Bra Talk

How to wash and care for a bra.

I don't care if you paid $10 or $100 for you bra, they should all be treated very delicately if you want them to last. Special care for your bra is important if you want to it to be worth the money you spent and if you want the shape and support that a bra is designed to give. Bras are not meant to last forever, the typical life-span of a bra is about 6 - 12 months. This would depend on the frequency of usage. However, there are a few things you can do to maximize the life.

Washing your bra properly.
The particular store that I work for used to have countless women returning bras that were "defective" and fell apart in the wash. The thing is, it has nothing to do with the bra, but everything to do with how it was washed.

Bras should absolutely NOT be washed in a washing machine. It doesn't matter if you use the "delicate" cycle or if you use one of those lingerie bags or bra balls. None of those things are going to prevent the washing machine from misshaping your bra. I promise you. I hope to never again hear the words "but I used the delicate cycle!" or "but I used a lingerie bag!"

So, how should you wash your bra? The obvious answer is to hand wash. Fill your sink up with cold water and use a mild detergent. Let the bra soak for a few minutes before washing. Gently use your hands or a very soft cloth to massage the detergent over the material, then rinse thoroughly. Gently press as much water out of bra as possible, taking care not to misshape the cups. At the lingerie store I work at, I've heard some of the other associates suggesting that you take it in to the shower with you for convenience. If you choose that route, I suggest that you check the ingredients

How do you dry your bra? Never, ever use the dryer, it will destroy your bra. You may to choose to hang dry your bra, but personally, I would not want to put that sort of stress on the shape and structure of the bra. Lay a towel out on a flat surface and lay the bra out flat on top of the towel. If you have larger cups that need to be supported, roll up a clean sock and put it inside the cup to hold the shape.

Rotation. It is important to have at least two bras that you can rotate between. After a day's wear, you should make sure to not wear it again for at least 24 hours. A bra will stretch out while it is being worn, you need to allow it to shrink back to it's original shape.


Proper storage. When you're not wearing a bra, be sure to properly store it. Don't smoosh it in the back of a drawer somewhere. Be mindful of the shape of the bra and find somewhere that fits. You may want to take notice of how the bra is sold. You mind find it a bit too much to hang your bras on a hanger, but maybe you have a drawer or box you can carefully lay them in.

I don't necessarily consider myself an expert on this matter, but I have had a lot of experience and this is what that experience has taught me. I hope you've learned something that you can put to use! Please feel free to share any tips that you may have on this matter in the comments.

No wardrobe malfunctions please.

Ever since I bought the new backless bra from Maidenform, I've been obsessed with open-back, backless, and keyhole tops and dresses. When a friend on Kaboodle found this particular top, I had to buy it. I'm obsessed with yellow this season, along with pink and gray.

I still haven't figured out how to make the backless bra stay on properly other than having perfect posture and not leaning forward. I'm going to chance it and wear the combo when I go out tonight. To be safe, I'm going to slip my cami with the built in bra into my purse in case I find myself in a sticky situation. I hope it works out, because I've always loved the open back look.

If you've figured out a way to keep the bra on, please let me know. If you've also purchased this bra, I'd love to hear what your thoughts are on it.

Product Review - Backless Bra

Last Friday, I ordered Maidenform's New Backless Bra. On the website, it said it was available for preorder, but when I went to order it, the black was available, the nude color was on backorder. I decided to just order the nude color and wait. Well, not even an hour later, I got an email telling me my order had shipped. Shocked, but pleased, I started tracking it on DHL's website. It arrived yesterday so I got to try it out last night.

First impression, I'm not a fan.

The part of the bra where the wire is has a rubber lining I suppose to help it stay in place. I thought that was great so I adjusted the straps and put it on. Once its in place, it looks great, you think its gonna work. However, the minute I started moving, it started moving out of place. I put my keyhole shirt on thinking it might help the bra to stay in place. Yeah, not so much. I have bad posture so the minute my shoulders relax and roll forward, the cups are no longer where they should be.

Another issue I had is the straps sit on the outer edge of your shoulder so they were hanging out of my tank top. This is something I find to be really tacky.

I'm gonna give it another try, however I'm not confident that this is something I could wear out in public yet. If anyone figures out how to keep the cups in place or keep the straps hidden, let me know. I really wanted this bra to work.

More posts on this bra:
No wardrobe malfunctions please.
Continuing my backless bra review

Scarred for life?

Its about time for another Adventure in Panty Hell/Heaven...

I was working in the fitting rooms during my last shift. It was a pretty typical shift, nothing too out of the ordinary. Until about two and a half hours in.

This woman came in to be fitted for a new bra. She had a lot of facial piercings and facial piercing scars. I noticed it, but didn't dwell on it because thats not quite such an unusual thing to see these days. Well once she had the bra on, I was adjusting the straps for her when I noticed something unusual. She had two parallel rows or paired scars all the way down her back. I knew instantly what those scars where from. This woman was scarred from once having corset piercings.

For those that don't know what corset piercings are or if you're just curious, you can go here to see what they look like. However, if you have a weak stomach, don't look. Its really quite intense.

Oh my goodness though, these scars were terrible. They were so thick and dark. I can't imagine anyone wanting to get this sort of addition to their body. I have a few piercings that are in addition to the typical ear piercings and those hurt. Bad. I can't imagine anyone sitting through the pain of getting all those piercings.

