To achieve your best look, start with the proper underpinnings.
By Kaitlyn Murray
With another Valentine’s Day behind us, all of your lingerie concerns can be pushed aside for another year, right? Wrong. Unless, of course, your wedding day isn’t for another year or so, and even then it’s better to familiarize yourself with the world of bridal lingerie sooner rather than later. Melanie Elman of Mrs. Robinson Fine Lingerie, located in Wayland Square, is no stranger to last minute bridal lingerie woes. “You wouldn’t believe how many women come to us the week of the wedding,” she says. It’s doable but, as with most things in life, it’s best to plan ahead.
So, when is the best time to start looking for bridal lingerie?
The earlier, the better. It’s less stressful for the bride, especially if anything needs to be special ordered. Most brides will come in right after they have picked out their dress or have finished their alterations. Bringing in pictures of the dress, or even better the dress itself, can ensure that you will walk out with the best lingerie suited for you and your dress. Sometimes we let customers take our lingerie from the shop to the fittings and when they bring it back we discuss whether adjustments need to be made.
What is a typical fitting with you like?
Our main job is to make sure everything fits properly so that it looks good and is comfortable for the bride to be wearing for upwards of twelve hours. The biggest thing is usually the bra — you know the style, the size of it — you don’t want any seams, you want to be upheld. And then we move on to see if they want a one piece or a bra and panty set. We work with their body type, their dress style and then we match it with what they have in mind.
Do certain undergarments work better with certain dress types?
Not always. A one-piece or bustier may pair well with a ball gown, but not with one that has a low back, which are really in style at the moment. The underwear is also entirely dependent on how your dress specifically fits you and what you feel comfortable in. Your best bet is to go into a shop, get fitted and then try on different styles.
Are there any lingerie styles brides should avoid?
Sometimes women will come in and want colorful lingerie, not realizing that unless you have really, really thick fabric or a non-white dress, colors will show through. Same goes for anything that has beading or too many pieces — those will create lines and bulges. It’s best to leave the fun and flashy stuff for later that night. During the day go for a one-piece or a simple bra and panty set and try to stick to nude, white or off-white shades.
Do you have any shape-wear recommendations?
Sometimes you don’t need it! A bride came in the other day, a girl who already had a wonderful figure, and she had a very simple, fitted dress. She, like many or our clients, wanted a bustier and this and that for underneath but we ended up not selling her any of it. I told her all she needed was a slip; anything else would have just taken away from the dress. She couldn’t believe it.
But there are things that are good for your tummy and such if a bride feels she really needs it. Shape-wear depends on the dress — because you don’t want to see anything poking out. Spanx is always good. We’ve sold other brands too, but nothing comparable to Spanx.
What is the difference between visiting lingerie shops vs. larger chains or department stores?
You get more personal treatment here. We’ll special order anything you need and if it doesn’t fit or you don’t like it, you’re not obligated to take it. I, personally, bend over backwards to help, meeting brides before and after hours if it’s more convenient for them. Our items are also more unique. We carry more brands and we have specialized sizes. We don’t do anything raunchy; it’s much more sophisticated, more elegant. We do the fittings ourselves, and we’re very honest. If something doesn’t fit or look right we will let you know. A department store just wants to sell you something, it doesn’t matter what — they don’t care. We care.
Mrs. Robinson Fine Lingerie, 190 Wayland Ave., Providence, 831-7740.