismatched ones and am loathe to say it but a lot of nude bras. I also do camis when I need them.

Aziraphale

Veteran

Style Fan, lyn67 and Sara L., you all do what I do -- match the black bra to the black top and nude or light-coloured undies with white pants. This seems the easiest way do deal with the problem, but I'm not a matching bra-and-panty set kind of girl to begin with. I was just curious to see whether those of you who prefer matching sets would break the rule for white pants, or if there was some other magic solution!

jlpp -- there's nothing wrong with nude bras -- they are super useful sometimes! But they're not as pretty as any other colour.

Anonymous

Your solution is definitely the same for me. I guess I should have said that, lol. But I meant it.

Anonymous

Bras that fit in nude and white and patagonia underwear. I only did matching sets right after I got done breastfeeding my boys!

Jane

Veteran

During the week, black knickers in various cuts. I have four bras, strapless white, navy, white and pink (from DH!). I always wear a camisole. I like the relatively simplicity of the selection. BUT I do think I could do better!

fathenry

Veteran

I know some people that only buy nude or black so they never have to mismatch. I have good intentions of matching colors but often a quick wardrobe change means last min change of one or the other, so mismatch. Now I won't buy a color bra unless I know I can find matching underpants. Unfortunately there are lots of time when the beige straps show. While I think it's acceptable I hate it. There are so many halter dresses that show your bra no matter what. I've tried buying non beige light colors like pale yellow and lavender. Sometime they work sometimes they don't. I like being matchy matchy but it doesn't work out very often. So, it often ends up as nude bra + whatever color pants i already have on. Camisole only when absolutely necessary. Once I bought a very nice bra fitted in the right size I really wanted to match. My friends and I do talk about this so I guess we're oddballs!

Joy

Veteran

Aziraphale, I usually prefer tanks to camisoles as they stay put better. If I could afford it, they would all be silk, but most of mine are cotton cheapies from Target that get replaced at least once a year. I wear them now mostly because I have to inject insulin Into my stomach area several times a day and often get blood stains. The tank or cami keep them from getting on my clothing.

Banoffi

Veteran

Azuraphale, I don't find I avoid black/white because of undergarment mis-matching. What I do find is I tend to wear my boring nude bras and underwear far more than the more interesting (in my mind) sets I've bought. I always buy a Natori feathers bra or two (plus 2 matching underwear for each bra) during NAS. I have a drawer of fun bra colors that rarely get worn because I always gravitate toward the boring nude or black.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

I'm brand new to the group and talking about intimate apparel, lol. Banoffi, are the "feathers" bras in your boring or fun category? I got a bright orange one with matching undies from as a little splurge. They work well under light-colored (not extremely sheer white) things on me surprisingly well, but the color itself is happyfying for me. The beige (nude for me) house brand front closer that I got last NAS is my boring workaday bland.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Do people around here use "nude" to refer to their skin color or to light beige? I'm a #1, sometimes #2. https://www.naja.co/collection.....e-lingerie

Beth

Veteran

I do a mix if I'm wearing lighter colors, especially on the bottom. I don't like nude knickers so I just keep a few pairs for when I really need them.

I love matching bra/panty sets, but over time I've found the the panties tend to look great but aren't that comfortable. I've ended up buying a bunch of panties in solid colors that complement the bras instead, so while it's not a perfectly matched set, they coordinate. My very favorite bra is one that has a Blue Willow pattern on it; I wish I could have found the matching undies for it but they were long sold out.

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