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Bra Fit Tips From Simply Be

I have been admiring some sites across the pond, and I thought you might be curious to learn about what's popular in terms of fit over there, and what are some comparable options in the States. Thanks to Simply Be, a UK lingerie brand, I learned about what makes these bras so popular, and then I did a little brainstorming myself! 

According to Charlotte Bleasdale, these are some of the most popular lingerie looks at Simply Be this season:  

Gok Wan Banger Booster

 

What Charlotte Says: "The Gok Wan lingerie range has been a really big hit. The plunge bra gives great cleavage and it's got multiway straps so it's versatile, too. It's available in Deep (Black), Passion (Purple), and Naked (Natural) and up to 42G." 

Pack of 2 Underwired Bras  

 

What Charlotte Sayst: "This bra pack is great value at just £28 for 2. The light padding and pretty pleating give a dramatic look in ruby red and black colourways up to 42G." 

U.S. Option: Chantelle Intimates "Caprice" Bra from Nordstrom

Masquerade Basque

 

What Charlotte Says: "A basque is a brilliant choice for plus girls because you get support for your stomach as well as your boobs. They make you feel very sexy! The ivory version of this basque makes lovely wedding lingerie – and you could even wear the black version out if you were feeling brave! It’s got removable straps and is available up to 38G." 

U.S. Option: Jezebel "Desire" Bustier from Macy's 
 

Masquerade Balconette Bra

 

What Charlotte Says: "It’s easy to see why this bra has been such a hit. In ravishing red with all over black lace it’s super sexy, yet still supportive up to 38G." 

U.S. Option: Chantelle "Boudoir" Demi Bra from Nordstrom
 

Panache Underwired Bra

 

What Charlotte Says: "This bra from Panache is an all-round winner and available to 40K. In practical black or white it’s ideal for every day yet will still make you feel special with pretty lace to the top of the cups." 

U.S. Option: Old Navy Full Coverage Bra 

Themed Holiday Lingerie from YumDrop

(Candy Cane Ruched Panty)

Candy Cane ruched panties are a perfect way to zest up the holidays, no matter what you celebrate. Ruched-back panties add fantastic shape and "ooomph" to your backside, and those bows are just a gorgeous addition. Try it under your favorite dark skirts and dresses to be your little secret.

 

(Satin Santa Robe)

Want to be a sexy Santa? Fuchsia is a great way to add holiday cheer with a surprise touch. Whenever you need to get saucy and stay warm in winter weather. Forget freezing in a lace camisole and slip when you can bundle yourself up in something way warmer. Black belt adds shape to the waist and defines.

 

(Rhumba Holiday Panty)

Lace-back panties are one of the hottest lingerie trends this season, and rhumba styles are the very best. Lace trim adds flirty shape and a butt boost that's fun and playful. What makes these panties so perfect is their their ability to transcend seasons. These ones are a keeper! Available in cheery red with fun details.

 
(Santa's Helper Slides)

Instead of wearing your slippers, why not amp things up with a pair of holiday mules? If you don't like lingerie much, have plenty, or just want a little something else, these are an awesome choice. Delicate striped fabric comes with red bows and bells.

 

(Plus-Size Confetti Lingerie)

Are you a plus-sized diva? This high-voltage lingerie concoction features cut-outs and plenty of spangles. Black slips with these simple shapes and embellishment will go very far, and you can wear these far beyond the time when snow flies. Available in sizes 1-2X and 3-4X.

 

(Snowflake Elf Dress)

Who doesn't love an elf?! This is a perfect costume for risk-taking holiday lovers who are down with total accessorization: fun hats, knee-high striped socks, and high heels. Rowr!

Lovely Lingerie for Less

I have a lingerie confession to make: I never treat myself to the good stuff. I've got a strong sense of frugality (well that doesn't surprise anyone!), so the only designer pieces I find are few and far between (and heavily marked down, I might add).

Bare Necessities might change all that, though, because their deals are impressive and their selection is astoundingly comprehensive. There's lots of lace available, plenty of silk pieces, and far more than just the average brief/thong combination around here! When you grab a useful coupon, everything's way more affordable, and quality is pretty much unparalleled.

