Quick Loves List from Laura!

Hey all! I know everyone's really looking forward to hearing about how Brittany's recovery process has been going, but I feel like I've been pretty radio silent on the reviews for awhile and feel bad about it! Just wanted to give y'all a quick rundown of what I've discovered as super bust friendly lately:

1) CowCow dresses.

They're on Amazon. They're cheap. They run from XS-5X (depending on the style). They come in ridiculously adorable prints. They flatter everyone I know who's bought them, and I'm talking a HUGE range of body shapes. Some of the prints do get a little silvery when stretching over the boobs, but they're never see-through.

I mean, just look at this.

Yes, you can have it all: a dress covered in cupcakes.

For reference, I'm generally a size 14-16 these days (14 on the bottom, 16 for my boobs) and I consistently order a size XL. These dresses have a lot of stretch, which is why they're so great for so many different body shapes. They're especially generous for large breasts, and I just couldn't not share the love.

2) The Curvy Kate Luxe strapless bra.

This thing is a workhorse, y'all. It's not the perfect bra. I don't wish I could wear it every day. But man, when I need a strapless bra, this thing is by far the best I've come across. I'm typically a UK 34HH, but I got this in a 34H back when they first came out. (And now that I'm seeing it in a 34HH and 34J, I'm tempted to try them both...) Predictably, it's a bit small in the cups, but my boobs stay put. By the end of the night, the band hurts a bit, but it's definitely bearable. I've also been able to wear it with one strap, but I don't prefer feeling so lopsided. I'd rather just wear it fully strapless and go for it. Honestly, Curvy Kate bras hardly ever work for my shape, but this one just fits the bill. I don't even remember if I've reviewed this before, and, even if I have, raving about it again is justifiable. I'm going to be a Maid of Honor this September, and the dress I chose for myself has a sheer bateau neckline. I could technically wear a beige bra, but the strapless is so much better. I'm so grateful to have it as an option.

So simple and so good at what it's designed to do.

3) Shadowline nightgowns.

This all started because I decided I was hosting a fancy pajamas dinner, only to realize I had no fancy pajamas that were acceptable for platonic company. I went down an Amazon rabbit hole and came up with Shadowline. Their nightgowns are so comfortable, not to mention flattering -- I feel like a Disney princess when I wear the set I bought for dinner (a robe and gown combo in ivory). The fabric is a bit sheer, but unless you're standing in a place with a lot of floor lighting, it shouldn't be noticeable. These come in straight and plus sizes. The longer gowns may come up a bit short on tall readers who aren't as busty as I am. The length for me (5'3" with 34HH boobs) is literally perfect. If you're maybe 5'6" with a 32FF (for example), you should be fine. They also have shorter gowns as well. 

I seriously float around the house whenever I put this set on.

I got a 1X in the set, and while it's a little boobalicious, it's perfect for when you want to treat yourself with nice pajamas without going too crazy on the budget. Best part? They're machine wash, tumble dry low. My heart fluttered when I saw the washing instructions.

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I hope some of you discover something wonderful within these recommendations! I'm certain Brittany will be writing about more of her recovery process soon. Thanks to everyone who left kind & supportive words for her! We really appreciate it. 

Breast Reduction Surgery Experience

Hi everyone! I’m done with my surgery and completely recovered at this point, so I thought I’d start posting about my experience. Here’s what my actual surgery was like. 

The day of surgery, I was super nervous. I’d never been under general anesthesia, and my only other surgery, on my hand, was a pretty traumatic experience. However, this whole experience couldn’t have been more different. 

The worst part was waiting for an hour for the surgeon to arrive. Everyone at the surgery center was ridiculously nice. The anesthesiologist, who called me the day before to ask me some questions, made jokes with me and was really reassuring. He gave me some sort of anxiety medication immediately after putting in the IV and the nurse stroked my arm while I fell asleep. 

When I woke up, the first thing I remember is that I was very, very cold, and kept shivering uncontrollably. I vaguely remember some fuss. When I woke up more fully, I was covered in blankets, even my head, with just my face sticking out. They had also given me some medication to warm me up, which made my mouth very very dry. I found out later that I most likely had a little bit of post-surgical hypothermia, which is not uncommon. Honestly, this was the worst part of the whole experience, and it wasn’t too bad, since they did everything right and got me warmed up fast, and I was still groggy enough that I wasn’t super aware of what was going on.

As soon as I was vaguely conscious, they brought my partner in, and gave him directions for taking care of me. The surgeon briefly stopped by to say it went well and how much they’d removed, and then had to run off to his next surgery.

The nurse who was in charge of me after waking me up was British, and she offered me a cup of tea. I turned it down, even though I normally love tea, at which point she said “Oh, you probably don’t want it. It’s that Lipton stuff. It’s made out of the dust they sweep up off the floor!” 

They gave me a pain medication (I was offered two, but turned the second one down because too much tends to make me dizzy and I wasn’t hurting much at all.)

After about half an hour, the nurses helped me use the restroom and get dressed (I had worn yoga pants and a shirt that buttoned in the front, which were good choices,) and then we were able to head home. It took a while to get home through the weekday San Francisco traffic, but eventually we did and I was able to rest. 

Next time I’ll talk about what my recovery was like!

#teambreastreduction

Hello, everyone! Laura here. (I know, that alone will send a lot of you in the other direction. That's okay.)

I'm so thrilled for Brittany that she's getting a breast reduction. So many women have unavoidable, miserable, life-impairing back & shoulder pain due to large, heavy breasts. A good bra can definitely help, but when good bras are literally near impossible to find due to unusual bra size, it makes things difficult. I've been lucky enough that I don't really suffer any back or shoulder pain due to my bra size, but both my mother and sister do. They've both made the decision not to get a reduction, and that is their decision. I respect it. However, Brittany has decided to go forward with one, and I couldn't be happier for her.

I think Brittany is incredibly brave for sharing her breast reduction surgery with everyone. It's a difficult decision to make, and as I'm sure you can all imagine, she's had some "dissenters."

One of the dark sides of blogging is the comments you receive from anonymous people. I tend to comb through the comments in the pending approval queue every few weeks, since this blog gets a whole lot of them and it's difficult to do it constantly.

