What's underneath with Stella McCartney...

Last week I went bra shopping with BK and I just knew that Stella McCartney lingerie would look amazing on her.  She is of the long and lean variety and that seems to be the perfect body type for this particular brand.  Bit depressing for the rest of us, given how beautiful the product is but nevermind!

Look how beautifully these bras sit on BK.  The colours are superb.  These bars are the epitome of pretty but practical.  They give enough coverage, but not too much, and lift but without pushing up.  The Stella McCartney afterwear is a whole other story, but just imagine these bras in a slip or camisole version.  Sensational.  We got these from the Bendon Lingerie store at Doncaster and they were having a 40% off sale!  What more can you ask for?

Happy Bra Blogging x

L

What's Underneath at Christmas Time...

I'm so excited because I feel like there is a return to the whole idea of 'Christmas Lingerie' this festive season.

A Month Later...

Welcome to the new Myer Intimate Apparel department ladies and gentleman!

A story with a happy ending...

Once upon a time there was a Rachel.  Rachel was a very good artist, but she was not very good at shopping.  Especially shopping for 'girly' things, like bras.  Lucky for Rachel, there was also a Madeline, and Madeline was very good at this, and just the person to take poor Rachel to the intimate apparel department and get her sorted once and for all!

 

Oh my...this really is enough to reduce an Intimates Stylist to tears.  This is among the worst I have seen.  The gaps in the cup, the lack of lift...in fact the blatant dragging down that this bra is determined to do is really upsetting.
But in the world of It's What's Underneath, where there is a before, there is always an after, also known as a happy ending...

I believe it's fair to say that my work speaks for itself here.  Rachel looks so much better, in so many ways, and a little miracle occurred in the fitting room yesterday.  Rachel opened herself up to the world of Lingerie (see above green satin and lace Elle Macpherson number "Fly Butterfly Fly").  I felt such an overwhelming sense of pride and happiness that she trusted in me enough to let this happen.  What a wonderful day!
Rachel also purchased the DimitySo T-shirt bra, "Pepper Dream" in both nude and midnight colours and Fayreform "Vitality" (as seen in previous post on Jenn).  Overall it was a very successful trip, for Rachel and also for myself...and they lived happily ever after in well fitting bras...
Happy Bra Blogging x

Looking after my Lovely Lady Lumps...

This morning I took myself to The Epworth Centre in Richmond to have my annual breast check.  I was due for one and thought that since October is breast cancer awareness month, what better time to go?  Although I am quite young to be having annual breast checks, my GP encouraged me to start going to see a breast surgeon once a year due to my family history (my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 29- and has been cancer free for 20 years now Woot Woot!).

Bravo for Brava

This is Brava Lingerie, located at 487 High St in Prahan, Melbourne.  I went there today, in order to help a family friend, let's call her Clara*, to find some bars in her size.  It was such a fulfilling experience for me and I really hope that it was for her too!
Clara had been feeling like there wasn't much out there for her in the way of bras and I felt determined that I should help change that for her.  I called Lin at Brava, knowing that they specialise in fuller figured lingerie ranging from a 6-22 back size and a D-K cup size...

Our cups overflow...

This morning my Dad called me to talk bras.  This has never happened before.  He wanted to ask me if I had seen an article that featured in Saturdays Herald Sun newspaper titled 'Our cups overflow'.  I had not.  So my Dad, the same Dad who has never taken any interest whatsoever in bras (to my knowledge) faxed this article over to me right away.  I'm so excited that local newspapers in Melbourne are recognising the problems we are facing with ill-fitting bras and I feel that write-ups like this one are just another step in the right direction!  Check out the article at http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/expert-laura-savery-says-women-neglect-bra-comfort-at-expense-of-health/story-e6frf7jo-1225932980132 and get on board.
Happy Bra Blogging x

Pink Ribbon Month...

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month!  What better time to address breast health and get in touch with our bodies!  Breast cancer is an issue very close to my heart, so I am using this month to do blog posts like women after breast cancer (my mum!), breast check-ups, and getting to know your breasts.  I know it can be a bit scary, but it's all part and parcel of what's underneath.  Get out there and buy a pink ribbon to support a good cause!  I hope you like it.
Happy Bra Blogging x

What's Underneath at Wicked...

