Bra Fit Tips.xx

Fit Guide

Wearing a fabulous fitting bra can change the way you feel and look, not to mention the health benefits.  There is no substitute  for seeing a professional bra fitter, she will know her range of stock, the styles and and how each bra fits.  But if you have had a fitting recently and just want to replace or add to your lingerie drawer, here's a few fit tips to help you on your way.

The Underband

The underband should feel firm (but not tight, pinching or uncomfortable) and sit horizontal across your back. The underband should not ride up towards your shoulder blades even when you reach your arms above your head.  

The Cups

Your breasts should be fully encased by the cups, this is true even for push up and half cup styles. The neck edge of the cup should sit gently against each breast without bulging or indeed gaping. Where one breast is larger than the other (asymmetrical) fit to the largest breast as a little gaping is less obvious than bulging.

The cup should gently shape your breasts into the desired style you are looking to achieve.

The Wires

The underwire should sit against the chest wall encasing the entire breast.  The wire should not press on any breast tissue, nor should breast tissue slip underneath the wire.  When putting the bra on, gently lean forward and let your breast tissue fall into the cups.  Some ladies need to lift and scoop the breasts whilst leaning forward to ensure all breast tissue is inside the wire and encased in the cup.

The Shoulder Straps

The shoulder straps should be comfortable and not dig in.  The support comes mainly from the underband (remember the firm but not tight underband).  Shoulder straps add a little support and stability to the bra and often a little decorative feature too!

Claire.xx

Bra Fit Tips.xx

Fit Guide

Wearing a fabulous fitting bra can change the way you feel and look, not to mention the health benefits.  There is no substitute  for seeing a professional bra fitter, she will know her range of stock, the styles and and how each bra fits.  But if you have had a fitting recently and just want to replace or add to your lingerie drawer, here's a few fit tips to help you on your way.

The Underband

The underband should feel firm (but not tight, pinching or uncomfortable) and sit horizontal across your back. The underband should not ride up towards your shoulder blades even when you reach your arms above your head.  

The Cups

Your breasts should be fully encased by the cups, this is true even for push up and half cup styles. The neck edge of the cup should sit gently against each breast without bulging or indeed gaping. Where one breast is larger than the other (asymmetrical) fit to the largest breast as a little gaping is less obvious than bulging.

The cup should gently shape your breasts into the desired style you are looking to achieve.

The Wires

The underwire should sit against the chest wall encasing the entire breast.  The wire should not press on any breast tissue, nor should breast tissue slip underneath the wire.  When putting the bra on, gently lean forward and let your breast tissue fall into the cups.  Some ladies need to lift and scoop the breasts whilst leaning forward to ensure all breast tissue is inside the wire and encased in the cup.

The Shoulder Straps

The shoulder straps should be comfortable and not dig in.  The support comes mainly from the underband (remember the firm but not tight underband).  Shoulder straps add a little support and stability to the bra and often a little decorative feature too!

Claire.xx

Lingerie life: "Sports Bras"Women up and down the country have e...

Lingerie life: "Sports Bras"
Women up and down the country have e...: "Sports Bras" Women up and down the country have embraced running, women only running events such as "Race for life&quot...

"Sports Bras"

Women up and down the country have embraced running, women only running events such as "Race for life" and "Pretty muddy" have increased in popularity, as have the emergence of women only online running forums and Facebook pages etc.

The exercise classes I attend have increased in numbers, the majority increase being ladies. It seems "us ladies" are becoming more aware of health and well being.  Maybe taking little time to take care for ourselves, setting challenges or maintaining a goal already reached or even learning something new!

I LOVE THIS!  I have championed women joining sports clubs and/or teams or undertaking a new and exciting personal fitness journey since my early teens when sport played a major role in my life.  Personally, sport has increased my confidence, enabled me to socialise and helped me to achieve personal goals of my own.

BUT..................

I ALWAYS WEAR A SPORTS BRA!!!!!!!!!!!  I always did wear a sports bra (yes they existed many moons ago, not quite as brilliant as they are today though).  This wasn't because my mother told me to, as she didn't really understand "a girl doing sport", I wanted to wear one. I wore a sports bra because I needed one, I was uncomfortable and embarrassed running cross country or hiking across Dartmoor with my boobs bouncing and flouncing in all directions!  I didn't like my straps rubbing, or the seams chaffing and destroying my nipples when I wore my normal bra!

LADIES, I've seen you, running/jogging/power walking up and down and around the streets of Lincoln and beyond.  I think you are all brilliant for getting out there, I've seen that big smile on your face and I've smiled with you.........and then I've noticed your BOOBS, yes BOOBS, bouncing and flinging around in a figure of 8 motion, I've seen you hoicking up them straps, picking at your nipples or worse, holding on to them with your hands!!!  

