SquawkRadio Comments

I have to say, I do love the magical effects of a good bra.  I love the french way of dressing up FIRST with your underwear.  Doesn’t matter if you’re grungy and gross on the outside, as long as you have a cute set of bra and panties on.  And I have to say, it does wonders for your self-esteem.  I feel better when I have a great foundation on. 

As for making myself into a sausage, the only reason why I’d wear a corset is if I made it and it was made to be sexy.  Not functional, just sexy.

I always do feel better when I have on a pretty bra and panties.  It’s like a secret you have but won’t tell.  Me and my friends always go shopping for undergarmets.  We don’t like to spend a lot of money but there is some really nice stuff if you look hard enough in the sale racks.  My favorite is Victoria’s Secret.  They have really nice bras.  I have one and it’s my favorite.  It makes me look really natural and fits like a glove.  I love it.

Oh and corsets for me.  I would look like that sausage you were talking about.

Many of the full figure stores now have those boobs to past your bottom--what do they call them---ah yes, body shapers.  Well, the top never quite fits me and the bottom, well, I can barely breath.  Did that stop me from wearing one to a wedding? 

Hell, no! 

I decided to give it a whirl but half way through the wedding, I couldn’t stand it anymore.  How can you dance in one of those things unless you’re alone with your significant other?  Anyway, I went to the ladies room and removed the fool thing.  No, I did not ‘go commando’ for the rest of the night!  I had packed in my shoulder bag, a subsittute set of foundation garments.  Muuccchhh better!

Was that TMI?  I guess not since Eloisa flashed SEP’s husband.  You naughty minx!

I adore good bras. In fact, I spend way too much money on my bras. The Italians and the French know how to make bras. North American companies haven’t a clue - they never fit right. And I have to say - boobs don’t stop at DD! So why do half the north american manufacturers only make them that big??? Sigh.

At my sister’s wedding (what is it about weddings???), I was in a strapless green thing, which of course demands a strapless bra. It looked fabulous on my sister’s maid of honour - tall, thin, and an A cup. It looked rather more forest-green-sausage on me - short, round, F cup. Can we just say right now that strapless bras are not meant for larger girls? There’s no support. And no matter how tight you fasten that sucker...there’s just no support. Of course my sister paired me with one of her new brothers-in-law for the wedding. Who happened to be at least 6’6”. And had a perfect view down the neckline of my dress. And my drooping bra. And announced so. Loudly, during the photo-taking. Sigh.

I used to think Victoria’s Secret was the best thing out there, but then I started ordering bras from Fantasie and Olga (at $85-110 each!), and I will never go back. I will eat mac and cheese for a month to afford to buy those bras if I have to.

One last thing - get properly fitted! Most women are not the size they are wearing, and getting fit properly makes a world of difference. And take it from me- the Victoria Secret fitters told me I was a 42DD, so for years I bought 42DD. When I was professionally fitted at my favourite (and frickin’ expensive) store, turns out I’m a 38F. 42 is too big around the chest and the DD too small a cup, so I was crammed inside and looked like I had headlights. Now that I’m in a smaller band but larger cup, my girls are gorgeous.

Okay, I know, TMI, but really, this topic demands it.

Just one word: Spanx

Thanks to their creator.

Nothing is as good as fabulous lingerie. I agree that you can feel better if you feel sexy under your clothes, no matter whats on the outside!

I love panties with Lycra panels on the belly to hold in the ‘pooch’ from babies. I can’t say I’ve ever done the sausage thing (I’ve tried something on like that tho)....just too lazy to deal with that kind of discomfort.

I am in my 30s and have only recently found my way into wearing the pretty foundation items.  I had never worn underwires at all and was tired of the girls not being where they were supposed to be - read gravity sucks - and now have invested in several wonderful new garments.  I even have a few matching sets. 

And it does make you more confident somehow to know you have them on.  Now I have these two that I call my shelves because it makes the girls look like they’ve been put up on a shelf.  Very sexy.

About the corset thing, I’ve never tried one but I’m wearing a strapless dress next week that laces up the back just like one.  Does that count? *g*

Beautiful foundation garments are a must! It’s our little secret against the world.  They give us confidence to wear that dress or that pant suit. (It was sad that Josie’s original Modiste gave her bad fashion advice. Thank goodness for honest friends and sisters.)

I happily nursed all my children in my twenties, but alas, nature takes its toll on our bodies, and now in my forties, I need all the extra “confidence” I can buy. 

