Natori Sports Bra on The Doctors

On Friday morning, Natori was featured on the US morning talk show The Doctors during a segment on the importance of a well-fitting bra, especially a sports bra. A volunteer wore her regular sports bra while jogging and then switched to a better Natori sports bra, and the movement of her chest was measured and compared with sensors. The difference was significant and the runner said she could feel “a complete difference.” The proper fit reduced her up-and-down bounce by half, and her side-to-side motion by 80%! See the video by clicking here to go to The Doctors’ website.

Then a bra fitting specialist was brought on stage to discuss bra sizing. Carly Gomez from Natori said that the number of women wearing the wrong size has climbed to 85% and that has to stop – she said that a correctly fitting bra changes how you look and how you feel. You can see the video by clicking here to go to The Doctors’ website.

Bra Fitting on The Doctors

Obviously, I am all for women wearing correctly fitting bras and I’m glad any time the importance of a good fit is publicized. But I have one huge problem with this video: when Gomez is measuring the volunteer, she says, “I measure at a 30 band, so she’s definitely going to be a 32 because that’s where your bra size starts at.” That simply isn’t true. There are plenty of bras with a size 30 band that this women could be wearing. I wear a 30 band and I never have to settle for a 32. Figleaves UK alone has 166 styles in a size 30D (which is what I suspect this woman should be wearing). HerRoom has 90 styles in a 30D. BareNecessities has 62. Bravissmio has 38. They all also have bras with even smaller 28 bands. Even 26 bands are out there if you look hard enough (I found the largest selection from Bita Saviss). Bra sizes don’t start with a 32 band, but Natori’s size range does. So that’s the size the Natori fitter told this woman that she should be wearing. This is why it is very important to be properly fitted by a store with a huge size range available. You don’t want them sticking you in the wrong size bra just because it’s a bra size that they have. If the bra fitters themselves don’t put you in the correct size, they’re only adding to the staggering percentage of women who are in the wrong bra.

Question #1: Which of these bras is bigger in cup size?

Bra Set #1

Question #2: Okay, which of these bras has the bigger cup size?

Bra Set #2

Question #3: How about these bad boys?

Bra Set #3

Think you know the answers? You may be surprised! Head on over to The Pretty Year’s post Size Chart Woes: The Naked Truth About Bra Sizes to check your answers and to learn more about the band/cup relationship, the myth of “sister sizing,” and cup size illusions.

Then, in a follow-up post, she said,

…there seems to be a major discrepancy between What We Were All Taught about bra sizing and Bra Reality.

Basically, we were told that cup size is determined by the number of inches difference between our underbust and bust measurements– 1 inch = A cup, 2 inches = B cup, and so on. Based on this, many of us assumed this meant that all A cups were the same size/volume (i.e., “1 cubic inch” or some such), all B cups were the same size/volume, etc., and that the only difference between, say, a 32D and a 36D was in the band. But nay, as our own photographic evidence suggests, this is not true. Your 36D has significantly more volume in the cup than your 32D, in addition to being wider in the band itself.

A dramatic reenactment:

To learn why a 1 inch difference in perimiter equals more than a 1 inch difference in cup volume (with more helpful visualizations) go to Size Chart Woes: Fun With Math!

A well-fitting bra is incredibly important during pregnancy and nursing. During these times in a woman’s life, there are noticeable changes in your breasts – they will become heavier, may be become fuller during pregnancy, and

HOTmilk "She Blushes in Delight" bra

more sensitive during nursing. You need more support during this time, and it’s important that you are fitted by a trained professional. Most traditional lingerie rules don’t apply to maternity or nursing bras and you need a professional bra fitter to help you make an appropriate choice – do NOT just buy your old style in a bigger size! It is recommended that you see a bra fitter 3-4 months into your pregnancy, and again at 7 months (as well as any time you feel that your bra is restrictive or doesn’t fit well).

When choosing a bra, look for one that provides excellent support and flexibility (to allow for fluctuations in breast size). Slide your hand into the upper cup section to guage whether there is enough room for you to expand and/or insert breast pads. The cups should be comfortable and provide good coverage. The cup lining should be cotton, and seams should not irritate your nipples.  Be  sure that you can undo the maternity clip easily and with one hand. The A-frame should sit comfortably across the top of the breasts. The opening should be large enough to expand, and should not cut in to your skin. Make sure that there is enough overlap between the top of the cup and the A-frame cutout. If there is a gap, this may mean that the cup is too small and the breast is straining the cup. Look for a bra whose cup drops down far enough for feeding. The cup should sit lower than the A-frame at the center front so it drops down further.