I deleted all of these types of comments:

"nooooo don't do it"

"why would you do that to your body, you're so pretty and perfect as you are!"

"can you take before pictures at least?"

Dear Anonymous Men of the Internet,

Brittany's breasts have never existed purely for your happiness. No woman owes you the existence of her breasts. No woman must endure persistent pain just for your viewing pleasure. No woman is going to change her mind about drastically improving her health and quality of life just because you enjoy staring at her body in its current form.

Stop your whining, stop being so selfish, and stop feeling entitled to telling women what they can and can't do with their bodies. This blog was never intended for you. You somehow found it anyway, and decided to make this bra and clothing resource for women all about you.

That doesn't mean we ever agreed with you. That doesn't mean we ever decided to start catering to you.

If you're truly a fan of Brittany, you should be happy for her. Post-surgery, she will still be beautiful. Why? Because she's a beautiful person, inside and out, and her beauty is not dictated by the size of her breasts.

Regards,
Me

P.S. -- lol @ concern trolls. Brittany, and every other woman who goes through breast reduction surgery, knows that surgery comes with risks. Do yourself a favor and give some credit to the fact that Brittany has a brain as well as boobs, weighed the pros and cons, and is making the right choice for herself.

Getting Insurance Approval for Breast Reduction

Hi everyone! Phew. It’s been a long few months since I last posted. It’s been quite the journey to where I am now, but before I share the story, I’ll share the news: I finally got approval for the reduction surgery! The date is set for next week. Eeep!

Getting insurance approval for breast reduction is… quite a process.

If you’re considering a reduction, the first thing you need to do is talk to your primary care doctor about back pain. Get documentation of it being a problem as early as possible. Get whatever tests your doctor thinks are necessary done to rule out any other causes, and start going to physical therapy if at all possible. Chiropractic and massage can also be good options. It’s important to have documentation of all relevant treatment options you’ve tried in order to manage your pain. As I’ve previously mentioned, I’ve been seeing a physical therapist for many months, which was important to my getting approved. I was also taking Aleve (naproxen) nearly daily to manage my pain, and made sure to mention that to my doctor. Taking NSAIDS such as Advil or Aleve long term can cause serious side effects, so both my insurance and doctor were concerned about getting me off of them as quickly as possible.

My doctor is a D.O, or Doctor of Osteopathy. Osteopathic doctors can be great for issues like back pain, since they have full credentials as medical doctors, but extra training in, and focus on, structural issues of the body such as skeletal and muscular issues. I feel that her skills in this area gave her a better sense of whether or not a reduction could help me. She asked me specific questions about my pain and felt along my upper back and shoulders, accurately predicting where I hurt most just by touching me and feeling the tension in my muscles. She has been nothing but enthusiastic about the idea of a reduction and believes it will really help me.

My doctor suggested several plastic surgeons in the area who she thought highly of, and I did some research and picked the one who felt best to me, who had good reviews and used the surgical technique that I wanted. Then she sent in the referral.

I needed a lot of documentation in order to get approved. I had to submit letters from my doctor and physical therapist as well as extensive notes and medical records. Different insurance companies have different requirements, and your surgeon can guide you through the process of gathering and submitting everything you need. Ideally, everyone on your medical team will be supportive. If not, you may need to seek out another doctor.

Many insurance plans do not cover breast reduction surgery. Last year, my partner’s company used Aetna, and while they technically do cover breast reduction, they have a requirement for the amount of weight removed from each breast that is unusually high. So basically, they only approve it in extreme cases. Since we were able to switch my insurance over to Anthem Blue Cross at the beginning of the year, which has a more reasonable requirement, I was able to get approved.

We were really conscientious about the process and kept checking in with the insurance company. The surgeon’s office really appreciated that we did this and said that it helped things move faster and more smoothly. The patient is often in the best position to contact everyone and make sure communication happens. It’s especially useful that we were able to get direct contact information for someone helpful at the insurance company.The first time my surgeon submitted my application, the insurance company claimed they didn’t have it after all (they “lost” it, I guess?) and we had to re-submit. Then they wanted more information and to haggle with my surgeon over the removal amount.

It has taken a long time to get approved, but once things were through, scheduling the surgery has happened rather quickly. I’m excited about the possibility of getting rid of my shoulder pain for good, but also I’m understandably nervous. Wish me luck!

Update from Brittany

Hi everyone!

I’m really sorry I ended up disappearing for so long. I’ve been dealing with an incredibly sucky, stressful series of events, including my partner being laid off and unemployed for a period of time, my grandfather’s death, depression, a dying computer, severe hair loss (caused by anemia and fixed now, fortunately) and more.

Several of you have reached out to me personally to ask if I’m ok and tell me you would love it if I started up blogging again. I was really touched by that, and if it weren’t for you guys sticking with me and reminding me that you really liked my blog and that I’d helped many people, I might not have come back.

Thankfully, things have improved for me a great deal, and I want to start writing again. However, things are going to be changing a bit around here.

I’ve mentioned before that I’ve had mysterious health issues for a long time. Since I now have better insurance than I’ve ever had, and live in a much larger city than I used to, I’ve been putting more effort into figuring them out. I found out that I’m allergic to dust mites and cats, among other things, and I am going to be having allergy shots to treat that. I also found out that my hypermobile joints have probably been the source of many problems. I don’t have as much stability built in as somebody with normal joints. So I’ve been doing physical therapy with a specialist in hypermobility syndrome.

Physical therapy has done great things for me. My posture is better, I’m stronger, my endurance has improved, I feel lighter on my feet. I’m in the best shape I’ve been in my whole life. However…

I still have shoulder and upper back pain.

So, after quite a bit of research, thought, and consulting with my doctor and physical therapist, I’ve come to the inevitable conclusion- that the size of my chest is a big contributor to my upper back problems, and that a breast reduction might help me a great deal.

I know that this might be very surprising to many of you. I did not come to this decision lightly. I’ve tried so many different things over many years to fix my problems. I haven’t ever had general anesthesia before, and I’m terrified of surgery. But at this point, realizing that it’s likely that one simple surgery and a few weeks’ rest will permanently fix my problems is a huge relief.

