Support Solutions, with Marianne

Hi Ladies,

Hope your 2011 has gotten off to a fabulous start.  Seems like mother nature woke up on the wrong side of the bed this year, with typhoons in Australia and ice storms in the US - but as we say in France, “a la guerre comme a la guerre”.

Crazy weather aside, I am always excited this time of year because bridal season is getting into swing.  Here’s an email that I received from Alexa T. in Connecticut, who is looking for some strapless support:

Dear Marianne

I have my dress picked out but not my lingerie. I think I need something really supportive because I’m a G cup and my dress is strapless. Here is a picture of a very similar dress from Vera Wang. Can you help me out?

Cheers

Alexa T., Westport CT

Very pretty dress - leave it to Vera.  With a sweetheart neckline and no straps my thoughts immediately turn to the ultra-Lift Perfect Strapless.  Especially because Alexa is a G cup, she needs serious support to not just look great on her big day but also feel “held in” and confident.  Don’t want any surprises when that bouquet is thrown up in the air.

The bra features patented technology that seals three thin stays inside of each cup.  These stays, made of a very lightweight plastic, provide amazing support and even prevent the bra from sliding down. 

Best wishes to all for a happy and healthy 2011!

Marianne

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Hi Ladies,

One of the most-asked questions about bra fitting is how to accommodate uneven breasts.  For many women it is a frustrating task; seemingly most bras either fit their smaller side but cause the larger side to spill out, or fit their larger side, leaving a gap between their smaller side and the cup.

Additionally, this isn’t something that only affects a few of us - studies show that most women today have uneven breasts.  So what’s a girl to do?

In my opinion, an excellent solution is to wear a stretch lace bra.  As the name implies, the bra cups have stretch built into them, allowing the garment to fit both sides of an uneven bustline.  The challenge however is to find a stretch lace bra that stretches enough to accommodate the size differential while also lifting and supporting properly.  Not an easy task!

Make sure that any stretch lace bra that you buy has double layered cups - one layer of lace alone will not support properly.  The lace should be lined with a strong stretch fabric.  Once you find the right style, just adjust the straps for the perfect fit on both sides.

In Va Bien I recommend the new D’Lite Stretch Lace Bra, Style #618.  In addition to lined cups, it also features a sling along the lower section of both cups, for extra support to keep the girls held up and in.  It was picked by InStyle magazine in May as the best solution for uneven breasts!

Best,

Marianne

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Hi Ladies,

Hope all is well!  I have been traveling quite a bit lately, visiting customers in Europe and the Middle East.  Glad to be back home now, and to sleep in my own bed for a few weeks in a row!

I received this fun email from “Tara” a few weeks ago:

Dear Marianne,

I came across a super cute Issa dress on Polyvore, check out the look: (it’s the one in the middle)

My question to you is that I am very um “well-endowed,” and am looking for the right bra to keep me supported and held in under the v-cut neckline of the dress.  I don’t want shapewear, just a bra.  Can you please recommend something for me?

Thx!!!
“Tara”

I just discovered Polyvore for myself earlier this year - such a fun site, wish I had more time to play with it!  I love the dress that Tara found, lovely colors for spring.  (I like the shoes in the composite as well, very cool!)

Regarding her bra question, Tara has two options:

Option A: “Va Va Voom”

If Tara is looking to add some “umph” to that dress - beyond its vibrant colors! - she can opt for a bra with low-plunge cut cups that will hold her bust upwards and inwards, for a sexy decolté.  She must make sure that the cups fit perfectly: too loose and they’ll put her at risk for a wardrobe malfunction (and not shape her effectively), too tight and she’ll spill out of the top, creating bulges instead of an elegant decolté.  In Va Bien I can recommend this low plunge number, which has patented ultra-Lift bra cups to keep the bust held up and in securely and comfortably.

Option B: “Let the Dress Speak”

Tara’s alternative option is to let the dress do the talking, and minimize her Girls.  No surprise that a minimizer bra fits the bill here.  With rigid bra cups that flatten the bustline and hold it inwards, tucking a bit near the underarms, Tara could wear this dress with no decolté showing under the v-cut neckline.  Here’s an option to check out.  However, there is a possible snag: the dress’s neckline might run too far south and expose the bra.  This will be a function of her torso length, and she’ll have to try it on to tell - if it’s the case, then Option A is the way to go.

Thanks for sharing the look, Tara, and hope these bra tips help you out!

