It’s not feeling like Spring here in the Ozarks — the rain makes everything feel colder than it should be. I know, I know, April Showers bring May Flowers. But now it’s May, so I want my flowers!
I’ll take a Mexican Dress as a consolation prize, though. Check out The Mexican Dress Lady’s amazingly-simple-looking-yet-beautiful dress creation!
I love the way it looks — so long and flowy, yet very feminine looking. I’m holding back on sewing until I get a better place to do it in, but if you’re wondering how to put that old Singer to work, this is a great “try-me” pattern.
I strongly recommend this cute little dress, and it’s not because The Mexican Dress Lady enticed me with magical chiles…
…OK, a couple. I couldn’t resist. Kidding, kidding. Seriously, this is probably one of the best purchases you can make for 5 bucks. Not quite free, but unlawfully cheap. C’mon, fashionistas, get crafty 
What to do with good foundation that has a few problems? OK, the makeup is a little worn, with a cracked case. I love my L’Oreal True Match super-blendable powder (I wear C8 - Cocoa and N8 - Cappuchino), and I found a little round case of it in one of my old makeup bags. The powder came in a nice little solid disk, but that’s all done and over with - it’s now a billion pieces, and looks pretty useless.
We can use a makeup brush to save the day. It sounds common sense-y as anything ever could, but I was seriously about to chuck the darn thing out! Naturally, if you have REALLY old makeup that isn’t in good condition, you may want to simply throw it away - bacteria can get into makeup over time and cause breakouts. Not cool!
The foundation hasn’t really been used, just squirreled away. I think I’ll run by the store and get some new makeup brushes.
This post is apart of the Makeup Madness collection.
The weekend before last was a lot of firsts for me: first trip to a brick-and-mortar Lane Bryant store, first time in about a year of shopping at a mall, and most importantly, it was the first time I bought a convertible bra that actually fit.
Yes, indeed - the convertible bra. The convertible bra entices us with its promises of ultimate versatility and maximum variety, but the road to completion seems rather high. Finding a bra in my size is already difficult; couple that with our halter-cum-racerback-cum-strapless buddy, and things can get mighty hairy.
There’s been a lot of bra talk lately. For me, keeping my stable of bras in good shape is a challenge - you get what you pay for. Being the cheerful college student I am, indulging in $20-$40 bras frequently just isn’t on the menu. This is something that all women bemoan, I’m quite sure. If you can find me a lady that doesn’t need a bra, I can almost guarantee you she’s not plus size. I pepper my sentiment with ‘almost’, because I’ve been proven wrong before.
I recounted a downright tearjerker to the bra saleslady at Lane Bryant, who quickly whipped out her measuring tape and got my numbers. It’s always nicer when someone else can size you - I’m always just a hair off, but it makes my clothes a touch more comfy.
No one really remembers the pitch. I think we get caught up in the home run, the way the crowd goes wild and the batter runs like hell through the bases. Sales is no different - I can’t talk about the result without at least a cursory mention of how I got there.
The saleslady and I talked briefly about my fashion style, particularly what shirts I like to wear. After waffling between blouses, camis, and halter-tops, she suggested to me the Bra6.
At $42, the Bra6 is definately an investment. I’ve seen far more expensive bras on the market though, and experienced trouble with them. I personally own this bra - I’m currently wearing it, or I’d snap a physical picture of it.
Now, while we’re talking about cost, let’s be real for a second: cost is relative. I’m sure there are some of you ladies out there that wouldn’t look twice at buying this bra. It goes without saying that there are plenty of ladies in the other camp. Unfortunately, well-fitting clothes and undergarments have become a bit of a luxury. I think this is an investment that deserves space in any lady’s bra-and-panty drawer.
The bigger question then, is simply: Is it worth it?
YES! Let me expand on this a little bit:
This bra has got to be one of the softest materials I’ve ever had for a bra. It makes it a delightful experience when I put it on. It definately holds up to the stress of the day - I feel good wearing this bra - it holds up well to the stress of the day.
I definately noticed a very nice lifting action with this bra. Before with other bras, my breasts sort of just looked saggy and lifeless - as if my chest had aged before I did! With the Bra6, My chest actually sits where it should, giving my profile an accentuated curvy look.
I’m currently wearing it in the traditional style, but I’ll most likely convert it to strapless for my spaghetti-strap tank. Or maybe I’ll use clear straps. Indeed, the Bra6 is versatile, with 6 different styles to choose from: traditional, cross-back, one-strap, halter, strapless, and even interchangeable back. You can check out the style types at Lane Bryant’s website.
Had to include this point, of course. There’s nothing wrong with wanting our bras and panties to accentuate what we have, to make us feel sexy and desirable! It takes far less energy to love your curves than to give a list of things you hate about them. Far. less. energy.
We just can’t have pros without cons, can we? No product is perfect - the day I personally review a product with no flaws will be the day that Bill Gates runs Linux on his personal laptop and Warren Buffett gives away buckets of his money. Okay, one condition has already been met, but this is an AND operation, not an OR one.
