Supportive and slimming apparel

Abstract

Articles of apparel for providing improved supportive features and slimming effects to the body are provided, the articles of apparel including supportive reinforced fabric placed in specific regions of the apparel. The supportive reinforced fabric may be ‘hidden’ (e.g., by being included in an inner liner of the apparel), or may be included directly in an outer “exterior” layer of the apparel itself. The supportive reinforced fabric includes a reinforced mesh-like fabric which is stretchable and breathable, yet has highly resilient and supportive properties. Exemplary materials from which such reinforced lining may be made include spandex, Lycra and any fiber composites incorporating elasticized and/or resilient properties.

1 . An article of apparel comprising:
 a tank top having
 a first seam and a second seam defining a torso region; and 
 an inner liner in at least the torso region, wherein at least said inner liner in said torso region is comprised of a supportive reinforced fabric. 
   
     
     
         2 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the supportive reinforced fabric comprises a reinforced mesh-like fabric having resilient and breathable properties. 
     
     
         3 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein said first seam is provided right below the bustline, and said second seam comprises at least one of a bottom edge of the tank top or a seam above and proximate to the bottom edge of the tank top. 
     
     
         4 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein said inner liner further comprises a shelf bra having at least a center panel comprising a supportive reinforced fabric in the form of a strip placed substantially in a center of the shelf bra. 
     
     
         5 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the tank top includes a back panel comprised of the supportive reinforced fabric. 
     
     
         6 . An article of apparel comprising:
 a sports bra having
 an inner liner including a shelf bra having a center panel comprised of a supportive reinforced fabric; 
 at least two straps for joining a front and back of the sports bra; and 
 a back panel insert oriented in a substantially center portion of the back of the sports bra. 
   
     
     
         7 . The article of  claim 6 , wherein the back panel insert is located at the back of the sports bra where the at least two straps adjoin. 
     
     
         8 . An article of apparel comprising:
 pants having two pants legs and including a waistband having a lower edge and an inner liner, said inner liner being comprised of a supportive reinforced fabric.   
     
     
         9 . The article of  claim 8 , further comprising a buttocks region including a rear seam having two ends, each end of the rear seam beginning at the lower edge of the waistband and having a length curving around the buttocks region. 
     
     
         10 . The article of  claim 9 , wherein the buttocks region further comprises a back yoke including an inner lining comprised of a supportive reinforced fabric, said back yoke comprising an area bound at the top by the lower edge of the waistband, extending between each end of the curved seam, and bound at the bottom by a yoke seam. 
     
     
         11 . The article of  claim 10 , wherein the back yoke includes a center portion and two end portions, wherein the center portion is wider than said two end portions. 
     
     
         12 . The article of  claim 8 , further comprising at least one side panel running longitudinally along an outer side of each pants leg, each side panel including a lining comprised of the supportive reinforced fabric. 
     
     
         13 . The article of  claim 12 , wherein each side panel is bounded on a top side by the lower edge of the waistband, on either lateral side by a side seam, and bounded at a bottom side by a knee seam. 
     
     
         14 . The article of  claim 13 , wherein each knee seam has one end beginning at an inseam of the pants near a knee area of each pants leg, and slants downwards in a substantially straight line to meet with a calf seam. 
     
     
         15 . The article of  claim 14 , wherein each calf seam has one end beginning at an inseam of the pants near the knee area of each pants leg, and curves around the back of the pants leg and downwards to the end of the pants leg. 
     
     
         16 . The article of  claim 12 , further including a back yoke including an inner lining comprised of a supportive reinforced fabric, said back yoke comprising an area bound at the top by the lower edge of the waistband, extending between each of said two side panels, and bound at the bottom by a yoke seam. 
     
     
         17 . An article of apparel comprising:
 a shirt having
 a torso seam extending around the shirt above the abdomen area and attaching an inner torso layer to an outer torso layer; and 
 a bottom edge; 
   wherein the outer torso layer includes at least two torso side panels comprised of a supportive reinforced fabric.   
     
     
         18 . The article of  claim 17 , wherein each torso side panel comprises a graduated ‘S-shaped’ strip running from the torso seam to the bottom edge of the shirt on a front side of the shirt. 
     
     
         19 . The article of  claim 17 , wherein each torso side panel is defined at a top end by a first seam, and defined at a bottom end by a second seam. 
     
     
         20 . The article of  claim 19 , wherein the first seam comprises a curved seam running from a neckline of the back side of the shirt, intersecting the torso seam in the back side of the shirt, and continuing to the bottom edge of a front side of the shirt, and the second seam comprises a curved seam running from the torso seam in the back side of the shirt, to the bottom edge of the front side of the shirt.