What do you wear under fencing knickers, and how do you keep long hair and bangs out of the way?
Under the knickers (officially called breeches), wear something snug and athletic: compression shorts, thin athletic shorts or running leggings. Ordinary underwear is allowed, but thin or rental knickers can show outlines, and a layer of shorts means you can pull the knickers on and off at a crowded venue without hunting for a changing room. Skip real cycling shorts with a padded chamois, which bunch up when you lunge. Leggings are fine for cold halls. On top, a thin wicking shirt under the jacket beats cotton, which turns soggy by the second bout.
For a sports bra, the fencing itself is less bouncy than you might expect, because a hard chest protector (required for women in USA Fencing competition, and expected at most clubs) plus a snug jacket holds things in place. Warm-ups and conditioning are the real test: jogging, jumping and footwork sprints. Most women go with medium or high support depending on size. Two fit tips: underwires can fight with plastic cups, so many prefer wire-free, and if your protector has two separate cups, a bra that separates sits better than one that squashes everything into a single shelf. In the shop, try a few hops, lunges and quick retreats.
Hair has an actual rule behind it: it must be fastened so it cannot cover the valid target, which in foil and sabre means the lamé, the conductive vest the scoring machine reads. In practice that means above the collar or tucked inside the jacket, and a referee can stop the bout to make you fix it. Popular setups are a low ponytail coiled into a bun, two braids pinned low, or one braid tucked into the collar. Avoid a high bun where the mask strap presses. Velcro on some mask straps chews hair, so a thin skull cap or bandana helps. Hair washed the day before holds pins better than freshly washed hair.
For bangs, a sweatband or thin headband works best and also keeps sweat out of your eyes. Snap clips or bobby pins are the low-profile option. A surprisingly reliable trick: sweep your bangs back, look up, and put the mask on while still looking up, so the padding holds them in place. As for nails, keep the weapon hand short. Long or acrylic nails catch inside the glove, make a proper grip awkward and can bend or break when a blade gets beaten. Take off rings and dangly earrings too, since they catch on gloves and mask padding.