Game On!

A few years back, I decided to take a leap and buy myself a new, bra sized sports bra.  Best decision ever!  Not that I do much exercising.... But when I do, I don't want to be bouncing all over the place!  I decided to try out the Freya Active

A great over all sports bra.  The fabric was firm, and I felt securely held in place.  No bouncing!  It is an underwired sports bra, which was new for me, but I think it just added to the overall supportiveness of the bra.  The only downside of this lovely bra is that it makes you a bit pointy and cone shaped.  So when Freya announced that they were coming out with a moulded cup sports bra, I got excited, but I didn't need a new sports bra at the time. 

Well, now my trusty Freya Active is on the last hook and will soon be heading into retirement, so I am on the hunt for a new sports bra.  Luckily for me, Undercover Lingerista just reviewed four here .  Unfortunately, The Freya Moulded Sports bra was not one of those.  I did, however, decided to try the Panache Sport bra that came in first in her reviews.

Additionally, I did order the Freya Moulded.  I've been eyeing it for a while now, so how could I not??

 

What do I look for in a sports bra?  I look for, as previously stated, a bra that will minimize bouncing. I actually heard a woman on the radio the other morning complaining that her boobs hurt after going on a run.  There I was, in my car on the way to work, yelling at the radio that she was wearing the wrong style of bra. In addition to that, though, I look for something that will also separate and wick moisture away.  Nothing is more uncomfortable than super sweaty boobs.  Yes, I know I'm working out and bound to get sweaty, but there is something about the in between the girls that gets so hot- like I could see steam.  So, I for sure like that separation & moisture wicking. 

 

Why go for a bra-sized sports bra and not traditional S,M,L types that you can get just about anywhere?  From Target to Sports Authority, to Dicks Sporting Goods, you can get a S, M, L sports bra.  Here are two- one from Champion (I have one of these- Fail), and one from Reebok.  The problem with these is that they don't support- at all!  But Laura, it's a sports bra.  It's meant to support- how can you claim it doesn't?  Because I've tried the others- yes, they are more pricey, but once you put it on, your boobs won't move.  And that is what a sports bra should do!!

 



 

 

So, I am now the proud owner of a Panache sports bra and the Freya moulded.  How do they stack up to my Freya Active, and to each other?

 

Up first, the Freya Moulded, again here:

 

And I have to say, I was disappointed.  I was expecting a Freya Active style support with a prettier cup.  I thought it felt cheaply made, like something I could get at Target.  I ordered it in a 30H because the 28 bands only came up to a GG cup.  My Freya Active was a 30G- with a super tight band, but I've run out of room in the cups.  I was expecting the band to be similar to my Freya Active- I could almost not get it on the first time, the band was so tight. Not so with the moulded sports bra!  A super loose band, I immediately put it on the tightest hook.  And I didn't feel lifted, separated, or very supported by this one.  The cups were made of a really light foam, but there were not any underwires.  The purple piping detail was pretty, but I need it to be more than pretty- I need it functional, too.  Overall, I didn't feel like the shape was right for me at all.  It offers more support than those in Target, but not by a whole lot.  I'd say this bra would be better for smaller busts.

Then, I tried on the Panache, seen here again:

This, I ordered in a 28H.  The first time I tried to get it on, I had just washed my face and had moisturized and I could get it hooked!  My hands kept slipping, so I tried again another day.  I'd say the 28 band on this is as tight as my Freya Active originally was- which is great because that bra lasted years for me.  I wish they made a HH to try, but the 28H fit pretty darn well!  This bra is intense and means business.  The construction of the bra is amazing and makes the Freya Moulded laughable.  The underwire of the bra comes halfway up the center gore, but without making your boobs "east/west." You are up, you are center.  This could probably be worn without a shirt and you wouldn't feel awkward (probably...).   I love the two tone grey with lavender colors of this bra, although it does come in other colors if this isn't your thing. I did the jump test, and the girls didn't budge.  I felt lifted and supported, and I feel like this bra won't let me down.  The shape of it is more rounded than that of the Freya Active, which is a plus, and there is a light moulded layer under the top layer.  In the back, there is a little hook to connect the straps, if you wanted a racer back option. I think the Panache is what I was expecting of the Freya Moulded.