I will still be an unusual bra size- no surgery I know of could substantially change my ribcage size, (and most people who are what is considered a “healthy” BMI have correctly fitting band sizes under 32, anyway) so you needn’t fear that I won’t be able to discuss bras and clothing as I always have. If anything, my ability to do so will have improved- I’ve outgrown most clothing companies at this point, even large-bust-friendly ones.

I’m hoping that in writing about this process from the perspective of somebody who understands proper bra fitting, I will be able to provide useful information to others who might be considering this choice.

I’ll be writing quite a bit more about the factors that led me to decide this was the right choice for me, so stay tuned.

Hello again!

It's me, Laura. I know. Not Brittany. I promise, she's alive and well! She's usually the one who posts the interesting articles & such through our Facebook page. I still have not locked her in a closet, promise. It's hard to imprison someone when you literally live on the other side of a giant country from them, strangely enough.

It's difficult to blog when you don't have a whole lot to say. I wear Kris Line bras pretty much exclusively these days, find them to be incredibly consistent in sizing and quality, and haven't kept up with what other brands are doing. I felt like I covered that in the last update, so for the sake of not being repetitive, I didn't feel the need to review each bra in detail.

The one exception to my Kris Line collection is a Curvy Kate Luxe strapless in 34H, which predictably is too small in the cups but is the most comfortable strapless bra I've had in a long time. I needed to buy it for its convertible straps, since my bridesmaid dress didn't cover as much of my shoulders as I thought it would. While the quad boob is definitely real, it's not noticeable at all under the dresses I've worn it for and it gives a lovely round shape. It gets uncomfortable after several hours, but what strapless bra doesn't?

If you want really cute swimwear that can technically fit your big boobs but doesn't provide underwire support (i.e., if you want to go lay out and/or simply be fashionable, as opposed to swimming laps and playing volleyball), check out Rue 107. They have some really adorable designs. Even if their tops don't fit or you don't want to take the chance, you can buy a pair of bottoms! They make sizes 2-24, so they're inclusive of a lot of customers.

That's about it from me, for now. I hope everyone had a lovely holiday season and is excited about the year to come!

Update!

Hey everyone! Sorry for the radio silence. It's Laura, here, and I figured I'd give you a brief rundown on my life in lingerie/fashion for the past several months:

• Zulily has changed my life. For those who aren't familiar, Zulily is a site that sells brand names for deeply discounted prices for products that are out of season and such. I finally was able to get my hands on some Kris Line bras through them at prices I could afford, and... wow. Kris Line, by far, makes my favorite bras. They normally retail for roughly $100, and I believe there is only one store in the U.S. that carries them. I'm regularly able to snag them on Zulily for roughly $50, and they fit better than anything else I've had in a long time. If Panache and Freya wires are too wide for you, yet Ewa Michalak wires are too narrow (their wires are just a touch narrow for me), Kris Line may be your solution. I recommend ordering a cup or two sizes higher than your standard/typical cup size. In Panache, I wear a 34HH. In Kris Line, I wear a 34JJ. I could probably go down to a 34J for my right boob, but lefty is obnoxious. Bottom line, they're comfortable, beautiful, and fit really well once you know how to order. 
• I'm a bridesmaid for the first time, and being a bridesmaid has changed my perspective on weddings completely. I've been mentally preparing myself for the chance that I'll have to end up finding a strapless bra that fits, because that's just the way life goes. I'm going to have a wedding post sometime soon, mainly because it's going to be fun! I did have the hilarious experience of trying on sample-size bridesmaid dresses and seeing how differently they fit on me than they were designed to fit! You gotta be able to laugh at yourself, I say.
• I just ordered a dress from Lady Voluptuous, the dress line designed by Georgina of Fuller Figure Fuller Bust fame. I'll let you know what I think once my dress gets here! 

I wish I could say my last several months have been more exciting in a lingerie/fashion sense, but I've just been plugging away at work. Hopefully, I'll be making more time to blog in the near future! 

-Laura

P.S. -- Yes, I'm still aware that I'm not thin. :) And guess what? It's okay that I'm not thin! Woo! Go team! Party! Body positivity all the way! 

Review of the SugarShape Ahoi Bikini!

This post was written by Laura, a contributing blogger for Thin and Curvy. If you missed her intro post, look no further!

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Hello, lovely readers! It's been awhile, hasn't it? My bad. Work, still, has been driving me pretty nuts. However, one of the things I do best when I'm stressed is shop online. That's how I ended up caving to temptation and grabbing myself the SugarShape Ahoi Bikini Top and Ahoi High-Waisted Bottom I mentioned in my Summer Wishlist!

Ahoi, matey! ... get it? I am so funny. I am the funniest. 

This will have to be a mini-review of sorts, since I didn't want to nag my roommate into taking a billion pictures for me.

The top: I ordered the top in 85/110, which tends to be my normal SugarShape size (I regularly wear a 34HH in UK sizing). It fits really well! My left boob tries to sneak out a bit, but my left boob has always been a rebel. The straps are very thin, yet still extremely comfortable. It is a relief to find a cute bikini for full busts that isn't a halter-top! I hate halter-tops because I think they're exceptionally painful. I personally don't understand how someone thinks it's a good idea to make someone's neck support really big boobs... but I digress. This top is adorable and I love it.

The bottoms: These may be the best-fitting, most comfortable swim bottoms I've ever owned. They don't give me wedgies, I can adjust where I want them to sit, and the ties on the side are simply adorable. I wear a size 12/14 bottoms in U.S. sizing, and I ordered a size 115 in these bottoms.

If you don't mind taking the price plunge (shipping to the U.S. can get pricey), I highly recommend giving SugarShape's swim line a try. Their customer service is totally on point and I love working with them!

If you want to order something from SugarShape and you live in the U.S., email Laura@SugarShape.de. She'll take good care of you. :)

Summer Wishlist!

This post was written by Laura, a contributing blogger for Thin and Curvy. If you missed her intro post, look no further!

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Summer is in the air, dear readers. I sweat bullets every time I step outside, I get to wear shorts all the time, my car is covered in pollen... and I have a job that'll keep me indoors full-time, at least 50 hours a week. I apologize for my unannounced extended absence -- I've been working nonstop and haven't had the brain power to write a post! Alas, I am back and excited to be blogging again.

To celebrate having my brain back (kind of), I am posting my Wishlist for summer lingerie and clothes that'll keep me excited about this gorgeous season.

