Style and  ‘sense’ have long been warring concepts, and perhaps that is why we simply adored Chanel when she came along; she freed us from these constraints, and advised us that girls should be classy and fabulous –always.  With this in mind, let me assure you that “Beauty is pain”, and “You can’t have your cake and eat it, too”, are ridiculous concepts.  With a little negotiation, you can find something aesthetically ravishing and yes… comfortable, too!  Sometimes, even the art of diplomacy has its place in fashion.  Let’s take a peek at some lingerie styles with a reputation for discomfort, and how they can actually be ‘pretty yet practical’.

The Corset

Yes, the corset has a history of leaving countless women literally breathless, but its’ descendants are of a much gentler temperament now.  Although some ladies do still wear corsets to achieve small waists as of yore (like Cathie Jung!), we now know corsets as incredibly feminine undergarments that softly shape and enhance the feminine figure –I know I stand a little more elegantly, a little more straighter, when I’m wearing one.  Perhaps even Chanel would approve… This seductive, deep violet ‘Midnight Kiss’ corset by Blush is sure to support your curves, and leave your admirer breathless.

The Thong

This complex bit of fabric needs a deal of ‘getting used to’.  But once you do, (and with the right size) you will avoid those horrid undergarment lines, and feel incredibly saucy, too.  The surprisingly comfy Florence String by Change of Scandinavia is not only about looks, but luxury — a perfect way to test a new style!

Lace

Some women find the feel of lace chafing against their skin.  If you love lace, but have sensitive skin, try wearing quality styles that keep the texture to a minimum or that offer a barrier or lining between your skin and the lace.  This racy, lacy and sheer number from the Bra Doctor’s Brigitte collection is made with a soft lace that doesn’t irritate in the least.  And with lace on the exterior and lined on the inside, Triumph’s “Lace Allure” bra definitely lives up to its name.

Underwire Bras

Yes, more often than not, wired bras are hugely popular because of their ability to help support and shape a fantastic figure, but some women do find them uncomfortable.  (Also, did you know that with tighter security measures at the airport, underwire bras can cause ‘inconvenience and extra scrutiny’ at the checkpoint?  Who needs the extra hassle when you’re travelling?)  Wearing a wire-free bra doesn’t mean you have to forsake looking cute or sassy… because this little lacy wire-free number by Blush Lingerie will prove that theory wrong and far exceed your ‘Great Expectations‘!

What are your thoughts, ladies?  Are you convinced that fashion can achieve a balance between style and comfort?  Share your thoughts with us on Twitter and on our Facebook page — we are always excited to hear from you!

 -Cathie-
cathie@nowthatslingerie.com 

Image Credits & Sources:

www.weheartit.com

Midnight Kiss Corset by Blush
http://www.nowthatslingerie.com/en/details.php?id=222041-midnight-kiss-satin-and-lace-strapless-corset–blush-lingerie

Brigitte Semi-Sheer Lace Thong by Bra Doctor
http://www.nowthatslingerie.com/en/details.php?id=40019r-brigitte-sheer-lacy-low-rise-thong-bra-doctor-lingerie

Lace Allure bra by Triumph International
http://www.nowthatslingerie.com/en/details.php?id=1906-lace-allure-full-support-bra-triumph-lingerie

Florence Thong by Change of Scandinavia
http://www.nowthatslingerie.com/en/details.php?id=29708338_change_of_scandinavia_florence_string

Great Expectations Wire-Free Bralette by Blush
http://www.nowthatslingerie.com/en/details.php?id=221510-great-expectations-sheer-lace-and-satin-wire-free-bralette-blush-lingerie

The Underwire Argument

A rumor is widely circulated that underwire in bras for women isn’t healthy-to the point of being one of the causal reasons for breast cancer. According to Scientific American’s web site, they describe what started that ugly pattern of thought, and let us know that there is no provable scientific evidence to suggest that the rumor is true.

29704363 Drop Cup Nursing Bra by Change of Scandinavia, available at Now That's Lingerie

“It all began in 1995 with a book called Dressed to Kill, in which Sydney Ross Singer and Soma Grismaijer, a husband and wife medical anthropologist team, claimed that women who wore tight-fitting bras all day, every day, had a much higher risk of developing breast cancer than those who went au naturel. The authors claimed that by inhibiting lymphatic drainage, bras trapped toxins in the breast tissue, which caused cancer.  According to critics, however, the bra-caused breast cancer theory is not supported by sufficient evidence. Scientists say the research of Singer and Grismaijer failed to exclude confounding variables such as the presence in some women of known risk factors for breast cancer. Thus, the notion of a correlation between wearing a bra and breast cancer does not appear to hold up.”

