Confessions of a Model: Why Your Underwear Is the Secret to Looking Effortlessly Stylish This Summer

maxineweavers
Jul 27
3 min read

When people hear I used to model, they often imagine glamorous photoshoots, designer dresses and endless confidence.

The reality?

There was usually someone kneeling on the floor with a roll of fashion tape, another steaming a dress five minutes before the shoot, and someone shouting, “Has anyone got a nude bra in a 34C?”

Welcome to the glamorous world of modelling.

One of the biggest style secrets I learnt wasn’t about wearing expensive clothes. It wasn’t about being a certain size either.

It was about what was underneath them.

Don’t Underestimate Your Underwear

Let’s talk about the real MVP of your wardrobe… your underwear.

It may be hidden, but it does a lot of heavy lifting—sometimes literally.

Models never turned up with just one bra and a pair of knickers. We had a survival kit that would make any magician jealous: nude bras, seamless briefs, chicken fillets (yes, they’re a real thing!), boob tape, fashion tape, Spanx, nipple covers, safety pins and enough double-sided tape to hold a small family together.

Every item had a purpose.

Because even the most beautiful outfit won’t look its best if the foundations underneath aren’t right.

Think of it as scaffolding—but sexier.

Summer Clothes Need the Right Foundations

Summer is wonderful for floaty dresses, linen trousers, white shirts and lightweight fabrics.

It’s also the season when your underwear suddenly becomes everyone’s business.

Visible bra straps.

Panty lines.

A black bra under a white linen shirt.

The wrong bra making a beautiful dress sit awkwardly.

We’ve all been there.

The right underwear isn’t about hiding your body—it’s about allowing your clothes to do what they were designed to do.

A seamless brief lets linen skim beautifully instead of clinging.

A bra that actually fits can transform the way a dress hangs on your body.

And here’s one of the biggest styling secrets…

Under white clothing, choose underwear that matches your skin tone, not white. White underwear often shows through far more than nude ever will.

It’s one of those tiny changes that makes a huge difference.

Comfort Is Always Stylish

Let’s face it—there’s nothing elegant about spending the day tugging at your bra straps or discreetly trying to unstick your thighs from a plastic chair.

Choose breathable fabrics like cotton for everyday wear, or moisture-wicking fabrics if you’re going to be out in the heat.

If you’re prone to chafing (and so many women are), anti-chafe shorts can be an absolute game-changer. They’re not glamorous, but neither is walking like you’ve just completed the London Marathon after a stroll around the shops.

It’s Not About Perfection

One thing modelling taught me is that nobody steps into designer clothes and looks flawless.

Everything is pinned.

Everything is taped.

Everything is adjusted.

The photographs you admire? There’s an entire team making those clothes look incredible.

Real life is different.

That’s why I always tell my personal styling clients not to compare themselves to magazine images. Instead, learn the little styling tricks that professionals use every day.

Most of them have nothing to do with your dress size.

The Best Style Investment You’ll Ever Make

Before buying another summer dress, ask yourself:

Do I actually have the right underwear to wear underneath it?

Because the answer could save you from buying clothes that you think don’t suit you, when really they just haven’t had the right foundations.

As a personal stylist, I don’t just help women find clothes they love.

I help them understand why some outfits work beautifully and others don’t.

Sometimes the answer isn’t a new wardrobe.

Sometimes it’s simply the right bra.

Or a seamless pair of knickers.

Or a roll of fashion tape tucked away in your handbag—just like the models do.

Because great style always starts with the right foundations.