Women’s Undergarments
DRESS SHIELDS, CAMISOLES, VALARAS, OH MY!
PICK ONE, OR A FEW, AND NO MORE HAVING TO WEAR BLACK FOR YOU!!
Foundation wear for women can be a complex subject. As women, we have the option to wear a multitude of different products to cinch, smooth, lift, conceal, and enhance various body parts. When it comes to managing unexpected and/or excessive sweating, you will see this issue addressed in the typical fashion: lots of choices, some of them incredibly helpful, not all of them practical, and certainly not all of them comfortable (hey, a real lady shuns comfort, this is proven by the stiletto heel).
For protection on the upper torso, our actual undergarment options for managing Hyperhidrosis boil down to two items that come with several variations: the dress shield and the camisole. There are two companies that are well known for their clothing products for Hyperhidrosis: Kleinert’s and Advantagewear. In addition, there is a newer company called Kamitees that sells camisoles for women with Hyperhidrosis.
For protection in the groin area, there is only one undergarment I know of that will contain and manage moisture: Wrapps, which are reuseable and handmade. Wrapps are constructed from terry cloth (for absorbency) with an outer covering of muslin (for softness). They wrap (get it?) around the crotch area of the panty, absorbing the moisture and shielding delicate skin from the elastic on the panty. Wrapps should protect you from unsightly sweat marks Down There, and it helps with odor, too. To give yourself a boost in that department, I highly recommend lightly applying Kiehl’s Superbly Efficient Anti-Perspirant & Deodorant Cream (but NOT on any delicate vaginal tissue!!) around the outside area.
Dress Shields
Kleinert’s and Advantagewear both have a wide selection of dress shields. I am hesitant to give you a true review of any of these products, because I have never really used them. My underarm sweating was definitely a nuisance because I never knew when it would happen. I always had to be very careful in my clothing choices, and had I been aware of how many options are on the Internet I know I would have purchased many of the items I discuss below. I was always stuck with the same types of fabrics and colors because I had no idea an undergarment could enable me to wear whatever I wanted! Now, because I have had ETS*, I rarely have an issue under my arms that requires a dress shield. I would welcome any comments from anyone who has used these products. For now, I can tell you what they are and where to find them!
Kleinert’s
Kleinert’s (KleinertsShields.com) has been selling shields for 140 years; I think it’s safe to say that’s longer than anyone. It appears that through the years they have kept up with the needs of their clients. Today, they have in their arsenal a fabric treatment that they have patented called Fabrapel, or Dry Defense. This treatment is purported to be hypo-allergenic as well as anti-microbial, which means it kills odor-causing bacteria. Fabrapel also is said to be moisture resistant, preventing sweat from soaking through the dress shield and coming into contact with your outer garment. Not all of Kleinert’s dress shields are made with Fabrapel; they also offer a dress shield with a “noiseless” vinyl moisture barrier.
Shown in the video below, the washable version of Kleinert’s dress shields (treated with Fabrapel) which snaps onto the bra strap looks most practical and most comfortable to me. They are called “Ready Shields”, and they sell for $12/pair.
If you are unsure of whether a disposable or washable dress shield would work best for you, or if you can’t choose between the snap-in dress shield or the valara, Kleinert’s does offer for sale a “Starter Kit”. I think this is a great option to have. For $38.49, the Starter Kit includes 12 pair of ultra absorbant disposable shields, 1 valara with Fabrapel dress shields sewn in, and one pair of the washable dress shields (with vinyl moisture barrier) that snap onto your bra strap.
Kleinert’s also sells a disposable adhesive pad called a “Body Guard” that measures 12X12 and can be placed on a garment anywhere to protect from torso sweating. They are priced $10 for 10. If you have Compensatory Sweating as a result of having had ETS surgery, this product may be ideal for you.
Advantagewear
Advantagewear also sells a variety of different dress shields. There is a good selection of disposable dress shields on this site as well as at Amazon.com (as you can see below). As you can see, there are several different brands, shapes, sizes, and levels of protection to choose from.
Advantagewear refers to their washable dress shields as Dri-Shields®. These come in 3 shapes: crescent, oval, and sleeveless. They can be pinned or sewn in, or double-sided adhesive tape (which is available on their site) can be used. Additionally, Dri-Shields® are available in several levels of wetness protection: light, medium, heavy, or maximum, with all levels offering the choice of with or without a “sweat proof barrier”. Colors available are white, cream, and black. Prices vary slightly between these products, starting at $2.40/pair, up to $8.00/pair. A discount of 10% is offered for orders of 3 pairs or more.
Dri-Shields® are also offered with elastic straps that go over the arm. There is also a version that snaps loosely (or appears to) onto a bra strap.
Camisoles/Valaras
As I mentioned before, I am familiar with 3 companies that sell camisoles which have been specifically engineered to absorb and conceal excessive underarm sweating: Kleinert’s, Advantagewear, and Kamitee. I’m a little dizzy after navigating these sites; there are some contraptions I have never seen before, and the variations between fabrics, protection level, neckline, cut (cropped, under the bustline, full length, cap sleeve, 3/4 sleeve, agh!), and color are kinda staggering. Certain websites are confusing to navigate. I HOPE I can make this clear for you!
KleinertsShields.com has an extensive selection of camisoles and what they have dubbed “valaras”.
Click here for a description of the valara.
Advantagewear.com also has a garment similar to the valara, and on this site it is called a “lace bolero”.Click for a description.
An item I have also seen on both Kleinert’s and Advantagewear is something that looks to me like a bit of a contraption: Called the “stay-comfy” at Kleinert’s and the “slip-on” at Advantagewear, Click here to see what this is!
OK, on to Camisoles! Lots of choices here, ladies.
Kleinert’s
KleinertsShields.com has two lengths of camisoles that are available in three different types of fabrics. Click here to go to Kleinert’s Camisole page.
CLICK HERE to read about Kleinert’s camisoles…
Advantagewear
Advantagewear.com offers more variations on necklines, but fewer fabric choices.
CLICK HERE to read about Advantagewear camisoles!
KamiTee
While researching this subject, I came across a website called KamiTee.com, featuring an undergarment for “the active woman” called the KamiTee™. The KamiTee™ is made from a cotton/spandex blend, and is designed to be worn under clothing. The website says it is a combination between a soft lady’s camisole and a t-shirt, hence “KamiTee™”. Available in white, beige, indigo and black, the KamiTee comes in three variations: Classic, Crop, and Vee. Classic has a full length that extends below the hip line, allowing you to tuck it in or have it peek out. The Crop version is shorter, stopping an inch or two above the belly button. Both the Classic and Crop are form-fitting and feature a wide, low scoop neck and capped sleeves. The Vee comes in beige, has a deep, wide “v”, is full-length, and has long sleeves. All three versions of the KamiTee™ are available with or without KamiShields™, which is their version of a dress shield. Prices range from $17.99-$22.99.
Finally…
). There are a few bamboo camis out there, but they do not have the sleeves or dress shields that we need. There are bamboo t-shirts too, but they are not made to be worn under clothing. I will keep my eyes peeled! And if anyone of you find something, let me know!!Other than having no bamboo undergarment option, we really do have a lot of great undergarment choices to manage HH. I hope I have managed to describe clearly to you the plethora of products you have to choose from!
*In 2005, I underwent Endoscopic Thoracic Sympathotomy surgery. Click here to learn more about this procedure; also I recommend you download my comprehensive report on ETS, in which I lay out all the pros and cons of this controversial treatment.
Link to this page
