BlogHer - Figure matters: What exactly does a "training" bra train your breasts to do? - Comments

You're so welcome!

Susan Wagner — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 10:41:15 -0500

I think the most important part of looking great is being comfortable, in your skin and your clothes. And you sound like you're doing a great job at that.

And I envy your perkiness. I seem to have lost that somewhere in the first pregnancy. Sigh.

Friday Style
Friday Playdate

Great Blog !!!

FLApattie — Tue, 26 Jun 2007 21:30:57 -0500

Susan,

I wanted to thank you for a great article. I am VERY small, yet very perky in terms of my breasts. As I have been working out and eating right....they seem to get smaller and smaller. My husband loves them however and always has been a good supporter of me when I feel like I look bad or out of proportion in comparison to my child bearing hips (which haven't done their job yet by they way!)and fantasize about getting breast implants (I never would seriously do this though). So I bought some shirts recently and the husband teased me for the millionth time about my "robo-bra" that is lightly padded from Victoria's Secret(IPEX model, very comfortable). This lead to a bra Internet search. He prefers little to no support..the natural look. I on the other hand am always cold and HATE thinner bras due to the unpleasant nipple effect. I found your article and LOVED the ideas you have to accent small breasts.Most of all you inspired me to finally just be me......put the robo-bra's away (at least for weekends) and get thinner bras. I LOVE the Link TextPatagonia Active Bra top I just bought and have a second style on order too. The Active Bra top provides light support and seems to even lift slightly with the band underneath. I am happy to report it also provides a good buffer so I don't show too much when cold......you really have to look for it.

Anyway, sorry I went on so much. I joined this forum just to thank you for your article !! Good job Susan !! You influenced my life in a postive way. :-)

Hooray for small breasts!

Sheen of Diaper Harlem — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 13:09:53 -0500

It's nice to hear someone else who is happy with a small chest! I look around and can't help but wonder...
What good would big breasts be for us as women if men didn't exist? That's the only reason women want bigger breasts, right? Or did I miss something? A lady secret maybe?
I had big (well not big but maybe bigg-er) breasts when I was having kids and aaack! They just get in the way! I like to be able to run without being yanked on constantly! Maybe I still haven't grown up yet. That's my preference anyways, but I do wear a pushup bra for toning my breasts back up after all my kids, and hey it's fun to pretend to have a chest and prance around sighing and heaving my chest like a movie seductress.....as long as my hubby is amused.... and as long as I can take it off again and be just good ol' me.
Well, now I am rambling on and on.. but I did want to say I enjoyed your tips. I will use them the next time I am prancing!
Thanks!
Sheen'

bra brand

Cassandra — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 10:02:09 -0500

So, I'm 16 weeks pregnant and am experiencing a whole new world when it comes to breasts and bras, but... typically, I'm small. I do, however, believe in training bras. I think even small women need the best support possible, and I think all bras train. That is, they properly position the girls so that they are healthy, upright, not dragging or painful. I love underwire, and the best bras I've found are Vanity Fair Illumination brand. Slight padding, incredibly support, great comfort. They can be tricky to find, but I got my last set from Amazon.com! Free shipping!

Cass

my chest is still in training also

chris — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 22:12:03 -0500

I agree with everything you wrote, especially the "cutlets" for dressing up. Everyday I wear a slightly padded Victoria Secrets A cup bra, with no underwire which was a switch for me.

Thus concludes the TMI portion of this comment

Loved your headline!

Kim Pearson — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 14:48:53 -0500

I've been asking that very question about "training" bras for years!

Kim Pearson

BlogHer Contributing Editor|Professor Kim|Contributing Writer, Online Journalism Review

I'm actually experimenting,

nelle2nelle — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 21:36:16 -0500

I'm actually experimenting, so I tried several.

IMO, this was the best of them in terms of fit and look...

Gel satin

nelle

Maidenform teen works too!