(Pommier Demi Bra)

Bras with cups that feature ribbons that arch upwards are very gorgeous indeed, and mesh cups are entirely sexy without being too much. Dark blue and yellow is an interesting combination, and one that makes a nice interesting to a personal collection.

 

(Dolce and Gabbana Savana Brief)

Beautiful lingerie with an animal print captivates, and gets trendy even when you need to wear boring black for work everyday. If you can't pep up your wardrobe on the outside, consider a pretty little addition like this Dolce and Gabbana piece.

 

(Blush Underwire Bra)

Details are what make designer lingerie really stand out, and this bra is a perfect example. Along the cups you get a nice pleated detail (which is very sexy), and something very unique! Good for wearing underneath your fancy dresses-- there's nothing worse than wearing something boring underneath a "pull out all the stops" outfit.

 

(Vintage Beauty Hipster

 
(Flamenco Bustier)

The above two pieces are fantasy buys for me, but keep in mind that a pair of silk tap shorts can easily double as a pair of pajama shorts! When you need to wear a sexy something but you want to keep comfort in mind (read: no thongs allowed!), this is a great choice.

(Flocked Dot Thong)

Skirted things work well underneath puffy dresses and other items that pack a lot of volume. If you need a pair of underwear that has the "wow" factor, this is a great choice-- especially if practicality is not a concern.

 
(Fantasy Shelf Bra)

Bows are a perfect way to express your femininity, especially if you consider how much easier it is then choosing your actual wardrobe and trying to match it with already existing pieces. It's a lot easier to do that with a pair of panties and a garter belt.

 
(Leavers Lace Silk Thong)

If you're going to splurge on one item, I would recommend getting a lace thong. It's a no-panty-line essential bumped up into first class, and that's perfectly all right with me! Choose a neutral color to match with all of your bras.

Snooping Around Victoria's Secret

I'm completely surprised by Victoria's Secret this time around-- while they've been getting progressively better, I was busy scribbling down all the amazing things I'm going to buy. . . namely, lots and lots of draped jersey and silk, retro-styled lingerie, and goodies like Indian-print bikinis and such. Don't forget that you can strike at perfect times to score clearance pieces as well!

Behold, my top selections:

(Pleated Bra Top)

This sculptural piece will have everyone thinking that you nabbed it at a sample sale in New York, when you really picked it up whilst wearing your pajamas in front of the computer. Not too bad! I'm all about saving my shopping energy when I can (to save time for accessorizing), and this is a great option. A blazer would look stunning worn over it.

(Draped Jersey Tie-Neck Blouse)

A slightly "sexy secretary" piece will be right at home with a slim pencil skirt and a high pair of patent mary janes. The sweetest things come in the cutest packages, and this one is sophisticated as well (very unusual indeed!). Slip into something sexy underneath, like a shapely camisole-- I bet you can find one from Victoria's Secret without much trouble. ;)

(FitFlops)

FitFlops are my secret obsession-- they are supposedly amazing for your legs and will get right at work for toning and trimming. This is very important for anyone who loves to walk but hates to hit the gym, and I think it's a small price to pay to wear these signature shoes with magical toning and tightening qualities.

(Boho Tropical Swimsuit)

While I like to wait until the very end of summer to buy my Victoria's Secret swimsuits on sale, I just can't resist this one in purple grape-y ness (complete with ethnic elements). With simple sequined thong sandals and new accessories, this swimsuit will steal the show.

(Fun Polka Dot Bustier Set)

Romantic, fun, and flirty, this bustier is a dream. While some pieces are great for layering underneath your working bits and more, there are other pieces that exist purely for lounging. Try this piece when you are flouncing around the house. With heels, this piece will be devastating. Romance and affordability? Sign me up!

(Silk Sashed Dress)

Floaty and flattering, this dress is essential for anyone planning on impressing the in-laws or the alumni socialites. In 100% silk, this is one of the coolest dresses that I have ever seen at Victoria's Secret. if you're going to buy one thing there, let it be this one!

