What's on Top - Bras, panties, garter belts, slips, & stockings

[Lusti Weather]

Another vote for over, and I've seen many '50s pin-up photos showing knickers over garter belts. So it is both period-correct and sexy!

 

[LoserVonTeese]

cool... so i will try that...

 

[pretty faythe]

bra size question

What to do when your band size is an odd number?
I've been measured by many different places and always told 42 DD/DDD.
Usually I get my bras from zLayne Bryant, but the ones I prefer I guess are being made differently. The 42s are a bit to tight to be comfy and 44s are to big to be comfy. I get measured before buying new bras, so my size hasn't changed.
What do you gals do when n odd sized would be perfect, seeing how they don't make them?
I am bra tortured right now, it is so ticking me off lol

 

[Lady Day]

Adjusting the back hooks does not help?

When I got sized the lady said your bra should be a bit snug on the first (shortest) row of hooks so when it starts to stretch out, it will still fit well when you end up using the third (widest) row of hooks.

The bra will stretch out a bit in a few wears, perhaps the snug one is the way to go.


LD

 

[pretty faythe]

Even on the losest setting they were way to tight.
The way you discribed is how I usually get them, with the few wears stretching them out. But lately when I've gone bra shopping or browsing, just way to tight, beyond snug.
I'm thinking of going to Joannes tomorrow and buying hooks to add to one and see if that helps.

 

[KittyT]

I'm thinking of going to Joannes tomorrow and buying hooks to add to one and see if that helps.

That might be your best (and cheapest!) option. Let us know how it works!

 

[Rockapin-up]

Pretty Faith, it could be the style of the bra. My bra size depends on the style and manufacturere of the bra. I wear either a 38H or a 40G and not all bras fit the same so I have to try on a few before I find one that I like. OH and I just bought my first playtex 18 hour bra from macy's today, I was soo thrilled cus they were also on sale for $20.00 and dept. stores never and I mean never carry my size, but the sales girl told me that occasionally a larger size will come in, so I guess I need to check every so often.

 

[Land-O-LakesGal]

You all convinced me.

Ok so after having read this entire thread and talking to one of my friends I think I need a professional fitting my friend suggested Nordstroms. Anyone with any experiences with them and fittings? Anyway worth a shot. I will report back.

 

[KittyT]

Ok so after having read this entire thread and talking to one of my friends I think I need a professional fitting my friend suggested Nordstroms. Anyone with any experiences with them and fittings? Anyway worth a shot. I will report back.

Nordstrom probably isn't too bad, but be sure to find the oldest lady you can working in that dept. In my experience, department stores aren't always too great. I've gotten terrible fittings at Macy's before. If you have any specialty lingerie stores near you, I'd try those first. I see there's a shop called Flirt Boutique in St. Paul that looks like it carries high-end products, and that might be your best bet.

 

[Puzzicato]

If you have any specialty lingerie stores near you, I'd try those first. I see there's a shop called Flirt Boutique in St. Paul that looks like it carries high-end products, and that might be your best bet.

Especially lingerie stores that do mastectomy bras. The women in those shops tend to be very well trained in fitting and they are used to dealing with people who are a bit nervous and uncomfortable.

 

[Rockapin-up]

Even on the losest setting they were way to tight.
The way you discribed is how I usually get them, with the few wears stretching them out. But lately when I've gone bra shopping or browsing, just way to tight, beyond snug.
I'm thinking of going to Joannes tomorrow and buying hooks to add to one and see if that helps.

Another thing is maybe it's not the band width but the cup size is wrong. Usually the Lang Bryant stores only only carry up to a certain cup size (in store that is) which is normally a DDD. Maybe your cup size is bigger than the sales girl says and is trying to accomodate by with the band size. I would go to a specialty bra store that carries all sizes in your area and get measured there.[huh]

Not sure if this store is close to you but worth a fitting visit
Bra Boutique
702-362-1579
http://www.dexknows.com/business_profiles/bra_boutique-b38444
2375 S Jones Blvd # 14
Las Vegas, NV 89146

 

[Gracie Lee]

Especially lingerie stores that do mastectomy bras. The women in those shops tend to be very well trained in fitting and they are used to dealing with people who are a bit nervous and uncomfortable.

I second the suggestion to go to a specialty store that does mastectomy fittings. Those ladies usually get extra training and are very good at what they do. I don't believe anyone who just whips the tape around me twice. Last time someone did that, they told me I was a 40C. Try 34F. The best fitting I ever had, the woman measured ribcage and fullest part, and then from the height of the fullest part down the natural curve of my breast to where the band would fall. A little invasive, but it was spot on; I wish more lingerie shops trained their ladies to do it like that.

