“Most bra-measurement systems don’t take into account breast shape, tissue, and placement on the chest,” says Eve. “So women with small breasts often end up wearing ill fitting bras with cups that are too small and bands that are too big.”

To encourage petite-busted women to find their true size and best matching brands, the “Size Up the Web” campaign features a complimentary online bra fitting just by visiting Eve’s Apples Lingerie!

“Our complimentary online bra fittings work for small-busted women of all body types – tall, short, broad or slim,” says Eve. “Women do their own measurements in the privacy of their home, then we review each submission personally and determine her true bra size based on all of the factors – not just chest circumferance and breast size.”

In the February 2011 issue of Cosmopolitan, Eve offered bra-fitting tips to help women flaunt smaller breasts. However, she recommends going through the online fitting because some shapes are especially challenging.

Customers have already responded well to this campaign.  We hope that many more of you will take advantage of this great opportunity to find your perfect fit!

If you loved this post, why not stay connected with Eve on Twitter and Facebook.  She is currently working on developing a patented bra-fitting system just for small-busted women that can be utilized without the help of a professional.  How exciting!  Stay tuned!

I started this mission the day before the New Year with my friend, Erinn, writer of the amazing and encouraging blog, Counting My Blessings. She had been interested in going for a while and finally we were able to connect when I was visiting D.C.  Away from New York and my go to places, I did a little research on shops in the DC area. I had a few excellent recommendations and decided that Sylene would be the best fit (pun intended) for our mission.

Upon arriving at Sylene, we were greeted by the friendly staff. Both Erinn and I both appreciated that the staff was accessible and helpful, but also gave us room and freedom to peruse on our own. After wandering around a bit, one of the associates started a room for Erinn. She measured her and selected a few basic t-shirt bras for her to try.  Erinn was not only was impressed with the fit of the Simone Perele bra selected for her, but also with the sales associate’s ability to choose appropriate bras based on her feedback on the fit.  Erinn commented that choosing on her own would have been overwhelming so she liked that she could “lounge in a comfortable leopard print bathrobe and be pampered.”

And since friends don’t let friends only wear t-shirt bras, I selected a sexy Fayreform for Erinn to try.  Every woman needs a show stopper!  I insist on every friend buying a “weekend” bra (which, in many cases, joins the daily rotation).  I knew Fayreform would be a great brand blending both fit and fashion and chose the sultry, yet sweet,  Conceptual, for Erinn to try on. (I’m over the moon for eyelash lace so it wasn’t a difficult choice!).  Success!  Erinn added it to her purchases.  Friends also don’t let friends machine wash their bras so I made sure Erinn had some Forever New wash (Sylene’s preferred brand) to take home with her.

In speaking with Erinn about this experience, she thoroughly enjoyed it.  She commented, “I have the hardest time trying to find bras that fit…I can’t shop at department stores or stores like Victoria’s Secret because they don’t have my size.” As someone who also started shopping specialty stores for the same reason, I can relate.  Having a positive experience where you feel like your size is valued is awesome and can only add to the confidence you feel.

I asked Erinn how these new bras would impact her new year.  She remarked, “I am really hoping these bras give me new confidence…I’m hoping they will make me more comfortable in my own skin and in my own clothes.  That’s the biggest thing.  I’m hoping they help me get comfortable in my own clothes.” This brings up a good point.  The better your bras fit, the better your clothes will fit, and the more confident you will feel.  So, invest in you!  As Erinn stated, “When you have assets as large as mine, you just have to spend the money to make it work.” Remember, you don’t have to spend a fortune, but think about the quality and value of the bras you are buying versus the money.  If you are like me and will drop money on jeans and shoes and nice dinners out, you can do the same for your foundations.

Happy New Year!  Resolve to buy yourself some new fabulous, well-fitting bras today!

After trying on the three bras she selected with her clothes, Erinn decided that 2 of the 3 didn’t work.  She is planning on returning to Sylene to exchange them for the Simone Perele one she adored!  I hope that in the exchange she ends up with at least one “weekend” bra!

