Sports Bra: Panache Underwired

The best part of working out is the sports bra. This is when I prove to you that I'm not crazy, right? Because with articles like this from Buzzfeed I think the general consensus for D+ cup sized women is that sports bras are insufficient, ineffective and the devil in uniboobed form.

So why do I think sports bras are the best? It's because I have fallen in love (sorry boyfriend) with the

Panache Underwired Sports Bra!

Better Bras Canada

There's no denying this bra's effects on the lingerie blogosphere. Bra's I Hate & Love liked it (although they don't carry her size, she's a 28HH). Fry Sauce & Grits "really, really, really like[s] it." And Marathoning for "real" women gave it a rating of 23/25 (marked down only for bouncing and appearance). For more reviews you can flip through The DD Plus Review, Invest in Your Chest, Diary of a Fit Mommy, and A Sophisticated Pair. Also The Full-Figured Chest, Sweet Nothings, and probably a dozen others. Seriously, this thing is amazing.

Panache on Amazon

I own four of these, the most of any other bra I own (rivaled by the Freya Deco). One in gray, two in black, and one in the Olympic edition that is red, white and blue. There are currently THIRTEEN colorways available at Amazon. The price there ranges from $45 to $68. If you're thinking that is steep, well, how much do your double-bra "sports" bras cost and how often do you have to replace them? I've owned my gray sports bra for roughly four years and it's still holding itself together!

In terms of comfort, this is the most comfortable bra (not just sports bra) that I own. The wires are lined with a comfortable gel to protect against rubbing and jabbing. The material is meant to wick moisture away from the body and as a prolific sweater (I DO love to share, don't I?) I find that this does the job!

Panache on Amazon

Like a lot of smaller cup bras, there are J hooks in the back so you can make it a racer back. If the cups aren't tight enough then hooking these up will do the trick. A lot of people find it difficult to hook them together but I haven't found it extremely difficult. The band is firm (mine hasn't budged much since I bought it) so don't feel the need to size down in the band. The cups are fairly true to size. Although the front of the bra sits fairly high, depending on the top I would just wear this under regular clothes.

Are you looking for a new sports bra? Looking for a bra that isn't bedeviled? Try the Panache Sports Bra at Amazon, Nordstrom, Figleaves, A Sophisticated Pair and you can check out the stockists shown on the Panache website.

Cup Shapes - Molded

Today is a late post! Sorry for the delay! Occasionally I talk about different brands but today I will talk about moulded/molded cups!

First things first: is it molded or moulded? If you're British, it is moulded. If you're from the U.S. then it is molded. Just like colour = color! Moving on.

Freya Deco Molded - Lazeme Lingerie

Molded bras are exactly like soft-cup bras, except the main difference is the synthetic, molded cups. These molds are formed using heat on machines and they are one of greatest luxuries mankind has ever known (just my opinion, but oh well). Each layer of the bra/cups is then heat set to each other (which is why they don't easily pull apart). There's a silent Youtube video below if you want to see some being made, small scale.

Because cups are designed on a computer before manufacturing begins, the shape of the cup can vary greatly between manufacturers. The video above features a rounded shape but you could also achieve cone shapes or flatter shapes, as well. Bras are slowly becoming more and more heavily engineered (which increases cost, as does raw material increases, too). The video below is a short animation of how a bra cup is created.

One of the clear benefits to a molded cup, though, is that the outer and inner fabric is applied via heat instead of being sewn together, panel by panel. This removes some of the hands-on, human intense process of sewing individual panels. That being said, bra manufacturing is incredibly complex, starting from the design all the way to the finished product. If you want a brief introduction to this aspect, don't be afraid to watch the video below from CCTV.

What are the benefits to owning a molded bra? The cup will hold its shape forever! This is great if you want a rounded shape under sheer shirts. Or if it is cold outside you won't have to worry about any nipple shapes showing. Some molded bras are padded, too, so you can get shape and extra oomph.