However, there are definitely some things that need to be discussed before considering purchasing an underwired nursing bra.

Underwires are acceptable for women who are breastfeeding, as long as the right fit is taken into account. Underwires can be painful, and can hurt the glands that produce milk if the fit is too small or the diameter is narrow.

If you are already a fan of underwired bras for comfort and fit purposes, and have taken into careful consideration your correct size, there is no reason why you can’t continue your love affair with the extra support. Just make sure to do a double-check of your growing cup size and your needs for the next several months.  If you’re not sure of your size, the Bra Doctor can help you with finding the right fit for you and suggest certain bras that will accommodate your new size and special bra fitting needs. (Click here to view charts and info on how to measure your bra size.)  While you are making sure that you are covered adequately, take the time to see this underwired lacy nursing bra by Change of Scandinavia (click here for a review on this bra and NTL by Little Miss Mama Tairalyn).

The Comfort Argument

As with any garment choice, women have the right to choose comfort and personal taste in the selection of their nursing bra during the breastfeeding stage. Ladies who are averse to wearing underwire bras, or simply didn’t require (or wear) the wire support before they become pregnant, have the right to continue in that vein after baby is born. Underwire is not for everyone, and women have been wearing lingerie for generations before the advent of the wire.

7480 Baby & Me Soft Cup Nursing Bra by Warner's, available at Now That's Lingerie

If this sounds like you, don’t worry!  The nursing bras available today supply plenty of support for you in the soft cup category. Correct sizing is still a must, whether you wear a wire-free bra or an underwired bra. Just because there is no wire to prod into sensitive glands, it doesn’t mean that correct cup choice and band width aren’t as important for you as for women who do opt to wear underwired bras.

Ladies, make sure to refer to the sizing link above to find your correct bra size for yourselves as well to get the utmost comfort and use out of your bra – you deserve nothing less! There are plenty of choices for you as well, including this beautiful soft cup nursing bra by Warner’s Lingerie.

Whatever you chose, make sure that the fit is right for you. And congratulations to you and your family for the beautiful gift you are about to usher into the world!

Questions? Comments?
Follow us on Twitter, Like our Facebook page, leave a comment below, or email me!

-Jenn
Jenn@nowthatslingerie.com

Sources & References

Blog/Review on Chance Nursing bra from NTL by Little Miss Mama Tairalyn:
http://little-miss-mama.blogspot.com/2011/09/mail-arrived.html

Scientific American-
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=fact-or-fiction-underwire-bras-cause-cancer

How to measure your bra size:
http://www.nowthatslingerie.com/en/how-to-measure-your-bra-size.php

Photo Credits:

Underwired Nursing Bra by Change of Scandinavia
http://www.nowthatslingerie.com/en/details.php?id=29704363_florence_maternity_change_of_scandinavia

Soft Cup Nursing Bra by Warner’s
http://www.nowthatslingerie.com/en/details.php?id=ca07480–nursing-mini-camisole-warners-lingerie

Featured Image:

Lacy Wire-Free Nursing Bra by Warner’s
http://www.nowthatslingerie.com/en/details.php?id=ca07562–lace-nursing-bra-warners-lingerie 

Besides the wackier ideas generated by the creative team in Japan, Triumph also promotes seriously talented young lingerie designers worldwide by hosting the “Triumph Inspiration Award” every year. It’s great to see young designers being given the opportunity to present their ideas internationally – to check out their fabulous designs click here.

So with all that creativity being cultivated at Triumph, we’re excited to see some of the latest trends in their new Fall collection at Now That’s Lingerie, with styles for July and August already launched, and nearly ready for September and October collections and colors. Here’s a sneak preview of what’s available, and what to expect.

The early Fall palette is made up of soft nougat colors, neutral, easy to wear and very feminine – vanilla, opal pink, quiet brown (a café latte shade) and excalibur (a lovely dark graphite grey-brown). These colors translate beautifully into soft laces and sweet shapes, trimmed delicately with tiny ribbons and bows, like the popular Elle Lace and Petites Ribbons and Lace collections.

