We welcome our guest blogger to the ELC community Claire Jensen.
With over 10 years extensive experience in fashion retail and Visual Merchandising, Claire is now an accredited 1:1 personal stylist, workshop facilitator and Australian Style Institute Trainer.
Claire's message is around empowering and building confidence for her clients. With a focus on creating a positive dialogue around body image and educating our clients about how the clothes we wear can impact the way we see ourselves and how we feel.
Imagine you’ve just walked in the gym and are about to meet your trainer for a 1:1 session. When you left the house, you felt amazing. You’ve got your best active wear on, your hair is behaving in a sleek pony tail, you’re feeling hot as sh*t right now knowing you’re going to be doing the activities that make your body and soul feel good.
And then, mid squat, you feel it. That slightly uncomfortable feeling of fabric riding up into areas where it wasn’t supposed to go. You push through a few more reps. But there it goes again. Fabric inching its way up and up until it’s like your butt cheeks have swallowed what once were your knickers.
Now picture your personal trainer as athletic and handsome. A man with the kind of eyes and smile that could make you do literally any torturous exercise he commanded. You push through the workout hoping to god he hasn’t noticed you’re walking a little funny and it’s not because of the squats…
True story. Happened to me earlier this year. I pushed through that session with the most horrendous workout wedgie you could possibly imagine because I would rather feel incredibly uncomfortable for an hour than dare attempt to relieve it in front of Mr. Gorgeous PT.
The health and fitness industry has boomed over the past 10 years, as has activewear as a fashion statement.
Choosing a fashionable gym outfit is almost as stressful and choosing what to wear out for dinner.
However, as someone who loves hitting the gym, I take more pride in something being comfortable and functional for my workout than looking like a #fitspo influencer.
But the one piece of our sweat session outfit we may be overlooking is our underwear.
Here’s my 3 top tips for picking the best knickers to avoid a workout wedgie (and any residual embarrassment in front of cute gym goers / trainers in the process):
Something else to consider when picking your workout ensemble is the type and quality of workout leggings you’re wearing. If you’re not currently “bend” or squat testing your leggings when you purchase, start. Leggings shouldn’t go sheer as you bend and move and no one else on the gym floor should know what colour or kind of knickers you have on that day 😉.
On a final note, I’ll say this - while the gym isn’t a fashion runway, if wearing a great outfit makes you feel good, do it! But take a moment to think about your delicates and their impact on your session. That way you can focus on how cute your trainer is and not the fact you’d love to run, albeit awkwardly, into the bathroom to unpick the worst wedgie you’ve ever had in your life.
To learn more about Claire Jensen and her world of styling follow her at @Clairejensenstyle on Instagram or visit her website www.clairejensenstyle.com
Don't forget to check out Claire's previous blog article for ELC, Date Night Style - Making a great first impression
Trying to find the right underwear size can be difficult due to different companies making different sizes. To make things easier we have created a step by step guide to take the guess work out of the equation.
Below we have measuring instructions with images to assist you.
All you need to do is take a couple of simple measurements; your waist, your lower waist and your hips. The best way to do this is by using a soft measuring tape and a mirror to ensure you are accurate. If possible stand in front of a mirror when taking your measurements to ensure that the measuring tape is also parallel to the floor and is flat.
Your waist is the natural in indentation above your hips or just below your rib cage (see image). Wrap the soft measuring tape around firmly without pitching your skin together – write this measurement down.
Your lower waist is approx. 12cm down from your waist. Take your measuring tape and run this down from your waist to 12cm (see image). Wrap the soft measuring tape around this area firmly without pitching your skin together – write this measurement down.
Now wrap the soft measuring tape around the fullest part of your hips, this is approximately 25cm below your waist (see image). Use the mirror to check that your measuring tape is completely straight and parallel to the floor – write this measurement down.
All you need to do is take a couple of simple measurements; your Full Bust and your Lower or under bust. The best way to do this is by using a soft measuring tape and a mirror to ensure you are accurate.
Your Full Bust is the fullest part of your bust (see image). Ensure that the measuring tape is completely straight and parallel to the floor. Wrap the soft measuring tape around firmly without pitching your skin together – write this measurement down
The Lower or Under bust is measured by wrapping the measuring tape around your rib cage directly under your bust (see image). Wrap the soft measuring tape around firmly without pitching your skin together – write this measurement down
ELC Size | 8 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 22 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Full Bust Measurements (cm) | 81-87 | 87-93 | 93-99 | 99-105 | 106-114 | 115-123 | 124-130 | 131-137 |
Lower or Under Bust Measurement (cm) | 61-67 | 67-73 | 73-79 | 80-86 | 87-39 | 94-100 | 100-106 | 107-113 |
Waist Measurement (cm) | 75 | 80 | 85 | 90 | 95 | 100 | 110 | 115 |
Lower Waist Measurement (cm) | 90 | 95 | 100 | 105 | 110 | 115 | 120 | 125 |
Hip Measurement (cm) | 95 | 100 | 105 | 110 | 115 | 120 | 125 | 130 |
USA | 4 to 6 | 6 to 8 | 8 to 10 | 10 to 12 | 12 to 14 | 14 to 16 | 16 to 18 | 18 to 20 |
UK | 6 to 8 | 8 to 10 | 10 to 12 | 12 to 14 | 14 to 16 | 16 to 18 | 18 to 20 | 20 to 22 |
EUROPE | 34 to 36 | 36 to 38 | 38 to 40 | 40 to 42 | 42 to 44 | 44 to 46 | 46 to 48 | 48 to 50 |