What are the downsides to owning a molded bra? Storing and traveling with these bras can be a challenge, especially because you shouldn't turn these cups inside-out. The best method for storing them is "nested" so that the cups sit within the cups of the bra in front of it. A close example is below by Elle's Blonde World.

Another downside is they absorb sweat! This means that they can stain easily and might have to be washed more often than soft-cup bras. If possible, do NOT machine wash your bras and especially not molded bras. Leaving them for a soak is OK in a gentle detergent and I have even Oxyclean-ed mine because honestly... ain't nobody got time for that! BUT if you want your bras to last, I suggest you buy a gentle detergent like the Nordstrom Lingerie Wash.

Remember, because molded bras are made from synthetic material (the spongey portion) then they can't really be re-used. So if you are Eco-conscious, then consider purchasing only natural fiber bras or just soft-cupped bras that take up less space.

Celebration Lingerie

Casual lingerie. Sexy lingerie. Business casual lingerie (I'm sure it's a thing, somewhere. It will involve pinstripes, definitely). But today I felt the need to show you some celebration lingerie.

So what IS celebration lingerie? It's not a marketing ploy by any particular company but something I have created myself. Because I feel like CELEBRATING today! Celebration lingerie's visual aesthetics should remind you of fireworks or the first flowers of spring. Here are a few 2015 Celebration Lingerie sets that will hopefully help you celebrate the day.

Heidi Klum's Keyhole Boost Bra

It's bright! It's lacy! It has ribbons AND cool cut outs. Heidi Klum Intimates, based out of Australia, doesn't stray far from the standard lingerie styles. Basic black/white/nude sets, lacy numbers and some colorful pieces, but the keyhole boost set stands out for its bright colors and adorable details. This set would make me feel GREAT! Also, having boost in the name doesn't hurt. This is the Blue Atoll version of the set.

Sizes: 32 to 38 B-D

Note: Australian sizes use 10, 12, 14 instead of 32, 34, 36, etc. The cup sizes are the same as UK bras.

Agent Provocateur Karlie

Agent Provocateur is designed to be, well, provocative and sexy, but with the bright colors the Karlie stands out as a party animal, too. Do you feel like wearing this to your celebration party? I sure hope so!

Sizes: 32 to 36 A-E

marlies | dekkers dancing princess

Did anyone else's parents tell them you were a princess when you were young? Even if you're not Kate Middleton you still can be with this bodysuit. The front is studded with rhinestones and a decorative jewelry piece dangles supported at the breastbone. The back is just as gorgeous (below)!

Sizes: S, M, L

So go find your celebration lingerie. Go feel great! And rock your gorgeous self!

Lingerie Commercials and Women

Currently, there is a very large discussion about the effects on women from advertisements and photoshop. With the number of households using the internet increasing, the impact on women can only become more widespread and this should be no surprise. But as more people are reached, we do have to ask if advertisers are taking their more diverse demographic into account. Are advertisers using more body shapes, sexes, races, etc.? Are they advertising differently than they have before? And what does this mean for the people who need/want to purchase lingerie?

Today we'll take a peek at the changes I've seen in recent years toward advertising lingerie/swimwear and even a look at somethings that appear to not have changed at all!

What's New?

 H&M's Jennie Runk

Perhaps one of the biggest changes was the subtle introduction of Jennie Runk into the H&M advertising fold. There was no fanfare or trumpeting of Jennie being a "plus-sized model" (which is very different from being plus-size in the non-modeling world) at a US size 12. She was just another model. And America loved it!

Although the data is 5 years or older, the Center for Disease Control lists the average US woman as being just under 5'4" and a waist of 37.5". It is hard to look at these numbers and see the line up of Victoria's Secret angels and their measurements (take this website with a grain of salt, though) and compare them to the average American woman. For comparison, JAG Models, (Jennie's agency), lists her at 5'10" and with a 33" waist. Not the same as the rest of America, but so much closer!

aerie Real

aerie blew everyone out of the water when they announced they would stop photoshopping their models. Now, there probably wasn't a promise that they would NOT photoshop the FIT of the bras on the models, but this announcement came right at the beginning of 2014 and probably helped inspire other companies to do the same.

