Let’s first start with a little reality check.  We’ve all seen photos/video of existing cultures where women walk around topless. Were their breasts perky, firm and full?  Of course not.  So, right there, this study is contrary to what we know to be true.

If you’re a woman and you’ve ever experienced breast bounce then you know – it hurts! Yet this study is claiming that women who went braless experienced a lift in their breast apex, and reduced back pain.  In my blog from a few years ago regarding breast bounce, Dr. Joanna Scurr found that our breasts move in a figure 8 while running, and that constant downward breast motion was found to be very painful for women.

Another important fact (that older women probably remember), is that sports bras are a rather new invention.  Before they were created, women with large breasts could not comfortably compete in sports.  Now, with the many sports bras available to women, more and more large-breasted women have become active and participate in sports.  No longer is there concern about controlling breast tissue during active exercising. So right there is one great argument for wearing a bra.

Wearing the right bra style and size can actually make you look thinner and more youthful. So, like the right style of clothing, bras makes us look better.

Now, let’s get into the physiology of breasts.  There are no muscles in your breasts.  Thus, there is no exercise a woman can do to bring her breasts up once they start to sag.  Our breasts are held in place by our Coopers Ligaments.  Ligaments can stretch, but they can not constrict.  So, it is just counter to reality for this study to conclude that women who went without their bras saw their breast apex lifted by 7 mm each year.  (See diagram above.)

Bottom line: leave it to a man to tell us we don’t need to wear a bra.

For more reliable information regarding breast bounce, see Dr. Joanna Scurr’s research in the UK regarding this topic. 

If you’re a fan of the hit drama, Mad Men, then you know all about Jon Hamm’s character and his dapper ways. But recently it’s been his not-so private parts that have been drawing some scandal of their own. It’s been reported that he was recently asked to wear underwear on set during filming because of his oversized anatomy. In the actor’s defense, those suits from the 1960′s are pretty snug-fitting as was the fashion back then. Most people would consider this a great problem to have but it inspires the question, are men pressured to hide their packages, much like women are encouraged to hide their nipples? In Europe, women are proud to show off their nipples in non-padded bras but not in America. Is it the same with men? Are we becoming more modest or is it only a matter of time before we just let it all hang out?

Women turn to bra styles with light padding or contour/t-shirt bras to achieve a more modest look but what many men don’t know is that they too – have some ‘secret weapons’ of their own. Underwear made from microfiber tends to be more supportive than underwear made of cotton but you’ll still get that lightweight, breathable feel. Guys can also choose underwear with a contour pouch to help tame the

bulge. It may be taboo for some men – but If all else fails – you can also choose to wear a thong to get coverage without having to wear a full pair of underwear.

For those of you not interested in football, there was still plenty of reason to tune into Superbowl action last weekend: commericals and the half time show. This year, both featured products we carry at HerRoom and HisRoom.

I was thrilled to see the very first Calvin Klein ad during the Superbowl – I’ve since seen in cabs and ad boards all over NYC.   The commercial introduced Calvin Klein’s new Concept collection – men’s underwear styles that feature 360 degrees of seamless construction. HisRoom offers the 3 underwear styles from this collection.  CK claims it’s the most comfortable fit yet.  And, the commercial also had high eye-candy appeal for the female demographic.  

The guys got a little eye candy of their own during Beyonce’s highly anticipated performance during half time. But of course, I also keyed in on what they were wearing.   I spied Beyonce’s back up dancers wearing these Pretty Polly tights. A great company for leg fashion, Pretty Polly is way out in front in terms of new and innovative hosiery.  Their Secret Over The Knee Sock Tights gave a great fashion statement to Beyonce and her entourage.

Is there just one way to find your bra size? In my experience – no. Four years ago, I set out to educate women on how to find their bra size using the tape measuring system by creating this how-to video. But I felt we needed an update to the old tape measuring system and recently created this new, more accurate video showing you how to measure for your bra size.

As we mention in the video, this tape measuring method isn't always the most accurate and I don't guarantee using it will reveal your true bra size. That said, I do feel there is value in showcasing this method because – for many women, this

can be a great starting point to finally finding their bra size. Once you get a general idea of what size you might be, then it's time to try on several sizes until you find the one that fits the very best. You can use this Bra Fitting Checklist

to ensure you are wearing the correct size.

For more information, visit our Bra Fitting section where you'll find expert advice on bra fitting, classifying your breasts and the best bras for your breast type.

