New Show Comes to Lifetime

Lifetime- the channel of all things female related- has come up with a new reality tv show called "Double Divas."   Two women go around fitting other women for bras.  From the promo's it looks like they also design bras.  I'm not going to lie- I'm apprehensive about this show.  Done correctly, it can be huge.  With 85% of women not only wearing the wrong size, but also getting fitted into the wrong size by 'professionsals', there is a great need for women to be taught proper bra fitting.  My fear is that this show will just perpetuate all the bad advice that is already out there. 

So, I'll be setting my DVR, and getting ready to watch.  I will be keeping my fingers crossed that this show does amazing things for the boobs of the USA.  There is no reason for anyone to go without a bra that fits great and makes you feel gorgeous too!

photo courtesy of Lifetime.com

 

 

Will you be watching with me?

 

<3

Laura

Bra Education Class

Last weekend, a fabulous co-worker of mine hosted a little bra education party for her friends.  I put together a few posters and a "guess the bra size" game.  I was hoping to get some donations from some bra companies.  I'd emailed a few and two had gotten back to me about donating.  Unfortunately for me, that also happened shortly after the hurricane on the east coast, so their warehouses were out of power.  For the next one, I hope to have more supplies!

In general, I think it went well, for my first one.  We only had three women there (a few had cancelled last minute), but I think that was good for the first class.  I wish I was a little bit more organized in what I was going to say and the order in which to say it.  We started with the "Guess the Bra Size" game, and then talked about what problems they each had with their bras and what to do to fix them.

We discussed the parts of a bra, the rules for good fit, how cup letters are not the same size throughout the various band sizes, etc etc.  But in a kind of all over way.  We are planning on doing another one in February, so I will be more organized!  I am planning on note cards next time to keep me on task.  It's just a lot of fun to talk about bras!  I hope the women there had a good time and learned some new things! 

Looking forward to the next time!

<3
Laura

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

 

Seeking the Perfect Bra...

We all do it. We find something that fits, and get it in every color and style available.  We tell our friends and families about our amazing finds.  Sometimes, it is a great thing.  Sometimes, it feels more like a rut.  I think I'm in a bit of a bra rut.  I usually wear slightly ill fitting Freya Deco's in 28GG, or modified 30G.  I also swap in 28HH Ewa Michalak plunge bras- which is the closest to the "deco" shape that I can find.  The problem with the Freya brand is that their bands tend to be on the loose side.  What I mean by that is a Freya 28 band feels more like another brand's 30 band.  For example, the 28 bands on my Ewa Michalak, for the first couple of wears, I needed band extenders because the band was a bit too snug.  With the Freya Deco 28 band, the first time I put it on I was wearing it on the tightest hook (you always want to start on the loosest hook and move in as the elastic stretches with wear).  So, as excited as I was about the release of the new Freya Deco 28GG, it's close, but still not quite right. 

 Freya Deco Plunge

Ewa Michalak Malachit Plunge

So what is a girl to do when her favorite bra shape-wise just doesn't work size-wise?  Keep looking.  Which lead me to Ewa Michalak.  Her bras are beautiful, soft, comfortable, and reasonably priced.  So far, I've only tried her plunge style.  Size-wise, it's a great fit.  Shape-wise, I don't get as much lift as I'd like.  I want to try her half-cup style, but I have a history of that shape not working well for my body-type and the size I am in Ewa means they are custom made and non-returnable.  The Big Bra Bar stocks some Ewa Michalak bras, but none in my 28HH at the moment.  The good thing about ordering from TBBB is that if you need a 'custom' size of EM you are able to return it to them if the bra doesn't work out.  (The Big Bra Bar stocks many 26 banded EM bras.)

There are very few companies that make a moulded cup in GG+.  I adore the Panache Cleo Jude , but sizing stops at a G.  Panache's Super Bra line does have a bra that  have on order, and that is the Porcelain Plunge .

 I'm hopeful for this one. It doesn't come in the same color selection as the Deco (Grape Purple is coming out for the Deco... I want it, even if it might not fit perfectly), but it is a gorgeous bra!  I had the chance last year to try the Panache Cleo Juna and while the shape was okay, the center gore was too high for my shape. I tried it a few times and still have the scars to prove it.  A high center gore just does not work for me, which is why the plunge style works well for me- the center gore on a plunge is shorter.

