Lingerie for Backless Wedding Dresses

Lingerie for Backless Wedding Dresses

Hi

It seems at the moment, and for the past couple of years, that backless wedding dresses are becoming more and more popular.  While these look stunning they obviously pose a problem in providing support to your bust, as the band of a traditional bra will be visible around the back - and probably to the side as well.  Some of these dresses will have structure and support built into the bodice of the dress, but this will only be possible if the design of the dress allows.

Where this is not possible there is always the “bra-less” option, but most brides I deal with feel far more comfortable with some support - and some pretty underwear - rather than nothing at all.  I have lots of options available at my web shop www.bridal-lingerie-shop.co.uk.

So what are the options…

First a few words of warning regarding the selection of lingerie that is available - and why you may or may not be able to find your perfect piece.

Backless or Low Back Strapless

The first thing to think about is whether you want “backless” or “low back strapless”.  You simply cannot have a backless piece of lingerie that dips below the waist without there being straps to hold the cups into place.  So all the backless options that are out there will have straps - so you need to be sure your dress can accommodate them.  The most common completely backless solution is to use a body suit.  Many of the styles I have in my shop have multi-way and clear strap options to help you out.

If you want a strapless dress the compromise is that you will need to have a dress that only dips down to just above the waist.  Any lower and then the only lingerie option will be bra-less(or have support in the dress).  For low back strapless lingerie the support is generally provided by a reasonably firm waistband - with the cups and side supported by boning which is anchored to the waistband.  This works really well and can provide great support even for larger cup sizes.  The only real issue for some brides is that the waistband can produce a little bulge below the bottom edge.  This is not an issue where your dress flares out from the waist, but where that is not the case you will probably need to match the item with some high waisted shapewear to smooth things out.

Control & Shaping

I cannot tell  you how many queries I get asking for “something backless that will provide some control and shaping for my waist and tummy”. Control and shaping is almost always created by tension around the part of the body in question.  If you want shaping for your waist something is going to have to go all the way around your waist to provide some tension.  If that is what you need you simply cannot have a dress or lingerie that dips below the waist.

The other issue is that many of the completely backless options are made of lovely lightweight breathable materials.  They are more like a very lightweight swimsuit material.  There just is not the tension to provide anything more than the lightest of smoothing.  There is one exception to this - that I am aware of. - but the compromise is that it is made of a heavier gauge material and is not quite as low at the back.  You can find this on my website

As above the other option is to go Low Back rather than backless.

Support for the Larger Bust

Providing support for the larger bust is always going to be a challenge for backless dresses and backless lingerie.  Pretty much the larger the bust the fewer options there are for you.  Its really a design / engineering issue.  The normal way of providing support for the larger bust is through the band of a bra and through the straps.  Obviously with a backless dress which dips below the waist - the band is not an option - so all the support has to be provided by the straps.  The straps in bridal lingerie tend to be a little slimmer and more delicate than they might be in a normal fashion bra.

Generally, up to a D-cup there is a good choice or both backless and low back strapless lingerie.  Above that size, you are down to a relatively small number of options.

Height (or more importantly body length)

As the backless lingerie solution is to use a body suit you have to appreciate that the length of the item can be an issue.  Obviously the bottom end is “fixed” in place by the fit of the panty (or thong) style bottom - and then there is a fixed measurement from there to the cups.  Although the straps are adjustable it does not change the fact that the distance from the panty to the cups is not adjustable.  If you are tall the cups will simple sit too low for your boobs, and no matter how tight you adjust the straps it is unlikely to fit comfortably for you.  Broadly speaking if you are over 5' 7", or slightly shorter and longer in the body, then you are going to find this is an issue.

The only real option to get a slightly longer body suit is to go up a size - but you need to make sure it still fits on your hips (see “Sizing and Fit” below)

Sizing and Fit

Although most of the backless bodies are “bra sized” (ie. they have a band and cup size rather than a dress size) the fact they are backless means that the band size is fairly meaningless.  It is actually more of an indication of the dress size of the bottom half.  Typically:

32= UK 10 Dress Size, 34= UK 12 Dress Size, 36= UK 14 Dress Size, 38= UK 16 Dress Size, and so on.

The trick here is to understand how bra sizing works.  Read this bit carefully as most of the brides I have met do not know about this.  When you go up a bra back size the cup size also increases.  So a 34B is a back size AND a cup size larger than a 32B.   That also means that a 34B has the SAME physical cup size as a 32C.  Sounds really odd but that is how it works.  It is the same in reverse - so a 32C is a back size AND a cup size smaller than a 34C.

Getting the fit around your hips is where to start.

