Image credit (both): Simoneperele.com
I require a lot of lift from my bras. For this reason, finding just the right brassiere can be a challenge. So it was with the usual dread and excitement when I went bra shopping this week. Happily, I left Purrmission Lingerie, in Santa Barbara, with two new bras that fit great, are comfortable and give me plenty of lift.
No matter what you is shopping for, it is important to remember what your goals and preferences are. Even though I was offered a number of demi and balcony bras to try on, I stayed the course, asking the saleswoman to show me only full coverage, contour bras. Since Purrmission is known for its gorgeous lacy and fancy bras like the one below, the saleswoman could not resist bringing some stunningly beautiful ones as well. Sure, I tried them on. But in the end, I found two contour bras--one in black (above) and quite pretty, and one in nude, utilitarian.
I saw many, many lovely bra and panty sets, nightgowns, and slips at Purrmission. If you have not been, the trip is well worth it. I also picked up a bottle of Forever New, my favorite hand wash fabric soap.
Photo credit: aleksandrinavezilka.wordpress.com
Go here to read an article from Elle magazine in which Hollywood costume designers offer advice on what it takes to dress well. In short, it's all about tailoring and foundation garments. Oh, and wearing turbans.
I am teaming up with the terrific stores Purrmission Lingerie and Renaissance Fine Consignment in order to raise funds for San Marcos High School's students and programs. Please go here, click on silent auction, and then click on the purchase now items to learn about the two great evenings of shopping and Wardrobe Wisdom that we have planned. I hope to see you at one or both of these events!
Photo Credit: Sears.com
When I was growing up, I remember thinking my mom got a huge (out of proportion) kick out of buying me underwear every year. Now that I am a mother of two girls, I understand the small thrill and relief she felt upon annually purchasing new underwear for her daughter. How is your underwear collection these days? Look through your drawers (pun intended) with a critical eye, tossing out any holey, uncomfortable, ugly, or tired-looking panties and make a point of buying new ones this month. Head to Target, Sears, Nordstrom, Macy's, Purrmission. . . Heck, I don't care where you buy them; Just get out there and experience the little thrill of having brand new underwear. You're welcome.
Image and photo credit: Title 9's website
It just kills me to see women wearing ill-fitting and underperforming exercise bras. My mind goes back to the many sports I played throughout my childhood and through college, before the age of well-designed athletic bras. Boy did I suffer!
Though there is nothing like trying on several bras in stores to find out which styles and size suit you best, I highly recommend your giving Title 9 a call. You can order from this company online as well, but their stellar phone service representatives will not be satisfied until they are certain they have found the right bra for your size, shape, and type/s of exercise/s you do. They are true experts.
I saw this silk " Angel" kimono. Ethereal!
Somehow, whilst doing a little gift shopping for others last weekend, I found myself making a couple of purchases myself. Lingerie designer Samantha Chang was at Purrmission Lingerie that day, showing her exquisitely beautiful undergarments and loungewear. In this photo, she is holding one of her most popular items: a silky smooth slip which also comes in black and white. We talked about the importance of good undergarments and what a difference they make in the appearance of an outfit. I would consider this slip a wardrobe staple.
I appreciate the fine workmanship of her designs and how well they fit. I love the color combinations she used, such as burgundy and navy in a lovely lace camisole. Chang is a true entrepreneur with a fine talent for creating delicate, feminine, wearable pieces. I suggest you check out Chang's designs for yourself or someone special.
Photo from Bounce's catalog
One of my favorite websites, Healthy is the New Skinny, posted this very instructional and informative video on what to expect at a bra fitting. My recommendations for places to get a proper fitting in Santa Barbara are Purrmission and Nordstrom. Once you learn your current size (which may bear little resemblance to the size you have been wearing), great, reasonably priced bras can be found at Sears. I also think the Bounce catalog and website feature some cool bras. If the customer service is as excellent as that of Bounce's mother company, Title 9, then you can expect superb guidance and help over the phone.
I entered Purrmission Lingerie yesterday, intending to buy some panties (Hanky Panky lace thongs are on sale for $15 this month!) and some Forever New laundry detergent. I walked out with these two things as well as a bra.
