Hmm, so it’s official: fall has arrived and our summer attire departs. So we’ve got the scoop on how to mix and match layers of sweaters of all sorts and which colors we will be adorned in, but what about our makeup? Say a happy ‘ta-ta!’ to Bronze Summer Goddess Babe because, honey, it’s time to change it up once again to something warm and start afresh!

FAIR-SKIN HOTTIES

Daytime: Opt for a natural light-hearted earthy look. First apply iridescent pearl eye shadow to the inside corner of your eyes, lightly brushing to the middle: this really opens them up. Then apply a medium brown eye shadow starting from the middle of your eyelid right to the end to enhance those beautiful eyes. No eyeliner is needed because we’re looking fresh this morning, but dark brown mascara is a do!

Night time: All you need to do is add a darker shade of eye shadow to the crease of your eyes and blending to just above the medium brown you’ve already got going for you. Apply this same shade in an eyeliner format and proceed to smudge. Done and done.  (A suggestion, perhaps? Add a peach colored blush to complement those daring eyes (it also adds softness to cuteness).

Need to visualize? Wear this look with Triumph’s Lace Sensation Underwire Bra - comfortable yet sexy for a naturally gorgeous effect.

1832 Shape Sensations Lace Bra by Triumph, available at Now That's Lingerie.com

OLIVE-SKINNED DOLLS

Daytime: Go for a medium shade of blue this fall. Like a turquoise. Why not? Once again start the iridescent wonders of opening up and popping those eyes starting from the inside corners to blending in a lovely fresh shimmery turquoise from the middle of the lid to the end. Apply two coats of black mascara (maybe even a deep navy blue mascara…oooh yes!) and off you go!

Night time: Apply a navy blue to the crease of your lid, blending into the turquoise, as your making your way to the end of your upper lid. Smoke that gorgeous eye by applying the same navy blue eye shadow under your eye and proceed with one more layer of mascara to let your eyes do the flirting!

(May I suggest? …Go for a deep tan to contour those cheek bones. Meow.)

Visualize this look with: Blue Emotions Lacy Underwired Bra by Naturana Exklusiv.

DARKER-SKINNED BEAUTIES
 

Daytime: Hmm, did someone say ‘Purple Rain’? Unleash your subtle vixen by applying a shimmery tan coloured eye shadow to the inside corners of your eyes moving your way to the middle lid. Continue this stroke of luck by adding some shimmery plum purple eye shadow. Don’t forget two coats of mascara to enhance those beautiful eyes.

Night time: Vixen at full fierceness! Apply a charcoal gray eye shadow to add smouldering to already sultry. Again, apply to lower lash line and away you go. Try not to stop traffic…though we know you will!

(Allow me if I may… Apply a rosy-raisin shade of blush to the apples of your cheeks. Oh, what a stunner!)

Look ultra-sophisticated when you pair it with this Naked Envy Long Semi Sheer Lace Chemise by Blush Lingerie.

222454 Naked Envy Long Gown by Blush, available at Now That's Lingerie

Have fun with your makeup! Please comment below, email me or connect with us via Twitter & Facebook for more suggestions or ideas!

- Katrina
katrina@nowthatslingerie.com

The 1693 This Is Not A Strapless Bra by Warner's - a perfect example of the newest innovative bras

So it’s good that us ladies have such love of lingerie!  On average, we own 6.5 bras each – how many do you have?

The modern bra is a highly specialized structure; it’s come a long way in 80 years and yet it’s still evolving with fashion (foremost) as manufacturers strive to meet our demands and ever-changing needs.

Many terms are used to refer to parts of a bra and I’ve illustrated here some of the most commonly used ones to help you out when you’re being fitted or buying your new bra.