So if your lower half is a UK12 - you will probably be best in size a 34 body suit.  But if your normal bra size is a 32C - then choosing a 34C will mean the cup will be one size too large (remember - the 34C is a back and a cup size larger than the 32C). So you would need to choose a 34B. 

Similarly if your lower half is a UK 14 - you will probably be best in a 36.  But if your normal bra size is a 38B then choosing a 36B will mean the cup will be too small (as a 36B and a back and a cup size smaller than a 38B)  So you would need to choose a 36C.

If you are tall you can use this to go up a size - as long as you do not go up to much such the the bottom half no longer fits. So if you are 5'8" and a size UK12 lower half and a normal bra size of 34D. Then the UK12 says you would normally try a 34 - but to be a little longer in the body you should go to 36.  A 36D will be one size too large in the cup - so you would need a 36C.  Remember the bottom half will now be a UK14 - so probably best only to try this if you are a UK12/14 rather than a UK 10/12.

So in terms of the actual backless products - there is surprisingly large range of options.  You can find all of these products on my website under the section “Low back and Backless” - or just follow this link https://www.bridal-lingerie-shop.co.uk/backless--low-back-151-c.asp

In terms of colour - they are usually available in Nude or Ivory - but some only come in a single colour.

Starting with the smooth plain leg backless bodysuit (shown below).  This has a panty style bottom and is available in Nude and Ivory.  It is made of a lovely lightweight breathable material.  No shaping to speak of - just a light smoothing effect.  It comes with multi-way straps and come with a clear set of straps as well. Size run from 32-38 and B to D.

Nude Backless Bodysuit

Next, there is a lace leg version (shown below).  This is pretty much identical in everyway - except that there is some lovely lace panels across the rear and slightly to the side of the leg.  Its a really pretty option, but does make the garment a little more expensive. The lace is obviously not as smooth as the plain leg version - and there is a small seam where the lace is attached to the body.  As a result, it is probably best with a dress that is not too tightly fitted over the hips or is particularly sheer. Sizes once again run from 32-38 and B to D cup.

Lacy Backless Bridal Underwear

The plain leg bodysuit does have a seamless laser cut edge, but for those of you worried VPL about,  or requiring a bit more smoothing out over the bum and thigh area, there is a longer legged version (shown below).  Once again, this is virtually identical to the plain leg version except it has more of a cycling short bottom.  It is still made of the same material - so it is not really control wear - but will provide improved smoothing.  The other this about this item is that the cycling short bottom really anchors the bottom half in place, and is less forgiving than the plain leg version if you are little taller.  That is to say you can yank up the plain leg version more than the long leg version.  This one only comes in nude.

Long Legged Backless Body

 

Another trend in dresses I have seen over the past year is what I call the backless / frontless dress.  This is a backless dress with a plunging neckline. While I dont have a solution for the deepest of plunges - there is a solution that will match most of them (shown below).  This is pretty much identical to the plain leg version but with a much deeper plungle at the front.  From a support perspective - if you don't need the plunge don't choose this one - but if you do need the plunge then this is one of your only options.  This one is only in Nude.

Plunge Front Backless Bridal Lingerie

 

For the larger cup I have a couple of options.  The first is a body suit with a tanga style thong bottom (see below):  It really does work well for the larger cup sizes and is available in 32DD-FF, 34DD - FF, 36DD-F and 38DD-E.  The material is a bit more structure and gives a bit more support, and the cups are specifically designed for the larger sizes.  When I first got hold of one of these  was amazed at how well it supported my own boobs (34E).  Once again this one only come in Nude.

Big Cup Backless Bodysuit

 

Finally, The only real piece of shapewear in my low back bodysuit range (pictured below).  It is not quite as low at the back as the other ranges - but is only 1" higher - which in itself is quite remarkable.  It is made of a far heavier gauge material with plenty of elastane and will provide medium control from the waist down over the hips, round the tummy and down to the thighs.  This one is not actually cup sized but is sized  by UK dress size running from Size 8 to size 22.  Quite an amazing piece of underwear.

Backless Bridal Shapewear

I hope you have found this information helpful.  I will do another article on the low back strapless lingerie options as I think I have gone on long enough here.  As I mentioned all of these items are available from my online shop.

Take Care and happy shopping.

Geraldine x

 

Bio

I am Geraldine and over the past 25 years  I have always worked in and around lingerie. I spent 10 years as a designer working with some of the top lingerie brands and manufacturers, so I understand the construction, materials and aesthetics of haw lingerie is put together.  I have also spent nearly 20 years owning and operating as a lingerie retailer.  I have fitted, literally, thousands of ladies and I consider myself to be one of the most experienced fitters in the country.  I now specialise in the hardest to fit lingerie - of which bridal lingerie is one of the hardest as it not only needs to fit the bride, but it also needs to perfectly match the dress.

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