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outfits showcasing her lingerie or lingerie-inspired looks. The Twilight actress attended the Variety Studio awards in preppy plaid pants and a sheer white v-neck tee with a black bra underneath. This is a great example of how to show your lingerie the right way. It's not too tacky but yet still shows off the starlet's sexy side

.

Unfortunately, Kristen's sheer mini dress at the 'On The Road' premier wasn't quite as flattering. This Erdem frock was picked straight off the runway but was shortened to show off her legs. The high waist knickers look does nothing for her figure, in fact, this cut makes her look like she has a belly. The bra inspired top is not as supportive as it could be, giving her a less than perky look.

The good news here is that I can't think of anything that could make this look worse – Kim did everything wrong here. I've noticed a lot of women – mainly celebrities – taking inspiration from their lingerie drawers when putting together outfits. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. This one is a visual OUCH!

Kim Kardashian was snapped in this get-up a few weeks ago. What was she thinking? custom term papers

#039;>check credit score online free Not only is she “stuffed” into this outfit, but the bra top is not giving her support and she has back fat. Now, take a close look at the skirt… real close. The girl has no underpants on! A thin unlined skirt requires panties at the least but should also include a piece

of shapewear or a slip. And the cherry on top of this disaster has to be that belt.

I'm all for lingerie trends but they're called foundations for a reason and it looks like Kim forgot the most basic one. What a mess.

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David Beckham was “caught” in his underwear recently in L.A. by a bus of tourists. Why? He was in the middle of a photo shoot for his H&M underwear brand. Beckham and other hotties of late have been posing in their skivvies such as Justin Beiber and Thom Evans.

Actually it’s a nice change of pace to see men objectified while wearing underwear. And even nicer to learn that roughly 2/3rds of men’s underwear is selected and purchased by women.

That’s right. Moms, girl-friends, wives and maybe even sisters are making men’s underwear decisions for the men in their lives – according to UK’s Daily Mail online newspaper.

Even better, women are giving their men an underwear overhaul. Gone are those awful tightie-whities with the shield-like crotch cover that always bags and look half-open most the time. And, gone is white. In its place women are selecting trunk style underwear in a

variety of colors and with a great contrasting waistband. Also trending up in men’s underwear is the new fabric technology called “stayfresh” which prevents odor.

Ladies. IF you’re buying underwear for the guy in your life, know that you’re not alone. For the women not… maybe you should! And, with Christmas coming along with all our HisRoom sales at 25% off right now, it's the perfect time!

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Kudos to Stella Boonshoft for seemingly overcoming the pressure women face to look perfect by showing herself in a bikini to the world! I'm sure this took incredible bravery on her part, given the extreme standards women today save on auto repair are held to by the media. Recently,

Stella unveiled photos of herself in a two-piece bandeau suit on her blog, The Body Love Blog.

The New York college student has become the voice of women hoping to overcome their own body issues and her campaign has been a success. Stella has gone viral with her bikini pictures with millions views on Facebook and even an appearance on The Today Show.

I applaud Stella's efforts for going against the norm and trying to inspire

women to love their bodies no matter their shape.

to their shape between wearings.

This bra-washing frequency topic started a whole discussion on our Facebook Page with women sharing all of their tips and tricks. One HerRoom fan said she hand washes her bra after every use. First, she soaks it in the kitchen sink with a mild detergent, then uses a soft bristle nail brush and gentle soap to scrub the underwire and edging to remove deodorant and sweat. She says this technique has preserved the quality of her bras that she's had more than a year. My response? Wow, are you for hire?

We learn so much from our Facebook fans, and here is a perfect example. We learned many women, after hand-washing t

heir bras, stick them in a salad spinner to remove excess water. Isn't that fabulous? And it makes perfect sense. The spinner eliminates water without wringing or twisting – a major no-no with lingerie

if you want it to last longer. Genius!

While I don't think you have to go to such extensive measures to care for your delicates – I do recommend hand washing your bras. But if the washing machine is your mantra, at the very least, put your bras in a lingerie bag like the Braza Safety Washer Bag to protect the underwires and straps from getting tangled. Wash on Gentle cycle, using mild detergent.

And NEVER put your bras – or any lingerie for that matter – in the dryer. The heat will deteriorate spandex , not to mention – possibly pull and twist the underwires.

Find more helpful information about caring for your delicates here.

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