According to an online survey conducted by Barely There of more than 5,800 women, bras were ranked as the most difficult item to buy based on sizing, and 65 percent of women reported having difficulty finding their bra size when shopping. Barely There takes a bold approach by simplifying the system to just five easy to find sizes

“This new system will certainly simplify the lives and lingerie drawers of women everywhere,” says Tricia Bouras, director of marketing, Barely There. “With the ‘shape to fit’ technology of Smart Sizes, women can easily and quickly find the bra that fits, flatters and supports.”

Wanda Urbanska, a nationally known expert on simplicity and the author of the new book The Heart of Simple Living: 7 Paths to a Better Life, thinks American consumers are burdened by what she terms “over choice.” “In general we have so many options when shopping that it can be overwhelming,” says Urbanska. “Women often spend hours searching for a perfectly fitting bra. By simplifying the bra shopping process, Barely There makes it easier and less time consuming. What’s more valuable in life than time?”

Women across the country can participate in Barely There’s “Smart Sizes Revolution” through the brand’s Web site, www.barelythere.com, a clever viral video series that can be seen on Facebook and YouTube, and the national Barely There Smart Sizes Tour visiting more than 150 retail locations nationwide. Go to the Barely There Facebook page to find out when and where the tour will be coming to a store in your area.

Barely There has introduced Smart Sizes in its new CustomFlex Fit Collection launching at department stores in June. The collection will feature seven styles including underwire, wirefree and a new Bandini silhouette in a wide range of colors.  The Barely There Bandini comes packaged 2 for $24, the unlined bra styles retail for $24 and the foam bra styles sell for $30.

The new collection offers five sizes (XS-XL) but still covers the complete range of alpha numeric sizes from 32A to 42C known to women today. The sizing innovation comes from the fit flexibility of Smart Sizes that provides two traditional band sizes and two traditional cup sizes in one Smart Size.

According to Bouras, the design ingenuity behind Smart Sizes has been in the works for several years, with numerous patented technologies and processes for creating the “shape to fit” innovation.

“At the core of Smart Sizes are flexible frames that allow the bras to mold themselves to the shapes of the wearers,” says Bouras. “These frames are designed for wirefree bras as well as more complex underwire styles. With the flexible fit properties of Smart Sizes, women can find a bra that literally forms to their individual shape, providing a custom fit that also helps with unique challenges such as women who are between sizes or those who have unevenly sized breasts.”

And clearly confusion exists when it comes to wearing the correct size bra. According to the same online survey, half of the respondents report wearing 2 or more bra sizes on a regular basis, 72 percent of the women have at least 2 different bra sizes in their drawer, and 30 percent have 3 or more sizes. Nearly half (47 percent) reported frequently buying a bra to discover later it did not fit.

It’s not that Victoria’s Secret is the only place that I don’t trust (believe me there are plenty of places that don’t know their way around a measuring tape), but it’s the place that most people go to anyway. Even some of my closest friends laugh it off when I urge them not to get fitted at VS. So, to prove that I’m not making this up, I went to Victoria’s Secret to get fitted. Keep in mind while reading this: I’m a 30H (US).

Store #1

I wore a 36D bra to this VS, which was in a shopping mall. It was horribly uncomfortable, but I didn’t want them to catch a glimpse of my real bra’s size tag and catch me. As I walked in, I passed a poster claiming that VS is the “Best at Bras.” I asked a sales girl to measure me, so in the middle of the Pink display she asked me to raise my arms. She measured me over my camisole and my cardigan. She measured above my chest and around the fullest part of my bust, but not around my ribcage. She announced that I “could be a 34DD, but it might be too snug.” I told her that I was wearing a 36D, and she said that looked about right. Later, when I  headed to the fitting rooms to try on a chemise, I saw that the fitting rooms had professional-looking cards in them that that, presumably, your fitter would fill out for you with your bra size and best styles. I wonder why I wasn’t brought back to the fitting rooms for my sizing? Not that it would have made a difference though, it seems.

