Nutcracker Sweets Act III: 5 Holiday Picks for Fuller Figures

Posted on December 11, 2012 by Sweets

More festive lingerie, holiday-or-otherwise! Today’s picks are for customers shopping in the full-figure market. For purposes of this post, I’ve chosen items available in at least band sizes 36-42 and at least DD cups, although some of the options are available in additional sizes.

Oh. Yeah, actually, my first pick isn’t even bra-sized. Yikes. Sorry about that. But it’s so pretty! Blue-and-Black gets me every time.

Satin and Chopper Bar Lace Chemise in Blue and Black (also in Pink and Black). $55.90 from Hips and Curves. Sizes 1X-3X.

The rear view is super, super sassy, although we can all see that the bra part fits terribly, since the back is riding up, but we are also not judging, on account of sassiness.

HELLO, Lover.

This is next one is such a sweet, delicate bra in an unusual and pretty pale pink/mink colorway. I’ve arbitrarily been assigning one set per post a variation from the Nutcracker, and this one (a steal at just $30.00!) belongs to the Marzipan Shepherdesses, hands-down.

Amour Bra in Mink-Pink by Pour Moi? available in sizes 30-44 D-G (UK). Matching short available in sizes 08-20 (UK)

Amour Bra in Mink-Pink by Pour Moi? available in sizes 30-44 D-G (UK), $30.00. Matching short available in sizes 08-22 (UK), $15.00.

As I learned delightedly in my office building’s elevator the other day, Pantone’s color of the year for 2013 is emerald green. Green is really having a moment in the lingerie world, and I love the deep, sophisticated hue Goddess brings to their smooth Keira style. Emerald is available as both a soft cup and a bandless wired bra, and other colors are available in a longline-soft-cup style (black) and a nursing bra (beige).

"Keira" Soft Cup Wire-Free Bra in Emerald by Goddess (Also available in other colors and as a wired bra). Sizes 34-46 DD-N (US Sizing).

“Keira” Soft Cup Wire-Free Bra in Emerald by Goddess (Also available in other colors and as a wired bra). Sizes 34-56 B-H (US Sizing), about $45-50; banded/wired bra sizes 34-46 DD-N. Why no matching knickers, Goddess? I direct interested parties to Knickerocker on Etsy instead.

I love this next bra’s embroidery! I think if someone said to me “oh yeah, a black bra with red and gold embroidery, no really, I swear it’s not frumpy”, I’d be all “psh, prove it.” And then Elomi would prove it, with an elegant, regal bra, thusly:

“Cleo” Bandless Bra by Elomi. Available in Beige, Black, and Charcoal. Sizes vary from color to color; generally 34-48 D-G (UK). $54.00. Matching brief sizes M-4XL, $28.00.

Finally, is your party dress strapless? Check out this beautiful basque with removable straps by Pour Moi?:

Pour Moi? “Amour” basque, with removable straps and suspenders in black/pink. 32-44 B-F. $52.50. Matching thong and shortie available to size 18 (UK), $12-15

Oh what the heck, a bonus round, since the first chemise isn’t bra sized:

“Maggie” Babydoll by Elomi. Available in black, sizes 36-42 F-GG (UK). $86.00. Matching brief, sizes M-4XL, $24.00

Will any of these find their way to your Christmas tree?

Brand Introduction: Freya

Posted on September 23, 2012 by Sweets

For those of us who know our bra sizes better than our social security numbers, Freya is nothing new, but for many women, particularly in North America, who are just getting to know their full-bust sizes, Freya’s is the first friendly face they’ll meet. While Freya may not be for everyone, I want to share the brand with you because 1) it’s widely available in North America now, 2) it’s moderately priced (generally), and 3) Freya really paved the way for many of the beautiful, varied full-bust companies on the market today.

Lots of Styles

“Deco” molded plunge bra, available in black and beige as well as seasonal colors. Sizes 28-38 B-GG (some exceptions).

Being an internationally recognized leader in the full-bust market, Freya has the resources to offer many, many different styles over the course of a year. On average, around 20+ new styles hit the market every season, including swim, lounge, lingerie, and athletic wear.

Clockwise from top left: Active, Lingerie, Lounge, Maternity, Swim

Freya offers lots of different shapes, too: padded half-cup, seamed balconette, molded plunge (the enormously popular Deco bra), soft cup, nursing, sports, and strapless bras as well as bikinis, tankinis, and full-length swimsuits, so there’s a chance that even if one shape isn’t your cup of tea, Freya may offer another shape that works for you. Last year they introduced a longline style which returns this year in multiple prints. Some bras are padded, some are sheer, some are opaque, some are frilly, some are basic, so you have a great chance of finding underwear to suit your needs and tastes. Freya will be launching some pretty shapewear next spring, and Freya and sister brands Elomi, Huit, Fauve, Fantasie, and Goddess offer beautiful, colorful options for a range of shapes, sizes, styles, and budgets.

