Been a while...

I'm not keeping my promise to keep up my blog. I'm a slacker. But at least I'm a slacker with a nice set of kittens.

I have fitted quite a few women since my last post. I have met 1 who was wearing the right size. Another had a bra that fit, but we both agreed it was sized oddly.

I will make this a short post today. My head is full and clouded.

Anyone who says they don't like underwires, do me a favor and try one, just one, in the correct size. See if wearing the right size of underwire makes a difference. There are women out there who simply cannot wear them, like my mom, but most women can. If you have a very short torso, like mom, underwires can cause a problem. But even my mom was willing to try on a couple underwire bras in her size.

Just try. Just one. Please? The right size makes a world of difference.

Bra Size Calculators

I decided to spend some time entering my measurements into online Bra Size Calculators. I went through 5 pages of my google search and found 3 sites I liked enough to link on this blog.

What I entered:
Band measurement - 31 inches
Bust measurement - 43 inches

The vast majority of calculators said I should wear a 36G, which works if you follow that "add 5 inches" rule. It makes me laugh, because I wore that size 20 pounds ago. Most of the site also said they had no products to offer me.

The worst measurement was on Vassarette's website, which wouldn't even give me a bra size. I got an error message telling me "Cup size too large!" Wow. At least the Playtex site put it nicer, "We're sorry, we could not calculate your size. Please try again."

Of course, I had to see if Vicky's Secret had a calculator. They don't have a calculator, but they do show "how to measure" and - get this - they don't even measure your ribcage! They get the band measurement from measuring the top of your bust! So according to them, I should be in a 38DD, which is what I wore before getting fitted years ago. Have you read my story about getting fitted? Yeah, 38DD is not comfortable on me.

Ok, now here are the 3 sites I picked to share with you. The first 2 gave me the size I currently wear and the 3rd just had 1 cup size bigger, which I do need in some brands/styles.

http://www.techchee.com/2008/12/01/online-bra-size-calculator/
http://honeyslingerieboutique.com/fitting
http://www.grandstyle.com/cloth07.htm

First Fitting!

Ok, so I gave my first professional fitting today. Sure it was a woman that I am related to, but she let me fit her and ordered some bras.

Her bra (that she was wearing) is a 38B. She is really a 34C. I had her exact size in my sizing kit, in a soft cup style, which she prefers. It was the ideal situation. She got to see how the correct size makes a difference. She even mentioned that nothing moved when she bent over!

So, even those with an average bra size can be wearing the wrong size, and can benefit from a fitting.

If you don't go to me, go somewhere! (somewhere other than vicki's secret, please!) Get fitted!

I know, I know

I've been a bad bra crusader and haven't been keeping up the blog!

BUT... I have been trained and am now a professional bra fitter! I work for a great company called The Uplifting Makeover, LLC. Check them out at www.bramakeover.com.

What does this mean for you? This means I have even more bra knowledge, and will be learning more as I progress in my new career.

For example, I learned that bras will actually last a little longer if you wash them after every wear, instead of every other.

I learned that you should have at least 3 bras (I may have said that before) but here's why - 1 to wash, 1 to wear, and 1 waiting in the drawer.

I learned that pushup bras are sized differently.

I learned that fake boobs are not always the size the doctor says he's making you. For example, the doc says he's making you a D cup, but he's going by the size of implant, not the rib and chest measurements. So you might really be a 34F when he's done.

I learned more about fitting, like the strap should be tightened so you can fit 1 or 2 fingers under it (lift it just slightly off your shoulder). You should not be able to lift it more than an inch or two off your shoulder. Also, the strap should fit flat against your chest. (no one had told me that before.)

I am uber excited to start selling bras. It's hard for me because I am pretty quiet and introverted, and now I have to sell myself. But I'm going to work hard at this. It will be a little slow at first, while I build a customer base. It will be hard whenever I move, especially if we get the post we want in another country, but I will keep working on it.

I think it might be easier for me since my husband is so supportive about schedules and I don't have kids, like most of our consultants.

Taking the Next Step

I have decided to truly become a Bra Crusader. I am going to train as a bra fitter/consultant and try to make a living out of it!

