Nov 21, 2006

End bra denial, shed pounds today

Associated Press

Want to shave off a few pounds in mere minutes? Wear a well-fitting bra.
Lingerie experts swear by it.

"I've heard many times: 'You've changed my life,'" says Rebecca Apsan, author of The Lingerie Handbook (Workman). "Investing in a good bra is the best way to make your whole wardrobe look better. ... A good bra will give you confidence."

But, she acknowledges, many women are intimidated by the thought of a professional bra fitting.

Even Selita Ebanks, one of the Victoria's Secret Angel models, had never been properly fitted for a bra until just a few weeks ago. She found out she'd been wearing the wrong size for years: a 34B instead of a 34C.

Aspan suggests women get fitted every six to 12 months and after every "body-changing event," such as pregnancy, weight loss or even depression. She adds: "Every time you put on your bra, adjust your breast to make sure everything is in the right part of the bra."
The most common bra mistakes, according to Aspan, are women wearing bands that are too big or cups that are too small.

"A lot of women are in bra denial, especially when you get to D or beyond. I don't know what that's all about. Women think that when they wear a smaller size, they are smaller," says Aspan, who also owns the Manhattan lingerie store La Petite Coquette. Recalling a shopper in her store earlier this month, Aspan says, "She came in a 38C, went out 34G. She didn't want to put her breasts in a bigger size cup because she thought she'd look huge, but she left looking trimmer."

At Victoria's Secret, salespeople - almost all women, spokeswoman Monica Mitro notes - are trained not only to take measurements but to work with embarrassed customers. They bring drawers full of bras to you in the dressing rooms so you can choose size and style in private.

There's also been a big effort to install flattering lighting, something you won't find at many outergarment retailers.

SIZING TIPS

From Victoria's Secret's guide on finding the right bra:

_To measure the band, hold a tape measure beneath the shoulder blades and measure around the ribcage, directly under the bust. Add 5 inches to that result - that's the proper band size.

_To measure the cup, hold a tape measure around the back and measure around the fullest part of the bust, never pulling the tape too tight.

_Subtract this number from the band size, noting the difference in inches. This number is used for the cup size using these guidelines: A 1-inch difference is a size A, a 2-inch difference a B, a 3-inch difference a C, a 4-inch difference a D and a 5-inch difference a DD.

_Signs that a bra does not fit correctly include bra marks, riding up in the back, falling straps, the center of the bra does not lay flat.