A Review of The Rixie Clip

The Rixie Clip is "The world's first bra band tightener." There exist bra band extenders- why not a tightener? I will admit that I wasn't sure how this could work, but the Rixie Clip's design is pretty smart.

To put the Rixie Clip on your bra, you just open up the little clasp, slide it along the bra band making sure that the hooks are facing the right way, and clip it down. In my experience, it stays put very well, and is extremely comparable to altering the band, in terms of the fit it gives.

My only complaint is that after a while of wearing, the fabric part of the clip tends to slide to the side of the metal, and starts to bunch up. This is only a minor annoyance, however I'd love it if it was fixed in the future.



That being said, there are definite limits to how small you can make the band with the Rixie Clip. If you slide the clip too far, the band starts to wrinkle, and eventually you hit the strap. I wouldn't recommend the Rixie Clip for a bra that's more than 1 band size too big. So if you need a 26, don't think you can suddenly start buying all those cute styles that only start at 30 or 32. The Rixie Clip is great but it's not a miracle worker.


Relatedly, if you need a 26 band and have never tried a tighter band, make sure that the bra you're buying to use with the Rixie Clip is a good style for you in other ways. Having a smaller band doesn't mean that absolutely all bra problems will be magically fixed- you still want to choose the appropriate style, wire width, etc, for your particular breast shape and needs.

I do have to say that I'd still really prefer to be able to buy my bra size. It's not just the band that would be smaller in a properly designed 26 band. The proportions of a good bra should be different from one size to the next. But again, this is a great option until more manufacturers will listen.

Of course, making a 28 band into a 26 band isn't the only use for the Rixie Clip. I could see the Rixie Clip being really useful during weight loss, to extend the life of your bras. The Rixie Clip would also be handy to extend the lifespan of a favorite bra that maybe stretched out a bit too fast. Having a few around could reduce stress about ordering bras online, because if the band was just a hair too big it would be an easy fix with the Rixie Clip. I'm not certain, but I *think* the Rixie Clip could also be used as a bra extender, in a pinch. So I think that a few Rixie Clips would be great to have in anyone's bra wardrobe, especially because they're not at all expensive.



Currently, there's only a 2-hook version available in White, Beige, and Black. However, they're working hard to bring out new styles, including 3 and 4 hooks, and a differently spaced 2-hook version.

You can get your very own Rixie Clip via their Facebook page or eBay.

Just Who Makes These Rules, Anyway?

It’s really important to me as an advocate of style options for curvy women, that we have as many choices as we need in order to bring our personal style to reality.

Yet if I were to compile a list of all of the "rules" that I have heard for tops for busty women, it would go something like this:

•     No patterns
•     No lace
•     No ruffles
•     No high necklines
•     No low necklines
•     No bright colors
•     No empire waists
•     Nothing tight
•     Nothing clingy
•     Nothing loose
•     No spaghetti straps
•     No bust/neckline detailing

Phew, what an exhausting list. Based on this, it's little wonder that so many busty women feel confused, and turn to basic, solid-colored, v-neck t-shirts as the only shirt option available to them. Now, I love V-neck tees, and I actually think that they can be a nice, flattering, basic style for most women- not just the large-busted. But, I think that if that's all we wear, we're missing out on a lot of opportunity for creativity in our wardrobes. Too many women hide under these styles, and while I think they can be great and have no intent to diss them entirely, I think that a wardrobe full of them can be quite boring. Not to mention that said t-shirt isn't appropriate attire for every single occasion.

Now, obviously, most women don’t follow all of those “rules” exactly, especially seeing as some of them are downright contradictory. But I do see a lot of busty women limiting themselves unnecessarily, and I find that sad.

I’m not actually sure that these tips are even the most flattering! I have actually found that certain types of detailing can be quite nice. While I don’t want an emblem, slogan, or ruffle directly over my chest, I love details like soft cowl necks, draping, ruching, shoulder details and cutouts, any sort of gathering or draping, asymmetrical hems, flowing sleeves, etc. I also don’t see why busty women should have to stick to solid colors- patterns and textures such as lace can be lovely, especially if they cover the whole top and aren’t just focused on the bust area. I have actually found that such detailing is often much *more* flattering on a curvy figure, and it doesn’t scream, “hide me!” Frequently, when you work hard to draw attention away from your bust, you're also drawing attention away from what's right above it- your beautiful face.

