Giving A Fit

I follow several blogs and this one, fullerfigurefullerbust by Georgina is always a great read and full of information and inspiration. This blog speaks to so many different issues. check out her blog to see why she is so great.
She offers her advice to bra fitting and customer service and understanding what a correct bra fit is….
In an ideal world this is how I would like everyone’s bra fitting experience to go in EVERY STORE. A girl can dream, indulge mine…
Upon entering the lingerie store/department it would be nice to be acknowledged by a member of staff within a few minutes. They don’t have to come over and try to sell something but just make me aware that they have noticed me so that I feel welcome – buying lingerie is a personal and sometimes an embarrassing thing to do for some women. When I ask for a fitting I would like to be given one or at least be offered to be booked in for one in the near future, bearing in mind that it may have taken a lot for me to pluck up the courage to even do that as I may be shy and ashamed of my body.
When I go in for the fitting I would usually expect to keep my own bra on and be assessed in that. There should not be a tape measure in sight! The fitter should ask me what size the bra is and how long I have had it for whilst checking how loose the band is and how I am sitting in the cups. I would then expect them to bring me several sizes around what they think I am, for example, if I am in a newish bra that is a 32 and I am already on the tightest hook and I am spilling out of the G cups then I’d like to be brought some 28HH/J and 30H/HH backed bras to try on. If they do not have such sizes in stock then I would like to be given a rough idea of what I may be and politely told that unfortunately those sizes are not currently in stock and maybe they could order some in for me or advise where I might find such sizes. Making a quick sale that then doesn’t work well for a woman is not as important as gaining the respect of the customer who will not forget such excellent service and will recommend it to others.
I would like the fitter to pull on the band, adjust the bra straps and ask me to try my top/dress on over the top of the bra so that I can see what kind of shape and look I am given and what the cut of the bra is like. The fitter should explain about the function of the bra. They should tell me how the band is there to give the majority of the support and that is why a tight firm band is necessary or else the shoulders will take the strain and this will cause aches and pains and discomfort. A loose band will ride up at the back causing the cups to sit lower at the front and making the wearer hunch over. They should explain how yes it may feel very tight and uncomfortable at first but bras need breaking in (just like shoes!) and so it may take a few wears before it becomes less noticeable. The straps should be tightened enough to give a good shape but not so much that it pulls the cups up onto the breasts. The underwire needs to sit under the breasts and the central gore flat between them. I would want the fitter the make sure I am completely happy in the bra that they have fitted me in and stress that my size may differ from brand to brand, but thanks to the tips they have given me I should be able to fit myself until my next fitting in a few months time.
You wouldn’t sell a car to someone who didn’t know how to drive it and yes, that may be a drastic comparison but it should apply to bras. They can be the difference between a women hating or loving her body, between considering surgery or celebrating her curves, between having crippling back pain or walking tall. Bra fitting is not a matter that should be taken lightly and not something that should be undertaken by women who don’t really understand every aspect of a bra and what it can and cannot do. It’s not asking for too much as shops like Bravissimo and Leia can do it and do it well so come on the rest of the high street, if this 23year old waitress can do it then so can you! Increase your size selection, brush up on your knowledge and make us proud of our perky perfectly encased breasts, no matter what size or shape we are!

Measure Twice; Buy Once.

 

Shopping for plus size intimate apparel nowadays is so easy and enjoyable especially when you can do it right at the comforts of your home. Some people would prefer shopping personally to know if it fits well while some would just choose to shop online for convenient purposes. No matter what you prefer, purchasing plus size lingerie still have guidelines which you don’t want to dispense on your checklist. So you won’t fall for that ill-fitting and regretful purchase incident just like what you have experienced before.

• SIZE does Matter

When you are purchasing plus size lingerie or any lingerie, it is important to measure the important dimensions of your body needed to have a full coverage. Remember: One size up or down isn’t a good idea at all. If you are trying to get the maximum support of lingerie, you should definitely give your size according to the shop’s size chart.

And if the design of your choice is not available to your size, don’t push it because it can only make you feel uncomfortable and it will only make your contours very unflattering.

