Support Solutions, with Marianne

Hi Ladies,

I received many emails regarding my last post on bridal bustiers - so here’s a bit of follow-up on it, in response to one particular email that came in:

dear marianne

i saw your post last month about fitting bustiers.  i get the part about fitting on the loosest hook, so that i can go to the tighter hooks as i lose weight before the wedding.  however, i’m still having problems finding the right bustier size.  i wear a bra size 36D, so that’s the size i bought my bustier in but it didn’t fit.  it was too tight around the tummy.  i have some lovehandles and whatnot that are keeping me from closing the garment, even on the loosest hook.  help pls!!   –mariella

Let’s first take a moment to consider the differences between a traditional bra and a bustier.  A bra wraps from the upper back around the bust.  (The band measurement of a bra is an indication of that distance, specifically around the top of the bust.)  A bustier however wraps around the entire midsection - and whereas bra bands are made of stretch fabric, the bodice of a bustier is often rigid.

Therefore if you are pear-shaped, much fuller around the midsection than the upper back, you will run into fit issues if you extrapolate out your bustier size from your bra size.  In such cases I suggest moving up one increment in band size - but also down one cup size, because going up in the band will often increase the size of the cup as well.  In Mariella’s case, I would suggest going from 36D to 38C.

Hope that helps!

Best,

Marianne

No Responses »

Hi Ladies,

Here’s a note from “Allie”, a young bride to be!

Hello,

I was looking for a solution to my wedding lingerie.  This is the dress I will be wearing:

I am (barely) 34B and would like a lot of help in enhancing my bustline.  I have considered a bustier, but my only concern is that I have a long torso and my problem areas are more in the hip and thigh areas.  My stomach is quite flat and my waist is already small, so I’m afraid if I get something that cinches my waist I’ll only be accentuating my larger hips.  Can you suggest something that can accentuate my bust without accentuating my hips while keeping lines hidden for the dress.  The dress is chiffon, but multilayered.

Thank you for your help.

Cute dress, isn’t it?  Let’s first address what seems to be her primary concern: her bust.  A small 34B looking for some extra Va Voom should be thinking about push-up foundations.  She should either look for styles that feature bra cups with pockets that push-up pads can be slipped into (like THIS Va Bien style) or foam cups that have a bump already molded into the shape.  Problem with the latter though is that the bump may not offer the right amount of push-up that she’s looking for.  To get a more customized amount of push-up, she can go for the pockets and slip any size pad inside that she wants - but beware:  too much push-up and her boobs will look like they’re trying to escape out of her dress - always make sure not to pick pads that are too big!

Now, regarding her hips, let’s take a look at her dress.  With multi-layered chiffon, I don’t think she has to worry about them looking big.  That fabric really “drapes” from fairly high up on the waist, and a bustier will not at all make her proportions look awkward.  Plus, since her stomach is already flat, a bustier won’t even cinch her midsection in further, it will simply lay nice and flat on the body.

Best of luck to Allie!

Marianne

No Responses »

Hi Ladies,

This just in from “Amy” who is shopping around for a bustier:

Hello! I am searching for an undergarment for my dress, and I think that a bustier would be the appropriate choice. I am just very unsure about which to choose. I like the look of Va Bien Style 185 and Va Bien Style 6363.  My dress is a size 4 and I will be needing a size 32A bra. I am looking for something that hides under my dress, but that also gives me some kind of lift to my bust (it needs something!). Below is the front  my dress, it is made of chiffon and charmeuse. What do you think??
Thanks for any help

Isn’t Amy’s dress cute?

First off, she has made a great first choice in narrowing down her bridal foundation selection to bustiers.  Her dress is quite narrow around the waist and a bustier is the best thing to slim down for a perfect hourglass figure.  That said, her primary concerns are her bustline and show-through, not her waist.

When you’re shopping for something to “pump up” the Girls, you have two options.  One is to buy a bra/bustier/etc with foam padding already molded into the cups.  The other is to buy a style with pockets inside the cups that let you switch in and out pads of your choice.  (These pads have several pseudonyms, including “cookies”, “cupcakes”, and even “chicken fill-its”!)  The choice with pockets gives you a bit more flexibility, since you can swap in larger or smaller pads depending on how much “umph!” you’re looking for.

As far as show-through goes, your safest bet is to buy something with a smooth bodice and only a touch of lace.  The smoother and flatter it lays to your body, the less it will show through your dress.  Regarding color, although most brides ask for white, many say - and I take stock in this theory - that a flesh toned foundation will hide much better under your dress.  In the end though it’s really all about you and if you want to wear all white on your big day then that’s exactly what you should buy.

I recommended Va Bien style #6363 to Amy, which satisfies the necessities mentioned above.  It trims the waist with firm body panels, has pockets in the cups for push-up pads to be placed, and is nice and smooth on the outside to dissapear under a tight-fitting dress - it only features a touch of lace in the center between the cups.

Best of luck to you, Amy!

Kind regards,

Marianne

One Response »

Hi Ladies!  I received this note from ‘C’ last week and wanted to share it with you….

Hi Marianne. I stumbled upon the Va Bien website while googling for a long torso bustier. My wedding dress (picture attached) is made of double faced satin, so anything that I wear underneath the dress will show if it’s not smooth. So I have a challenging time finding the right bustier.

I live in Portland and 99% of the lingerie stores do not carry long torso bustiers. Most of them come up all the way to right above the belly button. My problem area is between the belly button and my hip. So a short bustier will just accentuate this ‘extra’ tire that I carry around the waist.

I’m interested in buying one of Va Bien’s long torso bustier but not sure which one to purchase. I hope you’ll help me! I don’t know who else to turn to. Please

Thanks so much! I appreciate your time.

C

Sounds like those Portland lingerie boutiques need to step up their game!

Your dress looks absolutely gorgeous, and the concern about your foundation showing through is not a unique one.  Many women today are looking for bustiers that are smooth and invisible under dresses such as yours.

Remember however that the primary function of your bustier is to create a sexy hourglass silhouette.  Unfortunately, many of the bustiers out there today that feature a smooth outer layer do not feature the traditional shapewear features that you will want working for you on your big day.  You deserve it all, so don’t settle for something that’s invisible under your dress but doesn’t shape you properly, or vise versa.

Since you are already looking at Va Bien styles, let me recommend our Style 1503, the Seamless Bustier.  It features not only a seamless microfiber outer layer to make it dissappear under your dress,  but also a hidden inner corset that will totally tame your curves, giving you the perfect shape.  Plus it features our patented ultra-Lift bra cups, which are the ultimate in support for your bust!

All the best,

Marianne

7 Responses »

Hi Ladies,

I received this email from Tennille recently - she’s a bride to be…

Hi there,

I found this gown on The Knot.

 Let me know what shapewear you think is best. Also please remember I am a plus size. Thanks again for all of your help!

That’s a beautiful gown you selected!  The most important function of your shapewear here is to get an hourglass figure.  You will want something that has strong boning inside to keep you sucked in.

Also, the gown is strapless so the best solution for you is a well-made bustier.  It helps with bustiers to have more than one row of hook & eyes so that you can adjust how tight you want it to be.  In Va Bien, I would suggest that you check out Style 523.  It covers all the points that I just mentioned, and it’s very pretty!

Best of luck to you!

Marianne

No Responses »