Professional Bra Fitting - How Not To Do It

I was asked to be professionally fitted for some reviews I'll be doing shortly so I know the exact size/s I'll need. I've been wearing 32F bras for a long time and only recently switched to wearing a couple of 30G bras, although I've been sceptical that even this was right. The last time I was fitted was by M&S in Darlington when they said I'm a 32G but I decided later that same day that the 32 back was way too big for me. So I was actually looking forward to getting fitted again.

The first stockist I was suggested I try in Darlington that supplied Freya bras was Lady J Lingerie, a small boutique shop in the town centre, so I went into there.

It's only a small shop and when I walked inside there weren't that so many racks of bras, but I quickly located the Freya section situated directly opposite the sales counter. The assistant was already speaking to a customer, coincidentally also about what Freya bras they had in their size. (I overheard the lady say she was after a 34E and noting her petite frame I couldn't help but think to myself, I bet you're not love).

I quickly scanned the bras for the sizes I was hoping to play around with; the 30G, maybe a 30GG or a 28 back in the same cups. I didn't see any 28s but decided I would have to ask. I actually felt really awkward just standing in the shop. I hadn't been acknowledged that I was even there, received no hello of any sort since entering the shop, so I just hung around next to the Freyas. I had a look in the sale rack in the window to see if I'd have any luck finding one of the sizes in there, but didn't. I wandered back over to the counter and thought 'this is ridiculous, someone's gonna have to speak first!'.

I looked at the lady behind the counter, caught her sight and asked if they stocked 28 backs. I tried to explain I was wearing a 30G but wasn't sure if the size was right for me. She said they can order them in, when I explained I was looking for a fitting first, and that I was going to be doing a review on some Freya bras. I had my email from Freya in hand which was to remind me of the types of bras I should try on, which the lady took upon herself to take from my hand to read. I thought that was quite rude because my email was none of her business but I hastened to say anything.

She took me further into the shop where there were a couple of fitting rooms. Normally when I've been fitted in the past I would go into the cubicle, undress and wait for the assistant to come in or pass through the curtain some bras to try on. Not in this case. The lady came right in with me and stood there barely inches away from me watching me undress! I'm pretty sure this isn't the done practice nor would be appreciated by any other customer. I'm a model and fairly used to dressing and undressing in front of people for fittings etc but this would appall so many people not used to it. Heck, I was appalled!

Then she asked me “are you looking to buy today?”. So much for no obligation fittings...

She seemed disinterested to deal with me because I wasn't buying a bra on that occasion. Needless to say there were no bras I could try on so the lady simply told me where the bra I was wearing wasn't serving me well; the 30 back was too generous and the G cup could do with being bigger. It was agreed a 28GG would be the best size for me.

She told me to get dressed so she could show me the Freya catalogue. (A reason to get me dressed, passed the counter and out.) At first the lady was adamant Freya don't make 28 back GG cups but upon looking through the catalogue she backtracked saying “oh they must have started to do them now..”

I thanked her for her time and advice and said I may be back when she gets some 28 backs in. It might be a while yet...

Have you had any uncomfortable experiences getting professionally fitted? Have you found a really good fitter in your area?

Becky x

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That time of year again... Curvy Kate Star in a Bra 2012!

It's Spring and it's March and that can mean only one thing:  Curvy Kate is back with their annual Star in a Bra competition for 2012!

Curvy Kate is a relatively new brand to the lingerie market having only been on the scene for a few years but their impact has been phenomenal.  For a long time women who need larger sized bras have been crying out for a new direction and Curvy Kate's bi-annual collections definitely deliver, continuing to push out great looking bras at reasonable prices and by making their range accessible for most larger cupped girls, including the notoriously difficult to pin down 28" back.

The Star in a Bra competition's aim is to find a fabulous real woman to model the bras and show that what is commonly considered as 'what make's a model' is simply a load of balls.  The competition is open to any woman who's a D or above cup bra, no matter what your figure is, so there's no excuse not to enter if you're a fuller bust like me!

This time last year when I applied I was a 32F.  Now I'm a 30G and armed with my fabulous lingerie, including a Curvy Kate bra.

I kept my hair naturally wavy to emphasise my natural look and I look confident and proud to be curvy in the photos.  I've just submitted my entry so hopefully it will be approved!

Here's a sneak peek at one of the photos that I submitted:

In this picture I'm wearing my new peach and aqua colour Freya bra and a pair of frilly Miso briefs which I'd not got round to wearing until now.

But this is me totally untweaked and unedited.  I just hope my confidence and playful attitude come across to the judges!

What do you think of my photo?  Have you yourself just submitted your entry?

