Plus Size Bra Review: Elomi Sakura

The Elomi Sakura bra is actually a discontinued style, however, the new 'Libby' is built on the same frame. The Libby is available in sizes 36-42 E-JJ and 44 E-G in Raisin/Chocolate for AW '12. Matching panties are available in sizes M-4XL

I remember seeing the navy blue print of the Sakura a while ago on HerRoom's website and didn't buy it. However, a couple weeks ago I happened to find the Sakura in Blossom on eBay in a 40J for only $27.50 (in my mind, quite the deal!). Yes I need 38's, but I really wanted this bra and figured I could take in the band if need be.

Pictures:

[caption id="attachment_430" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Sakura, 40 J[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_431" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Sakura, 40 J[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_432" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Sakura, 40J[/caption]

Features: Fully adjustable, minimal stretch straps, banded bottom, higher central gore - though not as high as the Caitlyn, 3 hooks and eyes, 4 part full coverage cup, bows on straps and center gore, and mesh wings.

Fit: In the 40J, there was a little bit of space in the cups as you can see. Also, I think in general, I'm struggling with how wide the wires are. I know that in Elomi bras, in a 40HH, I still get the same side coverage I need without the really wide wires (you can see in the Sakura that the wires are almost to my back). The wideness of the wires isn't uncomfortable, but it looks silly and I worry that it won't help in the retraining of my migrated tissue. The central gore sits flush against my chest BUT I have found that because of the height of the wires and the non-stretch materials of the cup, the bra tends to shift throughout the day, pushing the central gore away from my chest and giving me a bit of double boob on my bigger side. The band was surprisingly firm in the 40 when I first wore it, but it only took a day of wear for it to relax.

The band is not too tight, but no surprise to me, the bottom of it tends to flip up. The banded part of the bra flipped when I had only had the bra on for a couple minutes! I know that the Libby was often suggested to me when I first started buying bras in my more accurate size, and when I expressed concerns about the banded bottom, I was told not to worry. I think the reality is that I am really quite short waisted, so even the slightest bit of extra material around the wires is uncomfortable for me. Instead of me constantly flipping the band back down, I just let it flip and then go about my day as it is more comfortable without the band pressing on my tummy anyways.

Support and Shape: I very much prefer the shape of the Sakura than my other Elomi bras such as the Briony and the Abi; I feel as though I get much better lift in this bra and the shape is less wide. It might have something to do with the better anchorage of the banded bottom, but I'm no bra constructionist.

Other Thoughts: This bra is soooo pretty. It makes me happy to wear it. Probably not the sexiest thing, but I love all of the sweet touches of femininity on this bra. I wore this bra, and then wore my new Betty (review to come after a few more wears), which has led me to truly appreciate plunge bras as I love the lower central gores.

I would definitely recommend the Libby to anyone who is looking for a full coverage bra that provides great support and shape, without being as overwhelming (and work horse-like) as the Caitlyn.

Grade: A

Ambition is Bigger Than Time....

More and more, I keep thinking this is what I want to do. I want to own a lingerie boutique. I want to fit women and change their lives!

I also want to own a bakery. And a restaurant. And a craft store.

I have the tendency to start many, many projects and then have myself spread thin. Like right now? I work full time, I'm finishing up my master's, we got another dog in August (yikes, potty and puppy training), I have a very successful Etsy wedding favors store, we're working on starting a handmade soap business, and I have all those buckeyes to drill holes into and make into necklaces and wreaths, etc. We're also listing our condo for sale in the Spring to move closer to my family (2 hours away). Oh, did I mention that I'm an avid crocheter? I'm actively looking for a teaching job that I can start up after graduation, too. Yesterday, my husband and I started working on our massive combined family trees (with my Dad's side of the family's lineage dating all the way back to 1700's Germany...).....The # of pots we have our hands in right now is insane.

But, as I was sitting and talking to my uncle's sister on Saturday, telling her about bras and fit and the brands I love for a half hour - poor girl, I chat her ear off - I kept thinking "This is what I want to do!". But I've thought that about so many of my other projects. And yes, somehow, the schedule always works out, and I am able to get everything done. But how would I start a lingerie boutique?

I wish I was the kind of person that could choose one thing to be passionate about and devote all of my time towards that one thing. There are pros and cons to being the way I am (see: unfocused), and sometimes I only see the pros and others just the cons. Admittedly, I'm not sure where I'm going with this. Just kind of stream of consciousness.

