Yet another Bra Fitting Article

As a curvy girl it used be so difficult to find a bra that is both gorgeous and comfortable. There is no need to settle for badly fitting lingerie that you don't want to wear everyday. You know what feels good and if you get it right you'll see an improvement in your posture, your comfort and your confidence! Mostly though you'll be proud of your new gorgeous silhouette. Being “measured” for a bra is not the same as being “fitted”. Tape measures can provide a rough guide, but you only know if a bra fits by trying it on! Don't squeeze your boobs into a bra that isn't perfect. Different brands and styles all fit slightly differently. Never assume that if you wear a Brand X bra in a 30G you will also wear a Brand Y in a 30G. Every brand differs in size and style so you may need to try and few ranges to see which is best for your own shape! WHAT YOUR BRA SHOULD LOOK LIKE?

• The strap around your body should be firm but comfortable.
• When you stand side-on at a mirror, the strap that runs around your body should be horizontal and should not ride up at the back at all.
• The wires should lie flat against your rib cage and should not dig in.
• Your breasts should be enclosed in the cups and you should have a smooth line where the fabric at the top meets your bust.
• You shouldn't have any bulging over the top or sides of the cups.
• Your bra band should have enough space to insert two fingers under the back band, and one under the center front.

TRYING ON TIPS

• Start by fastening it on its loosest hook. You will be able to tighten the bra if it starts to give in the back when you've worn it a few times.
• Adjust the shoulder straps to ensure that they are not too loose.
• You may need to adjust your breasts to make sure they are in the cups properly.
• If the back feels too tight then you should try a size up (e.g. 34 to a 36) If the cups are too small then try a cup size larger (e.g. B to a C) REMEMBER: Not all Bras are the same! Different brands and styles will vary even if they are the same size. Don't be surprised if you need a totally different size than the bra you are wearing!

WHY DOESN’T MY BRA FIT PROPERLY?

The most common mistake is wearing a size too big around the back and too small in the cup. E.g. a 36D instead of a 34DD. Listed below are the common symptoms of a bad fitting bra and the solutions:

• I am bulging over the top or sides of the cup.

The cup size is too small. Your breasts should fit within the cups. Try at least one cup size bigger.

• My bra rides up my back.

The back size is too big. Try a least one back size smaller. You should have a snug fitting horizontal band running around your back.

• The wires stick out at the front or dig in under my arms.

The cup size is too small and not fitting around your breast properly. Try a larger cup size.

• The straps are digging into my shoulders.

The back size is too big. The main support should be coming from the strap around your back. If the back is not tight enough the straps will take all the strain. Try a smaller back size.

• The cups are wrinkly.

The cup size is too big. You are not filling the cups properly and should try a smaller cup size.

If you are still unsure when buying a bra or when you have received it at home, contact our customer service team. They will be happy to give you Free fitting advice on styles and brands and help you decide if bra is fitting correctly.

Show off your goods without going over the top… or coming out of your top!

Ever wonder how to get the perfect amount of cleavage for any occasion? No matter your size, here are some great tips to push up your girls without looking fake.

Trick #1: Silicone inserts

Silicone is wonderful because it allows for a smooth look under even the tightest of clothes. Removable silicone pads allow you to augment your bust line however you want. For smaller busts, you can select an add-a-size insert to increase the size of your breasts by a full cup size. For larger busts, you can choose a flirty cleavage look or simply round out your shape. Just slide the insert into your bra, placing it along the bottom edge of the underwire (or, in the case of a non-underwire bra, along the bottom band of your bra) for a push-up towards the top, or along the side of the underwire for a push-up towards the centre. Lift up your breast in the cup and gently let it fall back into your bra to make sure the pad is snug between your skin and the bra.

Trick #2: Push-up bras or demi-bust bras

Some bras come equipped with either removable or non-removable cookies (some are fabric pads, others are filled with air or water or even silicone) that help get a push-up look. The bonus of bras with removable cookies is that you can opt to insert or remove the pads, depending on the look you are trying to achieve, all in one bra! Demi-bust bras are not necessarily padded but do reveal slightly more cleavage since they come down lower in the middle between the breasts. Either way, these bras are comfortable enough and convenient enough to wear daily for a slight enhancement (or more, depending on whether you put pads inside or not).

Trick #3: The seriously low neckline

Bras like the U-Bra by Arianne are specifically designed for shirts and dresses with a very low V-cut in the front. Since a regular bra will be visible underneath, bras like the U-bra fall much lower in the front while offering an extra push-up towards the centre, creating cleavage that’s irresistible!

Trick #4: Camisoles with integrated bras

Don’t like wearing a bra? Try a camisole with an integrated or shelf bra. Such garments are worn as clothing (outerwear) but because there is an integrated foam padding inside the bust, you get a light to medium support while still enhancing your bustline, without a bra and without pads. You can also wear these camisoles with a push-up bra to get an even more pronounced bustline.

