Shock Absorber has 2 ranges of sports bras – the classic, Core range and the newly introduced sport-specific range designed to meet the unique support needs for Run, Ball, and Racket.  What I love about all of the bras produced by this UK brand is that they are each crafted as a result of scientific and technological research.  On the website, you can view ‘The Bounceometer’ which shows the results of exercise on the breasts with no bra, a normal bra, and the Shock Absorber bra in sizes A – G.  Results of the study showed that wearing a Shock Absorber sports bra reduces bounce by as much as 74%!  Knowing the struggles that I (and many of my female friends) have had with finding supportive sports bras, I was up for the challenge!

In my recent race, I tested out the Max Sports Bra Top (see photo).  Like the other Shock Absorber bras, this one featured breathable, moisture-wicking fabric that kept me cool for 10 miles.  The support was amazing!  I was impressed at how the internal shaping reduced bouncing without the addition of wires.  If it wasn’t for my legs and knees being ready to give out, I could have easily ran 10 more miles!  I loved the Max Sports Bra Top and look forward to trying out the Run bra next.  With features like a soft, seamless inner to reduce friction, ’Infinity-8′ design, and a soft, non rub hook and eye, it is definitely worth investigating.

I’m not really into the ball or racket sports, but for those of you ladies who are, I’d love to hear your feedback on the Ball and Racket bras.  The Ball bra is designed with ‘Arc-Control’, front adjustability, and an extra wide chest band to provide bounce control for high frequency sports like volleyball and basketball while the Racket bra is designed with ‘Dynamic-M’, front adjustability, and the innovative back strap glide device for freedom of arm movement.  Definitely worth investigating if you need that kind of focused support!

The complete collection can be viewed at the Shock Absorber website.  Check it out and find the fit that’s just right for you.  Gone are days of taping your breasts or wearing 2 non-supportive sports bras.  Invest in a Shock Absorber!  Retailing from $45-$68, it is definitely worth every penny.  Shock Absorber is found at some brick-and-mortar stores, but if you are like me and require a fuller cup, it is worth purchasing online.  Unfortunately, most department stores in the U.S. (and even specialty athletic stores) don’t carry sports bras past DD.  Try Bare Necessities or BoobyDoo.  For additional stores, check the Store Locator.

Happy running, balling, tennising, yogaing, aerobicizing, and more!

As we mentioned before, the Shibue Strapless Panty could be the solution to a problem we all know. However small your g-string or thong might be, there’s always that one dress that shows the slightest panty line, and we all hate it. The Strapless Panty has the same shape as a tanga, but is kept in place by a small silicone strip on both the front and the back.

After opening the packaging, the first thing that positively surprises me is the fabric. Even though it’s extremely small and looks a little silly, it actually feels (and fits) great. Score one for the Strapless Panty. My second worry was an even bigger one: will it stick? Before putting on my skirt I ran across the apartment, jumped up and down – trying to eliminate the risk of having an embarrassing scene getting out of the car, or walking up stairs… It’s a trust-issue, and I was very, very worried; but the first test a success. The next step: making sure I can get this off. With my eyes pressed together, ready for the hit, I pull the Strapless Panty off: painless! Score again!

My big test was a lingerie runway I was walking that evening – testing the Shibue Strapless Panty as a “under-under-garment”, so to speak. Some of the back-stage assistants gave me a strange look at first, but the little wonder survived my first walk, and my second, and then my third and fourth seamlessly. This is a true must-have for models, if you ask me!

Now, Shibue claims this one is washable and thus reusable. I have yet to try the washing and re-wearing bit, but I promise to keep you all up to date through the comments section of this post. For now, I can only say I’m extremely impressed by an item I’d probably be too scared to buy in the real world – mostly due to mental images of everything that could go wrong. I can guarantee though, it’ll stay on, and yet it’ll come off easy.

A great product, I’m a fan!

Steffi Vertriest – By Felicity
Popular Belgian fashion blogger Steffi is also the beautiful girlfriend of TLP’s Editor Bert. She runs a much-followed fashion blog at Felicity Fashion and is an occasional model for stores and labels in Belgium.

Read all posts by Steffi right here!

The pieces up for review are the “Nylon Spandex Micro-Mesh Triangle Cross-Back Bra,” the matching “Low Slung Panty” (both in fluorescent pink), and the “Screen Print Baby Rib Thong.” I’ve rated each piece on a scale of 1 to 10, taking in consideration each garment’s overall look, comfort, fit, and price. See the results below!

Nylon Spandex Micro-Mesh Triangle Cross-Back Bra:

Overall Look: 10/10. One of the great things about American Apparel is that each silhouette (whether it be intimates or regular apparel) is generally available in a wide variety of colors, giving it the ability to appeal to many customers. This bra also comes in black, white, nude, scarlet, sunshine/white, pop purple, magic pink, navy and royal blue. Plus, the new sexy mesh lets the nipples peek through, which I’m sure won’t generate any complaints from the boys.