In other news, I'm hosting my first bra fit workshop in a couple weeks! I am aching to share what I have learned and what I know with the women in my life, so I'm inviting a group of ladies over to my house to talk about bras, how they should fit, and how they can help their friends and family, too. Obviously, I have nothing to sell except for the big message: every woman should know how a bra is supposed to fit her, that way she can make an informed decision when she is out shopping, or when she is fit by someone in a store (i.e. Victoria's Secret, Lane Bryant, etc...).

I guess in a way, this is my contribution to the people in my life. I can't actually start a lingerie boutique right now, but at least I can help to educate other women :-)

And now, I have probably spent enough time distracting myself from my thesis...

Happy Monday!

 

Fussy Busty's Thursday Faves 10/18

Is it really Thursday again, already???



 

Linda's Response to OUR responses about her use of the term Vanity Sizing

And, of course, the lovely Claire's response back 

Love this tongue in cheek guide to 8 last minute costume ideas over at The Lingerie Addict

The Kiss Me Deadly 'Elle' Robe....WANT....

Plus Size Bra Review: Panache 'Sienna'

I've been lusting after the Panache Sienna bra since the first time that I laid eyes on it. I mean, c'mon....It's gorgeous....

The Panache Sienna is available in sizes 30-38 D-K in Black/Lagoon for Fall (and some purple still hanging out around there). I got this for about $34.00 on FigLeaves.com. Matching short/thong available in sizes XS-XXXL. A UK size 20 = US 16.

As soon as I saw that I could get this for - what I call - a decent price, I set out to order it. There's really *not* a lot of reviews of the Sienna in the blogosphere, so I wasn't quite sure about sizing. I'm in between a J/JJ in my 40's of my Panache bras, so the first time I ordered the Sienna, I ordered it in a 38K (since I am sizing down in band). Here's how that turned out:

[caption id="attachment_402" align="aligncenter" width="300"] 38K[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_403" align="aligncenter" width="279"] 38K[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_404" align="aligncenter" width="300"] 38K[/caption]

If you can see in the second photo, the wires come up unbearably high on the sides. I called FigLeaves to see if they could tell me if this was something that was due to the wire shape of the Sienna, or if I should try the next cup size down. We ended up deciding that I would return the 38K for the 38JJ. I fell in love with the bra, and it gives a lovely shape. The 38K was a pretty good fit, overall, but I was hopeful about the 38JJ. I also ordered the matching briefs in a UK 20.

So, here's the 38JJ:

[caption id="attachment_406" align="aligncenter" width="560"] 38JJ[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_407" align="aligncenter" width="560"] 38JJ[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_408" align="aligncenter" width="300"] 38JJ[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_409" align="aligncenter" width="300"] 38JJ[/caption]

What you can see in the photos is that, in all reality, sizing down in the cup didn't change anything about the wire height on the side - however, it did put the wire placement forward about a half an inch on my side, under the arm.

Features: half adjustable, semi-padded straps, 3 hooks and eyes in JJ and K cups, 3 part balcony cup, fully lined cups, non-stretch upper lace cup, pretty bow on central gore, stretch lace mesh wings, higher wing height.



 

Fit: I'll be assessing the fit in the 38JJ. The cups fit perfectly; no gaping, no double boob, the central gore lies flat, and I feel as though all of my tissue - even on the sides - is able to be pulled into the cups. I think it's important to keep in mind that the lace upper part of the cup is not stretch. Therefore, I think if you have any more than maybe a half cup size differences in your breasts, this might not work for you. The 38 band is everything I hoped it would be! Snug and comfortable, and keeps the wires of the bra firmly against my body which prevents the sliding and rashes associated with a band that is too big. If you can see, I fit into the bottom of the cups of the 38JJ better than the 38K.

Support and Shape: The shape that I get in the Sienna is what I consider ideal for a non-padded bra. My breasts are lifted and rounded by the expert seaming of the Sienna bra. The wires are not very flexible, which means that the support is constant and unwavering. The center gore is nice and low (a VERY welcome change in comparison to the Tango II wires), but it seems as though the Sienna overcompensates for a low central gore with very tall wires on the sides.

Other thoughts: I love this bra. The minute that I put it on, I feel sexy and confident. And then I relax my shoulders and I am stabbed by the underwires under my arms. It's possible that the wires will relax and I will get used to them being higher....honestly, the bra is too pretty to return and the fit really *is* great other than the unfortunate wire height. The materials are great for this bra! And the color is to die for.

