How To Make Your Bras Last Longer!
For some of us, bras are cheap and disposable items bought from Primark for a few quid and chucked out when they wear out.
But not all bras are cheap, and certainly you get what you pay for when buying a ladies most intimate item of apparel. What we are trying to say here is that if you look after your Bra, it will look after your bust for much longer!
Here are some tips that will make your favourite bra last much, much longer: -
• Wash your bra on a delicates cycle separate from non-underwear items. A too vigorous wash cycle will stretch your elastic and may also bend underwired cups out of shape.
• Invest some money in a delicates wash bag. These great bags will ensure that the delicate fabric in your bra is not damaged during the wash cycle.
• Use a specialist delicates wash detergent that will not bleach your bra or degrade the elastic elements.
• If your precious bra is ultra delicate, consider handwashing it rather than putting it in the machine. Even with a delicates bag, more expensive and delicate lingerie could be damaged, which would be heartbreaking!!
• Do not tumble dry your bra. The heat will cause a lot of damage to the fabric and elastic, and you’ll find yourself needing replacement underwear in double quick time.
• Do not wear your bra for more than one day at a time. Now that’s an odd one, isn’t it? We’re told that the lycra elastic in all bras stretches easily, and that the heat of your body will cause it to deteriorate more quickly if you subject it to prolonged exposure. Rotate your bras daily and increase their lifespan!
• Store your bras carefully. Stuffing them in a huge drawer willy nilly can cause the same kind of damage a washing maching cycle does. Your precious undies will be stretched and pulled out of shape. Make sure they are folded neatly away and that the drawer is not over-full.
We’ve found some great Bra washbags on sale at Caraselle Direct. They cost just £4.99 or £19.99 for a pack of 5 and are specially padded to make sure that your underwired bras don’t get stretched out of shape. The bag zips up so there is no danger of them opening up in the wash.
How To Choose A Well Fitting Bra - Video
We thought this video detailing clearly how to buy the best type of bra for your bust was extremely useful. Particularly for those of you reliant upon online shopping due to a lack of choice locally.
This great bra guide talks about the best types of bra for different bust sizes, and also how you can tell when a bra is not fitting you properly. It gives great detail on how to try bras on, how to wear them, and how to tell if a bra is fitting you properly.
How To Choose A Well-Fitting Bra
Looking For a Swimsuit To Hide Your Tummy? Try The Studs Range By Magic Suit!
Going to the beach can be a bit daunting for those of us who want to flatter problem areas such as the stomach. Many swimsuits designed to flatten the tummy look a little on the frumpy side, but here at lingerie brands we were delighted when we discovered the Magic Suit studs swimsuit. This great suit pulls you right in all over, flattening those problem areas and removing pounds from your figure without the need for that pre-holiday crash diet!
Fashioned with a halter neck, and a ruched tummy with stud features, this great little number from Magic Suit looks like a sure fire hit on the beaches this summer. With swimwear like this, you no longer have to worry about feeling as if your wobbly bits are on display for all to see… cos they won’t be!!
You can see more from Magic Suit’s tummy flattering range at Figleaves.com >>
How To Measure Your True Bra Size
Far too many women are wearing the wrong bra size. This can affect your breasts by leaving them unsupported, and can also cause you to have poor posture as well. It’s important to give your boobs the support they deserve, and its easy peasy to measure yourself to get an idea of your correct bra size.
Step 1 – Working Out Your Band Size
Get yourself a dressmakers tape measure (one of those soft ones).
Measure the dimensions of your ribcage directly beneath your bust whilst wearing a bra you think fits you really well. The tape should sit on the lower band of your bra.
Make sure that the tape is level at the front and back (use a mirror to help you) and that it is reasonably snug against your skin.
This measurement is what you use to work out your band size. Add five to this number to get the correct band. i.e. if you have a 27 inch measurement, you need a 32 band size for your bra. If you get an odd number i.e. 33 it is usually OK to go up to the next band size (i.e. 34). However, you might also want to try on the next band size down (i.e. 32) to check which is the best fit for you.
Step 2 – Working Out Your Cup Size
OK, now we have your bra band size we need to work out your cup size!
Measure around your bust at its fullest point. Again, make sure it sits evenly all the way around you and is snug against your body. The difference between this measurement and the band measurement we worked out previously is used to determine cup size.
