Archive for "Shopping"
Brian Shops for Flip Flops
Posted on May 11, 2010 by Ching under Shopping, Wishlist.
He’s making a face because he can’t find any he likes. I, on the other hand, found some sandals that I really, really, really want.
They’re still a lot, though, so I will probably wait until the end of the season to buy them. Hopefully, they’ll be on sale at that point and I can get them for less.
Here’s how they look on my feet:
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Five Essential Bras to Have
Posted on April 18, 2010 by Ching under Shopping, Tips.
Most women know that bras in nude, white and black are essential in every wardrobe. However, there are five essential bra styles that every woman should never be without.
Everyday Bra – You’ll need a few to alternate so that you can give each bra a break. Probably best to have at least one black, one white and one nude or beige color. I like this one: Calvin Klein Women’s Seductive Comfort Customized Lift
Racerback Bra – These are great for sleeveless shirts and tank tops so that your bra straps don’t show. They’re also great under shirts and are a great substitute for when you want to give your Everyday Bra a breather. Perfect for days when you expect to be more active. The Le Mystere Women’s Y-Bra
Strapless Bra – You’ll also need a strapless bra for your strapless dresses and other special occasions. I like the ones that have convertible straps so you can wear it multiple ways like these: the Calvin Klein Bra, Seductive Comfort Customized Lift Strapless
Sexy Saturday Night Bra – Every woman needs something lacy and impractical in their lingerie wardrobe. Perfect for that special date. Here’s one I like: Le Mystere Women’s Isabella Bra
Sports Bra – A must have for working out. Here are some good ones: Champion Powerback Wirefree Sports Bra
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Finding the Correct Size
Posted on April 18, 2010 by Ching under Shopping, Tips.
Let’s revisit Oprah’s eight important questions:
1. Do your bra straps dig into or slip off your shoulders?
2. Does your underwire poke into your breast tissue?
3. Does your bra ride up in the back?
4. Do your breasts sag under your clothing?
5. Do you feel like taking off your bra before the day is over?
6. Do the buttons on your blouse gap at the bustline?
7. Do your breasts spill out of your bra’s cups?
8. Have you recently gained or lost more than 10 lbs?
Remember, if you answered “yes” to any of these then it’s time to reconsider your bra size. You can get fitted at a lingerie store like Victoria’s Secret or go to a bra fitting event at a department store (which is what I did). However, you don’t really need an expert to figure out your correct bra size. All you need is a soft tape measure.
There are two main measurements that you need. You need your band measurement, as well as your cup size. To get your correct bra size, follow these steps:
Step 1: Get your band measurement by running a tape measure all the way around your body, just under your breasts. Ensure that the tape measure is horizontal and fairly snug. Ideally, your arms should be down on your sides so it is sometimes helpful to have someone there to assist with getting this measurement. If the measurement is an odd number, round up to the next even number. If your measurement is already an even number, you might still need to go up to the next even number (depending on how snug the measurement is).
You can double check this measurement by wrapping the tape measure snugly around your back, under your arms, and across the top of your chest. Sometimes your ribcage expands and contracts as you breathe so getting this second measurement helps to get a more accurate band measurement. This is the reason that the bra fitting expert at Dillard’s took three measurements when she fitted me yesterday.
Step 2: To determine your cup size, you must first wrap a measuring tape around your back and across the fullest part of your bust and take a gentle measurement. Subtract your band measurement from this measurement. If the difference is 1 inch then your cup size is A, 2 inches is B, 3 inches is C, 4 inches is D, 5 inches is DD, 6 inches is DDD and so on.
This should give you a starting point for trying on bras. Do not buy a bra without trying it on first. Sizing sometimes varies by manufacturer and style, so getting your correct bra measurement is not a guarantee that the bra will fit perfectly in that size. Also, it is not uncommon for women to wear different bra sizes in different bras.
Some fitting tips:
- The proper band size is the smallest that you can comfortably wear, but you should be able to fit two fingers underneath it.
- A bra will stretch over time so you want to make sure that your band is on the loosest setting when you first purchase it. This way, you can move down one or two settings as the band’s elastic begins to wear off.
- If the band is roomy enough for you to be able to comfortably fasten it on the tightest or smallest setting, then it is recommended that you try a smaller band size.
- If the band is painfully tight, then you’ll need to go up a size. I know that’s pretty obvious, but I thought I would throw that in there. =P
- The correct cup size is the largest one that you can completely fill without excess space in the cups or without the fabric wrinkling. Your breasts should fill the cups, but not bulge out anywhere.
- If the bra has underwire, make sure the underwire encloses your whole breast and lies flat against your rib cage.
- If they are too small, or even if they seem to fit ok, try on a bigger cup size as well to double check. It’s a lot easier to tell if they are too big than too small.
- If the cups are too big, then go down a size. Again, pretty obvious, but I’m mentioning it anyway.
A bra that fits properly will feel comfortable. The perfect bra will feel like you’re not even wearing one at all.
Bras typically have a useful life of six months. As I mentioned earlier, the band will stretch over time. The bra will lose a little elasticity each time it is washed. You might have to adjust the straps or fasten the band at a tighter setting to compensate for any loss of elasticity. You might also consider shopping for a new bra every six months. If you buy the proper size, you might be able to hold off buying a new bra for a year with proper care and some minor adjustments to the straps and band.
