Maybe Zodwa Wabantu just doesn't like visible panty lines

It's amazing how the issue of women wearing or not wearing panties has been on the national agenda.

South African entertainer Zodwa Wabantu has been in the news all week because the Government doesn't want her to perform without panties at the Harare International Carnival which began yesterday.

I've been trying to think how she became so popular in the country to begin with and now, we're so worried about whether or not she wears panties. It must have been her appearance at Durban July, South Africa's premium horse racing event that really got people talking.

She wore a black dress with slits running all the way up to her waist. The bulk of her legs were bare for everyone to see but it was one curious journalist, I assume, who brought our attention to her undergarments.

There was no way she could've been wearing lingerie under that dress otherwise we would've seen the seams of the panties at least. Her biggest mistake was probably to blatantly say she doesn't wear underwear at all.

I think her reason was that she doesn't like it or something but we've also never verified if indeed she doesn't wear underwear. No one has ever seen for sure that she doesn't. She just said she didn't and people's imaginations ran wild.

I've seen a couple of her pictures and videos and to be honest, she's just a woman living her life probably with French knickers on for all we know! Maybe it's such a big deal whether or not she wears undergarments because she's become a celebrity of sorts but women go without panties all the time.

I'm not one of them who could walk out of the house with no undergarments, but it's actually more common than we think. And it's simply because someone doesn't want visible panty lines. These can be really distracting and I honestly understand why one would want to get rid of the panties all together.

Visible panty lines can kill your vibe and you really don't want the whole world seeing what underwear you have on.

I know there are seamless panties, G-strings and all sorts of underwear that can help eliminate visible panty lines but these don't always work. Well, they may work but like me, maybe a G-string is not your thing. I'd rather walk around with visible panty lines than wear a G-string! Hey, don't judge me – comfort over everything.

Just the other day, a friend of mine was complaining about how the material of her dress showed every crevice of her body. The dress was pretty but it needed some smart underwear to be flawless. So she decided to wear her pantyhose panty-less and guess what, no one would ever know she wasn't wearing panties unless she said it herself. The visible panty line struggle is real. Sometimes you don't even realise its showing. But it's no excuse; you absolutely need to make sure your bottom is seamless before you step out of the house.

You could put together the perfect outfit but it'll all be ruined when you realise that your panty lines are visible through your clothes. Even though it happens to every woman out there, you should aim to avoid them as often as you can. It's not that hard to do, as long as you know what causes them.

You can avoid those pesky panty lines we all hate by buying seamless underwear. It helps wearing thicker fabrics with more texture which help mask whatever lumps and lines might be lurking underneath.

You could try layering with tights or pantyhose. A thin pair of tights or pantyhose should smooth out any lines you might have and they won't add any bulk to your look.

There's a reason professional stylists use G-strings exclusively. They might not be as comfortable as good old granny panties but they work. G-strings are not as bad as long as they're not too tight and they're not peeping through your waistline from the back.

That's just the worst! If you've ever been on a commuter omnibus, you've come across a woman sitting in front of you with a peeping G-string. It gets worse when she attempts to get off the kombi or make room for someone else to drop off. Make sure that person is never you by ensuring your G-string isn't out there for everyone to see!

If thongs just aren't your thing, try boyshorts. They go under the butt cheek instead of cutting across it. A little lace is also good for making the lines less abrupt and not so noticeable. Just make sure it's a flat lace so it doesn't look lumpy under tight clothes.

You could also get shapewear, which are great for seamlessly smoothing everything out. Whatever your choice of outfit, save yourself and the people you'll encounter some visible panty line drama!

Until next week, flaunt your pattern and style and don't forget to catch up with me on Twitter handle @Yolisswa, visit my blog, www.stayera247.blogspot.com or like my Facebook page Pattern & Style.