Cleo "Marcie" bra in Sunshine, $45.18 from Bravissimo

If I can't get any real sunshine, I may as well have a bra the color of sunshine! Aside from the wires being a bit wide for me, the Cleo Marcie is a tried-and-true favorite of mine. It's consistent from season to season in sizing, and it comes in amazing colors such as this beauty!

SugarShape "Ahoi" bikini, 54,90 € from SugarShape

I love SugarShape. You all know this. I haven't ordered from them in awhile, much to my dismay. My brain has been so addled the last few months that I really haven't purchased much in the way of any lingerie, never mind swimwear. It's sad. I need to fix this. I also only have one bikini that fits, and I would love to have a second. The little anchors, the beautiful navy background... I'm in love.

Ann Taylor "Polka Dot Maxi Dress," $129 from Ann Taylor

I know, the price is steep. Maxi dresses are difficult for me, because most are too long. However, I have actually had luck with Ann Taylor's maxi dresses in the past -- I snagged one at an Ann Taylor Factory Store last year that I absolutely adore. It fits my bust, nips in nicely at my waist, and doesn't drag on the ground. Since this can be ordered in three different lengths, it should work well for readers of most heights!

Made in Preston "Floral Playsuit with Mesh," £45.00 from Made in Preston

It has taken me about 6 years to understand the wonder that is a playsuit/romper. And now, I can't stop lusting after this one. The only reason I'm holding back is I'm not sure if it'll be big enough in the bum, and so I continue to suffer with my romper lust.

What are you lusting after, lovely readers?

Made in Preston Dress Roundup!

This post was written by Laura, a contributing blogger for Thin and Curvy. If you missed her intro post, look no further!

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During the pre-holidays shopping frenzy, Made in Preston had a promotion that allowed first-time shoppers a 50% discount on everything. I couldn't pass that up, right? So, I purchased a dress and planned to review it. And planned. And planned. The lovely ladies and gents at MIP then offered me two dresses to review as a preview of the upcoming Spring/Summer 2014 line, and I couldn't pass it up!

So, this first dress was purchased by me and all opinions are my own. The following two dresses were given to me free of cost to review, and all opinions are still my own.

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The dress I bought during the promotion is the Gold Panelled Party Dress, which immediately drew my attention.

I mean, how could it not, right?

 I knew this dress was one-of-a-kind and I couldn't pass it up. Especially not for 50% off! It's a minidress, so tall ladies may want to watch the length. Or not. It's up to you! I felt most comfortable wearing tights with this dress, mainly due to my bodacious bottom.

The back ran a little big on me, so broader-backed and/or taller women are in luck! 

 The sizing at Made in Preston is a bit different than your normal shop. The numbers are in UK sizing, and 16 is as high as they go (equivalent to a U.S. size 12). To determine your size, you input your "high street" size and then your bra size. They calculate your suggested size for you, so it takes all the work out of it! There are three categories of size beyond number: Fit, Foxy, and Fab. Fit is on the less busty side, Fab is for the bustiest customers, and Foxy is right in the middle. Because I wear a 34HH, I said I wore a 34J (since 34HH is not an option in their drop-down menu). 16 Foxy was my result, and it definitely was the right size in all 3 dresses.

You can totally disco in this dress. For reals.

The zipper is really easy to do up yourself, which I love in a dress. Then again, that goes back to the fact the dress is a little big on me in the back. Doesn't make it unwearable, but it's definitely something to note for the more petite crowd.

A better shot of just how gorgeous the details on this dress are!

This dress is fabulous. Yes, it is a tight dress. Yes, I have a tummy. Yes, I'm still going to wear it out. For those more self-conscious about tummies, you can easily get away with standard shapewear under this dress; however, a corset may show due to how close this dress hugs the body. For those of you readers with body shapes more similar to Brittany, it won't be an issue at all.

Outfit Summary:
Dress: Made in Preston Gold Panelled Party Dress, size 16 Foxy
Bra: Ewa Michalak PL Charlie, 34HH (I think! Will update this when I have a chance to look.)
Tights: Spanx
Boots: Steve Madden

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The first of the two dresses MIP gifted me completely blew me away with its super-cool print.

CARS. CITY. SO COOL.

This dress is called the City Print Bodycon Dress, and you can find it HERE. It is slinky, stretchy, comfortable, and dare I say, traffic-stopping? (ba-dum-pssshhh)

This dress loves all of your curves. All of them.

I had a little trouble with getting the lighting right in these photos, but this was supposed to demonstrate that on me, this dress hits me a little below the knee. For taller readers, this should probably hit you right at the knee.

Weird stomach lump, brought to you by my tights slipping down. Too many costume changes!

This dress doesn't really need tights, because it goes past the knees. If you do decide to wear tights, go with something solid; I tried wearing this dress tonight out for my mother's birthday dinner, and the fishnets I was wearing caused the dress to static cling uncomfortably to my legs. Lesson learned!

This print is bananas. B-a-n-a-n-a-s.

For those of you readers who have body shapes more like me, shapewear may make you more comfortable in this dress. I mean, it is a bodycon dress, and they're supposed to be super clingy. It's certainly not a bad thing -- I actually like how the length of the dress balances out how tight it is. However, I know a lot of people want to hide "problem areas", and it's pretty impossible to do that in this dress without the assistance of shapewear. Made in Preston really is a company that designs for women with figures like Brittany, but it makes me happy to note that I feel comfortable pulling off these clothes, too!

I recommend being very careful when handling this dress -- don't, say, lay it on top of a sequined dress, because it may snag a little. Whoops. 

Outfit Summary:

Dress: City Print Bodycon Dress, size 16 Foxy.

The rest: see above.

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I saved the best for last. This dress is my absolute favorite, and since receiving my dresses on Tuesday, I've worn it out twice. Once to the theatre to see Book of Mormon (GO SEE IT RIGHT NOW), and for my mother's birthday dinner tonight because the City Print dress was too static-y for my tights.

Behold:

I am so excited about this dress.

This is the Springtime Floral Skater Dress, available NOW.

I don't even know what to do with my hands, I love this dress so much.