I actually feel that compelling women to follow such an extensive list of "rules" is overly restrictive, possibly sexist, and certainly an example of prejudice against big breasts. Lots of women have big boobs, they’re not really such an unusual feature to have, so I don't see why a large chest has to be something that causes "fashion experts" to throw up their hands in despair and tell us to just cover them up in boring solid tee-shirts. Taken to its logical extreme, what they are really suggesting is that our breasts are so shocking, and so mutant, and so inherently, overtly sexual, that we need to draw as little attention to them, and to ourselves, as humanly possible.

In my opinion, a flattering garment doesn’t just hide, or “slim” you. It also has to highlight the parts of yourself that you love, and it has to feel right for your personality and style. If V-neck tees (or whatever you are told you “need” to wear) aren’t your thing, you should feel free not to wear them, and to wear what makes you feel good about your body. I’m not saying to totally abandon flattering your figure, and wear whatever you want even if it’s hideous on you. That is only another method of hiding your body. Flattering your figure involves both celebrating it and working in harmony with it, not hiding it. Dressing big busts needn’t be nearly as restrictive as some people make it out to be. In my experience, I find that as long as my clothes fit well, and show the shape of my waist, I have a lot of freedom in terms of what I can wear well.

Unfortunately, companies that make clothes for busty women tend to assume that we want to follow these rules too strictly, assuming that they are what is most flattering on the busty figure. And the fact that so many women believe it creates a self-reinforcing cycle. But we can still request other styles, and when shopping at “normal” stores look for things that fall outside of these rules, even if you need to get them altered or choose things with a lot of stretch.

My advice? Experiment and decide for yourself what you like. You might be surprised by what works. It is your right to have a personal style. The size of your chest should absolutely not change that.

Review: The Big Bra Bar Black Shirt

Nikki at The Big Bra Bar was kind enough to send me this shirt for review. I decided to try to do a sort of vintage-inspired, creative work look with it.

The top is quite long, and it could either be worn as a tunic, or tucked in as I’ve shown here.

I love that it’s not quite the traditional button-up shirt. This shirt is a really fun style, with dramatic puffed sleeves. I think that they in addition to being a great detail, the sleeves also help minimize a larger bust, because they add contrasting volume. However, if you have a highly conservative work environment, you might prefer a more traditional style.

Ideally, I would have it fit a little smaller at the waist (isn’t that the story of my life, though? ;-) but since I’m somewhat outside the recommended size range, I can’t fault the shirt at all! It fit impressively well in spite of that fact. The buttons are sturdy and there was absolutely no gaping.

All in all I think this is a nice quality shirt style for busty ladies with a fun design. If you like it, or want to check out what else The Big Bra Bar has to offer, go check them out!

Shirt: The Big Bra Bar
Skirt: older style from Trashy Diva

Big changes for me, and Star in a Bra Updates

Hi All! I am writing this from a cafe in Berkeley, California, just outside of San Francisco.

Many of you learned from my Star in a Bra adventure that I lived in North Carolina. I’ve lived there for roughly 14 years, but originally I was born on the West coast and lived in Oregon until I was almost 10. Gregory, my fiance, and I started talking about moving to the Bay Area several years ago, because he’s a computer programmer. There just aren’t many opportunities for programmers in a small tourist town in NC. And then earlier this summer we had the occasion to visit this area- my first time back in 14 years- and what really sealed for us that we needed to move was how I felt.

You see, most of you don’t know this, but I’ve struggled with health problems for years. Nobody could ever figure out what exactly they were- I went to numerous doctors, both traditional and alternative. Finally it was decided I had Fibromyalgia/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, which basically mean “We have no idea what’s wrong with you, but we do have a handy name for your collection of symptoms!”

But then I was better in California. Surprisingly better. We began to suspect that I’m allergic to *something* in the environment in NC. And then after getting back, our house in NC started to have particularly bad mold problems. (Fairly common in humid, damp NC.) I began to have trouble breathing and broke out in hives. Yep, allergies. Probably to a species of mold which isn’t able to grow in relatively cool, dry California. Now that it’s clear what it was, it seems so obvious, yet at the same time, I’m still surprised at how much better I feel over here.

