Tomima’s Blog - Lingerie & Underwear Expert

The Sassybax brand is getting a lot of press today.  First on The Today Show, and then later tonight on Donny Deutsch.  So, what’s the buzz?  Well, it’s actually about promoting the Donny Deutsch Show - "The Big Idea."  Donny has selected two women entrepreneurs to be on his show titled, "There’s gotta be a better way."  Each talks about seeing a need in the market and inventing a solution to solve it. 

Amanda Kennedy is the inventor of Sassybax, (pronounced Sassy Backs).  This is a line of bras and camisoles that claim to eliminate back fat.  What they actually are is a rib knit shapewear piece that you either pull up and on, or over your head.  It has no openings, so it’s a bit of a wiggle.  But, once on, these garments do give a smooth back under clothing.

The reviews on HerRoom about her Sassybax camisole and bras are rather mixed.  Shorter women warn that the camisole is too long causing the bottom to roll up.  Others feel the ribbed fabric used to make the garment is too heavy and adds bulk.  Some don’t like the look of their breasts being smashed and feel there is little breast support.

On the positive site, many love the way it shapes and smoothes.  Many find it comfortable to wear, and smaller breasted women - C cup and smaller - felt there was great support.

Sassybax has 4 basic products:
Bralette Bra style BR01
Torso Trim Camisole style TT03
Underwire Torso Trim Camisole style UTT
Sassybax Underwire Strapless Bandeaux Bra style US05  (which receives the most positive reviews of all the styles).

So no mater how you spell it, Sassy Backs, Sassybacks, or Sassy Bax, this shapewear lingerie does is an answer to the comment "There’s gotta be a better way."

Find SassyBax in the following HerRoom departments:
Shapewear
Bras
Camiloles
Women’s T-Shirts

I’ve been seeing the word "Simplex" a lot lately. In fact, a quick search shows HerRoom offers 16 items made with simplex, and several of them incorporate simplex into their product name. It looks to be a trend in lingerie. So, what is simplex and is this a good thing to look for in lingerie and specifically bras?

Let’s start with defining simplex. For that, I’ve turned to two great sources. My friend, Ellen Jacobson, President of Elila Lingerie, and Beverly Johnson, Author of "The Bra-Makers Manual" and a true expert in bra construction and fit. Beverly has written about simplex several times on her blog. True simplex is a nylon knit with a little stretch - not like nylon that’s combined with spandex. Molded simplex bra cups can stand on on their own - even in the bigger cup sizes - without needing interfacing or other fabrics fused or layered onto it. And, simplex tends to have a matte finish. Ellen takes the definition a little farther. She first points out that the word simplex in Asia or Europe simply means a knit or "tricot" fabric you see in bathing suit material but without the spandex.

However, simplex’s more correct definition is a type of knit that has a "V" shape pattern to it’s knit. This makes it great for molding to the body. And, because of this type of construction, rather than just stretching up and down, and left and right (known as a 2-way stretch), simplex has what is called a mechanical stretch - it can stretch in every direction. But, it also gives great support because the stretch is controlled and not overly stretchy. It’s more like our skin, it stretches a little in any direction, but bounces back and gives great support. So, seamless molded bra cups made in simplex will be light-weight, but hold your breasts firmly without sagging - even in the larger cup sizes. A simplex cup will feel like wearing a second skin because of it’s all around firm support that stretches to give your breasts a natural look.

Here are some bras using simplex fabric in their seamless cups:

The Fantasie Smoothing T-Shirt Bra style 4510

The Lilyette Technocomfort Unlined Bra style 947

Also, Olga company is also launching throughout 2008 several underwire and minimizer seamless cup styles that will be using molded simplex in the cups.

You can find bras made with Simplex on HerRoom.

This Friday, Oprah will be airing one of her "Favorite Things" show, and the new sensation - The Yummie Tummie - is one of her picks (That’s right, she changed the spelling from yummy tummy).  For a company that has only been around for four months, this is quite a feat. 

This new hot must-have was designed by Heather Thomson, a fashion designer for over 15 years.  She designed it to meet her own need to want to wear form-fitting clothing after having a baby.  She didn’t like the feeling of all the shapewear out there and felt most of it caused more problems than it solved.

So, what is a Yummie Tummie? It’s a shapewear piece with a twist - it can be worn as outerwear, or as a layering piece, and is designed to be seen.  Think about these t-shirts, tanks and camisoles that everyone is buying and layering one over the other.  A Yummie Tummie looks like one of these except right below the bust and all the way down to your hips, the fabric has been replaced with shapewear fabric to smooth you out and suck you in.  You then can put another layer over it and look fabulous without anyone knowing you have on a shaping item.  The Yummie Tummie Collection has about 8 silhouettes ranging from a tank, crew neck t-shirt to a long sleeve v-neck.  There is even a nursing camisole so you can look great after your baby but still be able to nurse.  All come in basic colors, with some fashion colors thrown in.  Oprah will be showing the white and salmon colors on her show this Friday.

I need to mention a quick note about how to put it on.  Yes, it can go over your head, but it could be a bit of a struggle and possibly mess your hair and/or make-up.  The quickest and safest way is to step into the Yummie Tummie and pull it up like you would a one-piece bathing suit.

The fabrics used in all Yummie Tummies are what really make this garment work.  The top bodice and bottom panel is made in cotton knit; just like your t-shirts.  The minimizing panel is a firm microfiber that is made with sleek yarns to prevent your top layer from clinging.  This two-fabric concept keeps the garment looking modern while staying in place and not riding up.

All Yummie Tummy styles also come in two lengths - regular and long.  The shape is the same, but the shapewear section is approximately 3 inches longer.  This way, if you’re tall or want a longer base piece for a layering look, you can order the longer style.  The longer length also lets you pull the Yummie Tummie down over your back side for even more shaping andn smoothing.

Also, be sure to check out the Yummie Tummie sizing.  They come in sizes of XS to XL with XL fitting a t-shirt size of 16 and hips of 42".

This new and exciting item is sure to be the hit this summer.  Stock up because we’re hearing that supplies are already constrained.   The other silhouettes are due to ship in July and August.  The long sleeve versions are due to ship in September.  The nude camisole in the regular length is totally sold out.