Tomima’s Blog - Lingerie & Underwear Expert

I saw this today and had to blog about it. We’ve all seen those silly hats where you put beer on each side and the wearer has siphon-like hoses leading to his mouth.  Well, this same idea now has been incorporated into a bra form.  The website, firebox.com is selling this sports-bra looking item under the oh-so ridiculous name of ‘The WineRack.’

Clearly invented by a man, the WineRack comes in two sizes - small and medium. It consists of an almost no-shape sports bra with a removable dual bladder made of polyurethane that slips inside the bra frame and has a hose attached.  The claim is that once the bladder is filled, a woman’s cup size will increase two full sizes.  So if you start at a C cup, wearing a filled up WineRack will have you walking around looking like you have a DD rack… hence the name.  The wearer also now has a portable cocktail station on her chest where she can pass around the hose and simultaneously deflate her breast projection.  See what I mean?  Clearly, invented by a man.

The practical side to all of this is that this device allows a woman to bring a drink into places where it’s not allowed or must be paid for.  For example, church, concerts, sporting events and Disneyland.

Selling for just $29.95, it will probably pay for itself with one wearing given the over-charging of drinks at entertainment venues these days.  But the two sizes are not explained, and the bladder is easy to see.  A shirt or something needs to be worn on top.  And forget about support. 

All in all, I think this gadget is more for the benefit of men than the beautifying of women.

Find actual sports bras at HerRoom in these departments:
Sport Underwear

My summers, as a youth, were spent at our Country Club pool practicing for swim team.  All the kids - boys and girls - donned Speedo style bathing suits.  This weekend, while watching my girls at the pool, I noticed that not one kid was wearing a Speedo.  In fact, both boys AND girls were wearing boardshorts - those long-legged swimsuits we used to call "jams."  Am I dating myself?

So, what’s going on with swimsuits for men these days?  Rather than skimpy and streamlined, men seam to be turning to coverage and baggy.  A great article at AskMen.com shed some light on the subject.

To begin with, it’s kind of a regional thing.  European men by far wear mostly speedo style swimsuits.  American men, on the other hand, basically refuse to, unless competing in some kind of water sport.  The article went on to say that women from both regions are of the same opinion.  American women kind of snicker at the thought of a guy in a Speedo.  European women accept the fact that, whatever the physique of a guy, he will be strutting around in a little Speedo.

So, what are the pros and cons to the two styles?  Apparently there are far more pros to the speedo style:

• They’re more comfortable - All the parts of a man’s "package" stay put without worry.  In a boardshort, the parts shift each time water hits them.
• Better tan lines - More body is exposed so better tanning.  A boardshort gives you a goofy partial tan on your legs.
• Sign of confidence - A man who is comfortable strutting around in a Speedo does not lack personal confidence.
• Better movement - The Speedo style has little to get in the way when moving.  In contrast, a boardshort is bulky and can create drag in the water.

Another point to bring up here is that, like women’s swimsuits, many suits are not actually used for swimming.  They are more beachwear.  So, maybe the answer here is to own both styles - the Speedo-style briefs  for European travel and water sports and the boardshort for socializing around water, for modesty, and social survival in America.

A quick straw poll from male colleagues got a stark ’swimshorts or nothing’ reaction.  But according to Askmen.com the debate is actually divided by geography more than anything else.  Men in North America are more swim/boardshorts based than their European counterparts.  Certainly having holidayed in the South of France last year, Speedos seemed de rigeur among the older holidaymakers.  And the Russians.  But the younger ones were certainly veering towards shorts by the pool.

Perhaps it’s all a confidence thing, with the older male more used to his body and feeling confident with who they are than younger types still working it out.  Whatever you feel most comfortable in of course, we’ve got a great selection of both, check ‘em out here.

You know, it makes sense.  Police women find wearing normal underwire bras uncomfortable under bullet-proof vests.  If she is struck by a bullet while wearing one, her underwires and other bra hardware can be pushed into her skin causing pain and possible injury.

Well, leave it to the Germans to come up with the answer.  Dubbed the new "bullet-proof bra" by the German media,  the Hamburg-based federal police force has successfully marketed police-issue bras for the German police force. According to the Telegraph UK, Carmen Kibat, a policewoman in Hamburg who tested the new underwear, said: "These can save someone’s life so it’s not a laughing matter." She organised "Action Brassiere" across Germany, getting hundreds of policewomen to try the bras out in the line of duty.

Looking very similar to a sports bra, this new bra is white, has padding to prevent vest chaffing, and is a cotton/polyester blend.  My favorite design touch is the word "Polizei" woven into the bras elastic band under the cups.  And, this bra has absolutely no metal or hardware on it.  It must be slipped on over the wearer’s head, and the straps do not adjust. Apparently, there are several styles to choose from, but all have these specific features.

After a recent two-month field test, German women police officers are now allowed to pick three bras and have them paid for by the police department.  A total of 3,000 front-line police women have access to these bras.  So, the next time you’re in a German airport, train station or border crossing, know that the female police officers are probably donning one of these new bras.  However, a police spokesman was heard saying that the wearing of these new bras "is optional."

Find bras at HerRoom in these departments:
Bras