Stop Wearing Uncomfortable Undergarments

This Fall in Luxe Wire-Free Bra by Warners offers sultry uplift & comfort.

It sounds so simple, but it’s something that so many women struggle with every day. The best way to feel better about both your body and your lingerie is to get rid of everything that doesn’t fit and replace it with garments that do. If your weight or body shape has changed recently, it’s a great idea to get refitted – some experts say that cup and back size can change often, and you should get fitted at least every six months! (Click here to read How Often Should I Renew My Bras? By Bra Doctor).

Try A New Style

The winter blues are a great excuse to slip into something more stunning, fun, and sexy; but even just changing up the basics of your lingerie wardrobe will add some excitement to your day. Have you always worn briefs? Try an equally comfortable but booty-emphasizing boy short. Always worn cotton bras? See what a lacy bra does for you.  Go for a navy blue or purple bra instead of your traditional black.  Even trading a basic for another basic will spice up your closet and give you different silhouettes to play with.

Sizzle in this curve-flattering Marilyn lace bustier by Arianne!

Emphasize Your Assets

This is the time of year when everyone freaks about their bodies and goes into over-drive trying to get into their best shape before spring (and later bathing suit season) arrives. Because of this, it’s also a good time to remember all the things you love about your body, and find ways of emphasizing the aspects you love with lingerie and clothing. An hourglass shape looks great with a corset, like the Marilyn Lace Bustier Bra by Arianne Lingerie, and the structure hides a tummy. A short robe, like the Decadence Satin Kimono by Blush Lingerie, will highlight long legs, especially in a pair of high heels. Feeling good about your assets will help you shift the focus from any insecurities you may have.

Out with the Old, in with the New

Even changing the color of your basics can be mood-altering.

Are you the kind of person who wears underwear until there are holes in them? Do you keep bras that are extremely stretched out because you might have to wear them on “laundry day”, or own several pairs of old jeans you’re keeping around just in case you decide to paint your bedroom? Honestly, it’s finally time to get rid of them. I myself suffer from holding on to clothing too long – I’ve thought many times “No one can see the holes but me”… until of course I go to the gym. Worn-out clothing doesn’t make you feel good, and keeping items that you’ll never wear again just overwhelms your mind and your closet.  Donate them or trash them, and spend time finding new clothing that you’ll actually enjoy wearing.  Read about how you can recycle your bras to make someone else feel good, too.

Wrap yourself in luxury in this short satin Decadence kimono by Blush.

Spend Time in the Good Stuff

It’s fun to have fancy, exciting lingerie, but it’s less fun if it stuck in the back of the drawer all the time.

Fancy lingerie is often the most expensive, yet often these are the pieces we wear the least (maybe for the sake of preserving them). So spend some time in your best lingerie, either relaxing around the house, going out for a night on the town, or even heading to work. You know you feel great in it, so why not wear it around? It’ll feel like a special, sexy secret that will have you glowing.  And nothing is sexier than confidence.

Share with us by commenting below, on Twitter (@nowthatslingeri) and on our Facebook page!

Rachel
rachelg@nowthatslingerie.com

Image Sources
Fall In Luxe Wire-Free Bra by Warners:
http://www.nowthatslingerie.com/en/details.php?id=2060-fall-in-luxe-wire-free-bra-with-lift-warners-lingerie

Marilyn Lace Bustier by Arianne:
http://www.nowthatslingerie.com/en/details.php?id=5339–marilyn-lace-bustier-with-boning-and-padded-underwire-bra-arianne-lingerie

Super Soft Romance Seamless Bra by Triumph International:
http://www.nowthatslingerie.com/en/details.php?id=1983-super-soft-romance-padded-molded-underwire-bra-triumph-lingerie

Decadence Satin and Lace Kimono by Blush:
http://www.nowthatslingerie.com/en/details.php?id=221255-decadence-satin-kimono-with-lace–blush-lingerie

The Invisible Low-Rise V Thong by Elita Lingerie

The Invisible Thong

Every garment that clings, from long, silk evening gowns to khaki work pants to cotton leggings, requires an invisible thong or invisible panty that eliminates visible panty lines (aka VPL). VPL cuts your bum cheeks in half, giving your backside a wider appearance and looks sloppy. So, to avoid attracting a whole lot of unwanted attention pick something up like the Elita Invisibles Low-Rise V Thong and feel comfortable and confident in any ensemble!

