Natasha's Hosiery and Clothing Blog

Natasha's Hosiery and Clothing Blog will give you as much as possible informations about hosiery, clothing, shoes, beauty and similar - lot of advices, hot deals and much more

Friday, August 25, 2006

Make Sure You Get A Bra Fitting At Least Once A Year!

When was the last time you had yourself measured for the correct bra size? Do you even know your correct size?
These questions are pertinent to you getting the right bra, as well as saving you money and undue stress. To help you avoid some common pitfalls, I have listed a few more important questions that you really need to ask yourself, before buying a bra:

1. Do your bra straps dig into your shoulders or rib cage?
2. Does your bra ride up your back?
3. Is the front of the band too tight to get a finger under?
4. Do your bra cups feel slightly empty or too full?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, then the likelihood is that you are not wearing the right size. You should not assume that the size you were two or three years ago is the same size you are today. Your body will change, as will your bra size. If you have lost or gained weight, chances are that you will need to change your bra wardrobe. You Should Be Fit By A Lingerie Specialist At Least Once A Year. A well fitted bra is essential for both comfort and posture and is especially important during teen years. A badly fitting bra can be the reason for back problems and muscle tension, this can lead to life long problems with posture and back pain. For this reason, you should be fit by a lingerie specialist at least once a year or, preferably, after every noticeable growth or even reduction. This advice is even more important for teenagers who are just beginning to wear bras.

Take A Quick Measurement At Home.

You can take rough measurements at home which will give you a good idea of what your size should be. A simple way of doing this is by following these very simple steps:

1. First stand up straight and wrap a tape measure around your ribcage, under your breasts. Pull it firm but not tight.

2. To measure your cup size, wrap the tape around the fullest part of your bust, and again pull it firm but not too tight.

3. To the measurement around the ribcage, add five and round it up to the next even number. This will give your band size.

4. Now, calculate the difference between the band size and the cup measurement to get your cup size. If the amount you get when you calculate for your band size is equal to that of your cup size, after you have added five, then your cup size will be A.

Up to one inch difference is cup size B
Up to two inches is cup size C
Up to three inches is cup size D
Up to four inches is cup size DD
Up to five inches is cup size E
Up to six inches is cup size F
Up to eight inches is cup size G

Although the correct size is of utmost importance, there are a few other things you should know. As you try on different types of Bras you should make sure the area in between the two cups comes into contact with your chest. Don?t allow the straps to support your breasts unaided. This can become very uncomfortable after long periods, as well as the bra wearing out quickly, and pressure on the straps can lead to back problems.

The Perfect Bra

Your bra should hold the whole breast in each cup with no bulging or spillage, as well as not having excess space in the front part of the cups. The bra should rest evenly against the ribcage, with sufficient room to slip two fingers in at the back. Your breasts should be supported totally, and stay in place even if the straps are slipped off the shoulders. Now that you know the importance of having the right size and being fitted for a bra by an expert, lets have a look what types are available and the different uses involved.

Article Source: http://www.articlecube.com

Kalwant Rana is A Freelance Writer For www.justforbras.com. You Can Find Lots Of Useful Information And Reviews About All Kinds Of Bras From First Bras To Sexy Plus Size Bras To Maternity Bras.

Sexy Plus Size Lingerie Will Make You Look More Tempting And Send Your Partner's Heart Racing!

If you are one of those women who has a voluptuously sexy body, you'll know how hard it is to find the right clothes for you. Even harder than finding the right clothes is finding sexy plus size lingerie. In the past, the only options for women who couldn't fit into 'so called normal' sized lingerie had to either slim down or simply do without any lingerie. Well, the great news is, those days are long gone. Help Is At Hand!

With the advent of sexy plus size lingerie and the Internet, you'll be able to find everything you need at the click of a mouse. When most people think lingerie, they think Victoria Secret's models or Naomi Campbell or some other such ridiculously thin supermodel. To make matters worse, the demands of consumerism mean that corporations and so-called 'fashion gurus' have modeled their campaigns to feature unnaturally skinny women, thus portraying them as being 'sexy'. The real truth is just the opposite. The lingerie that fits them would fit a miniscule percentage of women in the world. This is the age of the voluptuously, shapely woman, sticks are most definitely out this season!

There are a lot of women who are required to wear large sized clothes because of the way their bodies are structured. Being large does not mean you have to wear maternity bras or boxer briefs and feel like a nun. In fact, most men prefer a woman that actually looks like a woman! and more importantly has the body of a woman!