My best friend, Ella, is working on the musical Wicked, in Sydney.  She offered to take some photos for me showing what's really underneath the costumes, wigs and makeup at one of the most successful musicals this country has ever seen...

Back to Basics...

I know that I usually talk about bras on here, but what else is underneath is your knickers!  Having just returned from Vietnam, where it is so hot and humid, I got to thinking about the importance of having good cotton briefs...

All the way from the U.S.A...

I think everyone should check out this online publication called Divine Caroline. Recently one of their writers, Vicki Santillano contacted me as she was doing an article on things NOT to do when buying a bra.  She heard about It's What's Underneath and emailed me to ask me for some help in the boob department...http://www.divinecaroline.com/22266/103936-don-t-boob-six-indicators-an

On the Street...

In all my years in the Lingerie business in Australia, I have not once seen a mode of transportation advertising a particular brand...

In the Department Store...

After visiting the market, my sister and I made our way to check out the department store, Diamond Plaza.  Their lingerie section was quite small in comparison to the ones we have in Melbourne department stores, and womens and mens underwear was all mixed in together.  This might be considered convenient, but I found it a bit odd...

It's What's Underneath...Goes to Vietnam

Day One in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.  My sister and I made light work of the buffet breakfast and then hit the town for sight-seeing and Bra Blog research.  At Ben Thanh Market we found crazy little stores with bras hanging on the walls and in cabinets at the front.  The ladies who worked there were pulling out handfuls and telling us "I have your size, I have your size..."

Personal Shopping Assistance...

Last week was the Official Launch of It's What's Underneath...and what a week it has been!  So much positive feedback and advice and ideas, there are only good things coming this way!  One of the things that lots of people have been saying to me in the past week (and I guess the last four years) is that they would like my help/expertise on their own lingerie shopping adventures...

It's What's Underneath...Launched!

It's What's Underneath was officially launched last night!  It was an amazing night filled with great food, great champagne, great company and of course plenty of bras!  So many people ventured out on a wintery Tuesday night that it was, dare I say it, cramped, in the back room at Loop...

It's What's Underneath...Launch

7pm Tuesday 17th August 2010 at Loop - 23 Meyers Place, Melbourne.

16DD to 10H - Part Two

Woot Woot! Jennifer is a babe.

In the 12G's and 10H's she's uplifted, supported, and best of all, the smaller frame size in the bra shows off her
tiny waist!

In these photos Jennifer is wearing
- Fayreform bra 'Coral' in 12G (bottom row)
- Fayreform bra 'Adoring' in 10H (top row)
- Fayreform bra 'Vitality' in 12G (bottom right)
- DimityS0 bra 'Vivid Light' in 12G (middle row)
- Nancy Ganz 'Hip Slip' in Medium (all)

A picture tells a thousand words...I can think of a few, starting with hot, wow, babe, whoa, sexy, beautiful...

16DD to 10H

Most women think they are a 12B. Most women are not.

Meet Jennifer. Jennifer is a 12G or 10H. Small frame, ample bust. Before I fitted Jennifer she was wearing a 14F and even a 16DD. Crazy, I know, but true.

Have a look at these photos. You can see the bra is dragging her bust down and not showing off her waist at all. You can also see a shadow on her shoulder from the bra strap that doesn't sit against her skin. A good question to ask is "If you wear a size 12 in clothes, why are you wearing a size 16 bra?"

Why you need a bra blog

My name is Madeline and I have been fitting bras for four years. In that time I have noticed that most (if not all) women are wearing the wrong bra size and style and that really none of them enjoyed the act of shopping for bras. In the time I have been working in the industry, I hope that I have changed that for some women, and that the ones I have helped are now at the very least wearing the right size and style to suit them. There is a lot to consider when shopping for bras and it can make the world of difference to have the right kind of assistance. I was formerly known as a 'Bra-ologist' and have now graduated to 'Bra Stylist'-I am the person who provides the assistance you need. It can be rather confronting getting down to your bra in a small room with a stranger, in fact, it can be rather confronting getting down to your bra in a room by yourself. Throw in a few insecurities and misconceptions and most of you are living your worst nightmare. But the truth is this, I am not there to judge you or make derogatory comments about the way you look. I am there to give you the support you need, breasts and all...