It's Summer Lingerie Time! Shapes for Your Shape

Check out some great summer lingerie styles!

THE BOYSHORT

(Hanes Tagless Wedgie-Free)
Boyshorts are great for body types that need a comfy alternative to thongs and the like. Low-slung boyshorts are essential for windy days when you're wearing a flirty skirt. . . I will not comment specifically on my last run-in with a blustery day, but let's just say the next time I'll be wearing something far more substantial! If you want to look slimmer, try a dark pair with pinstriped along the waistline.

THE THONG

(Calvin Klein Glamor Thong)
String thongs can be really, really intimidating, but thankfully you can get styles in a variety of fits. If you hate the way some of your thongs "cut into" your hips, consider extra high-cut styles in microfiber instead of thick elastic. Even if you hate the look of high-cut panties, like I do, they can be very useful for all sorts of high-waisted skirts and tight items. Try them in nude color for an exceptionally seamless, invisible look.

THE BRIEF

(Hanes Textured Bikinis)
Believe it or not, I see briefs as one of the least versatile pairs of panties out there. There's something really uncomfortable about them when they're too tight, too big, too baggy, or too unusual, and the panty lines are the most wicked of the bunch. Slip on a pair in a more delicate stretch (such as one from SPANX) if you must, or look for a pair like the tanga, below.

THE TAP SHORT

(Vena Cava Tap Short)
Tap shorts are ridiculously sexy when you find a pair in satin or a nice French lace. They have a large, more generous silhouette, which is great for the full-hipped and skinny minnie alike. The more luxurious the fabric, the sexier you'll feel, and when the weather gets hot, you'll also be feeling super cool.

THE TANGA

(Sexy Little Things Little Nothings Tanga)
Brazilian tanga shorts combine features from multiple sources for a great look. The thong-like back allows you to enjoy them without panty lines, the full-coverage front is similar to a boyshort or brief, and the design is somewhat like an exotic tap pant. I love wearing these types underneath jeans and longer skirts.

Lingerie Tricks: Shapewear Must-Buys

This spring and summer, we're looking at some really eclectic pieces that definitely don't just warrant wearing a regular bra. While you're on the search for a camisole or top to wear under that gorgeous and yet puzzling top, remember these suggestions to keep you looking great (and looking slimmer as well). :)

High-Waisted Shape Pieces

Let's say you've picked out the most beautiful strapless or slim-strapped dress, and you know that you need to be wearing a strapless bra beneath it. Just what can you do, though, if the waistline is that clinging type in something like silk or a georgette? I know! Pull yourself into these forgiving high-waisted pieces that fit well, look amazing, and flatter even the most reluctant of middles.

I've chosen the SPANX brand, simply because the "give" is pretty fantastic and you won't feel like you're burning up come summer.

(High-Waisted Panty Shapers; BCBG Tiered Dress)

Leg Compression Pieces

Wearing white capris and jeans can look amazing with silky, floaty shapes, but it's pretty stressful to wear white jeans, and for multiple reasons. One very scary aspect is "the dimple effect." Lumps, bumps, and the rest of it can really be highlighted by light-colored slacks, and anyone with a fuller body can get really intimidated. Since size 2 to size 24 can be plagued by light-colored clothes and all the stuff it can show off, here are my picks for longer supportwear:

(High-Falutin' Footless with Lace)

(Footless Super Control Tights)

Camis
Camis are awesome to layer underneath your tanks and tees-- particularly those ones that you desperately need to wear a bra with. Look for a bra with slim straps and layer a tank top in the same color with straps of a similar thickness beneath-- it's totally worth it. All you need to remember is that every inch counts when you're picking out summer pieces, so aim for medium-thickness straps to make your job that much easier!

Go for strapless as well!

(Hide n Sleek Strapless Cami)

Lingerie Picks for Spring

Looking for some lingerie that ties in with fashion trends for your own matching? Love your lingerie and want it to tie into popular looks for 2008? I've had a great time finding panties, chemises, and a surprise or two along the way.

