Wear a Backless Dress
Backless dresses usually keep enough of your front covered to look classy, but reveal enough skin to look daring and sexy at the same time. If you have a toned back and moderately clear skin, a backless dress may very well be the right statement piece for your next big event. In order to wear a backless dress, however, you must have the proper undergarments and accessories.
Contents
Steps
What Lies Beneath
- Try a low-back bra. These bras have a band that wraps around your stomach, providing your chest with an ample amount of support. If you have a well-endowed bust, this is definitely the option you should consider first.
- Make yourself decent by using stick-on silicone gel petals. If you have a small bust, you might be able to get away without wearing any support. You should still smooth out the curve of your breast to prevent anything from showing through thin fabric, however. Accomplish this by sticking specialized gel petals over your nipples.
- Try an adhesive bra. It provides a little more coverage and support than gel petals, but less than a low-back bra. This option works best for women with small to moderately sized busts, but may still cause problems for those who need heavy-duty support.
- Consider a halter bra. Some backless dresses go around the neck and only expose a small portion of your back. For these dresses, you may be able to hide a halter style bra beneath your dress. This is another supportive option for well-endowed women.
Make Your Skin Glow
- Exfoliate the skin on your back. A few weeks before you plan on wearing your dress, use a loofah and a standard shower gel to gently scrub away dead skin every few days. Do not do this every day, however, since too much scrubbing may cause damage to sensitive skin.
- Use an acne scrub on your back. Even if you are not prone to back acne, regularly washing your back with an acne scrub is a good way to ward off stray pimples and keep your skin looking smooth.
- Moisturize the skin on your back. After you wash, apply a light moisturizer or lotion over your back to keep the skin from drying out.
- Apply a self-tanner to your body. Tanned skin accentuates the muscles in your back, which may make you look more toned. A light coat is all you need to achieve the desired effect.
Let Your Back Show
- Practice proper posture. Hold your head high, your shoulders back, and your chest out. Straight posture will make your back look its best, but a bent, hunched over back looks significantly less attractive.
- Minimize your accessories. Accessories are an important part of any outfit, but the primary purpose of a backless dress is to show off your back. Too many accessories can draw attention away. Opt for a simple yet elegant pair of dangling earrings or a delicate bracelet to add just a touch of sparkle to your look.
- Avoid accessories that cover your neck or back. Scarves are the biggest culprits. Necklaces can also create a disruption by drawing the eye to the necklace clasp instead of your back. Necklaces with an adjustable chain that hangs down the top of your back are especially bad choices.
- Pin up your hair. You may have long, luxurious locks, but if they cover your entire back, there is not much point in wearing a backless dress. Wear your hair up for the evening to fully show off your back.
- Play peek-a-boo. For a more demure look, keep your hair partially down. Allow part of it drape down your back, but make sure that enough of your skin still shows through. Playing coy can actually heighten the attractiveness of a backless dress.
Tips
- Bring a jacket with you. Having such a large amount of skin showing on your back may make you colder than you realize, especially if you wear your dress during the evening. A jacket, cardigan, or shawl can help remedy the situation if it becomes unbearable.
- Once you have your dress on, make sure you take advantage of its design to show off your lovely back. Avoid any accessories and hairstyles that cover your back or draw the eye away from it.
- Regularly look at your back in a full-length mirror to determine if it will be ready to show off when the time comes. If you cannot see it by craning your head, use a hand mirror to assist you. Stand with your back to the full-length mirror and hold the hand mirror in front of you. Move the hand mirror around until you can clearly see the reflection of your back in the full-length mirror.
- If you plan on showing off your back, then make sure it looks good enough to be worth showing off. Give your skin a healthy glow by following a proper cleaning and moisturizing regiment.
- A normal bra will not work with a backless dress since the band will likely peek through the opening. Women with small busts have a variety of alternatives available to them, but women with larger busts may have to spend a little extra time finding a supportive bra specially designed to work with backless dresses.
- Choose a backless dress like you choose any other dress. Look for a flattering silhouette that works with your body shape. A-line and pencil skirt styles are the most universally flattering, as are knee-length dresses.
- Exercise to keep your back in good shape. If you do not keep your back toned, unseemly flab along your sides or back may peek out from beneath your dress.
Things You’ll Need
- Low-back bra
- Stick-on silicone gel petals
- Adhesive bra cups
- Halter bra
- Exfoliating body wash
- Acne scrub
- Moisturizer
- Self-tanner
- Dangling earrings
- Bracelets