A bra is made from approximately 12 x pieces of fabric, 2 x foam cups, 2 x underwires, 2 x sliders, 2 x rings and 1 set of hook and eye closures. It can take 6 months for a bra to be developed from design stage to pre-production (sometimes more), with up to 50 highly skilled people working on countless prototypes and with components coming from perhaps as many as 6 different countries. The bra has also led to many highly technical innovations from the hook and eye closure to (more recently) “spacer foam”. In fact the first Apollo spacesuits were designed and made in the 1960’s by Playtex, the bra and girdle manufacturer. Using their expertise of close-fitting synthetic garments, they produced the spacesuits worn by astronauts who stood on the surface of the moon!

So check your bra count, I’d be very interested to know what my reader’s average is!

Teresa

teresa@nowthatslingerie.com

An example of "over-spill"

The main advantages of wearing this type of bra is that you avoid “over-spill” (bulge over the neckline of your bra) and ‘gaping button syndrome”, so your clothes will look and feel better, and make you look thinner and younger too! . They work by compressing and de-emphasizing the breasts using a combination of power-stretch fabrics, molding and cut. They’re designed to fit snugly and securely.

The underbust band and straps are the most important structural parts of this type of bra since they take the majority of the weight. Wider, padded straps and a leotard (“U”) back increase comfort and reduce the dreaded back bulge (plus help avoid “falling strap syndrome”). The cups are usually either wireless using seamed and molded panels to lift the breasts, or underwired with fully molded (contour) cups.  It’s important that the fabrics used in minimizer bras have a powerful amount of stretch and excellent recovery, since they’re required to compress without “slackening” and for the elasticity to not be compromised by frequent washing.  Another thing too, it helps if the cups are made from satin to eliminate any  “sticking ” or “bunching up” of your clothing during the day.

The 5363 Minimizer Wireless Bra from Naturana

With the newest minimizer bras, the construction is very similar in principle to sports bras, so a bra manufacturer who is known for their minimizers will usually also produce an excellent line of sports bras and full support bras.  One such manufacturer is Naturana Lingerie. They have a gorgeous and extensive minimizer range at Now That’s Lingerie as well as a great range of sports bras. Take a look at their 5363 & 5063  Minimizer Wireless Bra and it’s matching 0063 & 0017 High Rise Medium Full Control Panty Girdle available in four satin colors and two floral satin jacquards. Also in this range are two other great bra shapes – the 7363 Minimizer Bra (an underwired, molded version) and the 5663 Minimizer Front Opening Bra.

Sheer Tapestry Minimizer Bra by Olga Lingerie

Olga Lingerie’s 35984C Sheer Tapestry Minimizer is a sleek, seamless bra which claims to reduce bust projection by up to 1 inch! This underwired, molded bra in pretty floral jacquard has built up straps and a wide back band for added comfort.

The 841892 Splendid Curves Luxury Minimizer by Triumph is a stunning, seamless, satin underwire bra. It’s super-comfortable with slightly cushioned straps and a “U” shaped back and yet very pretty with little lace details to perfectly match its sexy lace panty – the 8442 Splendid Lace Maxi.

The 841892 Splendid Curves Luxury Minimizer by Triumph

So try out a gorgeous new silhouette with one of the minimizer bras available from NowThatsLingerie, I guarantee you’ll be very satisfied with the results!

Teresa

teresa@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.

Choosing the most flattering lingerie for your skin tone can be just as challenging as finding the right fit. Luckily I’m here to help! With the following tidbits of advice, looking your best in lingerie is as easy as 1-2-3!

1.   Determine Your Skin Tone:
A common trick in the beauty industry is to divide the endless complexions of the world into four “seasons”. These categories are based less on the exact colour of your skin and more on the less perceptible undertones, which actually plays a much larger part in choosing flattering hues in clothing!

Winter: People with wintery colouring have blue or very rosy pink undertones to their skin. This includes very pale, yellow-ish, very dark skin tones and usually, dark eyes. Many Asians, African-American and natural blondes fall into this “cool” category.

Summer: The other “cool” complexion out there is the summery one. Women with summer skin can also have blue undertones, but are more likely to have very pink ones.  Skin is usually very pale and pink, and hair is usually blonde.

Autumn: Women with autumn colouring have warm, golden undertones in their skin. Many redheads and brunettes with golden brown eyes or golden flecks in their irises fall into this category, although some golden blondes and black-haired women are autumns, as well.

