Published: November 01. 2009 2:00AM

By Stephanie Morgan
CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Each summer, it seems that I have some sort of fashion dilemma that keeps my mind occupied for months after the season is over. Last summer it was this Caribbean blue knit dress with a drop waist, just the right length and halter neckline that I literally stumbled into on King Street. It spoke to me and I needed it. I marched back to the dressing area and could hardly wait to wear it. As I put it on, it felt perfect. The lines were so flattering on the dress. The length was just right, and then it happened. I turned around and could not believe the sight before me. In this very long, skinny mirror in this tiny space, the dress was overshadowed by my backside, which unbeknownst to me had widened.

Before I could get it off, in popped the peppy college student-turned-sales associate digging deep for a compliment and for a sale. She had her own agenda, which I am sure was the only incentive for her positive comment that went something like, “That looks so good on you!” She and I both knew better.

Moving on

Needless to say, the dress stayed on the rack, the associate went on to charm another customer and I headed down King Street broken-hearted, sipping on a bottle of water and ready to take off my shoes. I had just confirmed that there would be no crab cakes in my dinner and that I would not be wearing anything clingy for a long, long time. Soon after returning home to Greenville, I was sharing my depressing story with a girlfriend who quickly made me feel better by sharing the good news about slimming undergarments. Nothing can top advice from a good girlfriend except a super-duper slimming undergarment available in the fun shops around Greenville.

Walking taller

Plaza Suite owned by Terri Sadowski, offers a bright showroom full of classic clothing for women with just enough trends to keep those wearing the pieces looking young and updated. It doesn’t hurt that a glorious shoe store shares the space. Perched on and around a dresser in Plaza Suite is an array of undergarments suited for slimming and shaping. “The undergarments are key,” says Sadowski, “and I offer a couple of different options.” Spanx, Plie and Yummy Tummy are the best sellers, she says. Spanx makes a power panty that looks like a biker short in a nude color that tucks in the tummy, lifts the fanny and slims the leg. The company also offers perfect tights for the season. One option, called body-shaping tights, is reversible: brown on one side and black on the other, with the same technology used to tuck and lift those important spots under your shorter skirt which is pretty and popular this season. They also offer footless tights which are great with tunics and under boots. If you want a more sophisticated look for legs, Sadowski’s recommendation is the nude fishnet hose offered by Spanx. “These hose give shape and slenderize the leg without yelling like a black fishnet does,” says Sadowski. My personal pick from the slenderizing collection is the tummy tank, with a control panel across the tummy and a longer tail great for layering and light enough for all our seasons.

Sitting pretty all day

Plie undergarments, available in sizes small through XL, are designed by and for Brazilian women. The company’s main objective is to create an attractive, wearable and cool body garment to be worn all day. These are said to improve posture by supporting the back, while flattening the tummy and slimming the waistline. There are two options for bras, four options for bottom coverage and five options for body coverage. Amy Pride, a boutique on Augusta Road specializing in dressing a fashionable and sophisticated lady, displays a mannequin dressed in the Plie control tube, allowing for a close look at the materials used to create the piece. This one-piece tube dress, seamless and snug, appears to be the perfect solution to creating a sleek figure under any dress. April Podd, manager of the boutique, offers the opportunity to try on the pieces and inspect how well made each one is. The fabric is soft to the touch, like a comfy but snug legging, and as I investigate further, I encounter the silicone banding used by Plie to keep their products in place on the body. Women of all shapes and sizes all over the world are enjoying this seamless, attractive and wearable option. The company promises no lines or red marks on the skin from any of their nine products.

In my future, I am certain there will be more dresses that I leave hanging. However, it will not be because I am missing out on the secret weapon guaranteeing a smooth start for all of us who have a few more bumps than we like.