The Panty Experience: I ordered the matching panties in a UK 20 (my first ever matching set!!), and was so sad to see that they did not fit. Realistically, I should not have been surprised. A UK 20 = US 16; I typically wear an 18/20 in cotton panties. The panties came up pretty low on me, and I had a bit of a muffin and rather indecent exposure in the front. However, I will say that the panties are as equally gorgeous as the bra is. The panties are lined in the front, but the back is sheer lace mesh. I'm keeping these as well, as I continue to lose weight and these panties are going to be so awesome when they fit.

Overall Grade: B- .....the bra is sexy, but is wire stabbing worth it?

Fussy Busty's Thursday Faves 10/11

 

 

Today's Thursday faves are all photos from my morning today. I am currently working as a nanny while I finish up my master's, so every day is something new with the kids. This morning the 4 year old and I went out to "pick berries" at 9 am (and 31 degrees.....*bbrrrrrr*) and we discovered that the family has a buckeye tree in their yard.

I'm from Ohio. We are the buckeye state. My husband's entire family is full of die-hard OSU Buckeye Football Fans. I employed the 4 year old to help me collect ALL of the buckeyes we could find. I am going to use my husband's drill and get my craft on later and put together some Christmas gifts after the buckeyes dry out. Perhaps some wreaths? Necklaces? Ideas abound!

 

 

[caption id="attachment_395" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Look at all the buckeyes!!![/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_394" align="aligncenter" width="225"] A buckeye was trying to evade our collection by hanging out in its shell.[/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_396" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Yep; We used one of their sand buckets. We actually ended up with almost double what you see here.[/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_397" align="aligncenter" width="560"] All gone![/caption]

 

Updates:

• Still waiting on my Panache Sienna to get here so that I can try it again (got it in a 38K; too big in the cups, so re-ordered a 38JJ); Sending back the Tango for a 38J.


• Winners for the giveaway were posted; I'll be working on coding data and compiling results in the next week. Thanks again to everyone that participated!!

This weekend is my husband and I's anniversary trip, so the blog/facebook/twitter will be exceptionally quiet Sunday-Wednesday. 

Plus Size Bra Review: Panache Tango II

[caption id="attachment_376" align="aligncenter" width="255"] Photo from Barenecessities.com[/caption]

The Panache Tango II bra is available from sizes 28E-44FF for $54.00 in fashion and continuity colors

*This bra was gifted to me by Panache North America in a size 40J for review.

Pictures:

[caption id="attachment_380" align="alignnone" width="300"] On the loosest hooks[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_381" align="alignnone" width="300"] On the tightest set of hooks[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_377" align="alignnone" width="300"] On the tightest set of hooks, I still have quite a bit of space in the band[/caption]



[caption id="attachment_382" align="alignnone" width="300"] T-shirt views are important :-)[/caption]

Features: Half adjustable, semi-padded straps, 3 hooks and eyes in a J cup, 3 part balcony cup, light lining, embroidery on cups, bow on central gore, wider wings.

Fit: Overall, the 40J is too big. As I've noted in a few posts here and there, I'm realizing that I realistically need to start exploring 38 bands as 40's are too big and I'm not getting the support that I need. You can see in the one picture that I hooked the bra immediately on the tightest set of hooks and I think I could stand to have the bra tighter.  While my Andorra 40Js are actually a little small in the cup and small in the band, the Tango seems to fit a little more "stretchy" - comparable in band to Curvy Kate Emily and Angel. Also, as I'm learning and getting to know my breasts, I am more full on the bottom than on the top. This combined with really tall wires in the center means that there was quite a bit of space left in the top of the cups of the Tango. The wires on the sides did not come up very high (I know that some women have said that the wires come up very high under the arm, but I found the wire height to be similar to my Curvy Kate bras, but higher than my Elomi bras) and were quite comfortable on the sides. In terms of the cup, I had a hard time getting my breasts to settle into the cup and I couldn't get the wires to sit directly under the root of my breasts. Again, this is because I need a tighter band that holds the wires in place.

Support and Shape: The bra is comfortable and gives pretty good lift. Because it's the wrong size, I'm curious to see what kind of lift I would get in perhaps a 38J/JJ. The shape is a little more pointy than I prefer, but that is fairly typical of non padded bras. My biggest complaint about the shape is that this bra isn't really a balconnet - at least not for me - which might have something to do with it being too big. However, in my experience with Panache bras (Andorra, Ariza, Tango Luxe, and now the Tango), the wires come up really high in the center of their balcony bras. On me, the wires actually came up so high that there wasn't even breast tissue around the wires - it was literally so high that it was past the natural crease of my breasts. When I sat down with the bra on, the tops of the wires were visible through my t-shirt because they were so high.