The Bikini

Ah, the bikini. The bikini is my basic go-to panty, just as jeans are my go-to basic bottoms. High quality denim actually shapes your butt and is thicker than the fabrics used in dress pants, meaning panty line isn’t a concern in your favourite jeans! Bikinis are often quite low-cut, to match the majority of most styles of jeans.  If your undies should poke out slightly when you bend over in low-slung denim, a bikini makes a much better statement than an exposed g-string, that’s for sure!

I am in love with Bra Doctor's Brigitte Low-Rise lacy thong!

The Brief

Briefs can either be very high-waisted or come in a nice, middle-rise cut. As you likely know by now, I personally prefer the high-waisted feel, which gives such a gorgeous and classic look. This is because I’m a fan of cinching my dresses at the waist and wearing very high-cut pants and shorts, and anyone who’s tried it knows how strange it feels to have two different waist lines going on! But it’s the variety of briefs that’s so awesome: for any woman uncomfortable in something ultra-high, the mid-rise brief provides the perfect compromise, not to mention they create a really beautiful 1950s hourglass silhouette.

The Sexy Panties

Now, whether it be for a significant other or just for yourself, every woman needs to have at least one special pair of panties that makes her feel like a total knockout! Don’t worry too much about versatility because these undergarments are (usually) for special occasions! Right now, my favorite sexy panty is my Bra Doctor Brigitte Sheer Lacy Low-Rise Thong in bright red lace (to go with my matching Brigitte bra!). Treat yourself to something fabulous when picking out your sexy panty – dare for some silk, soft lace and satin that feel blissful against your skin and look delectable in your underwear drawer.

See you next time!

xo

Rachel

What`s your favorite panty type? Leave me a comment below or e-mail rachel@nowthatslingerie.com.

The Balconette Bra – originating from the late 1930′s, it’s the most retro looking of bra shapes. It lifts and supports the breasts, the cups are stitched into a frame, and it has good coverage.  Many fashion bras like strapless bras (with fully detachable straps) and convertible bras (see below) have balconette shapes.

The Convertible Bra – usually a balconette shape with many different straps that can be detached and rearranged in different ways, such as halter neck, racer-back, crossed in the back, etc.

The Strapless Bra – is reliant on the fabric used, the design, the width of the band and the shape of the underwires. Ideally it should have a wide even band all around the torso, solid boning under the arms and special siliconed elastic to grip. Boning in the cups gives additional support for bigger busts. Strapless underwires are different from the usual, they’re taller and curve inwards to cup and support the breast and reduce slippage when you move.

The Molded Bra – with molded cups made from a fine layer of fabric or lace with or without lining and sometimes featuring a seam across the cup for additional shaping. With wires it is also referred to as an Underwire Bra.

The Contour Bra – molded fabric cups with polyurethane foam, with or without seams. Commonly (and loosely) referred to as a Padded Bra.

The Tee-Shirt Bra – another term for a seamless cup, foam lined contour bra with a very smooth almost invisible appearance that’s ideal to wear even under fitted t-shirts.

The Push-up Bra - deliberately cleavage enhancing, structured so that the breasts are lifted and pressed together in the center. Many have multiple layers of padding or wadding to boost the bust size, and some also have invisible cookies that can be removed.

The Demi-Bra – a bra with less breast coverage, the cups finishing about 1 inch above the nipple point, with wide set straps and short or shallow underwires. Designed with a slight tilt to push the breasts upwards and together to give more cleavage.

The Plunge Bra – a Push-Up Bra ideal for wearing under low cut garments with a deep V neckline, with a narrow center gore and foam lined cups.