Triumph Vintage Curves

The “Opulence” colors are the newest, fashionable “super-darks” – orbit blue (a dark petroleum blue), plum (deliciously rich), mustang (warm caramel) and moonlight blue (a lovely vintage grey-blue). See the Victorian Lace set with tiny contrast scallops and the Petites All Over Lace, which both look stunning in these new fashion shades. The new Vintage Curves padded underwire bra set in fine, dusty pink lace is exquisite, trimmed with rich satin ribbon bows and straps – I particularly love the hipster shape with its lace band hugging the hips.

The richer, more decadent colors – very rich berries, jewel and passion fruit, a rich chocolaty brown and velvety black, are for late Fall, taking us into the Holiday season.

Triumph’s “Mix ‘n match Slinkys” is a great new concept for those ladies who are never able to quite match up your bra and panty each morning! It’s a totally interchangeable collection edged with a contrast tipping (plus solid versions too), in nude/black or black/nude.

I love their new SexyBack smooth back bra, a padded underwired t-shirt bra with seamless sides and a “U” back perfect for smoothing out all your curves from any angle – no more bulging backs and sides! It’s available in solid black and in a terrific graphic black and white floral print too (with matching brief).

For fuller busted femmes, there’s the Splendid Curves Daydream – a “dreamy” underwired bra and bikini set in sizes36-40 D,DD & F, and it’s a gorgeous stretch all-over lace version of their Splendid Curves Satin Caress.

Triumph Splendid Curves Daydream

Triumph Petites Fantasy Curves

A super-cute new Petites offering is the”Petites Fantasy Curves”, a flirtatious combination of black lace and sexy mesh: an underwire bra with great lift teamed with a fantastic “retro” bikini shape.

And don’t miss the fantastic Triumph Sports Triaction Bra(underwired) and new Triaction Sports Non-wired bra (with gel straps): they’re both great innovations and essential for any regular high-impact exerciser.

Have fun checking out the new Fall 2011 Triumph collections at Now That’s Lingerie, and subscribe to the free NTL newsletter for more sneak previews and announcements for the latest styles.

Teresa

teresa@nowthatlingerie.com

Warners Elements of Bliss Wire-Free Contour Bra

Since I spend a lot of time working in the bra fitting room with women to find their bra sizes, I always hear firsthand accounts of women’s history of bra difficulties.  Many of you have told me that the discomfort from wearing underwired bras have you converted into wire-free bra wearer instead.  Women of all ages, shapes and sizes have become increasingly fond of these comfortable soft cup bras, also known as wire-free (or wireless, but this word always reminds me of my internet service) bras.

An underwired bra is not in itself uncomfortable, but if you’re wearing the wrong bra size or bra style/shape for your body, then chances are the underwire will poke into you or rub against you uncomfortably.  Wire-free bras eliminate any potential issues with underwire – however, beware committing the same bra fitting mistake twice.  If you switch to soft cup bras, but not change your bra size, just your bra style, you may still be wearing the wrong size, which was possibly the problem in the first place.  If you are having bra pain for any reason at all, consult me and I can help you figure out what the problem really is before the issue gets compounded.

Bra companies have recognized the growing popularity of wire-free bras.  Whether you wear an A cup, a D cup, a DD cup or even an E, F or G cup, you can find the comfort of a wire-free bra along with the support you need.  Here are some of my customers’ recent favorite wire-free bra styles:

Naturana Regal Embroidery Soft Cup Bra

1) Bra Doctor’s Sleek Simplicity Wire-Free Cross-Over Bra: Made with a comfortable stretch microfiber, this light support bra is seamless for your tighter tops and offers a natural look.  Some of my clients use theirs for yoga too, but you can wear yours any time of day or night.

2) Naturana’s Regal Embroidery Soft Cup Bra: This beautiful non-underwired bra is stylish, supportive and comfortable, and available in an extensive size range, from 34-48 B to E cups!  My fuller-busted customers appreciate the ultra-supportive cups, comfortable straps, and of course, the sensual embroidery of this bra.

3) Warners Elements of Bliss Wire-Free Molded Contour Bra: This bra gives you uplift, a sleek, rounded look and serious comfort, with a lined cups that help minimize the appearance of your nipples under your clothes.  Available from A to C cups.

Click here to see some other wire-free bras I like on Now That’s Lingerie.

Have a bra fitting question for me?  I’d love to help!  E-mail me at bradoctor@nowthatslingerie.com.

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

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