What do you wear under dresses? - YouLookFab Forum

Category

Dressing

Welcome! Read about what to wear and how to wear it on the YLF Blog. Join the YLF Forum to ask specific questions or just chat about fashion and personal style. Or check out the curated list of things we love in YLF Finds.

Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

What do you wear under dresses?

shoppingisfun

(website)

Veteran

I realize this might be a dumb question. But I ordered a few dresses (pics to come soon) and I realized I don't know what kind of underthings to wear. Like, do I need a slip? Spanx? Regular undies?

My goal is general smoothing-out/avoiding VPL/avoiding static. I have some generic Spanx-style shorts thingies but I feel like they are not tight enough to do anything and they're also hecka ugly. If anything they make my thighs look fatter because they only compress the upper part of my thighs. If you do wear Spanx shorts, do you wear undies under them? I feel like a kind of fitted slip might be my best choice but so people still wear slips? I literally can't dress myself lol

Dressing

29 replies

Latest reply was from Karie

Kathie

Veteran

Yes, I still wear slips under all but my most casual dresses. I’ve had success with the Commando brand ones- not shapewear, but lightly smoothing.

Joy

Veteran

I wear slips and for smoothing, most often a Spanx type garment on top shaped like a cami with a low front that dips below the bra in front. It comes down to the hips over the tummy, so smooths that too, as well as any back bulges from a bra. I find that they stay in place better than a bottom smoother. One thing, size up at least one or two sizes so that it smooths without squishing so that you feel like a sausage. I have half slips in several lengths and in nude and black.

binkle

Veteran

I like Spanx. The do have different levels of compression, though I've only used their footless stockings, not the Power Panties or whatever its called now. The Higher Power stockings have more control, but the higher waist always rolls down on me. And a full slip to control static. Her Room website has a big variety of slips. I wear cotton panties under the Spanx, Guess that defeats the purpose of Spanx, doesn't it!

I've heard good things about Commando.

Julie

I wear jockey slipshorts in the summer. Helps with thighs rubbing in hot weather, and they are super comfortable (no compression). Sometimes I wear regular undies too, but not always. In the winter I wear tights or leggings and a half slip. I don't tend to wear very body-con dresses though.

Julie

BTW binkle, I read your comment before reading the others more carefully... haven't heard of the Commando brand, and I thought you meant you'd heard good things about, you know, going commando...in a dress? Maybe I'm a little more conservative than I thought?

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

It varies. If it’s too transparent or clings to my tights, I wear an old-fashioned slip or half slip. If there are jiggly bits or parts of me oozing out somehow I don’t like, I figure the place to get that under control is the gym. I put the dress back and choose another (I keep a range of sizes in my closet).

Roberta

Veteran

I like to feel smooth but never compressed, so I wear Jockey Skimmies under all my dresses until it gets too cold for bare legs, and then I switch to leggings. I occasionally wear a matching slip if the dress is at all sheer or open work knit. And finally, I have a thigh length Peruvian Connection stretch tank that I bought with one of their sweater dresses. For me, it is more about having my dresses hang freely, no cling, no riding up, than it is about fixing my body. Too late for that! (Fashintern made me laugh with her gym comment - so true!)

There is a good discussion in the forum if you search "slips".

AndiB

Veteran

I sport professional dresses regularly, and my go to is a smoother that goes all the way up to the bottom of my bra, and shorts that go to just a couple inches above my knees. I have a couple, in different ... weights I guess. One really holds me in, the other is just really good at smoothing. I fine the long length really helps avoid the issues you identified. And laser cut at the bottom too, and for me without the sticky stuff that often lines the bottom. I find laser cut stays put without it.

Here are some finds, I don't have these exact items, but this is what I like.

Spanx SPANX Power Conceal-Her High Waist Shaping Shorts | Nordstrom

View Info

Top Pick

2

Spanx | Nordstrom

View Info

Top Pick

1

Cardiff girl

Veteran

I don’t like sucky in underwear except on special occasions but I do have full length form fitting slips to wear under any dress that I feel needs it.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Roberta, glad I made you laugh! What this conversation has done for me, no lie, is get me to unpack the ab roller and set up my Jungle Gym XT better. And I used them too, so I get the last laugh!

Beth

Veteran

I wear old fashioned half slips. Like Roberta, my goal is just to get my dresses/skirts to hang well and move freely. If it’s not lined, I’ll wear a slip.

shoppingisfun

(website)

Veteran

Thanks for the input! I went to the store last night and bought some of the Jockey Skimmies (and another similar pair in a different brand). I also got a mid-range compression shaper slip with a built in bra. I plan on saving it for special occasions as I don't think it's really necessary for my more casual dresses. I think I still need a regular fitted (non-compression) slip though.

Wearing dresses is hard. I hope I get the hang of it soon lol

Janet

(website)

Veteran

LOL I guess I'm a rare person who just wears the same thing I wear under anything else! Unless the dress is unusually clingy, in which case I have a Commando full slip that works pretty well to provide a little smoothing. I have a pair of Spanx that I haven't worn in years (yet I still keep them), but I don't like buying any dresses that require special shapewear.