 

[Jasmine Jolene]

here in the UK, i swear by the Bravissimo style of fitting.

if you measure me, you would be tempted to put me in a 38E. however, i have a fairly narrow ribcage and short body and anything above a 34 is far far too large. i wear 34G. in Bravissimo, the fitter simply looked at what i was wearing, said the band was too big let's go smaller, the cup is ok but we'll need to up it one as we're going smaller on the band. then i tried on several until i found the best fit for me - Panache is my brand of choice at the moment!

 

[pretty faythe]

The Layne Bryant that I go to cup sizes go up to g in the store.
Havent been to Joannes yet, been sick and miserable...summer colds blah

Another thing is maybe it's not the band width but the cup size is wrong. Usually the Lang Bryant stores only only carry up to a certain cup size (in store that is) which is normally a DDD. Maybe your cup size is bigger than the sales girl says and is trying to accomodate by with the band size. I would go to a specialty bra store that carries all sizes in your area and get measured there.[huh]

Not sure if this store is close to you but worth a fitting visit
Bra Boutique
702-362-1579
http://www.dexknows.com/business_profiles/bra_boutique-b38444
2375 S Jones Blvd # 14
Las Vegas, NV 89146

 

[lareine]

here in the UK, i swear by the Bravissimo style of fitting.

Bravissimo are great, aren't they? I buy all my bras from there (luckily they ship worldwide) and Panache is my favourite brand too.

 

[Retro Chick]

I'm a third for Bravissimo!

I always got the feeling most places were just trying to squish me into whatever sizes they sold. Bravissimo measured me as a 30FF and I now have a bra that fits for the first time in my life. However, I also can now only buy my bras in Bravissimo as I've not seen that size anywhere else!

 

[OneAndOnly]

Girls can I suggest http://www.figleaves.com/uk/home.asp They carry a good range of brands and sizes, I'm a 32e and find it quite hard to get nice bras in the size. They also carry a selection of hosiery, shapewear and swimwear!

I know others are against it but I do like La Senza...they stock 32e (not in everything *sob*) and they tend to have some cute pieces ...

Also I used to work in lingerie (I won't name the brand) and I have to say almost 9 out of 10 women that came in to get measured were the wrong size! Even I was wearing the wrong size until I started working there and got measured properly! Most places, in my experience, will measure the back size but are reluctant to measure the cup size as different brands/materials/shapes can give a different cup size.

And always remember to get measured every 6 months as weight gain/loss, pregnancy and exercise can change your breast size!

 

[Little lady]

Garter belts/suspender belts to hold seams straight

Hi ladies of the powder room.

I have heard that garter belts or suspenderbelts are not reliable to hold seams straight, and that girdles is the thing to wear.
I'm wondering if someone has differnet experiences. Are there some garter/suspender belts you would say are reliable, that you would reckomend?
(I have seen you talk about suspender/garter belts before, I think, but I don't remember it also being about seams)

On a side note, I am thinking about a waist cincher, but I haven't found anything I am content with yet, so that's kind of shelved. But I trust they would hold seams straight, right?

 

[Little lady]

I didn't seem to get any answers. So I figured I'd mention the options that looks promesing I have found so far.

The 6 Strap PowerMesh Belt in Black from Nylonz
The Sassy 6 Strap Powernet Suspender Belt from UK Tights
Or the 6 strap suspender belt CSB6DS from Christel (it's the first on the list of 6 strap suspension belts)

I've picked them out because they look like they sit on the actual waist and not below it, they have more than 4 straps, and they are made in smaller sizes too.
Has anybody tried any of them with seams?

 

[KittyT]

I've picked them out because they look like they sit on the actual waist and not below it, they have more than 4 straps, and they are made in smaller sizes too.
Has anybody tried any of them with seams?

I wear seamed stockings with garter belts regularly with no problems - even with 4 strap garter belts. That said, 6 straps will do a better job of holding your seams straight - you just need to make sure that you're wearing a belt that is fastened snugly around your waist, a kind that won't slide down.

Another thing to consider is the type of stockings you're wearing. If you're wearing regular, Victoria's Secret seamed stockings, they're likely to shift because they're just a tube and not fitted to your leg. If you wear FF stockings that are shaped to your leg, you will have a lot fewer problems (unless your stockings are too large and aren't hugging your legs enough). I've never had problems with my seams shifting once my stockings were on.