I’ve been in need of new bras for quite some time. Knowing that I’m losing weight made me feel like waiting to shop until I hit that “perfect size,” so that I wouldn’t find myself with a bunch of brand new bras that were too big. However, life gets in the way and instead of waiting for some magical number on the scale to feel like it was time to look my best, I decided the time was now.
Added motivation came when I recently left my job to pursue event/digital media strategy and food/beverage writing full-time. While running my own business, I want to look my best all the time. Luckily, Maidenform is an awesome company and stepped in to help by providing me with a new lingerie wardrobe for free.
As a woman, you know that having good bras is important to looking good under your clothes, regardless of your breast size. However, the definition of a “good bra” is elusive, and it becomes even more so the more “well-endowed” you are.
I’m putting it all out there today when it comes to bras and lingerie as part of my Maidenform brand ambassador gig. This was the state of a couple of my favorite bras before Maidenform came to the rescue.
One of my former favorite bras in sad disrepair.
Raise your hand if you have a bra that looks like that. This bra below, jeez, I wore this thing until it literally fell apart. It was the only bra that worked with my lower-cut tops and dresses. It had a plunge in the front and just enough push-up to make “the girls” look great.
This was my very favorite bra. I wore it to pieces!
I was so stubborn about throwing those things away. But one shopping trip with a Maidenform fit expert, and I was more than happy to toss those old bras and breathe new life into my lingerie drawer and my self-image.
Maidenform gets a bad rap sometimes for creating “granny bras.” First and foremost, I should dispel that rumor. They make tons of cute, sexy and fashionable bras, panties and other lingerie. This first bra I picked is an example. It’s pretty and it makes the boobs look perfect under tight-fitting tops.
Lilyette Custom Lift Full-Figure Push-Up Bra, style 0812
The bra isn’t just pretty to look at. It’s perfect for my size. I’m a D, and I appreciate that it isn’t super-padded like a lot of push-up bras. I don’t need more boob, I just need nicely-placed boobs. Also, the straps are super comfortable.
Not all of my bras I picked out are that sexy-looking. A few are plain looking, but I picked them because of how they make me look when I put them on. What good is wearing a super sexy bra if you’re falling out of it all day, or constantly getting pinched?
This first white bra here is amazing.
Lilyette keyhole minimizer bra, style 0904
I picked mine out last month and I must be a good bra shopper because this very bra was actually just featured on the Today Show as a perfect t-shirt bra. Don’t be deceived by how plain it is. You put it on, and it just smooths you out and holds the girls in place all day. Now, it’s a minimizer bra. So it makes me look slimmer without giving me pancake boobs. This is just what I need under tight shirts and silky dresses (where lace bras would otherwise look bumpy).
Lilyette minimizer, style 0427
Above is another minimizer. This one isn’t so low-cut. It’s super comfortable and I like the pretty straps. It feels great across my back and under my boobs – no underwire digging into me.
Lilyette minimizer, style 0428
Out of all the bras I tried on, the one above was the one that I thought was the least attractive. I almost didn’t try it on. But I did, and pulled a thin cotton shirt on over it (I highly recommend doing this while you’re trying bras on) and BA-BAM!! My boobs looked AMAZING. It was like they were 18 years old again, except they were never that perky. If I had bought my boobs instead of being genetically blessed with them, I would have paid the doctor to put them exactly where they sit when I wear this bra. True story.
Now, on to some specialty bras. Every girl has certain dresses and tops that call for a specific style of bra. Maybe they need a little boost to make their boobs sit just so, or perhaps they need skinny straps or halter straps or straps that criss-cross in the back.
I personally love asymmetrical (one-strap) tops and sundresses with skinny straps, so my challenge is always making sure my straps don’t show, or if they do that they at least match or look delicate. Also, quite a few of my dresses are cut lower in the front. Showing more skin there accentuates my neck and collarbone, which I think are some of my good features.
This bra below is perfect for almost any top or dress I have. It’s very low cut in the front, so it won’t peek through. It’s lightly padded, so I have a little boost where it counts. It’s smooth, so it won’t look bumpy under tighter tops.
Maidenform custom plunge convertible, style 07747
Lastly, you can wear the straps several different ways. And it comes with clear straps as well, for those outfits where it’s almost unavoidable that your straps will show.
Extra straps for the custom plunge convertible bra
This one below is an actual Maidenform brand bra.
Maidenform Pure Genius Extra Coverage T-shirt bra, style 07539
You can see most of the others ones I chose are the Lilyette brand, which is the Maidenform brand made for full-busted girls. My size in most of the Lilyette bras is 34D. When I move to the standard Maidenform size, I’m a 36D. Just goes to show that it pays to try on each bra, even if you think you know your size in that brand. Each one fits differently depending on brand, style, etc.
This Maidenform style is similar to the first white bra (the keyhole minimizer one). It’s perfect under t-shirts, but unlike the other one, it has a little push-up. I’d wear this one under a v-neck t-shirt, and I’d wear the white one under any other type of neckline. Also, when wearing white clothes, tan bras show through less than white ones.
So, those are all of my new bras! I was so excited to add these to my wardrobe. I already wore the awesome pink and tangerine-colored one for an NBC news taping. The rest of them will make their debut during this jam-packed week while I’m in New Orleans for Tales of the Cocktail. I’ll share more here tomorrow on how I’m working these bras into my wardrobe.
Maidenform didn’t just send me bras. Unless you want to go commando, pretty new panties and a couple of slips are also a must for any lingerie makeover.
These are five of the pairs of pretty panties I picked out. I’m not a huge fan of thongs. I consider them a necessary evil in some cases but bikinis, boy shorts and tangas are sexier on my shape.
Below is the first slip I picked out. I remember when I was little, my grandma always made sure I wore a half-slip under dresses for school and church. Frankly, I miss those days. Slips prevent VPL (visible panty lines), and since I’m sort of against thongs, slips are a no-brainer solution for me. Also, here in NYC, you’re constantly wondering who can see up your skirt when you’re going up and down the endless stairs of the NYC subway. Slips give an added layer for modesty. Much appreciated.
Luleh shaping slip with built-in bra
I chose the above slip because it’s gorgeous and has a nice built-in bra. Can’t wait for the cooler weather of autumn so I can wear in under sweater dresses and my favorite classy business combo of a button-up blouse and pencil skirt.
Below is my new favorite, the Flexees “Fat Free Dressing” slip dress. This one will come in handy under sweater dresses, too, but it’s real appeal is that I can wear it on its own as an actual dress.
I raved about this in my last post about Maidenform because it really takes me down one whole dress size. It just sucks me in all around. It’s soft and comfy, and I don’t even need to wear a bra underneath. It’s definitely one of those things you can throw on for a Saturday with espadrilles and sunglasses and be done with it.
Flexees "Fat Free Dressing" Slip Dress
Thanks again to Maidenform for their generous support of me, my new business and my new wardrobe. I feel like one of the ladies in their iconic advertisements of older days (shown below).
Iconic Maidenform advertising on the gift bag they sent me.
“I dreamed I took over the world in my Maidenform bra.”
So, what are your bra horror stories or shopping questions? I’m happy to share about my boob-related adventures for your benefit. I want every woman to have the perfect bra, because I really think feeling good under your clothes helps you feel more comfortable and confident in your skin.
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