Hello lingerieaddict, lovers... its been months we have posted our usual bits and tips on #lingerie, apologies on the laxity, so much to catch up on social media. Cheers to the New Year, we hope it will be fashionably sexy.
How and When to Kiss a Dead Bra goodbye#stopwearingdeadbras.
--If your Bra band rides up after wearing on the tightest clasp. Rather than your band laying flat horizontally at the back, it forms an arc.
--When the elastic is overly streched out that it does not bounce back.
--The cups(molded) are saggy and has no shape anymore.
--If the Bra is discolored or brownish.The stitches
--The stitches are ripped or have holes in them.
--When the underwire is broken or poking your skin.
--The hooks are rusty, peeled or damaged.
--If your Bust is drooping, your Bra is no longer doing its job.
--If you start to feel uncomfortable with the band or cuppish mold.
That is the time to give that favourite Bra or your go to Bra a befittig burial *lol*. #StopWearinDeadBras.
The "STRAPLESS" Bra
Problematic outifts #1 Strapless
Lets begin this series of posts with one of the most important pieces in your lingerie wardrobe: The strapless bra. There are certain things you have to look for in a good strapless. You MUST try on strapless bras and find one that works best for your shape and the outfit you are wearing it with. Considering the height of the cup, the fabric used and the width of the back. This is just a guide, as it truly depends on the shape of your own bust to determine the correct cut to go for.
Things to consider when purchasing a strapless bra
#1 What size are you?
It's important to consider shapes when it comes to being a different cup size. If you are around an A to a small D then you can opt for something with a normal bra width back. But if you are a fuller cup or need more support you must look out for a nice wide back. Something with 3 hooks rather than 2 will be better going into a full D cup and above. The effect becomes almost like wearing a bustier. Giving a longer line through the side and offering a more sturdy base for support.
If you are fuller and or softer in the bust, then you want a style that comes up and over in the cup not sitting too low as you will find you jiggle and move too much without the straps, then you have risk of popping out. Make sure you do a jumping test to make sure it stays put.
If you are more petite and want a boost, then you can opt for a padded style. But make sure it closes in fully on the top section of your bust, as with extra inserts you often find it pushing the bra cup forward creating an unsightly line once you pop a dress on over it. Even a moulded cup strapless will give you a nice full profile without needing the extra padding.
#2 What colour/fabric outfit are you wearing it with?
The staple piece everyone should have is a skin coloured strapless bra. Something as close to your skin tone as possible. It can be worn under most of your garments however do not wear this under a dark colour fabric as #1 the colour may rub off onto the bra and can be hard to clean #2 it often shows up under flash photography. And there is nothing worse than looking through all your photos the next day and realising you cannot post any of them onto Facebook as you can see the whole outline of your basic beige bra. So if you are wearing a dark stretch fabric, like say a jersey, then you must wear a dark strapless bra. Rigid fabrics like a silk are more forgiving, it tends to be the stretch ones that will become a little sheer once pulled tight on the bust.
#3 What shape is the outfit?
You have to consider the shape of the outfit you are wearing with your strapless. If it dips low in the front, on the sides, is v shaped in the back... These are all things you can adjust slightly with the right strapless. You must have one with silicone strips sewn into the band so it doesn't slip around the body and you can position your back straps a little lower than you normally would. If you have a dress that sits extremely low in the back or exposes quite a lot on the sides then a silicone or stick on bra might be a better option. I don't love these items but sometimes they are the only things that will work. I don't think they give a lot of support but it will at least give you the coverage if a normal strapless will show through under your dress. I will talk more about these in another post (backless).
Issues that arise from strapless bras
#1 Not enough cleavage
Unfortunately a bra without straps isn't going to give as much lift as a bra with straps. So don't go in thinking it will give the exact cleavage look as your best push up bra. The shape is usually more like a balconette which is gives an upward lift but not pushing you in towards the center as much. It can still create a nice full look, so make sure you try your dress over it to see. You can find strapless bras that dip lower in the middle but just make sure the sides and section over the nipple does sit high enough to still cup your bust enough to center it.
#2 Back Fat
People usually wear their strapless bras tighter than a normal bra just to feel more supported. Unfortunately if you wear it too tight you may see some back fat. Even on the smallest of frames, it happens. So if you are wearing a very fine fabric over the top make sure your strapless isn't done up too tight creating back or side ridges. If it has silicone on the band, it will stay put. The only rule is don't wear mouisturiser and opt for a better quality bra with better quality silicone to help it not slip.