Other Thoughts: I think, if able to get the right size, this would definitely be a go-to bra for me. I love the comfort of the wires of Panache bras and I can usually overlook the wire in general. I would say that this bra is more full coverage than balcony. It provides a lovely shape and has the lift that the Superbra line is known for :-)

I've contacted Courtney at Panache to see if I can send this back for another size or a different style, so hopefully I will be able to update my review once I get my hands on a smaller size.

Overall grade: B (for now)

Fussy Busty's Thursday Faves 10/4

***LOVE YOUR BOOBS. OCTOBER IS BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH. WHEN IS THE LAST TIME YOU DID A SELF EXAM?***

Even if you're only slightly involved in the lingerie blogging community, you are sure to have heard about Linda the Bra Lady's faux pas of suggesting that bras are vanity sized (ick. even typing that makes me want to gag - now you know how I feel about it!!). For anyone doubting the authenticity of the Daily Mail's quotes of Linda, click here to see the original article that Linda promoted on her own FB page.

Here's some great blogger's responses to this:

Congratulations, We all Win  - Sweets writes an amazingly eloquent post about NOT competing with each other and NOT comparing our breast sizes.

A Little Bit of Bra Info is a Dangerous Thing - Claire touches on the fact that sharing inaccurate bra information is detrimental to women as a whole, and also talks about why the +4 method was used and isn't always necessary now.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month - For the Love of Lingerie notes different ways you can celebrate, donate and save some $$$ by showing some love to boobies :-)

_________________________________________________________

Side note: I do not feel as though bras are "vanity sized".

Also, please take the time to ENTER my giveaway!! :-) Contest ends Monday, 10/8.   **Complete nerd moment: the key to my SPSS software from my stats class last quarter is still valid, and I will be coding data to do an actual correlational analysis to determine if there is INDEED a connection to # of wears and wash habits. Please be sure to answer all parts of the contest to the fullest extent possible :-)

Survey Says....Let's have a giveaway!!

Last week, I posted a couple polls for readers to answer.

The first poll was "How often do you wear your bra before washing it?"

• 6 people said 1 day


• 13 people said 2-3 days


• 16 people said 4+ days

The second poll was "How do you wash your bras?"

• 13 people said By hand, in the sink or the bath tub without lingerie wash


• 12 people said By hand, in the sink or bath tub with lingerie wash


• 6 people said In a lingerie wash bag, in the washer, with lingerie wash


• 14 people said In a lingerie wash bag, in the washer, with regular laundry detergent


• 5 people said In the washing machine, not in a bag and with regular laundry detergent

I am infinitely curious about these results. Did the women who responded to the first poll also respond to the second poll? Admittedly, the psychologist in me wants to know if there is a connection between how many times women wear their bras before washing and how they wash their bras.

Obviously, the most popular answers indicate more frequent wear, and the use of a wash bag with laundry detergent.

So, starting today, I am hosting my first giveaway! The prizes are supplied by me because this is really just to satisfy my own curiosity. 

Prizes are as follows:

• 1 mesh lingerie wash bag


• 1, 32 oz bottle of either Lavender or Unscented Lingerie Wash

1-2 winners will be chosen, based on the number of entrants

Contest starts today and ends Monday (10/8). 

Click here to ENTER

(no, WordPress does not like Raffle Copter. Yes, I created a free web page just to host it).

Saying Goodbye to Loved Bras

Now, I'm not saying that I have been having a love affair with some of my bras....but the reality is that, well, I kind of have.

Over the past month or so I have lost about 10 pounds, and my size has definitely changed a bit. What I'm finding is that I am really in need of bras in a size 38J or 38JJ. My 40's are not feeling snug, my shoulders are hurting again, and my back keeps cracking in weird ways.

The long and short of it is that I love the look and style of my Curvy Kate bras, but other than the Emily, I cannot stand to wear them. The Portia that I got (40J) I wore once on August 8th and have not touched the bra since. My breast tissue is definitely migrating back into the right spot, and this bra just does not fit in the cup anymore.  The Angel that I got (40JJ) I have also only worn once and it continues to sit in the closet. My compulsive need to immediately pop tags off of bras when I get them new is part of the reason I am stuck with the Angel.