Comfort: 7/10. Even though this bra is made of a nylon spandex micro-mesh blend, it feels like cotton on the skin. It’s virtually weightless and you can barely feel it when it’s on, which is always a quality I look for when shopping for bras. However, if you move around too much (and haven’t purchased the right size) a breast might pop right out, and since you barely feel the bra to begin with, you will not feel when this happens!

Fit: 7/10. If I were to follow the size chart provided on AA’s Web site, I would have purchased this bra in a medium, which I actually did do about a year ago when I bought the “Cotton Spandex Jersey Cross-Back Bra” version, but that was the incorrect fit.  AA sent me the small this time around, and even that, I would say, is a bit too big, which is unfortunate because the bra only comes in sizes S, M and L. If AA incorporated adjustable straps into the design, this problem would vanish and there would be more support.

Price: 10/10. Using the handy dandy cost-per-wear equation (item price divided by times worn equals the cost per wear) I decided that at only $14, this triangle bra is a super value. It is practical and comfortable enough to wear at least twice a week and it will last you at least a year, making the cost per wear as little as $0.14!

Overall score: 8.5/10

Nylon Spandex Micro-Mesh Low Slung Panty:

Overall Look: 10/10. This panty has the same appearance qualities as its matching bra: it’s sexy, sheer and available in the same 10 colors.

Comfort: 10/10. These panties manage to be far more comfortable than its matching countertop. The elastic waistband doesn’t dig into the body, which as always is a very positive attribute!

Fit: 10/10. I also wouldn’t follow the size chart AA provides on their Web site for this one — definitely aim for one size smaller. Seriously, I have a, let’s say um, plump butt (I’m Brazilian so there was no way around it!) and would normally buy a medium to get close to full-coverage, but AA sent me the small and it fit perfectly.

Price: 10/10. At only $11, if you wear these babies once every two weeks for a year, the cost per wear is merely $0.42!

Overall score: 10/10

Screen Print Baby Rib Thong:

Overall Look: 10/10. AA sent me a thong in lemon bearing the limited edition “Okay USA” print, and even though I don’t usually like written words on my lingerie, I think this piece is meant to be fun and a reflection of the company’s manufacturing standards, so I like it. Thumbs up. It also comes in nude, brown, orange, pink and lime.

Comfort: 10/10. Let me just start out by saying that I don’t particularly like to wear thongs. Maybe it’s a misconception, but I normally can’t see them as being comfortable undergarments. Perhaps it was the ultra-slim waistband that didn’t dig in to my body, or the fact that it’s 100 percent cotton, but whatever it was, something made me have a change of heart about thongs. In other words, it was super comfortable!

Fit: 8/10. Once again, aim smaller. AA sent me the size 0 and it fit — I normally fit anywhere between a size 3 and 7 in pants (US sizes), and always overlook any size “nothings.”

Price: 6/10. I found this piece a bit expensive at $17. If you were to wear it once a month for a year, the cost per wear would be $1.41, which, yes, is really inexpensive, but like I said I’m not a huge fan of thongs!

Overall score: 8.5/10

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Anything I didn’t cover? Let me know if you have any questions and I’ll do my best to answer them!

If you are a designer, a retailer, a label or an importer and you would like us to review a piece from your collection: let us know by sending us an e-mail at info@the-lingerie-post.com, or if you choose to contact me directly, you may do so at bruna@the-lingerie-post.com.

Photos: American Apparel

Glenna Camisole by Carissa Rose

Carissa Rose sizes aren’t like normal sizes – they take your waist and bust measurement into account. The main sizes (small, medium, large, and extra large) all come in two variations – for example, there is a MW (medium well endowed) and a MR (medium really endowed). There are instructions on the size chart in case you’re unsure of how to take your measurements. As soon as you receive your camisole you can tell that it isn’t like other tops – there is room for your boobs! It’s also designed to show off your waist, so it nips in at just the right spot and then flares out a bit so it’s not too fitted on your stomach. True to the name, the straps on this camisole are wider than those on most tanks. I can wear any of my regular bras with it and I didn’t have to bother with strapless or convertible styles. The neckline is higher than most other camisoles, and paired with the wide straps that means this is a modest option which is fine layered under other tops (like any other camisole) or on its own. I wore mine under a shrug because it’s getting cold where I live, but I’m sure I’ll wear this on its own when the weather warms back up again! The material is a gorgeous, silky chocolate brown (the camisole is also available in black.)