Sexy plus size lingerie is designed to help you feel like your true, sexy self once again. Plus size lingerie comes in all conceivable designs, shapes, sizes, colors and types. Choose From An Incredibly Wide Range Of Great Sexy Plus Size Lingerie...

ras are one of the most common pieces of lingerie. They can be found in women's wardrobes all over the world and there are a huge number of varieties, shapes and types available.

Plus size bras fit women with larger bust sizes. A simple look at some of the popular types will show you just how sexy and modern these bras are.

Panties are another hugely important component of any woman's wardrobe. Panties manufactured these days are designed to be comfortable, stylist and sexy. Plus size panties do not lack these characteristics in any way.

Other pieces of popular lingerie available in plus sizes are corsets, teddies, chemises, Body Stockings, bustiers, costumes, gowns, bridal lingerie and finally, something that sounds like the ultimate paradox - the plus size Baby doll lingerie.

Use Your Lingerie To Send Your Partner Into A Frenzy!

Sexy plus size lingerie does not have to be only for the brave or daring. Every woman has the right to look beautiful and desirable and plus size lingerie helps you achieve exactly that.

Lingerie can help provide that bit of spice to any occasion or event. It has the ability to turn an evening from ordinary to stunning in a few minutes, which is the amount of time it takes for you to get into your lingerie.

You can choose your lingerie not only according to occasions, but also according to themes. This is where costumes come in handy. Instead of wearing sexy plus size lingerie for a special evening like everyone else does, why not go in for a costume? That's bound to dazzle your partner and ensure that the evening stays in both of your minds for a long, long time.

The types of costumes available for different themes are almost endless. You can dress yourself up as Marilyn Monroe, a bat woman, a cat woman, a nurse, a cop or even as a school girl.

For those of you who are really daring, there are body stockings. Designed to steam up any private party, they'll make sure you have the time of your life. There are colors and types available to suit any body tone and shape and are sure to make you let go of yourself and have some serious fun.

Choosing the kind of sexy plus size lingerie you want to wear is purely a matter of personal choice. Remember, big is beautiful!

Article Source: http://www.articlecube.com

Kalwant Rana is A Freelance Writer For www.justforbras.com. You Can Find Lots Of Useful Information About All Kinds Of Bras, From Sports Bras To Maternity Bras.

A Plus Size Bra Will Make Your Naturally Curvy Body Look Even More Tempting

As a woman, I have faced the difficulty of finding the right bra many a time. But what makes it even more tedious is the fact that I have a naturally curvaceous figure.

To find a bra that is both supportive and comfortable is a monumental task and this is where plus size bras come to the rescue. With today?s ever increasing market there are plus size bras available for the support you need and the comfort you want, as well as that extra added beauty.

Plus size bras have done away with all the trials we women had to put up with in the past. With all the brands and varieties available, you can not only find plus size bras that you will love wearing, but bras that will accentuate your naturally curvaceous figure.

When we think of plus size bras, automatically we may picture two huge domes with hulking thick straps, digging uncomfortably into our shoulders. This picture is a thing of the past, sexy plus size bras are the future and are here to stay!

You can get extremely feminine lacy plus size bras, or sultry satin, silk and lace bras with under wire for extra support, strapless plus size bras, and even minimizer full figure bras. The companies have realized that a large portion of women have been endowed with naturally voluptuous and exotically formed figures and that this is what a woman should look like!

During pregnancy and your life span, your breasts can change size and sometimes dramatically, and having a quality plus size bra will make all the difference. You can make your figure look even more tempting, develop even more confidence and feel exceptionally comfortable in a plus size bra that fits just right. A full figure bra that fits properly will help improve your posture.

Nursing Plus Size Bras

Nursing bras are very comfortable if you are a breast feeding mother. You have to feed your baby periodically and the process is very cumbersome when you have to do it wearing regular bras. These bras have provisions to feed the child easily and comfortably. Look for plus size nursing bras that have a braiding support instead of wiring, which will give you a lot more comfort if you need to sleep in it. Most nursing bras are either made out of cotton / lycra for gentle support, but you can also get these plus size bras in very sexy designs too. You can buy a Nursing bra for just around £22.99.

Plus Size And Push Ups

Plus size bras are bras meant for full-figured women. These bras come with minimizers too, which help to minimize the projection of your bust. Push-ups have the opposite effect of the plus size bras and are commonly used by smaller structured women. This type of bra will give your appearance an even more heightened appearance, which is sure to get your partner's attention away from the footaball game or whatever else he is doing!.