HOTmilk "She Embraced the Moment" bra

Just like any bra, your breast tissue should not be bulging over the top of the cup or at the underarms, and the cups should not wrinkle. The back should not ride up or cut in on your back. The straps should rest comfortably on your shoulders. The decision of whether or not to wear underwires when you are pregnant or nursing is a source of some controversy. Many lactation consultants recommend against underwire bras for nursing mothers, as they can restrict the growth of the breast during pregnancy and can put pressure on the breast, leading to blocked milk ducts.

Again, many thanks to HOTmilk for providing us with so much wonderful and helpful information! HOTmilk is a great choice when looking for maternity and nursing bras because they are not only comfortable and supportive, but sexy as well! (Read about the HOTmilk controversy here.) HOTmilk bras are specially designed to provide gorgeous support and coverage all the way up to a G cup. You can find your own HOTmilk lingerie at Figleaves (US/UK).

Greg Gimble, Vice President of Va Bien, says of these products,

“Traditionally, Va Bien shapewear features firm control and is designed for wear under special occasion dresses. However, with today’s form-fitting fashions and the introduction of shapewear to the general public, everyday shapewear has become something quite common. It is with this in mind that we designed the ultra-Lift Cami and Slip. You don’t have to be going to a special event to wear shapewear anymore – new lightweight undergarments can be worn everyday for a nice smooth look, and now with the ultra-Lift Cami and Slip, women can shape their bustline perfectly at the same time.”

One thing I really like about these Va Bien styles as opposed to other similar products is that these actually come in real, honest-to-goodness bra sizes. You buy the Va Bien ultra-Lift Smooth Solutions products in 34B, 36D, 38E, etc. instead of Small, Medium, and Large. You guys know how picky I am about wearing bras that fit correctly, so it would be a definite deal-breaker for me if these didn’t come in defined bra sizes.

The camisole and slip are priced at $65 and $79, respectively. You can buy the camisole from the Va Bien website right now, and the slip will be available on June 1.

The original Secrets From Your Sister is located at 560 Bloor Street West (at Bathurst).  The recently opened location is located at 2501 Yonge Street (at Eglington).  See here for maps and store hours.  Don’t forget to establish a customer file when you make your purchase.  It will be accessible at both stores for convenient shopping!

And, all new SFYS customers who shop at the Yonge Street boutique between now and November 30th will receive 20% off their first bra purchase!  Happy Shopping!

Thanks to Jen Aaron for the gorgeous photos below from the new Yonge Street store.  

“I feel more on a level. I have known about June Kenton for years, I have admired her and have read all the articles she has done.”

Ayton opened her first shop in Consett County, Durham, in 1970. She now also has outlets in Darlington, Sunderland, Ashington, Scarborough, and Thirsk. 62,995 registered customers can access their accounts on the web and reorder bras they have previously purchased; however, if they want a new style they must first come in for a fitting. Ayton insists on this because so many women are wearing the wrong size bra.

MYTH 1 – White underpants are best under summer white pants and skirts.
TRUTH 1 – A nude or beige colour fades under the white pants.

While it seems logical that white under white would be the best choice, the reality is that white is a poor choice as underwear. In fact, when one wears crisp white panties under a stark white skirt or pair of dress pants, the area that displays the underwear is so bright and pronounced, it looks ridiculous. Skin tones, nudes and beige coloured panties are best if you want to divert the attention away from your undergarments.

MYTH 2 – Bras that are uncomfortable in the back are too small.
TRUTH 2 – Bras that are too big can cause discomfort.

While we tend to think that an uncomfortable bra in the back area means that the bra is too small, the opposite is generally the case. When a bra is too big, it causes the front to move around and the cups are therefore not in a supportive position. What happens is the weight of the breasts drag the bra down in the front causing the back to ride up making you think the back is too small. If the back was tightened, it would hold the front in place keeping you comfortable.

MYTH 3 – Any bra will work when exercising.
TRUTH 3 – A properly supportive sports or exercise bra should be used when running, participating in aerobics, and any other activities where there is excessive stress on the body.