Did you know, if you are an A cup, your boobs can bounce up to 4cm when you jog.  Imagine how far a G cup can bounce?  Blimey, that's a whole lot of bouncing going on there!  WARNING: Its also damaging to your delicate breast tissue, the bad news is, once breast tissue is stretched, it can not regain elasticity.  

So, lets think logically; 

Would you go for a run in your flip flops?  No, that's just silly.

Would you do an aerobics class in your high heels?  No, you must be joking.

Then why, oh why, are you exercising wearing your everyday work bra or a lacy bedroom number?  Madness, this is a fast track to ruining your pretty bras not to mention ruining your pretty boobs.

Next time you think about new trainers, or a fab new pink sparkly running top, think BOOBS, think sports bra.  Get it fitted as you would your normal bra, talk to your bra fitter about the type of training you are doing.  She will help you to choose the best bra for you. 

Remember, this brilliant new sports bra is going to be doing a lot of work.  It will be holding your boobs firm, soaking up a bucket of sweat (hell yes, sweat it out girls), its going to be soft and seamless inside the cup to ensure your nipples are kept in tip top condition and plenty elasticated so you can actually breathe.  Phew, the sports bra is a worker, its exhausting thinking about how much work it has to do!

This amazing, brilliant and talented bra is going to set you back around £40-£50, there are many sports bras on the market today in a variety of colours and sizes from A-J cup.  It should last you 6-9 months minimum if you stay the same size and you look after it (refer to manufacturers washing/drying guide).  I have had some of my sports bras for 2 years, worn approximately twice a week each and they are still going strong, if a little faded (all that sweating you see!).

So, when I'm out and about and I see you running or jogging I will smile and mentally congratulate you on being active (I am also inclined to high 5 fellow female runners, its a problem that requires medical intervention).  I will also congratulate you on taking care of your boobs.xx

Lingerie life: Size is important!

Lingerie life: Size is important!: Size is important because...... There have been two ladies that stood out recently to my staff and I.  The bra they were wearing wa...

Size is important!

Size is important because......

There have been two ladies that stood out recently to my staff and I.  The bra they were wearing was not only uncomfortable but damaging to their self esteem.

Lady number 1

A young girl, fitted locally at a well known large department store.  Explained that she was experiencing discomfort in her fitted bras so had taken to wearing her sports bra as it "squashed her breasts and made them look smaller".  Rachael (one of my fitting staff) invited her in for a fitting to find out the exact manner of the problems with the bra.  The young lady was anxious about her body image, she apologised for her "fat body" and other perceived problem areas. 

Rachael ascertained that the young lady was in fact wearing a 38DD contraption of a sports bra.  Her breasts were spilling from the top and sides, the back band was almost between the shoulder blades and possibly the most uncomfortable looking bra we had seen in a while!!! During this time more apologies came, "sorry my back is enormous, I have to loose some weight".  The young lady had come along with a very lovely friend who chirped up with "nonsense, you are no bigger than me".  We love a good friend with positive words!

Rachael commenced fitting asking questions as to which styles and colours the young lady liked.  This is important to us, as we want each lady to leave with a bra she not only looks good in but feels good in.

The end result was that this young lady was actually stood in a very well fitted 34G.  An astonishing size change!  Boobs not squashed, boobs contained in the cups, back band down where it should be, no discomfort...............

............and one happy young lady!  Her whole body was relaxed, she couldn't believe her boobs could look so fantastic.  Above all else she was excited that she was a 34 back band, she asked several times that it was actually a 34?.  Her words changed from negative self damning to "so I haven't got a fat back, I'm just a normal size???".  Her good friend chirped up again with "That's the size I am, see I said we were the same!" (I love this friend).  Smiles all round.

Lady number 2 

"I know what size I am, just show me the ones you have, I'm a 42E".  Ok, so this lady is not a 42 or an E and I have to tackle this with great care as she might not want to be fitted or told she is not either of those sizes on any chart anywhere in any country (just how did she get to be in that size???).  I didn't ask but I got the answer to the question in my head, (yes you have guessed) a well known department store.

So, I asked if I could help her with styling for her new bra in the hope of not offending her by saying she was a good few sizes out!

Hoorah, she was happy for me to help.  I was shocked to find the 42E bra under great strain and boobs perched in some form of hammock.  This fit was among the worst I've seen.  

