32AA Bra

Is Small the Next Big Thing? Should It Matter?

Jan 212012

Is Rooney Mara making small sexy again? - Photo via Wmagazine.com

In a recent Slate Magazine column, Simon Doonan cites Rooney Mara’s Dragon Tattoo nude scenes as evidence suggesting the wispy waif look of ’60s “cool girls like Twiggy, Ali McGraw, [and] Mia Farrow” could make a comeback soon. And even though he additionally cites European health scares caused by leaky implants, he fails to definitively predict the answer to his own sub-headline “Could small breasts make a comeback?”

Jacqueline Burt, blogger for Café Mom’s “The Stir”, also looks to Ms. Mara, but points out her off-screen glamour as she walked the red carpet of the Golden Globe awards along with other small-busted celebs Claire Danes, Charlize Theron, and Evan Rachel Wood. Burt suggests the rejection of cosmetic surgery by more and more movie stars is indicative of a return to the glamorous flapper style of the jazz age. Continue reading »

Felina Victoria Bra Review - On Sale in 32A, 32B

Savings No Responses »

Jan 162012

I got the Felina Victoria balconette contour bra from my boyfriend for Christmas, and it’s a winner. Unfortunately, it also seems to have been discontinued… that figures. Why must this happen with so many of the bras I love? Can’t a curve-challenged chick get a break? The good news: I did find this bra still available and on sale in sizes 32A and 32B.

It’s a lovely, elegant demi-cup style with lightweight underwires that don’t come up too far at the sides — perfect if you’ve got a short torso and perky, high-set breasts. (Yes, that would be me). The balcony cut means the cups are set a bit farther apart than they are on other Felina bras, which I like; it makes for a much more comfortable fit.

Find out where to buy this style after the jump.
Continue reading »

Itty Bitty Convertible Strap Wire-Free Bra Review

Itty Bitty Bra, Lingerie, Size AA 2 Responses »

Jan 132012

One of the top brands for petite lingerie in the United States, Itty Bitty Bra, has come out with a new convertible model. This is great news for those of us who struggle with slipping straps.

The IBB convertible strap bra is a wire-free style with triangle-shaped contoured cups and a narrow band. It closes in back with a single row of hooks (like the classic Itty Bitty Signature Bra). The straps are detachable and can be worn cross-back, halter-style or classic.

The description of this bra on the IBB website does not mention the fact that it is a wire-free style. I would have preferred an underwire, because with the narrow band and only one row of hooks in back, there isn’t much support.

If you’re between band sizes, definitely order the smaller size — otherwise it will ride up (a common problem with wire-free bras). Sizes come in Extra Small (32), Small (34), Medium (36), and Large (38). Cup sizes are all AA/A; I would not recommend this bra for B cups.

Affinitas Intimates Giveaway

Lingerie 8 Responses »

Jan 062012

Our friend Jennifer at Magnifique has generously offered us this gorgeous Affinitas Jasmin chemise and hipster lingerie set to give away to one lucky reader of 32AA Bra.

To enter:

Follow Magnifique and 32AA Bra on Facebook.
Contact Amanda to let us know you are following us and Magnifique. Please include a link to your Facebook profile so we can confirm this.

That’s it! Entries will be accepted until January 31, 2012. The winner will be chosen at random and notified on February 1, 2012.

More about the Jasmin set: Affinitas is a stylish, fun brand that makes bras starting at a size 30A and lingerie from size extra small. The Jasmin lace chemise and hipster set is available in sizes XS (0-2; underbust = 32), S (4-6; underbust = 34), M (8-10; underbust = 36), L (12-14; underbust = 38) and XL (16-18; underbust = 40). If you need one size in the chemise and a different size in the hipster, this is fine; just be sure to let us know which size you want in each if you win. Color: silver only (as shown).

Good luck!

