Tshirt and Every day Bras: Fact Vs. Fiction

Good Evening!

Tonight I will be covering the first of your 5 must have bra styles: tshirt (basic, everyday) bras! There are a few misconceptions about what to shop for when looking for this kind of bra, starting with:

1. I need to own a white bra to wear under white shirts. Wrong! You can if you would like, I suppose, but white on white actually enhances itself instead of blending in. Choosing a skin toned bra makes much more sense when wearing a white (or any color but fairly translucent) shirt, doesn’t it? That should make your bra shopping a little easier already, because many manufacturers don’t make their styles in white every season! It tends to be a summer thing, if at all. The white trend is much bigger across the pond.

2. I can’t wear a lace bra for my everyday bra because the seams will show. Okay, while this isn’t completely wrong, it is wrong most of the time for current fashion trends. To this statement I usually reply with “Is everything you own a skin tight white tshirt?” Because if the answer is no, which I hope it is, you can wear lace bras. When layering, you cannot see seams. When wearing jackets or sweaters, you cannot see seams. When wearing dark colors, black, or even certain prints, you cannot see seams. Make sense? My last post did say that you need two everyday bras, so maybe you would feel most comfortable having one be a molded cup tshirt bra and the other being a cut & sewn lace.

3. I can’t wear a thin bra (whether it is lace, lycra, cotton) because I have prominent nipples. Wrong! You now can! Wacoal has this wonderful little thing called No Peeks. Slip inside any bra, and you’re good to go! Rumor has it that this is what the lingerie models wear in catalog shoots. Haven’t you ever wondered why all of the bras look molded, and then you go shopping to find most of them aren’t? Tricky, tricky.

This last one isn’t really a myth, but more just a defiant statement: I don’t wear lace bras, they’re too old. Wrong, wrong, wrong!! I mainly get this from very young customers (15-25), but it still isn’t true! Lace bras are the SEXIEST, ask any man. So when did sexy become a synonym with old? Never. The truth is, sexiness aside, cut & sewn bras are the most supportive bras available because of the seams. In fact, the more seams, the more support. It’s like steel beams in a skyscraper, you’re going to want that skyscraper to have quite a few if you are in it, right?  I guarantee once you try one on, you will understand what I am talking about. A cut & sewn bra in the right size has this uncanny ability to make you not only look perky, but ten pounds lighter! It is wonderful.

I hope that you have learned a little something tonight! Before I sign off I would like to share a few of my favorite everyday bras in stores now:)

NatoriBody Double, 32c-38DDD 

Wacoal Basic Beauty, 32D-44G

Panache‘s Andorra, 32DD-42J

Chantelle’s Rive Gauche, 32C-44H

Next Up…Sports and strapless bras!

Goodnight:)

Sarah

How and Where to Get Fit for a Bra

Hello again:)

I know that Friday’s post felt a little like a school lesson and less like lingerie shopping, but you’re almost to the fun part, you just have to find out your size first (get a bra fitting). I know that this isn’t at the top of your to-do list, but do it. 85% of women wear the wrong size bra, 90 million in our country (do a little of your own research if you don’t believe me)! So the odds are stacked against you, I’m afraid, which brings me to my first warning when lingerie shopping:

1. DO NOT WALK INTO A STORE AND TELL THE SALES GIRLS YOU ALREADY KNOW WHAT SIZE YOU ARE. Because most likely, you’ve changed since you last knew your size.

2. DO NOT FIT YOURSELF. You don’t know how. It will be much faster and less agonizing if you just leave it to the professionals.

3. DO NOT EXPECT TO FIND EXPERTS AT VS (Victoria’s Secret). Yes they have cute stuff, but the necessary size ranges and fitting knowledge is just not there.

Okay, excuse my “shouting”, I just needed to make sure we are all on the same page. I strongly recommend going to Nordstrom or Intimacy stores to be fit, because of their consistency in fitting/breast health knowledge across the country. There are plenty of free standing lingerie boutiques that are great, but it depends on where you live so message me if you want a referral in your area!

