Panties and others

Working as a buyer in the lingerie industry, friends and family ring me up from time to time to let me know what the next trend in lingerie is going to be. Something they’ve seen on telly or read in the papers, that is going to take the lingerie industry by storm. Last week it was several people telling me that the Conical Bra is due to make a come back and have we got them on order, ready for the deluge of demand. A little bit of research and it would appear that a couple of our more notable designers Louise Goldin and Jean Paul Gaultier have been promoting the look on the cat walk this season.
This has been coupled in the newspapers with an increase in demand for the Triumph Doreen and the Fantasie Belle Bras both of which produce a slightly more pointed shape than some other styles, creating the headlines of the return of the Conical Bra. Lets put this in perspective and come back to the real world. The Fantasie Belle sales relate to an increase in sales following a concert by Madonna, who we all know loves her pointed bras. At the concert she wore a see through blouse with a Belle Bra underneath, which Fantasie were very quick to take advantage of and use to market the bra, resulting in a 10% increase in sales in a week. The Triumph Doreen is probably the oldest bra on the market having been around for over 40 years and is marketed as the World’s Best Selling Bra. There is most definitely a market still for this bra, but it is not a young fashion led market and increases in sales are not at all related to current fashions. As for Jean Paul Gaultier, didn’t he design the conical bra worn by Madonna on stage in the 80′s and doesn’t he have a perfume range, where the bottles are in the shape of a female with conical pointy breasts.
So do I think the conical bra is due to make a comeback, not for a moment! Do women come into Lingerie Stores and ask for bras to give them pointy boobs, not very often, but you do hear complaints if they feel a bra is making them look to pointy.  Will we stocking up with lots of conical bras, I don’t think so, but for those of you who like the Triumph Doreen and the Fantasie Belle, neither of which are truly conical in shape, then of course we do stock them and will carry on doing so.

Breast A To C

Traditional Bra Measuring May Not Tell Your Correct Cup Size! Why performs breast condition affect your cup size? Let me say to you a miniscule story about a special lingerie boutique referred to as Rigby & Peller which holds a Royal Warrant by the Queen of England (June Kenton is the Royal Corsetiere there).

Curious close to how I may give behind Rigby & Peller’s wall to wall wooden drawers housing luxurious lingerie, I surveyed what properties had for somebody who wears a 36A. “Love, you is able to never be a 36A.” “I was recently measured. I am a 36A,” I said, knowing that I had been measured by a sales person at that pink lingerie store taking over the planet one mall at a time.

“I’m certain your frame is much smaller than a 36. Have you been fitted here before?” “No.” “Would you like to be?” Smaller than a 36… If Queen Elizabeth trusts them with her jewels, then there must be something to it. “Yes. I’d love to.” Instead of tape measuring, Tanya, my personal fitter at the Knightsbridge shop, looked at me bare breasted and announced that I was a 32C. Which of course, made me giddy with laughter. You see, there is no way I could be a 32 “C” because my breasts are, quite frankly, too little. A “C” cup belongs to a woman with large, bodacious breasts. How could a woman with small breasts wear a “C” cup?

Tanya explained to me that, like many women, the shape of my breasts are wider. It’s common for many small breasted women to go up a cup size or two to get the correct fit. Through time, our breasts change due to weight loss, pregnancy, the birth control pill, age, sports and other factors. All of this affects our cup size. I had to stay and find out if Tanya was right about me. She proceeded to bring me in the most beautiful, girlie bras that I’ve ever seen in 32C. Guess what? They fit! All I could do was hug her. Not only did Tanya make me feel completely comfortable in my new gorgeous, cleavage enhancing bras, but also she gave me the best lingerie experience ever! After all, who goes into a store thinking they’re a 36A and walks out a 32C? How could I have such discrepancies in my measurements?

1. The sales person at the “nameless” pink lingerie establishment measured me in clothes–which could have made my band size larger Breast A To C

2. I’d lost five pounds between fittings–which will make the band size smaller. For this reason, Rigby & Peller recommends getting fitted (or measured) every six months 3. Tanya, the fitter at Rigby & Peller, took into account my breast shape (which called for a wider cup size, even if my breasts don’t look like a typical full “C”) What does all of this mean? I consider myself small breasted. To look at me, you’d think that I could never in a million years fill out a “C” cup. But what I learned at Rigby & Peller is that the shape of a woman’s breast is just as important as the band size. Rigby & Peller has established that of the women who go into its store “…approximately 80% of women are wearing the wrong bra size. The most common mistake is wearing a bra too large in the back (band size) and too small in the cup which causes all sorts of unsightly problems.” What will wearing a band size that is too big and a cup size that is too small do?