Anyway, for now I’m staying with some friends here. Gregory’s still in NC, frantically applying to programmer jobs. And we are trying to find somebody to take over our lease. And it’s generally all quite crazy.

But besides the benefit to my health, I’m really excited about the opportunities living in a bigger city will give us. I think this will also be helpful for this blog- finally I’ll be able to go to more stores, try clothes on in person, and be able to share my findings with you.

Oh, and speaking of Star in a Bra, just in case you weren’t following along on Facebook (which probably means you didn’t vote! **Wags finger with stern face**) I didn’t win- I came in 3rd place, after winner Krista Cousins and 2nd place Cristyen Fowler. I won’t say I’m not sad, because I know that I could have made a bigger difference if I’d won, than I can just sitting here blogging! But Krista seems smart and wonderful and positive, and it’s awesome that the first ever USA Star in a Bra winner was also the first ever black woman to win! So, congrats Krista, you rock! I’m super sad that Krista was the *only* top 10 contestant I didn’t get to meet, because she lives in NYC already and therefore didn’t stay in the hotel, and was scheduled for a different day of shooting than me.

Well, this is long enough, so that’s all for now. If you know anybody in the Bay area who wants to hire a wicked talented programmer, though, pass them on! ;-)

Outfit: I Love Red

I actually took these quite a while ago, but never posted them. Enjoy! :-)

I 

Skirt and top: Belk
Shoes: Chelsea Crew

Star in a Bra top 10

So, as many of you know, I made it to the Star in a Bra top 10! Last week, I flew to New York City to take part in the top 10 professional photo shoot.

The top 10 girls were separated into two days, and I was scheduled to show up very first! Luckily for me, Cristyen and I had hit it off online before the shoot, and so we decided to show up together. Neither of us had ever been to New York and we were nervous about taking a taxi and finding the studio all alone! So, the morning of the shoot, I got up bright and early, and put on an old, too-big Freya Deco and a cotton dress (we had been advised not to wear anything that would put marks on our skin.) Then Criss and I met and took a taxi to the studio. Both of us were nervous and shy when we arrived, but Hannah Houston and Laura Butler, Curvy Kate's longest-running model, were there to make us feel welcomed, with adorable accents of course. ;-)

We headed in to hair and makeup, and before we knew it, other girls were showing up and it became quite busy! This was my first time trying Curvy Kate, and I can definitely say that I was impressed. In my opinion, they make some of the prettiest bras for the small back-big bust size range, and the shape and lift I got from them was quite good, despite them being a bit big in the band for me.

I was, of course, nervous at first, but I eventually got into the rhythm of taking the photos. I'm really happy with how they turned out.

You can read my interview for the Curvy Kate blog here, and guess what? I was featured on TV!

So... I'm going to ask you all for votes, once again.

If you have been reading my blog for any length of time, you know that I am passionate about bras and bra fitting, and about women's body image. I view this contest not as some great chance at a glamorous modelling career, but as a major chance to really make a difference in the state of bra fitting in the US. I care passionately about the cause and because I know so much about bra fitting already, if I won, I could be not just a role model, but an educator. While the diversity of Star in a Bra is wonderful, and I fully believe that women of all shapes and sizes are beautiful, I think that the fact that I prove that one can be a thin, and also curvy, would be good for the first US winner. Americans believe, much more stubbornly than British people, that you can only be curvy if you are overweight. This misconception keeps many women in a badly fitting bra, because if you suggest that they might be over a D cup, they think you're suggesting that they're "fat!" Perhaps, if I won, I could help to impress upon people that curvy is a shape, not a size.

I need all the support I can get if I am going to have a chance at winning. So, if you believe in me, please, don't just vote for me, but get as many people as you can to vote, as well. Share this page on your favorite social networking platform of choice. (Facebook, Twitter, StumbleUpon, Digg, Reddit, forums...)

And, a million times thank you... not just for your votes, but for being one of my wonderful readers.

Jailyn Apparel Review

I have a new clothing company for larger busts to add to our list!

