I seem to have a lot of racerback clothing in my wardrobe this summer.  I’ve been wearing my favorite (discontinued) strapless bra, but this year’s Overall Undie Winning Bra was a racerback style, so I decided to buy it and give it a try.  It’s the Vanity Fair Body Sleeks Flexi Back Front Close Racerback bra 75263.

I put it on and it was not an instant love connection.  On me, this bra was full coverage, and I’m not a big fan of bras that cover my upper chest so much.  I also wouldn’t call it pretty.  But, the damask neutral color was a good flesh tone for me, and the bra is seamless with contour padding in the cups which I like very much.  So, I pressed on.

What I have never liked about racerback bras is the straps coming so close to my neck.   There is this muscle called the scapula that goes from your neck to your shoulder.  I don’t like pressure on it, and every racerback bra I have tried seems to hit at the most painful point.

But unlike most racerback bras, the Body Sleeks Racerback actually has what they call a "flexi back."  The straps are not actually connected.  They cross in the back, but also move as you do.  So, I was able to place the straps farther down my shoulders and they stayed put.  It’s a simple design, but actually quite ingenious.

With this bra on, I went about testing it with all my racerback tops.  I was stunned.  Absolutely every top I tried on completely covered this bra.  I mean every one – including a racerback where the narrowest point was only about 2 inches wide. Not a strap showed anywhere. The full cup coverage prevented any bra lines under my tops. And, this bra has front-adjusting straps.  I figured out that by loosening them a little, the straps would sit wider on my shoulders.  When they needed to be up higher, I adjusted the strap tighter and it stayed where I needed it to. 

Conclusion:  Our Undie Award voters know their stuff.  I now understand why this bra won such high marks.  I’m a convert, and I know you will be too.  Unfortunately, the size range is pretty small.  It starts at 34B and goes to 40D. 

Find Vanity Fair lingerie at HerRoom in these departments:
Bras
Panties

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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

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The overall favorite bra for average figure in 2007 was a push-up bra by Wonderbra – style 7234.  In 2008, the overall average figure went to a Vanity Fair contour t-shirt bra – style 75-266.

The shift went from a push-up bra that gives more shape and volume to a contour bra that is full coverage and has a thin layer of stretch foam in its seamless cups for modesty.  It would seem that women are trending away from the va-va-voom look to a  shape that is comfortable, flattering, and more natural.

For the overall favorite full figure bra category, the winner in 2007 went to "The Oprah Bra" by Le Mystere – style 9955.  However, in 2008, there was a tie for two very similiar Vanity Fair bras – styles 75-005 and 75-134. 

The Le Mystere 9955 Tisha bra was really quite a breakthrough bra for large cup sized women.  Finally, there was a seamless and contour t-shirt bra in their size.  This bra also scored highly in 2008, but it lost out to two bras with seamed cups (also known as cut and sew bras).  There is no better support than a multi-section cup bra.  Yes, the Le Mystere 955 is invisible under clothing, but it also a large bra that doesn’t breath very well because of the foam used to line the cups. Both Vanity Fair winners are back-to-basics in terms of fit, shape and support.  My guess is that full figure women have both a t-shirt and a section cup bra, but they find their section cup bra to be the most comfortable.  This is why I think these basic bras without any of the latest technology tied for Favorite overall bra in the full figure category.

The Favorite Overall Panty between this year and last was quite a surprise.  Whereas in 2007, thongs garnered the top 2 positions for everyone’s favorite, this year, the first thong appeared in 4th place.  For 2008, the top two postitions went to very basic full brief panties.

2007 was the year of Hanky Panky thongs.  Everyone loved them and was wearing them every day.  Now, in 2008, women are reaching for briefs, with the most popular being the Vanity Fair Perfectly Yours Ravissant Brief – style 15-712.  Yes, the brief known as "the granny panty" is everyones favorite again.  The reviews on the voting tell the story.  Over and over again, women commented on its comfort, coverage and the fact that it doesn’t show panty lines.  This is important.  I think most women have been convinced that the only way to avoid panty lines is to wear a thong.  Wrong.  The old-fashioned brief with no hi-cut to the leg also does a pretty good job of hiding under clothing as well.  Women still have thongs in their panty collection.  But, for every day comfort and converage, they are wearing their basic briefs and loving it.

So, here are my final thoughts on all of this.  There is clearly a trend back to basics.  Yes, women probably have a variety of items in their lingerie wardrobe.  But what they are loving is their basic undergarments that do the job, and are comfortable.  Women are creating two lingerie wardrobes for themselves – one for everyday and one for special or weekend wear. 

Find the Undie Award winning lingerie at HerRoom in these departments:
Bras
Panties
Shapewear
Thongs
Sports Bras