Carissa Rose is by the same designer as Bratique Helene. The brand is in the middle of a transition to the new name, so the web address (CarissaRose.com) currently redirects to the Bratique Helene website. The official Carissa Rose website will launch at the beginning of the new year. If you are interested in ordering your own Glenna Wide Strap Camisole, or seeing any more of the Holiday ’09 collection from Carissa Rose, visit the label’s blog at this link for contact information. The Glenna Wide Strap Camisole will also be available on the website early next year.

My favorite part of the tights is the waistband. In true Commando form, the wide, laser-cut waistband lies flat against your body leaving no lines under your most snugly fitting dresses eliminating those unsightly bulges that typical, elastic band tights leave. The tights themselves are soft, smooth, and sleek.  To add a little pizzazz, the waistbands of the black and brown tights are not only available in solids, but in paisley as well.  My wish is that the hosiery will be so successful that they branch out into patterns, textures, and more.

Retailing at $34 (and worth every penny!), Commando hosiery is available online at Bare Necessities and on the Her Look website.

When I put the bra on, I noticed right away that it is very comfortable – there are no itchy seams or pinchy bits. There are tags on the band, but they are long and silky, so I didn’t even don’t even notice them. I actually was thinking that the bra was tagless until I specifically checked! I was very pleasantly surprised to see that that the Bendon Sport bra gave a very natural and seamless silhouette. It shaped my chest more like an everyday T-shirt bra than than a lumpy, unattractive sports bra. I know that the gym isn’t a fashion runway, but it was still nice to know that my assets looked their best! I went to the gym with my boyfriend that day, and even he commented on the difference and improvement my new bra made in my appearance. The fabric was light and quite breathable, so I was comfortable throughout my workout. Another happy surprise was when I found that the straps are convertible, so I had the option to wear them normally or to crisscross them – perfect for wearing underneath racerback workout tanks! It actually wouldn’t be so bad if the straps were to poke out a bit, however, as they are relatively slim (compared to some other fuller-figure sports bras) even though they were comfortably cushioned.

The only disappointing thing about the bra is that it doesn’t come in my size. I wear a 30 band, but Bendon Sport’s size range begins at 32. I was optimistic when the bra came in a size 32, and wore it on the tightest hooks. But the Extreme Out bra seems to run true to size, and was just too big for me. I was comfortable in my yoga and Pilates classes, but an incorrect bra size is very apparent when you want to run on the treadmill! You guys know that I’m very particular about wearing well-fitting bras, so I will sadly have to retire mine. Don’t let that deter you, though – if you are within the size range of the Bendon Sport bras, I think they will work wonderfully for you. The sports bra is very high-quality, and has a sturdy three-row, three-column band to anchor firmly to you. I was also glad to see that the cups had comfortable foam-covered underwires for extra support, and busty ladies know how critical support is!

To get your own, you should act fast! Between now and Tuesday, February 24, Freshpair is offering 10% off all Bendon Sport items. Use the coupon code FPBENDON at the checkout. As always, if you have any more questions about this product, just leave a comment or make a post in our forums and I’ll be glad to help!

When the Evlove e-mail newsletter declared, “You’ll want to sleep in them, lounge in them, run errands in them…you’ll want to live in them,” I will admit that I was a bit skeptical. Truth be told, I’m usually hanging around my house at night without any pants at all, for comfort’s sake. I don’t own much loungewear because I thought that nothing could possibly be more comfortable than wearing nothing at all. But I was dead wrong.

I knew I needed some loungewear for the cool autumn nights ahead, and I was excited by Evlove’s unique custom-design process. After some thought, I decided to go with ivory modal accented by rich blue lace waistband and trim. Within just a couple weeks, my handmade creation arrived (gorgeously wrapped, I might add). The first moment I tried my lounge pants on, all I could think was, “WOW.” Like I said, I was pretty convinced that walking around without anything on was the most comfortable way to lounge, but I was proven wrong within seconds of slipping into Evlove’s buttery soft and sumptuous creation. That feeling hasn’t worn off, either – I’ve been home sick for the past few days, and it is not an exaggeration to say that I have been wearing my pretty creation day in and day out. I love, love, love them. And apparently, I’m not the only one. Here are some comments from other Evlove customers:

They are the most luxurious items of clothing I own. They are so comfortable – I feel like I could stay in them all day! They fit great and feel great.
~ Janet N.

My new lounge pants put all others to shame. I don’t want to wear anything else. They are so soft, have no uncomfortable elastic or annoying drawstring. I’m tall and they are the first pair I’ve had that don’t hang at my ankles. Yea! I want them in every color.
~ Ashley C.

When I review products for The Lingerie Post, I always try to be brutally honest and admit to the things that I don’t like about a product (otherwise, what’s the point of reviewing it?). But I cannot think of a single thing that I don’t love about these!

