Shopping for the Right Bra

The Huffington Post Christina Anderson agrees with us - 5 Things to make shopping for bras easier:

1. Work with a professional bra fitter/specialist, with over 250 brands and styles you need a experienced person to advise you on the right type for your figure just like you would go to a lawyer for legal advice.

 

2. Buy your bra at a small lingerie focus shop, you will find a staff that is more likely to be experts. The main reason for ill fitting bra is that many women are shopping in department shops that carry sizes to DD. There is definitely a disconnect between the people who manufacture the bras and womens current sizes...they have changed. Cups sized are up to N now and department stores just don't carry that range.

 

3. Cups are not created equal,

you must know your back-size to cup size ratio to get the right fit. Even armed with this information size within each type and style can be tricky because each manufacturer has its own rules. So you must try bras in your size range.

4. Invest in your bra, we have all purchased the $20 bra (the bra that is not on sale for $20...it is $20), they won't last or give proper support for long. Our best selling bra range in price from $40 - $80....we also carry $25.00 bras. The difference in price is the material and design. Remember your your bra is investment in the way you look.

5. Hand wash your bras, we believe the frequency of washing your bra depends on your activity. We suggust at least two wears then wash in a lingerie wash and do not wear your bra two days in a row. You must allow your band to go back to its natural state (24 hour rest).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Start The New Year Right

ORGANIZE YOUR UNDERWEAR

Lingerie is Powerful. Lingerie transforms, inspires, stimulates, and excites. It allows every woman no matter her circumstance, to express the person she truly is inside in an intimate and meaningful way. I believe (and I hope you do too) that lingerie is more than underware,,,ut’s a means of self expression, no matter what clothing you may have to wear on top.

Here are a few simple tips on how to get started organizing your lingerie drawer and take inventory of what you have.

Step1: First of all throw away anything ratty worn out, discolored, faded faded, threadbare, or that is that has stretched elastic, holes or underwires poking through.

Step 2: Second, divide your remaining lingerie into piles, Lingerie worn frequently to semi-frequently, lingerie worn once/twice & never again.

Step 3: Donate everything in the last pile to Salvation Army, Goodwill or a local battered women’s shelter, In The Image. Or bring them in to us and we will donate for you.

Step 4: Find other uses for lingerie in the second piles. Lingerie worn frequently to semi-frequently, lingerie worn once/twice & never again.

Step 5: For things you love and wear often, use them as a guide to future lingerie purchases.

THE RIGHT BRA DECISION

This past Saturday a group of three women came into my Bra Fitting Salon....they were friends.  One of them had been fit before, the second needed a better fitting bra including a sports bra and the third need a total make over according to her daughter.

Some interesting things happen:  The first friend founded a perfect bra after we had tried 10 others at her previous fitting and now is ready to explore another style...t-shirt bra.    The third friend found that she needed to come back for another appointment and take some time to try on other style and depart from her favorite style that doesn't work with her body type any longer.  The second friend tried on 10 bras and we found 4 styles that worked, we would need to order one to fit her perfectly.  She was so excited about finding bras that worked we went  against our rules... our rule is to find one bra that works and wear it for awhile just to make sure that it is the right fit  --- we like you to do this before you purchase many of the same styles ....then find you would like other alternatives.  

She decide to purchase 3 different ones.  By Monday I get an email...that the lace one is itchy...she didn't wash it first.   So a word of caution....we women know how we do....when we find something that works we over do....drive that bra around for a while...then come back and purchase a second or even third....but do try more types and style for those special outfits.

Remember to plan your Bra Fitting visit so you have enough time to (about 45min to 1 hour) try on different styles and sizes.  Just because you are a 36C in one style doesn't mean it will be your size for all bras.....you must try them on Ladies!


This bra is from LeMystere - Tech Fit....check it out.

Is There Really a Healthy Bra?

Are there really Healthy Bras out there?

The TAB bra claims to be.....just that.  It is important to note that you don't need an under wire to support breast tissue.  As a "Bra Fitter"   I have found that each and every women that I have fitted is unique in the way that they fit into a bra.  With this in mind I aways fit each women into both a wire and a non-wire bra.  Depending on their unique fit you can tell immediately which one works best for the individual.  Many women have made the comment,," I like how the non-wire feels...I just don't like the look."   The decision is....looks vs comfort!  Let's be clear there are many beautiful non-wire bra choices.

One of the special feature in the TAB BRA is that the straps have no elastic fabrics in them, which is important and offers some important health benefits.   The elastic in your straps allow you to move into your bra easier.  However over time that same elastic straps will stretch and soon the original fit is gone.  Once the straps have stretched you will experience more movement in the breast area and shoulder stress will soon follow which doesn't maintain healthy posture.

The TAB bra non-stretch straps retains its shape overtime and the engineered "shelf" design vs the under wire lifts the breast tissue from underneath with out the wire pressure.  This shelf and its guides also directs and positions your under arm tissue (fat) back in to its proper place --- the breast area.  This allows you to sit comfortably, stand with confidants and just look better.  This can result in better circulation, less neck stress, decreased back pain and very important for us women enhanced lymphatic drainage.

A healthy lymphatic system is important because it collects and disposes the body's damaged cells and toxins.  97% of the lymphatic fluid that drains breast is filtered by your underarm lymphatic nodes.

This brings us back to the position in which breast tissue is positioned.  This  is very important for allowing proper lymphatic drainage.  When the tissue is directed forward...that means all the underarm (fat) and back (fat) tissue  will have proper support provided from underneath the breasts, the axillary nodes are less likely to become pinched or comprised healthy drainage.

The TAB bra designers address some of these key areas:  (1) the shelf gently raises the breast tissue from underneath, rather than pull the tissue upward from shoulder straps.  (2) there are no under wires to cut off circulation of lymphatic flow(3) TAB bra has directional guides to help direct tissue from under arms and (4) no elastic fabric in the straps.

All these feature aid in women's breast health....you might want to give this bra a try.......I will continue to explore other brands to help you find the one for you!  www.memesfoundations.com

What does your underwear say about you?

Do you remember the saying "Make sure you have clean and decent underwear on before leaving the house" you never know what can happen....Would yours past the test?  I am supprised at the number of women who have not up dated there bra's for years....and they are surely not in the same size as when they were in high school.  If this is you... run to the nearest lingerie boutique...Meme's ....we can help... you will that intimate apparel decision.

" I used to have a tattoo of a rose on my breast, now it's just a long stem" Sagging breasts

     A great bra will always have your breasts looking lifted and perky no matter what your age! If your bra isn't giving you this effect it's time to trash it. 

     Sagging breasts are part of the aging process, but the right  bra can lift your breasts for that flattering look we all adore. How can you tell if your bra is giving you the support you need? All you need is mirror! In the correct bra you nipple will be half way between you shoulder and your elbow. If the ladies aren't there you're not getting the support you need.

     Having a properly fitting bra band is key to this equation, because the band is where you get your support from. The weight of your breasts will weigh down the front of your bra if the band is too loose. You can also loose support by a band that is too big. If you an place more than two fingers under your bra band it is too big. 

     Still sagging even though you have a properly fitting bra? Chances are your bra has keeled over. Your bras are not a Honda, ladies, they won't last forever! 

     Six to nine months is the life expectancy of a bra, but, of course this depends on how you wash and store your bras. Another common mistake women make is wearing their bras too long. If you want to keep your breasts from sagging replacing them regularly is a must. 

     Want to know a trick? If you buy your bra to fit on the loosest hook you're preventing it from stretching too much, giving you longer wear time.