This is the first style, the Mandarin Collar 3/4 Sleeve Shirt from a new company, Jailyn Apparel! The owner/designer, Jodi Schreiner, has a story we can all identify with: She couldn't find shirts that fit over her bust! So she decided to design her own. Jailyn Apparel is based out of Texas, so those of you looking for more US options will be happy!

The shirt is not super stretchy, so it doesn't cling. It has expert tailoring to ensure it fits smoothly over your bust while highlighting your waist.

I love that for her first shirt, Jodi didn't just go for the same old shirt that many other companies have. She went for a more original design, with flattering 3/4 sleeves and a gorgeous mandarin collar. The color is a lovely dove grey that is more flattering on many people than harsh white. The quality also seems absolutely excellent.

Because the style is sort of dressy/elegant casual, the top is versatile. Pair it with a pretty skirt, or with a blazer for a casual office environment.

The size chart is spot on, I think. I am wearing the size 2 with a waist measurement of roughly 24-25", putting me at the low end of the size chart, and I think that ideally I might go down a size. I don't mind the fact that it's a tiny bit loose at my waist, because it goes with the casual vibe of the shirt. But the shoulders are just a teeny bit too big for me, as you can probably see. I like the fit, but I think if there was a size down it would be completely perfect. :-)

I really like this shirt and I'm so excited to watch Jailyn Apparel grow as a company and come up with new designs! I would definitely recommend giving them a try.

(P.S It's the last day for voting on Star in a Bra USA! If you haven't already, Please please vote for me! Every vote counts and I am super grateful to all of you who have voted already!)

(This shirt was sent to me for review purposes. All opinions and writing in this review are 100% my own!)

Casual Outfit- Visible Bra Straps

How do you feel about visible bra straps? There is vast disagreement in the big bust and fashion community over whether or not they are okay.

My vote is that they are fine as long as you:

1. Wear them super casually, not to the workplace, formal gatherings, church, parties, etc.
2. Wear them with intention, with pretty bra straps in a co-ordinating color, such as I am here with my Ewa Michalak Pl Malachit.

Especially if you're young and/or it's hot, why should you have to wear sleeves just because you have a bigger bust? This trend gives you an acceptable option.

Announcements

I am very excited to announce that I am in the top 30 for the first ever USA Star in a Bra contest! Star in a Bra is an annual contest run by full bust lingerie brand Curvy Kate. They select models from their customers so that the models really represent their customers and show how the bras fit on natural, large breasts.

I have been passionate about body image and bra fitting for years now, and I believe that winning this contest could provide me with a whole new way of making a difference. I have a lot of hope that bringing this contest to the USA will really help to bring bra fit awareness to American women. And I would be thrilled and honored if you would vote for me. Click Here to vote!

If you need another suggestion on who to vote for, (you get 3 picks this round) then I really adore Cristyen of the new blog Red Hair and Girly Flair. Like me, she is passionate about body image, and has a fascinating journey of weight loss and self acceptance.


I also want to congratulate this years' UK winner, Sophie Morgan!

 

And finally, I have one more piece of exciting news to share:

Gregory and I are engaged! So I will be talking more about wedding-related stuff coming up soon, especially the parts that pertain to curves and body image.

...Vote for me for Star in a Bra, so my fiance can tell his friends he's marrying a lingerie model. :-P

Review: Halterneck SlinkyDip Bikini

What is possibly the most awesome thing about The Big Bra Bar, is that they are willing to try making potentially riskier items that serve an unrecognized need. They even make bras for the most ignored segment of band sizes... 26-32.

So with that being said, this swimsuit isn't for everyone. It lacks an underwire, and so it's never going to be able to be quite as supportive as a suit with a wire... meaning if your breasts are on the saggy side and you feel self-conscious about it, you probably should skip it.  It also takes a lot of confidence to wear.

It's also not a swimsuit you should dive or swim laps in, go for a job, play beach volley, etc.

The concept was to create one of those sexy, string bikinis like you might see on celebrities or in fashion magazines. However, unlike the kind you can buy in stores, it's made with extra room in the cups for a larger bust.

I hear a lot from younger women with a fuller bust that they feel like many of the clothes, bras, and swimsuits out there are frumpy. They want young and fun and sexy- in the case of a swimsuit, something to hang out at the beach or pool in, and maybe flirt with guys.

