Sports bras are still bras, they need to fit

Although many people think one sport bra is pretty much the same as another, this is not true. Just as a properly fit everyday bra can make huge differences in comfort, a little judicious research can make your active time more enjoyable. Chafing, uncomfortable movement, lack of support; all these things will throw you off your game in a heartbeat.

Fit The bra should fit firmly enough to control breast motion, but not so tightly as to interfere with breathing. During vigorous movements, the entire upper body should move as one unit, with limited bouncing of the breasts. Give the bra the jumping-jack test to be sure it meets these criteria.

Support Minimal movement of the breasts within the bra is important to reduce chafing. Larger-breasted women will probably be more satisfied with molded cups. For maximum support, look for minimal vertical (neck to navel) stretch in the fabric. Horizontal stretch is necessary to get the bra off and on easily and not interfere with breathing.

Fabric Prevent moisture from accumulating. The bra should be a blend at of least 50 percent cotton and a breathable material such as Lycra mesh to help evaporate sweat and keep odor in check. Cotton provides more comfort than synthetic materials, reduced stretch, and greater support. The bra also should be lined under the breasts and under the arms with material like CoolMax that removes moisture from the skin by wicking the sweat outward.

Seams Poorly placed seams can irritate the nipples. Cups should be seamless or at least have covered seams. Hardware like hooks or fasteners must be covered with fabric and should be cushioned for maximum protection.

Straps Choose wide, nonstretch straps for best results. In addition, a wide “Y-back” panel can help increase support. Some sports bras offer a two-hook back for an adjustable fit.

Mobility Many sports bras are shaped like halter tops. Be certain the armholes allow ample room for the unrestricted arm movements necessary during exercise and for freedom from chafing.

Tips for Caring for Fine Lingerie

Lingerie is one of the most popular gifts you can give a woman. It needs some special care, but if you treat it well it will look great for a long time.

Laundry Care for Your Sexy Lingerie

Taking proper care of your sexy lingerie is very important. Your goal should be to make it last as long as possible. What this means is that your lingerie needs to be treated differently than you would treat your regular garments. You should always make it a point to read the label on your lingerie in order to get the proper washing instructions.

The best method is to hand-wash all your lingerie in cold water. Hot washing could shrink your lingerie (especially satin lingerie) by 10% to 20% in size. When you are washing your bras, panties, nightgowns and any other lingerie, be sure to use using a mild detergent like Woolite. You should let them soak for about 3 minutes. Most regular detergents contain extremely harsh chemicals that can damage your fine lingerie.

If you insist on washing your bras in the washing machine, you should first place them in a Lingerie Wash Bag. This mesh bag will help keep the bras from being wrapped around the agitator. This protects your bra from being stretched out and if your bra is under wired, it protects the under wire from being twisted and puncturing the bra material. Also try to avoid placing your bras, panties and other lingerie in the dryer. The heat of the dryer breaks down the Lycra, spandex and elastic.

Lingerie Laundry Tips

When machine washing is recommended, wash on the delicate cycle with other delicate fabrics. Do not wring lingerie. Wringing, even hand wringing, can cause wrinkles and creases which may be difficult to get out. It is better to gently squeeze out the excess water or press the garment between two clean, dry towels to remove the excess water and then allow the garment to drip dry.

Line drying or drip dry is always the best choice since a hot dryer shortens the life of the fabric. However, if you use the dryer, set the controls on delicate or even air dry. If a label suggests hand washing, use a cleansing product designed for delicate fabrics.

For machine washable bras, fasten hooks and eyes to avoid tangling, then place bras in a lingerie bag before washing on the delicate cycle in cool water with gentle detergent. Air-dry only. Silk should be hand washed in cold water and dried flat. Wash colors separately. Do not bleach lingerie.

Remember, if in doubt, read the label. If it says “Dry Clean Only”, there is a reason. Everything else can almost always be hand washed.Our advice is to rotate your bras. Bras do not need to be washed after every wear. But if that is the case, you should avoid wearing them two days in a row. The bra will require a day of rest after wearing, to return to its original fit and to breathe. Wearing one bra constantly puts a lot of stress on the fabric and causes it to rapidly stretch out of shape and to lose its fit.

Replace your bras every six months. Most bras get worn out and do not fit as well or give proper support as they should after this time.Finally, if your lingerie doesn't come with tags, here's a quick reference on common materials and their specific care instructions:

• Acetate: Dry cleaning is best recommended.
• Acrylic: Can either be hand washed or dry-cleaned.
• Cotton: You can either hand wash it, machine-wash and then put it in the dryer, or dry-clean it.
• Nylon: Can be machine-washed but be sure to set the dryer at low temperature.
• Rayon: Varies between dry cleaning and hand washing it.
• Silk: Requires gentle care. Although most labels would strongly suggest to have it dry-cleaned, it's no longer an absolute necessary. You can hand wash it using gentle soap and let it dry naturally.

More tips and information is available in our Store Lingerie Resources page