32AA Bra

Hello beauties! A quick update.

Nov 272012

I know it’s been a while since I posted here. Please don’t ever think it’s because I don’t care about you all, because I absolutely do. The thing is, I’ve had trouble trying to figure out how to present myself since my body has changed. Whoever thought it would be such a difficult thing to explain why I am no longer a 32AA? And yet, it has been quite a struggle for me to get used to my physical self at a different size.

I guess I never imagined that I would ever have issues with my weight, apart from having been aware that most people thought I was too thin. Now, I find myself facing the opposite problem: I am, for the first time in my life, in the higher range of what is considered “average” weight for my height and bone structure.
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Bra Talk: Stephanie Ballard, Bella Petite Lingerie

Getting Intimate 1 Response »

Apr 152012

Small-breasted sisters, there is someone you really must meet. Her name is Stephanie Ballard, and she’s the CEO of a brand new company called Bella Petite Lingerie.

Stephanie (photo at left), a size 32A herself, shares our frustration with the lack of bras available in petite and small-cup sizes. She plans to remedy this with a selection of beautiful, stylish lingerie that fits well on women like us.

I had the opportunity to ask Stephanie a few questions about her new business, and I’m pleased to be able to share her answers with you here.

AS: When did you first realize that your bust size was unusual, and how did it make you feel?

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.

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 13 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?

Bra Fitting: Sizing Up the Reality

Everyday Bras, Getting Intimate 8 Responses »

Jul 312011

As many of you know, I work individually with women who are sick to death of feeling confused and overwhelmed by the tricky task of bra shopping. For each woman seeking help, my main goals are:

Get her questions answered.
Take the pressure off by offering reassurance, respect and encouragement.
Provide her with at least one bra that fits well, is comfortable enough to wear regularly, and makes her feel beautiful.

By the time I connect with my clients, many have already spent quite a bit of time and effort searching for the right bra. These are smart, savvy women who have done enough research that they end up teaching me new things about bras and lingerie, even as they reach out for my assistance. I am gradually building a substantial knowledge base that continues to grow every time I take on a new client.

That’s why I don’t consider myself a bra expert. I think I’m more of an enthusiast. It feels wonderful to me when I am able to help other size AA/A/B women like myself discover lingerie that truly fits and flatters the small-breasted figure, whether petite or average. Once you feel comfortable in your own skin and start to really see how beautiful you are in your skivvies, I feel like I’ve done my job right.

The Oprah Phenomenon

Thanks to Oprah, it is now widely understood that a professional bra fitting is usually required in order to get the correct size. I certainly appreciate Oprah’s efforts to educate America about bras, and I share her belief in the value of expert assistance. However, the fitting process doesn’t always work the way it is supposed to.

What follows is an example, used with the client’s permission, of how and why professional bra fittings can fail.

Getting Intimate: Treacle's Lingerie Addiction

Getting Intimate No Responses »

Jun 242011

Powerless over lingerie.

This week I’m honored to be talking to Treacle, the charismatic author of one of the best lingerie blogs in the world: The Lingerie Addict.

If you have yet to experience The Lingerie Addiction Phenomenon, be warned: Treacle’s giddy obsession with lingerie, while tongue-in-cheek, is contagious. I think I might have no choice but to give the Cosabella giraffe-print bra another chance.

Let’s talk about your obsession with leopard print lingerie. What do you love about it?

I love that it’s such a fun and classic print, but just a little bit naughty at the same time. Anne Bancroft and Vanity Fair made leopard print lingerie famous in the 60′s, and it hasn’t really gone out of style since.

What’s your current favorite leopard piece?

My favorite leopard print piece is a vintage Vanity Fair catsuit I bought just a few weeks ago. I don’t have any pictures of it yet, but I’m hoping to get a few during my next photo shoot.

Women Talk Bras: Undercover Lingerista

Getting Intimate 3 Responses »

Jun 162011

When I met Kitty (aka Undercover Lingerista), I thought: here is someone who isn’t afraid to show herself to the world. Kitty is vivacious and warm, but never self-compromising. She never lacks for ideas or opinions, and is eager to share them in conversation with others in the lingerie community. That’s why I thought she’d make a great choice for our “Getting Intimate” series. Visit Kitty on the web at Undercover Lingerista. –Amanda, site admin

In a world obsessed with body image, it comes as no surprise that women are extremely self-critical when it comes to the way that they look. Breast size is one of the recurrent themes that we are confronted with on a daily basis. When Kate Moss is held up as an icon and replaced in a moment by Kelly Brook, women are left confused and unable to appreciate their own figures.

When Amanda first contacted me about guest blogging, she suggested I discuss my thoughts and feelings about my own bra size. As a lingerie blogger with a bust size of 28FF, I jumped at the chance to portray a different perspective towards bra size.

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Industry to consumers: Conform.

Getting Intimate, Lingerie, Size AA 6 Responses »

Apr 202011

Bullet-proof sensuality.

Not to get too graphic, but one of the things I like about lingerie is how it feels to me on her. And I’d like her to be able to feel me feeling her. While comic book proportioned padding which adds two cup sizes may serve a purpose (to stop a bullet?), for me, it takes away from the sensuality of the piece.

Hello ladies.

Getting Intimate, Petite Style, Size AA 6 Responses »

Apr 112011

Not me.

What is a man doing writing for a lingerie blog? The simple answer is that I am a fan of the product. I love almost every facet of the stuff. I love the way it looks on a woman as well as the way it can make a woman look. Furthermore, I like the way it feels on a woman and I like the way it can make a woman feel. I’d rather see a woman in a more conservatively cut silky bra and cute boy-shorts than in the skimpiest swimsuit. I’m not sure exactly why, but seeing a woman’s intimate apparel or unmentionables gives me such a thrill.

So why is a man writing for this lingerie blog? Having fallen in love with a petite woman more than ten years ago has given me a new appreciation for lingerie that fits and flatters. When we first starting dating (at ages 17 and 19 respectively), I did not understand that what looked good on Rebecca Romijn in a catalog might not look the same on my girlfriend. Many, many, many lingerie-buying mishaps later, I now understand that my wife will likely never be on the cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, but that does not mean she can’t be sexy.

Older Entries

Hello beauties! A quick update.

Bra Talk: Stephanie Ballard, Bella Petite Lingerie

Busted! by Ali Cudby

Adore Me

Erica of SophisticatedPair.com: "No Comparisons Needed"

Bra Fitting: Sizing Up the Reality

The Oprah Phenomenon

Getting Intimate: Treacle's Lingerie Addiction

Women Talk Bras: Undercover Lingerista

Industry to consumers: Conform.

Hello ladies.

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