The Full Cup Bra – covers the entire breast, making the bra appear larger than it actually is. It has great support and gives an attractive rounded shape to the breast. Ideal for larger bust sizes (D or DD cups and up) since these bras often offer full support.

The Half Cup Bra – with less bust coverage, this style gives a younger, sexier look. Popular for more fashion styles, yet still provides support and cleavage.

The Minimiser Bra – for larger cup sizes (like DD cups and up), this type of full coverage bra helps make the breasts appear smaller and helps prevent “spill over” and “gaping button syndrome” (in shirts and blouses!). It gives a flattering smooth look and offer full support, perfect for everyday.

The Triangle Bra – may or may not be underwired, less supportive but gives a natural looking bustline to smaller busts and (obviously) has a triangle shape.

So have fun browsing through Now That’s Lingerie.com’s selections when you shop for your next bra online!
And don’t forget to sign up to enter their free contest  to win free lingerie! You even get 10% off your next order just by signing up to their newsletter!

Teresa

teresa@nowthatslingerie.com

All illustrations by Teresa.

In just six months Kate Middleton has become a fashion icon around the world. From that blue Issa dress to the ruffled Burberry coat, every British fashion follower has been dashing out to copy her style. Anything Kate has worn since she and Prince William announced their engagement last November has flown off the shelves.

Everything on the big day from her hairstyle to her dress and her shoes will be analyzed by millions of women around the world. But the lingerie will remain a mystery to us all (as so it should!).

So what will Katy wear? I’ve rounded up some stylish lingerie Kate could consider for her big day.

The Triumph Full Fashion Strapless Diamond Jacquard Bra

Kate’s style is simple, elegant and effortless so she’ll probably go with luxury Royal Brand Rigby & Peller, the Queen’s corsetieres, opting for classical made-to-measure lingerie tailored to suit the dress she chooses.

If it’s an off the shoulder or low back design then she’ll want supportive lingerie to complement and enhance the fit of the dress she chooses. The Padded Seamless Convertible Bra By Naturana does just that with smooth cups, plunging cut and multiple strap options.

1907 Lace Temptation Padded Bra by triumph

For moderate or larger bust sizes I’d recommend the Triumph Full Fashion Strapless Diamond Jacquard Bra – it’s pretty yet provides enough coverage to keep your bust comfortably in place without risk of ‘overspill’ and is a great source of support for your big day!

Now we know Katy likes lace since she happily modeled that infamous see through lace dress while a student – successfully snaring her man in the process though – so I see her loving a very sweet white lace set such as The Lace Temptation Lace Padded Bra buy Triumph, with it’s twin ‘spaghetti’ straps, perky bows and matching slightly sheer brief.

Serenade By Grenier Lingerie is a very classy bridal collection made from exquisite European lace and adorned with tiny crystal trims at the center. Comprising of eight styles including a very sexy slightly sheer and lacy Bustier, a deep lace Garter Belt and Thong, this Serenade range does it for me!

The Serenade Bustier by Grenier

So get your “Kate Effect” lingerie, for brides-to-be (or not!) at nowthatslingerie.com

Teresa

teresa@nowthatslingerie.com

2978 Strapless Bra by Triumph

Finding the right strapless bra is not always easy.  Petite women and fuller-busted women alike have particular difficulty finding a strapless bra.  For A or smaller B-cup busts, some strapless bras can flatten out the breasts or they may not fill the cups completely; for D or DD cup wearing women and beyond, into E, F, G, H, etc, it may seem impossible to get any support from a strapless bra.  Here are a few quick, general tips to choosing a good strapless bra.

General Tips:

Look for silicone lining inside the back wings and band of the bra.  There are usually two strips of silicone per side inside the band, one at the top and the other along the bottom, to help the strapless bra stay put, like a no-slip grip.  Some strapless bras also have a silicone strip along the bottom, right beneath the underwires, for extra support.