Spring: Spring skin tones are the other type of warm skin tones out there. These women usually have very pale skin that is peachy rather than pink, like winters, and generally have natural red, strawberry blonde or very light blonde hair. Very clear blue or green eyes are usually indicative of spring colouring.

2.   Check This List and Find Your Colours!

Winter: Black, White, Navy Blue, Dark Red, Hot Pink, Light Blue, Pink, Yellow

Love Rush Lace Underwire Bra by Blush Lingerie in Azalea

Summer: Powder Blue, Dusty Pink, Mauve, Lavender, Plum, Pale Yellow

Emilia Padded Underwire Bra by Eva Lingerie in Lavender

Autumn: Camel, Beige, Olive Green, Orange, Gold, Dark Brown, Dark Grey, Red

Jungle Impressions Underwire Bra by Naturana Exklusiv

Spring: Peach, Camel, Golden Yellow, Golden Brown, Aqua, Bright Green, True Reds, Ivory, Coral

Light Luxury Wire Free Cross Over Bra by Bra Doctor Lingerie in Crimson Fury

3.   Strut your stuff!
Confidence is key, and nothing is more irresistible than a woman who loves herself, inside and out!

Well, I’m off to check out some lovely Autumn coloured bras, so here’s wishing you a great week and a fun lingerie makeover!

Rachel

I hope you are all relishing in the glorious sunshine we’ve been treated to over the last couple of days like I am. It’s true that setting your clock ahead an hour is kind of a drag on the one night when you miss that hour of sleep, but I am more than happy to throw that hour to the wind if it means nice, long days for the rest of the season! All of that extra Vitamin D has me in a positively giddy mood but for now I will gather my thoughts and focus on telling you all about some lovely trends I’ve been thinking about.

Romantic Desire Galoon Lace Brief by Valisere Lingerie

While you always want to make sure your undergarments fit properly, feel good and look awesome, this perfect marriage of characteristics produces no single outcome. In fact, there are many different styles of lingerie out there! I’ve done my research and come up with four timeless trends that look great on every woman and are guaranteed to make you feel like a total diva.

First, I present to you – The 50’s Pin-Up Girl! As each decade passes, the allure of the old Hollywood starlet only grows stronger. Sexy, demure and sensual, what’s irresistible about this look is that, although it is undoubtedly super hot, it really leaves something to the imagination. The Romantic Desire Lacy High-Waisted Briefs by Valisere shown here provide coverage for anyone who is uncomfortable revealing their tummy, but also accentuates the waist, making them flattering for women of all shapes and sizes, from curvaceous to athletic figures and everything in between!

White Impressions Padded Underwire Camisole by Naturana Exklusiv

The next look I’d like to talk about is The Girl Next Door. Like the Pin-Up girl look, this sort of ensemble leaves a little something to the imagination, but instead of oozing sensuality, The Girl Next Door is refreshing, sweet and girly.  Lingerie in baby blues and pastel pinks will do wonders in helping you to achieve style, but of course, the ultimate sweet-and-innocent colour is always… You guessed it – White (or ivory)! Like this his Lacy Mesh Chemise by Arianne – which is absolutely perfect for any woman wishing to try out this look.

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I call this next look, The Who’s The Boss? If you’ve seen Sandra Bullock in “The Proposal” or Helen Hunt in “What Women Want,” you’ll know the kind of woman I’m talking about. Savvy and assertive, The Boss is also a beautiful and powerful woman. Naturana Lingerie’s Young Design Padded Underwired Bra with matching panties strikes the ideal balance of soft femininity and savoir-faire with its simple, pin-striped, black material and dainty little details (bows, lace trim) in white.

Young Desire Mini-Pinstripes Padded Underwired Bra by Naturana Lingerie, perfect for The Boss look.