Lots of Sizes (sometimes)

Freya was one of the first labels to offer K-cups and 28-backs, and they should be applauded. Competitive labels have expanded their size ranges in order to keep up, which means more options for everyone. However, sometimes there are weirdly arbitrary sizing black holes. Some bras start at C-cups, others at D, 28 bands frequently aren’t available in the full cup-size spectrum, the athletic and sleepwear ranges don’t go to K cups, and some other styles arbitrarily stop at G or GG instead of extending up to the full GG-K range (particularly in larger band sizes– boo). Many women are waiting for Freya to adapt the Deco bra for larger cup sizes, and I am baffled as to why the longline bras can’t go higher than a G. If it’s because the longline bras feature the padded half-cup shape, then make it an unlined balconette longline bra! Hell, I’d prefer it unlined. A longline version of the Arabella range would knock my socks off.

Right? Wouldn’t this make a super-sexy longline bra?

Holy crap, you guys, I am a design genius! Freya, get on that: I will buy the hell out of it. A longline bra with its six hooks feels like such a blessing to so many full-busted women, since, as we know, support comes from the band. I know that the design, construction, and, well, architecture of larger cup sizes is more challenging and more time-consuming, but women who wear these sizes often want supportive sleepwear and sports bras most of all, and there’s currently a huge hole in the market.

Lots of Accessories

I’ve made my feelings on matching sets known before: I love them, I crave them, I feel so pretty in them. Freya usually offers at least two, if not more, coordinating knickers (and occasionally suspenders) for each of their bras and coordinating bottoms for each of their bikinis and tankinis. As an avowed thong-hater, I love this, because I can build lingerie ensembles of my choosing, with pieces that I know flatter me and feel the most comfortable.

Some of the accessories available in the following ranges: Pier (swim), Gem, Ashlee, Patsy.

Lots of Color

While my first Freya bra was a fairly basic black (“Pollyanna”, I know I keep harping on it but RIP I miss you), the first thing that made me notice the brand was color. Again, the full-bust landscape has changed dramatically in the last five years, and brands like Cleo, Miss Mandalay, Parfait, Claudette, Curveturiere, and others feature bright, bold, on-trend colors and a sophisticated design approach, but when I first started figuring out how to fit my breasts, my only point of reference was your average US department store, where my options were beige, black, and white, if they carried my size at all. Freya bras, on the other hand, came in reds and pinks and greens and blues and deep purples, and they were trimmed with lace and contrasting bows and ruffles. The designs were interesting, the colors popped, and the whole feel overall was so much more youthful, sexy, and fun than the beige minimizer bras I’d turned to for years.

Some of the many, many colorful lingerie pieces released over the last few years.

Lots of Print

Polka dots. Bows. Flowers. Tattoos. Flamingos. Russian dolls. Feathers. Stripes. Freya really stands out in the full-bust market for its sometimes completely bonkers prints (I mostly mean that as a compliment). While it’s really lovely to have elegant, luxurious lingerie in your drawer, sometimes it’s also nice to inject a little fun into the mix. I will always love polka dots, and I LOVED the Nieve print (which sort of kills me, because I found the fit in both the balconette and the longline bras to be pretty strange (more later)). There’s a nice playfulness to some of the prints, and a charming sensuality to others.

Freya Prints: Nieve (longline), Tabitha (balconette), Carly (molded plunge)

Does Freya have it all? Well . . . they have a lot! I think branching into shapewear for Spring 2013 was a really smart decision, given that shapewear’s surging popularity shows no signs of stopping. I hope Freya listen to feedback and continue to expand their size ranges, as there are currently lots of ladies falling into the gaps. There are sometimes baffling fit inconsistencies that make shopping online a real pain. In the last year or two it seems like Freya’s bands have gotten much, much stretchier, and sometimes the cups have too. I have the balconette version of the Nieve in what is, for me, a pretty average size, and I’ve worn it a few times, but it has stretched so quickly I’m already wearing it on the tightest hooks, and the cups are bizarrely unsupportive and droopy. I almost feel like I should have gone down 1 band size and up 2 cup sizes, a fit adjustment that is impossible to anticipate and which most likely means an online shopper will have to pay shipping and returns. The “Faye” style is very popular as a basic bra, but I have yet to find the right fit on me. I find the band somehow loose and tight all at once, the cups are shallow, and the fabric feels flimsy to me. However, these complaints might be specific to my body type, and maybe to a women with firmer tissue or differently shaped breasts, Freya’s recent design changes are a breath of fresh air. Freya’s wires tend to run narrower than Panache’s, which are notoriously wide, so Freya bras in general might suit some women better than others. Finally, many of Freya’s unlined bras give a kind of retro pointy shape, which can be either really appealing or a huge turn-off, depending on your preferences. I’m not a fan of the shape for me personally, but I have found that the silhouette tends to soften to a more natural look after a few wearings, almost like I have to break it in first.

