Undercover at Victoria's Secret

This past weekend, Victoria's Secret was having a "Find your perfectly fitting bra fit event."  I can't read that without two reactions. The first is my usual scoff, and the second is feeling like I'm being dared.  So, what the heck?  Why not see what is new down at my local VS superstore.  I talked my mom into going with me, and it just so happened that she was the one who ended up getting fitted!

When we first walked in, we did see some very pretty styles.  A lot of lace and sparkle, and what girl doesn't like lace and sparkle?  (well, I know you are out there!)  We found a VS worker wearing a tape measure around her neck and said we were looking to get fitted with the "perfectly fitting bra" promotion.  She told us that promotion had ended early (riiight...  I guess it had something to do with if you bought your 'perfect bra' you'd get a free perfume sample- but they'd run out of samples.... which means a whole lot of women got bras that probably didn't fit so well).  She radioed back to the fitting rooms, and then led us through the maze that is Victoria's Secret back to the fitting rooms.  The fitter loosely measured my mom above her breasts and then over the fullest part, and declared 34DDD.  She ran out of the room and came back with one bra for her to try.  We did voice our concerns that VS might not work out, my mom wears a 30GG/H.  The fitter, who was quite nice, said a 34DDD could work out. 

She left the room so my mom could get into the bra, and when my mom was ready, she pressed a little button the the room and the fitter came back right away.  What was interesting about a fitting at VS is that the fitter was very hands off.  Which, I suppose makes women more comfortable?  The fitter asked my mom how the bra fit.  She never once mentioned any of the issues that the bra had.  We both were commenting that if we weren't as educated about how a bra should fit, we would have deemed the first bra a success.  My mom wasn't spilling out of the top of the cup, but the band was super loose, and the underwires were no where near close to touching her ribcage.  The fitter mentioned none of this.  My mom mentioned that the back felt a bit loose and the fitter did a light tug, and then left to get another style in the same size. 

Bra number two didn't fit any better. In fact this one, she was spilling out of the top.  The fitter asked where my mom finds her bras.  She was wearing her Ewa Michalak bra and showed it to the fitter. The fitter admitted at VS she is a 34DDD, but at Nordstrom's she is 32F.  I doubted that she was a 32, but she told us that she measured at a 31 ribcage.  I was itching to measure her, but didn't.  We explained more about Ewa Michalak, and she was interested in ordering from her, so I gave her the website and explained about my blog (maybe she is reading this right now!?).  I asked her why she had measured over the breast to get the size and she honestly answered, "I don't know."  She did say that if it seemed like the woman is between sizes, the measure under to double check. 

We were told that VS is starting to carry some 30 bands in the store, but only in A and B cups.  My mom told her to let VS corporate know that they need to expand the 30 band into larger cup sizes (larger than DDD!).

So while VS was the bust we expected it to be (no pun intended, yet there it is!), and we didn't find our "perfectly fitting bra," we didn't have an awful experience (and we got an honest fitter!), but I guess that is what happens when you have no expectations. 

What disappointed me the most is that there was no effort to teach women about proper bra fitting.  Yes, they measure you and bring you bras, but it was made very clear that you need to know for yourself how a bra should fit- because you'll be getting no help from the fitter.  They will sell you anything just to make a buck.  I can only hope that there are women out there whom have found my blog and learned what a good fit should look and feel like, and will never feel lost in a lingerie fitting room again!

<3
Laura

Curvy Kate Smoothie and Panache Superbra Moulded Plunge

Last post, I talked about how frustrated I was with ordering my Curvy Kate Smoothie bra from Bare Necessities.  In the end, I ordered my replacement size from Amazon.

And the verdict is.....  Almost perfect!  Well, a lot of bras are almost perfect on me, but the absolute perfect bra seems to keep eluding me.  So let me explain what I loved about this bra and what didn't work for me.

 Let's start with the good things.  I loved the design.  Who doesn't like a subtle animal print?  I think it is wonderful for a brand to come out with a fun little twist like that on what is usually a boring solid color!  I also loved that the center gore (the middle part of the bra that connects the cups) sat a little higher up than my Freya Deco.  I felt that the Smoothie gave a little more coverage for a plunge than most others.  The straps were comfortable- and overall, the whole bra was very comfortable!

So what didn't work for me?  First, and most obvious, the band was too big.  You should never, ever start with a new bra on the last hook.  You always want it on the very first hook because over time, the elastic stretches and you can move the hooks in with wear.  Your bras will last you longer doing this.  Secondly, I seem to be in between cup sizes.  The 28HH was for sure a little too big and the 28H was very close to being too small! However, I do have to say that the cups had a better fit than my Freya Deco.

So, I'll take this opportunity to plead with Curvy Kate to please, please, please make the bands of the Smoothie a bit tighter??  (Or maybe 26 bands??)  It really is the one main thing keeping this from being my prefect bra!

Oh, and did I neglect to mention that next season, the Smoothie will be coming out in a nude "Blush" and a pink "Raspberry?"   I can't wait!!


Next up is the Panache Superbra Porcelain Plunge in 28H. 

I was hopeful for this one, and again there was something that worked, and something that didn't- this time it was reversed from the CK Smoothie.  The band was a great fit (almost too tight to do up), but the cups were too small!  Unfortunately for me, Panache only makes it up to an H cup.  So, back to the store it will go. 

I am keeping both of my Smoothies because you never know when you'll need the next cup size up.  Maybe I can find someone in town to alter the bands down for me.

<3
Laura

Disappointment with Bare Necessities

The other week, I had ordered a Curvy Kate Smoothie bra from Bare Necessities in 28HH.  I was pleased with the quick shipping, and had the bra in my hands within a week. The size was a little off for me, so the day after I received the bra in the mail, I went back to Bare Necessities to order a 28H.  To my surprise, they had no Curvy Kate under a 32!  What happened??  I sent an email to them to see, and what they responded with has me very disappointed.  According to Donna Bartos, they will no longer be stocking Curvy Kate in 28 or 30 bands!!  I see they still have 28 and 30 bands in other brands, so why stop with Curvy Kate? 

Luckily, I was able to find the Smoothie bra on Amazon.  Once I receive it, I will do a review on it.  I have a feeling that I am really going to like this bra, especially since it will soon be coming out in a nude and bright pink!  I am very upset at Bare Necessities for this change and did ask why they have made this decision, but have yet to hear a response back.  If or when I do, I will report back!

<3
Laura

Elation

Last week, I had read about a new product called Rixie Clip on Curvy Wordy's Blog .  For someone who wears 28 bands (the smallest that most companies make) and finds many of those to be a bit too loose, I was really excited about trying out the Rixie Clip.

They are available on E-Bay for $9.95, and it shipped very quickly. In no time at all, I had my very own Rixie Clip! 

Thanks to Curvy Wordy's post and photos, the clip was easy to put on my bra.  This thing is genius!  I was hoping I would love it as much as I do.  While on, I don't even feel like there is extra stuff going on back there.  The only semi-problem I have with it is the width. 

As you can see, it's not as wide as my bra band (Freya Deco), even though both are two hooks. 

Here is the back.  It sits pretty flush and here, you can kind of see the bunching that occurs due to the width issue.

Here is another picture where you can see the bunching.

 

All in all, this is a fabulous product and is perfect for bras that need additional tightening!  I do hope that in the future that they will add in additional widths.  It worked pretty well on my Deco, but I also just bought a Curvy Kate Smoothie bra, and there would be no way I could use my Rixie Clip on that, because that is even wider of a band than the Deco!  I have worn the Rixie Clip on my bras every day since I've gotten it in the mail! 

 

 

 

<3

Laura