I LOVE the Angel bra. It is so gorgeous. I love everything about it. But the lift and shape is so off for me. The reality, I think, is that Curvy Kate is not the brand for me right now. I think this means that I am swearing off Curvy Kate - at least for a while. Many others have noted that the styles don't scale well into larger cup sizes, and I would have to agree. Perhaps if my breasts get smaller as I lose weight, Curvy Kate may be a viable option for me again. If you see another CK review from me in the next 4-6 months, slap my hands!!!

To remedy this situation, in the past couple days I have been uploading pictures to eBay to offload my ill fitting, and unworn bras. I've had pretty good success so far, and hopefully will have a decent amount of cash to put towards better fitting bras that won't hang out in the closet. It breaks my heart to sell these bras, but I know that it doesn't make sense to keep them in my closet unworn.

 

**How do you know when it's time to step away? How long do you let a bra sit in your closet before you decide it's time to let go? Let me know in the comments below**

Size Misconceptions at Victoria's Secret

I've never been one to shop at Victoria's Secret for a handful of reasons. My boobs are too big for their bras, and I have always been plus sized (wearing typically a size 22 or larger in pants). Admittedly, in American culture, there's such a stress on being able to shop at VS. I've always felt like I was missing out on something, or that maybe I was less of a woman because I could not shop at VS because of my size. I mean, c'mon....the place OOOZES sexiness. Who doesn't want a piece of that?

Anyways, a few years ago I had heard that the VS Pink lounge pants ran fairly big. It was something I brushed off, thinking "They can't possibly run as big as I need them to..."

A couple weeks ago, I double checked the sizing chart on the VS website for their Campus Lounge Pants to see if I really could measure up and try the pants out that every woman who tries them raves about.

 

[caption id="attachment_361" align="aligncenter" width="222"] Photo from Victoria's Secret.com[/caption]

 

Size chart from VS website for campus pants:

Size	XS0	XS2	S4	S6	M8	M10	L12	L14	XL16
Bust (in.)	32.5	33	34.5	35.5	36.5	37.5	39	40.5	42.5
Waist (in.)	24	25	26	27	28	29	30.5	32	34
Hip (in.)	34.5	35.5	36.5	37.5	38.5	39.5	41	42.5	44.5
Thigh (in.)	20.5	21	21.5	22	22.5	23	24	25	26.5

 

So, the last time I checked...my under bust measures 53"", my waist 40", my hips 48", and my thighs about 27". Based on this chart, it does not appear as though I could really even smash myself into a VS XL. Which is fine; I wear 20's in pants, and even up to a 24 in some brands. But, I thought....why the heck not?

On Wednesday when I met with Suzanne from Eveden, my husband and I decided to do some shopping afterwards (we WERE by the mall after all...), and I wanted to stop into VS to try the pants on. I could complain for hours about the terrible service that I received, but let me sum it up in a couple sentences: We were completely ignored when we walked into the store - no hello, no nothing. I walked by a group of four women talking and they did not acknowledge me. Never having shopped in a VS before, it took me a while to find what I was looking for. Granted, they do not have XLs in the store (at least not in lounge pants) so I started to feel even more out of place. I grabbed the campus pants in a large and figured I would try them on. To get to the fitting room, I had to walk from "PINK" through the beauty and makeup section to the actual bra shop. In beauty, there was an associate trying on lipstick. In the bra area? Four women standing in a circle laughing. I asked for a fitting room and got some rude looks as I was led back to try the pants on. I put them on and VOILA! A large fit my plus-sized, big belly body. When I walked out to show them to my husband, a handful of associates turned around with shock on their faces that the pants actually fit me.

Had it not been for the insane comfort of the pants, I would have walked out without buying anything. But I decided that my own desire to have comfy sweats this winter was more important than being snubbed by rude sales associates.

Okay, I said I wouldn't complain.....but....I was so appalled by how I was treated in that store.

But I digress....

It's possible that there ARE more options for plus sized women at VS than I originally thought. I was curious about the sizing of the campus pants the other day and held them up to a new pair of jeans that I just bought at Torrid (the same day we stopped at VS). The jeans I bought are skinny jeans - I can review them if readers are interested - in a size 24. They run small, but they are a great fit once you figure them out (on the torrid size chart, I measure into a size 20 - which fit in their boot cut jeans, but not the Sophia skinny jeans).

