No More Handwashing Bras

As anyone who has attended any of my classes or talks will testify, I’m a bit obsessed with bras! Nothing will make you look slimmer and more shapely than a good bra, so it is worth investing in high-quality garments. However, once you have invested your hard-earned cash in a bra, it’s important that you look after it properly so that it maintains it’s shape for a long time.

And until recently, the only way to do this was to hand-wash your bras (as washing machines rip out the under-wiring and distort the cup shape).

Thanks be to goodness however, my hand-washing days are at an end. Meet the bra saver:

The Snips Bra Saver is a light plastic pod, in which you store your bra during washing machine cycles. This protective shell guaranteed a thorough wash, without any damage, or elbow grease. It goes to prove that the best ideas really are the simplest ones.

This fantastic invention is available from Opoko.com for €14.99.

Yours in style,
Caroline

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Caroline's Guide to Tights

Continuing with the theme of warm Winter woolies, I’ve decided to dedicate today’s blog post to the topic of tights, as these are my number one wardrobe staple during the Winter months. Obviously I wear them under skirts and dresses, but I also wear them under jeans and trousers for extra warmth during the cold weather. As well as being cozy, a good pair of tights will also streamline a wobbly tummy and thighs – no mean feat eh!

There are a couple of common questions that I get asked about tights, which I’ll address here. If I haven’t answered your query, simply add your question to the comment box below.

“What does ‘dernier’ mean?” Dernier refers to the weight of the fabric. The higher the number, the heavier the material. Sheer stockings might be 15 for example, and heavy opaques can be 100 or more. Winter opaques generally start at dernier 40; however I prefer to purchase opaques with a dernier of 100 as a heavier weight will hold its shape better, and is less likely to ladder or ‘bobble’.

“I want to wear opaques but I don’t know what colour to choose?” Be very careful when choosing the colour of your tights. Remember the golden rule; dark colours are slimming. It doesn’t have to be black – grey, navy, purple etc. can all look great. Bright colours make your legs look bigger!

“What size should I go for?” In my experience, tights are generally quite small in size. Read the size guide on the label carefully before selecting your size. I generally prefer to go for a larger size, for comfort’s sake!

“How do I wash my tights?” Technically, you are supposed to wash your tights by hand; however, I certainly have no time or inclination to do so, so it would be very hypocritical of me to preach otherwise! I wash my tights in the washing machine at 30o on a low spin. Sometimes tights can get tangled up in a huge knot in the machine, so to avoid that, simply seal them in a pillowcase before putting them in the wash. Afterwards I let them dry naturally. I don’t tend to use a tumble dryer as I find that they can be very ‘staticy’ afterwards.

“Will expensive tights last longer?“ In my experience, no! I’ve bought €1 tights in Penneys that have outlived €25 from Brown Thomas. Generally, more expensive tights will have a nicer fabric/finish, but they’re not ladder-proof – more’s the pity. Marks and Spencer apparently has new ladder-proof tights but I’ve yet to try them myself. My favourite opaque tights are €3 in H&M and are of extremely good quality. For sheer tights, I generally head to Dunnes Stores.

“I can’t find tights to fit me?” Check out MyTights.com, which has tights for every shape and size, including; extra-long leg, maternity, plus size, bridal, support and more.

Yours in style,
Caroline

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Storm in a D-Cup

A leading study conducted by UK Consumer Watchdog, Which, revealed that 80% of women are wearing the wrong size bra.

Wrong Size – Does it Really Matter?

It matters a huge deal if you are not wearing the correct bra size. Not only does a poor-fitting bra cause bad posture, it can also lead to back and neck problems. Conversely, a bra that fits you properly will not only feel more comfortable, it will give you a more attractive silhouette, better waistline and slimmer tummy!

Why do Women Buy the Wrong Size Bra?

Reason 1 – “It says 36C on the label I’m a 36C”: In my experience, the reason why many women go wrong when choosing their bra size is that they think they are a certain size (e.g. 36C) and they continue to buy this same size without further thought. Now, ponder on this for a moment; when you go shopping for clothes do you always buy the same size in every brand? The answer is most likely “no”. Because there is no such thing as standardized sizing, sizes vary (sometimes dramatically) from brand to brand. Similarly, there is no such thing as standardized sizing when it comes to bras; so, one brand’s C cup is another’s D cup, and so forth.

Reason 2 – “Shur, I was measured before and I was a 36C”: Women’s body shapes change over time. Indeed an online survey by LaSenza.com showed that the average woman’s breast size changes up to 6 times over the course of her lifetime. Factors such as age, weight, pregnancy, hormones, medications, surgeries etc. all affect our breast size; hence, I strongly recommend that you get measured by a professional bra fitter for every bra that you purchase. However, if that’s a little much for you, then consider at least getting measured every 6-12 months.