Woefully irrevelant computer jokes aside, the Bra6 may feel limiting to some. I’m a 44D and I noted that if I don’t sit properly, the underwire tends to feel noticeable. After I adjusted the bra, though, this went away. If you know you’re more than a 44D/DD/etc, perhaps a bra extender may solve the problem. I haven’t looked into that yet, though.
The Bra6 does resemble a computer problem, in that the user interface needs a little work. In order to enjoy the benefits of the Bra6, you have to learn to put it on. Whatever way you’re used to putting on your bras, give it up. Put the Bra6 on like a shirt, slipping one strap over your arm and then wrapping the back part around you. Close the side clasp (yes, it’s a side clasp number), then place the other strap over your other arm. It’s slightly confusing, but still very doable.
Note: the above directions are for wearing the Bra6 like a traditional bra. I’m not certain how much they apply if you’re wearing it halter or cross-back. Naturally, if you’re wearing it in the one-strap version, these directions will mostly apply.
Right now, I’m in happy-bra-customer land. While the $42 is still solely missed in my wallet, I comfort myself with this: better to purchase a $42 bra that I actually like than six $7 bras that leave me none too satisfied.
Update: Glen noted that the Bra6 doesn’t fit our extra-curvy friends. Upon further glance, I noticed that the maximum size for this bra is a 44DD! That’s not nearly enough, and I apologize to the curvy ladies I left out with this post. Hat tips to Glen for pulling me back into perspective. — DG
I touched briefly on taking proper bra measurements already, but I neglected to take it to the next level and show how to measure the rest of the body.
For most women’s plus size clothing you’ll buy, you will need to know your bust, waist, and hip measurements. These three measurements should take care of 90% of your needs. For the best results, measure yourself without clothes on - have on comfortable undergarments and measuring tape handy!
Other measurements, such as chest, inseam, and shoulder length help when you purchase more specialized pieces of clothing, such as suits and tailored pants. In general, just knowing your bust, waist, and hip measurements give you a leg up when shopping for the styles you love!
The Bust - Measuring your bust isn’t difficult. While wearing a comfortable bra, take the measuring tape and measure across the fullest part of your chest. Make sure that the tape is resting snugly against your chest, but not tightly.
The Waist - The waist measurement is often the most confusing one. It’s important to take this measurement along the smallest part of your natural waist. If you’re confused, look at the way those comfortable pants and jeans hiding in your closet fit. Your pants, skirts, and jeans will generally (but not always) rest on your hips, not your waist. Also, if you prefer to pull the front of your bottom-half downward (called a “dipping waist”), you may need to adjust your measurements to account for this.
The Hips - The hip measurement should be taken with the legs pressed together as comfortably as possible, and around the fullest part of the hips. Like the bust and waist measurements, the tape should be snug, not tight. It is better to have higher numbers but comfy, well-fitting clothing than low numbers and not have anything fit right!
With these three measurements, you can be well on your way to the plus size clothing you love!
Memorial Day is a time of remembrance, and a time of togetherness. Today, most people in the United States are getting together to have barbecues, picnics, and just general cookout fun! However ladies, you must start this busy day off right: by selecting the right bra.
Good bras take a little bit of effort from the user - you have to be properly sized and fitted for the bras you buy, otherwise they will not fit properly. A good bra will do more than just lift the breasts: a good bra will also provide the right support you need to get on with your day! The cooking, socializing, shopping, and everything else in our busy schedules these days demands that we take this little step in taking care of ourselves.
The secret to a well-fitting bra is all in the measurements. There are two measurements that must be done: a chest measurement and a cup measurement. To size yourself for both measurements, get a measuring tape and a mirror.
For a chest measurement, run the measuring tape right under your breasts, all the way around your back and rib cage. Once you have the measuring tape in place properly, note your measurement and add five inches. If your measurement comes out odd, round up to the next even number.
For a cup measurement, run the measuring tape along the fullest part of your breasts. You will want to wear a comfortable bra for this one, while avoiding sports bras and padded bras. Once you take the measurement, write it down.
The chest measurement is your band size. Band size is a major part of a well-fitting bra. Wearing a bra with an extra small band puts strain on your chest, and leads to back and muscle problems.
The cup size is derived from the chest measurement minus the cup measurement. The difference in these numbers is where the cup size comes in. Below is a breakdown of what each number corresponds to:
| Difference of… | Corresponds to… |
| 1 | A |
| 2 | B |
| 3 | C |
| 4 | D |
| 5 | DD (also an E) |
| 6 | DDD (also known as F) |
| 7 | G |
| 8 | H |
There’s a lot of options in bras, and plus-sized ladies need not feel left out anymore. Bare Necessities offers plus sized bras — from sizes 36C to 54H. With over 200 styles, there’s definately something here for everyone!
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