The waistline of this dress was in the most absolute perfect place for me -- at my natural waist! Taller readers with similar proportions to me may find that this fits more like an empire-waist dress, but I had no such problems. This dress also hits me about mid-thigh, another thing for taller readers to keep in mind.

I don't know what I'm being sassy about, but deal with it.

I find the a-line cut of this skater dress, like so many skater dresses, to be ridiculously flattering. This skater dress is really cut extremely well for busty women. Now, as much as I adore this dress, it was missing something: a belt. Personally, I think this dress begs for a waist belt. So, y'know. I obliged.

Pleeease forgive my bedhead. Please?

Much better! Right? I just think a wide black belt makes this dress 100x better. 

Apparently, my back was itchy while the camera was going off. Welp.

I can't believe I haven't talked about how much I love this print yet. I love this print. I would love it in the form of a blouse, a skirt, pants... I'd wear it all day, every day. Where the City Print dress was a more delicate fabric, this dress is made of much stronger, yet still soft, stuff. 

I feel pretty, oh so pretty!

My only complaint with this dress is that it comes up very high in the back, so far up that the back of the neckline is on my neck. As a result, it kinda feels like my neck is being pushed down a little bit, like how a halterneck feels. It's certainly not enough to deter me from wearing this dress (seeing as I've worn it twice in the week I got it), but for those who are sensitive to halternecks, it's something to keep in mind. I'm probably going to have it altered somehow so it'll be perfect.

Outfit Summary:

Dress: Springtime Floral Skater Dress, Size 16 Foxy.

The rest: see above.

If anyone has any questions about sizing or styles, please feel free to ask in the comments!

Review of a Custom Angela Friedman Overbust Corset!

This post was written by Laura, a contributing blogger for Thin and Curvy. If you missed her intro post, look no further!

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I am really, really good to myself sometimes. For example, I managed to get myself the most beautiful birthday present of all time: a custom overbust corset from none other than the lovely Angela Friedman! Her work has been featured on other blogs such as The Lingerie Addict and The Lingerie Lesbian, and I've been lusting after her designs for a good while.

I caved when I saw the Claire de Lune corset.

Image courtesy of Angela Friedman

I had already been thinking about ordering a "standard" custom overbust corset from Angela anyway, but when I saw the Claire de Lune, I fell in love.

But, you see, I wanted to be different. I wanted to play around with the color choice, and I'm completely, 100% in love with what I went for.

Pink and gold is one of my favorite color combinations OF ALL TIME.

Ordering a custom corset from Angela Friedman was a relatively simple process, all things considered! I live in the South, while she works out of New York, but we were able to make it work. The whole process took somewhere between two and three months (I think?), but I was the reason it took so long! If you're a prompt sort of person, you could easily have a corset in a month. 

I went to a local tailor and had myself measured, which they did for me for free! It took me a few weeks to get my butt to a tailor, so there's one example of me dawdling. I sent my measurements off to Angela so she could make me a mock-up corset. 

The mock-up corset is just white cotton, nothing fancy, and was a way for me to figure out what tweaks needed to be made before she made the final version. If you decide to order a custom corset from Angela Friedman, I highly recommend paying the extra fee to have a mock-up sent to you! 

Then, of course, I had to send back the mock-up, which took me longer than it should have because I was emotionally attached. Eventually, though, I sent it back, complete with lots of cat hair. 

And the final result?

You guessed it! Me posing awkwardly with the most beautiful thing I've ever put on my body! All the photos I took are ones where I laced the corset up myself. I'm not the greatest at it, so you'll have to take my word for it that this looks even MORE amazing when I've had assistance from a friend!

Ignore the face that my jeans clearly need a wash and that I have a camera balanced on my head.

I wore this exact outfit out to dinner with my boyfriend (note: the jeans were freshly washed and not wrinkled to oblivion), and it was amazing to be able to wear something strapless that was still exceptionally supportive! I paired my ensemble with a black pleather jacket and I felt gorgeous and like a badass all rolled up into one.

Dat. Structure. It's phenomenal! Plus, you can see that my boobs are very well-contained!

All those itty bitty seams... drool. DROOL, I TELL YOU.

I love how the laces match the silk exactly, and how the lace looks like it's applique!

The corset is lined in cotton, so it's unbelievably comfortable.

I am one happy, happy lady.

It was completely worth every single penny. Angela is a dream to work with and I look forward to ordering another corset from her again!

Review of the SugarShape Ruby!

This post was written by Laura, a contributing blogger for Thin and Curvy. If you missed her intro post, look no further!

**Disclaimer: This set was gifted to me by SugarShape. All opinions are my own.**

Hello, readers! Is everyone feeling the holiday spirit? Well, if not, you're going to soon! Take a gander at the SugarShape Ruby, available here:

Them polka dots. That lace. SO BEAUTIFUL.

I can't describe this red as any other color than Santa Red. It's stunning. The bow is black, red, and green, so it's definitely appropriate for Christmas! My normal size in SugarShape is 85/110. SugarShape bases sizing strictly on measurements and forgoes the letter system entirely. The Ruby runs small in both the cups and the band, so I was sent a 90/112.5. The first number in the SugarShape sizing system is for your ribcage, and the second number is for your bust circumference.

Better view of the polka dots. They're a lovely touch!

The materials on this bra are exceptionally soft. The only remotely uncomfortable aspect of the bra is that the sides of the bra come up a little high under my arms, but I'm short. I think most people wouldn't have a problem, and it only actually is a problem when I'm not wearing a shirt.

The cups are lightly padded, which helps give a phenomenal shape!

As you can see, the cups are comprised of three panels with vertical seaming. I love bras with vertical seaming, because it's almost guaranteed that they will always give an uplifted, round shape!

The gore's fabric is sheer, too. So pretty!

As I mentioned before, I was sent a 90/112.5. Even going up one size in the band and two sizes in the cup, the cups in the Ruby were still a little too small. I think a 90/115 would have been perfect!

EDIT: Team SugarShape told me that the cup sizes in the 90/112.5 and the 85/110 should be equivalent. That makes sense, since they don't use a cup size system. My brain was stuck on the normal "up in the band, down in the cup" mentality! So once you figure out your SugarShape size, (like 85/110), add one band size (85 -> 90) and two cup sizes (110 -> 115). It's not that the bra runs two full cup sizes small. Proportionally, an 85/110 would normally have the same cup volume as a 90/112.5. This bra does happen to run tight in the band and the cups, though, so the result is as if you're adding one band size and two cup sizes. I hope this isn't too confusing! If you want help in figuring out your SugarShape size for the Ruby, please ask in the comments!