1. Something Brief and Bright
This is certainly daring for your first spring selection, but here me out: you're buying for yourself and for soring, and there's nothing like a bright color clashing alongside ladylike lace to make your skirts seem a whole lot appealing. Keep in mind that picking up a naughty something from Damaris is a treat in more than just style-- it's exquisitely crafted for anyone looking for international designer goodies.

(Electric Moss Satin and Peach Lace Pieces)

2. Sheer Darkness-- Perfect for Spring
Can't live without black? Me neither-- and I'm still going to get plenty of Spring 2008 lingerie staples this year. Slim, thin mesh is eternally sexy and crosses the seasonal boundaries to work all year long. If you want to purchase a very high quality piece in gorgeous, shockingly attractive lace, you'll benefit from this smart, naughty buy.

This selection truly makes you rethink the whole slip thing.

(Agent Provocateur Cami Slip, $185)

3. Blousy Shorts
Oh my, oh my: these shorts are a trip, and are essential for sleeping on a spring night. If you're the tee-and-panties kind of girl, you can branch out a bit in these whimsical ones in a fun pattern and shape. If you're looking for a way to flatter these for a sleepover, try a slim-fitting racerback top in a soft jersey fabric. Oh, and perhaps a little lace trim and a velvet chocker necklace.

(Dessous by Sophie Simmons)

4. White Lacyness
This demi bra is divine, and it has a total '80s appeal for ultra instant glamor. There's something about the fit, the style, and the general frou-frou appeal that will flatter every woman out for girly pieces for spring. Imagine wearing this bra under a silk top, a blazer, and a mini skirt with a little puff. If you're going to go retro, you might as well do it up right. . . right?

(Elisa La Muse Demi Bra from East13 Lingerie)

5. Tasty Treats
Technically not lingerie, but certainly representing an essential to go along with your bedtime looks. Slip on a satin blindfold when you're up to no good, and make sure to find them in coordinating colors to match. I'd try this blindfold with satin tap pants and French shorts.

(Blindfold by East13 Lingerie)

6. Victorian Elements
Here's to all the women out there who are looking for a little piece but adore that vintage style. Just what we need for Gibson Girl Glamor, bumped up into this century. Love the peachy satin color, too.

(La Perla Lingerie)

Lingerie Buying Tips

Are you looking for an amazing lingerie set, but when you buy one you're usually disappointed in the areas of fit, style, and overall look, now's your chance to find the perfect piece with style. Now that we're looking at satiny pieces for this time of year, let's take a look at some tips to find the very best pieces for your shape and for your taste!

Know Your Brands: There are just some brands that fit better on certain body types-- even though they carry those sizes. For example, Agent Provocateur is best suited for more petite women, despite the fact that they have been extending their sizes. Lighter support and barely-there demi cups are suited for those of us who don't need much in the way of heavy-duty shaping.

Tip: Looking for a good larger-bust bra? Consider the following brands:

• Bigger Bras


• Figleaves
• Miss Mandalay

Get a "Target Fabric": There are some fabrics that just don't work for you, and sometimes you'll buy lingerie unknowingly and then find yourself never wearing it. For me, it's satin-- I like the look, but the fabric itself is too "cool" for a wintry climate. I love the all-season appeal of soft mesh from Calvin Klein and microfiber from Maidenform and Walcoal.

This Wendy Glez Leopard Mesh Pink Lace Triangle Bra has just the elements that I look for in a fun bra: meshy and bright! I could also mix it up with hot pink panties and accessories to create a set in a flash.

Aim for Sexy "Day" Lingerie: It can be a pain to spend money on special occasion lingerie and then have it sit in your wardrobe for a date or event. Instead of investing in lace teddies and bodystockings that can't be worn regularly, try to find bras and panties with smaller, sexier details that can still work in your day-to-day wear if your please-- or at least when you go out.

Suggested Piece: Try these Cha Cha Shorts for a boost when you're wearing a flirty skirt-- they're both affordable and unique.

"Matching" Panties Will Help You Rotate Your Stock: Are you the type who exclusively purchases matching sets? Try to find pieces in solid colors to create your own sets with ease-- try more unusual lingerie colors like navy for a change!

