Finishing School – B is for………..

June 16, 2010 | Category: Uncategorized

Brassiere (bra to you and me)

That’s right ladies. Predictable and, I am certain, something you have heard often before but I imagine that many of you need telling again and here I am to do just that – you need a well fitted bra before you need anything else!!

Women have worn bras for over 100 years and never before has there been so much choice, have they been so affordable and fitted so well, yet so many women where ill fitted, uncomfortable and wholly unattractive bras. If you can take one thing away from my Finishing School and one thing you can do that can change your figure, posture, appearance and confidence all in one easy moment it is that you MUST be fitted for a good bra.

The right bra does so much for a woman:

emphasise that most beautiful, and lets face it, alluring part of our bodies that are so clever and we are so lucky to have – our breasts! It doesn’t matter if gravity has taken over, breast feeding has left them empty or they’re so heavy they heave down to your waist. There is a right bra for everyone and with the right bra every single woman’s breasts can look AMAZING! I kid you not.

will ensure that your figure is as it should be, breasts on the breast bone, waist in the middle and stomach below. Your breasts should not swing around your middle, no matter how heavy you are. If they do and you appear to have no waist then you must buy a bra as a matter of urgency. Not only can the wrong bra make you look two stones heavier than you are but it is bad for your physical well being to be carrying such a heavy load in such a slack way.

will give a women a cleavage to be proud of, all women, be they small breasted or large breasted. They lift your breasts to the right place and keep them there. The right bra makes you want to wear low-cut tops for the first time in years or indeed ever – believe me!

holds your breasts in place giving them the support they need and easing pressure on your back, neck and shoulders. So many women have chronic pain in these areas which can be easily rectified just by having a bra fitting.

makes you feel FANTASTIC! Honestly, you don’t know until you have done it but the sense of amazement in what you have and how beautiful you can look is out of this world when you find the right bra for the first time. Once you have the RIGHT bra you never, ever, go back to shoddy fitting bras.

makes you look thinner! It pushes your breasts up and in and gives every woman a much better shape.

If you do a lot of sports or gym work, even dancing, then do buy yourself a good sports bra. This will prevent breast tissue and muscle damage and prevent long term damage.

*pregnant/breastfeeding women please see my note at the end of this post

So, how do you go about finding the right bra?

Personally I have tried all of the bra fitting services available on the High Street; Marks and Spencer, John Lewis, La Senza, specialist boutiques – everywhere. None of them come close to doing what Bravissimo has done for me and other larger breasted ladies. If you think you are a C cup or above I would head to Bravissimo. Unfortunately they only work with D cups and above but if you’re a C cup elsewhere it would be advisable to check with them.

Bravissimo was introduced to me by a good friend two years ago and I shall never shop for bras anywhere else ever again. Prior to going to Bravissimo I was always fitted with a 32C cup. These were always uncomfortable, loose and too small for me. It would appear that the reason I was fitted with this incorrect bra is because my bra size is unusual and they never stocked it and therefore felt inclined to offer me the closest thing they had. Closest is not good enough and was far from correct.

Bravissimo stock a massive range of sizes and I am now a very comfortable, amazingly well fitted 28F. Try buying a 28F anywhere else – impossible! My friend also raves about Bravissimo and she has the most enormous breasts I have ever seen! All in all, my experience and anecdotal experience from friends would definitely suggest Bravissimo come out on top. I do, however, know a few who don’t get on with them so you may need to try a few places to find which suits you best.

Here are my tips for finding a well fitted bra:

If you can, make an appointment with wherever you are going for a fitting, ( Bravissimo has an appointment service) this way they can dedicate more time to fitting you.

Make your appointment or have your bra fitting in the afternoon. This way your breasts are at their largest and will ensure your bra fits you all day long. You will be surprised how much your breasts grow with water retention during the day. This is why many bras fit so well in the morning but are less functional by the afternoon.

