Dating with Confidence

Photograph courtesy of Fantasie

It is important to feel comfortable, confident and sexy when dating - starting with the right bra. Wearing a correctly fitted bra will not only boost your confidence but improve your posture. Plus size women can choose flattering and pretty bras in sizes up to 48" back and C - H cups from the Elomi collection by Fantasie.

Most women only have a bra fitted once - the first embarrassing trip to the lingerie department with mum. However, it is important to have regular fittings by a trained fitting expert to help you find your right size and style. Fantasie, who specialise in large cup sizes, find the most common problem is the back size is too large. This results in inadequate support and the cup size too small causing an overspill.

Support is essential whether your breasts are big or small. A “double boob” effect is the result of spilling out of a bra that is too small. Each bra style is different and your bust size can change regularly. A new bra should be tried on just as clothes or shoes are tried on to check the fit.

Major department stores as well as good independent boutiques have trained expert fitters. They can offer you a complete makeover simply by fitting you in the correct size bra. “A good fitting bra should be comfortable, supportive and give you the best shape under clothes,” says Ruth Fox, design director at Fantasie.

Karen Forbes, a fitting expert for Fantasie, has detailed the following checklists to identify the correct and wrong size bra.

Features of the right size:

• Underband firmly anchored around the body - level at the front and back
• Breast fully contained within the underwire
• No puckering or overspill in the cup
• Underwires sit flat against the chest wall
• Breast well supported giving the best support and comfort
• Uplifted breasts
• Improved posture and look of clothes
• Minimised back pain
• A waist you never knew you had

Features of the wrong size:

• Discomfort
• Breast being squeezed out of the cup creating a “double bust” effect
• Breast not fully contained within the underwire, resulting in wires digging into the breast tissue or breast dropping out under the wire
• Underband not sitting level at the front and back - riding up at the back
• Underwires standing away from the body
• Shoulder straps digging in
• Unsupported breast drooping forward

It may feel a little uncomfortable at first while you get used to a bra that actually fits, but the health and appearance benefits by far outweigh this. You will look better in your clothes and feel better. So get fitted and get dating!