Wearing the right foundation garments can be the hallmark of a professional image. In other words, how you dress on the "inside" affects how you are dressed on the outside. In order to portray the most professional image, it###s important to have proper support, eliminate any bumps or lumps and to erase visible panty lines.

The following tips will help you look great and feel great on the "inside" and the outside!

Bras
If you haven###t been sized for a bra in the past couple of years, run, don###t walk, to your favorite department store or specialty lingerie store and get fitted. unfortunately, our bodies go through changes from time to time. These changes can affect how your bras perform for you. Not only will you be more comfortable in bras that are the right size, but a bra in the correct size and perfect style for your body type can make you appear 10 pounds thinner, instantly!

After you###ve been fitted and found styles that feel great and flatter, it###s important to match bra type to your tops and blouses. If you###re wearing a T-shirt, fitted knit top or fitted sweater, you need a T-shirt bra. It###s completely lace-free and seamless. Let###s face it – no one wants a bumpy silhouette!

Next, see exactly how the bras are going to look under your clothes by taking a top or two with you to try on over the bras you###ve chosen. Take a look at yourself from all angles. Make sure you don###t see any bumps or lumps and that you absolutely love what you see.

On a side note, if you love lacy bras, save them for opaque blouses and sweaters that fit a little on the loose side. You certainly don###t want bumpy lace getting in the way of your professional image.

Now that we###re covered from the waist up, let###s talk about covering our tushies. Nothing can kill your otherwise fabulous image faster than Visible Panty Lines (VPL). Two of my favorite ways of banishing VPLs are Spanx and Hanky Panky thongs. (And aren###t they such fun names?)

SPANX

My favorite VPL eraser is, www.spanx.com. There are numerous styles to choose from, but I like the Power Panties the best for everyday. The Power Panties not only delete VPLs, but they also make you appear a few pounds slimmer. I tell my clients, "They look a little bit like bike shorts, but they really suck you in." Plus, they###re truly comfortable.

If your weight tends to fluctuate a little like mine does, Spanx can be a lifesaver. Last year, at the beginning of summer, I pulled out a skirt I had bought the previous year. Oops, too tight! After I put on my Spanx, the skirt suddenly fit and I was out the door.

Although I like Spanx Power Panties the best, Spanx Footless is the company###s original product. They###re essentially a pair of really comfortable, control top pantyhose minus the foot, with an elastic leg band that you can place anywhere between your knee and mid-calf. US Weekly describes Spanx Footless as "The world###s first performance underwear that combines the comfort of regular underwear, the feel of hosiery and the power of a shaper." What more could a girl want?

Hanky Panky
Even though I love my Power Panties, I like options. The second option for creating a smooth silhouette is with Hanky Panky thongs, www.hankypanky.com. I know a lot of you are cringing at the thought of thong underwear. Perhaps you tried them years back when they were tight, scratchy and they rode up your you-know-what! Hanky Panky thongs are different. They###re comfortable! Made from soft, stretch lace, they come in an array of colors. They###re available in two styles, one that###s low cut and one that###s really low cut. The former is going to be compatible with most style pants anyone over about 23 years old will wear. Even though they###re lace, they###re invisible, and I###ll repeat myself, comfortable. But don###t just take my word for it. Hanky Panky thongs have been rated as most comfortable in magazines such as the New Yorker and In Style. If you###ve never tried Hanky Panky thongs, I recommend you try a pair. I promise you###ll become addicted. Not to mention, your slim pants and pencil skirts will thank you!

As busy professionals, we have tremendous pressures and a lot to think about. By following these tips, your underwear will be the last thing you###ll have to worry about. The right undergarments can not only help you eliminate bumps, lumps and visible panty lines creating a smooth, sleek look, but you###ll feel better both physically and psychologically knowing you###ve got a professional image on the "inside" and the outside.