Tomima's Blog – Lingerie & Underwear Expert

(un)covering what's under everything

The 2009 Undie Award Winners

June 09, 2009

 

Your votes are in!  This year we received more than 20,000 votes from women and men telling us their favorite undergarments.  Some are repeats from last year, but there are also some fresh new designs.  So, for the third year in a row, here are the 2009 Undie Awards Winners:

This year’s Overall bra winner for average figure goes to the Vanity Fair Body Sleeks Contour Stretch Bra 75-266.   This is the second year in a row that this bra has won this award.  Bottom line: this bra is just plain comfortable with a very simple t-shirt design.

 

 

This year’s Overall bra winner for full figure goes to the Panache Superbra Tango Underwire Balconnet bra 3251.  A pretty and flattering bra, it is also very supportive.  Its cup sizing goes up to a JJ.

 

 

 

The Overall Panty winner was the Olga Secret Hug Nylon Scoop Halfpant 913.  Over the three years of this award, most of the panty winners have had a center back seam.  This center back seam gives a much better fit and shape while keeping the panty from riding up.

 

 

In the Men’s category, the Overall Favorite Boxers went to Calvin Klein Slim Fit Woven Boxer U1513 for the Woven category, and the Calvin Klein Cotton Knit Boxer U3008 for the knit category.  Both have a devoted following because neither has too much or too little fabric. Both fit just right.

 

In total, there are 36 Undie Awards given out in the Woman’s category, and 14 Undie Awards given out in the Men’s category.  For a full list of winners, go to TheUndies.com and click on the 2009 Winners. And, while you’re there, go ahead and cast your vote for your favorites.  You could be wearing the next Undie Award Winner!

 

Find Undie Award-winning lingerie and more at HerRoom in these departments:
Bras
Panties

Follow HerRoom on Twitter for daily tips.

Posted by Tomima at 8:36am
No Comments »

Creating Cleavage – It Could Mean Wearing the Wrong Size Bra

December 19, 2008

 

I was in a boutique on Rodeo Drive years ago, and trying on a pair of pumps.  The sales person remarked on how fabulous my toe cleavage looked.  What? I thought.  Toe cleavage?  Well, now I’m in the bra business, and breast cleavage is a constant topic.  Women and men have differing options on what is attractive breast cleavage.

Let’s first define cleavage.  In general, cleavage refers to a separation or division of form.  In science, it’s the process where a cell divides into two cells after mitosis.  In geology, it’s the partial opening caused after a split or rupture.  And, in politics, it’s when there is a split within the political system along ideological or ethnic lines.  But, when it comes to a woman’s body, our culture defines cleavage as the exposed area between a woman’s breasts.

 Bra manufacturers work very hard to give women separation between their breasts. They mostly design bras with a center panel that lays against a woman’s sternum.  But, there are also a lot of women walking around with D cup size breasts and larger wearing low necklines that expose breasts touching one another.  And it is this look that men tend to favor.  So, how is this look achieved?

 By way of example, Felicia, one of our buyers’ assistants, agreed to take one for the team and posed with a couple of different bra sizes to show you what I’m talking about.  Before being fitted in our office, Felicia was walking around wearing a size 44D.  Now, most women would think this bra fit her correctly.  But, as you can see from the front and top down view, her breasts are touching one another.

After a proper fitting, Felicia was found to be a 40G. In these two photographs, you can see her breasts are separated, and the center of  the bra rests on her sternum.  Felicia agreed that the new size was more comfortable and flattering to wear, but commented that her husband preferred the look of her breasts in the size 44D.  By-the-way, Felicia is wearing the Le Mystere 9155 in both of these photos.

So, here’s the rub. Do women really want separation? Or do they want that line of cleavage that men like to look at?  I think the answer is both.  I then sent Felicia through our catalog to try and find a bra in her correct size that would give the same look to her breasts as her 44D.  The closest she could find was this Panache 3606.  In this photo she is wearing a size 38G with a bra extender on the back because this bra did not come in a 40 band size. The reviews by customers about this bra are mixed – some love it, and many 32 band size women don’t.  I can sympathize with Panache.  In order to get a low plunge in front, they must have larger cups to give support – otherwise women will complain about falling out.  But now, women are complaining that they don’t like the shape of the bra!

Here’s my suggestion for a solution.  For women wanting that cleavage line (and are a D cup or larger), first look at the plunge bras available in your size.  There are several on the market that do a great job such as the Panache bra,  the Prima Donna Menton Plunge 016-1564,and the Felina Jennifer Deep Plunge Bra 29885.  Also, if you have implants and thus don’t need the support of a bra, you could wear a NuBra and attach the clasp to pull your breasts in.  Finally, if you really want that look, go up a band size and down 1 cup size in your bra and see if you get the desired look.  In Felicia’s example, she went up two band sizes and down 3 cup sizes to get her look.  Again, this is not a bra size you would want to wear all day, but if you want this look for a special outfit or evening, it’s something to consider until a bra manufacturer actually makes a bra that gives women this cleavage look.

Before signing off, I need to comment to the C cup and smaller women that this cleavage look is almost impossible to obtain for you.  I for one am a C cup, and my breasts have never touched regardless of the push up and cleavage enhancing bras I have tried on.  I just don’t have enough breast tissue. The closest I’ve come is with a NuBra. But take heart; as any full figured woman will tell you, we get to wear a lot more variety of clothing styles and look good in it.  So, it really is a trade off.

 

 

 

 

Find plunge bras at HerRoom in these departments:
Bras

 

Follow HerRoom on Twitter for daily tips.

Posted by Tomima at 9:18am
3 Comments »

Christian Audigier – Who is this Guy?

September 12, 2008

His name is Christian, Christian Audigier  (O-di-jaaay)  and he’s the man behind the designer brand Ed Hardy.  A 50 year young Frenchman, Audigier has been a fashion designer since his teens.  So, he’s really not a recent phenomenon, but rather a well-heeled designer who is just hitting his stride.

 Prior to Ed Hardy, Audigier was the designer behind brands including Diesel, Fiorucci, Bisou Bisou, Levi’s and Von Dutch.  Then, in late 2004, he happened to be in the right place at the right time and purchased the exclusive rights to the designs of theGodfather of Tattoos, Don Ed Hardy.  

 Taking those designs he put them on street clothing like t-shirts and hoodies in bright and bold colors.  He made sure young Hollywood was also seen wearing them.  This winning combination has now in 4 short years, put him on top of the fastest growing fashion empires today.

With the success of Ed Hardy, Audigier is now coming out from behind the name and actually promoting his own.  Christian Audigier designs look very similar to Ed Hardy, but have a touch of bling as well.  In fact, they almost feel like they have a touch of vintage Versace in their buttons and details.

 HisRoom has been selling the Ed Hardy and Christian Audigier boardshorts this summer as well as Ed Hardy underwear and swimsuits.  We can’t wait to see what Audigier comes up with in spring of 09.  It’s guaranteed to be fabulous.

 

       

Find Ed Hardy lingerie at HerRoom in these departments:
Panties
Camisoles

 

 

Posted by Tomima at 8:59am
1 Comment »