Zee Bra! Contest Winner

Size AA 7 Responses »

Dec 312011

I’m pleased to announce our Zee Bra giveaway contest winner, Col! She will receive a brand new Zee Bra by Lynn Saussy. Col’s honest, body-positive and unapologetically feminist entry essay and illustration are featured below. I know you’ll enjoy it as much as I did. -Amanda

32AA is beautiful!

I hate bras. Okay, well I don’t HATE bras. But I hate that I have to feel required to wear one. It’s like no one has ever seen a breast before. Yes, my nipples stick out when I don’t wear one, that doesn’t mean you have to stare at them, or judge me. Pretty sure you have nipples too!

Yea, okay, once in a while it feels nice to give my boobies some shape so they can fill out a dress a bit better (and by fill out, I mean as much as a 32AA breast can “fill out”). But in my perfect world, women would be walking around topless, free of restrictions, free of groping and ogling and unnecessary judgment.

My entire childhood was plagued by the fact that I was flat-chested. I didn’t grow my tiny little bumps until I was well into high school. Middle school was miserable! I would hide my chest by wearing oversized sweaters, even in the summer.

While other girls were talking about their time of the month, I was still waiting for my period. While other girls were talking about which bras they wore, I was just starting to wear little-kid training bras that were really just tiny sports bras – a flat piece of fabric across my chest. Then when I finally grew some, I couldn’t even be happy about it! I still couldn’t wear real bras; I still had to somehow hide my nipples with baggy clothes.

Busted! by Ali Cudby

Getting Intimate No Responses »

Dec 272011

Ali Cudby

Ali Cudby, a well-known authority in the lingerie industry, has just published a groundbreaking new book on bras and bra sizing: Busted! The Fab Foundations Guide To Bras That Fit, Flatter and Feel Fantastic. Cudby refers to herself as a “bra coach,” because she believes in a cooperative fitting process that empowers her clients to learn for themselves which brands, sizes and styles work best for their bodies.

In Busted!, Ali Cudby debunks the common bra fitting method of adding four inches to the underbust (ribcage) measurement in order to determine band size. In fact, she says, this antiquated technique is the reason why most women end up wearing bras that are too loose in the band and too small in the cup. The “add four” strategy is almost completely obsolete — and yet, many lingerie companies still train their salespeople to follow it.

Coobie Wire-Free Padded Bra Review

Size AA 6 Responses »

Dec 162011

I can’t believe it’s taken me this long to discover bralettes. The bralette is the perfect in-between solution to a proper (e.g. underwire) bra and going without (which is never acceptable outside the house in my book. But don’t get me started on that). Or actually, I should say, the padded bralette is the solution. Because really, what’s the point of an unpadded bralette for the AA-contingent? There are, of course, lined bralettes. But since they offer nothing in support, they’re again sort of pointless for us small girls.

Anyway, getting off track… Back on track now! Enter: the Coobie Seamless Bralette. The Coobie website describes their seamless bralette as “…simply the most amazing bra you’ll ever buy. Ultra comfortable, supportive, and inexpensive – it’s the perfect combination.” From my experience, this is accurate. The bra is ridiculously comfortable and its removable pads are substantial, so it rivals regular bras in support. Also, it is “one size fits most” and that includes 34AA (it fits me perfectly).

Review: The Little Bra Company Mercedes

Lingerie 6 Responses »

Dec 132011

Wendy and I each tried on a different size in The Little Bra Company’s Mercedes bra, so we decided to review it together.

Wendy: I really love the overall style and color of the bra, even before I put it on. I got size 30B in the gorgeous dusty pink. It’s a great color! But I’m partial to pink.

Amanda: I got a 32A in the slate gray, and it’s really beautiful. And I feel the same way about the style… elegant, well-made, high-quality fabrics.

Wendy: How did you do size-wise?

Amanda: It seems to run smaller in the cup than I expected. The fit in the band is great. In the cups, it almost works but I notice a slight quad-boob thing going on. Also, I am spilling out the sides a little. Not sure if I’ll find the B cup too large, though. I may be between cup sizes in this brand.

