Clothing and Accessories Articles

Picking perfect-fitting panties is not an easy task. Many stores will not let customers try on, return, or exchange undergarments, which complicates your choices even more. Wearing the wrong underwear can undermine your mood, comfort level and figure; sadly, lingerie closets across the nation are crammed full of unflattering and ill-fitting items.

Before you buy, it is crucial that you know the exact size, style, and color you need, along with the role you need your underwear to play in your life. This guide will help you find the proper briefs, no ifs, ands or "butts" about it!

To get around the "no trying before buying" problem during panty shopping, always bring an extra clean, well-fitting pair of underwear in your purse. When you find a new pair of underwear in a size that you think might work, hold it up against the pair you brought to see if you need to go a size up or down to match the size of the pair that you know fits. While this isn't a foolproof way to find the perfect fit, it's more accurate than guessing and can save you a lot of time and money.

The fit of your underwear makes a huge difference in personal comfort and body shaping. The waistband of a well-fitting pair of panties will never ride up or roll down, while panty fabric in a fitting pair will be taught and smooth across your bare skin, never baggy. A good pair of underwear will not cause chafing, leave panty lines, or create unsightly skin bulges. These are signs that your bottoms are too tight. On the contrary, if you're finding extra fabric bunched up, or if your waistband is gaping open or sliding down, your underwear is too large.

When figuring out what size underwear you wear, do not fear fluctuation. Just like with outerwear, sizing charts vary greatly between underwear manufacturers, meaning you might be an "XL" in one type of panty but an "M" in another.

Gaining and losing weight may require you to alter your underwear as well, especially during pregnancy. Luckily, pregnancy underwear is no longer doomed to be ugly and huge, as proven by this adorable adjustable maternity bikini. As your waistline expands, so can your underwear.

STYLE
Clothes may make the woman, but the proper underwear makes her clothes fit and look better. If you're planning to wear a super-short skirt, wearing boy-cut underwear like these boyshorts can allay your fears of accidentally flashing a bit too much bum. Various styles of regular, full-coverage briefs work well under many outfits, but when wearing a pair of tight, low-rise jeans, get rid of panty lines and avoid flashing your underwear by opting for a low-rise thong instead, like these ultra low thongs. Regardless of the cut of your underwear, seamless panties usually provide the smoothest look possible.

COLOR
Everyone knows that it's taboo to wear black underwear under white pants, but it's easy to forget that the teddy bears on your favorite patterned panties might show through, too. To be on the safe side, when wearing lighter-colored and lightweight fabrics, stick to solid, white or skin-colored underwear that won't show through. Your underwear should never show above your waistband or below your hem if you're wearing the correct size and style, but if there's the slightest chance that others might accidentally preview your panties, try to coordinate them to your outfit or skin tone so that an accidental appearance is less noticeable.

ROLE
Underwear takes on many different responsibilities, some of which are totally fun and others have purely functional roles. Most panties do not claim to be miracle workers, but some specialty shaper brands, such as Spanx, actually can work magic when it comes to rebuilding your rearview. When you put Hide & Sleek Panties on, you're gifted with an instant tushie and tummy tuck, while Higher Power High Waisted Power Panties create a perfect silhouette underneath clingy pants and dresses, something a mere brief cannot accomplish. As you can see from this list, there is a product to camouflage every possible body concern.

End your search for perfect panties at AOL Shopping!