Did I need a bra? Yes, but I am not my regular size right now, and I have been reluctant to invest in something that would only fit temporarily. However, once I began explaining my rationale for not making a bra purchase to Purrmission's owner, I realized I sounded like some of my shopping- adverse clients. So many women tell me they are on a diet; therefore, they do not want to buy anything until they lose weight. At the same time, they do not want to get rid of any of the clothing that is already loose on them because they may gain the weight back. In short, they are choosing to wear ill-fitting and thus unflattering clothing while they are dieting. Is this motivating in any way? No! What I tell them, and what I told myself the other day, is that wearing pieces that fit NOW will make me feel good and look good.
I am a bit behind in my magazine reading but was happy to come across a section on bras in June's In Style. The following fit guidelines should seem obvious, but most women don't pay enough attention to them and end up with bras that are uncomfortable and do nothing for their figures.
1. The Band: "It should sit snugly around the rib cage. As your bra stretches out, move the clasp inward."
2. The Cups: "Signs of an ill-fitting cup include puckering, gapping, wire that digs, and--of course--the dreaded double boob."
3. The Straps: You should be able to put two fingers comfortably under your straps. The band, not the straps, should be holding up your bra.
4. The Style: Branch out and try some new styles when you go bra shopping. Your old standby may be great, but there could be others out there that are just as great if not better.
Check out this nifty video on Nordstrom's website which shows how to find a good-fitting bra.
Oh, the quest for a great-fitting strapless bra that lifts and supports. Oh, the failed attempts, the trips back to the store to return a bra that started out fine and ended up just above my belly button. Years ago I gave up even trying on dresses or tops that required a strapless bra. I would watch small-breasted friends wear tank tops and camisoles without a care in the world.
Then a buxom friend told me with great enthusiasm about her new strapless bra. Of course I could not wait to give it a try. Imagine my disappointment when the bra she loved was out of stock in my size. My determination was fired up though, so I headed to Purrmission.
There I tried on my friend's bra, by Fantasie. It fit okay, but it cut into my ribs. As if a strapless bra is not already uncomfortable by definition! Undeterred, the helpful saleswoman suggested I try a strapless bra by Marie Jo (one of my very favorite lingerie brands). When I put it on, I felt fantastic, as if I were wearing a regular Marie Jo bra. I then walked around the store, and the bra stayed up; there was no downward drift. Eureka!
So, do not despair. The right strapless bra is out there for you, just in time for this summer's breezy styles.
I just realized the pun in that title, though it was not aknowledged in the Easy Living piece I lifted it from. What a shame. Anyway, here are the myths and the real scoop: 1. White underwear is the best under white clothes. Undergarments as close to your skin tone as possible, such as nude, will be genuinely invisible. 2. Bra sizing is universal. Bra sizes depend on the brand, so always try a bra on before purchasing it. 3. Wearing a bra that is too small will enhance your cleavage. "Wearing a bra where the cups don't adequately cover the breast will create the apearance of the 'double boob,' where your bust is pushed up above the top of the bra: never a good look." 4. You only have to get fitted every 10 years. Get measured at least once a year, as your size may fluctuate for a variety of reasons. 5. Good bras are expensive. Once you learn what style of bra gives you the best shape and support, you can seek it out in many mid-range brands. This same Easy Living article featured an "at home lingerie consultant." Ha! People say Americans come up with the craziest jobs. Actually, this is a brilliant niche: a woman who will come to your home, go through your lingerie, and help you figure out what styles suit you best and what you should get rid of. In the end, I imagine that she, like Wardrobe Wisdom, will save her clients a lot of time, money, and stress.
I was at a department store recently, trying on a form fitting knit dress. Viewing myself in the 3-way mirror revealed my need for a slip. So I asked the young salesgirl if she could fetch me one from the adjacent lingerie department. She looked at me as if I'd asked her to get me a hot dog. I repeated my request, but she still seemed perplexed. Taking matters into my own hands, I walked over to the lingerie department, asked a knowledgeable salesperson where the slips were located, found an appropriate one, put it on, and then asked salesperson #1 if she noticed a difference. She replied, "Yeah, you don't look so bumpy." Nice. Today I read a post which thoroughly covers the ins and outs of slip wearing. Thank you, Diana!
I tried on a cute, simple jersey skirt the other day that I thought would be perfect for easy summer days. It is navy cotton with a rolldown waistband. When I brought it home, however, I realized that it showed every little imperfection. So now I am the owner of a Spanx slip which creates a beautiful, smooth appearance in any of my body skimming skirts. Thus I have completely nullified the whole "easy summer days" concept of skirt-wearing. When I was whining to my mom about wearing the Spanx girdle, I got to hear what girdles were "really like" in the 1950s and was told I had no idea what true discomfort meant. Oh well.
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