Do you have any lingerie buying tips to share? Let us know!

Jazz Up Your Work Gear with Ease

Do you have a new job? Are you looking for a way to dress up your current wardrobe and make it just right for spring? Thankfully, even in the most understated and professional work environments, you’ll find that there are ways to jazz up your look with simple accessories and smart styling elements.

1. Choose unusually colored pearls. Pearls may be a common accessory at your place of work, but you can get pearls that are natural and irregularly-shaped, or tiny, clustered seed pearls instead. I personally like this unusual Louis Vuitton Two-Pearl Monogram Charm in Yellow Gold, which you'll have for years and years to come.


2. Splurge on statement heels. If there’s one place where you can find an opportunity for expression, it’s your heels. Even if you wear suits, be sure to find pumps and stilettos with interesting design details, even if they must be all black.



3. Toss on a tote. Do you have to carry a lot on our way into the office? Take this opportunity to grab a tote with some style, or at least decorate a basic black one with a tied-on scarf and a few brooches. The Prada Signature Tote has a soft shape, but in basic black, it blends in with anything you have in that closet.

4. Get good post-work shoes. If you must wear heels during the day, your arches can hurt terribly. If you like to slip on comfortable shoes when you left work, get a pair that looks great so you won’t need to change back when you do errands.

5. Find white blouses with delicate details. There’s no reason why you can’t wear a blouse with fun, feminine details, especially if you cover it up with a blazer or a suit jacket all day. Find ruffled or lacy blouses that you actually enjoy wearing, and relish the opportunity to try something a little sexy under your work clothes. Mint Jodi Tanks from Shopbop are just one example of what you can wear underneath a blazer for work: they're simple, but add interest to an otherwise "blah" look.


6. Bank on the best lingerie. If you’re a lawyer or have a similarly restrictive job, wardrobe-wide, shop for lacey camisoles and garters to give you more confidence and add some bounce to your step. Stockings are the same—don’t wear pantyhose when you can wear something that’s three times as sexy and more comfortable.



7. Hair tricks and tips. If your hair is longer, you probably tie it back into a bun or a French twist for work. Instead of using the same old tired hair combs, get ones that are slightly more ornate but still offered in “safe” work colors. This Jeweled hair Clip from Forever 21, shown, is a great compromise that's well within any budget.

Exploring YumDrop.com

If there's one thing I get excited about online, it's new places to pick up lingerie. And with a special day coming up. . . I get to shop double-time, right? Well, regardless of what I wish I could do, I do need some extra lingerie, and I shopped for it over at Yumdrop.com. Read on for my experience over there, and some top picks of my own.

Demi Cups and Designer Styling: Yumdrops offers one of the ebst selection of "designer-styled" pieces that I've found online. The Masquerade Bra and Thong Set features saucy lace and hot pink, much like Agent Provocateur, one of my fave primo lingerie lines. And it looks lovely, too.

Ribbons and Bows: I adore lacey lingeriem but it can get expensive, and fast. Instead of spending a ton on something like the Damaris line (which is gorgeous but $100 or more), I found a similar look over at YumDrop for $25-- for the whole set. I love the Butterfly Bra and Tanga Shorts.

Shiny, Shiny Bikinis: Bikinis have a great deal of bling, too. I was fascinated by the sexiest bikini I think I've ever seen, the Sequin Halter Top and Boyshorts, which somehow makes these bright details look devastatingly demure. (I think it's the bows.)

Retro Looks: Are you a '60s girl at heart? You have to check out the ruffled pieces and low-slung bikinis at YumDrop. I saw a gorgeous white suit with a tiny ruffled skirt, a deep Marilyn halter v-neck, and Hawaiian floral patterns, too.

Unexpected Naughty bits: Barely-there thongs? They've got those, too!

I rate YumDrop a very satisfied "9"! I just wish that they have more in my size. . . many of their items are offered in "combined" sizes like A/B cups and B/C. However, if you're an in-between size, this is perfect. Happy Shopping! You're going to have fun.