When you need extra support under a special gown, such as a bridal or formal dress, a longline bra can provide many effects that a corset does.  A longline bra fastens at the small of your back and can be found in styles that include or eliminate bra straps.

Bali bras are some of the most highly regarded bras in the business, both in longline and all their other styles.   Their superior construction, comfort, and design have made women look amazing for decades.

Many women are guilty of shopping for new clothes put neglecting to update that all-important drawer in the dresser that holds our undergarments.  Modern technology has created innovative fabrics that have taken the world of intimate apparel by storm.  For instance, cone-shaped bullet bras are a thing of the past.  Barely There bras boast tagless and seamless styles, offering pared-down silhouettes that show you and your clothes to their best advantage.

Microfiber, the hottest fabric in underwear construction today, is justified in its popularity—it can boast being seamless, stretchy, comfortable and practically invisible under clothes.  Bali and Barely There are two of our best-selling women’s underwear brands with these features, but there are many others available at CCQ Apparel as well.
 

Bali bras are known for their comfort, support and durability.  They also have some great minimizer bras.  This one is my favorite.

It is seamless, so it looks great under any outfit, and bandless, which makes it easy to wear.  For a minimizer bra, it is exceptionally comfortable.

There is no standard correct time to buy a teenage girl’s first bra.  Most girls will begin to wear some kind of training or starter bra between the ages of 9 and 11.  A “tween” or young teenage girl may want to buy her first bra when she first notices her friends wearing them, particularly if she is into sports activities.

Sometimes the support a first bra provides is more psychological than physical.  Even if a teen girl’s body changes are not drastic, the first teen bras are a sign that a girl is growing up and can affect her self-confidence and body image.

When you’re pregnant, your body will, obviously, go thorough several changes – including having a little person inside you; once you give birth, however, you’ll find that you’ll still carry some pregnancy weight and that your bust will have slightly increased, too. Here are some tips to get a new bra:

• Find your bra size. Maddeningly, this is only an estimate, worse even than finding a jeans size. Stick the tape measure under your armpits and draw it across the very top of your chest. If it’s odd, add 1″; that’s your band size. If it’s even, that’s your band size.
• Figure out your cup size. Put on your best fitting bra and put the tape measure around the middle of your chest over the cups. Why wear a bra for this? If you’re like most moms, gravity and childbirth has, um, lowered your center. Wearing a bra will give you a better sizing. Subtract the band size number from that number; if the difference is 1″, your cup size is A. 2″ is B, 3″ C, 4″ D, and so on.
• Find a bunch of bras that you like. Push-up bras often work nicely for post-partum chests. There are even full-coverage push-ups these days. Underwires have the best support (Bali bras are perfect to try). Regular bras are often loose in the upper cup after a baby. Get a selection, and don’t forget to get a variety of sizes, because manufacturers vary.
• Determine if the bra fits well. Nothing should gape; the band should sit straight across your back and front. If the band is going up in the back, go up a band size. A well-fitting bra should fit on the loosest hook; the band will stretch. The bra cups should not be cutting into your flesh, nor should there be any side-spillage – go up a cup size if this is happening. Sometimes underwires cut in the armpits.
• If there is loose material at the top of the breast but it fits fine at the bottom of your breast, try a different style rather than size. Remember, breasts come in all shapes and sizes, and not all bras can accommodate your uniqueness.
• Your nipple should be about halfway between your shoulder and your elbow. Adjust the straps to see if this bra will make that happen. If not, move on. A larger bust often needs wider straps for more support.

I seldom feel like I need to champion a brand over others, but this week I truly realized the greatness of Bali bras.  For a woman like me, who’s constantly running around, their bras are a god send.  They never hurt or feel uncomfortable and by the time the work day ends, I still have enough energy to go out and be even more productive. 

If there’s any advice that I can give on the best bra to wear for your day-to-day life, I’d go with Bali bras.

With Mother’s Day drawing closer and closer, now might be a good time to get something for your wife.  If you’ve noticed that her undergarments are worn or that her sportsbra is ready to be replaced, you may want to purchase some elegant bras or shapewear for her.

Barely There, Bali and several other brands are among the most popular today, or you can get her a nice sportsbra if rigorous exercise has rendered hers to be changed.  Let her know that your attention isn’t always on the TV and get her something that would maximize her comfort.

Finding the right bra can be a daunting task.  There are plenty of factors to consider: the shape and size of your breasts and whether you have implants.  Wire-Free bras seem to be the most common and, as agreed by the general consensus of my friends, a bit more comfortable. 

But underwire bras allow the appearance of more cleavage with an equal amount of support.  Many of my friends who are plus-sized have also found underwire bras to be a bit uncomfortable when compared to their wire-free counterparts.

Personally, I have found that owning several of each is an easy way to get by.  There are times when the wire-free bras will a bit more appropriate than wearing an underwire.  It’s easier to have a varied selection of Bali bras hanging in my closet than to have to make a last minute decision at a store on the night of a party or a date.

Like most workaholics, my life is a tapestry of work, yoga class, work, jogging, work and work.  It may read a bit unhealthy, but it’s the crux of my sanity.  You know what they say about idle hands and all.  The real troublesome part is transitioning from work to whatever leisure activity I have planned for the day, and there are times when I forget to pack a sports bra with me.  Then a friend in my Pilates class turned me onto Down-Time Seamless Wire-Free Bali Bras.

At first I wasn’t real sure about them, but now I’m a total convert.  They have all the support and comfort of a sports bra, but I can wear them throughout the work day and not have to worry about packing an extra bra with me if I hit the gym after work.  It’s a convenient invention that has found a fan for life. 

Questions about Fabric and Care

1. Your Bali bras will provide longer wear and support if you follow the proper washing and drying instructions on your care label. If the label suggests hand-washing, use a cleansing product designed for delicate fabrics. For machine-washable bras, attach hooks and eyes to avoid tangling, then place bras in a lingerie bag before washing on the delicate cycle, in cool water with gentle detergent. And never put bras in the dryer. Air dry only.

2. Your panties will last much longer if you wash and dry them properly. Look at the garment label for laundering instructions. Wash with a load of other delicate fabrics on the delicate cycle if machine washing is recommended. Line drying is always the best choice since a hot dryer shortens the life of the elastics and fabric. However, if you want to use the dryer, set the controls on delicate.

3. Follow the washing instructions on the garment label. Do not use very hot water and line or air dry only because high temperatures can affect the controlling performance of the shapewear over time. Use only non-chlorine bleach if necessary.

4. Microfiber is an ultra-fine, super-soft yarn. Microfiber fabrics are made from ultra-fine fibers that are lightweight, breathable, and durable, while still providing a superior feel and incredible softness. It is the luxurious feel and look of the fabrics that makes microfiber so extra special.