Verdict:  I can't wait to wear the Panache bra & will be sending the Freya Moulded back.  Granted it was on sale, but I think I know why.  I feel like the Panache is everything that a sports bra should be and I am really excited about it!!

<3
Laura



Smaller busts don't wear bras?

I was asked to do a post about smaller bust sizes and bras.  I've gotten comments before from women who are smaller saying that they "don't have anything to support" so why would they need to wear a better supporting bra.  Comments like this make me want to scream.  Breast tissue will not stay perky forever.  If you spend your whole youth wearing unsupportive bras, or no bra at all, you will get saggy.  Will it happen as noticeably as someone who is large chested?  Perhaps not, but it will still happen.


This all started with Keira Knightly wearing ill fitting items.  Exhibit A is her swimsuit.  Not going to lie, I wouldn't mind wearing something that cute.  I just wish it offered her a little more support, and perhaps a small underwire to hold the top in place?

So, I thought, why not see who else in Celebrityville wears ill fitting bras?  And what did I discover (bringing me back to my "even smaller boobs will sag" point)- celebrities with smaller boobs don't often wear bras.  At least not in the photos I was looking at.  Lots of swimwear, or braless.  Huh.

I know that I am more modest than most when it comes to, well, modesty.  I've never really been comfortable in the triangle bikini.  And Paris Hilton looks great.  The issue I have is that her breast tissue is hanging out of the bottom of the bikini.

 

And back to the sagging comment.  Small busted or not- you must support your girls.  Support them and treat them right from a young age.

 

Once I stopped searching for celebrities, I was of course able to find pictures of smaller busts in bras.  I was particularly disappointed by the fit of some bras for sale at the Little Bra Company. 

 

This bra is adorable, but the cup underwires seem to sit well below the breast tissue and the sides of the cups don't fully encase the breast.  My guess is that there was some sideboob that was airbrushed out. 

Saving the best (or worst) for last.  Oh Little Bra Company- what are you thinking?  Did she neglect to scoop the breast tissue from sideboob to center?  Or is the cup just too small for her?  The center gore is not sitting flush on the ribcage and the wires look to be completely floating away from the body.  Am I a fan of air bushing & photo shop when it comes to advertising?  Not really.  I think we are too often manipulated by images that have been doctored.  But it is used in these cases.  Regardless, it makes it easy to tell that this bra just plain does not fit this model....

Sorry this post was a bit all over the place (seems to me), but it's late and I've had all these thoughts swirling in my head all week.  I had to get the out of my head, so here they are.  Next up will be my review of my two new sports bras. I will be comparing them to my old pal the Freya Active & letting you know which is being returned....!

<3
Laura

Dear Jennifer Love Hewitt

Today, I decided to try to reach out to a celebrity in my efforts to re-educate America's bra fitting.  I decided to start with Jennifer Love Hewitt.  She is a gorgeous woman who has been vocal in the media in the past in terms of her body, etc.  She seems like the sweet type of person that may actually read some things that come across to her on social media.  And she is frequently featured in her bras.... a lot.  And there is frequently fault with the way her bras fit her.  I get that they want cleavage from her, but at the expense of perpetuating the wrong images of how a bra should fit?  I think we deserve better. 

This is not a "bash on JLH" post at all.  I love JLH!  I would love for her to be a BRAvolution Ambassador.  We need women in the limelight to start wearing properly fitting bras and to also be vocal about what size they really are.  Lets use Sofia Vergara as an example.  My last post was about her "coming out" as a 32F.  Those of us educated on how the +0 system works know that SV is not a 32 anything.  She is more likely a 28GG/H, etc.  Skinny through the ribcage, but with big boobs. 