Best,

Marianne

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Hi Ladies,

Hope everyone is having as much fun prepping for Thanksgiving as I am!  I ordered my 12lb organic turkey, can’t wait to pick it up on Tuesday!  Now I am just figuring out what kind of dessert to serve!  Speaking of preparation, just around the corner is Bridal Season, and brides everywhere are starting to think about their dress.  Here is a note that I received from one such bride, Kim:

Hi Marianne. I’m getting married next year and am looking for the correct type of bridal undergarment to wear. Here is the dress I’ll be wearing :

What do you recommend? I’m 5′2.5″ tall and wear a cup size of 38D. Thanks in advance!
Kim

Cute dress, isn’t it?  I love the detail around the bust.

The subject of her email to me was “Bridal Shapewear” (she also wrote a comment here) so she is looking to slim down.  For starters, as I have detailed in previous posts here and here, a petite girl such as Kim - standing 5 foot 2.5 inches tall - should consider a bra paired with a control brief.  A bodysuit, and even many bustiers, may be too long for her, and a bra / control brief combination is sure to work.

That said, one of Kim’s top priorities here should be choosing a bra that stays up - especially since she is a full-busted 38D.  Doesn’t her dress look like something that you would typically pull up all night long?  Well let’s give Kim peace of mind on her big day with a strapless bra that will stay up through every dance number. She should make sure that the bra she picks has supportive bra cups, double-lined back panels, and a silicone treatment along those back panels.  These features will keep the bra standing tall.  I have to strongly recommend the ultra-Lift Perfect Strapless Bra from Va Bien - its patented technology truly gives the cups excellent support, keeping the Girls lifted exceptionally well and with great comfort.

Regarding her control brief to pair with the bra, Kim should make sure that she picks a style that does not roll down (see here for tips) and has a high waist to run up to her bra for a smooth seamless look.  Here are some choices from Va Bien.

As a final pointer, she should make sure that the color of her undergarments are nude - this will show through less than white.

Best of luck to you, Kim!

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Marianne

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Hi Ladies,

Hope everyone is doing well!  Here’s an email that I received from “Allie”, who is looking to give her Girls a “Defining Moment”:

Help!! I am in need of a bra with maximum lift. I am large breasted but small around the back. I wear 32DDD in most brands. I have a slim fitting satin wedding dress that has a fitted bodice but loose neckline. I thought I found the perfect bra, but when I went for my fitting the seamstress told me I needed more lift to distinguish between the bottom of my breast and the bodice. (No uniboob). I was on line trying to find something in my size and came across your website. Can you recommend a bra that may work for me?

This is a great opportunity to point out a feature that can help bras distinguish between the bodice and the bust: a banded frame.  That is the area on some bras that runs underneath the cups, made of stretchy or rigid fabric with a narrow “facing elastic” band along the bottom.  Here’s a bra with a banded frame and another without:

Notice the difference along the sections below the underwires?  In terms of design, it’s mainly a fashion vs function thing.  Bandless frame bras look smaller, which makes them popular - and while there are plenty of good ones, the added strength of a banded frame definitely adds some extra support in large sizes - such as Allie’s - and creates that extra bit of definition between the bust and bodice.

Given that pointer, here are some specific recommendations for Allie.  She would do well with the first bra pictured above, Va Bien Style 1515, the ultra-Lift Balconette.  Or if she needs the bra to be strapless, then definitely our Style 1506, the ultra-Lift Perfect Strapless.  Both feature banded frames for extra lower bust definition - plus of course Va Bien’s patented ultra-Lift cups for extra lift and support.

All the best,

Marianne

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Hi Ladies,

First off I would like to apologize for my absence lately!  Things have been just wild (in a good way) in the office, and I have not had a moment to make any posts!

Last week however I received a call from Lorie, who is getting married this summer (I’m so excited that we’re getting into bridal season!) and I just had to make a post about her lesson learned.

Let’s take a step back first.  Lorie started shopping for a foundation (a bodysuit, bustier, etc to wear under your dress) back in January.  She gave me her measurements, described her dress, and pointed out the specific bodyparts that she wanted to control.  Her primary concerns were her tummy, her bottom, and her thighs - and she wanted extra firm control, no sissy stuff!  She described her dress as lightweight, clingy, and strapless.

My recommendation to her was Va Bien Style 1294, which will shape her perfectly in all those areas, and is strapless.  It also features a light touch of lace for a cute fashion look.

Now, back to Lorie’s phone call.  She sounded a bit unhappy on the phone, and told me that although her bust fit perfectly into the bodysuit, the material was bunching up around her tummy.