Triumph's "Find the One" Advertisement

Perhaps the latest and most entertaining is Triumph's new animated advertisement called "Find the One"! Spotted by my friend C.W., this ad features their spoksemodel Hannah Ferguson, a Broadway musical producer AND singers, and a rather strange frog. It captures every woman's desire to find "the one." We'll skip around the director, Tobias Fueter's, comment about how the French, "know the girls, [and how] they love beautiful things” (ugh, really?) and appreciate it for its charm and how it hits the nail on the head: the right bra is important to have a dream sequence about!

What's the Same?

I'll just kind of leave these here.

2015

2000

 1995

For a rundown of the VS show through the ages, please checkout this Huffington Post article. I believe the VS angels have been around since 1999!

Garters and Garter Belts

Garters and garter belts! They're more than just a part of a wedding ceremony!

A strange modern adaptation!

What you're used to seeing traditionally tossed at weddings by the grooms are garters. The National Vintage Wedding Fair makes a note that in the past (think medieval times), in order to prove a marriage was consummated, the wedding guests would join the couple in the bedroom and make off with the proof! Garters seemed to be fair game. Luckily, we've started to do away with the voyeuristic function of the garter. At modern weddings, though, we seem to also have done away with the REAL function of the garter and garter belt itself: holding up stockings!

A modern garter: This will probably not hold up a stocking

So what was a girl to do back when stockings were the thing and you also wanted to flatten your stomach for a dress? A girdle and garter belt were just the thing!

Here is a garter belt advertisement

Most garter belts came with front and back straps and connected to the top of stockings. When hemlines rose, the need to still partially obscure your legs remained as well as the need to stay warm in cooler climates. Modern-day pantyhose and Spanx have largely done away with the single legged stocking but there is still demand for garter belts, although more often for "sexy" functions.

Curvy Kate Carmen

So although garter belts are still in use, you don't often see them in stores except in specialty boutiques or online and you probably don't see women wearing them under their dresses due to the shift in fashion (although that could be changing). Or you may see the modified underwear/belt panty (below), which is not conducive to daily wear and tear when you're out and about in town.

Bare Necessities Curvy Kate Tease Me Garter Belt Strap Boyshort

So what's a good suspender belt? How do you wear them? How does it feel to wear them? Hopefully, I have a few answers for you:

What's a good suspender belt?
How do you wear them?
How does it feel to wear them?

The overall consensus is that if it looks like it's meant for the bedroom, then only wear it in the bedroom! You need some sturdy material and engineering to hold up stockings. Do you wear a garter belt and stockings? Why or why not? Do you have any suggestions? Let us know!

How to Boudoir: Part 2

So you've found a photographer you love and you've booked a shoot. What do you expect the same day? Here's a run-through of my experience with The Sensual Photographer.

My boudoir bag

The Day Of the Photoshoot
Is your bag packed? Do you have all of your outfits, jewelry, shoes, robe, accessories, FOOD!? If not, go grab them and place them in your bag. Also, go eat something (because you will be working HARD). For some reason I like to use an old fashioned suitcase to tote my photoshoot clothing, so I made sure everything fit nice and tight. This suitcase also doubles as a prop. This one would be GREAT for a Mad Men themed shoot.

Like I mentioned in How to Boudoir: Part 1, find clothes that fit. A few of the items I chose to bring include:

Freya Flourish Padded Longline in White 30G
Just Peachy Lace Non Padded Balconete Bra in Purple 30G
Parfait by Affinitas Danielle in Turquoise 30G
Freya Marvel in Purple 28G
Fantasie Susanna Underwired Side Support Bra in Black 30G

THREE pairs of shoes, plenty of jewelry, a cardigan from Three Dots, scarf and a robe.

In the end we stuck with the Danielle, Marvel, cardigan and matching panties.