This is the perfect swimsuit for that. It's flirty, it's sexy, it's adorable.

It ties at the band and halterneck, so there's a lot of wiggle room in terms of sizing. I was easily able to tie it snug enough to work on my 24/26 band ribcage, but it is very stretchy so it's not going to be super duper snug. Since the sizing is so flexible, it comes in a few sizes, each of which will fit a range of band and cup sizes.

I was a bit concerned that without wires, there wouldn't be much cleavage, (something that's essential in a sexy lounging bikini, don't you agree?) but I was pleasantly surprised. Again, this bikini is going to be better suited if you are younger and have firmer breasts, but I think it looks quite nice, especially considering the lack of wire.

Many of you won't see the point to this suit. Fine... go get a nice, underwired suit if that's your thing. And in fact, I wouldn't want this to be my only suit, as I love to swim actively, and dive.

But if you are one of those ladies who always sighs longingly when you pass by the cute little string bikinis that pop up in all the stores come springtime, this is an excellent choice for you.

Review: Parfait by Affinitas Lingerie

When I had the chance to try out several pieces by Parfait, I knew that with a smallest band size of 30 and largest cup size of G, they wouldn't work so well on my 26HH body. I happen to have  a good friend who wears a 28-30G, however, so I asked her if she wouldn't mind trying out the pieces. Here's what she had to say: 

"The first item I would like to review is a lovely pink balconet bra with cherry blossom print. With its pintuck seams and satin buttons, it more closely resembles a piece of summer wear than undergarment!

I tried the bra in what is usually my bra size – a 30G. However, as you can see in the photo, the cup is clearly too small. I tried resizing the straps, everything you can do to loosen the fit of the cup, but still cut across my breasts in a really unflattering manner. Some of this might be due to the shape of my breasts, not just the size (I usually avoid balconet bras, actually, due to the way they tend to fit). I would suggest that if you are fuller breasted and like this bra (I was really disappointed it didn’t fit, as I loved it!) you might want to go up a cup size.

The second piece was a beautiful ivory chemise, also a 30G. It is a truly lovely piece, worthy of a bridal trousseau. Best of all, it fits like a dream. The cups on this item were full coverage, and the fit was right on target. The bodice flowed nicely, and I am not super thin, especially around the hips.

So, to summarize, this company makes absolutely stunningly beautiful lingerie. However, be aware that sizing of different cup styles can really make a tremendous difference in terms of fit. Based on my experience, if I was ordering something with a full coverage cup, I would stick with my standard sizing. On the other hand, if I was ordering something with a different cut – specifically a balconet style – I might go up a cup size."

-C.D. Smith

According to online reviews, Parfait by Affinitas pieces can work for some 28 band folks, if you're not a "small" 28. If you fit into their size range, I would definitely encourage you to give them a try. All of their pieces are gorgeous and very affordable. My only complaint is that they don't come in my size! I hope that someday, they are able to expand to include bands down to a 26 and cups up to a K or more! :-)

Advertise with Thin and Curvy!

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Some facts about Thin and Curvy:

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What you get:
A 170x170 ad in the right side bar
A post introducing your business
A great niche market!

Advertisements must be relevant to the readership of this blog. If you have any questions about whether or not your product is relevant, feel free to contact me.

Space is limited! Email me at advertising [at] thinandcurvy.com for rates or if you have any questions!

Guest Post: Review of Alegro Lingerie

(Today we have a fabulous Guest Post from Claire Dumican of Butterfly Collection Lingerie!)

There is one reason I’m a big fan of this blog: The name dispels the myth that big boobs only live on big bodies. It’s one of the most common misconceptions that cup sizes over a D are enormous when in reality cup sizes are always relative to your body size. For example, the volume of a B cup on a woman with a 40+ band size is substantially bigger than the volume of a 30F cup size.

When women realize that they are wearing far too big a band size, and get over the surprise that they’re actually a couple of cup sizes bigger, their next task is to find brands that make small band sizes and big cup sizes. This is where a blogger like Brittany is essential. The bra industry is taking a while to catch up with the fact that there are lots of “Thin and Curvy” women out there. The number of brands doing band sizes under the traditional 34 inch threshold is small but growing.