LaPed

Veteran

Janet, I am the same! If a dress requires special gear, it probably won't last long in my closet. I figure if something looks unflattering without shapewear, it's still going to *feel* unflattering to me with shapewear; others' perceptions might be better, but my own won't be.

I have one dress that would work better with a short slip because it's a brushed cotton fabric that can get a little static-y with tights underneath, but I haven't felt like going through the trouble of buying a slip, so I just use a static spray, which sort of works. Otherwise, I don't do anything special and wear the exact same things underneath dresses as I do under pants and tops.

Sara L.

Veteran

In the summer I don't usually wear anything different under my dresses. In the winter I usually wear a half slip to keep the dress from sticking to my tights. I don't have any sheer dresses right now, but if I did, I would wear the half-slip under those as well.

LaPed

Veteran

Also, as someone with a small waist and muscular thighs, I've never found a pair of those under-shorts that fit. They always roll down at the waist, roll up at the legs, or both.

Anonymous

OMG. Am I the only one that just wears plain hose? Maybe it is a good thing I don't wear dresses......

The Cat

Veteran

If needed, I wear a slip or a half slip.

Dana

(website)

Veteran

I.don't.wear.slips! I'm not sure why...maybe just rebelling against past rules. But actually, I could probably benefit from a slip that would prevent dresses from clinging to tights. I'd say, judge your dress to see what undergarment to wear. I usually wear SPANX under most of my clothes, but with summer dresses, you can look like you're not wearing anything...not sure I want people wondering. My favorite SPANX are super low compression, don't show on legs and are tricot, so clothes don't cling. I think they called them girl shorts...not sure if they make them anymore.

Anonymous

Shapewear slips, but sized way up to be like a regular slip. Since they're one piece theres not additional bumps above and below like with the shorts. I did learn to my chagrin though that they roll up while dancing:(

Kathie

Veteran

These are the specific items I have. And, since Sterling mentioned it,
yes, I also wear hose, but only in cooler weather. For hose, I do like
the ones with a light control top- I actually find them to be more
comfortable than ones with just an elastic waistband.

Commando Commando Half Slip | Nordstrom

View Info

Top Pick

3

Commando Commando Fitted Slip | Nordstrom

View Info

Top Pick

2

binkle

Veteran

Julie - LOL! No, I meant the brand Commandos, as you figured out! I have never done the other!

And I like the slip shorts too!

Ginger

Veteran

I very, very rarely wear any kind of shaper. I have simple Spanx shorts that I use upon rare occasion. I almost always wear a slip, because I really dislike the look of a skirt riding up in back or VPL. I know that slips are uncommon now. (I can see the lack of them all the time, unfortunately.)

I wear soft but full nylon petticoat(s) under the vintage circle skirts, which really needs some extra oof at the hem to look right. I do skip a slip with a dress or skirt that already has a lining, and also with my Boden knit wool dresses. But I also wear those with Wolford control top hose, which are a lot more comfortable than my Spanx shorts.

Wolford Individual 10 Control Top Pantyhose

View Info

Top Pick

1

shiny

Veteran

I am not a Spanx fan and I generally don't like the sausage compression feeling. I like comfort. I also have scrawny thighs so they don't need controlling. My tummy, however, does (apple shape).

For dresses without hose and in the summer when it's too hot for a slip, I wear high waisted boy shorts. I have 4 pairs of cotton ones that are ages old but are La Perla in a style made fashionable by Carrie in Sex in the City. That's how old they are, but dang it if they are indestructible and still going strong. They are no longer available but I wish they were. They are the best cotton underwear I've ever owned.

In cooler weather I'll wear synthetic boyshorts, various brands, all higher-ish rises. With a Commando full slip. I have a couple of them. Being 5'0 I had to adjust their hem lengths. I cut them with scissors and the hems are still surviving fine despite that.

In cold weather I add Commando hose. They are awesome and really work well, compress and control without being uncomfortable and no roll-down.

Or if it's cold enough I'll wear fleece lined tights. I have a couple of pairs, again, all high waisted. I think my favorites are from Urban Outfitters.

The overarching theme here is high waisted undies. Which seem easier to find this season, what with high-waisted pants being in style.

Jane

Veteran

Hose and a slip for me. I struggle with being sucked in! But I’m very keen to minimise lines as much as I possibly can. I have super cotton slip that is amazing and makes me feel ‘smooth’. I think it is Day Birger et Mikkleson. Many years old.

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

I generally wear my ‘regular’ underwear (cotton hipsters) - IMO life is too short to torture yourself with uncomfortable under things although I still do own spanx in the back of my drawer somewhere. I used to really like jockey slip shorts but in my new high humidity environs, I find they’re not that functional and chafing gel is more comfortable (and reapply-able!).

JAileen

Veteran

I always wear a slip under a dress. Always. No matter the weather. Sometimes I wear a full length slip and sometimes only a half slip. I’ve bought Spanx, but didn’t like it. I think if my dress needs Spanx, then I need a new dress!!!

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

We’ve been well-behaved throughout this discussion. Now it’s time for this
https://www.irishsongs.com/lyr.....ong_id=326

Karie

(website)

Veteran

I have a pair if Spanx that I wear, but I prefer to wear the the same underwear I wear under everything else. I have an old Gap Body slip that I love.