Fashion & Beauty Blog » Bras

The Different Types of Bras That You Absolutely Need

liz — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 16:50:10 +0000

Undergarments have been on my mind a lot lately and IÂ’m not totally sure why. For whatever reason it seems as though stores like VictoriaÂ’s Secret have had a magnetic pull over me, drawing me there to shop for all sorts of things I donÂ’t need. And truthfully, new lingerie, whether for everyday wear or for a special occasion, is always fun to buy.

But one of the key elements to buying good lingerie is purchasing it in your proper size. So first thingÂ’s first: if you havenÂ’t bought bras in a while, it is likely time to get refitted and make sure youÂ’re wearing the correct size for your current body. A properly fitting bra can make you look slimmer and younger, and it will also drastically change the look of your clothes.

Once youÂ’ve got the right size down, then itÂ’s time to make sure you have all the different types of bra essentials.Â By owning these different bras, youÂ’ll make sure you have the right bra no matter what the outfit youÂ’re wearing. Here are my four essential bras that every woman must own:

1. The Everyday T-Shirt Bra. In general, a t-shirt bra should be the perfect thing to wear under most of your tops: the bra should look good, be loosely lined or padded, and you should own at least one in a neutral. In my opinion, I think women need to make sure they own at least one of these everyday bras in a nude or beige color. This skin color material wonÂ’t show under any clothes, which makes it appropriate for anything.

2. The Push Up Bra. Nearly every girl needs to own a push up bra. It can enhance cleavage if youÂ’ve already got it, or it can create cleavage where there isnÂ’t any. A push up bra makes women feel sexy and really can be worn by all bra sizes. If youÂ’re on the smaller side, pick one with padding, and if youÂ’re on the larger side, pick a shaped bra without any padding.

3. The Bandeau Bra. What more is there to say? Rid your outfits of unattractive bra lines with a bandeau. I think itÂ’s best to look for a strapless bra thatÂ’s specifically made to be a bandeau, not a multi-way convertible bra, in order to secure the best possible fit and quality.

4. The Sexy Bra. Every woman needs a sexy bra that they just love to wear and feel great in. So find a perfect special bra and wear it whenever you need a boost!

What types of bras do you think are essential?

Image Source: flickr.com/photos/helga/3188201634

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Sports Bra: To Wear or Not To Wear

fashionblogger — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 22:07:33 +0000

Working out is needed in order to live a healthy active lifestyle. When running on a treadmill or taking a jog along the beach, we must support our chest area. A women’s breasts are a part of the body which expresses full femininity. As we age, our breast tissue will stretch and lead to sagging and/or stretch marks. The older I get, the

more concerned I am about how my breasts look without my bra, or under my shirt (I consider myself one of the very few women in California with a pair of natural boobs). In order to prevent gravity from destroying our womanhood, we must use a supportive bra. Especially when engaging in leisure activity, high-impact aerobicsÂ or competitive sports, we must always remember to wear a sports bra. But what makes a good sports bra?

A comfortable fit altogether;Â materials used, cups,Â and shoulder straps
Each breast is supported individually from underneath in separate cups
Shoulder straps sit comfortably on the shoulders, and have a criss cross or racer back for full support
When moving, breasts are secured in cups and do not touch or bump into each other (this can cause bruising or tissue damage)
Material is breathable and does not get saturated easily by perspiration (if material does not dry easily, sweat can lead to skin rash or chafing)

Have you evaluated your sports bra today? Protect your breasts from signs of aging, and wear a good sports bra. If planning on an active day, never leave home without one.

Image Source: flickr.com/photos/mikebaird/482031103

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Woman’s Best Kept Secret: Bodyshapers?

fashionblogger — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 17:34:20 +0000

This weekend, slip into something more slimming! Bodyshapers are a reliable and sometimes needed foundation piece for our intimate apparel. Silhouettes of clothing have become more form fitting over the fashion cycle. Today’s trend is thinner fabrics. With the average female clothing size increasing, some of us are starting to spill out of our clothes. Most women need bodyshapers to support them under eachÂ outfit and to accentuate beautiful curves.

Check out this quick list of different options:

Camisoles are similar to tank tops and include a bra for bust support. This top style covers the mid-waist section which helps smooth away love handles. These tops can also help improve posture. Camisole shapers are best when worn under tight fitted tops and a-line dresses.
Control top shapers are available in pantyhose or panty style pieces. These have a reinforced waistband that tucks your tummy and lifts your bum. These are best to wear under garments that are tight along the mid-waist section.Â Control top body shapers can definitely help those who are bottom heavy or who want toÂ shape and contour the lower half.
Mid-thigh shapers cut off along the upper thigh and provide much support along theÂ tops ofÂ legs and bottom. They are best to wear with skirts and pants and will keep thighs looking toned.
Body suits usually are a combination of the Camisole and Mid Thigh shaper, and they are cut off along the upper thigh. Although they are more difficult to put on and take off, this shaper is a full body contouring piece. Some of these Bodysuits have a short or skirt style bottom. Some have a double gusset available for easy access when using the bathroom. These are recommended when wearing tight fitted dresses, for full body coverage and support.