And they make them so pretty now days that you don’t mind showing it to your hubby, boyfriend, significant other (have I covered all bases?)

I think a side shopping trip on my lunch hour is in order....Thanks Eloisa!

Just one word: Spanx

Thanks their creators.

OMG!  Perfect topic for me…
We all know I love, LOVE corsets!  Well those on EJ’s BB...And I may not be as itty bitty as the pic...I’d imagine she’s going for something between a 16-18 inch waist span...I can get down to a 22 (coughs) pretty good since naturally I’m 28...though I only have ONE corset that does the hips and thighs...those suckers are uncomfortable, and it’s very hard to sit in them!  I usually don’t go for a busk longer than 20 inches...(er...the front length of steel in the garment) which sits above the pubic bone...so guess what you can still sit, comfortable!  Ummm...there is a trick to wearing them comfortable though, if anyone is interested in know, I’d be able to answer those q’s.

Anywhoo...boy do I love undergarments...and yes I miss the days (before breastfeeding) of going sans bra!  in those sexy black dresses!...But alas, no more!  And to my bitter resentment, the porn star boobs of breastfeeding decided they didn’t want to stick around after I dried up...so I get to buy the really pretty bras available...cause really...there’ ain’t a whole lot that needs support! so I buy the fancy stuff...my plain old lycra bras...er...I only have three of those are nice a comfy and for lounging (lets not get into how may Oscar de la Renta and JLo bras I’ve bought over the years I think one or two still have tags...but they are so damn pretty)

I have always liked pretty undergarments and agree that they make the lady wearing them feel more pretty when she is wearing them.  However, I never wanted to spend the $$ on them.

Since I have lost so much weight, the DH constantly hounds me to go buy more pretty “under things”.  I guess that’s a good thing, but I’m still trying to stock up on “outer things” that fit, LOL.  And we have this big disagreement on bras.  I like them padded and he doesn’t. I know TMI, but I am very conscientious (sp?) about people staring at that area when I’m “cold”.

I really like the Victoria Secret “Body by Victoria” bra.  And I did try one of those full body corset things for my sister’s wedding.  Yeah, right!  All it did was push all the fat up to spill out over the top.

Hmm Foundations…foundations…yes I could use some help in that area. How can I put this? I don’t need underwire, I need that cable stuff that they put in radial tires. I’m thinking that I will ask the Army Corpse of Engineers to come up a solution. Perhaps flying buttresses or Greek style marble columns?  If they’re good enough to support the walls of the Notre Dame Cathedral and the Parthenon then its good enough to support my… um…yeah…As far as being an exhibitionist goes, that’s something that I would never do on purpose. Course that doesn’t mean that it hasn’t happened accidentally. My husband picked out this dress, a dark red sparkly number. Beautiful and not too low cut but it had enough lycra in it to make it clingy. I wore it out to dinner for our anniversary. All I’ll say is about half way threw the meal I realized that people thought that I was my DH mistress not his Wife! …Dear Lord! Well, I never wore that thing in public again. And I don’t let my DH pick out my dresses anymore either!

I WOULD go without a bra (since my cleavage is in fact the rippled plains of my sternum), but I have found--as Annie Lamott once put it--"my cute little gumdrop nipples are now big purple slugs.”

Damn breastfeeding!--it even screws the un-endowed!

I buy flatten you out bras:  no underwire, no cup, just a band of spandex.  I look like Peter Pan, but I actually think my flatness looks nice.  You got it right with your descrip of Josie, Eloisa—work with your shape; don’t try to change it.

And if I ever put on a corset, Tiffana, I’d be wearing it on my feet.

You need rebar, Julie

I’m waiting for another:

“Just one word: Spanx

Thanks their creators.”

from elsiehogarth.

REBAR:
stainless steel reinforcing bars used to Minimize corrosion and Reinforced concrete degradation.. Yep that’ll do. I Wonder if it comes in black or beige lace?

You don’t know how fortunate you are ....  Back in MY day, the word ‘Playtex’ didn’t refer to bras, but to foundations for the opposite half of the anatomy.  As in girdles.  As in rubber.  As in powder the inside in and the skin to be covered in order to get them to slide on.  We called them our chastity belts.  Many girls didn’t get pregnant, or even de-flowered because of these torturous garments.  When the amorous boyfriend became a little too insistent, demanding that we ‘prove’ our love, a breathless whisper ‘I’m wearing my playtex’ usually did the trick.  Knowing that we would NEVER get them back on, and that Mom would be waiting up for DD, and would notice if we jiggled rather put a damper on things.