Sports Bras

You have to feel comfortable when walking or doing exercises. Wearing a regular bra just doesn't provide the support we need, but also gives us the much needed comfort we deserve. I mean can you imagine running on a treadmill with a poorly constructed bra, not only will it have long term effects on your back but can also damage your breasts. You can buy a sports bra for around £19.99.

You should experience comfort and support while wearing a bra all day long. You have to be specific about which one suits you the most. You have to very careful about your size, which is often subject to change. It is necessary for you to check your size before buying one.

Plus size bras have finally come left that unattractive image of the past behind and become hugely sexy bras for today and tomorrow. Whether its a sports bra or an everyday sexy bra, we fuller figured women have finally been given a choice that is both comfortable and sexy. A click on your mouse is all it takes and the dazzling array of plus size bras will be at your fingertips.

Article Source: http://www.articlecube.com

Kalwant Rana is A Freelance Writer For www.sexy-plus-size-lingerie-org.uk. You Can Find Lots Of Useful Information And Reviews About All Kinds Of Plus Size Lingerie From Simple Bras To Sexy Costumes.

Thursday, August 03, 2006

Buying Lingerie for the woman in your life: How to Shop Online

Looking to buy your significant other lingerie as a gift? You’re a brave man, daring to go where most men’s knees shake and palms sweat in pure anxiety. Shopping for lingerie doesn’t have to be too frightening. For starters, forget having to walk into an all-too-feminine lingerie store in the mall where it feels like all eyes are on you. Try shopping online and you’ll find the experience to be much less traumatizing. Still, lingerie is a tricky gift, and there are some very useful tips to shopping for lingerie that will help you find the perfect selection for her. Trust me, if you find the right lingerie gift for the woman in your life. . . well, I don’t have to tell you just how rewarding that can be.

First things first: you have to get an idea of what size she is. If you’re living with your partner, this might be a little easier for you. A little investigating in the top drawer of her dresser can produce a good idea of her size. Don’t let all the numbers and letters confuse you. Bras are sized as a number followed by a letter. Remembering both of these is vital when shopping for lingerie, so write them down if you have to. For panties, chemises, and camisoles, you’ll be looking for numbers and letters as well. Those sized in numbers will be labeled as 5, 6, 7, 8, etc., and those sized in numbers will be labeled S, M, L, XL, etc. If you can’t search her dresser, try going on a shopping trip with her and see what size clothing she buys. If you’re truly desperate, find a woman you know that’s a similar size to your partner and ask her what you should be looking for. Just get a general idea of her size and this will put you way ahead of the game.

Almost as important as finding something in her size is finding something in her taste. You may think that lingerie is more a gift for you than for her, but you have to remember that when she feels comfortable and sexy, you’ll be the one who reaps the rewards. If she’s more flashy than frilly, go easy on the lacy selections. If she’s usually conservative, don’t try anything way too daring or you may not get the reaction you’re looking for. Take into account the clothing she usually wears and this may give you some ideas. Does she favor a particular color or style? Is her personality feminine, flirty, or downright sexy? Most likely you will be able to use this information when you shop online for lingerie.

If you’re still feeling a little confused about finding the right lingerie gift, stick to simple pieces. If you find that the sizing and selection of bra and panty sets is too complicated, try shopping for a simple chemise or babydoll. Women have an eye for detail, so a garment with a little lace or beading around the edges is sure to impress. Fabrics like silk and satin can make any woman feel sexy. Just remember that shopping for a lingerie gift online doesn’t have to be scary or complicated. Take your time and choose something that goes with her personality, and you’ll find the end result to be quite pleasurable.

Article Source: http://www.articlecube.com

John Barnes is the webmaster for Lingerie Express. Sexy Lingerie and Swimwear available online.

The Brief History of Sexy Underwear

It is well known that the female shape varies a great deal. History tells us that it has always been so!

Throughout the ages, what's been fashionable for the shape of the female body has gone from one extreme to the other. However, the delightful female body has always been subject to what happens to be covering it and history shows us that it's been covered in many different ways. Also, different parts of the feminine form have been accentuated, covered, shrunk, amplified by the style of the current fashionable decorations.

We've witnessed some almost unthinkable extremes, from contrivances that required a small army to coerce the unlucky fashion victim into, to the flimsiest, most effervescent mere flutter of a garment. Let's take a look back at how sexy lingerie has developed and how it got to where it is today.

Firstly, let's get some terminology straightened out. Thanks to the world's most romantic language, we now generally allude to female 'underwear' as 'lingerie' - unless we're being derogatory in which case, depending on where you reside, you can fill in the spaces!