Blush Dreamgirl Push-Up Bra Review

Size AA No Responses »

Dec 032011

Blush Lingerie - Dreamgirl push-up bra set

Pure romance.

This is a review of the Dreamgirl push-up bra, by Blush Lingerie. I learned about this company from Avec L’amour, an online intimates boutique with a special category for bras that fit well on small-breasted women. The owner, Lisa, is one of my best resources for information about size and fit — especially for AA and nearly A bras.

She’s the one who recommended I try the Natori Feathers, to which I am now completely addicted. An elegant, sophisticated piece, the Feathers bra fits me perfectly in a 32A — with no gaps in the cups. The Dreamgirl push-up, another of Lisa’s favorites (available for purchase at aveclamour.com), has a similar fit: perfect for the nearly A or fuller AA woman who tends to have trouble filling out standard A-cup bras.

In fact, I would even say this style runs a bit smaller in the cups than the Natori Feathers — but perhaps this is because I’m not used to push-ups. It certainly does its job, as far as providing lift and a bit of a boost in size.

The padding is substantial, but when I’m wearing the bra it does not look fake and does not create a significant change in the lines of my natural silhouette. I think that’s because the cups are spaced fairly wide, so you don’t look or feel squeezed (the all-too-common phenomenon I like to call “boob-smash”).

Adore Me

Bralettes, Everyday Bras, Getting Intimate, Lingerie, Petite Style, Savings 3 Responses »

Nov 172011

While I am (arguably) adorable, that is not a command. Adore Me is the latest website to toss its hat garter into the ring of private sale sites. It’s not a flash- or sample-sale site, though, where you have to jump on the deal right away or you lose it. Rather, they offer a personalized selection of bra/panty sets, tights and stockings, and an “accessory” section which consists of less-than-practical evening wear. Overall, the site has a lot of potential. There are some great features, but there are also plenty of pitfalls. We’ll nit-pick the hell out the site but first let’s take a look at how it works. Continue reading »

Erica of SophisticatedPair.com: "No Comparisons Needed"

Getting Intimate 9 Responses »

Nov 152011

In her lingerie store for curvy ladies, online at SophisticatedPair.com

Do we think the 32AA woman has it any easier?

A gust of chilly fall air whipped through my lingerie store as the familiar sound of the doorbell announced the arrival of a customer. Smoothing her hair quickly, a tall and curvy brunette around thirty walked briskly toward me with a slender woman in her late fifties close behind. Before I could introduce myself, the curvy brunette proclaimed, “I have big boobs, and I need to be fitted into the right size.”

“Perfect!” I answered cheerfully. One of the many lessons I have learned since opening my business four months ago is that a proper fitting session at the start alleviates the guesswork of pulling bra after bra from the rack in search of a good fit.

As I escorted her into the fitting room, the brunette casually passed off her bag to the woman I soon learned was her mother. ”Were you interested in being fitted too?” I asked.

“Her?” the brunette scoffed. ”She doesn’t have any boobs! What does she need a bra for?”

Regretfully, this wasn’t the first or last time I’ve heard such questioning if not outright disdain toward the mere mention of fitting a small-busted woman. At some point, the reigning opinion became that only bigger-busted women deserve a properly fitting bra. The rest, it seems, can make do without. But from where does this belief—this marginalization and assignment of significance to cup size—originate?

Japanese Bras From Kaori's Closet

Lingerie 1 Response »

Nov 112011

A beautifully designed bra.

Kaori’s Closet is a cute little Japanese lingerie store located in the Soho neighborhood of New York City. Recently, I had a lovely shopping experience at this cozy boutique.

The predominant aesthetic is delicate and very feminine. Kaori’s features bras and lingerie from Japan, but they also carry a few brands that we might be more familar with, including Elle MacPherson and Timpa.

Japanese lingerie tends to run quite small compared to the standard US sizing, which is ideal for those of us who require petite bras.