1. The band will ride up the back. Look at yourself in the mirror sideways. Instead of your breasts being level with your band, your breasts are lower than the band in back. The band should fit snug, but not cut into your skin, producing back cleavage

2. The cups will gap at times, giving the impression that you aren’t filling out your cup. This is not true, the cup size is too small

3. You will see material crease on the sides of your bra, signaling that the band is too big You may feel the need to adjust or pull down your bra in front or back as it rides up If this is happening to you, do the following: 1. Figure out your band size. Get a tape measure. Measure it snugly around your back and under your chest. If the number is even, add

4 to get your band size. If the number is odd, add 5 to get your band size. For example: If you wrote down 32, add 4 and your band size will be 36. Voila! 2. Go shopping. At a store, try on bras in your band size with cups 1-2 sizes larger than your original cup size. For example, if you normally wear an “A” cup, try on “B” and “C” cups. More than likely, you’ll find that due to your breast shape a larger cup size will flatter your breasts and enhance your cleavage. Keep in mind, you need to try on several brands when shopping.

Each brand will cut bras a little differently. You’ll find there are a couple brands that work best with your breast shape. It’s highly recommended that if you’ve measured your bra size (cup and band) with a tape measure and you’re are still having trouble, try getting fitted the old fashioned way like Queen Elizabeth. Get personally fitted at Rigby & Peller in London.

If you can’t go there, then you can get the royal results by doing it yourself. Either way, you’ll feel good about yourself and look confident no matter what the tape measure says about your cup size! Start taking actions and work towards your dream figure! Download your Breast A To C ebook now!

One item that is essential to any woman’s wardrobe is a professionally fitted bra.  Many women have a love/hate relationship with their bras, and deal with issues like falling straps and cup issues thinking they are issues with their body. In reality, many women are simply wearing the wrong size or style of bra.  There is no substitute for visiting a trained professional at a lingerie or speciality boutique with a trained professional staff.

A professionally fitted bra can give new life to your existing wardrobe by giving your body the correct structure that many clothing manufacturers use in their designs. Many women are surprised at how their new bra can make an old sweater or top take on a new life. By correctly placing the breasts, a fitted bra wraps around snugly enough to be lost under a shirt or top without the straps or cups becoming noticeable.

A professional lingerie salesperson is aware of not only bra styles and designs,  but also the measuring process and compensation for breast issues such as sagging or size. After  measuring, the salesperson will then make suggestions of style and structure, such as choice of material, support and cup size.

As our bodies constantly change, it’s important to revisit your bra professional on an annual or biannual basis to monitor body changes and fitting. Having the knowledge of your new bra and your measurements now make it easier to shop for discount bras in stores and online. You will already have list of features and criteria that allow you to shop for discounts and sales knowing which styles and features will work for you.  You will know how a good fitting bra should feel on your body, and not have to compromise on style or fit.

If it seems too early to be thinking about the January sales, think again! In this bleak financial market, the sales will be starting much earlier this year as retailers try to tempt us to part with our money. So what is there to think about? How do you plan for the sales? If you usually wander around them aimlessly picking up a few ‘bargains’ here and there, things that you don’t really need and later regret buying, read on…

1. Avoid the shops that roll out rails and rails of clothes stock from previous seasons. If no-one wanted them in Winter ’07 or ’06, why would you want them now?

2. Avoid high fashion items that are on their way out. Instead look for good quality investment items that won’t date such as cashmere sweaters, leather jackets and wool coats. You’ll be able to wear them for seasons and seasons to come and will be proud that you got such a good bargain.

3. If you come across an item that you really love but can’t afford in this season’s collections, don’t despair. Keep an eye on the price tag throughout December to see if the price falls drastically. If not, find a helpful assistant and ask when the item will be going in the sales and what the price will be. Sales assistants often have this information and by asking them for it you can ensure that you turn up on the right day, at the right time and go away with something you really want.

4. Have a good look through the underwear section. A certain design or colour of bra might not have been the season’s best-seller but if it is the right size and does the job it doesn’t matter – most people will never see it! Often bras can be picked up for half price or lower in the January sales and although they may not end up being your favourite special occasion bras they’re ideal for everyday use.

5. If you’re a regular attendee of glitzy evening events, parties and balls, plan ahead and get your cocktail dresses in the sales. There is usually a good selection left over after Christmas and they won’t date too quickly.

6. As with all clothes shopping, make sure the items you buy really suit your colouring and show off your figure. If you’re not sure about the colours and styles that suit you best, book a colour analysis and style consultation before you hit the sales. The initial cost may seem expensive but in the long run they will save you money on costly mistakes. Alternatively, why not book a style consultant for some personal shopping. They will give you an honest opinion and won’t let you buy unflattering items just because they are cheap. Instead they will find you bargains that really bring out the best in you.