Trick #5: Convertible bras

A convertible bra allows for the straps to be crossed in the back or clasped behind the neck (halter). By crossing or adjusting the straps behind the neck, you can discreetly push your breasts toward the centre (ideal for a V-shaped shirt). Most convertible bras are slightly padded or lined, so they offer a seamless look while enhancing your cleavage.

Remedies for Common Bra Fitting Problems

Not too long ago, I posted a checklist to determine if you were wearing the correct bra size. Check it out now. It will give you some visual clues to look for, which we reference in today's post.

Okay, so now that you have done the checklist let’s go through your answers. If you said "no" to any of the questions, I have the answer for you below.

The center gore or center front of your bra is lifting away from your body. When you have very larger breasts, it may be impossible for the center of your bra to rest on your sternum because you have so much breast tissue - your breasts are already touching in the center. Soft cup bras also have a hard time resting on your sternum because they don’t have underwires to anchor the bra under your breasts. Minimizer bras are working to reduce your bust projection, so many minimizers do not have a center panel designed to lay flat on your sternum. If any of these reasons apply to you, don’t worry about this symptom. For everyone else, if your center panel is not laying flat on your sternum, this is a symptom that your cup size is too small. Your breast are actually pushing your bra away from your body. The first thing to do is go up a cup size. If your cups now fit, but your band is too big, the next step is to go down a band size, but go up a cup size to maintain the same cup volume. Example: Currently wearing a 40D. First try a 40DD. If band too big, go to a 38DDD. If the underwires in the center are pointing out and away from your body, this is another symptom that your cup size is too small. It can also mean that the bra manufacturer is not using strong enough underwires.

If your underwire is sitting on your breast tissue instead of in your under breast crease, first make sure you put your bra on correctly. Reach in to your bra cups and pull up your breasts into the cups so that your breast tissue is above the underwire. If your breasts are now shooting out the top, you need a bigger cup size. If your breasts look fine now, you have the correct cup size. If your underwires are digging into you on the sides, this is another symptom that you need to go up a cup size. There is also the possibility that your band size is too tight. If you are on your last hook, and your bra is literally pulling the underwires apart so that they are not following your breast crease, your band size is too small. Go up a band size and down a cup size in this case to see if it feels more comfortably. For example, go from a 36DD to a 38D. Conversely, if your underwires are resting below your bra crease and your bra can not be pulled up into the right position, this is a symptom of your band being too tight. The band is sliding down your torso to a more narroer point on your body. In this case, go up a band size and down a cup size. Finally, bra manufacturers use a variety of underwire shapes in different bra styles. If your bra fits great except the underwires seem wrong, this could simply mean this particular style of bra is not for you.

If your breast tissue is spilling out of your bra at the top, or if you have on a demi cup style bra and the top of the cup is causing an indentation in your breast, your cup size is too small. Go up a cup size. If you are unsure about all of this, the ultimate test is to put a t-shirt on over your bra. If you see a bulge above the cup line, the cups size is too small.

Gaps and puckering in your cup usually means the cup size is too large. However, there are also other reasons. Most women do not have the same size breasts - one is larger than the other. Therefore, one cup will fit, and the other will usually be too small with gaps or puckering. Always fit a bra to your largest breast. Contour bras that are molded with a thin layer of foam do a great job of hiding different breast sizes. You can also purchase what are called "cookies." These are pads that can be popped into the bottom of your cup to compensate for less breast tissue on one side. If your cups fit great except for gaps at the top of the cup where it attaches to the bra strap, your particular bra may have tcups that are too full. As women get older, we tend to become hollow above our breasts. Bras with demi cups or balconette styles will probably work better and be more flattering. Another interesting point here is that when you don’t fill out the upper part of your bra cup, this gaping leads to your bra straps falling off your shoulders. So, there is a very good reason to get a bra where you fill up the entire cup.

Shoulder straps digging into your shoulders is usually a sign that your band is too large. Bra support should come 90% from your bra’s band and only 10% should come from your shoulder straps. Test this by slipping your bra straps off your shoulders. If your bra falls off, your band is way too big. If your bra stays on - even though your breasts may become a bit droopy, you are wearing the right size. The design of your bra back can also make a difference. Bras with a leotard back helps distribute the support down your back. So a great solution here is to go down a band size, and up a cup size (assuming your cup size is right) and look for bras where the straps are closer together in the back.

Getting the girls in the correct position on your chest is critical. Too low, and they can make you look heavier and older than you are. Your breasts - at any size - should have the nipple line equidistant between your elbow and shoulder. If they aren’t you are in the wrong size, or in a bra without enough cup support, or in a bra with too large a band size.

