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Venice film fest fashion

Check out these fabulous and sexy outfits the stars donned on the red carpet.

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Nhlanhla and Uyanda Mbuli's clothing labels have been unveiled. You be the judge.
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What does your lingerie say about you?
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Do you believe lingerie should be practical and understated or too pretty to hide? We take a peek at what your choice of lingerie reveals about you.
Article: Erla-Mari Diedericks from Ideas
Image: Jan Ras/Ideas
Underwear is no longer a collection of practical garments that you’re forced to wear. It has evolved into a range of things, including a fashion statement, a plaything in the bedroom and a figure-enhancing best friend. Underwear might not be the window to a woman’s soul but it can reveal a lot about how you view your body and your own sensuality.

Miss Practicality
You avoid anything lacy as you’re convinced it’ll be scratchy and uncomfortable. You head straight for the sporty and practical items. For you, underwear is about keeping everything in its place. It’s about being decent, not decadent. You’ve probably been wearing the same size for years and loyally keep buying the same brand. Many of your bras are flesh coloured and basic. Your panties range from the large and comfortable to those bought in bulk. You’re inclined to be an introvert and tend towards being a perfectionist.

Bare essentials

  • Practical doesn’t have to be boring. Even sports bras now come in fashionable styles and colours.
  • Have fun with your underwear. Don’t feel that your body isn’t perfect or that you don’t deserve to treat yourself.
  • Take a small step fi rst and choose underwear in your usual style but in a different fabric or colour. Then try out a new style, such as a lacy or push-up bra. Rub the fabric against your skin if you’re unsure about how it will feel to wear.
  • Have yourself measured as you might have been wearing the wrong size all along.

    The flasher
    Your motto is ‘If you’ve got it, fl aunt it.’ The concept of underwear as outerwear was brought to us by women like you who looked in the mirror one day and thought, ‘Hey, those are far too pretty to hide’. You often buy underwear to go with a specific outfit. You love wearing see-through or low-cut tops and low-slung trousers to show off your lingerie. You’re confident, and you go for clothes that show off your body. Lacy push-ups, patterned, sequined and embellished lingerie are for you.

    Bare essentials

  • Beware the fine line between tasteful and tacky. Underwear peeking out is sensual; a see-through dress with visible underwear is not.
  • Low-slung trousers and skirts lend themselves to underwear as outerwear since your lingerie is likely to show at the back when you sit or bend. Look out for something in a hipster cut with eye-catching detail at the back. Nowadays it’s fashionable for a band of lace or length of ribbon to show, rather than a G-string.
  • When showing off your bra, ensure that it’s in pristine condition and that it goes with your outfit.

    The fashionista
    You love shopping and you own lingerie in every style and for every occasion. You’ve discovered that the main purpose of underwear is to make you look and feel good. You buy it to go with your latest fashion purchases and delight in a range of styles and fabrics. You’re not scared to experiment with different types of underwear. You’re an extrovert and can be romantic and passionate.

    Bare essential

  • Don’t spend too much on styles that will date. Look out for fun and less expensive items when there’s a sale.
  • Don’t just follow a trend. Make sure that the style suits your body. Tiny hipsters and G-strings with diamanté detail at the back aren’t for everybody.
  • Buying underwear for different outfits, such as a strapless bra for a strappy top, can be expensive. Rather go for a bra with straps that can be adjusted for different tops.

    The flirt
    You believe that sexy underwear is not the sole domain of the honeymoon suite and that it’s part of your romantic repertoire. Your idea of sexy lingerie is garter belts and black satin and lace with more than a hint of naughtiness. You are a sensuous person who loves the feel of satin against your skin and you enjoy celebrating your femininity. For you, wearing sexy lingerie is not degrading but uplifting and empowering. You go for bustiers, garter belts, push-up bras, latex and other adornments such as sequins, feathers and leather.

    Bare essentials

  • Sexy underwear traditionally comes in black, red or a combination of the two. The latest trend in sexy underwear is French boudoir – laced-up and available in colour combinations that include burgundy and black, and soft pink and black.
  • Garter belts no longer have to be attached to stockings. The latest fashion is to wear one with the clips dangling over matching underwear.

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    I can't understand why women are still wearing back fastening bras - is it because thats all that manufacturers offer ? I stock up on lacy FRONT fastening bra's whenever I'm overseas as the dreary "feeding bra" styles are all that's available on the local market.
    Carol-Ann on 26 Jun at 10:34

     
    Hi, I have discovered the "bra extention" the most wonderfull piece in the world!
    joey on 29 Jan at 09:05

     

     
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