Brassiere
Lottie's post on bras and bra fitting is a great read full of really good advice, it can be viewed here.
I am a firm believer (no pun intended) in the importance of a good bra fitting. If your underwear is uncomfortable you are not going to feel good about what you have on top of your underwear. If you have the wrong bra it can even effect how you carry yourself.
I have only learned this important lesson in the last year (which is shocking as I am 26 years old, and have had a bra since I was about 11!) This, in part, was due to embarrassment about my body. No matter how many times my mum told me 'Nikki, don't be stupid, they have seen it all before' - the prospect of a bra fitting made my cheeks burn.
I know that what I am about to say will probably annoy some people, but please stay with me....
For a long time I have hated having a larger chest. I was one of the first of my friends to get boobs, and it drew attention to me. I hated being different, and I hated that people always felt the need to comment. This continued through a lot of my teenage years.
I had to be super careful what tops I wore, as I risked looking 'tarty' and finding a comfortable bra was hell. And again, people (friends and family included) decided it was fair game to talk about my chest! - Not that long ago, a lady I worked with actually asked me where I had had my boobs 'done' (they are real btw!)
It was when watching an episode of Tim Gunn's Guide to Style (don't judge me!) that I decided I had to get fitted properly for a bra. I watched in shock at the difference that a good fitting bra was making. He always sent them for underwear before anything else, as it makes such a difference.
So I bit the bullet and told myself 'You are 26, you need to be a proper woman and get a bra fitting!' and off I went (granted I went with my mum, so not as grown up as I pretend to be!) to Bravissimo in Liverpool city centre.
The fitting was great, not the hell I imagined. The girl who was helping me made me feel really comfortable and helped me find some great bras (including a sports bra that is amazing). I won't tell you my bra size, but what I will say is I was wearing the wrong size totally! I felt awful getting back into the crappy bra I had arrived in and couldn't wait to wear one of my new ones.
Since then, I have felt a great deal better about my bras and my chest. I don't slouch anymore and I don't suffer from discomfort like I used to...
and if you want to comment on my chest these days, then you are very welcome!
All images from google image search - (if you see a pic that is yours and would like me to credit it to you please contact me and I will amend) except Bravissimo pic, which is from their website (as linked previously)