Make sure the back band is sufficiently tight, but not asthmatically so, when you notch it at the LOOSEST hook. This is to make sure your bra will hold up properly; if your back band is too loose, it will not support anything and will move around too much when you move.  After a few wears and washes (by hand, please!), the back band will stretch slightly and you may find yourself using a tighter configuration for your back adjustment.

Tips for Petite Women: look for bras that have a pockets inside of the cups where a pad can be inserted or removed.  Depending on your choice of neckline, you may opt for a slightly more push-up effect for a lower-cut bodice, so you would have the option of inserting your removable cookies (pads), or another type of removable pad (fabric, silicone, water, gel).

2640 Strapless Bra with Removable Pads by Triumph

Tips for Fuller-Busted Women: Even if you find a strapless bra that fits you perfectly, you may still feel uneasy about not having any straps, since it’s an unusual feeling.  I may opt to wear clear straps with my strapless bra for more dance-oriented occasions if I’m wearing a lower-cut dress, for example… we ladies must avoid these sorts of fashion mishaps, particularly public ones!  Also try to go for a strapless bra that has a wider bra back hook and eye closure, for extra support.  Most strapless bras in DD cups and higher usually do have a three-hook-width bra back closure, which entails a slightly wider back band, to help minimize unsightly bulges, slim out the torso and keep your girls up where they belong!

Stay tuned for more useful lingerie tips from your Bra Doctor!

Have a question for me about bra fitting?  E-mail me!

Sleek Simplicity collection by Bra Doctor Lingerie, available exclusively at Now That's Lingerie.com

Welcome back!

It’s sure been awhile, but many exciting things are happening at once.

It’s the first anniversary of the online launch of Bra Doctor Lingerie, so to celebrate, Now That’s Lingerie.com is offering 25% off all Bra Doctor styles!  So far, the feedback has been very positive, and we can’t wait to hear what you have to think about our collections… with even more new styles to come.

Enjoy browsing, and let me know what you think!

More news to come very soon…

Your Bra Doctor
bradoctor@nowthatslingerie.com

Score this super chic look in a wallet-friendly way.  Check out Arianne’s Iris collection, which offers a layered look complete with miniature ruffles for an eye-catching yet discreet appearance.  You can wear the sensual knee-length dress to your next party or dinner engagement, or pair the top with your favorite pants before you go dancing this weekend.  Both are lined for opacity and offer wider straps to help hide your bra underneath, and the shape of the bodice is extremely flattering, sleek and sophisticated.

Plus, check out Arianne’s elegant, exceptionally versatile Eve top with ruffles along the neckline, or the Nora silk collection with satiny ruffles along the neckline and down the front of the bodice.

Check back next time to find out what’s up with hemlines this season in Skirting the Issue!

Or see my last style blog: Sheer Sophistication.

Questions about fashion and beauty?
e-mail me at lisa@nowthatslingerie.com.

]]> http://www.nowthatslingerie.com/bradoctor/blog/fashion-advice/style-ruffle-mania/2010/03/12/feed 0 http://www.nowthatslingerie.com/bradoctor/blog/fashion-advice/style-sheer-sophistication/2010/03/09 http://www.nowthatslingerie.com/bradoctor/blog/fashion-advice/style-sheer-sophistication/2010/03/09#comments Tue, 09 Mar 2010 19:51:11 +0000 Lisa http://www.nowthatslingerie.com/bradoctor/blog/?p=115 Some of the biggest names in fashion have introduced their new lines in New York and Paris for Spring Fashion Week.  Amongst the eye-catching melee of colors, daring ingenuity and bold cuts, many style themes emerged.  Over the next few weeks, I’ll be covering the fashion styles that will be all the rage this spring.  Plus, I’ll give you some budget-friendly suggestions on how to get your own catwalk-inspired gear.

Whether it’s lightweight, diaphanous fabric, sheer lace prints or appliqués, recent trends are resplendent in their femininity and sensuousness.  Spring’s dreamy dresses with long, flowing skirts give off a majestic appeal while maintaining a sophisticated edge.