For example. If you measured 27 inches under your bust, worked out from that you needed a 32 band size, and had a bust measurement of 36 inches, you would require a 32D bra.
This is worked out using the following: -
if the difference is:
less than 1 inch = AA cup
1 inch = A cup
2 inches = B cup
3 inches = C cup
4 inches = D cup
5 inches = DD cup
If you’re getting confused by this, check out this great bra measuring video guide: -
How To Measure Your Bra Size
Buying Lingerie As A Gift - A Man’s Guide!
So there’s a special day coming up for the lady in your life. What to buy? An obvious answer is lingerie, but for many men what to buy and in what size is a terrifying mystery. Also, what style of lingerie should a man buy for the woman in his life? It’s waaayyyy too easy to buy something inappropriate or in the wrong size, which can cause us awkward ladies no end of offense.
This usually has men dashing for the perfume or gift token counter in their local friendly department store. However, when you get it right lingerie can be a much appreciated luxurious and intimate gift.
Great, so how do we get buying lingerie as a gift right?
Panic ye not chaps. Buying the right underwear is achievable in a few easy steps!
Have a Think About What She Likes - NOT What YOU Want To See!
The most common mistake made by misguided chaps is treating a lingerie buying expedition as the opportunity to buy your significant other some daring undies you’ve never seen her in. Look, who’s this underwear for? The chances are if your lady has never lept out from behind the front door at you in a dominatrix outfit, she’s really, really not going to appreciate you buying her one as a surprise. Chances are she’ll (rightly) assume you bought a gift for yourself and want her to wear it for your entertainment. This is definitely the right way to find yourself spending your romantic night in the dog house!
Want to buy the right thing? Ask yourself the following questions….
What Lingerie Would She Like?
Try to find out what kind of underwear she likes to wear (surely you’ll have noticed!). Work out if she likes thongs or not, look at what style of bras she tends to wear… have a bit of a chat over a glass of wine and work out whether or not the prospect of suspenders is alluring to her or if she’s likely to achieve orbit if you buy her some.
How Does She Dress?
The daring nature (or otherwise) of her outerwear will give you some clues as to what she is likely to appreciate as an underwear gift. If she tends towards plunging necklines, and tight, low cut trousers then she may appreciate a more provocative choice. However, if her wardrobe consists of loose-fitting modest clothing, now may not be the time to buy her something that Dita Von Teese would wear out to dinner!
If You’re Still Not Sure…
A bit of a failsafe option is a luxurious chemise and robe or loose fitting camisole and panties in a fabric such as silk or satin. A pair of beautifully cut silk pyjamas with a sassy camisole would also be a better bet for romance than buying her something that’ll make her feel like a hooker.
< — What about this silk kimono from La Senza? It’s £45, and you can also buy a matching silk chemise and cami knicker set. It’s classic, seductive and luxurious without going over the top. No cup sizes are required and just about any girl would love to have a nice item like this to wear after a rotten day at work.
You can See this and similar designs at La Senza’s online shop > > (Opens in New Window)
For God Sake, Buy The Right Size…
OK, this one is not hard chaps, but its something that so many men get wrong. If you buy a size that’s too small, you’ll make her feel fat if you buy her a size that’s too big you’ll make her think YOU THINK she’s too fat (which is far worse I can assure you). This one has happened to me. My ex boyfriend bought me a size 16 robe for Christmas a few years back. This told me one of two things. Firstly, “He thinks I need this size, and my real size is 10” and secondly “He’s so lazy he couldn’t be bothered to make sure he bought the right size.”
It’s not hard to find out your other half’s bra size. For a start, you can always just ask her. “Honey, you have beautiful breasts. I adore them. What size are they?” Alternatively, if you’ve been with your lady for a while and might offend her by asking a question you’re supposed to know the answer to, just take a gander in her knicker drawer and write down the bra and knicker sizes you see in there. If there is more than one size, write them all down and take them into an underwear shop and ask a sales assistant for a hand. They’ll be able to help you!
What Colour Should You Buy?
Open her wardrobe doors. If there are some colours you see cropping up a lot, you can bet they are her favourites. Buy her something in that kind of shade. If in doubt, black and cream and safe classics.
Finally….
Us women are fickle and hard to please… so keep the receipt and make sure that what you buy is returnable!