While I don’t think Freya will ever be everything to any one specific customer, I do think Freya has a little something to offer a wide range of women, no matter her age, shape, or style.

Have you tried Freya? Do you have a favorite style? I’ve mostly featured past styles, but if you want a sneak peek of Spring/Summer 2013 (and the chance to preorder anything that catches your eye), check out A Sophisticated Pair’s preview of some of the beautiful styles to come!

Rant for a Monday

Posted on September 10, 2012 by Sweets

So the always-on-the-alert Georgina at Fuller Figure Fuller Bust recently brought a ground-breaking piece of investigative journalism to my attention (sarcasm alert). Read it. It’ll take you like 30 seconds, and probably only kill 5 brain cells.

You’re back?

Hoooooooooookay. Y’all. I’m trying to be calm and measured in my response to this. But can we get the obvious out of the way first? This “article” is COMPLETE AND UTTER BULLSHIT.

Now, let’s get down to it:

First of all, a woman’s bra size is her own business.

Second, unless you are an experienced, professional bra fitter who is not employed by Victoria’s Secret, you will not be able to tell a woman’s bra size on sight.

Third, celebrities have been known to lie about clothing sizes before. Probably to avoid being stigmatized and shamed in crap articles on the internet like, oh, I don’t know, this one. So even if this article has been fact-checked (haaaaaaaaaaa!), it’s probably still only an accurate reflection of either A) the lie the celebrity/celebrity’s people told or B) the (incorrect) size the celebrity buys because she doesn’t know better.

Fourth, the alphabet doesn’t end at D.

Fifth, a bigger number doesn’t mean your boobs are OMG huge. The number part of a bra size represents the approximate dimensions of your ribcage. Everyone’s different, of course, but generally your band size will be around +/-1-2 inches of your underbust measurement, if it differs from your underbust measurement at all. Many of the celebrities pictured in this article are curvy, yes, but they also have slim waists and narrow ribcages compared to their busts and hips. I’m going to contradict myself and size them (partially) on sight, but I would guess more of them are in the 28-32 band size range rather than the 34-36 range.

Sixth, articles like this perpetuate the myth that D-cup bras are enormous and shocking. Y’all, no matter the number/letter on the tag, your boobs are not shocking. They’re your boobs, and they’re totally lovely (they really are. Small, large, veiny, perky, droopy, stretch-marked, scarred, whatever: they are a part of you, but they do not define you). There are over 100 different bra sizes readily available for sale all over the internet. Very slim women can wear D-K-cup bras, full-figured women can wear A-C cup bras, and vice versa. Your overall shape or clothing size in no way dictates your bra size.

Seventh, this article is sexist and size-ist. It seems to be measuring female pop stars’ merits by the size of their chests, reducing their bodies to one isolated physical trait, and ridiculing anyone who dares to have excess flesh like the unfortunate gentleman in the last picture. Haha, you’re so hilarious, article writer. Really, shame the man for having boobs. Guess who has boobs? EVERYONE. BECAUSE WE ARE MAMMALS. IT’S SCIENCE.

Eighth, I remind you again that bra sizes, and indeed clothing sizes in general, are arbitrary. They are averages. They are mass-production conveniences created for manufacturers and retailers and, in an ideal world, for shoppers, so that we can guess at our best fit. The use of standardized sizes streamlines the retail process, but it’s not Divine Writ. Fit and size vary from brand to brand, item to item, and even sometimes from color to color. Sizes don’t define us as types of human beings. We are more than our clothing sizes, and we are more than our bra sizes.

In a world before mass-production, clothes were literally made-to-measure, and we had to find things to obsess over and fetishize other than our clothing sizes, because there was no such thing as a “size 4” or a “size 18”. I absolutely and 100% do not care what size you wear, and I’m working hard not to care what size I wear. I care about fit. Your clothes should fit you well and make you feel good. Period. People will want to size-shame you, probably because they have unresolved issues of their own or because all they see are idiotic articles like this one, which they accept as gospel truth. They will tell you that a size 10, 12, 22, whatever is “fat”. They’ll tell you that a size 0 is “anorexic.” They’ll tell you that “A-cups don’t count.” They are full of it. You wear what size fits you, supports you, and makes you look and feel fabulous.