When we (at least us of the male persuasion) consider lingerie, we think of a flimsy material covering the female shape in a way that gives us a hint of the delights that lie underneath. But the 'first' lingerie, probably from one of the Ancient Greek islands, was much different. These bewitching Greek women used a boned corset fitted tightly around the midriff, not for support or even for a 'slimming' effect, but to attract their men by revealing their heaving breasts in a most unsubtle way. Perhaps not what we would call lingerie today but with much the same desired effect.

As time passed, the female form took on new 'perfect' shapes dependant on the in thing. As each 'perfect' form emerged, decorations were introduced and introduced to embellish and accentuate that desired shape. The culture of the society dictated whether the bosoms, the bottom or both would be highlighted and glorified. You could argue that nothing much has changed!

During the Middle Ages it was thought that the natural form and shape of a woman should be constrained and that the bosoms should be firm and small. This situation was probably fine for those built normally that way but perhaps a horror for those of a more voluptuous construction. Many different sorts of corset were worn with the single purpose of flattening the bosoms and/or the bottom. It has been said that, in order to draw attention to that part of the anatomy that shouldn't draw attention, some females wore small jingly bells around their neck to remind the men folk of the delights that still lay tantalizingly underneath.

The 'modern' corset is attributed to Catherine de Médicis, wife of King Henri II of France. She enforced a ban on broad waists at court attendance during the 1550s and had a questionable effect on females for the next 350 years.

The Renaissance saw another change in the preferred female shape. Women now required cone shaped bosoms, flat stomachs and slim waists. In order to bring about this look, they also needed to employ assistants or family members to dress them due to the fact that the cinching up of their corsets was done from behind and needed much effort.

Due to this unnatural method of realizing 'perfection', Doctors and other notaries argued that these corsets restricted women's bodies so tightly that their internal organs were being impaired and their ribs were being permanently misshapen. Around that time it was common for females to pass out or fall into a swoon. This was usually attributed to their delicate nature but, in fact, it was due to the fact that they simply found it almost impossible to breathe! There are many reports of females dying because of fatal punctures to vital organs due to this practice.

In the early 18th century the whalebone corset still kept females severely restricted but the artistry that reflected the times was incorporated into clothing and the corsets were decorated with delightful lace, ribbons and embroidery. A part of this lightening up was the fact that it became fashionable for the bosoms to be pushed upwards to the point of almost popping out.
Towards the end of the 18th century the corset was being worn by gentry, the burgeoning middle class and even by nuns in convents. It was often proudly displayed by its wearer due to the fact that it was a visible outer garment at that time. In itself it was an object of beauty and ornamentation and its display was part of social civility.

However, as people became more educated and aware, they started to question and critique many things including art, politics and, you guessed it, in thing. Backed up by professional people like doctors, public opinion became such that boned corsets were actually illegalized in many areas.

By the early 19th century, a much softer approach to the female shape became popular. The in thing still required the support that the old corset had given so it returned with more elaborate methods of construction. Boning was still used in small sections which allowed for better and more comfortable movement.

The in thing at the time was for a more separated look for bosoms and a corsetiere by the name of M Leroy (who designed the wedding corset for Marie Luise of Austria when she married Napoleon Bonaparte in 1810) introduced a model which he called a 'divorce', allegedly because of the 'separation' involved. The most significant aspect of this perhaps, was the fact that females were able to dress and undress themselves due to more elaborate lacing methods.

During the 1840s the extremely exaggerated shape for females caused whalebone to make a comeback with huge hoops and crinolines that were covered with all kinds of fabric and fineries. Unfortunately for females, it became the in thing to have waists small enough for a man to put his hands around and the need for even more waist-cinching became the female nightmare of the day.

It wasn't long before hoops and crinolines were replaced by the soft 'S' silhouette. This style still used the corset but added a bustle to the back creating an exaggerated butt. Once again it was the females who had to suffer for in thing, needing to stand most of the time due to the cumbersome bustle on their butts. Obviously men found this appealing due to the fact that it gave them more opportunities to stare at the sexy females with their large bustles.

As more innovation came to in thing design, greater varieties of corsets were introduced. During the morning, a lady could wear a lightly-boned corset for promenading, an elastic corset for riding on her horse, a boneless corset for a trip to the beach and a jersey corset for riding her bike. The corsetry industry was in its heyday!

Towards the end of the 19th century the corset supported not only the bosoms but also the newly developed stocking. Stockings were held up by garters and suspenders which were then attached to the corset. These contrivances, although a triumph of design, probably added yet another frustrating dimension to the in thing-conscious female of the day.