Once I put my bra on, I go straight to the mirror and confirm that my bra back is pulled down and parallel with the front of my bra. This simple adjustment can make a world of difference for every woman. Think about it, most of us attach our bras behind our back. It’s easy for the bra back to be left too high on our back. Pulling your bra back down balances out your bra and helps give your breasts support. If your bra band creeps up your back during the day, this is a clear sign that your band is too large. You need to go down a band size and up a cup size if you are happy with your cup volume. So, for example, go from a 42C to a 40D and see if you don’t get better support. A tighter band that is also in the right location on your back will also help reduce back fat.

Hook and eyes don’t lie. On the loosest hook? Your band is too big. On the tightest? Your band isn’t big enough. I personally do not like bra band extenders that can be purchased to extend your bra back. Very very few women actually need these. Most of the time it’s putting a band aid on a wrong size bra. Women need to go up a band size and down a cup size to see if that size fits better before going out and buying bra band extenders.

So there you have it. You can be your own best bra fitter. And one final point. when you change band sizes, this is a major size change. When you go up a band size from a 36C to a 38C, for example, in actuality you are going up a band size and up a cup size because a 38C cup is the same cup size as a 36D. Conversely, when you go from a 38C to a 36B, (down a band and a cup size) you are going down a band size AND down 2 cup sizes because the cup size in a 38C is the same volume as a 36D. In other words, going up a band size and keeping the same cup size means you are going up a band size and up a cup size. Conversely, going down a band size and keeping the same cup size means you are going down a band size and down 1 cup size. So, changing a band size is a huge size change and also changes cup sizing as well. Changing a cup size within a band size is fine tuning - as long as you keep the same band size, you can go up and down a cup size to hone in a better fit. So, get your band size right first, then play around with cup sizes.

5 Must-Have items for your Lingerie Drawer

The other day, Oprah had a show about women getting their sexy back. Her style team from O Magazine took 5 women and transformed them into really attractive and sexy looking goddesses. It was truly impressive. Part of the show had a segment from Susan Nethero sharing her list of 5 lingerie must-haves every women should have in her lingerie drawer. Here they are:

A Date Night Bra - This is a bra that is pretty and makes you feel pretty when you wear it out in the evening. One idea was for this bra to be in a color other than nude - like red. I think black can be a good choice as well.

A Demi Cup or Cleavage Showing Bra - A demi cup bra has cups that cover less of your upper breast tissue. This allows you to wear lower necklines. A cleavage showing bra, I call a plunge bra. The center panel is cut very low so that you can wear lower v-necks or be able to keep one more button unbuttoned.

A Strapless Bra - I find myself more and more reaching for a strapless. With today’s unusual necklines, a strapless sometimes seems like the only choice if you want to wear a bra.

An Elegant Camisole - I must confess that I frequently forget about the camisole option. It’s a great solution as a layer under jackets and sweaters. As winter approaches, and we all must go in and out of hot and cold temperatures, having a pretty camisole as your base layer can give instant relief when you want to take off something to cool down. And, there are great support camisoles that not only look pretty, but give you the added smoothing benefits.

Matching Bra and Panty Sets - After this recommendation, Oprah polled her audience as to how many women were wearing panties that matched their bra. Not many raised their hand. A conversation between Oprah and her stylists ensued. The overwhelming opinion is that women who wear a matching set feel more confident when they walk and talk - even if no one but themselves know they have it on.

So there you go. If you don't have these, run out and get them. If you do, check them to make sure they still 'serve their purpose'. Nothing lasts forever, and you deserve having a little fashion treat every once in a while.

Push-up bra voted greatest fashion invention ever

With its magical ability to make mountains out of molehills, it is the secret weapon in many women’s lingerie drawer.

No wonder the push-up bra has been hailed as the greatest-ever fashion invention.

It beat boot-cut jeans to the title in a poll of 3,000 women.

Pull-in pants, which allow the wearer to hide a wobbly stomach, came third followed by stilettos.

Film director Howard Hughes designed a type of push-up bra for Jane Russell to wear in his 1943 film The Outlaw, although Russell later claimed she never wore it.

In Canada in the 1960s, the Wonderbra was developed and it enjoyed moderate success around the world. But it was not until the early 1990s, when it was marketed with a picture of Eva Herzigova and the words “Hello Boys”, that sales started to soar.

Caroline Adams for Debenhams, which polled its customers on their fashion favourites, said: “Push-up bras have become a wardrobe weapon for millions of women across the world.

“It not only makes women feel incredibly sexy but it creates the ultimate cleavage.

Other fashion items to feature in the top 20 include stockings at 11 and the G-string at number 12. The bra-boosters known as chicken fillets also made it into the top 20, in 15th place.