Be sure to have a good wiggle and jiggle around when you try a bra. You want to emulate some movement as once you start trotting around in these things, bending up and down and so forth your boobs tend to jiggle and wiggle and in the wrong bra will suddenly pop out at the most inappropriate time!

Initially buy two bras, nude and white. I opt for these colours as they can be worn under anything. This way you can wash one and wear one. As you build your bra collection you can add different colours.

Stick to basics first. A good bra that can be worn under most clothes without seam lines showing. Bravissimo do a great range called the Tango Plunge Bra which comes in various colours, can be worn under most things and is only £20.00 (see below)

Once you have your basic bras you then go on to add a black bra, strapless bra’s in all colours, multiway bras and then go on to build a ‘pretty’ collection. Think practically first as they are expensive items and first and foremost they need to make you look and feel great with clothes ON. They may not be the sexiest looking items but you will look far sexier in them with clothes on than you would in something ill fitting. Bedroom lingerie is a whole other kettle of fish and something to be discussed later in this course

Workshop Week 2 Challenge

So. My challenge to you…..yes, you’ve guessed it…….go and have a bra fitting. You have two weeks to have a proper fitting and tell us all how you have got on. I want to hear all about it, how you feel after you have your amazing new bra. Do you feel more attractive/comfortable/sexy? Does your figure look better with clothes on because of your new bra? Has your back/neck ache disappeared? Has anyone else noticed a difference? Where did you go? Before and after shots would definitely be a good thing (with clothes on, I don’t suppose the blog world is ready for our boob exposures although some men reading this may disagree!)

You will need about £20-30 for one bra from most high street fitters (you can move on to Agent Provocateur once you have the basics sorted out!), which I understand might not be possible for everyone but if you can then do find it as it really will be money well spent. If you have done this recently then tell us about it, where you went, how you found the service, what you bought, how you feel.

*Note for pregnant/breastfeeding ladies – as I know some of you are:

I found having a bra fitting a particularly daunting prospect during and after pregnancy/breast feeding as I didn’t feel my breasts were ‘right’ and was self conscious. This is actually the most important time to have a fitting as this is when your body most needs the support. The NCT offer a fantastic maternity and breastfeeding bra fitting service which I can highly recommend. Often they can send a representative round to your house to fit you – fantastic in those latter stages when getting out and about is a huge chore.

I want you to start this finishing school with the right bra so that everything you wear from now looks the best it can.

Go get those boobs sorted out ladies!

Lottie -x-

PS – for those of you that are a little nervous of bra fittings please see this page where I explain the process and what happens. I hope it helps.