 

Size chart from www.Torrid.com

Torrid Sizes	Bust	Waist	Low Hip
12	39"	32"	41"
14	41"	34"	43"
16	43"	36"	45"
18	45"	38"	47"
20	47"	40"	49"
22	49"	42"	51"
24	51"	44"	53"
26	53"	46"	55"
28	55"	48"	57"

 

The waist measurement of size 24 jeans on their sizing chart is 44", but keep in mind that the skinny jeans I have run a size small (so the measurements are more related to a size 22). When I held up the  VS campus pants to these new jeans, the VS pants - not stretched - are 2" smaller - so the waist size is actually 40" instead of the 32" that they list on their sizing chart. 

Which means that a VS size Large in their campus pants will actually fit most women up to a US size 20. On top of this, I would say that there is a good 4" worth of stretch in the waist band. So realistically, it's possible that women who wear a US size 24 could wear these pants.

Now, the same cannot be said about all of VS's bottoms, i.e. panties, other styles of pants, etc. But if you're looking for a pair of the most comfortable pants you will ever own and are willing to throw down $46.50, and you happen to be plus sized....know that just because the tag says "L" does not mean that you cannot wear these pants.

Happy October and have a great Monday! :-)

 

Upcoming Reviews

I've been in the process of trying a few bras over the past week, but I've got some kinks to work out with sizing and just learning the functionality of the bras.

Expect reviews of the following bras in the next two weeks:

• Elomi Energise sports bra


• Panache Sienna balconette bra


• Panache Tango II balconette bra

 

Are there are bras that you would like to see me review for the blog? I know that there are some bras that don't get a lot of exposure in the blogosphere (specifically any Goddess bras, the Sienna, Elomi & Fantasie bras). Let me know in the comments below :-) 

 

 

To Hand Wash or Not To Hand Wash?

In more than one response to my blog The Current State of Wear  a few women talked about the pros and cons of machine washing v. hand washing bras.

Admittedly, I have never used a lingerie wash bag in the washer. I have one, but I have never used it. When I was wearing bras that didn't fit (and also cost less), I would always throw my bras in the washer - sans wash bag - and then hang them on the line to dry. I never seemed to have any problems, really. Yes, I would have wires pop out frequently....or the bras would come unhooked and would snag on each other. Sometimes wires would be bent out of shape. Okay, so yes, I had issues. Throwing bras in the washer without using a wash bag is a bad idea. I think we can all agree on that.

But are there benefits to using a washer vs. hand washing your bras?

Since I have started to spend more on bras (anywhere from $40-74), I have not been putting my bras anywhere near the washer. Oh no. They get washed by hand, with unscented lingerie wash. I fill the sink with warm water and some lingerie wash, pop some bras in - of like colors - and let them sit for a bit. Then I squish them up and down in the water, and gently rub the wires and elastics that go under the arm with my fingers. After that, I drain the water and refill the sink with non-soapy warm water. I let the bras sit again, then I squish around. Then, again, I drain the sink and I rinse each bra under the running water of the faucet. I've never had trouble getting all of the soap out of my bras. I tend to either (1) lay them flat on a dry towel to dry, or I hang them over the edge of the bath tub to drip dry. It takes anywhere from a couple of hours to overnight for my bras to dry.

I have always felt like the elastics go back to their normal shape and tension, AND my bras smell nice and clean.

But, the way that I wash my bras may not be the way that you wash your bras. I think we have to choose what works for us - whether we have time or we don't to hand wash, whether we use lingerie wash or regular detergent and so on.

**Please take the poll and comment about your washing methods, especially if they are different from mine - and even if not. I am very curious to learn how other women wash their bras :-) ***

 

[polldaddy poll=6568904]

 

Previews: Elomi, Fantasie and Freya

I'm going to write about my experience meeting with Suzanne from Eveden, but I want to break up the experience into two posts. This post will focus on the bras from the upcoming season that I got to touch with my own little paws....and let me tell you....they are DELIGHTFUL. We were hanging out in Panera Bread and I apologize to the people sitting next to us whom were shocked when Suzanne was laying the bras on the table :-)

Elomi "Maggie"

[caption id="attachment_324" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Elomi "Maggie" in Black[/caption]

The fabric, admittedly, looks a little shiny, but it's not that terrible in person. When I first saw this I thought "CHRISTMAS!!". Very cute and a lower gore than the "Caitlyn" bra.