Most expert fitters know your approximate size just by looking at you, but they will take a few measurements to be sure. Some places like you to have your shirt off, others don’t mind if you leave it on.  One thing that is helpful to remember: bras are a lot like jeans. Even if you have a “size” every brand and style fits a little differently. Sometimes it takes a little while to figure out your size (sizes, depending on brands) and what shape flatters you best. Be patient. Don’t go bra shopping with only 20-30 minutes to spare. Plan on the whole event taking around an hour to be safe.

So, now that you are rushing to your phone to call and schedule an appointment with a bra fitting extraordinaire, I’ll say adieu; tomorrow we begin SHOPPING<3

Love, Sarah

Wardrobing: Necessities

I am going to kick off this blog just like I would kick off  any fitting appointment and ask you a few simple questions.

How many bras do you own? Do you have a good workout bra? Work bra? Chores/lounge bra? Evening bra? What about a sexy bra?

Get the idea? Sorry for the quickfire. Yes, technically these are simple questions, but string them together like I just did and your head starts spinning a bit, feeling like you are back at that department store, wandering around, trying to find something...anything that will work. But, believe it or not, this idea of wardrobing isn’t all a sales strategy. Bras are designed differently for different activities.  Personally, I recommend a minimum of five bras (I know this sounds like a lot to some of you, but you can work up to this, you don’t have to go out and buy all five right this minute):

1.  At least 2 Everyday bras. Bras shouldn’t be worn two days in a row, so you should have a minimum of 2 to rotate them in every other day. You’ll see I come back to the importance of this alot:)

Elomi’s Hermione Spacer Bra

2. A Sports bra. Even if you don’t work out that often, you are sure to have routine activities that make you sweat, don’t kid yourself. Sport bras are especially important for women D+ in size (provides the super strength you need to not bounce around) and are made with fabrics that have superior sweat wicking capabilities.

Panache Sport Bra

3. An evening (strapless or convertible) bra. If it works for you, one of your everyday bras can have removable straps, being able to convert to a strapless when necessary. If you wear lots of dresses though, I strongly advise having a dedicated strapless bra or two.

Goddess Marilyn Strapless Bra (to a H cup!)

4. A SEXY bra. I don’t care what you look like. I don’t care if you are single or married (or somewhere in between). I don’t care how old you are. Every woman needs a sexy bra, even if sexy to you means just a little flower in the center of your tshirt bra, or a little frill at the top of the cup, or even just a cute color in your basic bra. Make sure you own at least one bra that makes you want to walk around shirtless, I bet it will quickly become your favorite!

Cleo’s Marcie Bra (also to a H cup)

*Bottom line: every bra you own should make you feel like a million bucks. If it doesn’t, THROW IT OUT!

Okay. The hard part is over. Next comes the fun part… shopping (well, fitting and then…shopping)!

Love,

Sarah

Welcome:)

Hello, ladies!

Welcome to For the Love of Lingerie, where I hope to pass along every bit of lingerie knowledge I have on to you (along with fun, fashionable tips here and there!)  I have been working in the lingerie industry for four years, and have worked all sides of it. I am a certified fitter, merchandiser and brand representative. I have been a customer and have been behind the scenes at over twenty department stores, and have always been extremely saddened by the overwhelming amount of customers who do not leave feeling happier, feeling more beautiful (which is how you should always feel after buying a bra).

Hard-to-fit women (whom, by the way are only “hard to fit” because for some reason bras of this nature are hard to find) fall into three main categories:

1. Thick torsoed (38+ band)

2. Petite, full busted (26-34 D-KK+)

3. Petite, small busted (26-32 A-AA)

I am here to help all women, but I am here because of my disappointment in observing how many women are not taken care of when walking into a Lingerie store or department. So if you fall into one of the three categories above, or think you do, then stick around please:) I promise to not give up or turn anyone away!

I cannot wait to embark on this journey to advise and assist in helping you find exceptional bras that fit & flatter like nothing you have experienced before, regardless of your size:)
Stay tuned!

Love, Sarah