By the beginning of the 20th century, corsets were being laced down as far as the knee. But many people didn't like that style, and in thing designers were leaning towards an uncorseted, more free-flowing style. Sexy lingerie was about to take a whole new dimension. With the advent of the industrial revolution, and the invention of the sewing machine, Germany and France opened the first corset factories.

In 1910 New York socialite Mary Phelps Jacob introduced a new type of brassiere. Unhappy with the corset stiffened with whalebone which she was supposed to wear under a new sheer evening gown, Mary worked with her maid to sew two silk handkerchiefs together with some pink ribbon and cord. It was much softer and shorter than a corset and it allowed the bosoms to be shaped in their natural condition.

Mary Phelps Jacob was the first to patent an undergarment named 'Brassiere', the name derived from the old French word for 'upper arm'. shortly after, she sold the brassiere patent to the Warner Brothers Corset Company in Bridgeport, Connecticut, for $1,500 (over $25,600 presently).

In 1917 the War Industries Board of the US asked females to stop purchasing corsets to free up metal for war production. This step released some 28,000 tons of metal, enough to build a couple of battleships.

It has been claimed that the success of the brassiere is due chiefly to The Great War. The Great War changed gender roles for all time, putting many females to work in factories and wearing uniforms for the first time. Women needed practical, comfortable underwear. Warner went on to rake in over 15 dollars from the brassiere patent over the next 30 years.
The other aspect to acknowledge in the death of the corset was that The Great War had taken its toll on the supply of men. This meant more competition for finding a man so females needed to look their sexiest!

With the Roaring Twenties and its refined parties, in thing was turned upside down, the boyish look was in. The pursual of flat chests and stomachs along with straight hips and buttocks led to the inception of the liberty bodice, the chemise, and bloomers which were loose-fitting and light. For the first time pastel-colored underwear appeared to replace plain old-fashioned white. To enhance the boyish look the first bras were introduced to flatten the bosoms. What happened to the corset? The butt part that held up the stockings was shortened and became the suspender belt.

The full-figured look came back in the 1930s. The feminine look once again became the in thing. Women were encouraged to look well-proportioned with a full-figure while staying moderately slim in the hips. Now females had a full set of underwear to help with the image: breast-enhancing bras, elastic suspender belts, not forgetting the girdle, which kept all the curves in their designated place.

The 1930s also saw one of the biggest advancements in the underwear industry when the Dunlop Rubber company developed Lastex, an elastic, two-way stretch material made from the fine thread of a chemically modified rubber called Latex. This could be interwoven with fabric which allowed the industry to make underwear in several sizes to properly fit a woman's body.
The arrival of the Second World War and its shortages meant that Germany was unable to import the fabrics they had used before then and their industry failed. Forever inventive, people started making home-knitted underwear out of anything to hand. Not the sexiest of underwear but at least they kept themselves warm.

When the war was over underwear consisted of basic bras and suspender belts. This was acceptable to the majority of females but the teenage girl, just emerging from the oppression of the war years, became a target market. These teenagers could barely wait to grow up and wearing lingerie was a fantastic step towards reaching that objective. The German underwear industry introduced lingerie sets that appealed to these young girls and the industry rocketed.
In the U.S., the underwear industry was trying to create something new and leading edge.

Women were bombarded with all kinds of underwear and top clothing to help them look sexy. The film producer Howard Hughes introduced a new brassiere, a special wire-reinforced design for Jane Russell. This caused the censors throw a tantrum about Jane's bosoms being bared in that fashion all because of Hughes' fabulously inventive brassiere improvements.

The Swinging Sixties was an awful decade for the underwear industry thanks to the rise of women's emancipation movements. Feminists burned their bras and many underwear companies were forced to cease trading. However Lycra had just been developed and females began to wear tight-fitting leggings. The iconic in thing item of that decade however, was arguably the sexy little mini-skirt and the demand for bikini briefs. Famously, for a short, wonderful moment in time, topless swimsuits and topless dresses were the rage. But, unfortunately for most men and fortunately for the in thing industry, they were only a 'flash-in-the-pan'!

The 1980s saw the wire-reinforced brassiere become the premier best seller. While these are still in demand presently, the biggest seller now is the push-up bra. Statistically the average American female owns six bras, one of which is a strapless bra and one is a color other than white.

The modern female shape varies and is not as susceptible to fashion trends as in previous times. However, the delightful sex will always looks amazing in sexy, slinky lingerie!
So, there we have it. From the push-up corsets of ancient Greece to the push-up brassiere of today. Sexy lingerie? Nothing ever really changes!

Article Source: http://www.articlecube.com

Clive Johnson works in the fashion industry and runs a Lingerie & Underwear website