I'm not one to force hard and fast rules on anyone in fashion, and that extends to panty preferences. Whether you buy a 5 pack at Target and pick up a bra from the clearance rack, or if you go to a specialty bra shop to stock up on the finest lingerie- there's no right or wrong. I can tell you my own approach to getting it right for myself when it comes to my bra and panty wardrobe.
It's important to me that I feel comfortable in my undies, first and foremost. That means soft cotton or satin panties & nylon/lycra bras. I like a little cleavage on myself, so most of my bras are push-ups. And for everyday wear, I choose shades of nude or black - they blend in under most of my clothes. When it comes to price point, I'm middle-of-the-road. My underwear are the items in my wardrobe that I wear most often, so it makes sense to me to spend a little money on them.
In addition to everyday underwear, I like to keep a couple sexy bra-and-panty sets on hand. Something to wear on those days when I need a little extra kick under a business suit, or to wear under a date-night outfit. Something pretty and frivolous just because. Here are the pieces I consider a must-have for myself.
*Back-smoothing bra - features a wide back band made of spandex, perfect under tight tops
*Smooth cup push up bra- smooth, seamless cups work well under lots of fabric types
*Lacy, sexy, pretty bra and panty set
*Supportive sports bra
*Cotton or satin panties cut high on the leg
*Seamless panties - I don't like thongs, so seamless panties are a must under sheer fabrics
All of my intimates are from the Cacique line at Lane Bryant. When I was a college student, working part time at my local Lane Bryant, I spent countless hours folding and refolding the panty tables. It was there that I found pieces that fit me, and I've never really felt the need to look elsewhere. But there are lots of places to find functional & pretty underwear for Bombshells.
* Department stores like Nordstrom, Macy's or Dillards
* Plus size stores like Lane Bryant & Torrid
* Find brands like Playtex, Just My Size & Bali at your local Target or Wal-Mart
* Online stores like Her Room, Frederick's of Hollywood, or Just My Size
If you're not sure what your bra size is, or if you haven't checked in a long time, here's a great link that will help you figure out what size you should be wearing. Bra fit experts recommend that you recheck your size every 6 months; I do mine at least once a year or if my weight fluctuates up or down by 10 pounds. Buy your bras in a size that you can latch it on the tightest hook - bras will stretch out a bit so you want to allow for that. Replace bras once they stretch out so much that they're loose when latched on the loosest hook.
What's your approach to an intimate wardrobe? Where do you shop?
Lane Bryant's intimates are the best! They're all I wear. The fit is awesome and the quality is great. I always get a lot of wear of them and feel comfortable wearing them.
ReplyDeleteI too love buying my bras at Lane Bryant! I'm a few sizes too small for their clothes, but am an odd "full-figured" bra size that I just can't find in stores like Kohl's.
ReplyDeleteI had a bra fitting at Lane Bryant on a recommendation from another full-figured bra size wearer. She was a SAINT. Took good measurements and brought me a bunch of different bras until we found the best fitting one. Now, I can just walk into a Lane Bryant when they have their big bra sales and pick my size up off the racks (no pun intended).
They hold up very well and are very comfortable. I can't rave about them enough. I also love the fact that I'm not confined to the three snoozer colors of beige, white and black.
I wear a lot of Lane Bryant undies. Almost all, I think. But they have to be comfy!
ReplyDeleteGlad to find another plus-sized style blog.
Not that that's my exclusive focus, just that I end up talking about things like how my new tank top was a little too snug so I hid it behind a cardigan and had to button all the buttons. That was today's sharing, as a matter of fact, on day one of my 30 for 30 Remix.
Jeanine
http://dressmytruth.blogspot.com
I had a bra fitting back in December at LB and the young lady was very nice, brought me about 10-12 bras to try on. I found one that fit, the balconette, and I bought quite a few of those. Recently I ordered the t-shirt bras for the Valentine's Day promotion, and they fit really well, too. I bought some no VPL panties, too, same Valentine's Day promotion.
ReplyDeleteI generally prefer all cotton panties, so I've been shopping for those at Jockey, but Jockey really does not cater to plus-sizes. I bought the LB cotton/lycra panties, I'm scared to tell you how long ago, and they were OK, but when it came time to replace them, I ordered from Jockey. The Jockeys are a little small. When it comes to fancy lingerie, though, I buy from LB.
I saw the video with you getting the bra fitting on Facebook. Good job!