Archive for the 'Bra Fitting' Category
Hanesbrands Announces a New Fit Technology
August 13, 2010
I’m the first to raise my hand and say that bra sizing is confusing and convoluted. It’s one of the reasons women find themselves in the wrong size bra. In an effort to sort this all out and reduce the number of bra sizes on the market, Hanesbrands has stepped up and created a new sizing technology that they claim will replace multiple current sizes with one size.
The goal, according to Hanes, is to make it easier for shoppers to buy bras while also providing superior comfort and a better fit. They feel their goal has been met with a new ‘breakthrough’ fit technology.
Their proprietary bra technology called "Smart Sizes" will be rolling out this fall under their Hanes and Barely There brands. It is a series of floating and flexible bra frames that lets the bra mold to the shape of the wearer. And it does this with just 5 bra sizes rather than the traditional 16 cup/band sizes.
“Smart Sizes is a very big concept that revolutionizes how women fit and buy their bras,” according to Sandy Waitz, vice president of intimate apparel design and development for Hanesbrands. “With the flexible fit properties of Smart Sizes, women can find a bra that literally molds to their individual shapes, including unique fit challenges such as between sizes and unevenly sized breasts.”
Okay, here is where my enthusiasm wanes. The five Smart sizes are extra small, small, medium, large and extra large. And these five sizes will replace the traditional size range of 30A through 42C.
Though I wish it weren’t so, I’m afraid this new breakthrough could be a bust. Sure, less sizing means less choices when trying to figure out your size. Retailers will like only having to stock 5 sizes instead of 16. But I need to see and try on this product to really get on board with this new sizing technology.
Hanesbrand claims they don’t need that many sizes because the bra somehow will mold and custom fit to your individual shape. Hearing this, my mind races to a picture of me being ’shrink-wrapped.’ We all know that when we find our correct bra size, we look terrific. I can’t help but wonder if these blended sizes will still give that crisp supported look, or more of a shelf-bra or bathing suit look where if you’re falling out or the fabric gaps a little, you’re supposed to assume that’s as good as it gets.
Find Hanes and Barely There lingerie at HerRoom in these departments:
Bras
Panties
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Posted by Tomima at 12:31pm
3 Comments »
Should Overweight Women Be Modeling Lingerie?
April 20, 2010
I came across a curious online survey recently A UK based retailer, Wickedelic Lingerie, found that 24% of the 500 respondents felt allowing larger women to model lingerie was promoting an unhealthy lifestyle.
Whether you agree or not, my website from time to time gets input from large-sized customers saying they wish we would display our products on models more their size. So, several years ago, we ran a test on one of our more popular bras where we tracked sales with two different images – half the time we displayed the image of the bra on an average-framed woman, and the other half on a full-figure woman. The results were signficant– the average model image generated more sales.
If you think about this, it really makes sense. I will buy an item I see displayed on a model that is smaller than me. But, I can honestly say I have never purchased an item when it has been shown on a model that is larger than I am. Take a look at these two photos of the same dress. Would you buy this dress if you only saw the model wearing it? Or would you buy the dress based on the display on the mannequin? I think most would agree they find the mannequin shot more appealing – unless they are the same size or larger than the model.
I don’t think this is discrimination. I think this is simple marketing. However, having said that, I have tried very hard to answer the need for women who wear larger bra sizes to see a model wearing a garment more to their size.
You may not know this, but the HerRoom site has alternate shots on a larger model (usually a 36DD) for bras that come in larger sizes. For example, look at our page for the Chantelle Fete Bra style 1960. You will see that we also show another image of a 36DD model wearing the same bra.
It is true that some bras have subtle design changes in the larger sizes. We make every effort to show the larger size on a fuller model, or at least mention the design change in our descriptions.
No one is here to judge. Yes, marketing is important, but we also want to satisfy all our customer needs. If anyone has a suggestion to improve what we are doing, I’m all ears!
Find bras that come in larger sizes at HerRoom in these departments:
Bras
Plus-Size Lingerie
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Posted by Tomima at 7:32pm
6 Comments »
A New Average Bra Size in the USA
March 23, 2010
The average bra size used to be a 34B in America. In fact, when I need a sample of a new bra style, what size arrives? Yes, a 34B. Everyone in the bra industry still uses this size as the norm. But over the last 10 years, the average bra size has been climbing.
Ten years ago, when I started in this business, I was informed that the new average bra size was a 36C. Well, it is now being reported that today’s median bra size in the US is 36DD – that’s an increase of 2 cup sizes.
I’m happy to say that the bra industry has seen this trend coming. I’ve noticed that many traditional manufacturers, like Wacoal for example, have increased their cup size range. You can now purchase many of their bras in a G cup (which is the same as a DDDD cup). The brand Olga actually revamped their entire bra size range two years ago. Their products now start with a C cup and go up – no more B and A cup sizes.
As the need for larger cup sizes grows, I really do wish we could standardize how these cup sizes are named. You may not know this, but many manufacturers could be calling your cup size by other letters. For instance, some manufacturers refer to a DD as an E cup, a DDD as an F cup and so on.
For those of you needing help deciphering all the variations for your cup size, I’ve tried to make it easy by creating our size conversion chart. Simply find your column, and you now have your cup size in every bra brand available.
Find all cup sizes at HerRoom in these departments:
Bras
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Posted by Tomima at 1:45pm
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