Becky x

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Spring DD+ Lingerie Love

I'm in a window shopping mood and finding some seriously fierce DD+ bras!  I seem to be in a constant state of bra ogling, lusting over spankingly beautiful pieces that not only look super fine but feel super comfy too.

That's the problem with needing a larger cupped bra, yes it's great an' all to be blessed with amazing 'bangers' as Gok like's to call them, but bigger boobed girls do have to consider functionality along with gorgeous appeal.  Unfortunately you can not gauge whether a bra will fit nicely until you actually try it on.


So, fittings aside, all for the pretties, here's my 5 Spring favourites for you to coo over with me:

Freya Ashlee Sorbet Moulded Plunge Bra

 28-38 B-GG £34.00 RRP

Figleaves Sophina Vintage Rose Full Cup Bra

32-38 D-G £30.00

Curvy Kate Angel, Bluebell White Balconette Bra

28-40 D-K £28.50

Miss Mandalay Paige, Coral Balconette Bra

28-38 D-GG £36.00

Cleo Lucy, Yellow Balconette Bra

28-28 D-J £25.00

What do you think of my Spring-like choices?

Do you like a pretty soft colour bra?  Or do you prefer your lingerie wardrobe to be dark and sensual?  Or just the basic white, black and nude?

Becky x

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Essentials Magazine - I'm on the magazine stand now...

On Thursday the 1st of March, earlier this week, the April issue of Essentials magazine landed on the shelves.

Turn to page 20 and you'll see none other than yours truly!

I was asked to model as hour glass figure for their 'dress for your body shape' fashion feature. I was delighted to be asked, despite the fact I am a model and this issue is 'no celebs or models' as it was celebrating real women. Even though I am technically a model I do believe I represent a true womanly shape which I think is important to publicise when kids this day and age think curves are disgusting and abnormal.

This feature shows that whatever our figure, large or small, we can look fabulous!

Which outfit and look do you like the most?

Becky x

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Lingerie Love - Ohhh Lulu!

Those of you who I've worked with or follow my blog will know all too well about my love of lingerie.  I couldn't tell you when it all started; my obsession with coveting beautifully made under garments; but it probably didn't help when I really got in to lingerie modelling.

There are so many design houses and brands of lingerie that it can be easy to fall into the mainstream retailers with their run of the mill bras when really if we want to appreciate the smaller things in life we should be heading in the direction of our independent designers.  These are the people who have this same passion as ours, possibly even more obsessed!  They are the ones who dedicate their time and precious energy into creating the best lingerie there is.

Take Ohhh Lulu, one of the most prettyful independent lingerie names there is on the interweb!  Based a hop and a skip over from my English land, Sarah of Ohhh Lulu squirrels away creating her delightful vintage inspired lingerie and loungewear in Ontario, Canada.  If you want beautiful and uniquely handcrafted personal smalls, you really must check out Ohhh Lulus range over on Etsy, where there's actually a sample sale on right now.

My current favourites are:  the Red and Blue Cherry Blossom bra and High Waisted Panties set and the Amethyst Floral Jersey and Velvet Ruffle Bloomers.  They are both so pretty and luxurious. <3

Red & Blue Cherry Blossom Bra and High Waisted Panties set

Amethyst Floral Jersey & Velvet Ruffle Bloomers

Becky x

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Lingerie and Religion

Today I read on LingerieInsight.com that a Victoria's Secret model, Kylie Bisutti, has decided not to model for the lingerie big name any more because of her religion.  She says that being a Christian it is not right for her to model lingerie when she has young girls looking up to her as inspiration.

As much as Kylie is entitled to her own beliefs and do as she wishes with her life, I can't help but feel profusely frustrated with where she's coming from.

I am a Christian myself but I am also a lingerie model.  I feel my religion is in no way conflicting with my choice to model, because lingerie is not a sin and I don't believe it right that any woman should feel she is doing wrong just by wearing it.  Lingerie is more often that not worn for the better of the woman.  Lingerie makes you feel great when you wear it.  Lingerie has a purpose!

God made women as we are, we have boobs, you can't argue with that.  Some people don't mind their bosoms flapping about their chest freely but I, like millions of women out there, like to keep ours under control.  For this you need a bra.  How and where do you buy a bra?  A shop on the high street, internet, mail order catalogue, all of which require stock from lingerie manufacturers to actually sell you a bra.  These suppliers need pictures to show off the bra to the best of it's ability, to get you to choose their bra over the next manufacturer.  Simple.  Someone has to be the woman that wears those bras whose pictures need to be taken of them to be put on the box.  How can anyone say that being one of these women is living in sin?

Aside from necessity, there's the self appreciation factor.  A bra that looks beautiful, is well made and constructed with love and with the loveliest of materials, makes you feel great when you wear it.  There is nothing wrong with appreciating this feeling, the sense of self loving, that gives you confidence.  What helps you love your body, which God gave you, is not a sin.