The gore doesn't tack because the cups are too small, but I don't get quadboob in this bra because the cups are really nice and low-cut. This bra can definitely be used as a plunge, even though SugarShape calls it a balconette. I am going to save this bra for nights when I'm going out on a date, or... *ahem* staying in. My boyfriend's a pretty big fan of how low-cut the cups are, not gonna lie.

I somehow missed taking a picture of the bra charm I got with this bra, but I picked the anchor, which is absolutely adorable with this set! All of the proceeds from ordering the bra charms, which are interchangeable among SugarShape bras, go to charity! Doesn't that put you right in the holiday spirit?

SWOON.

I also received the high-waisted panties, found here, in a size 115. These fit like a dream, let me tell you! They hit me right at my natural waist, and they have a bit of shaping strength in them. I feel very smoothed out in these panties, and they are beyond comfortable. These run true to size.

For anyone in the United States interested in ordering from SugarShape, it's best to do so through email. Contact Sabrina at sabrina@sugarshape.de and she'll take very good care of you! I've placed several orders with SugarShape through Sabrina and have never had a problem. She'll even verify which size you should order if you're unsure!

Frustrations with the Polish Brafitting Community

About two years ago, I ran across a thread on the Polish brafitting forum Balkoneta, talking about me. Although I don't speak Polish, I was able to tell enough from Google Translate to feel shocked and hurt. (** Edit: I did check with a native Polish speaker for translations on each item mentioned in this post, and received confirmation that the ladies mentioned were, in fact, being rude.) The ladies on the forum were suggesting that I was lying/measuring wrong and that I couldn't possible be a 26 band- that it was just my ego convincing me that I needed one. They also decided that I was wearing my bras "at the waist," although how that would work, I honestly have no idea. I didn't address it at the time, although I did perhaps write an over-enthusiastically positive review of Ewa Michalak in reaction- the truth is, they're not the best company for my shape in other ways, they were just my only option, and it was nice to have bands that fit me. Eventually, a girl from the forum emailed me in English, and we had a discussion about bra fitting in which we were able to come to an agreement.

Honestly, the incident really discouraged me from blogging. People sometimes forget that bloggers have feelings, too. I can handle random trolls, but I was really saddened to see myself attacked, and my body analyzed like a piece of meat, by women on a forum I had respected.

I was also dismayed by an incident with Ewa Michalak herself a while ago, commonly referred to as "strapgate," in which Ewa asked for feedback on the smaller band sizes, and received many, many replies (including myself) saying the straps were too widely placed. Then she proceeded to attack her loyal customers, saying they were *all* wearing the wrong size, and threatened to discontinue smaller band sizes.

She also wrote a blog post supposedly debunking my fitting method. In it, she shows a woman with a 97cm (38") underbust, and she suggests that the "UK sizing method" would fit this woman into a 70KK, or 32KK. The problem is, she's completely wrong! I can't imagine how she managed to shove this poor woman into such a tight band, but that is certainly not how I measure. If I were fitting this woman, I would use a 38 band as a starting place. Because EM bands are not very stretchy, they run tight in larger band sizes, so I would probably suggest that she go up a size, based on her personal comfort. That means there's a good chance I would have fit her into a 90F/40F, exactly the same size as Ewa! And yet she ridicules the "British fitting method" without having any idea how it works.

She also ignored that women in the larger band sizes are perfectly happy with the fit of Ewa bras. It's specifically the smallest band sizes and biggest cup sizes that have this construction error. The straps were bad for me in a 26HH, but when I grew a few cup sizes and landed in a 26JJ, the straps were truly intolerable, making arm movement difficult, sliding off my shoulders, and causing me a lot of pain. Ewa Michalak bras are no longer wearable for me. And honestly, this whole experience left me with no interest in supporting Ewa's business any longer.

Today, I saw yet another thread on Balkoneta attacking myself, as well as several other bloggers. I don't understand why these women assume that we won't see the nasty things they're saying (since I discovered Biubiu and Ewa Michalak, it's a decent bet I'm good at deciphering Google Translate!) and I don't understand why all this nastiness is necessary. I know that I would be more than happy to hear suggestions for how I could find better bras. I've definitely struggled a lot to find things for myself. I would be overjoyed to be able to wear a wider selection of bras- as far as my vanity is concerned, I would far rather be able to wear a wide variety of pretty bras, than be able to say I'm a 26 band. Also, most Americans still think a 32 band is absolutely teeny tiny, so saying I was a 28 or 30 would sound unbelievable to most people I know.

Anyway, I wanted to share this photo, as sort of a counter to Ewa's ridiculous "UK measuring method" post, and as proof that a larger band size would not, in fact, work for me. The bra in question is a 30DD, and as you can see, my breasts are literally spilling out underneath it. At the time, this was the size that many +4 calculators gave me (my breasts have grown since this photo was taken.) The fact is, as my breasts have grown larger and heavier over time, the base has spread out over my ribcage. I have breast tissue extending from just under my collarbones to a few inches above my waist. I do wish the base could be higher up- you could see my waist better in clothes, I'd look slimmer, and I'd probably be able to wear a larger band size, as my back gets wider higher up. But this is the body I have, and it seems awfully nasty and petty to suggest that I'm some sort of freak for having it.

Redefining Sexy: To Each Their Own!

At the beginning of the month, Les Gros Bonnets asked a pretty big question for the world of bra bloggers: How do we redefine "sexy"? She has a whole roundup of other posts for you lovely readers to mull over, but I decided to take a stab at what I consider "sexy" to be, for me personally.

I know that at a size 12/14, I'm not what everyone considers to be sexy. I also know that at a size 5/6 (which is what I was back in high school), I wasn't what everyone considers to be sexy. To me, sexy is in the eye of the beholder.

I don't have a physical type. If you lined up all the guys I have found to be attractive, you'd wonder why the heck they were all standing next to each other. Tall, short, skinny, fat, bearded, clean-shaven, white, black, Chinese... they don't really have a whole lot in common on the outside.