Maggie Chemise

[caption id="attachment_325" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Elomi "Maggie" Chemise[/caption]

This chemise is GORGEOUS... The fabric of the lower half is really soft and has the most delicate rolled hem at the bottom. It's a fairly simple piece. My biggest complaint about this? The price point of $86.00.....which is w/out matching panties. The Maggie panties are $24.00, making the set a whopping $110.00. I told Suzanne it would be nice if the chemise came with a thong or a g-string, but we also talked about how the benefit to having to get panties separately is for those with size differences in tops and bottoms. I don't know if you know this - I'm kind of frugal. I wouldn't say cheap, but I choose to spend my money on nice things that I can't live without. I suppose I could live without the Maggie chemise because of the price.

Elomi "Paloma"

[caption id="attachment_327" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Elomi "Paloma"[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_326" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Elomi "Paloma"[/caption]

What was really striking, for me, was the color of the Paloma in person. From the photos in the press release, it looks like the Paloma is going to be almost a royal blue. BUT, the bra itself is actually a deep, rich purple. The bra is a padded half cup (yay!), but only goes up to a G cup. Suzanne told me that this does run true to size, so anyone who is sized out is - unfortunately - sized out. (Unlike the Freya 'Faye' which is roomier in the band). I want this bra, and I want it NOW.

Elomi "Valentina"

[caption id="attachment_328" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Elomi "Valentina"[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_329" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Elomi "Valentina"[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_330" align="aligncenter" width="640"] LOOK at those rosettes!!![/caption]

Want, want, want! I love this bra! The cups are made of Satin Simplex and stretch lace. Of course, this bra screams valentine's day, but it is truly gorgeous. I love the low (see: very low) center gore, the rosettes on the center gore and straps, and just everything about this bra. This bra is fit on the Betty frame, so it should be something that Betty lovers will also like.

[caption id="attachment_331" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Comparison of Valentina and Maggie[/caption]

In comparing the Valentina and the Maggie, you can see the huge difference in gore height. The Maggie also has more side coverage.

That's all of my pictures of Elomi bras; It's important to also note that all of the bras (except for the Paloma) feature 4-part cups to push tissue forward instead of the side. These are all so gorgeous and soft and feminine. <3

Fantasie "Susanna" 

[caption id="attachment_332" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Fantasie "Susanna" in Black[/caption]

I cannot say enough good things about the Susanna. It is definitely a relaxed cup (think Andorra), and the materials are so. incredibly. soft. The lower cup and the upper lace cup are equally, amazingly soft. I want to wear this bra. Suzanne told me that the Susanna is true to size and for those that it works for, it is a perfect fit, hugging the body in all the right ways. WANT.

Freya "Carys" Longline

[caption id="attachment_333" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Freya "Carys"[/caption]

Freya "??" I cannot for the life of me remember the name of this bra. Please comment if you know it!! 

[caption id="attachment_334" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Freya[/caption]

As you can see, there are some GREAT options coming soon from Eveden group. If you want to know more about release dates, sizing and price points, check out Erica's brand overviews at A Sophisticated Pair's Blog....

**What do you think of these upcoming styles? Do you love them as much as I do???**

Highlight: Elomi "Roxy" Longline

[caption id="attachment_321" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Photo courtesy of Elomi[/caption]

 

 

I was contacted by Alexis at Eveden Group (Freya, Fantasie, Goddess, Elomi, etc...) last week and she kindly sent me the AW12/SS13 catalogs and image discs. She also helped me to set up a meeting with their fit specialist, Suzanne (whom I am meeting with today).

This is definitely a huge moment for me as a blogger, and I am so excited to have my first meet and greet. For this reason, I am so stoked to share my biggest lust, the Roxy Longline by Elomi, which comes next summer. I cannot wait for this bra!

Happy Wednesday!

The Current State of Wear

So often you hear that you should get about 6-9 months of wear out of your bra before the elastic goes bad and you stop getting support. Increase time for smaller busts and potentially shorten that time for larger busts. Obviously other factors such as the quality of the bra, how you wash it, and how often you wear the bra will certainly impact the life of your bra.

