June 2012 at Sexy Man Need Sexy Girl

Thursday, June 28, 2012

Bra size denial...

11:19 PM by UnknownNo comments

I hate to admit this, and especially on the blog... but I have fallen into bra size denial. I have been a 10C for many years now, however I do fluctuate from time to time. With only a small weight change I can be anywhere from a B to a D cup and at different times of the month I fill up nearly a full cup size. So I've gone along saying "I'm a C cup. Been a C cup for years. I know my size." When I found myself spilling out of the cup slightly, then it was the normal thing women say, "It's just that time of the month. In a week they will be back to normal" or my ever faithful, "It's just my winter weight". However I realise that its only winter now and my winter weight has been carried over since last year.... As I do have an array of sizes in my lingerie collection I could get away with this denial. I found myself gravitating towards my fuller style bras. The sizes I bought a few years ago. The non padded versions.

I got to a point when I still purchased 10Cs even though they didn't fit quite right. I bought them thinking, next week they will sit better. Maybe the brand is just a smaller cut. Bra sizes vary in different brands yes, and sometimes they are the correct size, however my old bras just weren't fitting me right..... That was to do with me, not the brand. I had to admit defeat and realise I had actually changed sizes.

Now to look at me you wouldn't think I was a D cup. I am not full, but I sit low and wide and this, as much as fullness, is what determines your size. So I don't have what you would call a D cup cleavage and no man would ever have a conversation with my chest, but this is my current cup size. It still hurts me to say it has has changed. Not because I don't like being fuller but to realise that I can no longer wear some of my beautiful bras anymore. To admit that I fell for the "But I have always been this size" saying most women use.
My bras just didn't fit the way they should, but will I go down in size again? Will I always be this size? Will I have to get rid of my 10Cs for good? Hell no! I have learnt to hold onto all my bras no matter what size I become, as long as they are in good condition. In the past I have gotten rid of dozens of bras due to weight loss and weight gain and wish I had kept them all now. You may not notice it to look at, but bra size can change with just a small weight shift and for me it's only a few kilos to go up a full cup size.

Elle Macpherson

$20 a piece at Bendon Outlet

I went out the other week and instead of just grabbing 10Cs to try on I grabbed both so I could prove to myself what size I actually was. I tried on three brands and a few different shapes. I was a D in all. The Cs weren't too bad but once I popped on the D I had to acknowledge the truth. I have been wearing the wrong bra size for at least six months now.... I hang my head in shame....

I purchased four bra sets in my now correct size (or cup equivalent see Altering lingerie/cup equivalent post )And Im sure I will be popping these into my normal rotational cycle. I will hold onto all my other bras, as knowing my weight fluctuations, I will change size again. They will just sit in a different drawer now so I don't put on the wrong size again.

Stella McCartney

So let me ask you, when was your last bra fitting? Do you go in regularly to get professionally fitted? Have you ever been professionally fitted before?

Simply the best...Undressed!

4:58 AM by UnknownNo comments

I was very excited when I received notification last week that 'im' were going on sale. It's my favourite store in Melbourne, even though I can only occasionally afford to purchase things from here. It is true lingerie heaven... They carry brands like La Perla, Aubade , Lise Charmel, Christies, Ritratti etc. All the best quality, high end designs made in Europe.

im GPO store

This is a designer store. Think going shopping at Chanel or Prada (without the $3000 tag that is). You don't go in and look shocked at the price of a handbag you see there. You know it to be high end and amazing quality, you want it, and will perhaps save up for it or just admire it from a distance. And with lingerie, they have these levels too. This is that store. Prices range from $200-$600 a set depending on the brand and fabrics used. And I have to admit, I would prefer to splurge on a European label rather than a made in China product at around the same price. This is what is happening to so called 'Australian' labels at the moment.