It turns out that she is 4′11 tall!  Ladies, bodysuits come in bra sizes, and although the length (the “stride” in industry speak) is graded as sizes increase, there is no way for brands to accommodate everyone.  Those of us who are not very tall should stay away from bodysuits and opt to combine a control brief with a supportive bra.  Some control briefs are high waist and can run all the way up to the bra, for the same effect as a bodysuit on a shorter woman.

So, I advised Lorie accordingly - she picked up the control brief and bra - and now she’s happy again and off to her dress fitting.  Good luck to you Lorie!

Best,

Marianne

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Hi Ladies,

I would like to share a question that I received from Linda in Texas. 

Linda called up Va Bien to ask about how its bras fit, since she wisely knows that most brands fit differently.  For example, a 34D in Panache is going to fit differently from a 34D in Victoria’s Secret.

So when Linda considered Va Bien, she wanted some more information before ordering her bra - specifically the ultra-Lift Strapless Style 1506.  In other brands she wears a 34DD, but upon learning that the cups of Va Bien’s strapless bra have a deeper projection than most brands (they are very ‘full’), she decided to try out a 34D.

Here’s the email that she sent me after she received the 34D:

I usually wear a 34DD and this is the first strapless bra that I have ever found that fits and won’t slip down.  I did have to drop to a size 34D but it is perfect.  I am  about to go to your Internet site and order other styles.  I am so  excited!!  Thank you.

 

Linda

So what’s the moral of the story?  Do your homework when trying out a bra from a new brand.  Find out how that brand - and the specific style that you’re interested in - fits compared to the brand that you usually wear.

All the best,

Marianne

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This just in from Carrie in Orlando:

Dear Marianne…

I just bought a backless dress and I’m not sure what bra to wear under it. Here’s a pic I found online of a dress that has the same style…

I mean I don’t want a bra to show, but I definitely need to be wearing a bra! I’ve tried those stick-on backless bras and don’t really like them… any other options?

Thx in advance! -C

Yes Carrie you do have other options! A lot of bra designers today make convertible bras that go backless. They come with a little elastic band that has a ‘hook’ on one end and an ‘eye’ on the other. Just follow the following 4 quick steps to go backless:

1) Convert the bra’s straps to a halter styling (using just one strap from the top of one cup, around the back of your neck, to the top of the other cup) then unhook the back of the bra

2) Attach the ‘eye’ end of the elastic band into the ‘hook’ end of the bra back

3) Run the band down across your lower back, then around front across your tummy, then back up around your back

4) Attach the ‘hook’ end of the band into the ‘eye’ end of the bra back

Now, not all convertible bra bands are created equal. Some are narrow, some are wide. Some bands are plastic, some are soft elastic.

The convertible bra you buy should have a wide band that’s made of a soft stretchy elastic, like Va Bien Style 1502. If the band is too thin, it will cut into your tummy and cause an unsightly bulge if you are wearing a tight fitting top. Plus it will be uncomfortable! Plastic bands cause this problem too.

Good luck and enjoy your new dress!

Marianne

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Hi Ladies

I got this email in the other day from Dana in New Jersey about finding the right strapless bra…

hi marianne

i have always had a hard time with strapless bras. is there actually one out there that does not droop or slide down?

what do i look for in a strapless?

Well Dana let’s start with the features that a good strapless bra must have. First off, it needs to have a silicone lined back - this stops the bra from sliding down. It also helps if the backs are double-lined with strong stretchy fabric to keep the bra on nice and snug.

Next, you need supportive cups, especially if you are full busted. This is very very important. If the cups are flimsy and you can easilly bend the cup downwards over the underwire, then the bra will not only droop but slide down as well. This should be your test when checking out strapless bras in the store!

Finally, depending on the brand it’s a good rule of thumb with strapless bras to size down in the band and up in the cup. This will make sure that the bra fits nice and tight. You see, bra sizing often ‘cross-grades’ - this means that a 34B may share the same cup as a 32C - so don’t be afraid of trying on a bigger letter size in this case!

I personally recommend the Va Bien Style 1506 to you. It’s called The Perfect Strapless because it hits those important points like silicone lining, a double-layered back, and very supportive bra cups.

The cups are patented with a technology called ultra-Lift, which seals three thin stays (called “Magic Fingers”) between layers of foam inside the cups. If you ever check out a bra or body briefer with ultra-Lift, just give it the test I recommended and try to push the cup over the underwire - you won’t be able to do it! Because of this technology the Girls won’t break over the bra’s frame, and you’ll be Droop-Proof.

All the best,

Marianne

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