Reason 3 – “I’m nervous of getting measured”: There’s no need to feel apprehensive when getting fitted for a new bra. True, you may feel a little self-conscious; however, rest assured that professional bra fitters are trained and experienced in this area and you can expect sound advice, minimal fuss and maximum discretion.

Reason 4 – “I didn’t need to try it on because it looked like a good fit”: Resist temptation to buy a bra without first trying it on. Not only must you consider the style, you must also ensure that the shape and size are suitable. No matter how good your eye-sight and imagination are, it’s impossible to know whether the bra is right for you without having tried it on.

A Bra that Fits You Properly Will…

• Have suitable straps: Your bra should do the work, not the straps. Your straps should be comfortable and secure. They definitely shouldn’t dig in to your shoulders or fall down. If you have a large bust, choose straps that are a little bit thicker for extra support.
• Have cups that fit: The cups should enclose your breasts perfectly; that means no gaps, gapes or spillage!
• Sit on the breastbone: The part of the bra that separates the breasts should sit flush against your breastbone. It shouldn’t dig in or stick out.
• Have a correct band-size: The bands which wrap around and fasten at the back must be perfectly level. If the bra-straps are pulling the bands upward, then the band size (e.g. 32, 34, 36) is too large. Elsewhere, the band should be thick enough to support you – if you have spillage above or below the band, opt for a thicker band instead.
• Fasten on the outer-most clasp: A new bra should fasten on the outer-most clasp (the reason being that the bra will stretch over time and you will need to use the inner clasps then). If you have to use the inner clasps on the first go, then the band-size is too big.
• Feel comfortable: Most importantly of all, you should feel comfortable and secure wearing the bra.

Caroline’s Tip Tips

• Professional measure: A trained, professional bra fitter (available in every specialist lingerie store and most department stores) will help you select a bra that offers the best comfort and fit for you. Get measured every 6-12 months.
• Matching: I suggest that you purchase a couple of sets of matching knickers to go with each bra that you buy. It’s lovely to wear a matching set!
• Washing: Never wash your bras in a washing machine – hand wash only. Follow the temperature and drying instructions on the care label.
• Straps: Tighten up the straps before every wear.
• Exercise: When exercising, always wear a proper fitted sports-bra.
• Discard: Once your bras start to lose their shape, discard them immediately. They’ll owe you nothing by that stage!

Finally, most women wear a band-size too large and a cup-size too small. Remember, if you go down a band size, you go up a cup size. Get measured the next time you buy a bra and see does it make a difference!

Yours in style,
Caroline

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Prevent Falling on Ice

This is not intended to be a particularly stylish blog entry, but in light of the current "cold snap", you might find this tip useful for navigating icy patches on foot.

Get a pair of large mens socks, sports socks or ski socks, and put them on over your footwear. You might get some strange looks, but the grip provided by the socks will prevent you from slipping on the ice.

Yours in style,
Caroline

Jock Shock

I happened across a very curious survey conducted by Debenhams last week, which revealed what exactly stimulates men’s underwear purchasing behaviour.

The survey of 1,000 men concluded that men’s underwear shopping behaviour is directly correlated to their relationships with women. Seemingly, when they are trying to entice a lady, they purchase their own underwear; conversely, when they are in a stable relationship, the lucky lady doesn’t so much wear the pants as buys the pants.

Debenhams Head of Men’s Accessories Buying, Mr. Rob Faucherand said: "Our research shows that you can tell when a man is looking for a partner by the number of new underpants they buy for themselves"!

In brief (sorry, I couldn’t resist!), the results were as follows:

• 0-19 years: Their mothers purchase their underwear .
• 19-23 years: They buy their own (up to 31 pairs annually).
• 23 - 33 years: Buying behaviour declines to 0 (in a stable relationship).
• 38-40 years: Underwear purchase pick up again (post-relationship break-up and looking for a new relationship).
• 44+ years: Back to 0 (usually in a stable relationship).

According to Mr. Faucherand, "It's not who wears the pants in each household - it's who has to buy them that counts".

Indeed. And that’s the way it should stay…or for the next 7 weeks at least. Imagine, if the menfolk did purchase their underwear, what would we buy them for Christmas!

Yours in style,
Caroline

Conical or Comical?

Pioneered by Marylin Monroe in the 50s and reincarnated by Madonna and Jean-Paul Gaultier in the early 90s (Blonde Ambition tour), the Conical Bra is making a comeback...thanks to Monsieur Gaultier himself as it happens!

His show at Paris Fashion Week on 3rd October (pictured below) featured a spectacular array of conical bras, and Gaultier was keen to promote their bosum-boosting-benefits: "instead of filling oneself with silicone or collagen, why not try these prostheses, which can be taken off," he chuckled, "It's perfect!"


It's amazing how quick a trend can filter down to the high street. Whether it be for fashionable reasons, or the functional reasons purported my Gaultier, UK chain store John Lewis are reporting a 33% upsurge in sales for these pointy creations.

Conical or comical?

Yours in style,
Caroline