Introducing Alegro Lingerie

Alegro is a Japanese brand with a presence in the UK and North America. Their mission is to combine sexy and quality to give you a “choice of fashion and comfort”. They are relatively new so are still working out where their sizes start and end but they are evidently targeting the full bust market. We have carried the Alegro line for a year now and have seen a full array of their styles from lacy full cups to molded balconettes. There are pros and cons to the range that I’m going to share with you.

The Pros

The biggest thing I love about Alegro is that they understand having a bigger bust does not mean you want to forego gorgeous underwear. Sure, every busty girl needs a trusty basic or two but you also need the fun and diversity of a colourful bra. They use bold colours like bright pink and blue (I particularly love the Pink Boudoir Starlet bra that was reviewed for us by Holly at The Full Figure Chest).

They use very elegant details that feel more grown up than say the youth feeling of the Cleo range. I think the Sweet Nothing Bra is a very modern but grown up design with silver cross-stitch and ribbon rose details on the straps.

One of the big pluses is that they are relatively affordable. Here in Canada we get taxed a lot for importing lingerie (which is about 90% of all lingerie sold here!) so having a reasonable price point means bigger busted women can have choice.

The Cons

Most of their styles start at a 30 band which is better than average but doesn’t cover the range of brands like Freya and Ewa Michalak/Effuniak who have 26 and 28 bands. There is no sign that they will branch out into 26 and 28 brands in the near future but as their popularity grows they may respond to feedback from retailers and customers. Not all the styles go up to a G and H cup which can be very frustrating from a retailer’s point of view. We want to offer our customers all the styles in all sizes.

How They Fit

Size-wise there are some things to be aware of. The lace full cup bras (Boudoir Starlet, Innocent Lily) tend to be generous in the cup. I would say a G is more like a GG etc. Their balconette bras (Sweet Nothing, Jewels) are more true to size in the cup, however, their straps are set particularly far apart which is not ideal for smaller frames. I would say that under 5ft 6” you’d have trouble with how far apart the straps are.

The Conclusion

I think Alegro still has some kinks to work out as it grows and find out which of its styles are repeatable etc. The fact that they are on a mission to give fuller busted women a choice of affordable, sexy and supportive lingerie is fantastic. I think they have some really beautiful designs and a good manufacturing standard so it won’t fall apart after a few wears. I hope this new kid on the block has time to become a staple brand for thin and curvy women.

Claire Dumican is the co-owner of Canadian online boutique, Butterfly Collection Lingerie, specializing in D-K cup lingerie. www.butterflycollection.ca

Resources for small busts

I get asked all the time for advice for smaller breasts. I know that it can be just as hard to find a size like 28B or 30A, as it is to find my size! If you aren't sure of your size, click here for how to measure- it applies to smaller chests as well as larger ones! :-)

(Oh, and a random observation: a C cup in a smaller band size is one of the very hardest to find sizes! "small bust" companies usually go up to a B cup, but "big bust" companies start at a D! How frustrating!)

Here are some suggestions:

Photo via Ewa Michalak. Click to view product.

32aabra (Blog)

The Little Bra Company (Very pretty underwired bras in A-C cups, starting at a 28 band. Some people say their bands run a little small.)


Ewa Michalak (Yes, they do smaller bras, as well, and if you need a smaller size they will custom make it for you! This is really nice because you could need, say, a 26DD and it would still be a fairly small breast size. Read my review of the custom process here. They also have several models of very different sizes so you can see how the bra looks on various chest sizes! (See image at right)

Between the Sheets lingerie  (Heavenly soft organic cotton and eco friendly lingerie, bras are wireless)

Lula Lu Petite lingerie (AAA, AA, and A cup bras!)

Itty Bitty Bra (AA, A, and B cup bras)

 

 

Etsy sellers! There are a ton of lovely Etsy sellers who make lovely bras and lingerie for petite/smaller chested women. It makes me so jealous, I tell you! ;-)

Toad Lillie

Liane Marguerite

Sandmaiden Sleepwear

MajoRey Lingerie

Lalilouche

On The Inside

Amourouse

Ohhhlulu

 

I hope this helps some of you! If anyone has any more resources to share, please let me know in the comments and I will gladly add them!