A Three-Way Tie on Bras April 30, 2008

So I’ve narrowed down my bra options to a few strong competitors. Each bra seems to have its own positive attributes, so I’m still weighing my options as far as fit and style go. The most relevant factor will most likely be price, however.

Here they are, in no particular order…

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Candidate A: The Playtex 18-hour Comfort Shaping Softcup

Though I’ve never been an 18-hour girl, I suppose that these bras must have something going for them if they continue to be so popular after all these years. This may not be the sexiest bra I’ve ever seen, but it certainly isn’t unattractive at all. I may need to get used to the amount of coverage it provides… But, then again, my bras have been too small for the last few years, so this might be a welcome change of pace. The price point is very good on this one–about $23 online. One concern is that it’s a softcup bra. As in, no underwire–I’m wondering if that will be ok for me. I have no experience with softcup bras, really, so I’m not sure if the lack of underwire would make a significant difference. I read a review that said that the softcup was generally more comfortable, but didn’t provide the same kind of shaping. Hmmm…

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Candidate B: The Bali Seductive Curves Seamless Underwire Bra

Another nice one. This one is a little bit more flattering than the first bra and seems like it might accomodate my scoop-neck and v-neck shirts a bit better. Reviewers generally seem to like it. And it’s got an underwire, which I guess is a good thing. Another good thing about this bra is the price. In fact, it’s about the same price as the first bra.

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Candidate C: Le Mystere Dream Tisha Seamless Underwire Bra

And here we have the best bra of all (at least it seems that way.) Oprah once reccomended this bra for full-busted women and now the manufacturer touts it as Oprah’s fave bra ever. It’s much better-looking than the first two and (I would guess) better-constructed. However, the price is significantly higher–about 70 bucks per bra, to be exact. So that means if I could get two bras (my plan) for about $140, which is a lot more cringe-worthy than two bras for about $60. The price is a little steep, though I could be saving money over time if this bra has greater longevity than the other two.

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I should probably just get some right-sized bras that I can afford right now so I can just go ahead abandon my current ill-fitting ones. The husband and I will soon be moving into our very first, real, grown-up home and so money is a little tight with all the sudden expenses. Thus, price is really the deciding factor.

But, then again, we’ve got less than two weeks left at our current crappy apartment and I probably wouldn’t order anything online right now in case we’re not there to receive the shipment. Soooo…. that means I would have to wait until next pay day (when we will be in our house–YAY!) to order anything. That also means that I’ll most likely be able to afford two of the more expensive bra.

Oh, choices. What’s really funny about all this is that I’ll probably end up getting the less-expensive bras because I’m so paranoid about unexpected costs. Go figure.

A Really Long Post about Boobs April 30, 2008

So yesterday I talked a little bit about my chronic bra troubles. Finding proper support for the twins has been an ongoing issue pretty much since they magically appeared on my body, like, a decade ago. In my case, the subject of bras is fraught with old psychological baggage—not only did I develop waaaay before any of my friends, I got to experience the joy of pervy stares from adult men and (oh boy!) the added bonus of never being able to find a bra in my size no matter how many racks my mother and I looked through.

As you may be able to tell, it’s not just ill-fitting brassieres that give me the night-sweats, it’s also my semi-negative perceptions about my ginormous boobs. In a society where being very, very thin and tiny is exalted, one doesn’t feel always feel great walking around with a set of huge knockers. Oh yes, you do get plenty of attention, but most larger-busted women will probably agree that being shamelessly leered at by nasty strangers is hardly something that inspires one to feel a rush of self-confidence.

I believe that my own body issues can be somewhat alleviated by taking a two-pronged approach. First, to simply remind myself every day that, hey, I’m a pretty good person and I shouldn’t be torturing myself for being born with a certain kind of body type. I mean, it’s not like I had much control over my own genetics.

And, second, to find a proper support system for holding up my sweater puppets. Not having to deal with pinching, bulging, and constant repositioning would certainly make me feel less resentment about having plus-size breasts on an average-sized frame.

As it turns out, a lot of my bra-finding troubles stems from the fact that I’m wearing the wrong cup-size (a very common problem.) It’s been years since I had my bra size measured and, undoubtedly, things have changed. The husband (who is always very concerned when it comes to this topic) suggested that we take a trip down to the bra section at our local department store to have my breasts scrutinized by the old lady with the measuring tape.

However, I figure that we could do just as good a job taking measurements at home and figuring it out ourselves. First of all, I don’t think that I’m emotionally secure enough yet to go to a department store and not feel like absolute dirt about my body just because they didn’t have my super-rare size in stock at that particular moment. Secondly, I don’t want to feel pressured to buy whatever it is they do have in stock in the (likely) case they only have something not-so-flattering in my size. 

I think some of you know what I mean here… It’s like, yeah, it takes a lot of material to hold these puppies up. But at least throw some lace my way. Maybe some detailing. And some other colors than white or black, for God’s sake.

So, anyway, it’s the internet for me!

Now that I have my true (I think) bra size, the search is on. More on this later. In the meantime, wish me luck!

Another boring outfit April 29, 2008

It’s not a bad outfit, really. It’s just not a really good one, either. It’s been pretty cold outside these last few days and my main focus has been to wear something that won’t leave me shivering. I suppose that I could have slapped on a pair of thermal tights (and may do so tomorrow morning) but I really didn’t think about it today.

Perhaps my feelings about this outfit is tempered by the fact that, underneath, I’m wearing a less-than-satisfactory bra. As a larger busted woman, I find it really difficult to find a decent bra. I used to think that going to Victoria’s Secret and the like was the answer, but I just can’t afford to spend $40 on a bra.