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16 Comments

MissSearles
on June 16th, 2010
1
I was a good girl and went for a fitting when i was in Lakeside last week. Will blog about it (did not get on with La Senza bras-i swear they are 3 cup sizes out!) as part of my workshop
xxx
Livi
on June 16th, 2010
2
I’m so proud that I’ve already had my bra sorted! Although I do have plans to buy a new one so I shall get them remeasure just for you!
shopaholicann
on June 16th, 2010
3
Right! this means no more online shopping for bras till I know my right size!!! Now to find the nearest shop.
A
on June 16th, 2010
4
Oh, dear my youngest is 2 and breastfed and I’m still wearing the same breastfeeding bras as I had when she was born.Must get that sorted over the weekend.Fantastic and informative post by the way.
mummylimited
on June 16th, 2010
5
What an amazing coincidence. Today I’ve arranged for a babysitter for Fri am so I can go shopping and one of the things I’ve sorted is a bra fitting at Bravissimo…and that was before I read this post. I will make sure I blog about it.
Abbie
on June 16th, 2010
6
Loving this post! I was fitted in Bravissimo (they were brilliant! so friendly and helpful) a while ago and I have recently invested in a few really decent bras and the difference is actually amazing! I’m a 36F and Bravissimo and Debenhams are pretty much the only places I will shop for bras now, going cheaper is not worth the pain and disappointment!!
Jenny
on June 16th, 2010
7
As I am such a bravissimo advocate I feel I need to comment on this!! Bravissimo literally changed me and how I felt about my boobs. I am currently a 34H and have always been a big girl in that department. Before bravissimo my wardrode was so restricted by the bras I wore, but now I have allsorts and am hardly restricted at all. I have even bought swimming costumes, pjs and tops and yes they even do dresses!!! They beauty of their clothing they fit you STD size but with bigger bits for your boobs- I often have to wear bigger sizes just to accommodate.
Anyway I’m sidetracking! A bra fitting at bravissimo although daunting at first is actually a really good experience. The ladies that work there are all big busted beauties themselves, so know exactly where you are coming from. Once you get over the initial nerves it really is great and you can really take advantage of their knowledge, helping you find the perfect type and size bra for you, asking them to bring you everything you need without leaving the changing room.
I have lost count of the amount of girls I have recommended and actually converted (including my mum who was wearing completely the wrong size) and they in turn have converted their friends. I have even taken friends into m&s and done a bravissimo style fitting on them when there hasn’t been one in the area. Once you know how q good bra should fit and what it should look and feel like, you’ll never wear the wrong size bra again!!
Just a few extra tips
always handwash!!!! I know it’s a chore but it really does make them last longer!
Try and replace your bras at least every six months – it is amazing how you can change over this time and also how the strength of the bra lessens.

Sorry for hijacking your blog Lottie, but you know it’s something I’m passionate about x x
Lottie
on June 17th, 2010
8
Everybody else – meet my friend Jenny who introduced me to Bravissimo. You can tell why now huh?!
Lottie
on June 17th, 2010
9
It’s great isn’t it? I am so pleased to hear that so many of my readers are in good bras. You ladies ROCK!!!
Lottie
on June 17th, 2010
10
Great minds!!!
Lottie
on June 17th, 2010
11
@alybean I hope you do Mrs! Those feeding machines need to be well taken care of! xx
Lottie
on June 17th, 2010
12
If you really can’t get to a shop for a fitting then Bravissimo do fittings online and over the phone to help you get a good fit. I have no idea how good this service is but maybe worth a try? x
Tatum
on May 28th, 2011
13
Hi Lottie, I’m catching up! Thanks for this one. It was something I needed to do, I just needed a push
Tatum recently posted..Finishing School- B
Gail Ann Thompson
on November 2nd, 2011
14
I decided to do 2 “letters” a day until I caught up with finishing school. I’m really glad I moved on to “B is for”.
First, I am just AMAZED at how many ladies, myself included, go down in band size and up in cup size, once properly fitted!!! That alone should improve one’s self esteem.
Second, I’ve worn custom fitted bras since the 80′s. BUT Having been dieting, they don’t fit so well and I thought I might order some new cheap, cotton ones, ‘to get me by’ until I’m nearer my goal.
Well, you’ve changed my mind about that!!
As soon as the shop opens this morning, I’ll call and make an appointment and get 2, maybe 3 new bras. Then IF I lose any MORE, I’ll get re-fitted THEN.
Thank you!
Gail Ann Thompson
on November 2nd, 2011
15
Are you tired of hearing from me this morning?
I just wanted to say that I appreciate your emphasis on a woman’s femininity. Something, sadly dismissed, since the 70′s.

I haven’t made it down to “R”, but is it for “Regrets”? I have a few. One of them is “Swimming with the Sharks” in the business world, instead of being at home during my daughter’s teen-age years. She is a fine woman and I’m proud of her. Still those years are lost to both of us, and we’ll never get them back.
Lottie
on November 2nd, 2011
16
@Gail Way to go!! I can’t wait to hear about the results and see if you feel all the better for it. Losing weight (assuming you needed/wanted to) is something worth celebrating and enjoying with a new bra. It’s amazing how much waist us ladies discover when we wear a good bra.