Now the exciting thing is they are now on sale!!! On the racks you will find items that are 30-50% off the marked price. Don't get distraught when you can't find your size or a style you like, as they only hang a very small selection of stock on the racks. They aren't your usual go in and just browse type stores. It's not like, say Myer, where every series in every size is out hanging. In this store everything is set away in boxes and drawers, all by brand, style and size. The stock displayed is minimal and staff will try talk to you, but it's only to help you find what you like. So feel free to ask for what you want to see and they will find you items in your size. Or just say you want to browse and they will let you be. It's good to go in with an idea of what you want, ie you only wear push up bras, tell them that and they will grab out a whole box of all different colours in your size in a push up cut. It's like diving into a candy box! What I love is the staff are all fully trained in fittings and are more than happy to do this for you, no appointment necessary. But then I expect that from a high end store.

Ok so now onto what I purchased...

La Perla Marvel. A discontinued line by the label. It is a little like Black Label in the unusual and sexy styling they do. And I purchased this set at 50% off retail! It is ridiculously comfortable (I wore it straight away) and gives a nice natural shape, almost like a t-shirt bra. It isn't about the extreme push up but a natural cupping of the bust while still giving just a little lift with no extra padding. Comfortable to wear, and still sexy. I could only afford to purchase one bottom this time, though there are two other styles in store with my name on them!

I loved the tattoo effect of this set. Skin coloured net with a red thread embroidered like flames over the cup. The g-short I think is so different in style.

For a label with an attractive price point, have a look at Bacirubati. The style is young, girly and cheeky. Made in Italy and currently all stock half price. There are a few pieces I'm eyeing off. I already have a couple of items from this label and will feature them in another post.

Here are some of the series they currently have on sale

at 50% off

Bacirubati

Ravage

Nina Ricci

OcchiVerdi by La Perla

Then they have previous collections from all labels at 30% off. Here are some of the series I saw there.

Aubade


Christies

Lise Charmel

La Perla Black Label

im's catch phrase is "Simply the best... Undressed' and I think this is certainly the case with the lingerie available here. I will give a more detailed post about this company at a later date, but for now it's all about the sale!

They have stores in Melbourne, Sydney, Gold Coast and Wellington NZ. For more details see the link below.

www.imboutique.com.au-locations

Have you been into one of the im stores before? What is your favourite lingerie store and why?

Green with Envy

11:56 PM by UnknownNo comments

La Perla Mezzanotte

I have a new addition to my lingerie family. Her name is La Perla 'Mezzanotte' and I adore her. She is made of the most beautiful chantilly lace and pure silk. This is one of those items I talked about in a previous post. Regretting missing out on purchasing this absolutely amazing set. I had seen it first on the La Perla website in 2011. I waited until it arrived in Australia to try it on, but alas it had already sold out before the stock even hit the stores. People were pre paying for this collection. This is what happens to La Perla in Australia... I should already know that after missing out on quite a few 'must have' pieces from this iconic label but I just didn't feel I could risk it without trying it on. It was a lot of money to spend...

Once I realised I couldn't have it, I really wanted it! You know how it is... I searched high and low for this item in stores and from websites from all around the world. It was sold out everywhere in my size and the colour I wanted... green. I didn't have this tone in my collection and had been searching for something in a rich emerald colour for years.

Lucky for me... I just received this set as a gift (swoon) and I have to tell you... I'm completely in love! This set was randomly found at the La Perla store on Rodeo Drive in L.A. It had sold out everywhere, they said, but luckily for me it was hanging lonely in the store and on sale in my size! The shop assistant didn't even know how they came by it, "Must've been an exchange".

Green isn't exactly a colour a lot of people associate with lingerie but I think it's beautiful and can be worn on all skin tones. There are so many shades of green and they are hardly used in the lingerie industry. It has never been a favourite for most people but as a child, deep green was my absolute favourite colour.

Have a look through these photos and I'm sure you will agree that greens can look stunning when it comes to lingerie.

Dark Greens

Marie Jo

Cazar

Myla

La Senza

La Perla Smoking

Intimissimi

Green in general denotes fertility, peace and life. It promotes tranquility and self respect in the wearer and those viewing it. And did you know that green is the colour of a healthy relationship? I didn't, until now! But strangely enough it is also the colour of jealousy. Terms being used such as the green eyed monster or green with envy. I know that's how I felt... when I couldn't find my green lingerie set! But now that I have it, I feel at peace. So they are right!