Shaping Youth — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 21:28:08 -0500

Great post, as you're absolutely right, fit is the issue without gaposis (and we won't even discuss the pain of mammograms on AA+ kinda gals like me) Alas, I'm a comfort queen and though those fluff-n-stuff gizmos like Wonderbra may look divine for a big outing, it digs into my ribs. (& hey, the entire concept of 'underwire' is a bit laughable in my situation) So I go w/the smooth faux underwire Maidenform which is a joy, and shapes up the situation just fine. (which means they'll probably discontinue it soon, sigh...not sure what it's called, 'self expressions' maybe?) Looks something like this: http://tinyurl.com/352dl6

dish about your brand, please

Susan Wagner — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 21:02:51 -0500

Nelle, what brand of bra do you buy? If you don't mind me asking.

Because inquiring minds want to know. Especially the ones who need a little extra padding.

Friday Style
Friday Playdate

No tube tops

nelle2nelle — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 20:16:09 -0500

for me! I have this issue as well, and use bras that add a size. It doesn't leave me large, but it does help fit... but no way I'd ever ever wear a tube top!

nelle

Figure matters: What exactly does a "training" bra train your breasts to do?

Susan Wagner — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 17:41:44 -0500

I am flat chested. There is no other way to describe me; I am nearly 40 years old, but I still buy my bras in the Junior section. A few years back, I used the Victoria's Secret online bra size calculator to check my cup size, and when I entered my numbers I got an error message. I measured again, and then had my husband help me measure. Sure enough, I am too small to register on the program. The problem is that the basic bra measurements assume that one has at least a five inch difference between one's rib cage and the largest part of one's breasts.

I do not.

I don't have a problem with my bra size; I am happy with my breasts the way they are. But having a small chest can be an issue when I'm shopping for tops or dresses. Or bras.

When we're talking about breasts, the basic advice is the same regardless of size: no matter what cup you're wearing, you need a bra that fits properly. Get fitted (the consensus seems to be that Nordstrom is the place to go) and don't settle for a bra that ALMOST fits. If you are an A or B cup, I would recommend something with a little bit of padding, not because I think we all need to be a C cup or else, but because most women's clothes fit better if you're not sporting the chest of a twelve year old boy.

Sad, but true.

Another option for the flat chested is to invest in a set of "chicken cutlets" to drop in your bra for a little extra ooomph. These are the things that Julia Roberts used to create Erin Brockovich's cleavage (remember that?). Her Look carries several different varieties, including the charmingly named Takeouts and Cleavage Cupcakes. Again, I'm not advocating for bra stuffing, but as a girl who has a hard time filling up the top of anything, I am sympathetic to the urge to have a chest. I like the on-call boob job for dressy occasions, because my pear shaped body is incredibly un-dress friendly, and having the option to balance out my top and bottom for an evening out is nice. But for everyday, I go with a lightly padded bra.

That may be more than you wanted to know about me, but let's just move along.

The trick with a smaller chest is to choose necklines that flatter what you've got. Halter tops and tube tops can be difficult (or really impossible) when you're flat chested, but a nice V-neck sweater or knit top--particularly something with detailing just under the bust--will emphasize your cleavage and give you a little figure boost. The shirt pictured here has a nice slim line and an empire waist; it also has some terrific detailing along the neckline, to draw attention up toward your face. The combination of the gathered neck and the seaming under the bust will create the illusion of a larger chest, even without any extra padding. Other flattering options for a smaller chest include chunky turtlenecks and boat neck sweaters and tees. Smaller chests can also benefit from front pockets, on a jacket, for instance. Pockets placed right at the level of your boobs can visually add volume where there isn't any. Sweet Pea top from Bluefly, $50.40.

Women with smaller breasts can wear jackets with a higher stance; look for a blazer or jacket that buttons just above the center of the band on your bra. As with any jacket, make sure that it fits through the shoulders when it's buttoned, even if you never plan to wear it that way.

My favorite trick for creating a little bit of bulk through my chest is this: I wear a lot of tee shirts and cardigan sweaters, and I will button the sweater across my chest (usually the second or third button) but nowhere else. Having the V line both above and below the button gives my chest some extra emphasis.

All without a boob job.

Susan Wagner writes about fashion at Friday Style and everything else at Friday Playdate. Today she is practicing what she preaches and wearing a V-neck sweater with seaming under the bust and a bias cut A-line skirt.