Then there's those 'naughty' lingerie pieces.  Are they really naughty?  Naughty is a word for wrong doing, acting with ill meaning. But if we're wearing them with our partners with whom we dedicate our lives and souls too, are we really doing wrong?  Is it wrong to enjoy our bodies and to nurture a close loving bond with our life partners?  No, I don't agree that that is a sin.

If we are being honest with ourselves, enjoying ourselves and feeling good all from the pleasure of lingerie, whether we be wearing it or looking at it, it can not be bad.  And being a model, a person who wears a piece of clothing to encourage you to buy the product can not be wrong.  Wearing something that is completely natural, a bra, can not be seen as wrong.

We are what we are on the inside, and this is not what's shared outside our relationships.  What we share with our partners is not just our bodies because what we truly are is inside us.  A model does nothing to share this exclusivity with viewers of a product catalogue.

Women are too often made to feel ashamed of our bodies in this world and it's time we realised this and put an end to it.  Lingerie is not a dirty word and it exists to make us learn to love what we have, whatever our size.

Like I said, I do have a Christian faith and hand on heart believe I am not doing anything myself that is wrong or contradictory to my beliefs.  Some people may say that modelling is not a job for Christians but I contest this.  I was made a woman, I'm proud of what I am and love what my body is, and believe above all that anything that is done with the best intentions and generates good feelings can only be good.

Long live the good lingerie model!

Oh, and I'll take Kylie's job at VS if there's no objections... ;-D


Becky x

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Essentials Magazine Photo Shoot

Yesterday I made the excitingly epic journey down to London for a photo shoot with Essentials magazine.

Essentials asked me if I would take part in a fashion shoot for the magazine after I'd emailed them telling them a bit about myself.  Apparently they're going to do a fashion feature for different body types and they chose me for the hour glass figure.  I was honoured to be asked and very keen to participate so delightedly I said I would.

Both Sean (fiance/photographer) and I booked our tickets to land in at Kings Cross station for noon.  Our train was slightly delayed coming into Darlington and I couldn't move quick enough when it arrived.  It was bitterly cold sitting on the platform even with all my layers and double scarves!

Me waiting for the train

Me on the train - make up free!

The journey wasn't too bad and the three hours passed by relatively quickly with the help of my Grazia mag.  We pulled into Kings Cross just about on time, jumped into a Hackney cab and quickly descended onto the studio in East London where the Essentials team were already conducting the days shoots.

There were four other girls there modelling for the day.  I first tried on a range of outfits that were set aside for me and had quick snaps taken so the fashion team could decide which to go for on me.  The day was slow moving while the assistants and photographer worked through the modelling girls and gradually through the day I had my nails painted, hair styled and make up applied.  It wasn't until around half past four that my time came and I was kitted out in my freshly steamed clothes.

My fabulous curlers!

My first outfit was a fuschia pink peplum dress which looked fantastic on the hanger but at an impossibly small size 8 sample was too small for me.  From what I saw coming off the camera I look stylishly-presentably-hot but what you won't see is my butt sticking out of the unzipped and pinned up back!  As I'm more used to lingerie shoots, I didn't give a hoot that my pants were on full display to the room which is a good attitude to adopt in the modelling industry.  You can't be too precious about modesty!

My first shooting

On the plus side my hair had been amazingly blowdried and back combed so it had oomph and sex appeal and I loved the floral shoes.  I don't remember who made them and now I wish I took a photo of them.

My second outfit I admit not falling in love with.  In all honesty, I would say the skirt, cami and jacket combo was on the frumpy side.  I'm going to be a thirty year old, not turning 50!  Hopefully the photos will look a lot better than my mind had me thinking.  My hair had been put up with a huge quiff-like bouffant and pinned to the side, so the whole look may be more modern in the finished image, but 'chav-like' was what came to me!  It was fun though.

My second look hair

The shoes were orange velveteen heels by Chockers.  They didn't really feel anything like the floral heels I wore in the first look and the tips looked indented and felt like they were poking my toes.  I won't be looking for them in the shops when they come out.

By the time my shoot was over it was almost time to leave so I grabbed a bottle of water and had a quick change into my own clothes before saying our quick goodbyes.  Essentials had called a taxi to take us back to the station where we literally ran with our tickets onto our platform 2 Darlington bound train.  Despite my worry that I wouldn't have time to shoot in the end, we'd made it in perfect time.  The train left London at seven on the dot and got back to Darlington by half nine.

It had been an eventful day, very productive but it was satisfying to return home.  A long shower and scrub up, relax in front of the tv with a bit of food then bed.  Sleep o'clock it was!

Becky

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