#3 Bra showing through in sections
Make sure you take your outfit down with you when trying on strapless bras. One trick if your bra peeks through where it shouldn't is double sided tape. Pop it onto the top section of your bra and press your outfit down onto it to keep it from not showing through. Under certain outfits you may need a lower side, more plunge cut, minimal back option. So think carefully about what exactly you need and the line you need to follow.
Quick guide and recap...
Basic Strapless
A basic strapless is a moulded bra designed to just cup the bust naturally giving a slight upward lift. Creating a nice rounded silhouette under an outfit. This is the most practical and common style strapless bra around. It is usually wider in the middle and sits like a balconette shape, almost straight across the bust.
Push up Strapless
The push up strapless works best for a more petite bust. Make sure that the garment closes in completely in the top section or you will get an unsightly line once you wear your dress over it. This style will boost you up a little but remember, without the straps, you wont get the exact same push up effect as your normal boosting bra. Look for extra inserts in the bottom/side section of the bra for a push "in" effect.
Full Strapless
The fuller style strapless is the most comfortable style to wear and is best for a fuller bust. Something that cups the bust completely and has a nice wide back for support and minimal movement. Just be careful how low your dress sits as to not have your bra show through.
Low plunge strapless/torsolette
The low LOW plunge strapless may work with certain low cut outfits, however the main concern is the not so smooth lines this style tends to create under a finer fabric. The shape to the cup often creates a line through the middle of the bust as well as the wide under bust shape sometimes making unsightly bulges if it cuts into the meatier portion of the body. Better with heavier fabrics and low front and back garments.
Strapless Corset
Often women come to me in search of a strapless corset thinking they can kill two birds with one stone. Supportive and control... Unfortunately this isn't normally the case. Yes a longer line can sometimes create a more supported feel but often the structure make this harder to wear under your garments. Boning in a corset can show through under your finer fabrics again creating a more obvious line. Better reserved for heavy fabric or loser fitting garments. There are smoothline options, like the corset above, however it isn't designed to give the tuck that women think it will. The corset can sometimes create unsightly bulges on the hip where the corset ends when worn tightly. Best reserved for garments that flare from where the corset ends not outfts fitted all the way through.
Strapless Bodysuit
If you are wanting to go for a smoother line throughout, maybe try a strapless bodysuit. These garments dont usually have boning unless in the side section but can still smooth things out. Just be careful of the panty line in the back and that the length is correct for you as sometimes on a longer torso they may pull down and on a shorter torso bunch up... You must look for a firmer fabric and something that does fit nice and tight on the underbust or you will be forever pulling it up, as these garments often don't have bra hooks to tighten in the back if it stretches. Look out for a wide elastic through the back section for support like a normal bra. These garments don't give the best boosting effect and just cup the bust but are good for a smoother overall line through the torso.
Bra designs and its Functionality
It is important to know the types of bras available so that you can pick the right one for the right time so as to protect the general health of your breasts.
- Adhesive Bra
- Bandeau Bra
- Belly Dance Bra
- Bridal Bra/Corset
- Built-in Bra
- Convertible Bra
- Demi Bra
- Front Closure Bra
- Full Support Bra
- Mastectomy Bra
- Male Bra
- Maternity Bra
- Minimizer Bra
- Novelty Bra
- Nursing Bra
- Padded Bra
- Peephole Bras
- Push-up Bra
- Racerback Bra
- Shelf Bra
- Softcup Bra
- Sport Bra
- Strapless Bra
- T-shirt Bra
- Trainer Bra
- U-plunge Bra
- Underwire Bra
- Vintage Bra
- Water Bra
A bra which adheres to the breasts. It has no straps or bands of any sort and provide little support to the breasts. This type of bra is intended for backless and strapless fashions. There are two types. There is the disposable paper ones that use a strong adhesive and the reusable ones that use silicone that can be washed and reused.
A simple band of cloth worn across the breasts, providing little support or shaping.
It is commonly assumed that a belly dancing bra size is the same as normal bra size. This is not necessarily so. For instance if you normally use a size 32C you may well find that a 34B will fit quite comfortably with a few minor adjustments to latch settings since most belly dancing bras are designed to cover very well.
A bridal bra/corset mold and shape the upper body into a desired shape to fit the wedding dress. In addition to that, it promotes good posture and can be more comfortable as the weight of the breasts is carried by the whole corset rather than the brassiere’s shoulder straps.