Diva sheer camisole by Arianne, available at Now That's Lingerie.com

Sheer tops in ready-to-wear styles lend versatility to this coveted barely-there, glamorous look.  Arianne’s Diva camisole has a stunning lace, corset shape and lined bodice– making it a daring ensemble when paired with your favorite jeans or skirt.  Another versatile top by Arianne is in the feminine Keri collection: it’s lined for opacity all over, except the sleeves are still sheer… plus it has a cross-your-heart neckline and has scalloped edges along the bottom hem!  Both tops feel light and airy, just like this pink dress by Christian Dior (above).  The sheer look is definitely one to love this Spring!

Keri floral cross-over lined top with sheer sleeves, by Arianne. Available at Now That's Lingerie.com.

Stay tuned for my next fashion blog: Ruffle-Mania!

Questions about fashion and beauty?
e-mail me at lisa@nowthatslingerie.com!

Let me start with one of the basic principles of bra fitting (you can see my other blogs on this by clicking here).  When your bra fits properly, the underwire should contour all of your breast tissue (from under your arms to where your cleavage resides) and lay flat against your breastbone in the front, without constraining your breasts or rubbing against your skin.

Dahlia bra and panty set by Valisère (Triumph). Size range: 34-40, D-DD cups. Available at Now That's Lingerie.com.

The purpose of an underwire is to contour the natural shape of your breast by encompassing the entirety of your breast tissue and giving it lift and a round shape.  When encased in those cups, your breasts will only be supported to the extent that the fabric of your cup covers your breasts.  For example, let me compare two distinct types of underwire bras.  If you’re wearing a padded push-up bra (most of which offer only minimal support), you are getting less support than if you were wearing a full cup minimizer (intended to deliver the utmost support).  But both bras have underwire.  So what determines this difference in support levels?

For any bra, the straps, elasticated back band, fabric, stitching, underwire and coverage all work together to play a crucial role in perfecting your comfort.  The majority of the support of a properly fitted bra lies in the elasticity (or firmness) of the fabric of your cups, plus the stitching (if any) on or along the cups.  (The reason I emphasize properly fitted is because, if your bra doesn’t fit, it doesn’t matter what style you’re wearing– you will not be get the support that the physics of your bra intended!  Click for more of my blogs on bra fitting.)  So, if your bra cups only cover half of your boobs (like in a demi-cup or demi-bust bra), then chances are, your bra won’t give you as much support as a full-coverage bra– regardless of whether there is or isn’t an underwire.  This also means that a bra with a stretchier fabric on the cups will support your breasts less than a bra made with a sturdier, less extensible fabric.

So that’s part of understanding what underwire can do for you.  Before I continue, I want to make something clear.  Just because you may prefer to wear non-underwire bras does NOT mean you are getting less support than a woman who wears underwire.  Many non-underwire bras are equipped with a supportive elasticated band around the torso and have seams that are stitched internally in such a way as to provide shape and support.  Full support bras DO exist without underwire and their support can be comparable to that of an underwire bra.  The major difference is that the shape of your breasts will sometimes be different in either type of bra.  You see, underwire works to envelop the entirety of your breast tissue, from beneath your arms and below your breast, bringing their weight closer to the front and slightly lifted upwards.  Some non-underwire bras may constrain the breast tissue nearer to your body, but this may make your breasts seem smaller, especially since your breasts will seem less separated from each other than if there was an underwire contouring each breast.

The Vintage Touch wire-free bra by Warner's offers a naturally rounded fit and unparallelled comfort. Available at Now That's Lingerie.com

So what have you learned?  Properly fitted, underwire bras help give you a more precise fit while supporting your breasts, but what more fully determines the support level are the fabric (and stitching) of your bra cups (more on this in a subsequent blog!).  All these aspects (and more, like the strap’s width) work together to provide support.  For women who do not like underwire bras and find them uncomfortable, don’t fret– there is still a wide range of non-underwired bras available for your comfort and convenience.