Sports bras are made to restrict movement. The actual cause of bra pain when exercising comes from several factors. First, the breasts bouncing up and down will make them tender and sore. Second, as the bra rubs on the skin creating friction, it causes sores, welts and burns that are painful and take some time to heal. Third, regular bras are more flimsy than sports bras. Athletic bras generally have wide straps, good back support and the better designs use materials with wicking properties to keep you dry and prevent chafing.

So what differentiates The Little Bra Company’s bras from any other bras in the same size? Lau says that the cups don’t gap, which is often a problem in smaller sizes. The back cut is smaller, and the cups are closer together than most bras to enhance cleavage. The bras are available in sizes 32A-36B. I have to admit, I’m surprised that the band only goes down to a 32. It seems that a company dedicated to “little bras” would make a point to serve even the daintiest of our readers! If you do fall into the size range, you can find The Little Bra Company’s bras all across the US or on the company website. There are matching panties available for some styles as well (like my favorite, Bijou).

On the high street shoppers mostly buy off the rack with a glance at the sizing label before they head to the check out. Online is really no different except that there is often more sizing information available if the customer wants to read it.

Here at www.ever-so-sexy.com we give comprehensive sizing information to avoid the need to return items. Even so we do still receive a few returns for the reason of wrong size, so we are in the process of reviewing all our sizing information to make it easier for our customers to access and understand.

It is nearly two years since we last reviewed our sizing guides and I was relieved to find that it is still all valid. But I had forgotten just how confusing the different sizing methods can be.

The US and UK use a similar system based on imperial measurements (inches) and US inch and an UK inch is exactly the same but the systems diverge when they get to the bigger cup sizes. Europe has a standard system based on the metric system, except for France who still use metric but different numbers and Italy who do their own 1,2,3 thing and in Australia they base bra sizes on dress sizes. Confused? You would be forgiven for being completely befuddled.

If you then add in the factor that certain styles and manufacturers cut on the small side then you realise just how hit or miss the whole business of lingerie sizing can be.

So what to do?

We in the industry have a responsibility to supply as much information in a clear and understandable way to our customers as is possible. But customers have a responsibility too, which goes beyond reading the information we provide.

We did a poll here at www.ever-so-sexy.com to check just how many of us really know our size. Armed with a tape measure we stalked the office and stores asking our team to tell us their size and then challenged them to a check with the tape measure. 20% of us gave the wrong size information and I wonder just how well our customers know their size.

So customers – get that tape measure out and check. Here’s how to be sure you know your real bra size:

With a tape measure take the measurement of your rib cage just below the bra band. Then add five inches to that measurement to get the band width. For instance if your rib cage measures 29 inches + 5 inches gives you a UK/USA bra size 34 (75 Europe, 90 France, 2 Italy, 12 Australia) If the calculation results in an odd number then round it up by one. Now for the cup size; take the measurement again but this time measure the fullest part of the bust. The difference between this measurement and the band width gives you the bra cup size as follows:
1 inch = cup size A
2 inch = cup size B
3 inch = cup size C
4 inch = cup size D
5 inch = cup size DD (USA E or DD. Italy DD, Australia DD. Europe E)
6 inch = cup size E (USA F or DDD. Italy E. Australia E. Europe F)
7 inch = cup size F (USA G. Australia G)

Starting off with the right size information will definitely avoid disappointment and the need to return a purchase whether it was bought on the high street or online.

Gill Fernandez – Ever So Sexy
A background in finance and sales but a deep desire to do something more feminine brought Gill into the world of lingerie when she decided to form her own company Crysalis Ltd which trades on line under the name www.ever-so-sexy.com and specialises in the glamorous, pretty and down right sexy stuff..

Read all posts by Gill Fernandez right here!

A family run business for over ten years, Jane Mills, the owner, has over twenty years experience in the lingerie industry. In addition to their own handmade lingerie, the company also offers lingerie and swimwear from other name labels that offer odd sizing. Many of the 2008 lingerie and swimwear collections are now available on the EnVie website.

The outstanding feature about this company, that caught my eye, was the fact that they sell hundreds of different laces by the meter for custom made pieces. The customer chooses the lace that she likes and the designers start sewing. This is ideal for matching other pieces or finding the perfect colour to wear under a particular garment.

Customer service seems to be paramount with EnVie as the company offers specialty services such as converting bras that are now too small, cutting patterns to remake a bra that has been discontinued by the manufacturer, offering phone orders, website help and in shop orders as well. Personal one-on-one appointments are also encouraged. Some of the labels carried by EnVie: Panache, Playtex, Anita, Ultimo…