Even though the average bra size seems to be increasing, for reasons such as obesity, plastic surgery, sometimes the birth control pill, etc., smaller cup sizes are getting more emphasis within the lingerie market.  Allow me to give you some tips on how to shop lingerie for your smaller bust.

3033 Petites Lacy Convertible Padded Bra by Triumph

First, you absolutely have to make sure you’re wearing the right bra size. As we all know, the majority of women (over 80%) are not wearing the right bra size. As a petite figure, it may be hard to come to peace with your bra size, but wearing the wrong size is definitely not helping.

Most people think when you have a smaller bust, you automatically need to add padding to make your breasts look bigger.  It is not always necessary because the lighter the fabric, the better and more natural a small bust will look.  So, choose fabrics like lace, which will make you feel sexy and free.

Another rule for shopping for petite bras: be aware that the more of your breasts we see, the bigger your chest appears. For example, in a balconnette bra (three-quarter coverage) or a demi cup bra (half coverage), the breasts are slightly more exposed than a full cup bra. This gives the impression of a slightly fuller chest rather than a flattened chest, making the most of your natural gifts.  (Avoid the tube bra because it flattens you.)

Great Expectations semi-sheer wire-free bralette by Blush

Also, the advantage with smaller breasts is that you don’t need that much support! So, you can opt for the fashionable triangle bra.  Plus, it creates spaces between the breasts, which creates the illusion of a fuller bust.

I hope those tips will enhance you confidence and help you embrace your petite bust!

Are you a small-busted gal? Tell us what your rules are when shopping for petite bras! Comment here below, or tell us on Twitter (@nowthatslingeri) and on our Facebook page.

Jessica

jessica@nowthatslingerie.com

Image sources & references

Great Expectations Sheer Lace And Satin Wire Free Bralette By Blush Lingerie:

http://www.nowthatslingerie.com/en/details.php?id=221510-great-expectations-sheer-lace-and-satin-wire-free-bralette-blush-lingerie

3033 Petites Lacy Padded Push-Up bra with Convertible Straps by Triumph International:

http://www.nowthatslingerie.com/en/details.php?id=3033-petites-all-over-lace-padded-underwire-push-up-bra

Featured Image:

(Left) Grenier Serenade Semi-Sheer Lace Bustier

http://www.nowthatslingerie.com/en/details.php?id=7578-grenier-bustier

(Center) Triumph Seamless Push-Up Bra

http://www.nowthatslingerie.com/en/details.php?id=1738-push-up-collection-push-up-bra-triumph-lingerie 

(Right) Coquette Underwired Lace Demi Bra by Montelle

http://www.nowthatslingerie.com/en/details.php?id=9012-coquette-underwire-lace-demi-bra-montelle-lingerie

Other sources

http://www.wikihow.com/Choose-Flattering-Lingerie-for-a-Small-Bust

What a beautiful day we had on Saturday! It was so warm, I decided to conduct one of my annual fashion rituals: The Pre-Spring Shopping Spree Window Shop! I’m not sure if anyone else does this, but I highly recommend it, and it’s as simple as it sounds. On the first warm weekend each year I head downtown, just to browse, mainly in stores that I love, but rarely get the opportunity to shop at. This not-quite-shopping spree is so wonderful because it gives the shopper a chance to get a feel for what’s in style that season! Then, when the temperature rises and it’s time to actually make your warm-weather purchases, you can shop confidently knowing exactly what look you’re going for.

One trend that caught my eye as I browsed was lace. Lace skirts, tops, dresses, embellishments all over the place! Personally, I like the look of lace because of its timelessness and versatility. From the dresses and gowns of Marie Antoinette to the flowing tops of free-spirited hippies, lace has been an important element of fashion for centuries. I love that I can wear lace on my off-time, paired with dangly earrings, chunky bracelets and long maxi skirts just as easily as during the workday, paired with trousers and a blazer or cardigan – perfection!

A bold combination of the lace trend in both outer- and underwear. I love this outfit, but don't think I'm quite brave enough to show off my panties like this, no matter how pretty they are!

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The lace trend doesn’t stop with clothing, however. Lace is an important lingerie staple! Due to its popularity and how easily it can be transformed into a variety of looks, you can find beautiful bras, panties and everything in between that will have you feeling lovely in lace.

Triumph Exotic Petites Lace Brad

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Triumph Lingerie is one brand that understands the beauty of lace and of all different body types! The Triumph Eternal Lace Full Figure Bra in white and the Exotic Petites Lace Bra in a lovely earth-toned animal print are proof that all shapes and sizes look fabulous in lace.

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The Susanna Panty by Eva Lingerie below shows a modern, sleek alternative to the uber-feminine ensemble above. This lace embellishment is also very fine, so you can wear this lovely piece totally invisibly!

Susanna Panty by Eva Lingerie

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Samitha Lacy Bustier With Hidden Padded Underwire by Arianne Lingerie

And finally, the Samitha Lacy Bustier with Hidden Padded Underwire by Arianne Lingerie – a great multi-purpose piece for every woman’s wardrobe. With the full support of a bra and the coverage of a top, this camisole can be worn comfortably on its own or under a jacket, although if all goes well we’ll all be out of our coats in no time!

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Xoxo

Rachel

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