I will be able to host parties, do personal one-on-one fittings, and consult with spas, gyms, offices, doctors, etc. I will not only preach the joys of a well fit bra, but I will help women to find their true size and purchase a well-made bra.

I know I haven't been posting much, but I am sure that will change once I start working. I will keep this blog as a site for stories and helpful information on my journey as the Bra Crusader.

I should get that copyrighted or something.

WooHoo!

If you have been following my blog (all 3 of you), you may notice that I am a little passionate/obsessed with bras.

You may have also heard, like I have, that the best job is to find a way to make money from something you are passionate about.

I think I have found just that! I found a company that trains and employs bra consultants. So I would be a professional bra fitter. I could do personal house parties, ya know, like Mary Kay or Tupperware. I could also, and this is the big seller for me, work as a consultant with other businesses, like gyms, spas, chiropractors, doctor's offices, etc, anyone that wants to help women find bras! Check them out, The Uplifting Makeover.

So, this company I found is cool, with a wide range of sizes. They use a few different brands and are constantly looking for more options with more sizes. They are laid back and don't push sales the way other consultant jobs do. They care only about helping women.

Now this is something very different from me, and as my mother pointed out, it would push me out of my "comfort zone". As I started feeling serious about it, I started getting nervous.

See, I'm not a people person. But if you get me talking about something I'm passionate about, I can talk forever without any shyness or reservation. I am obviously passionate about properly fitting women into good bras.

So if anyone reads this, give me a vote. Should I give it a shot? It's a minimum investment that can be reimbursed if I work hard. So should I?

Bra Care

Time for me to get on to the tips part of this blog. I'm currently washing my bras, so why don't I give you some tips on bra care in a nice, orderly list.

- Wear - Don't wear your bra 2 days in a row. This is why we have multiple bras, so we don't have to wear the same one over and over again! Our body oils naturally soak into the bra materials. This is fine for one day, but if you don't give the bras some time to air and dry out, the minerals and such in our bodies will start to break down the elasticity of the bra materials. Basically, our sweat and oils will stretch out the elastic faster. So you rotate - this bra today, that bra tomorrow, then this bra can be worn again the day after that. I even have 2 sports bras so I don't have to wear one 2 days in a row.

- Store - Molded cup bras shouldn't be smooshed if you can avoid it. This means having plenty of drawer space, or hanging them up. In my new house, we have a huge closet and I have less drawer space, so I took a couple hangers with the strappy holders (you know, the notches), and hung 2 bras to a hanger. For my soft-cup bras, I did 3 to a hanger (especially since there's only 3 of them).

-Wash - Pretty much everyone recommends washing your bras by hand. I admit that I cheat on this. I use a large, mesh lingerie bag and put them in my washing machine on the "handwash" cycle. Also, the detergent you use for all your other clothes could be speeding up the decay of your bras. I use a special detergent called Forever New. I believe Dillards started selling a different kind of special bra detergent, that is pretty much the same thing. I just don't remember the name. One bottle of this stuff lasts a long time. The point is, this detergent is even gentler than Woolite, less harsh chemicals, and rinses clean so there is no residue left to wear out the elastic of your bras. Forever New leaves a nice, fresh scent, too.

- Dry - You should never put your bras in the dryer, especially underwires. Think about it, the dryer gets really hot and heats up the metal wires in an underwire bra. When metal gets hot, it's more pliable, bends easily. This is how underwires get all bent out of shape. We have a simple drying rack that I hang my bras on to dry. I let mine sit overnight and they are always dry by morning.

Of course, even with the best care, bras will wear out. Especially our favorite ones that we wear the most. Eventually, they must be replaced. There's also the possibility that you will lose weight (like I am trying to do) and your bras will get too big, or put on weight and they will get too small. If they are too big, or even just stretched out, you might be able to find a seamstress or alterations store that can take them in for you. The best way is to actually remove the little pieces that hold the hooks and eyes, trim off some of the back fabric, and sew those pieces back on.

I have seen women try to do tucks in the sides, but this is tricky to get just right, and can rub against your skin. Of course, some bras just reach the point of no return, and you have to give up and replace them.

The only part of bra care that I haven't figured out yet is travel. How in the world do you pack a molded cup bra without smooshing it? If you know, please share!