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Intimate Apparel

2008-05-01 13:20:00

Good support, better look

Answer: Get ready for the summer with the right swimsuit and bra. Summer is here! Time to don that swimsuit and warm weather fashions. Rising temperatures mean lightweight clothing and less of it. Now more than ever it’s imperative to wear a properly fitted bra to provide the necessary support to comfortably participate in the activities you enjoy! And that includes swimming. Even the best looking swimsuit can lose its appeal if it doesn’t support the breasts properly. Good support will provide optimum comfort as well as an attractive look. Swimsuits come in a variety of fashions, including halter, strapless, two-piece and surplice styles in prints and solids with varying degrees of support. Certain styles are better for more voluptuous women. Women with large breasts should opt for a suit that encompasses as much of the breasts as possible and has underwire – a “shelf” – to provide adequate support under the breasts. Surplice style is one of the best on the market. Some of the most popular fashions this year are geometric patterns and solids. Wear a breast form? No problem. Special suits with pockets are an option for women who wear a prosthesis for breast form (breast forms are an option for women with one breast smaller than the other). If a fashion suit does not have a pocket, one can be sewn in place. Special swim breasts, made with a higher grade of silicone, can be used in Jacuzzi, hot tubs and in hot mineral baths. Swimsuit tips for various body types *busty: square or high neckline with “shelf support” provide maximum support. *thin with small waist: try a surplice suit with a print, avoid vertical lines. *extra long torso: opt for a tankini or two piece. *hippy: Avoid boy leg suits and skirts. *thick waist or loose tummy: select a one-piece with tummy control. Avoid horizontal lines. To ensure your suit maintains its support and elasticity soak it in a bit of white vinegar before you wash it. This will cut the chlorine, which is what degrades the suit. Wash your suit after each use and never use bleach. Look great in summer clothing. Wearing the right bra will make you feel better and look 10-20 pounds lighter. The reason: A properly-fitted bra will hold the breasts in their natural position. It will create a waistline and make you look thinner, especially in thin, fitted summer clothing. “When the breast tissue is where it’s supposed to be, the breasts will look more natural and attractive;” “Your whole body will look better, you’ll look more youthful.” A custom-fit, orthopedic bra assures women a more comfortable, healthy fit, which is virtually impossible to find in an off-the-shelf bra. It takes several measurements to ensure an accurate fit. Specialists in customizing bras come to fit each individual. A properly fitted bra will correct the suspension, eliminating pressure on shoulders and pain in the diaphragm area. The right fit is also important to overall breast care. An ill-fitting bra does not provide adequate support, which prevents proper circulation within the breast tissue. In severe cases, poor fitting bras can cause breast tissue to separate into glandular masses. The proper fit is even more important for the bra that holds the breast prosthesis in place. People have the prosthesis fitted, but not the bra. Then they are unhappy with the prosthesis and 99% of the time, the bra is the culprit. Several types of breast forms work well with the orthopedic-type bras and are ideal for women who have had a mastectomy, partial mastectomy or lumpectomy. “It is no longer necessary for women to wear a heavy prosthesis or a massive bra,” Williams said. “Breast forms like Harmony Silk prosthesis by True Life create much lighter, more comfortable forms than were previously available. Breast forms can be custom-fit for optimum comfort.”