• Know Your Shape.

Knowing your body well makes you choose the right style of clothes and undergarments. Some clothes make your body look bigger and some much slimmer. If you are trying to get a proper coverage to your body your cup size and even the shape of your corsets must exactly match your body type. If what you wear squeezes out your skin or cutting your flesh in an uncomfortable and your body looks more disproportionate, ditch out that lingerie and style. There are other lingerie styles which complement your body shape and at the same time make it more flattering.

• Ask your lingerie store.

The most important thing to do if you are clueless with what to buy or there’s bothering you before you purchase, you can ask your lingerie store so they can guide you with your concerns.

Do We Really Need To Go Shopping

Does Shopping Bore You?

Walking around inside the mall just to spot the perfect dress for your evening date seems like walking around in infinity. No ending and you do not know if it leads you to your goal. That’s what most plus size feel each time they shop for clothes not only for dating but as well as for school and work.

Most stores today offer limited styles and designs for plus size women and that’s really disappointing for someone who wished for something to wear fashionably. Also, most full figured women settle for loose shirts, hoodies and jogging pants. As long as it makes a person comfortable and confident we have nothing against it but what if it only gives you comfort and lets your confidence evaporate? Well, let’s admit it, we are buying clothes to feel good about ourselves.

The Reason For Sassy Curves:

We want every woman of all ages and of different sizes to feel comfortable and confident all at the same time no matter what skin and what weight they are in. We desire to provide the best information needed in establishing a good physical, emotional and spiritual attitude towards anything which includes lingerie especially plus size lingerie and other contributing factor to empower women and above all, to give everyone the convenient way to be able to face each day heads-up.

How to Put On (and Break In!) Your Corset

A corset's prime feature is its waist cinching capability. Unlike girdles or waist cinchers or corselettes, a real corset will take your waist in by at least 2-4 inches. Curvy women may find that a corset can take their waist in six inches or more. In other words, a woman with a 34" waist could go down to a 28" waist with good corsetiere and proper waist training.

But before you start dreaming of itty bitty wasp waists, I have to stress the importance of breaking in your corset. I can't tell you how much it distresses me to see someone abuse a corset. I just don't understand why you spend a couple hundred dollars, if not more, on a garment and then not take care of it. So, before one of you makes me cry with a tale of a broken busk, let me share with you the best way to break in a corset.

Actually, before I start that, I should say that you want to have a empty stomach and an empty bladder before you put on a corset. Eating, drinking, and going to the bathroom are very...adventurous enterprises when you're all cinched up.

So...the first thing you want to do when you get your corset is loosen it all the way. If you've ordered a corset that's 4" smaller than your waist, you will not be able to get it on if it's laced up tightly. If your corset has a front closure, like a busk, you also want to undo that. Make sure your corset is right side up (sometimes indicated by the presence of garter loops; if uncertain, e-mail the manufacturer), then bring it around your body, making sure the modesty panel is flat if you have one.

Hooking the eyes is where I have the most trouble, and I find that starting from the middle works best. If you start from the ends, the single hooked closure you manage to fasten acts like a hinge, keeping all the other closures well out reach. Exhale, sucking in your tummy, and fasten the rest.

At this point, it's helpful if you have someone there with you, but if not, no worries. Reaching behind, grab the lacing loops (sometimes called rabbit ears), and pull them away from your body. Now, since you're breaking the corset in, you don't want to pull too tightly. Now is not the time to see how small you make your waist. Pull until you have a little bit of cinch and a little bit of tension, then stop, tie your laces and go do something else. I've embedded a video from What Katie Did if you're a visual learner.




If you feel like it, you can tighten again later, but it's very important not to rush things. Being overeager can result in broken busks, warped ribs, snapped laces, torn grommets, and any number of expensive, hard-to-repair nasties. Never tighten until it's painful or you're having a trouble breathing.

I didn't mention this before, but you may want to have a undershirt or tube top on under the corset. That way, your body oils won't stain the corset.