How to care for your bras:
- Don’t wear the same bra everyday. Most bras are made with a lot of Lycra, which tends to stretch throughout the day due to body heat. It could take 24 hours for it to return to its natural shape so try not to wear the same bra two days in a row.
- Don’t put bras in the dryer. Always handwash and linedry your bras. This will help extend their useful life.
- If you must save time, use the delicate cycle of the washing machine. Hook the back clasps together and put the bra in a lingerie bag. This will help prevent the bra from getting twisted and damaged during the wash cycle. Set the rinse for cool or cold.
- Store bras properly. Bras should be folded neatly in their own drawer so that the delicate material doesn’t get snagged or ruined by other clothes or undergarments.
I hope that you’ve found this post helpful and informative. When I learn new things, I always try to share them so that everyone can benefit. If you have helpful tips to share, please be sure to post them in the comments.
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Ching’s Bra Epiphany
Posted on April 18, 2010 by Ching under Shopping.
How many times have you heard that more than 80% of women are wearing the incorrect bra size? I’m not sure that 80% is the right percentage but there is a lot of truth to this statement. I realized this first hand yesterday when I went to the bra fitting event at Dillard’s yesterday.
I’d always been a 32A since I started buying bras here in the US. I mostly just bought from Victoria’s Secret. Their 32A bras fit me comfortably and I never had any issues. I think their sizing remained pretty consistent between different styles so I got by okay for the most part. As time progressed and I started gaining weight, I just assumed that I’d just go up in band size. Naturally, I progressed to 34A and then 36A.
I wore 36A for about a year, since I peaked at 143 lbs. Up until yesterday, my favorite bra was my BioFit 7-way bra. I have it in nude color. I love it because it fit comfortably and I could wear it many different ways. Although, I just wore the straps crossed most of the time. I still find it comfortable to wear, except the band is a lot looser than it was. I think I can still wear it as long as I use the tightest clasp setting.
Since I dropped to 125 lbs, I figured it’s time to get fitted again. I’d read in a couple of places that one should actually shop for bras every six months. Although, I never really thought of getting fitted until now because I thought I knew what I was doing. I’m thinking it might not be a bad idea to get fitted every year.
Apparently, not all bra fittings are created equal. In the past, the reps would just measure me over my clothes. This is not recommended. Yesterday, the bra fitting expert joined me in the dressing room and had me take my top off so that she could measure me properly. After taking three measurements (under my bust, above my bust and at the fullest part of my bust), she told me that I could wear a 32 or 34 band. She left and came back with a dozen bras for me to try on. Much to my surprise, some of the bras were 34B. I guess I can be either 34A or 34B depending on the manufacturer or style of bra and that’s quite normal. Unfortunately, you can’t know which size to get without trying the bras on so no more buying bras off Victoria’s Secret web site from now on. I suppose I can still order online after I’ve actually tried it on at the store and figured out that proper size to get. No more buying something because it’s on sale and “I think” it will fit, though. Those days are over, for sure.
Out of all the bras I tried on, the two I liked the best were the Modern Movement “Maximum Lift” bra (which I got in 34A) and the Calvin Klein “Seductive Comfort” bra (which I got in 34B). I normally try to avoid padded bras, but these were the ones that I found most comfortable and flattering to my shape. After getting some matching underwear and a few other things, I ended up spending quite a bit but I should be set for year (unless, of course, I lose a lot of weight between now and then). Although, after getting these product links from the Dillard’s web site, I’m thinking that I should have purchased the bras online because I think they’re a little cheaper. (Be sure to watch for price differences. Best Buy seems to do this a lot too. When we got our printer it was at least $20 cheaper online and then, when we went with Matthias to get his friends 32GB iPod Touch, it was $299 at the store but only $269 online. Best Buy will match their online price, though. All you have to do is ask. I suppose they make extra profit off people who don’t know any better and actually pay the in-store price.)
But I digress.. Back to bras. How do you know if you’re wearing the wrong size? Here are some basic questions that Oprah came up with. If you answer “yes” to any of these, you probably need to get fitted.
1. Do your bra straps dig into or slip off your shoulders?
2. Does your underwire poke into your breast tissue?
3. Does your bra ride up in the back?
4. Do your breasts sag under your clothing?
5. Do you feel like taking off your bra before the day is over?
6. Do the buttons on your blouse gap at the bustline?
7. Do your breasts spill out of your bra’s cups?
8. Have you recently gained or lost more than 10 lbs?
For me, #8 is actually what triggered the need to get fitted. Stay tuned for the next blog entry. I’ll be sharing tips on how to find the proper size.
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Storage Ottoman
Posted on April 18, 2010 by Ching under Shopping, Wishlist.
Darn it! The storage ottoman I got from Target last month went on sale. Brian said we got ours for $80 and now they’re only $67. Grrrr! Don’t you just hate it when that happens?
Anyway, I love, love, love this storage ottoman. We have in our bedroom at the end of the bed and it holds all my jewelry making and craft stuff. It worked out because now I have more room in my closet for other stuff. LOL.
If you’re looking for a good, cheap storage ottoman, then check this one out. You can get it both in stores and online (link at the left if you don’t have a Target store nearby).
I’m very happy with the purchase of this ottoman. The only thing that makes me mad is that I should have waited one month to do it. Booo!
P.S. Speaking of storage ottomans (benches), there’s a nice one at JC Penney for only $80 (regularly $180) in a beige-y cream color. JCP also has cheap $40 faux leather bar stools. They look great in the picture. I haven’t seen them in person, though.
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