Supportive brassiere-like structures on the inside of another garment, such as a swimsuit or tank top, which provide support for the bust without the need for a separate bra. In most such garments, these built-ins consist of a horizontal elastic strip, although some do have cups and underwires as with other bra types. In some cases these may easily be removed, if desired.
It has straps which may be detached and rearranged in different ways depending on the outfit. Alternatives to regular straps for strapless bras are beaded bra straps or clear plastic bra straps that provide support and style.
A half-cup bra style with wide-set straps and a horizontal bust line. Often seamed or boned, they give great cleavage and a frame-like effect. These offer less support, but enable low cut garments to be worn without the bra being seen. Demi bras may be designed to provide lift as do push-up bras.
Bras that have closures, usually hooks and eyes, on the front rather than at the back. These bras lie completely flat at the back under clothing. Some feature a racerback style back which is great for wear with tank tops and for lending a no-slip effect to the straps.
A type of bra designed to offer good support for the whole of the breasts and, as such, are a typical, practical bra for everyday wear.
Designed so that a prosthesis may be held in place and are intended for individuals who have lost one or both breasts in mastectomy treatment for breast cancer.
Bras worn by men with Gynecomastia, usually to flatten and conceal rather than lift and support.
Designed such that they can be expanded to adjust as the breasts increase in size over the course of a pregnancy.
Designed to play down the bust, in particular for women with cups of 34C and above. Minimizers, by compressing and shaping the breasts, help to create the illusion of being a cup size or two smaller, and are often more comfortable.
Designed more for show and sensuality than for function. They may include unusual materials, such as leather, coconuts or be unusual in design.
Designed to help make breastfeeding simpler by allowing the baby easy access to the nipple. Traditionally, the cups of nursing bras are covered with flaps of fabric that can be unclasped at the top and pulled down to expose the breast.
Bras with padding inside the lining. They are designed to provide a fuller shape for small breasts and are an alternative to bra stuffing, a practice among teenage girls in which ‘falsies’ like tissues, sugar packets, cotton balls, or socks are placed inside a bra to simulate larger breasts. Unlike push-up bras, however, most padded bras support the breasts but do not significantly lift them.
The type of bra that has cups loosely covering the breasts, which also includes holes around the nipples.
Structured so that the breasts are lifted and placed closer together to enhance the cleavage. The best known brand of push-up bra is the Wonderbra. Many push-up bras contain padding, typically made of foam or rubber, but some contain gel-filled pads. The main distinction between padded bras and push-up bras that incorporate padding is whether the padding is centred under each breast to simply lift them, or is centred outside the centre of each breast such that the padding pushes the breasts inwards.
Has shoulder straps that come over the shouder in a V pattern very close to the neck. This design is sometimes worn under strapless dresses or tops where traditional straps would be very obviously exposed. Many Sport bras use the racerback.
Essentially a rigid band, usually underwires, along the inframammary line that pushes up while covering none, or only a narrow strip, of the breast.
Has no underwire support in the cups. Rather they rely on the strength of the underband to provide support to the bust.
Provides firm support for the breasts, and are meant to prevent discomfort or embarrassment during vigorous exercise.
With no shoulder straps, they are designed for wearing with clothes that reveal the shoulders, such as halterneck tops.
Designed without raised seams, so that a tight t-shirt may be worn without the bra being visible. These often have padded cups to conceal nipples and to provide a smooth line under t-shirts.
Designed for young girls who have begun to develop breasts but have yet to be considered ‘developed’ enough to allow for a standard-sized bra to fit properly. They are of simple construction and offer very little support.
Allows you to wear clothes that have a deep plunging neckline.
Designed to give extra support and endurance. They have a wire, metal or plastic, running under each cup to provide rigid support to the bust.
A type of full support bra with cups in the shape of a paraboloid of revolution with its axis perpendicular to the breast. Invented in the late 1940s, they were still being sold well into the 1960s.
Bras which have water or silicon gel-filled cups to make your breasts look larger.
Corsets: an everyday Necessity
Fashion corsets are also what’s commonly known as corset tops. These are designed not only to give you the vintage burlesque look but also to give you the corset feeling but at a fraction of the cost. Fashion Corsets or corsets tops are not designed to pull your waist in like their steel boned, or indeed waist training counter-parts. They are made using poly acrylic (plastic) bones and as a result will not bring your waistline in by very much, instead, they will simply help to accentuate your body’s natural curve.
Find Your Perfect Fashion Corsets
In this category you will find all types of corset tops from classic simple designs to over-elaborate fashion corsets with feathers and bustles. As with all our ranges we aim to provide you with the best choice of designs along with the most competitive prices Online.
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