The other option I am hopeful about is the Curvy Kate Smoothie which is the only moulded cup bra up to a J!  I have heard that the band on this is also loose, but I have one on order and am really excited to try it out.

Curvy Kate Smoothie

Another thing that might help me in the fit of my slightly too-large-in-the-band bras is a new item that I first saw on Curvy Wordy's blog, and it's called a Rixie Clip (see the review here ). It is a clip with a bra band attached.  Curvy Wordy has step by step photos which explains the product and the process much better than I could do.  It seems like a brilliant idea, and could just maybe solve my bra issues.  Even if the Porcelain Plunge or the Curvy Kate Smoothie work great, I think a Rixie Clip will still come in handy.  It is only $10 and can slide on to any of your bras. 

I look forward to the arrival of the Panache, Curvy Kate, and Rixie Clip. Trying new things isn't always easy.  I will let you know how they work out!


<3
Laura

The Magical Five Inches

I've been pondering for a while what my next post should be about.  I came up with brand loyalty, as I am hoping to branch out soon from my usual.  However, then I once again watched Nordstrom's fitting video and got all worked up again about it.  In case you haven't watched it, here is the link to their fitting information. 

As you can see, along with a video they have a list of measurements and band sizes along with a few tips on how a bra should fit.  I've discussed in length with their National Fit Consultant about this online advice, and they stoutly refuse to change it. They think the add inches method is better than the +/- 0 method when doing online ordering. 

Back to the video.  They start off by measuring the model and then telling you to refer to the guide which would put the model, who measures 27 underbust,  at a 32 band.  So if this woman went into the store for a fitting, they would do the same?  Add FIVE INCHES to the underbust?  Then they explain how a bra should fit.  The two finger test (which ended up looking more like a four finger test, if you ask me!), the center gore and how it should lay flat against the ribcage (a too small cup is not the only reason the center gore pulls away- a too big band will cause this as well. and notice that she says "if it pulls away at all"- which it does in the video!)

Let's go back to the five inches thing.  Most department stores in the US add 4-6 inches to the underbust measurement to get your band size.  (I've been told that in store, Nordy's only adds 2- but although it is better, I still feel like it starts women off at a disadvantage and certainly doesn't make up for the bad online advice).  Have you ever stopped to think what five inches actually looks like?  How much extra stretchy fabric is being added unnecessarily? 

I started racing around my house, looking for an everyday item that is five inches.  First, I looked at a dollar bill, but that was too big (a little over 6), then I looked at a credit card and that was too small... What other product that a woman knows intimately...??   I know...

Yes, that is right.  A tampon.  Five inches.  So, next time you are in a fitting room, keep in mind when that fitter brings out her measuring tape what five inches is and ask yourself if you want or need that much extra fabric.  The band is 80% of the support of a bra (with the other 20% being 10% on each strap).  How can the band do it's job when five inches is being added in?  The fabrics that are used now are a lot more forgiving than when the +4-6 method was first being used. With what bras are made out of now, adding inches isn't necessary. 

A lot of people say "if it ain't broke, don't fix it," and besides the awful grammar in that saying, it's true.  Don't fix something that isn't broken.  But with at least 80% of women wearing the wrong bra size, shouldn't we think that this system is broken?  It's not going to fix itself, and it won't get fixed if we sit back and don't demand it to change.

<3
Laura

Shopping Obstacles

Its been a while now since I've started bringing friends and family to Nordstrom's.  I'm usually met by the "Fitting Consultants" with varying degrees of friendliness and understanding.  This weekend, I had the pleasure of helping an old friend out.  We were met there by a fitting consultant who fit me for a bra about 10 years ago.  Usually, when they realize that I actually know what I'm talking about, they tell me to find them if I need any sizes from the back.  This time, she proceeded to ask us if we'd ever been fitted.  I made a general comment about how they don't carry my 28HH size, and she looked me up and down in disbelief.  Normally, I expect that from people not in the fitting business, or from a store that only carries the typical 32DD as their lowest band/highest cup size, but I certainly wasn't expecting it from the Nordstrom's most senior fitter.  She did tell me that when the 28 bands came out they did stock them, but there was no demand for them.  I hate when I hear that!!