You deserve to love your body and curves. No woman is perfect, and we should embrace our flaws and who we are. Body shapers are about feeling good. They’re not for everyone, but some of us might give them a try.

Image Source: flickr.com/photos/caronaf/3384995269

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Options for Affordable Athletic Apparel

fashionblogger — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 19:54:22 +0000

Last week a friend of mine mentioned on her blog that she was doing “C25K.”Â I, being uninformed, asked what “C25k” stands for and was told it means “Couch to 5K.”Â It’s an interval running program that teaches your body how built up the endurance to be able to run for 30 minutes straight (or approximately 5k) over the course of 9 weeks.

Now, considering I’m preparing to hit heavy training mode I thought that trying C25K would be a great way to get started. I am not in the worst shape ever but between having asthma and not knowing “how to run” I could never really work myself up to being a person who laced up her sneakers and hit the pavement for fun.

But there I was on Saturday afternoon, pacing the aisles at the local Walmart looking for a decent pair of running shoes that wouldn’t break the bank. (I found the Detra by Athletic Works for a mere $22, by the way).Â When I got home I found a C25K companion podcast and downloaded it to my iPod. I was ready to hit the field on Sunday morning.

There was just one problem.Â I do not currently own any cute exercise apparel like the Under Armour Action Racerback Tank ($14.95) or the Brooks Energy Short ($24.15).Â I will remedy this situation when I feel like I’m not wasting my money “pre-weight-loss.”Â My real concern, however, was a lack of- uhm – control in the chest region, if you catch my drift.

Why on earth is there no reasonably affordable high-impact sports bra for women with larger chests?Â In Walmart there was a really cute Danskin high-impact bra – not in my size.Â The same story repeated itself in both Dick’s Sporting Goods and Sports Authority.Â The closest I came was a really great looking Under Armour bra but it was tagged at $44.95.Â For a sports bra?

Further research proves that if I am going to pay big money for a bra I may as well stick with Under Armour. I already love their sports products and I have found that (despite it not being on store shelves) there is a great Under Armour Heat Gear Endure D Zip Front Sports Bra available online.Â What a mouthful, right?

Check it out, though.Â It’s specifically made for women with D cups who participate in high-impact activities AND it zippers up the front so you don’t have to worry about stretching out the bra you just paid all that money for.Â Looks like a win to me!

After that first run it’s safe to say I’ll be looking for something a bit more controlling to wear under my soon-to-be-cuter exterior gear.Â My feet were aching for their UGG slippers by the end of that first workout but rest assured I’ll be back on the track tomorrow!

Find at Smarter.com:Â Shop through all sports bras.

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Shopping for the Perfect Brassiere

fashionblogger — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 17:33:16 +0000

Yes. You read the heading correctly.

Yes. I’m going to go there.

Yes. It’s important.

The perfect brassiere (that’s formal for bra, silly).

If there’s one thing I hate more than anything else it’s shopping for the perfect bra. As a matter of fact, I’m thoroughly convinced that the “perfect” bra does not exist.

I’m not going to get into all of the nitty gritty details about how to determine your bra size, but I will say this. Once upon a time I was in a to-remain-nameless-high-quality-bra-store when the salesgirl asked me if she could help. I told her I wanted a bra without an underwire, which seemed to be nonexistant at the moment. When she asked why I told her they were uncomfortable.

She promptly offered me a formal bra fitting, explaining that most women were uncomfortable only because they were wearing the wrong bra size. What do you know – she was right (though I do still prefer those w/o the aforementioned wire).

So here’s a piece of advice. Let the woman at the bra store you choose give you a formal fitting. It’s really not as embarrassing as you think and, in the end, you may be surprised at what knowing the correct bra size will do for your sense of self-esteem!

A word of warning, though – the girl in Victoria Secret is probably more skilled at measuring bra sizes than the girl in Fashion Bug – but that’s just my experience speaking.

Ok. Have you determined the correct size? Time to start trying them on. Make sure you pay attention to the following:

Make sure the underband is firm but doesn’t cause you pain. Can you comfortably run you finger underneath? If not, you need a larger size.
Does the underwire extend past your rib cage and under your armpit? If so, the wire isn’t right for you. The wire itself should only encompass your breast and should never dig into your skin.
The bra you choose should be able to support the weight of your breasts between the cups, underband, and broadband. A bra that pulls on your shoulders does not fit correctly.
Bulge is bad. Let me say that again – bulge is bad. You need a different cup size if you are bulging out the top of sides!

Bra shopping may be a pain in the tush but it’s a necessary evil. I have no idea why finding something to comfortably holdÂ our treasured chest pillows can’t be as easy as finding a pair of comfortable UGG boots , but I digress.Â Get yourself a formal bra sizing and you’ll be well on your way to a more comfortable (and hopefully painless) bra shopping experience.

To shop for low priced lingerie- BRAS – Click here.

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