Archive for the ‘how to fit a bra’ Category

Oh the Wonderful things a new Bra can do

March 8th, 2010 by Carissa Rose

It can sit flush against the rib cage between your breasts.

Flush Center Gore

It can beautifully encompass the entirety of your breast tissue, no spill over.

Tissue encompassed

Tissue still in the Cup

It can remain anchored (just lower than your bust in the front) on your back for 13 hours and never need to be pulled down.

Snug Backband

It can look wonderful underneath the Farrah Shell and Glenna Camisole.

Farrah Shell

Are you putting your new bra on correctly?

Oh the Wonderful things a new Bra can do, have you tried one lately? I think you ought to!

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De-bunking Bra Myths

November 30th, 2009 by Carissa Rose
Bra Myths oftentimes stand in the way of us purchasing and wearing the bra that will optimize our assets.
1.  If my bra leaves red marks on my body, it is too small.
Socks leave red marks, as do some panties.  Even a hair band temporarily stationed around my wrist leaves red imprints on the skin and it does not indicate that the band is too constricting.
2.  Making the straps tighter on my bra will lift my bustline.
Tightening the straps positions the bra better on the body, causing the cup to encapsulate the breast tissue more effectively.  But the straps don’t affect the height of the bustline as much as A)  snugness of band, B) the best bra cup for your body, and C) the natural placement of the bustline on your torso.
3.  I have to wash my bra after everytime I wear it.
In the heat of the Texas summer sure, wash your bra if its covered with sweat.  Otherwise, use discretion to judge when its appropriate to wash your bras.  If worn for a half day in mild weather, washing is unnecessary.
4.  A bra expires after a certain date.
We have clients wearing bras that are five years old.  Bras come and go out of rotation in our wardrobe for various reasons:  weight changes, lifestyle changes (pregnancy, etc.) or we choose to stop wearing it for some other reason.  When a bra is consistently uncomfortable, then it has expired.

5.  The band should be comfortably loose.

The worst offender of all!  Just a couple of weeks ago an acquaintance mentioned she had gone up from a 34C to a 36C because the 34 *felt* too tight.  While I knew this wasn’t the right move for her, being a C cup its not quite as imperative to have a snug band. 

Do you know of more bra myths?  Have I omitted one that really bugs you?  If so please share your thoughts.

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Posted in how to fit a bra, how to measure bra size | 4 Comments »

Bra-vo Intimates

October 25th, 2009 by Carissa Rose

The last Friday in September, I had the pleasure of attending a fall trunk show at Bra-vo Intimates in Royal Oak, Michigan. This is an excellent week long promotion for Bra-vo clients to pre-order everything from lingerie to swim to our clothing line – Bratique Helene for women with large breasts and misses sized bodies!

Bra-vo’s owner is the wonderful Rebecca Aughton, a lingerie industry veteran and master bra fitter. In addition to its urban location, hardwood floors, and resident cat, my favorite section of the store is the bra alcove. Lots of goodies I wanted to get my hands on. And on one of the many sample racks I saw a Freya bustier – Nadia – that I’m excited to see in stores.

As I worked with the Bra-vo staff that day I heard them say, “There is no normal size. Women come in all sizes & shapes, just like snowflakes.” All they talk about is fit, fit, fit and I knew I was in good company when looking at a new bra that had just arrived Rebecca briefly inspected it and said, “Looks like jiggle to me”, meaning she thought the fabrication wouldn’t offer strong support.

Bra-vo stocks Rosa Faia, Prima Donna, and Simone Perel in addition to the standard full bust brands Freya, Fantasie, Panache, etc. Every woman who emerged from the dressing room(s) had more than just one bra in her hands. If you are in the Detroit vicinity and need a bra intervention or update, the place to go is Bra-vo!
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Posted in clothing for big busted women, how to fit a bra, shirts for big busted women | 1 Comment »

Loretta’s Intimates (of Plano)

September 10th, 2009 by Carissa Rose

Undoubtedly, one of the best lingerie stores in the DFW metroplex is Loretta’s Intimates. Not only is Loretta’s my go-to place to purchase my favorite bra styles & brands, but whenever people ask us to refer them to a lingerie store that fits the full bust in Dallas, we send them to Loretta’s.


Loretta’s is a family owned store, celebrating 25 years in the business of fitting women in bras, with the current owner – Karen – being the second generation, while the third generation – Audrey – manages the store on a daily basis. While they fit all sizes accurately, they pride themselves in being full bust specialists.

Loretta’s is a friendly & safe environment where all women are welcome. I have seen them shoo men away from the dressing rooms for the sake of their customer’s privacy and comfort.


Loretta’s truly does have a great selection of bras. I am glad they go above a G cup and am proud of the way they do business. If you need a smaller band/bigger cup they are happy to order one for you. And they reward you for referring your friends. The pictures in this post are just a few of the several styles either my clients or I have purchased from them.

Every swimsuit season I visit Loretta’s as they always carry D+ cup swim separates and one pieces. And soon to arrive is the french lingerie brand Empriente, the cadillac of full bust brands and only available at a few select boutiques.


Karen, Audrey & their staff know that women feel better about themselves when properly supported, and to that end Loretta’s fits women of all shapes and sizes, they have both bras that are accesibly priced and bras that epitomize luxury. Not only am I proud of the Loretta’s team, I am thankful to have such a great resource in my area!

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Posted in bra sizes, bra types, how to fit a bra | 4 Comments »

How to make your bust-line look bigger.

September 6th, 2009 by Carissa Rose

First, wear a bra that is too small, giving you not only cleavage but the sausage effect as well. You know the sausage effect? Have you ever seen a woman with sleeves that are way too tight? Or jeans too snug on the thighs? That’s the sausage effect and the same holds true for one’s bust-line.

You may find this hard to believe, but wearing the wrong size bra actually makes your breasts look larger. For example, you are wearing a 34D, and you actually fit a 30E. The 34D – wrong size – will sit lower on your torso, camoflauging your natural waist and making your bust look bigger. Also, the cups will be too small, squishing the breast tissue together and smashing it against the ribcage, giving the uni-boob effect. Lift and separation give the needed definition to break up a mass of boobage.

The last two pictures are courtesy of Bra*Tenders NYC, a wonderful retail outpost that also carries the Bratique Helene line. If you are anywhere in the vicinity of NYC, I suggest you visit them as they offer excellent customer service, are expert fitters and have a wealth of bras for you to choose from.

And lastly, to make your bust-line look bigger, wear a tight knit t-shirt or top! Just remember the term “sweater girls”. Full bust women wear tight knits because they stretch over the bust and back in at the waist, helping to show the wearer’s figure. Try this experiment yourself: put on a tight t-shirt and take your picture. Then put on a woven shirt and take your picture. What jumps out at you? We want people you meet to remember your pretty smile or great personality, not just your awesome rack.

We encourage you to wear the Bratique Helene line: tailored, woven shirts and tops that both fit the bust-line and flatter the waistline.

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Posted in big breast clothing, how to fit a bra | No Comments »
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