Have You Done This? 5 Common Lingerie Mistakes

Wearing underwear: how hard can it be? Actually, it’s not always easy to get it right. At Lavinia Lingerie, we’ve taken a look at some of the most common lingerie mistakes, with some tips on how to fix them. How many of these are you guilty of?

1. Wearing the wrong size bra

Let’s start with this one, as it’s probably the most obvious. Are you wearing the correct size bra? If you are, well done! If not, you’re not alone: it’s said that 80 percent of women are wearing the wrong size bra. We recommend standing in front of the mirror in your favorite bra and checking for clues. Do the straps dig in? Does the underband ride up at the back? Are the cups overflowing? These could all be signs that you need to wear a different size—and once you find your correct size, you’ll be amazed at the difference it makes.

Take a look at our lingerie fitting guide for more tips.

2. Wearing yesterday’s bra

Your bra works hard, and, just like you, it needs to take a breather sometimes. If you wear your favorite bra for two days in a row (or even more), the elastic will stretch without having time to recover. Our tip? Rotate your bras to give them time to rest: they’ll thank you by keeping their elasticity for longer.

3. Wearing a lace bra under a tee

There are so many mistakes in the wrong-bra-for-your-outfit category that we could have picked here, but this one is a real humdinger. Please do not ever wear a lace bra under a tee! The lace will just look lumpy under the knit fabric. T-shirt and molded bras were invented precisely to deal with this, so invest in a molded cup bra that gives a smooth line under tops and wear your tee with pride.

Shop molded bras

4. Wearing white underwear under something white

This is such an easy lingerie mistake to make. White underwear should be invisible under white clothing, right? Actually not. A white bra or panties will contrast against your skin—so if you’re wearing a lightweight white blouse or pants, there’s a risk it will show through. Lingerie that’s closer to your skin tone is a much safer bet.

5. Putting your bra in the tumble dryer

There’s a reason that most bra care labels say “handwash only”—it’s the best way to ensure that your bra lasts as long as possible. In the real world, however, lingerie experts do understand that we don’t always have time to spend the evening handwashing our smalls, so if you absolutely must, you can machine wash your bra on a delicate cycle at a low temperature, making sure to put it in a lingerie wash bag first. Tumble drying, however, is an absolute no-no: it’s the fastest way to shred the elastic and you could even end up overheating the underwire to disastrous effect.

Shop lingerie wash bags