Store #2

At the first store they never asked me to take my shirt off, so I risked it and wore my regular size bra when I went to the second store. I asked a sales girl to measure me, and she took me back to the fitting rooms. We stood near the fitting rooms, but not in one. She measured me over my seersucker shirt – above my chest, around the fullest part, and around my ribcage. She told me that I should wear “a 34 or 36 D or DD.” She asked what size I usually wear now – I fibbed a little and told her that I really wasn’t sure, and my drawers were full of all different sizes and that that’s why I was there. She told me that you can’t always go by measurements because they’re not always exactly right (true), and that I should just go with whatever size feels right to me. I wasn’t offered an explanation of what “right” is supposed to feel like, or told what my measurements actually were.

More fittings to come

After visiting these two stores, I’ve not yet been told my correct size, or even told that VS doesn’t have any bras that will fit me. I didn’t even really get a straight answer out of the fitters at either store. I’m going to keep sneaking into Victoria’s Secrets and getting sized – I’ll report back after I visit a few more stores!

Have any of you had similar experiences?

P.S. While I didn’t originally plan to visit Frederick’s of Hollywood, I passed it on the way to Store #1 and decided to stop in. When I asked to be fitted, the sales girl re-read the bra fitting instructions by the cash register. She measured me and told me I was a 32 band. She asked if the bra I was wearing was super padded (“no”) and if the band was snug (“no”). Then she told me that whatever size I was wearing (she didn’t ask what it was) was probably correct.

I haven’t seen these in person or heard from anyone who wears them, and to be honest I’m wary of the quality because they are so inexpensive. But at about $5 a side, it looks to be worth a try if you are struggling to find the perfect bra fit. Visit PickYourPerfectPairBras.com for a store locator. You can also purchase them on Amazon, but it looks like Amazon only has Exactly cup sizes and no Just About sizes.

Have you tried these?

1. Do you have impressive cleavage? Unless you are wearing a bra style specifically made for creating cleavage (like a push-up or plunge bra), your breasts really shouldn’t be shoved together. This is a common mistake because so many lingerie models themselves are actually wearing bras that do this, so it’s hard for the average consumer to know that it’s wrong! The underwire and center gore of your bra should sit against your breastbone, separating your breasts. If it doesn’t, your cups are likely too small. Cleavage is great, just make sure you get it the right way – with a well-fitting bra in style made for this effect.
2. Have your straps fallen down today? Something is wrong. There is a chance that the solution is as simple as tightening your straps, but if this is a common problem for you, it is more likely that your band is too big. When your band isn’t tight enough, it can ride up your back, decreasing strap tension and resulting in the annoying and embarrassing strap fall. Try a bra with a smaller band size and see if that helps (and remember, for every band size you go down you must go up a cup letter to maintain the same cup fit).
3. Does your bra create unflattering back fat? Your band probably doesn’t fit. When a band fits correctly (i.e. when it fits snugly and remains parallel to the floor throughout the day), back fat greatly diminishes. Excess bulges can be caused by a band that is too tight or too loose. A good bra fitter can help you determine which problem you have.
4. Is your underwire poking you? The cup is probably the wrong size. An underwire will poke your breast tissue if the cup is too small, and will poke your underarm if the cup is too large. It is also a possibility that this cup simply isn’t the right shape for you – try different styles and brands.
5. Are your breasts falling out the bottom of your cups? Your band is too big.
6. Are you suffering from a double-boob effect? Your cups are probably too small.
7. Do your cups wrinkle? Your cups are probably too big.
8. Are you just plain uncomfortable? Are you counting the minutes until you can take your bra off? A well-fitting bra is not uncomfortable. Your breasts are supported and nothing pinches, pokes, or rubs. If you fling your bra off the moment you get home, it doesn’t fit. If you can’t determine the problem from the examples above, a qualified bra fitter can help you. Stay away from mall chains and be sure to visit a good boutique or reputable store with a wide range of sizes and certified bra fitters.

Bra-Fitter iPhone app

Learn more about this app and find purchasing information on the Bra-Fitter website. I don’t have an iPhone so I haven’t had a chance to play with this yet myself – do any of you have it? Is it helpful?

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).