Regardless, I went back to helping my friend find the styles and sizes we were looking for.  But the consultant didn't leave us alone.  She stood there while I explained that Freya bands tended to be looser than the Panache, etc.  Of course, then I was questioned as to how I know all of what I know about bra fitting.  I explained how I started a Facebook Group and blog about bra fitting. I was then told by the consultant that "You should never buy bras online!"  My first reaction was to laugh.  I told her that no stores carry my size, so I have to get mine online and it's not as bad as she might think.  My second reaction, which I kept in my head, was that if more people bought bras online, then she would be losing out on her commission.   But honestly, if it wasn't for online shopping, I would be in badly fitting bras and hating my body.  Online shopping has been a blessing for me and many other women I know.

The consultant did check on us a few times, and we had her swap out some sizes.  In addition to the ones I'd asked her to bring, she also brought in some others she thought would work- those didn't work whatsoever. My friend was trying on 30/32 E/F and she brought us 32DD with a super loose band.  Needless to say, the fitter's suggestions didn't work.  The price of the bras she suggested were $30 more than the ones we were looking at.  Yes, I guess I sound jaded, but being the victim of getting fitted in the wrong size for the sake of a sale just kind of makes me that way. 

I had the chance to run out once for another size trade, and all of a sudden, there was the consultant! She threw out some advice to me- that not all bras fit the same way.  Different styles fit differently.  Yes, I know.  I asked her to find a certain size for me in a new style, because the center gore wasn't laying flat.  She asked why, if I know so much, don't I work there?  I told her the truth- I don't want to work in a store that refuses to carry my size.  Gosh, I would even work there if they carried any 28 bands.  I don't want to work in a store that I can't purchase from.  I don't think management would be happy with me when I refuse to sell someone a size that doesn't work- just for the sake of the sale.  I would be sending them to the online shops that I buy my own bras from. 

She told me that I am doing her job for her. I told her not to worry- we'd give her the credit. 

But all of this was said by her in a sort of disbelieving disdain.   She even went so far as to give my friend her card upon checking out (three bras were bought), and told her to find her if she ever came "without the personal fitter."  

So, was I being paranoid in thinking this fitter wasn't a fan?  Meanwhile, while we were at the checkout desk, one of the younger consultants I've worked with before smiled at me, waved, and said"Hi Laura!"  I say "worked with" in the general sense that the fitter lets me do the fitting and they just run in the back if I need a size they don't have on the floor.  But there does seem to be a generational divide when it comes to acceptance of someone like me.  The last fitter I'd worked with, who no longer works there, was in between the ages of both the consultants I encountered this weekend.  Although she wasn't as friendly as the young fitter, she wasn't as disdainful as the older fitter.  And the Nordstrom's Corporate Fit Consultant is pretty close to my age. She is super nice, but either refuses, or has no power to change the Nordy's system. 

Is there a chance that I could start as a fitter there and change the system on the inside?  Or would I just be reprimanded for not doing things their way?  I also wish they carried more stock of Freya, Fantasie, Panache.  Those brands are very good quality, but they only carry four or five styles of each.  I guess that could seem like a lot, but that is only until you see the twenty styles of Betsey Johnson they have (nothing against Betsey- they are fine bras, if not a little cheaply made).

Anyway, the reason why I stress bra education so much is because I want each and every one of you to learn how a bra is supposed to fit is so when you are in the room with a fitter- no matter what they put you in- no matter what they try to convince you "fits"- no matter what they try to get you to buy- that you know which bras fit and which bras don't.  Don't let someone talk you into a bra that you neither like, nor fit in to, because you will be wasting your money.  And remember, not every bra that fits you will offer a shape that you like and will wear.  It's okay to be discerning when picking out a bra for yourself!

<3
Laura

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

The DD Myth

I've been hoping to have the time to write a post about this for a few weeks now!  One of my friends read my fitting advice and measured herself.  Then, she sent me a message about how I was right- that the band size went down, but the cup size going up was scary.  I asked what cup size the measurements gave her, and she said D.  Why are so many women scared of D+ cup sizes?

As a society, we are constantly deluged with images of women, quite frankly, wearing bras that don't fit them!  We are shown over and over again, thanks to advertising from the likes of Victoria's Secret, how a "DD" woman should look.  Trust me when I say that the models of VS are nearly all in the wrong size. They should wear larger than a DD cup.  But nevertheless, we are taught that any cup size over DD is unusual and has a stigma attached to it.   There are many women who don't even know that sizes over a DD exist, and the sad part is that some of them work in department store lingerie departments!

