Archive for the 'Intimate Wisdom' Category
Sagging Breasts – Does Wearing a Bra Prevent This?
June 19, 2009
Let me start with the punchline here: No one knows. Believe it or not, research on what causes breasts to sag has not been done. This fact is probably due to the time involved to find out. You’d be hard pressed to find a woman willing to go without a bra for 10 years all in the name of science – especially if she’s full figured.
So we don’t know if bras prevent the inevitable breast sag. But, here are a few things I do know. My 80 year-young mom has great looking D-cup boobs. Even her gynecologist has commented on how high they are compared to those of other women her age. I too have pretty perky ones. What both of us have in common is that we have always worn a bra. Though I’m a C cup, I really avoid clothing where I can’t wear some kind of bra.
I had the opportunity to work with Joanna Scurr last year. Dr. Scurr is the only one I know currently doing work on breast bounce and movement. Her research shows that our breasts move in a figure-8 motion as we move – especially while running. Though she wasn’t able to measure an increase in sagging, she did discover that breast pain and thus breast movement can be reduced or eliminated by wearing a supportive sports bra. The more support, the less the bounce and thus less breast pain. HerRoom, in fact, is the only website that conducts a bounce test on every sports bra and shows you how much breast bounce to expect when wearing various sports bras.
Our breasts, like our faces and other body parts, are subjected to daily gravity. They will sag. And, since they have little to no muscle tissue, it’s not possible to tone our breasts to make them firm. Wearing a bra may or may not reduce your sag over time, but what a bra can do is put your girls in a more flattering light. A bra can lift, separate, push up, minimize, plump up and generally present your breasts in a more youthful and attractive silhouette to make your clothes look better. And, wearing a bra cuts down on breast pain, reduces jiggle, provides modesty from headlights showing, and makes us more comfortable. All in all, it’s a great idea to wear a bra.
Find Sports bras at HerRoom in these departments:
Sport Underwear
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Posted by Tomima at 11:41am
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Shapewear and Strapless Bras with Silicone Gripper Tape – Does it Really Work?
May 11, 2009
I just returned from New York this week where I was meeting with several shapewear manufacturers. Specifically, I was in a meeting with Maidenform who also makes Flexees and Lilyette. While looking at their exciting new styles for 2010, some interesting information came out.
I think we all know about that silicone gripper tape that is often used to line a strapless bra or the edges of shapewear. Consumers, and I’m one of them, have always thought that when a garment has this, it will stay in place – no more pulling up a strapless bra or feeling that creeping up feeling from the legs of your shapewear. Well guess what? Having that silicone inside your garment doesn’t do anything. That’s right, Flexees in particular has run tests and found that it doesn’t really work. It’s a purely cosmetic feature. Consumers see it and the perception is that the garment will stay put. If deciding between two garments, a consumer will pick the one with the gripper tape because the perception is that it will stay in place better.
So, the lesson learned here is to look at the construction and fabric of the garment. Quality elastic that isn’t skimpy, and fabric with an ample percentage of spandex will provide the best support and staying power. All that gripper tape is doing is pulling on your body hairs and irritating your skin.
Find strapless bras at HerRoom in these departments:
Bras
Find lingerie accessories at HerRoom in these departments:
etcetera
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Posted by Tomima at 9:52am
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A Molded Bra Versus a Contour Bra – What’s the Difference?
March 25, 2009
The lingerie industry has created confusion over the last several years with the two terms "molded" and "contour" to describe a bra cup. So, allow me to explain the difference.
A molded cup has been shaped over a breast mold to give it a pre-defined breast shape. Fabric with synthetic fibers is stretched over a hot mold form, a second hot piece comes down on top of it and molds the former flat piece of fabric into the shape of a breast. this piece is now the bra cup and is sewn into a bra frame. Usually, the fabric is seamless, but molded cups can also contain seams – this gives added support.
A contour bra is a molded bra, but with a thin layer of foam included in the cup to provide modesty by reducing or eliminating nipple show-through. This foam also helps create a specific shape to a woman’s breast tissue. It can make you more rounded and uplifted.
Now, here’s where additional confusion comes in. A contour bra is also called a t-shirt bra by many retailers and manufacturers. So, I empathize with women out there who find this confusing. But, there is a subtle distinction here as well. A t-shirt bra always has a seamless cup with thin foam for modesty. A contour bra also has the foam, but it can also have seams for added breast support. So, a t-shirt bra is always a contour bra, but a contour bra is not always a t-shirt bra.
I personally am a big fan of the contour bra because it’s the perfect choice for any woman seeking a sculpted silhouette. It offers a significant amount of coverage and adds definition, smooth shape, and best of all, the elimination of nipple show-through. Contour bras are also a good choice for in-between bra sizes, or a woman with uneven breasts.
Now, contour bras do have their detractors. Larger breasted women don’t like them because they believe they add size to their bustline. I would agree that in the past, this probably was true. However, the manufacturers have really refined the contour bras to give shape and contour to the breast without adding volume.
A molded bra is usually made with a single piece of fabric or has a second layer for opacity and additional strength. It is the ultimate light-weight bra for a woman who wants to feel and look like she’s wearing nothing, but knows that she needs to wear something to make the girls look attractive and youthful.
View HerRoom’s selection of contour bras
View HerRoom’s selection of molded bras
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Posted by Tomima at 1:16pm
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