My bodysuit tops are a favorite part of my winter wardrobe. The part I like about them is that they can’t ride up at the back, exposing my kidneys to the cold. Bodysuit tops solved the frustration that I had of forever pulling my tops down at the back during cold winter days. My transgender friends also tell me that bodysuit tops are perfect for helping to hold a “tuck” in place as the form-fitting tightness of the whole top adds an extra feeling of security.
The bodysuit top is a form-fitting top that extends down low and has snap/hook fastening at the crotch leaving leg openings that resemble a swimsuit or leotard. Bodysuit tops can be sleeveless, short-sleeved, or long-sleeved. It is the form-fitting and crotch-fastening that sets them apart.
Let’s take a closer look at the bodysuit top so that you can better understand the benefits of wearing one next winter.
What Are The Significant Features of A Bodysuit Top?
One-piece and form-fitting; the best adjectives to describe a bodysuit. This garment is meant to cover the torso and the crotch with variations covering the hands, legs, and feet. As with other women’s apparel, the bodysuit also comes in a myriad of designs and materials, from sheer to opaque, long sleeve or sleeveless, high neck, or plunging.
Generally, bodysuit tops are made of stretchy and clingy material that hugs the curves but styles made from lace and cotton are also not unheard of. It is quite similar to one-piece swimsuits or leotards except for the snaps or hooks at the crotch for easy undoing without taking off the whole garment. This function is what sets bodysuits apart from other one-piece women’s clothing.
What Are The Origins Of The Bodysuit Top?
Bodysuit tops were a progression from leotards which were made famous by the French acrobat Jules Leotard in the mid to late 1800s. In 1950, the bodysuit was presented in the United States by fashion designer Claire McCardell and was worn as a blouse or t-shirt. The “Queen of Pinups” Betty Page wore bodysuits in the same year, with the Playboy Bunnies following suit in the 1960s, making the garment their trademark attire.
Since then, bodysuits have been a mainstay fashion item for both men and women. In the 2010s, the style reappeared with famous international stars opting to wear them dressed up or down. This style staple’s most practical benefit is that the wearer can have that “tucked in” look without having to worry about shifting, bunching, or untucking.
What Figure/Body Shape Is Best Suited To A Bodysuit Top?
Bodysuits are notoriously figure-hugging and not everyone will have the confidence to flaunt all their curves. However, with a wide range of styles and sizes (and stores!) to choose from, everybody’s shape has got a perfect bodysuit or two waiting. All one has to do is choose the cut and style that will accentuate and showcase their unique assets.
Tall and slim types can be considered lanky but bodysuits with long sleeves and asymmetrical necklines can highlight your elegant arms, neck, and collarbones. Petite ladies can opt for high-cut bodysuits as the exposed skin around the hips gives one the illusion of having long legs. Clever cutouts that mirror the curves and daring details will make an hourglass or pear shape silhouette even more alluring.
Etiquette: When Can You Wear/Not Wear Your Bodysuit Top?
Bodysuit tops can be worn all year round, that’s how versatile it is. And since there are plenty of styles including conservative long-sleeved and high-necked ones, you do not have to worry about being tagged as underdressed. As long as it is paired with appropriate bottoms, any day can be a bodysuit day!
Bodysuits with billowy sleeves paired with daring neckline cuts can be perfect for after-work parties, or just about any casual party. Turtleneck bodysuits with smart blazers and a pair of trousers will not look out of place in a formal business setting.
What Shoes/Bag Works Best With A Bodysuit Top?
Any women’s shoes can be paired with a bodysuit as long as they are tastefully coordinated. Laced-up booties will work well with solid-colored, long-sleeved bodysuits. Closed heels and platform shoes compliments bodysuits with intricate styles and materials such as silk and lace. Open-backed and thin-strapped suits can be perfectly paired with strappy heels in your favorite color.
Choosing a bag for bodysuit pairing should also depend on the occasion, usage, and vibe that you are going for. Casual thin-strapped bodysuit tops can be paired with small trendy bags such as the baguette, canteen, or saddle sling bags. Elegantly detailed bodysuits with plunging necklines or cutouts can be accentuated by clutch-style bags.
If you are looking to shop for a bodysuit top, start with Amazon where they have this one for example.
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