* * * * *

Further reading: Busts 4 Justice’s excellent post on the idiocy of cup-size shaming by a lingerie shop

Curveturiere Preview

Posted on August 8, 2012 by Sweets

On Monday night I had the privilege of attending a cocktail preview party for the new intimates line Curveturiere! I was delighted and a little star-struck to go to my first press event, but I had such a lovely time speaking with the founders, Mary Pifko and Kelly Moore, having some bubbly, meeting buyers and other writers in the fashion and lingerie fields, and chatting with Avril, the gorgeous fit model who showed off some of the styles that will launch in 2013. Curveturiere’s journey has been a whirl-wind; Kelly told me that work on the line began in February 2012, and they’re already showing their first collections. They should be able to reveal their first buyers and retail locations in about a month! Mary and Kelly each have an impressive background in fashion design and marketing, and their experience really speaks in their attention to detail.

A quick run-down: all Curveturiere styles, including strapless and wire-free bras, will be available in sizes 32-50 D-K. Note that Curveturiere uses the US cup-sizing system (generally, A, B, C, D, DD, DDD/E, F, G, H, I, J, K), so women who wear higher than a UK H/HH-cup may be sized out. Curveturiere is making a point of soliciting customer feedback even before the launch of the full line at Curve Las Vegas. Kelly told me they’ve already had multiple requests for 28 and 30 back sizes, and if they get enough requests they may even have time to get these sizes patterned, cut, and ready for sale in 2013! That’s a pretty dazzlingly quick turn-around, so hopefully women who are currently sized out at any end of the spectrum can speak up and see items in their sizes in the near future. Continue reading →

Suggestions for the Full-Figure Lingerie Shopper

Posted on July 29, 2012 by Sweets

There is SO MUCH lingerie on the internet. In many ways, it’s thrilling and empowering: the industry is really booming, brands are really listening to customer feedback and paying attention to fashion trends, and new brands are emerging all the time that cater to specific shapes and sizes of women. It feels great to know the options are out there, but it’s also hugely overwhelming. I wanted to spotlight a few options that I’ve come across recently that cater to a full-figure customer. In some cases there will be some overlap for the full-bust customer, but by and large I want to focus on brands that cater to women who may struggle to find sexy lingerie that fits their hips and bellies as well as their breasts.

Hips and Curves

Skirted Thong (1X-4X) and Strappy Stretch Lace Bra (38-44, no cup sizes specified), stay-up stockings (1X-6X). This seriously looks like a set from Agent Provocateur, at a fraction of the cost. Very pretty!

Wow. I kind of love everything on this site. I think Hips and Curves is a great place to start, if you want to dip your toes into super-sexy lingerie. The prices are eminently reasonable, and the designs are elegant, sophisticated, on-trend, and sensual. The site offers bras, panties, sleepwear, costumes, fun burlesque accessories, shapewear, corsets and bustiers, stockings, suspender belts, even leather and patent lingerie. It’s a fun one-stop shop for any lingerie needs- everyday wear, special occasion, bridal wear, and more risque fun. Continue reading →

Beating the Heat: All-or-Mostly Cotton Bras

Posted on June 20, 2012 by Sweets

I got a request from a dear friend for an all-or-mostly-cotton shopping guide, and seriously, could the timing be any better? In four days New York has gone from 65 degrees to 95, and the city is just one giant concrete-and-skyscraper heat-trapping hell-hole. Sometimes. Not always. But I am not alone in wishing that more subway-riders took up deodorant.

SORRY. Where was I? Cotton. Cool, lovely, breathable cotton, the fabric of our lives, but not, so often, of our bras. Particularly once you break out of the standard sixteen sizes (32-38 A-D), unlined mostly-cotton bras are few and far between. Cotton doesn’t always give the same supportive-yet-stretchy fit synthetics do, it can be trickier to fit perfectly, and then to top it off cotton prices have risen dramatically in the last few years. We just don’t have as many options. Bravissimo used to stock a bra that was a beautiful cotton eyelet, but the brand (Faubourg) seems to have stalled, and I’ve only seen swimsuits from them this year. There are a few sizes of the cotton bra left in the sale section.

Calvin Klein and some other department store staples seems to stock a regular supply of cotton bras, but they also tend to be padded or molded, thus defeating the heat-relief-seeking purpose. Otherwise, cotton and natural fibers show up primarily in maternity wear, wire-free bras, and bralettes. Bralettes are awesome (see Sandmaiden Sleepwear on Etsy for more pretty, natural-fiber choices), but finding full-bust and full-figure options that are also cute or stylish can be a challenge. Continue reading →

Sweet Nothings

Tag Archives: full-figure