So glad those are just memories.  LOL

I have already expounded on the importance of finding the right bra size back when squawk was on blogspot, so I don’t think anyone needs another rant, but yes, I love my boobs now that they are properly fitted and it does make me more confident!! I love lingerie...partly because I like pretty things (Tiffina, I too have numerous thongs that I have never worn with the tags still on because they are just so pretty and delicate looking) and partly because I’m just too lazy to do my laundry on time, so I just get more underwear hahaha. WAAAAAAAY TMI!!!

I have always worn bras with underwire because my boobs are not big enough to wear bras without since they tend to slip up. Later, I discovered that I was in fact a 28DD or 30D instead of a 32B VS told me I was. So now that my bras no longer slip up my boobs, I’m venturing into mesh bra territory, although I don’t like everyone seeing me when I’m cold. I generally prefer solid bra material. I refuse to say padded because they aren’t. Padded to me is when there is an actual wad of padding inside (whether it be jelly or cloth).

I have numerous bras by Lejaby. But I heard Elle MacPherson is really good because those bras have very tight bands for support.

Hmm, did I say “padded”?  Maybe I should rephrase that.  How about “lined”??  As in a little bit of lining so you don’t show through when you’re cold.  Nope, no padding here.  Although sadly, I did lose those too when I lost my weight. Oh well, less to sag when I get older right.

I don’t think I’ve gone braless since third grade.  I buy even my bathing suits loaded with lycra and underwire.  At least they make really pretty bras now for those of us who are ahem, generous, in that area.

I read not long ago that older women (which now includes me, sigh) show off their cleavage because it’s the last thing to go.  So “bring on the low cut” is going to be my new motto, since everything else is going downhill fast.  Literally.  (I also blame my children.)

I too have not gone braless since 6th grade. I was the girl who had a bra when I was 11..hated it! No spagetti straps, or tube tops..not then, not now.  Why oh why is it so hard to find a decent evening gown that you can wear a bra under. Luckily, I sew, so I made my own for the Marine Corps Ball.
I second (third) those above who have been professionally sized. I true luxury that I gave myself on my 40th. 
I love the idea of a corset, stockings, garters etc.. but egads, I don’t think so, unless there was copious amouts of alcohol involved..

At first when the magical time came, I didn’t wear a bra.  But once I started, I still haven’t been able to buy one properly.  LOL I keep sticking out on the sides and all.  but this time around when I had to buy some, I got a couple are miracles—they fit properly! THe others, they are pretty but are just like the others, sticking out.  Good thing I wear loose fitting shirts! LOL But if I ever make it back to the store, I gotta look for more of the ones i love!

Lois

I don’t know about you guys, but I’m fascinated to know who the Squawker was who wouldn’t go to the bathroom. I don’t remember any exploding chickens at RWA ...

i wasn’t going to bring it up (in a rare show of restraint), but me too, Christina!

Any guesses?

I was, last fall, in a huge wedding in Princeton, NJ..my college roomates. At 42, I thought the fact that MY CHILDREN were old enough to be the other bridesmaids would let me out, but no, it was me last turn as a bridesmaid.
The dress was strapless, satin, and had a fishtail hem.
I spent more on the strapless longline bra than the dress, and the twins were, as we said in the 80’s, up where they belonged.
Alas, the satin had no curve to it, so it just stood out from my awesomnely huge bust.
Double sided carpet tape.\Cant tell you why my Dad travels with it, but it got me down the aisle without being areested.
Camila

Susan, didn’t mean to sound mean or haughty. Like you, I also prefer bras that are lined, so I don’t have to cross my arms when it gets chilly...which is SUPPOSED to happen in New England by now!!

I don’t know Christina. It seems a bit suspicious that you are the one that brought it up first...hmm…

Hey, Eloisa, I thought I wasn’t allowed to tell the story where you exposed yourself at RWA?  Oh wait--that was a different time…

Shu, no problem. Didn’t take it that way at all.  Just didn’t want to portray the image that I use false advertisement (LOL). 

Well, unless you count that slumber party in 6th grade where we all stuffed our bras with tube socks....

I’ve got a great new bra. It’s by Essential Body Wear - the bra that Oprah endorsed last year. After having my baby, my girls were flying out of my bras but this one gives them a nice lift and comfortably keeps them in place (and you never know I’m cold, if you know what I mean!). Because of the lift, I look a size smaller than I really am. The bras are pricey but worth every penny. As soon as I have some extra cash, I’m going to invest in more!