I honestly felt kinda bad for the girl.

I don't hate smokers, I hate the things they do.

Its no secret that I'm anti-smoking. I'm all about people quitting that habit and I'll help out in anyway I can. The thing is that smoke isn't the only thing that annoys me about people who smoke.

I've ranted before about people that throw their cigarette butts on the ground or out the window when they are done with them. Its littering and its just plain rude. I snap picture of people that toss the cigarettes out the window and one day when I get a decent collection, I'm gonna post them.

I also don't get people that smoke in their cars, they roll down the window to let the smoke out. Why? They've already inhaled it into they're lungs so what exactly are they trying to prevent?

What made me think of this topic today is something that happened last night at the lingerie store. A woman returned a bra last night simply because her boyfriend bought her the wrong size for Valentine's day. She had the receipt and the tags were still on the bra. It was a perfectly acceptable return. However, we could no longer sell that bra.

Why?

It was saturated with a disgusting smoke smell. No one in their right mind will buy a 50 dollar bra that smells like that. What a complete waste.

Do cigarettes have some sort of chemical that makes people act inconsiderate or something?

I ask this favor of you.

I work a couple nights a week at a certain lingerie store in the mall for fun. I've worked there for a long time and in that time I've experienced many things that I'd really rather never had experienced. These things must stop so that this job may remain fun.

From time to time, the company mails out coupons for discounts on bras and free panties. The free panties that are usually offered are our basic panties in the basic solid colors. You people that get all worked up that you can't get the exact style or fancy pattern that you wanted are driving me nuts! Its a FREE panty! This is not something you are entitled to, this is something that the company offered to you as a customer. You do not have a right to yell at me and degrade me for offering you EXACTLY what is printed on the coupon. Stop complaining about free stuff!

I am fully aware that I work at a lingerie store and part of my job is to make sure that the bras you are purchasing are fitting you correctly. When I'm manning the fitting rooms, I do go into rooms and see women in their bras to check the fit. However, I do not find it appropriate for you to try on the peek-a-boo bras and camisoles then proceed to leave your room to seek me out to see how it looks on you. I have no desire to see you in lingerie at all, let alone see your nipples poking out in the peek-a-boo space. Stop it. Bring your best girlfriend along to help you shop if you're not sure how things look on you all by yourself.

Speaking of fitting rooms, have you ever heard of the "swimsuit rule"? If you absolutely must try on the underwear before you buy it, please try them on OVER your own underwear, just like you do with swimwear. I thought this was common sense. I thought wrong. You women that try on the garments and leave behind mystery stains disgust me. I do not want to have to go in a pick up that stained thong off the fitting room floor after you so rudely discarded it there.

I do not have children so I cannot fully understand how hard they must be to keep under control. However, if you can't stop your children from wheeling along at full speed through my store on those stupid little heelies then take them away. Seems simple enough. It is absolutely not okay for those children to be treating the mall as a roller skating rink. Guess what, there are entire business dedicated for just that sort of thing. If you're having trouble locating a spot for that activity, contact me, I can help.

Working at this store has made me realize why some establishments do not allow you to bring food and drink inside. Most people are perfectly capable of bringing a smoothie or a pretzel in with them while they browse the store and not make a mess. There are the exceptions of course. Thank you for leaving your corn dog on top of the makeup when you decided you no longer wanted it. Thank you for putting your now cold coffee on top of the panty table. Don't worry about that garbage can that was 4 feet away from you, I would love to pick up after you. Also, the people that let they're kids eat while they are shopping must desist immediately. Sweeping up your kid's crushed Nilla Wafers or chocolate muffin off the vast marble floor is just what I needed to wrap up my night.

One of the duties as an employee on the floor there is to keep the panties on top of the table straight. I don't mind it so much. Its not a hard task. I do however mind when you look me in the eye, see me straightening said panties and then proceed to tear my nights hard work apart right in front of my face. Don't mind the fact that I offered to help you find your size in the drawers. I love staying all night re-straightening.

I don't know about you, but if I'm somewhere and the places closes, I leave. When we shut off the music, that should be your first clue that maybe you should hurry and make your purchase. When you're suddenly outnumbered by employees 6 to 1, that should also clue you in to hurry up and make your purchase. Do not proceed to continue browsing and trying things on until we've been closed for half an hour. It is not a good thing when mall security has to come force us to get you out and close the store so that they can lock the mall down. The longer you stay at our store, the longer we all have to stay. You're keeping us from sleep, homework and our families. Be courteous.

Men shopping at this store usually makes for a pretty interesting experience. I understand most of you probably have no idea where to start when you go in there, but we need to lay down some ground rules. Its is absolutely not okay for you to size me up and compare me to your girlfriend/wife. Its rude and it makes me uncomfortable. It is also not okay to ask me to try on the lingerie for you because I am "pretty close to her size". You creep. If you're unsure of her size, guess. The stuff can be exchanged. Please refrain from gawking and drooling over the mannequins and the poster of the models. I don't want to see that. If you must, get the catalog and do it in the privacy of your own home.

I know this is a lot of complaints about my "fun" job, but trust me. Even though this list is long, the list of good out weighs the bad. Therefore I stay. However, if you could please help me out by not doing the aforementioned things, I would be ever so grateful.

Thank you,
Your fed up lingerie employee.