For all your bra fitting questions… contact me at celinethebradoctor@nowthatslingerie.com!  I hear from dozens of women every week with a wide range of bra fitting issues, and I respond to them personally.  So don’t hesitate or wait to feel comfortable in your bras.

See you next time!
Your Bra Doctor
bradoctor@nowthatslingerie.com

Welcome back!  Today I’d like to cover one of the most common questions asked by women I’ve personally fitted for bras: what do you do when your breasts are not the same size?

Well, believe it or not, most women have at least a slight size difference.  I have rarely seen women with two breasts that are exactly the same size.  As if bra fitting weren’t complicated enough, right?  Different women may have asymmetrical breast sizes for different reasons.  Unfortunately, most women don’t know what to do for this manageable issue, so end up wearing bras that are not the right size and are uncomfortable for them.  Here are some tips to help you achieve your most comfortable fit so you can look and feel great in your bras!

Bra cups are too small, & should NEVER constrain your breasts.

Over the course of her lifetime, a woman’s bra size can change more than five times.  For many developing women, this is also the time when one’s breasts may not grow at the exact same rate, sometimes leaving one side noticeably bigger than the other.  Factor in body changes resulting from pregnancy, breast feeding, weight gain or loss, medication, surgery and just age, and it’s easy to see how the shape of your breasts changes over time.  You should always make sure your bras fit you and are comfortable, because if they aren’t, then you definitely are not wearing the right size or style bra for your unique body shape.

This brings me to one of the most important rules of bra fitting: if your breasts are different sizes, your bra should fit comfortably over the larger (not smaller) breast.  The cup on the larger side should fit the entirety of your breast tissue without cutting into you.  Sure, there may be a gap or a pleat in the cup where the smaller breast resides, but you can fill the space with a bra pad.  This way, the underwire will not constrain your larger breast.  NEVER, EVER buy a bra that fits only the smaller side comfortably, while the larger breast spills over the fabric of the cup or is constrained in any way by underwire or elastics.

Bra cups too big. Fabric should lie flat against the breast tissue.

So what are some available solutions to making your breasts look naturally even?  For starters, wearing a bra that at least has a lined cup will go a long way in making both sides look more similar.  It won’t help to just wear a bra that is very padded (keep in mind this will also make both sides seem larger, but the size difference will remain the same).  You can try wearing a bra that has removable pads or removable cookies; by taking them out of the larger side and inserting them into the bra pockets in the smaller cup, you help even out the difference.  This is usually a perfect little trick if your breasts are just slightly uneven in size, but if there is still a noticeable discrepancy, you might want to try to use other pads in addition to the removable cookies.

Silicone or foam pads, when added to the smaller side of your bra, can fill out the remaining gaps or spaces in your bra cup.  But if this is your plan, it would be best to use them in a lined bra or padded bra (which exist both with or without underwire), so any slight demarcations of the pad inside your bra will be minimized.  If you have a more noticeable difference in the symmetry of your breasts (close to a cup size, for example), Add-A-Size bra pads are definitely worth a try, either in silicone (see Glam silicone pads) or fabric with foam (see Add-A-Size pads).  And if you’ve had a mastectomy, Add-A-Size pads will help fill out the difference as well.

Fashion Essentials Glam silicone enhancers, available at Now That's Lingerie.com

Wire-free lined bra by Triumph, available at Now That's Lingerie.com

A few more tips before you go!  If you decide to use silicone instead of foam, don’t use more than one silicone pad inside the cup on the smaller size, because it could look and feel heavier and bulkier than the other side (if you want to walk lopsided all day, be my guest!).  Also, after inserting your bra pads, don’t forget to re-adjust your bra straps and back closure to ensure both sides look equal and you feel comfy.

Lastly– if you want more bra fitting help, contact me.  I’ve fitted women of all sorts of shapes and sizes, and I can help you find out what best suits your personal needs.  DO let me know if you have any comments or suggestions.  I’d love to hear from all of you!

Sincerely, as always,

your Bra Doctor