A grand example of a VS sizing mishap is Ms Tyra Banks, who has said on national TV that she is a DD cup! 

I'm sorry, Tyra, but this bra does not fit!!  The cups are smooshing her boobs, the center gore (where the cups meet in the middle) isn't laying flat on her ribcage, the underwires aren't touching her ribcage, and she is getting the side boob effect.

Nevertheless, women believe two things about this picture: A) This is how a bra should fit; B) That DD boobs look like this. 

Ah, but maybe it's just the bra that is the problem, and it just didn't fit quite right because of the style?  Surely a VS model would know her own size!?

Okay, this one doesn't seem so bad!  Ha!  I KNEW Tyra was a DD! This bra fits...right?

Erm, not so much. Her band is riding up her back!  I didn't mean for this to turn into any kind of Tyra, or VS bashing.  However, this post IS about the DD myth.  A myth that has been brought about by years of women publicly declaring that they are a DD when they are not, making the rest of society think that A)there is no way they could ever possibly fit into a DD, no matter the band size!, and B) If this is a DD, then anything above that must be freakishly huge.

It's really not, in my opinion.  Here is where I think Tyra fits a little better, the G range:

What do I see when I look at this? Average, everyday women wearing bras that fit them well, owning their size.  There is nothing wrong or freakish about it.  So why do so many women scoff when they hear of any size over a DD?  It is appalling that it happens, but I think it is due to the wrong information and women being fitted into the wrong bra size!

Another example of a mis-declaration of DD-ness comes from sexy, curvy, Christina Hendricks 

Christina, please stop telling the world that you are a DD!  I believe it was Vanity Fair that she said she was something like a 38DD.  She has a tiny ribcage- she is no 38!!  And if you go down in the band, you must go up in the cup to get the same coverage.

So, for all this telling you what DD doesn't look like, let me share a little of what it does look like. These are all D or DD women:

Not what the media portrays, but real life D/DD women. Perfectly normal size, and nothing to be scared of, no?  Perhaps you see someone who looks a bit like you, but you are still wearing a band that is too big, and the wrong cup size?

I often say that women have to see to believe.  Moreover, they have to try on to believe!  Since I do my own fittings for people (mostly, I take over Nordstrom's for an hour or two...), I do try to have some example sizes on hand.  One such bra is a 30D by Betsey Johnson.  I have made two 32A's believers with just that one bra.  Both of whom, even after looking at the bra, thought a D could 'never fit' them. All the while, the band was too big on one of them, so she would need a 28DD!  Another girl that I refit from a 34B to a 30DD actually bought my 30DD Betsey Johnson from me because she was so happy with the fit. 

The point is, DD is not as large busted as the media portrays.  Most of the women who claim to be DD really should be wearing a smaller band/larger cup.  Keep in mind that the cup size is all relative to the band size.  And as the band number decreases, so does the physical size of the cup. 

Here is an awesome example of how the same cup letter is not the same cup size:

Yes, this is done with A cups, but the fact remains true for every cup letter there is!

I hope this will lessen the fear out there when it comes to D+ cup sizes.  I can only hope that one day, this knowledge will be more widespread, and the stigma surrounding DD will be erased.  There are many of us out there trying to spread the word- changing women's lives, one bra at a time! 

Check out one of those places, called The Bra Band Project. http://www.flickr.com/photos/76304212@N06/   It was put together by a few of my fellow bra bloggers. The primary goal is to get manufacturers to see that there is a demand for band sizes under 32.  All the women in the photos are 24-30 bands and D+ cups.

Remember, we are all beautiful, no matter the cup size.  And if a bra fits you well, does it really matter what the numbers and letters attached to it say?  I dare to think not!  So go out and find your perfectly fitting bra, and to hell with what the tag says!