I'm not sure what size JLH wears, and I couldn't find many screen shots of the back of her bras (they ride up, trust me!), but here are a few pictures of some that are cute bras, but not quite the perfect fit.

Please, Jennifer Love Hewitt, be our BRAvolution Ambassador! 

<3
Laura

Sofia Vergara in Allure

The lovely Sofia Vergara recently "outed" her bra size as 32F, or 34DD if she can't find a 32F.  I honestly don't think she is a 32.  I imagine she would be closer to a 28HH/J.  It makes me sad that even if she really is a 32F, her 'sister size' would not be 34DD- it would be 34E/DDD. It's nice for her to admit that there are sizes above DD out there, but she is also adding to the mis-edcuation of America.  If she is a 28 band, her 'sister size' of the 32F would be 28G (remember, every band down equals one cup up to keep the same volume of coverage).   Not that far off from my 28HH thought.

In addition, her quote of "nobody with real boobs usually has those measurements" also gets my dander up!  She has been in Hollywood too long if that is her view.  But also, it does validate my point- most women are stuffing themselves into bras that don't fit well.  In a country where last year the average bra size was 36DD, no wonder she thinks 32F is weird.  BUT IT'S NOT WEIRD.  The average 36DD woman is in the WRONG SIZE!!!  If we started fitting properly here, the average size would probably be 32F. 


Here is a photo and quote from Allure Magazine, where her interview was published:

"Sofia Vergara has no qualms about revealing her bra size: 32F, or 34DD when the larger cup isn't available. "Nobody with real boobs usually has those measurements," she says. Here, the actress poses in a silk lace dress by Dolce & Gabbana."

Bloomingdales

Bloomingdales, as you can see, is having a Bra Fit Event- in store and online.  The last time I went to Bloomingdales looking for bras I was just wasting my time.  Today, I decided to check out what sort of advice they give online. 

After some searching, I determined that they do carry some 30 bands, but nothing under that.  As far as cup sizes go:

A[92]

BRA_CUP_SIZE

AA[2]

BRA_CUP_SIZE

B[213]

BRA_CUP_SIZE

C[245]

BRA_CUP_SIZE

D[243]

BRA_CUP_SIZE

DD[121]

BRA_CUP_SIZE

DDD[34]

BRA_CUP_SIZE

E[63]

BRA_CUP_SIZE

F[46]

BRA_CUP_SIZE

G[28]

BRA_CUP_SIZE

      H[3]

So, I appears that they think most of the customers will be B, C, & D cups, with DD as a close 4th.

They also have a size calculator, which is always fun.  My measurements are thus- 28 ribcage & 37 bust.  I have been sized as poorly as 34C (Playtex), so how did Bloomingdales shape up?

30DDD   My thought process was as follows:  Too bad they added inches!  Well, at least it was only two inches and not four to six, so that's something.  DDD?  I wear H/HH.  In what universe would a DDD remotely fit me?  Granted, they say it's just a guide, but I think they can make it a little closer to reality, no?  And if you click on the little question mark under the size results, you also get this message

Too bad they don't have this advice readily available.  If I was someone who wasn't so aware of my bra size and I used their guide, I would have gladly ordered a bra from their 34 selections of DDD cups and then would have been terribly confused and disappointed when it didn't work. I probably would not have gone back to their website to click on their little "Wrong fit?" question bubble.

What I am happy about is that they didn't add more than 2 inches.  While, like Nordstrom's, they don't carry 26/28 bands, they do better than the average in this advice. I think I'll have to do some undercover investigative work and go get 'fitted' and see what their advice is.  They only carry three H cup styles online, so I don't imagine they will have any available in store.  I wonder if they will size up my band like crazy, and negate their above 'perfect bra' advice.

One thing is for sure.  As soon as I find out the answers to those questions, you better believe I will be sharing them with you!  I could not find an email address for corporate questions.  I've asked on their Facebook page for contact info, so we will see if they give me an email address!

<3
Laura

What makes a Professional?