So what did I like about them? Their personality. To me, that's where someone's sexual allure really comes out. I've known plenty of conventionally attractive guys who couldn't get my engines revved to save their lives. I'm into emotional connections. I'm really, really drawn to confidence and excellent senses of humor.

So how does that translate into fashion? What makes me feel sexy? Wearing things that I love that are comfortable and make me feel confident.

For example:

Galaxy Print Big Underwear from Knickerocker

I cannot tell you how badass and amazing I feel in these high-waisted bottoms. They are so comfortable and so completely unique and amazing... I always feel like a rock star. They come right up to my natural waist and sit really well.

Tight-End Tights Original Shaping Tights from Spanx, in Currant

I bought these tights recently, and it is so incredibly nice to have colored tights that fit over my bum. They are completely amazing and I highly recommend them! They're soft and are of excellent quality. They also make my legs look fantastic. I wish my legs were purple because of these tights.

Le Petit No. 2 fragrance from Tokyomilk

This was the first perfume I ever bought for myself. I still love it completely, to this day. It's a beautiful fragrance that lingers but feels light and effortless. I don't feel like I'm ever choking people around me with my scent, and it makes me feel really good about how I smell.

What is sexy to you, readers? Do you agree with the mainstream view, or do you deviate?

Thin and Curvy nominated for a Brastop Award!

Hey everybody! I'm a little later than I meant to be in posting this, but this blog has been nominated for a "best blog" award by Brastop! There are many wonderful blogs nominated, all of which are definitely just as deserving of praise, but I am honored by the nomination, and would be even more honored if you would click here and vote for me. Voting ends October 23.

Am I Thin? A Followup to Brittany's "Am I Curvy?" Post

Brittany recently posted a phenomenal entry called, "Am I Curvy?" If you haven't read it, you should read it now, before continuing with my post. You can find it HERE.

This question I'm proposing isn't asked as often here on the blog, or in the emails, but I think it makes perfect sense to address both adjectives in the title of the blog.

Am I thin? Am I pretty enough? Am I a small enough pants size for people to find me attractive? Is my waist small enough? Should I lose 15 pounds? If I wear a XL, does that mean I'm fat?

The media bombards us women with immense insecurity regarding weight. The women you see on billboards have had their arms and thighs thinned out, their waistline smoothed, their cleavage enhanced... you get the picture. It's impossible to live up to the standard of someone who's half-photo, half-smudging tool.

I think now is a perfect time to address the elephant in the room. Y'know, the one who's been eating an extra cupcake here and there, and I'm going to ask myself a very serious question. Am I thin? Curvy has never been a concern of mine, and when Brittany and I first met in college, thin wasn't a concern either.

Then law school happened. There are two main types of stress reactions in law school: stress eating and stress-forgetting-to-eat. I fell into the former category, heavily. In addition, I moved from an area where walking around downtown involved endless hills, where my job had required me to walk up and down stairs every 20 minutes while doing rounds, and where taking hikes in the mountains was a common activity. I moved from a place that celebrated the outdoors and moving around to a place that celebrated shopping malls and restaurants. I was spending a great deal of my time studying, outside of commuting between class and home. When I took breaks from studying, I went out to eat with friends almost every time. I hardly cooked for myself those entire three years, which was very strange, considering that I'd almost decided to go to culinary school.

Unsurprisingly, I gained weight. And now, writing for this blog, I knew I'd be faced with criticisms about my weight. Why am I writing for Thin and Curvy, when I'm not "thin" by some people's standards?

Here's the thing. No matter what label you want to attach to me personally ("fat", "not thin", "sow", "elephant", or whatever other creative thing you can think of), I still love my body.  It may not be nearly as thin as Brittany's, nor will it ever be. When it comes to bra fit, she simply has a much smaller ribcage than I do. When it comes to clothes, she has a narrower waist and hips than I always have had. However, "thin" is not one size. "Thin" does not belong to one shape. "Thin," quite frankly, is all a matter of perspective.

So, am I thin?

For this blog's purposes, certainly. This is something that Brittany and I have discussed specifically. My ribcage is still small enough that I'm considered a smaller back size in bra fit. Edwards and Millers, the new lingerie company releasing in 26 backs and specializes in big-busts-small-bands, is going up to 34 bands. That's me! And for the majority of my bra-wearing life, I was a 32-band. I only, literally, went up to 34 a few months ago. That can be 100% attributed to "moving" stress.

For the real world's purposes? I have no idea, and quite frankly, the real world's opinion of my size doesn't matter. I love writing for Thin and Curvy and speaking to another audience of Brittany's. I don't want anyone thinking that I am trying to replace Brittany, or that I can provide the exact same advice about the exact same sets of problems. I am here to add another voice to this amazing blog, and am quite honored that Brittany asked me.

But what about you, dear reader? Are you thin?

That's something that only you have the power to determine for yourself. Everyone's going to have their opinion, of course, but the real problem with defining "thin" (just like defining "curvy") is that everyone's going to draw comparisons. Put me next to Brittany, and sure, I don't look as thin as she does. But put me next to the heaviest man on earth, and I'll look teeny tiny. What's most important is, just how important is being "thin" to you, anyway? As long as you feel beautiful/sexy/confident/cute/loveable/intelligent/witty/charming/etc., what does "thin" have to do with it?

Love your body, whether it's straight, curvy, thin, fat, tall, short... It's the only one you've got.

Am I Curvy?

“Am I curvy?”

“My measurements are X. Does that count as curvy?”

I've been hearing variations on this question a lot recently. I wanted to take a moment to address it, which is something I've been dreading a bit. Because I get the feeling that when you ask me that, you’re really asking,

“Am I beautiful? Can you validate me?”

Yes. You are beautiful. You are wonderful and unique and utterly gorgeous. I’m sorry that we live in a world that doesn't appreciate beauty in all of its diverse forms, instead making you feel like you need to fit into some arbitrary and narrow standard to feel beautiful.

Let me tell you something else. At the end of the day, I am just some lady on the internet who writes a blog. Please don’t give me the power to define your self image. I’m not the ultimate authority on what curvy is or isn't  or what the most comfortable bra size for you is, or anything else. I’m here to help, and if my advice is useful to you- great! If not- ignore it! Anyone is welcome to read, anyone is welcome to comment and participate, if this blog is useful and meaningful to you. You do not have to fit into some arbitrary measurement to be reading this.

