Choosing the Right Plus-Size Lingerie for You

At the turn of the century, women wearing skimpy clothing in public would have been considered scandalous in New Zealand. Jockey Y-Fronts were first advertised for men in the 1940s. Back then, showing women in their underwear was unthinkable. Fortunately, the lingerie market in New Zealand has undergone a massive change in recent years. What used to be the domain of curvaceous or traditionally so-called sexy women, manufacturers have realised a previously underserved huge market– the plus-size women.

In New Zealand, lingerie ads featuring plus-size women started in 2016 when the commercials feature Lena Dunham and Jemima Kirke of HBO’s Girls were widely received. Now, you can buy plus size lingerie in NZ without so much as a second glance.

While Victoria’s Secret has suffered some financial setbacks recently, you can’t deny its contributions to making lingerie shopping mainstream with its runway shows and creative ads. Before, women were ashamed to purchase at the shops like it was some dirty act. Now, carrying bags with the lingerie logo is a stamp of pride. 

According to data, more than 2.5 million women ages 14 and older buy underwear at least once in four weeks, both offline and online. While there is no such study in Australia and New Zealand, customer acceptance on lingerie ads feature plus-size women has increased. For ages between 26 and 35 years old, only 10% said that they don’t like the commercials. For 36-50 years old, only 11% are opposed to the trend of showing plus-size lingerie commercials in the United States.

If you are only the lookout for plus size lingerie in NZ, these tips may come in handy:

1. Make sure to get lots of support — Women with D cups know the importance of support. Research has shown that the size of the breast directly contributes to back pains experienced by some women. If you do not have enough support, it would not only result in an unflattering figure, but it will also restrict your movements. Make sure to buy from a lingerie shop that specialises in support apart from making sure the consumer feels sexy.
2. Make sure you know your size — Find a non-padded bra in your home and wear it. Then run the measuring tape across your body where the bra band sits. Make sure to keep the measuring tape level and snug without necessarily digging into the skin. Round up to the nearest whole number if your measurement is not a whole number. The common misconception is that buying one size smaller will make you look thinner. However, it will only result in unsightly bulging fats under your shirt or dress. In contrast, lingerie or bras that are one size bigger will make you appear larger than you really are.

Avoid stretchy fabric — A stretchy or lacy fabric may cling to the wrong places on your breasts and tummy. Cotton will provide ample support while allowing your skin to breathe, plus it will also provide you with a good shape. The idea is not to make your body look different than it does. The right lingerie will instead flatter the figure that you already have rather than create an illusion of being thin.