When taking the corset off, do not, I repeat--Do Not--unfasten the busk first. You have to loosen the laces and then, when your corset is loose enough to wiggle around a bit, then unhook the busk. Unhooking the busk first could break your corset, and we don't want that happening.

After you're done wearing your corset, hang it up to air out (with the laces over the hanger). You can leave it there until your next wear or fold it up for later. Never wash a corset (other than perhaps a damp cloth on the outside). For more cleaning instructions, you want to contact the manufacturer.

This is a repost of a blog I follow from Treacle the founder of The Lingerie Addict blog

A well fitting bra will have the following

A well fitting bra will have the following

The chest band should be horizontal around the body and should not ride up at the back. This should mean it is firm but comfortable and ideally you should be able to fit two fingers under the band at any point.

The wires at the front of the bra should lie flat against your rib cage (sternum) and should not dig-in, rub or poke your boobs.

The cup of the bra should fully enclose each boob without causing any wrinkling of the fabric. At the top of the bra, the fabric should meet your boobs with a smooth line without a gap or ridge. Even when you raise your arms up, the boobs should remain enclosed in the cup of the bra.

Your Boobs should not bulge over the top or sides of the cups and should not create a ridge.

With the straps correctly fitted, they should not dig into your shoulders or cause the back of the bra to ride up. At the other extreme, the straps should not fall off your shoulders.

If all the above features are correct, your boobs should be primarily supported by the band and not just the shoulder straps. The bra should therefore be comfortable to wear enabling you to move and breath easily.

You should use the above criteria as your primary method for finding you bra size. It will involve trying on lots of different sized bras!

Europeans ahead of the fashion

So as I was saying in my first blog, I have been looking through a bunch of other blogs. Getting an education and just seeing what is being written as well as what people are discussing.
To me it seems that the Europeans seem to be so ahead of the fashion world. American companies do not cater to the plus size figure. They are afraid of showing off curves. I remember a while back that the television world would not play a sexy lingerie ad for Lane Bryant. But they have no problem airing an entire show of Victorias Secret fashion show. It just doesn't make sense.
Vogue Italia featured on the front cover three plus size models. Now I came across this website about Vogue Italia: http://www.vogue.it/en/vogue-curvy

This is what is needed. This is what young women need to see. That you don't have to be a size zero to be thought of as pretty or perfect or even sexy. Women with curves are very sexy. In fact that's all everyone is talking about with Hollywood stars such as Sofia Vergara or Christina Hendricks. Very beautiful women with very sexy curves.

Plus Size Thigh Highs and Stockings

This is probably my favorite lingerie item to discuss. There is nothing sexier than a women in thigh highs or stockings. So for the life of me I do not understand why more hosiery companies do not make plus size stockings and thigh highs. Sure there are "queen size" stockings and thigh highs, but lets face it they don't really fit. Below is what some stores feel are a proper fit.

These are not the proper way to wear them. They are just above the knee on the lower portion of the thighs. They should be called "knee highs."
Its my opinoin that stockings and thigh highs should reach to the upper portion of the thighs as shown below.

There was a great company that made really nice stockings and thigh highs called Levee. You can still find them out there on the internet.
Unless you are getting 100% nylon, which will not stretch, the stocking and thigh highs are whats called "volumetric" meaning that they will stretch. The problem is the shape of the leg. If you have large calves and thicker thighs the hosiery will stretch but you may lose the length needed to reach your upper thighs.
Because all plus size woman are not shaped the same or even the same height. Someone that is 5'11" that wears a size 16-18 is different from someone that is 5'4" and wears a 16-18.
So with Levee out of business (poor management) who will realize that there is a real need for true sizing of stockings and thigh highs?

Please leave your thoughts or if you have found a company that you have found that has extended sizes of stockings and thigh highs.

My first step into the world of blogging!

I have been very busy with creating a website that caters to plus size women that love there curves and appreciate lingerie. What I thought I knew about lingerie I quickly realized was not enough. I have however learned a lot from other blogs that I have been following. At a later time I'll post a list of my favorite fellow bloggers.
My intent with this blog is to offer advise, get feedback, share what I have learned and all things that revolve around plus size lingerie.