Now, to answer the question on a more practical level:

Most women have some amount of curve. Humans aren't made up of straight lines! I personally think of “curvy” as more of a spectrum than any sort of absolute thing. Also, the idea of there being some specific cutoff is ridiculous- among other reasons, because your other features, such as your bone structure, height, body shape, etc, are going to affect how curvy you appear.

That being said, I think that the word “curvy,” as well as this blog, will probably be most useful to you as a description, if your curves- your breasts, hips, bum, and/or thighs- are different enough in measurements from the rest of you, as to cause you significant problems fitting into off-the-rack clothes or lingerie. My main target audience- ie, who I am thinking of when I write most of my posts- are women who have these problems. Again, that’s not a very specific cutoff- intentionally so- but to me, this tends to be the most useful way to use that word.

Curvy is not synonymous with beautiful.
Curvy is not synonymous with sexy.
Curvy is not synonymous with worthy.

It doesn't define who you are. It doesn't define whether men will find you attractive. I honestly, really, truly believe that there is beauty in all shapes and sizes. If you really feel like you want to describe yourself as curvy, and that it’s a useful word to use, then go for it. If you feel like other words are more useful, then that’s fine. You are still amazing and beautiful and sexy and gorgeous. And totally welcome here.

Lingerie Lust List: A/W 2013 Edition

I have a confession, everyone. I may very well spend all of my money on bras within the next few months. Can you really blame me, when companies are coming out with goodies like these?

A newsworthy offering from Ewa Michalak!

I never knew how much I wanted a newsprint bra until I saw one. Ever since EM provided the sneak-peek photos on their Facebook page, I have been drooling. The panties are adorable as well, and I can easily see myself splurging to get the matching set.

If I was wearing this bra right now, I'd be smiling just as wide!

This is called the "Seaside", and you can find it here at SugarShape! I'm a huge fan of SugarShape, and I highly recommend their bras if you find Panache wires to be too wide and Ewa/other Polish brands' wires to be too narrow. I just love the ice blue hue and the pinstripes! You also can't forget that SugarShape provides bra charms that you can attach to a hook on the center gore of all of their bras! They add a lovely touch.

The most beautiful purple ever, on one of my favorite bras ever.

Ah, the Cleo Marcie, in an exclusive color at Bravissimo. I think it's a real shame that other retailers don't get to benefit from this completely gorgeous colorway, because it is stunning. It's such a rich, deep shade of purple... love at first sight for this gal.

The color is called Vanilla. I think it's extremely fitting!

This is the Tutti Rouge Liliana in Vanilla, and while the Liliana isn't the best fit for me, I absolutely adore this colorway. This isn't just a boring white bra -- this is a softer, more muted ivory, with an adorable hot pink ribbon detail.

Do any of you have bras you've been drooling over this season? It seems as though a lot of companies have stepped up their game for this season, and it's extremely exciting!

Skirt Review: Pink Clove UK's Lace Skater Skirt

First of all, I have to say I never would've heard of Pink Clove had it not been for this blog post by The Full Figured Chest. Thank you, Holly! I fell in love with the Gold Roses Foil Pencil Skirt, so I headed over to their website and began to drool. I'm at the very low end of their size range, so I consider myself lucky to be able to shop their styles! I ended up purchasing both the Gold Roses Foil Pencil Skirt and the Lace Skater Skirt in UK size 16 (US size 12). I'm going to review both eventually, but I'm starting with the Skater Skirt. I'm mainly going to be writing about business-appropriate clothing here, but I want to show y'all a bit of my casual side as well.

Here's the image from the Pink Clove website:

This is how it looks on a woman who is 5'11" and knows how to model!

How could I resist? It's gorgeous. Here's how it looks on me:

I need to take lessons from Brittany or the Pink Clove model on how to pose for pictures. Yeesh.

First, I want to say this skirt is exceptionally comfortable. The waist band is nice and stretchy, and there are no annoying zippers to worry about.

Showin' off that batwing shirt. It's supposed to be a dress. I got it at Bebe. It's so short
I have to wear it as a shirt, or else I'll get arrested. Getting arrested isn't a good look.

I love where this dress hits my leg. It's not so short as to be indecent, but it doesn't cut me off and make me look shorter than I am. Since I'm only 5'3", other ladies may find this skirt to be a bit short. For me, however, it's perfect and I love it.

Me, deeply contemplating that wind chime. It was here when I moved in.
I may take it with me when I leave. Shh, don't tell.

I often have trouble with skirts being shorter in the back than in the front. I don't have that problem with this skirt, and it's lovely! Pink Clove understands that their customers may have sizeable butts to cover, and they take that into consideration in their design. A well-covered butt: it's a beautiful thing.

The stretch-lace layer has a really lovely sheen to it.

I love the stretch-lace. I love lace, but its inflexibility makes it hard for me to be able to rock it. I need lace that can deal with curves, and this stretch lace is absolutely perfect. Underneath the lace is a black slip that also has some stretch to it, making this skirt extremely accommodating to different body shapes.

I really love the wind chime. I also need new props. 

This is a very easy skirt to wear, and I think it'll transition perfectly from season to season. I'm rocking a bit of a fall look in this picture, but I can easily lighten it up for summer with a pink tank top and sandals. It can go to winter easily with some tights and a cardigan.

Outfit Summary:
Shirt: Bebe "dress" that I got last year
Skirt: Pink Clove UK Lace Skater Skirt
Shoes: Rocketdog flats
Belt: Charming Charlie's
Awkward Photo Face: delightfully my own
Windchime: ???!
Bra: SugarShape BH Pure Ivory, in 85/110 (note: I am wearing the left strap really loose because I got a new tattoo two days ago and I don't want to irritate it. This bra, in the Ivory, runs a bit larger in band and cup than their BH Leyla, which is my favorite bra of all time. Since I normally wear a 34HH at the present moment, I'd say the Pure Ivory is more of a 36HH.)

For our readers who are blessed with a bum like mine, I hope this review inspires you to check out this skirt! It's beautiful, insanely comfortable, and well-priced. Can't beat that!