So, I turned to eBay. Perhaps not the best place to shop for undergarments, but these are desperate times and, hey, 30 bucks for six bras is hardly a deal one could pass up. I have to say that the fit isn’t bad, really, and I suppose that I can live with the non-luxe fabric. The jury is still out as to whether or not I am satisfied with the support it provides. Ditto on the silhouette.

Forgive the lack of pics regarding the bra situation. While I’m willing to post pictures of my fashion choices (good and not-so-good) I already feel as if my boobies are the focus of enough attention and speculation without <pun> exposing them </pun> to the blogosphere. I’m sure more in-depth and illustrative posts about my bra situation might up the readership on this blog, I just don’t think I’m ready to make that leap yet.

Brown and Gray Milkmaid April 27, 2008

For some reason, this outfit makes me think of ye olde Renaissance faire. Maybe it’s the flowiness of the skirt (ah, the joy of a flowy A-line) or the subtle bit of “puff” on the short sleeves, but it’s an outfit that almost takes on the style sensibilities of Disney’s Snow White.

Almost. I downgraded my outfit from “princess-y” to “milkmaid-y” because of my choice in colors. The brown and gray are a bit on the dull side, but I think that the more muted color combo gives the outfit a bit of credibility for day-to-day wear and/or errand-running. I’m not sure a brighter color scheme would have really worked as well.

I did end up pairing the outfit with some sparkly blue sandals for just a little bit of pop but, alas, had to retreat back into my apartment and change when I realized that spring hadn’t yet fully sprung in my neck of the woods.

Although it may seem to be at first, rest assured that this is not just a gratuitous boob shot, but rather a close-up to illustrate the nice shirred details on this top and the tank top I wore underneath. I’m starting to really like little details.

Apple of My Eye April 26, 2008

I got this super sweet vintage apple necklace at Citizen Fox’s Etsy store. I’m usually not one to wear much jewelry, but something about a pretty, handmade necklace just sends me to the moon. I got it about two weeks ago and now I’m wearing it pretty much every day regardless of whether or not the red matches my outfit. Somehow (at least in my opinion) the necklace is so cute and charming that it just sort of “goes.”

I just ordered a beautiful monogram charm necklace from Citizen Fox and should receive it very soon. It’s kind of a custom job since I requested a modification on the piece, but the necklace is still not pricey at all. That’s what I really love about Etsy. Not only are you connected to a lot of awesome independent artists, it’s also a wonderful place to get custom items for good prices. Ever since spying the Carrie necklace on Sex and the City, I’ve wanted something that looked as if it were made just for me. While I’m not too keen on having my name hanging around my neck, I surely wouldn’t mind something like this.

Cupcake-y April 25, 2008

Today’s outfit was a big departure for me. For work, I generally wear some sort of bland t-shirt and jeans combo–thus the main purpose of this blog. At first I did dress up a little bit, but when I realized that I could actually get away with wearing jeans to work, I quickly reverted to my old ways.

Today I chose to mix it up a little as part of my new commitment to try and dress a little better. The combination of pink, brown, and pale yellow reminds me of a box of cupcakes.

Today was just a sit-around-the-office day, so I’m not quite sure how well something like this might hold up in the field when I’m doing home visits with clients. I could see it being a little annoying getting in and out of the car, getting on the floor to play with the babies, and generally doing the usual stuff.

During my lunch break, I also discovered that light, cotton-y A-line skirts like these do tend to “bloom” a little bit when a stiff breeze blows through. Generally, I’m less of a Marilyn, more of a Jackie, so I didn’t recover from this little surprise with very much grace. Suffice it to say, on breezy days I’ll be keeping hold tightly of my skirts from now on.

Torn Between Two Farmers April 25, 2008

Looks like my brother-in-law’s wedding is going to be a more casual affair than I thought, however I still have my sights set on getting a new dress from Etsy. It’s pretty much impossible for me to find a dress off the rack, so it was like a miracle to find all the custom dressmakers who have set up shop on Etsy.

As soon as the budget permits, I plan on splurging a little on a custom-made dress from the fabulous Sveta Darling. I say splurging, but handing over less than a hundred bucks for a hand-tailored dress is a pretty awesome deal (I think). Sveta Darling’s designs are really cool, though a few of them might look slightly ridiculous on me–I’m kinda short but rather busty and the high collars on some of her dresses might make my torso transform into just a giant set of boobs. Better to stay with universally flattering scoop necks and v-necks, I say.

I have narrowed down my search to two worthy candidates. Just like the competition between Clinton and Obama, this one might just be a photo-finish…

First, we have France Farmer Will Have Her Revenge, a fetching little number with a bold, sexy sillhouette…

And I just love the lace detailing. And the little green belt. One problem: I’m not sure that I have the body to pull off a dress like this. There, I said it.

Next up, we have a variation on the first dress, this one called Frances Farmer Sheds Blood. The front is pretty much the same, so here’s a view of the back.

Notice that this one has more of an A-line fit that might be a little easier for semi-shy girls like me to wear. Of course, red isn’t really my color, so I’d probably ask to have the dress made with the blue material of the original Frances Farmer dress.

Part of me wants to have a dress in my arsenal that’s good for those occasions when one really wants to dress to impress–thus the basis of France Farmer Will Have Her Revenge. But then, how often do I have those? Still, that 50’s-style silhouette is really irresistible. 

On the other hand, I think that Frances Farmer Sheds Blood (provided I can get it in the blue material) may be more useful on a semi-daily basis with a cardigan or something worn over. I’m a huge fan of the A-line skirt for daily wear.

Oh, choices.