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Yoliswa Dube
PERHAPS I should be a little embarrassed to say I was one of those women who were more concerned about the comfort of their underwear to a point that having visible panty lines didn’t matter much.
I really didn’t think anybody cared until I wore a purple bodycon dress and a nude pair of heels to work one day.
My panty lines were visible under this body hugging dress and there was an intervention from my female colleagues —bless them!
I got a lecture for this fashion faux pas. It was unheard of, they said. My bottom needed to look flawless — with no visible lines whatsoever. I tried to explain that I was wearing French knickers but they weren’t going to hear any of it.
They even offered to take me underwear shopping to make sure I got my knickers seamless.
It was constructive criticism which I greatly appreciated. I mean, we learn every day, right?
I actually hadn’t realised how embarrassing it was for the next person until my mother told me about a woman who stood in line in front of her as she waited to pay a utility bill. As she was telling me this story, I chuckled and remembered how, just a few months ago, this was me.
She assumed the woman was coming from work and was dressed in what seemed like a work uniform — otherwise professional, except for that visible panty line. It distracted, disgusted and caused her discomfort, my mother said.
But in this woman’s defence, the visible panty line struggle is real. Sometimes you don’t even realise its showing. But it’s no excuse; you absolutely need to make sure your bottom is seamless before you step out of the house.
You could put together the perfect outfit but it’ll all be ruined when you realise that your panty lines are visible through your clothes. Even though it happens to every woman out there, you should aim to avoid them as often as you can. It’s not that hard to do, as long as you know what causes them.
You can avoid those pesky panty lines we all hate by buying seamless underwear. It helps wearing thicker fabrics with more texture which help mask whatever lumps and lines might be lurking underneath.
You could try layering with tights or pantyhose. A thin pair of tights or pantyhose should smooth out any lines you might have and they won’t add any bulk to your look.
There’s a reason professional stylists use G-strings exclusively. They might not be as comfortable as good old granny panties otherwise known as omagumede, but they work.
In all earnestness, G-strings are not as bad as long as they’re not too tight and they’re not peeping through your waistline from the back.
That’s just the worst! If you’ve ever been on a commuter omnibus, you’ve come across a woman sitting in front of you with a peeping G-string.
It gets worse when she attempts to get off the kombi or make room for someone else to drop off.
Make sure that person is never you by ensuring your G-string isn’t out there for everyone to see! If thongs just aren’t your thing, try boyshorts.
They go under the butt cheek instead of cutting across it.
A little lace is also good for making the lines less abrupt and not so noticeable. Just make sure it’s a flat lace so it doesn’t look lumpy under tight clothes.
You could also get shapewear, which are great for seamlessly smoothing everything out.
Whatever your choice of outfit, save yourself and the people you’ll encounter some visible panty line drama!
Feedback from “Size Matters”
blame the Chinese tailors who came up 5X sizes otherwise where on earth do these women get bum shorts to fit them. Uswele lokuthi ukhangele ngaphi shuwa! — MaNcube.
What a captivating title! — Mzwakhe.
Hey Yolie, keep it up big sis! I loved “Size Matters” and “A man with a watch is a man with a plan”. I really love your articles. —Brilligence, Victoria Falls.
Hey, I was just reading your article “Size Matters. Indeed its true and its unbearable how some women want to fit into skimpy outfits. You just nailed it on the head! – 0779017***.
You know your craft, you slay, keep at it girl! – Noma.
Until next week, flaunt your pattern and style and don’t forget to drop me an SMS/Whatsapp on +263774 492700, send an email to [email protected] or follow me on Twitter handle @YoliswaStarr.
Online Reporter