I chose the regular length for my pair, but they are also available in a cropped style. For especially tall or petite women, custom inseams are available. This style is so new that you can’t even find it in the design studio yet, so click here to reach the exclusive lounge pants design page. You can also purchase pre-designed styles if you don’t want to design your own. While you’re at it, you can create a bralet or cami to coordinate with your new lounge pants.

If you have any questions about my fabulous new pants, leave a comment or visit the forums and I’ll be happy to discuss!

Surprisingly, I am delighted to report that they work! At the recommendation of Bring It Up, I tried the Plus Size breast lifts since I have more to, ahem, lift up. The product does just what it’s supposed to – it supported me from the top, which is a unique but effective design. I was concerned that this uncommon top-support wouldn’t be very secure, but my boobs didn’t move nearly as much as I thought they would. It was difficult to get used to the feeling, but after a couple minutes I was comfortable and impressed. I wore the transparent Bring It Up Breast Lifts for hours that night without a problem. The only thing I was less than thrilled about was that there is no nipple coverage, so I still had “headlights” sometimes. Although I didn’t try it, I’m sure that problem could be remedied by wearing separate nipple covers. I just think it would look a bit odd! Bring It Up’s Breast Lifts can’t replace your bra for everyday, but they are a great for a night out and can even be worn with a strapless bra for a little extra support on special occasions!

If you want to see the Bring It Up Breast Lifts in action, you can see a video on the website.

Mandolina tested these too and will be reporting on them soon!

I was surprised when the sizing chart put me squarely in a size larger than I usually wear. I went ahead and asked for the recommended size, but they did seem to run pretty large and I should have sized down. So if you’re in doubt or on the edge of sizes, try ordering a size smaller than chart recommends. When I first took them out of the package, I was concerned that the elastic was too easily seen though the lace and would ruin the look. As soon as I put them, however, on the elastic was invisible so I looked great! It worked, too – they didn’t slip or slide down all night. One thigh-high in each pair has a small pocket in the scalloped lace to hold personal items. It is the perfect size for my credit card and a key, so I can go out for a short night without carrying a purse full of things I don’t really need.

I appreciated that the heel and toe were not reinforced, and they were soft and comfortable to wear. You can get a pair for yourself in black, white, or nude for about $15 from the Secret Xentials website, Oh Cheri! (with free shipping), or some boutiques.

Love Jones is a perfect fit inside the Hard Rock with its rocker chic atmosphere. The walls are painted a bright orange with hot pink clubs, spades, diamonds, and hearts adorning them. As you look above, sexy crossed legs peek from ceiling wearing fun (and sometimes racy) tights in spider, floral, or fishnet prints. Exciting and enticing, Love Jones enthralled us all!

I’m sure you are curious to the offerings and the purchases at Love Jones. Please understand that I am under Bachelorette Party Oath to protect the names of the innocent (and not-so-innocent). All names provided are aliases!

Honey is a wife and mother of 1. While she loves motherhood, it has stifled the flavor in her lingerie drawer a bit, so she was looking for a little something to spice it up! Still wanting to be practical, we instantly decided that Honeydew was the perfect choice. With a feminine cut and a flirty, lacy edge, Honey knew she would be able to balance her need for comfort with her desire for sexiness. She chose the solid black and white mesh boyshort as well as and the leopard Rumba Panty with ruffles. The verdict – Honey tested, husband approved. She confirmed that they were comfortable, yet sexy.

Vixen is a busy college student. She was looking for something fun and comfortable to fit in with her hectic life. I introduced her to both Hanky Panky and Honeydew. She was very excited about finding the Honeydew Mesh Boyshorts in her favorite leopard pattern. She chose the ones with red lace!

Hennessy, a not-so-newlywed, who is always willing to try something new, was the daring lady who purchased red fishnets and Silver Sequin bloomers by Leg Avenue. This lovely lady is not just sassy, but also very sweet. For her sweet side, she purchased Honeydew Mesh Boyshorts in Leopard, like Vixen, and a beautiful, silky “Kiss Me” eye mask by Mary Green.

Peaches, the bride-to-be, chose the signature Love Jones thong to go with the theme of the outing. She also chose the above mentioned Silver Sequin bloomers by Leg Avenue. What goes with those? None other than Nippies by Bristols6, previously mentioned on TLP. The verdict – still out. She is still honeymooning!

Since I didn’t win big at the slots, I satisfied my lingerie fix by helping others choose new special somethings. There’s always the next time with the next bride-to-be!

*All of the above listed items are available at the Love Jones lingerie shop at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas and at local department stores and boutiques near you. Special thanks to Elizabeth at Love Jones for all her help and to the lovely ladies who so eagerly took my suggestions!