<3
Laura

My Guest Blogging on FullerFigureFullerBust

A while back, I'd asked friend and fellow blogger, Georgina of FullerFigureFullerBust, if I could possibly do a guest post for her on the breast reduction I'd had almost 10 years ago.  She didn't hesitate to say, "Of course!" but then I became really busy with my upcoming wedding.  While I was actually going through my decision I'd kept a really detailed notebook about it all, and since we've moved, I have not been able to find it!  So, I wrote another one and sent it off to Miss Georgina, with all the details I could remember.  Perhaps one day, I will find my original musings on the subject, but  for now:  http://fullerfigurefullerbust.com/2012/07/13/my-breast-reduction-journey-by-laura/

I know a lot of women don't like to talk about this subject.  Some women are insulted that anyone would want to get a reduction, and for that I am sorry.  It's not up to anyone else to decide these things, but the person going through it.  For me, it was more than a minor annoyance.  It was an obsession, and a lot of self hate for years and I finally decided that if I was able to change it, then I should.  And honestly, I think it was one of the best decisions I have ever made.  Have my breasts grown back?  Yes.  But the reduction wasn't all for nothing.  I got my self worth back in the process. 

<3
Laura

What is a BRAvolution?

As I said in my previous post, the US is really in dire need of a bra fit make over.  A Bra Revolution, or BRAvolution, if you will.  And not just for larger cup sizes, either.  Smaller chested women are wearing bras that don't fit too.  It frustrates and saddens me when a smaller chested woman tells me that it doesn't matter if her bra fits- because she is too small for it to make a difference.  It does make a difference for you too!  I'm not just talking about what size you get to tell people you are (because it will change), but having better lift and coverage will keep your girls looking perky for longer.  Even smaller breasts suffer the dreaded tissue migration over time. 

So how and why does the method I am imploring you to use differ from the way any store would do it? 

When you go to a store for a fitting, they will measure you around your ribcage just under your bust, or as Victoria's Secret does- ABOVE the breasts?!,  (except for Intimacy, but I'll discuss them later).  They get a number (lets use 30).  Then, they add on 4-6 inches (Nordstrom's adds 2).  So, if you were shopping at good ol' VS, they would suggest a 34 or 36 band for you.  Then, they measure you across the fullest part of your bust (lets say 36).  They would then take the bust measurement, and subtract the new band size (we will say 34 for today) which gives us the number 2, which then corresponds to a cup size: A,B.  In VS land, you would go home with a 34B, and a bra that will ride up your back and barely touch your body.

But WHY do they add inches on?  When bras were first introduced as something more then a couple of hankies tied together, they were mostly made of cotton.  I'm sure we all have right now, in our heads, an image of the stiff, white, cotton bras that our mothers used to tell us about.  The point is, there wasn't much stretch to the material, so they added inches in.  Bras these days are made out of much more elastic material. They are made to stretch around and hug your body.

Lets try a bra fitting without adding in those inches and see what we come up with.  Measure around your ribcage, right under your bust (never measure OVER your bust, unless you are planning on wearing the bra upside down...? The band will sit under your boobs, so we will measure where the band sits).  Make sure you measure level all the way around.  We will use the same number 30 from before, but this time it will be our band size.  Then measure (level all the way around) your bust.  Again, we get 36.  Subtract the bust number from the band number- we get 6.  Again, each number corresponds to a cup size: A,B,C,D,DD,E.  30E verses 34B! 

Again, this is a starting point.  All bras are made with tighter or looser bands, bigger or smaller cups for the same sizes.  It really is trial and error. 

So why don't stores measure like this?  One issue is the product line just isn't there.  And they don't want to spend millions making new bra sizes.  People are still buying sizes that don't fit, but are widely available, so the companies are still making money.  Why change?  Another reason, which I have discussed at length with Nordstrom's Fit Coordinator, is that they think that smaller chested women would not be comfortable wearing bras that fit snugly.  They fear that there isn't enough breast tissue to make it comfortable (but having a bra that shifts around all day, rubbing up on the body causing irritation is MORE comfortable?).  Being large chested, like myself, they know that a snug band will help support the large chest, so it makes more sense to them.  I say- Boobs are Boobs and should be supported equally, whether large or small. 

I have re-fit a handful of VS 34B's into 28/30 DD/E's and they really cannot be any happier with their bras.  They will never go back to their old size, because even though they may have a smaller chest, they still love the support that a snug band offers.  They love that their bra doesn't ride up their backs, that their straps aren't always falling down, that their center gore stays where is it supposed to stay. They also love their new size, and explaining all about the BRAvolution when someone tells them that they can't possibly be a DD.  They can, they are, and they are more comfortable for it!  We say "cup size" like each letter is the same size cup, no matter the band size.  This isn't true.  Each cup letter varies in size, depending on the band.  A 30DD is much smaller physically in the cup than a 36DD.