Petite bra from Japanese lingerie boutique Kaori's Closet.

My favorite bra of the bunch!

Colorful lace and frills are everywhere at Kaori’s Closet. I like this look, but I wasn’t completely sold until I tried on a few of their beautiful bras. The sales associate put on white gloves to measure me, brought several styles for me to try, and helped adjust and fit me into each bra. The service here is fantastic!

My best fit is a Japanese size C65, which is equivalent to our 30C. I ended up taking home four bras from the Japanese brand Narue, all of which make me look and feel amazing.

Itty Bitty Bra Review, by Charis (size 34 AA/AAA)

Size AA 2 Responses »

Oct 282011

Not Charis.

Editor’s note: Charis contacted me for advice on sizing. According to her measurements she needs a 34AA, but is on the smaller end of an AA cup; as a result, she’d had trouble finding bras in this size that did not gap. I suggested Itty Bitty Bra in a 34A, because this brand runs very shallow in the cup and relatively true to size in the band compared to more exclusively petite labels like The Little Bra Company. Here’s what Charis has to say about the Itty Bitty Signature Bra and its sister style, which features removable inserts for optional enhancement.
–Amanda

I could hug Jane Hodgdon. Hodgdon is the creator and lead designer of the Itty Bitty Bra – which has changed my life. That might sound hyperbolic, but it’s coming from roughly 15 years of frustrated bra shopping. Before I tried the IBB, I settled on ill-fitting bras (ranging from not quite fitting properly to really not fitting at all) as I didn’t think there was any alternative. And shopping for specialty bras (like strapless, etc.)? Forget about it. As I’m sure Hodgdon (and her IBB customers) will tell you, the market is not a kind place for us small girls. Even with my better-fitting bras (and I’ve tried on many), I’m tugging and adjusting throughout the day.

But no more! I feel like the Itty Bitty Bra was custom-made for me. It fits. The most amazing part is the cup fit: the cups lay flat against my chest (yay!). There is absolutely no gapping and no weird puckering (yay again!). The 2-hook back closure secures the fit, and the shoulder straps are sturdy, adjustable, and very comfortable.

Continue reading »

Royce Lingerie to (eventually) hit US market

Everyday Bras, Lingerie, Petite Style, Size AA No Responses »

Oct 202011

Citing major interest and ‘fantastic success’ at the CurveNY and CurveNV trade shows, UK intimate apparel maker Royce Lingerie is exploring the American market. If things pan out and their American presence reflects that of their British market, this will be great news for the stateside petite population. Continue reading »

Review: Mimi Holliday Allure Demi Bra

Size AA 9 Responses »

Oct 172011

Review of size 32AA

The Allure demi from Mimi Holliday is one of the most exquisite bras I have ever laid eyes on. The super low-cut demi cups of this cream-colored bra have light foam padding, dusty lilac satin straps, and a polka dot silk overlay with contrasting scalloped lace trim. Playful matching satin bows decorate the straps and center gore. This masterfully designed piece was made to be seen and admired.

I measure about 28 inches around my ribcage and 33 inches around the fullest part of my chest. By the conventional method of bra fitting (adding 4 inches to the ribcage and then subtracting that from the full bust measurement), that makes me a perfect 32A.

Older Entries

Is Small the Next Big Thing? Should It Matter?

Felina Victoria Bra Review - On Sale in 32A, 32B

Itty Bitty Convertible Strap Wire-Free Bra Review

Affinitas Intimates Giveaway

Zee Bra! Contest Winner

Busted! by Ali Cudby

Coobie Wire-Free Padded Bra Review

Review: The Little Bra Company Mercedes

Blush Dreamgirl Push-Up Bra Review

Adore Me

Erica of SophisticatedPair.com: "No Comparisons Needed"

Japanese Bras From Kaori's Closet

Itty Bitty Bra Review, by Charis (size 34 AA/AAA)

Royce Lingerie to (eventually) hit US market

Review: Mimi Holliday Allure Demi Bra

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