And finally, another look that never goes out of style is The Femme Fatale. Sultry, seductive and very sexy, this look includes lace, sheer fabrics and cleavage, more often than not in a bright shade of red. Red is, after all, the color of love, and the most emotive of all colors. What that means is that even just looking at red can open the heart and ignite the most fiery of passions!  Our very own Bra Doctor’s Brigitte Sheer Lacy Underwired Full Cup Bra and its matching thong incorporates all of the above elements to create the ultimate Femme Fatale ensemble, and as an added bonus, the 3-sectioned cup actually means added support and lift!

Brigitte Sheer Lacy Underwired Full Cup Bra by Bra Doctor

So there you have it, my darling readers - Four fabulous ways to release your inner bombshell! Try a couple out and see for yourself how out of this world getting into character can make you feel!

Wishing you a a great week,

Rachel

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

Your shape is unique, making it sometimes difficult to find bras that are made in standard sizes. Many large-scale lingerie stores do not have experienced salespeople to help you find your best personal fit. Today I offer you one of the most common bra fitting problems, with tips on how to fix it. Over the next few blogs, you will find a comprehensive guide on how to diagnose and solve each fitting problem, along with some images that will demonstrate the proper or incorrect fitting for bras.

But first… In a previous blog, I asked you to try on each of your bras and go through a checklist of items to see if your bras were the wrong size. It’s fun to do this with your girlfriends too, and they can help you see things you can’t. If it doesn’t fit, or if the elastic is stretched out, toss it. Ask yourself these questions when you try on each bra.

*Are you adjusting the back closure at the tightest hook but it’s still not supporting you?
*Does the back ride up in an inverse U-shape?
*Does the underwire cut into your breast tissue or under your arms?
*Do the cups ride up over your breasts when you lift up my arms?
*Is your breast tissue spilling out of your cups, or cutting into your breast even when you adjust the straps?
*Is there too much space inside of your bra cups that your breasts don’t fill?
*Are your straps adjusted to the tightest fit and are still falling down your shoulders?
*Do you feel constrained or not properly supported throughout the day?
*Is your back closure too tight, even at the loosest hooks, so that you find it hard to breathe or move?
*Is the elastic around the band worn and overextended?

One of the most common issues with bra fitting is the cup size. I have seen some women with red lines underneath their arms and breasts from where their too-small underwire dug into them painfully.

Time for a reality check. It’s normal to change sizes and shapes over time. If your bras don’t fit you, don’t keep buying the same size. I have actually met women who refused to wear D cups because in their minds, that was too big. Size doesn’t matter as long as you’re comfortable in your bra. Seriously. If you don’t like it, cut out the tags! It’s not worth walking around all day long in discomfort.

Adjust your straps until you can your index finger between them and your shoulders, and without them cutting into you or slipping off your shoulders. The bra cups should lie flat against your breasts without any bunching, spaces or overlap (otherwise known as Spill Mountain, which is super unattractive).

Your underwire should contour and envelop the entirety of your breast tissue under your arm, and against your ribcage and breastbone. Never, ever wear a bra if the underwire cuts into you, because it’s too small, and can cause you serious problems, like cutting off the circulation to the tissue that is being constrained. Start by increasing your cup size or finding a bra style that offers a wider and more flexible underwire.

Your girls should never slip out from your bra when you move around or lift up your arms (this can make for an embarrassing fashion mishap!). If they do, then your size is too big, so go down a cup, like from a C to a B, until the underwire fits more snugly.

Some women have come to me with their doctor’s advice not to wear underwire. If you’ve heard this before, know that it’s mostly because women typically wear bras too small for them, which can cut off circulation to the surrounding lymphatic areas. Since your body needs to clear itself of its toxins, it is necessary to ensure proper and natural circulation, and constraining your breasts may prohibit your body’s natural functioning. As long as you are wearing the right size, and your breasts are being supported but not squished, this should not be a problem.

Always remember that you should do self breast exams periodically, but these should never replace regular breast exams with your doctor. Click here to view images from the American Cancer Society on how to conduct a self breast exam.

Stay tuned for the next installment of Bra Fitting Problems, and discover more helpful tips to find your perfect fit!

Bra Doctor