If you plan on going with this method (you can thank me later  ;)  ), I will give you one warning.  Going from a 34/36 back to a 30 (or the like) will feel very different.  At first, you may feel like it is way too tight.  But remember, you have been wearing bras that had virtually NO contact with your body.  I suggest for the newbies, invest in a bra band extender.  It is relatively cheap to buy and is essentially just an extra hook set for your bra.  It will allow you to get a bra in your true size, but also give you the benefit of easing into wearing a more snug band.  It usually takes four or five wears to get used to something more snug.  Most people can't go from a 36 to a 30 straight away.  But once you get used to it, you really won't go back!

So to re-cap, don't add inches onto your ribcage measurement.  Use your ribcage measurement AS your band size (if you measure in-between band sizes, 27,29,31,33,35,37,39, try bands in the sizes above and below your measurement. Each bra will have a different stretch to the band).

Oh, and I almost forgot to get back to Intimacy!  They are a boutique lingerie store in the US, and they don't use measuring tape at all.  They fit completely on the rules of good fit.  My one gripe with them is that they still don't carry much under a 32 band.  They have an alteration program there, so they will take a 32 band and alter it down to fit.  But this also has an effect of distorting the wires in the cups a bit, so I'd rather just get my size to begin with.  I'd rather use alterations to have them take my worn & stretched out bands back to their original size.  ;) 


<3
Laura

BRAvolution blogging, here we come!

Hi all!  My name is Laura and I hope if you have stumbled upon my humble blog it is because you are a woman (first and foremost) who is fed up with her ill fitting bras.  Or you are a woman who thinks bras are supposed to be uncomfortable (they really can be comfortable!!)

I started my BRAvolution as a Facebook Group (still running- and for women's eyes only!) last year when, yet another, specialty lingerie shop in my area did not carry my size (at the time, I thought I was a 30G).  My frustration lead me to lead a lot of conversations with my friends and co-workers about bras and how they fit, and to start my Facebook group.  Stores in the US rarely carry any band size under 32, which is unfortunate.  I realized that many women just don't know how bras should be fitting them.  I am not as thin as I used to be, and certainly not the thinnest person I know, and I was wearing a 30 band, but being told over and over again that there 'just is no demand for 30 bands.'  (Well, of course not if these stores are adding 4-6 inches to your natural ribcage measurement to get your band size)

If there were ever a less true statement...  The real issue, I've discovered, is the lack of bra fit education.  How many of you went in to the local department store, specialty store, or Victoria's Secret, and have had a "professional fitting?"  Surely, these women are trained professionals who will find me my perfect bra....right?  Sometimes, the answer is Yes!, but more often than not you leave the store depressed and feeling "freakish" for having such a hard time finding something that just semi-fits.  You put so much trust into the woman who is fitting you.  Keep in mind that a lot of these stores work their fitters off of commissions.  They need to sell you something, anything, to make extra money.  But if you are willing to educate yourself on how a bra should fit, you can be confident in what you buy. 

While I am keeping my closed BRAvolution Facebook Group as a closed group (you have to ask to join, or be added in by a friend who is already in the group- I will not add you in if I am not sure you are a real woman & not some slimy guy who is just posing to get in).  It is a closed group for those of us who want to ask questions or post photo examples or photos of issues in a safe and positive environment.  We are a friendly group who help each other out and I aim to keep that kind of atmosphere.  But I do recognize that a closed FB group limits me to how many women I can reach, which is the reason I am starting a blog. 

The United States is epically failing at bra fitting, and it is my mission to change this- one person at a time.  The more women who become educated on bra fitting, the more women who will be buying their sizes. This means stores here will have no choice but to take a look at the sizes they carry and begin to offer a better range AND better fitting advice.  Bras are actually pretty darn comfortable to wear, I promise!  I have re-fit enough women to know that although you'll be skeptical at first, wearing a band that is closer to your natural ribcage measurement is more comfortable and better for you long term.

Who will stand with me and challenge the way bras are measured for in the US?

<3
Laura