In the world of bra fitting, the advice is always to get "a professional fitting."  I cannot tell you the amount of times I have emailed a company (Victoria's Secret, Nordstrom's, etc) or a magazine in regards to their poor fitting advice.  What comes back to me, inevitably, is that their advice is just a guide (understandably so) and that I should run to my nearest store for a "professional fitting."  Of course, this is after I have poured my heart out on how my entire life I had never been properly fitted by these so-called professionals and that I now fit in my bras because I no longer use the +4 method of measuring.  I am dismissed that easily. 

Although, to be fair, I had a few nice long chats with Lauren- fit coordinator for Nordstrom's.  She even met with me to discuss my views and issues.  However, their poor advice remains on their website and no change will come about.  Their fitters have said they use a +2 method, but their website still advises anything from +2 to +5.  They do more than the average to try to educate their online shopper with how a bra should fit, but put them at a disadvantage by having them add so many inches. 

Most people view a "professional" as some one who knows everything about their profession.  A bra fitter will undoubtedly put you in the right bra size....right?  She's a professional. She knows what she is talking about. 

So, how many of you have left a store with a bra that you bought after being 'professionally fitted' and were unhappy with the results?  Be honest with yourself now.  Have you bought a bra after a fitting that had its band riding up?  Or you were already on the last hook?  Have they told you that "I'm sorry, but this is the biggest cup size we have. It will fit you if you go up a band size, because then the cup will fit you."  I'm sorry, but that is bad advice.  If the band size fits, and you can't get the right cup size, then this bra isn't for you.  Nothing makes me seethe more than someone selling you something that doesn't fit just to make a sale.  That doesn't make one a "professional."

I have had a lifetime of someone telling me the "professional" way is the right way, but the results were always awful- always left me in something that fit poorly and made me feel awful about myself.  Ask yourselves- how is that the 'right' way? 

The war against +4 isn't going to go away.  We are really trying to change the way bras are measured for.  We are a collection of self made professionals, trying to change the world- one bra at a time.  Every time I send an email and get a "perhaps you should be fitted by a professional," I just want to bang my head against a wall.  Every time I hear someone say they need a professional fitting, I feel the same way.  In the US, you are better off learning the signs of a good fit and your measurements and going it alone (or with the help of the many awesome bra blogs there are out there).  I wouldn't trust a professional to fit me unless I knew they didn't use the +inches method.  There are too few and far between in this country.  Those that don't measure (Intimacy, for one), don't carry sub-32 bands. 

While I balk at calling myself a "professional" bra fitter, since I've never worked at a store, I feel like I need to lay some claim to the word.  I may not have been trained by some poor girl who was taught the wrong way, but can't my results speak for themselves?  After all, the third definition of professional is, "following a line of conduct as though it were a profession."  And that is certainly what I am doing. 

<3
Laura

PS. a great guest post on FullerFigureFullerBust on bra fitting: http://fullerfigurefullerbust.com/2012/08/05/are-you-wearing-the-wrong-bra-by-susannah-perez/

Small Business

As I have stated before, my ultimate goal with BRAvolution is to open my own lingerie store.  I know how frustrating it is to go to "specialty' bra stores and still walk out empty handed- just because they don't carry sub-32 bands! 

With that said, it makes me sad when I hear of other small lingerie shops that are forced to close their doors.  Within the past year, there have been two in my general area who have closed.  I had the opportunity to check both of them out.  They were cute shops, for sure, but they did not see the demand for sub-32 bands.  Perhaps I should have let them measure me themselves, but I have problems trusting someone else to get it right. 

To one of these stores, I did bring a friend of mine, and can tell you that they put her in a bra that was too big in the band, and at least two cup sizes too small.  She bought it anyway, against my advice, and stopped wearing it after two or three wears because it was so uncomfortable. 

I guess my question is this- have these stores closed because their customers ultimately were not satisfied with the way their bras fit them and decided not to go back?  Or, is it a really bad time to start a small business in my area? 

Regardless, I think my first step should be to take some classes on running a small business


<3
Laura