Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer found in women, and this year alone 192,000 new cases will be diagnosed in the U.S. It eventually strikes one out of every eight American women. Breast cancer also causes more deaths than any other form of cancer in women under age 55.
As women, we all fear breast cancer. It is the one disease that sends chills down our spines and puts a knot in our stomachs. I am not about to go over all the reasons why women get breast cancer or who is or isn't a high risk factor. I will leave that subject to those who are far more qualified than I, however, there is one factor that affects your breast health and that is the fit of your bra.
Right now, as you read this, 80% of all the women in America are wearing the wrong size bra. Most of them are uncomfortable and most of them are too small. Your breast is all about circulation and the flow of lymph. If you want healthy breasts, follow a regular care program, including a monthly self exam, routine visits with your doctor, and a mammogram when recommended for your age and family history, Most importantly, wear a bra that fits you.
A tight, binding, constricting, and ill fitting bra is bad for you and can cause major discomfort as well as retarding the circulation in and around your breast. So what can you do to change that? Find a bra that fits you perfectly.
This process is very simple but requires the help of an "expert". When I was growing up in Brooklyn, New York, my mother use to call them the "brassier ladies”. They were mostly European born and had worked in corset shops in Europe as fitters or seamstresses. This noble group of women worked in neighborhood lingerie shops. You never bought a bra without their expertise.
They had such a trained eye that the minute any woman walked in the door they knew what size she was. They would take one look and say, "34C". It was like radar, they just knew from afar, and when they measured you, they were almost always right.
Today there is a more modern version of these women called lingerie fitters. They are in local shops (if your town is lucky to have one), or work in major department stores in the lingerie department. So your first step to finding the right bra is to go see one of these gals. They will take your measurements, first under your rib cage and all around your back and then across your breast. One tells what your bra size is (34, 36, 38 etc.) and the other tells your cup size (A, B, C, D etc.) Now that you know this they will usually recommend a style for your body type based on your needs. During your session, tell this person all about your basic wardrobe. Are you looking for a bra to wear under a tee shirt or a knit, one for sports or the gym, or a special occasion look? Or do you need to establish a basic bra wardrobe?
Believe me, one hour spent with one of these experts will not only save you money in the long run (by avoiding having a drawer full of ill-fitting bras you can no longer wear), but you will be saved the daily agonies of wearing bras that hurt, are too tight, dig into your shoulders or are just plain torture!
Once you have established your size and needs, then follow these simple suggestions for a long and comfy relationship with your bras.
HOW TO PUT ON A BRA
Bend forward, put the bra on, and fasten.
Look at the fit and make sure that the cup holds all of your breast. If you are spilling out, it is too small. If you have "overhang" it is too small.
Next, take your right hand and smooth the skin of the left breast into the cup. Do the same on the other side.
Stand up straight and see how the straps fit and feel. They should be comfortable without feeling like a vice. Adjust as needed until perfect.
Now, look straight ahead into a mirror and make certain that each nipple is in the CENTER of each cup.
Adjust the back of the bra so it lies smoothly between your shoulder blades.
Take a deep breathe, how does it feel?
A word about brand names. Not every manufacturer cuts the same way, that is true of bras as well as clothes. You might be a size 34C in one brand but a 34D in another. And there may be some brands you can't wear at all.
BRA DO's & DON'TS –
Do get measured again every time you lose or gain weight, after a pregnancy, or if you are on hormone replacement therapy.
Don't ever buy a bar without trying it on and stay away from the sale rack.
Unless there is a brand and style there that you wear, pulling one off the rack because it is marked down is no bargain. Chances are it will have a long and happy life in your lingerie drawer.
Do buy an under wire style if you are full breasted and need firmer support.
Do buy a minimizer if you want to have a large breast appear smaller.
Do try one of the new soft cup bras that offer construction for a smaller breast. (Soft cup means sans under wire.)
Do throw away any and all bras that hurt you or are uncomfortable, no matter how much you paid for them.
Important points to remember
Ask a salesperson to measure you but let your eye and your body be the ultimate test. A bra shouldn't ride up, dig into your back, or slip off your shoulders.
When trying on a bra in a store, take several, in various sizes, into the fitting room. The difference between a 34 and 36 might be one hook.
For the best fit, your bra should be fastened with the middle hook.
Reevaluate your bra wardrobe at the beginning of every season.
If you find a bra that you love, by all means buy more than one.
Never put a bra in the dryer.
About the author:
Georgia Donovan, The Clothes Doctor, is a fashion stylist and image consultant, whose mission is to help women reach their fashion potential and raise their fashion consciousness. To subscribe to her free newsletter for mature women, visit http://www.lookingfabulousafter40.comor http://www.theclothesdoctor.com
Lingerie Makes Great Gift
for Him and Her
by: Jim Jin
It is cliché to say that lingerie is the gift that “gives to him and
her”, or is “the gift that gives back” because clearly the man does not
lose when he gives lingerie out as a present. The only time the plan
backfires is when he gets something in the wrong style—or much worse—the
wrong size. But when the man puts some time and consideration into the
purchase of some lingerie, he and the receiver are rewarded which is why
it makes a great gift.
Too often men find themselves tempted to buy whatever they happen to
find attractive or sexy. These same men are then surprised later on when
their girlfriend or wife is utterly repulsed by the lingerie and refuses
to wear the garment. It takes a special kind of woman to tolerate a thong
but men continue to thrust their desires into lingerie purchasing
decisions that utterly conflict with the desires and tastes of the
partner. Thong sales only account for 23% of all lingerie purchases which
is why odds are that a woman probably will not appreciate a thong as much
as the man giving it.
In order to make a lingerie gift successful, the man must do his
homework. What about her body is she most proud of? Whatever part of the
body this happens to be, make sure to buy lingerie that accentuates this.
For a woman who is particularly proud of her cleavage, a halter might be
the way to go but a chemise would probably be best for someone with nice
legs. No matter what part of the body she happens to be most comfortable
with, there is definitely a piece of lingerie out there made to complement
it.
The color of the lingerie is very important to consider as well. When
deciding upon color, you have to take into account the partner’s hair.
Blondes tend to do best with lighter colors or even pastels. Brunettes
need a color that accentuates their darker hues so purples or even dark
greens and reds work well for women with this color of hair. Redheads need
a dark color but it must be complementary which is why greens and blues
work best.
Now lingerie need not only look great—it must feel even better!
Basically, if you enjoy touching it, she should enjoy wearing it. Silks
and satins are always great choices as they are always smooth to the touch
and feel great on her as well. For men or women shopping online, only buy
fabrics that you are personally familiar with so you know what to expect.
The right style, color, and fabric will not make the slightest
difference in the world if you get the wrong size. Too many sad jokes are
made about men trying to size up their partner’s cup size by using their
hands to cup imaginary breasts. Anyone shopping (either online or at a
retailer) should know the sizes of the garments they are after before ever
looking at styles and colors. If it is possible, ask. If not, you will
have to play detective and sneak a peak at her unmentionables while she is
in the shower or something. No matter how you do it, just make sure you
get those sizes or it may come back to haunt you.
Lingerie can definitely be one of the most intimate and rewarding gifts
a person can give or receive. When the desires, size, body, and tastes of
the receiver are taken into consideration when making a purchase, lingerie
can be rewarding to the buyer in ways no other gift possibly can. But,
when a person buys something that they will like without being considerate
of the person they are expecting to wear the item, a lingerie purchase can
backfire. Lingerie should be a gift that a person remembers fondly so be
sure to think of how she would feel wearing the item before buying and you
are sure to have many happy returns!
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