Hair and Makeup
So as not to leave clothing or underwear lines, I swapped out my clothes for a robe and let Gina Campbell, the make-up and hair artist, go to work. If you want to see more of her work, PLEASE go visit her site The Bird Bones on Tumblr! She does weddings, everyone!!

If you have a make-up and hair artist hired for your shoot, show up with a clean face and clean hair. Some hair artists want you to not have washed it the day of the shoot and others don't care. My hair is fine and thin, so it was a must to wash. Gina added some product, applied heat and gorgeous curls appeared! They held for the entirety of the shoot and even long after. Make-up and hair artists are WORTH IT if you do not have these skills yourself. They come with their own makeup (which they charge a modest fee for to cover costs) and many hours and sometimes years of experience. They know how much makeup to apply and where. Camera flashes can wash you out and they know how to stop that from happening.

For makeup Gina chose a smoky eye. Imagine Jennifer Lawrence, and then go three times more dark and smoky! This makeup was a forest fire's worth of smoke! This was also a great experience to determine what a good foundation shade I am (Urban Decay Naked Skin Weightless Ultra Definition Liquid Makeup in 1), in case you were wondering. Also, it's vegan. Who knew!?
Photo from Fanpop

The Result...
Unfortunately, the photos have not been released yet! But below is a teaser from The Sensual Photographer's Facebook page (which you all still need to LIKE)!

Why every woman should want to be a (lingerie) model #ImNoAngel

While growing up, children are always being asked, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" And kids will respond with answers like astronaut, wife, race car driver, or even an expert in Greek mythology (OK, that was me! The evidence is below.). Rare is it for a young child to say "model" and probably non-existent to say "lingerie model."

Lingerie Libra at age 12

But as we become adults, the world changes and we see the world differently. At 12 you start to notice that there are TV ads with attractive stars and models. Blockbuster movies play on the silver screen or through our computer screens. And then the latest issue of Seventeen arrives and you start to think, "Maybe this could be me. Maybe I could be a model!" And then the world starts to get in the way.

 Lingerie Libra at age 14

Directly or indirectly people tell you that you are not a size 0 (whatever that means) and you're under 5'8". Then you might become more critical of your looks. You're 14 and you have acne, stretch marks and braces and LIFE JUST IS NOT FAIR. You think that you CAN'T be a model because none of them look like you!

Victoria's Secret "Perfect Body" Campaign - Photo courtesy of Victoria's Secret

And while there are lean, tall and beautiful women on all of the advertisements and campaigns (that demographic is well-covered), it's hard to find another body that represents well... YOUR body. So why not make that happen yourself?

Lingerie Libra at 25 (far left) - Photo courtesy of Curvy Kate's Star in a Bra 2012

So why should every woman want to be a lingerie model? Because the 12 year old you USED to be needs to know that you are confident in your body. And all of the other young girls growing up need to know that they can be confident, too!

Lane Bryant's new campaign #I'mNoAngel - Photo courtesy of PopSugar

The 14 year old you needs to know that stretch marks are fine and that acne doesn't make the person. You can be happy and be a size 0 or a size 22. A person isn't the size of their body!

Tess Munster, Milk Model Management - Photo courtesy of Google search for Tess Munster

And even if you aren't "model" height you can rock it like Tess Munster who is 5'5". In her words, "Eff your beauty standards!" Go sign with an agency! Show everyone AND yourself that you can do it. Celebrate Lane Bryant's #I'mNoAngel campaign!

Andrej Pejic - Photo courtesy of Design Scene

You might even identify as a woman, be a transgender woman, somewhere in-between or off-from-center or WHATEVER and STILL want to wear lingerie! Be the next Andrej Pejic and strut your stuff!

Lingerie Libra at 27

Because even if you're 12, 14, 25 or 27, you deserve to be happy with yourself. And you deserve to see a diverse group of women of all shapes, heights, colors, personalities, etc. Be your own spokesmodel and show the world that all types of women are welcome in the world, not just the modeling world.