Over the last two days, I have found myself needing to step into the second row of hooks on both of my Elomi Abi and my Curvy Kate Emily bras. I honestly went through almost an ENTIRE day of work, tugging on the band of my Abi (it kept riding up) and noticing that I was getting rubbed raw under my breasts from the band sliding around BEFORE I ADJUSTED IT. What? WHY did I wait so long? As soon as I hooked tighter, the bra instantly felt better. The same goes for my Emily, today. I started the day wearing my Elomi Hermione and switched to my Emily because I changed outfits (yay going out for dinner and not wearing a t-shirt). Fortunately, it only took me about a half hour to realize that I needed to go tighter on the band of my Emily....

Then I started thinking.... how long have I had both of these bras? Am I going to get a good lifespan out of them if I am already heading into the middle ground???

The Current State of Wear:

• Curvy Kate Emily - First worn on August 8th; Almost two months before hooking tighter  **Projected life span: 6 months


• Elomi Abi - First worn on August 28th; Not even one month before hooking tighter **Projected life span: 3 months

Unfortunately this means that I am probably going to have to invest in another Abi after the new year, because I really do love the bra.

Factors that Affect Wear:

• I wear my Abi every. other. day. Because it is the most comfortable for my long days of work.


• The Abi was probably too big in a 40 to begin with


• My beige CK Emily gets more wear than any of my other "fancy" lace bras - even moreso than my Andorras


• I've always felt as though the band in the beige Emily was pretty stretchy


• I hand wash a batch of bras per week; I only wear each bra that I have maybe 2-3 times before it goes into the "must wash pile"


• I have a heavy bust

So....when do you know that you need to hook in and go tighter? The following signs apply to a bra that you know was the right size when you first purchased it

Signs that your band is getting too stretchy:

• The band used to sit level but now starts to ride up as the day goes on


• You're not getting the same support and uplift that you did when you first got the bra


• You get chafed, or are uncomfortable because the wires are sliding around under your breasts and you didn't have this problem before


• Your shoulders are hurting because the band is not supporting the weight of your breasts well enough and the weight is being transferred to your straps

On average, you should try to have at least 3-5 bras that you rotate throughout the week. I have four (Briony, Abi, Emily and Hermione) that I rotate throughout the week, and I save my Andorras for specific outfits, or when I know I want that extra boost.

**How many bras do you have? What's the projected lifespan of your bras?? Please respond in the comments and be sure to take part in the poll!**

[polldaddy poll=6561070]

Sleeping with Big Boobs

As the title might suggest, this post is NOT about snuggling up to a big set of boobs. Or maybe it is ;-)

I kid, I kid.

For those of us ladies whom are "well endowed", sleeping can sometimes be troublesome.

Lay on your back, your boobs are up to your chin, smooshing your face.

Lay on your stomach, you squish your boobs and they hurt in the morning.

Lay on your side, and they're just laying on top of each other, squishy and unsupported.

 

I read somewhere recently that laying on your back is actually "the best" for relieving pressure off your breasts and keeping them from being sweaty, etc.

But let's face it. Not all of us sleep on our back (or can because of our breast size). I, for one, tend to sleep kind of half on my stomach, half on my side. Think this position:

[caption id="attachment_310" align="aligncenter" width="297"] From http://docakilah.blogspot.com/2011/04/which-sleep-position-is-healthiest.html[/caption]

 

The website listed for the image says this about this side sleeping position:

Good for: Preventing neck and back pain, reducing acid reflux, snoring less, sleeping during pregnancy
Bad for: Your skin and your breasts
The scoop: Side-sleeping is great for overall health—it reduces snoring and keeps your spine elongated. If you suffer from acid reflux, this is the next best thing to sleeping on your back. The downside: "Sleeping on your side can cause you to get wrinkles," Dr. Glaser says. Blame all that smushing of one side of your face into the pillow.

This pose also contributes to breast sag, since your girls are dangling downward, stretching the ligaments, says Health’s Medical Editor Roshini Rajapaksa, MD.

Oh darn! Breast sag?!

WELCOME.....the BOOB PILLOW!!

No, it's nothing special. I just have a really thick and firm pillow for my head, and then I have a somewhat firm pillow that I wrap my arms around and use to separate my breasts from each other. Busts 4 Justice briefly mentions something like this, but it looks a little bit weird. I seriously cannot sleep if I do not have my boob pillow in the proper place; and if I roll over in the night to lay on my other side, the boob pillow comes with me. I've never tried a sleep bra and I'm not sure it would work. Also, underwire while sleeping sounds incredibly painful.

 

***What about you ladies? What do you use to make your breasts more comfortable when you sleep? Do you sleep on your back/stomach/side? Do you wear a sleep bra?? Post your answers in the comments below.***