The fitting commenced, we hoisted and scooped and lifted and holstered.  The end result was incredible, this lady looked so different, her waist appeared more narrow her body more upright and her boobs were at last where they belong.........above the line of the elbows, lifted and separated! My job was done, until she asked "so what size am I?"  "Erm erm erm, actually quite a difference in what you were wearing to what you are now wearing........38J". A brief silence followed by a small giggle from the lovely lady, Rachael and I stood wondering if this was in fact going to be a giggle followed by tears or smiles?  The lady put her clothing on over the bra and looked at herself again and then smiled the biggest smile I've seen in ages!

Size does matter, both of these ladies thought they were huge and overweight, voicing their negative feelings about their (beautiful) bodies because of a back band measurement that was incorrect!  

Fitting a bra does not start or end with a tape measure.  A bra fitting comes with knowledge of how a bra should fit and the relationship between bra and body, experience, a good eye for detail, product knowledge and having compassion for the lady stood in front of you. Listening to what she wants and needs and guiding her through the confusing world of bras.

Claire.xx      

Is your daughter ready for a bra?

Our children grow up so fast!

One minute we are buying vests, the next minute we are considering the question "does my little girl need a bra?"

I can hear you sobbing..... she is still your little girl and she needs you right now to show her the way.  The right way to care for her developing breasts.

As a mum or carer of a young lady we all want to get it right.  We want to know we are doing the right thing, when is the best time?

Stay calm, help is at hand!

Listen

"My friend has a new bra"

"Can we go shopping without DAD"

"What size bra do you wear?"

"What age were you when you started to wear a bra?"

"When I run or jump I have pains in my pickles" (or the word used in your house for children's nipples)

Look 

Pulling clothes away from her body

Hunching shoulders

Little breast buds showing through clothes

Changes in her body shape

She looks at bras in shops

How you react to these little messages is important.  Think before you react, try not to be dismissive if she you don't think she is ready or try not to be too alarmed if you have missed that she has grown seemingly overnight.

Your daughter needs your support during this tricky time, she is looking for guidance.  Girls very much want to be accepted by their friends, they like to look alike, wear the same clothes and hair styles.  Having a bra is another item on the list for her to worry about.  If all her friends have a bra, then she will want to fit in and be just like her friends.  Your daughter will need you to help her understand that we all grow at different rates, have different bodies, breast shapes and sizes.

Shopping!

Well shopping can't be difficult can it?  Until you are stood in the middle of the shop and arrrhhhh!!!!........there are as many girls bras as there are ladies bras.  Crop tops, triangle, T-Shirt style, padded (yes padded), Lycra, coloured, wired (for goodness sake...wired!!).

This is where I suggest going to a small independent shop.  

• Maybe call ahead to check they stock girls bras?  Lots of us do, I think its important to start in a good bra and then the rest will follow.  
• You can ask the best time to visit?  I suggest the times when the shop is quiet, perhaps first thing or if the young lady is particularly shy then a special appointment time before or after the shop is officially open.
• If you have a favorite bra fitter in the shop, ask when she will be working and if you can have this fitter for your daughter?
• Ask what clothing your daughter should wear?  I suggest to ensure she is wearing a crop top or if no crop top then a vest top.  This is so that she can be fitted without the need to strip the top half completely.  

The Bra, which one to buy?

If its a first bra, I try to explain that this bra is about to getting used to wearing a bra.  The first bra should be soft, preferably non-wired and comfortable.  There are a few styles on the market, many are a foam form bra (looks like a T-shirt bra), this is not padding its a foam layer which gives a little bit of modesty and a smooth appearance under clothes.  I stock the little triangle style bras too, as not all boobs are the same!  

A good bra fitter will fit with age appropriate bras, this will lend itself to an easier purchase as the choice is limited to the items that fit and are suitable.  If there is a choice, let her decide which one she likes.  She is more likely to wear it if she likes it.

https://www.clairewoodall.com/candy-floss-girls

Reassurance Reassurance Reassurance 

Your little lady will be anxious at this time, reassure her that everyone grows at different rates.  It is normal for one breast to grow larger than the other or a slightly different shape.  There may be periods of growth when she feels her boobs are growing too quickly and hers are far bigger than her peer group or not growing quick enough.

Breast shape and size changes many times throughout a womans life, puberty its just the first stage of these changes.

We are all subject to perfect body images from the media and your daughter is no different.  She will compare herself to the images she sees, we learn from looking at others and mirroring ourselves in those images, be it an athlete or a movie star.    Reassure her she is perfectly normal and gorgeous just the way she is.

Lastly enjoy your outing together, its another shopping trip with the special little lady in your life.  Buy her lunch or ice-cream afterwards, give her time to settle down before going home.  She may still have burning questions about her bra that she wants you to answer.

Claire.xx