Mary

For J Perry…

Just one word: Spanx

Thanks their creators

And yes. I’m dying to know the Squawker in question. Somebody spill the beans!

Well, I too discovered SPANX last year.  I have 3 of their garments (tank and 2 shapers).  Boy what a difference.......I just wonder where all that flab goes when you put them on........they disappear.

Well, recently I was fitted at Nordstrom and I too was wearing the wrong size.  I had the wrong cup size.  I have a coupld of Tisha bras and the rest are V’s Secret Angels.

I have lost weight in the last 4 months.....but, not from my ‘chest’.

Good thing too.......the price on those garments!

Loved PFP!!!

Back in the day when I was young and had no fat to hide I had to wear a girdle to hold my nylons up - now that I should probably use one I wouldn’t put up with the torture lol.

I’m gonna guess Lisa, mainly because she’s not here to defend herself: altyhough, it does sound a little like Connie.

Santa
Ever the coward---ducking and running.

HA HA my word is: girls23. The ‘girls’ were pretty perky at 23!

I loved the scene in Eloisa’s “Fool for Love” when Esme first undresses for Sebastian and her French lingerie is described.  The fact that Esme wore such gorgeous underthings was so appropriate to who she was and one could just picture Sebastian’s reaction.  I too love pretty lingerie.  I can’t claim to look anywhere near as good as Esme, but my DH does appreciate silk and lace, even after almost 30 years of marriage—of course, judicious use of silk and lace is one of the reasons we’ve stayed married for almost 30 years.

I wear a longleg girdle to work every day. It supports my back and butt muscle. If you have ever suffered from sciatica - believe me - it’s wonderful. However....it is the FIRST thing removed when I walk in the door after work.

After surgery to remove benign lumps from both girls, they are not the same size. Finding a bra that fits one side makes the other bulge. If it fits the larger side the other wrinkles. The solution is always wear loose fitting tops.

We certainly go through a lot for a good presentation.

Hey, Eloisa, I think you still owe me for those glue-ons, too!

Me, I’m a Body by Victoria woman through and through. They cost a fortune, but man, are they worth it. I thought for a while that the Gilligan and O’Malley homages to BbyV at Target for half the price were good at first, but… Alas, you do get what you pay for. They just didn’t hold up.

Get it? Hold up? Like...hold ME up?  Ah hah hah hah hah hah hah hah hah!

Okay, guess you had to be there. Though you’re probably glad you weren’t…

Off the subject but I just finished PFP and TPKAB.  Thanks for two great reads!  They were worth the time I’ll have to spend making up work this weekend!

Victoria’s Secret bras always give me chicken wings - you know, the flabby part that sticks out between your bra and your armpit.  Not attractive.

The worst part about having a generous chest is that the bras are kinda scary - I hate bra shopping.  As for underwear, I wear thongs most of the time b/c I hate panty lines, and my favorite underwear are from American Eagle - go figure.  And I expose myself on a regular basis just for kicks.  Gotta keep people on their toes.

mrsbfc, I know what you mean about the generous chest--although my DH never complains. 

I just bought the Le Mystere bra--one of Oprah’s faves.  I don’t care how big you are, that bra will hoist those puppies up!  I went to Nordstrom for a professional fitting and it was worth it.

Do you all remember when the Miracle Bra first came out?  I was a young newlywed, and I thought I just had to have one.  Every time I wore it, I had cleavage right under my chin.  It hoisted the girls just a bit too far!

While I acknowledge the difficulties of a larger chest (running, middle school ribbing, back problems, etc.), being on the other side of the problem isn’t extremely pleasant either.  It’s especially frustrating since I’m not a stick-thin girl, but rather built more like Josie; it seems patently unfair to have the ample hips, but no cleavage to speak of.  When I was in high school, I played around with padding (not lining), though false advertising was definitely an issue.  Does anyone have a recommendation for a good bra for smaller-chested women?

Have You seen these Bra Descriptions?

The catholic type supports the masses,
The Salvation Army lifts up the fallen,
The Presbyterian type keeps them staunch and upright.”
The Baptist type makes mountains out of mole hills
And, if you need more bra info - here’s some more:
Have you ever wondered why bras are lettered A, B, C, D, DD, E, F, G & H and how the letters are actually used to define bra sizes?

A. Almost Boobs
B. Barely Boobs
C. Can’t complain
D. Dang!
DD. Double Dang!
E. Enormous
F. Fake
G. Get a reduction
H. HELP ME, I’VE FALLEN AND CAN’T GET UP