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Tidings of comfort and joy

Tidings of comfort and joy

When I think of the upcoming holiday season, comfort and joy are two words that I feel accurately reflect my thoughts and attitudes towards the months of November and December. I’m sure that this holiday season will be somewhat different than in years past, but in looking forward to the season ahead, I strive to keep these in my mind. 2020 has been a unique year of challenges and trials; however, if I take a few minutes to reflect on the positives of these unprecedented times, there have been many lessons that I have learned that I hope will stay with me long after this pandemic has passed.

The past few months have been a time of learning to embrace working from home, reprioritizing commitments, finding enjoyment in additional time at home, and unexpected additional time spent with my family. One of the biggest highlights for me has been the daily opportunity to wear comfortable attire consisting of leggings, tunic sweatshirts, and sneakers. I enjoy shopping in local boutiques and frequently see bralettes shown with cute sweaters, sweatshirts, and button up flannel shirts, but developed a preconceived notion that they were not for me.

As I recently described my dream wardrobe to a few of my friends on a Zoom happy hour recently, one told me that she had added bralettes and t-shirt bras to her daily lineup. She also mentioned that she had difficulty with tops and bras fitting her desirably due to her chest size. She found that the bralettes gave her good support. Good support was all she had to say to pique my curiosity. A few of the other friends reported that taking off their bra was one of the first things that they did when they walked through the door and were home for the evening. I did think to myself, though, if the bralette works for my friend then surely it is worth a trial. I’ve always been self-conscious about my bra size and have avoided the notion of a bra that might not be as supportive as what I’m used to. I have stuck with my Wacoal and Chantelle underwire bras for years (which are fantastic, by the way). Those two bras have served me well throughout my years of “motherhood” and I feel like I owe them my loyalty.

After hearing my friends talk about their positive experiences with bralettes, I decided that if I was ever going to try one, 2020 was going to be the year. When I went to try the bralettes on at Confidentially Yours, the Bra Sisters were kind and eager to assist me in finding my correct size and color. I was excited to find that there was a wide variety of sizes and colors available. Since I have fall and comfort clothing on my mind, there were a wide variety of fall fashion forward colors available – jade green, maroon, black, teal, yellow, and beige. I also was pleasantly surprised to find out that the size of bralette that was recommended for me was what I would purchase in most tops that I own. I tried on the Cosabella Curvy Collection. These bralettes feature a smaller band and fuller bust. A petite bra fits band size 28-30 cups DD-F. These range in size to an x-large which fits a band size of 38-40 with a cup size of G-H.

The bralette fit snug over the shoulders but once it was in place and everything was secure, it was very comfortable. I gave it a few minutes in the dressing room to make sure that I still felt comfortable a few minutes later, and decided to purchase it. I decided on a neutral color for my first bralette. I wanted to make sure that I liked the fit before I branched out to a fun color. I also felt that I could wear the neutral color with most anything if I did not care for it.

For the next few days, I wore the bralette while I was at home each day. I washed it each evening and it held up quite well for the frequency of washes. The bralette was very supportive, but it did not feel like I was wearing a bra. I love the racerback feature of my new undergarment and it also features a flattering neckline, as well. I ran errands while wearing the bra and did not feel like I overstepped any boundaries by doing so. On a rainy Saturday afternoon, I fell asleep while wearing the bralette. I truly didn’t know what I had been missing.

All this to say, I was convinced that it was not for me until I tried it….but now that I have been influenced by the bralette, I definitely have my eye on the yellow. I will be back.

To wear or not to wear a bra? The truth about going braless during the Stay At Home Order

To wear or not to wear a bra? The truth about going braless during the Stay At Home Order

Have your bra-wearing habits loosened up, literally and figuratively, since the stay at home order went into place? It might sound good and feel free and liberating, but there are some pros and cons to weigh. Now let’s dive into the details! 

Thought: Comfort – it just feels good to “let it all go” now that I can!

It’s really the main reason…so need we say more?

Reality: Deliveries, house mates, ZOOM calls, etc.

Think about your daily home habits and the people that you live with. You may feel some temporary comfort, but it may not be sustainable over time and it’s not great for your breasts, either. We explain more below. 

Thought: It’s better for your breasts to NOT wear a bra.

There have been discussions that share that women who wear bras have saggier breasts compared those who don’t, and that by not wearing a bra could improve the shape of the breasts. We totally disagree. Read below.

Reality: Damage to your breasts

In reality, wearing a bra preserves the delicate connection between the mammary gland and the pectoral muscles known as the Cooper’s ligaments. It is important that these very subtle connections are not exposed to any undue stress. Therefore, by wearing a bra, the breasts lift upward, improve posture, and prevent a lot of spine problems as well as long-term back pain. 

Thought: It’s more comfortable to go without a bra

It feels a whole lot better to not have to deal with digging, pulling, and pressing bras.

Reality: Bras can be comfortable, we promise!

A bra that doesn’t fit can cause a woman of any shape or size to have pain. We promise that bras can truly be comfortable. The key, though, is finding the right combination of style, shape, and size for your unique needs. This can vary not only by brand but also by style. Your Bra Sisters at Confidentially Yours can help you find the right bra JUST FOR YOU. Before COVID-19, we’d happily welcome you into our comfortable fitting rooms in our storefront and take you through the process of a professional bra fitting. However, because we cannot be open at this time for an in-person fitting, we can still work to help you by phone and email to find a bra that helps you feel comfortable and supported and then ship it directly to you! Feel free to call us at (217) 366-0244 and email at [email protected]

Thought: No sweating under the breast if I go braless

You might think that by not wearing a bra you will avoid sweat under your breasts from pooling. But in reality, it’s about choosing the right bra with the right materials.

Reality: There are “bra alternatives” that may better suited to your current casual living/working conditions

Stay at home order certainly falls into the category of casual. So why not find some “bra alternatives” that may be better suited for the t-shirts, sweatshirts, and tank tops that you’ve recently become accustomed to living instead of dress shirts and business / office attire.

  • Bralettes: The bralette is a slightly more unstructured option than a typical bra but it still provides support and brings about a feeling of comfort! The bralettes we offer come in various sizes, fabrics and more. Shop our Bralettes here.
  • Sports Bras: Sports bras can be a nice alternative, especially if you’re taking multiple walks with the dog during the day, or getting out to walk your block for some much needed fresh air. Even though the impact of walking may not be as much as your typical jog or exercise class, you still need to protect those delicate ligaments in your breast and supporting muscles. A good sports bra can help so very much! Shop our Sports Bras here.
  • Seamless Bras: A seamless soft bra (many of which come pocketed) have a high cotton content with no uncomfortable seams and soft removable molded & padded cups. It’s all about comfort and limiting chafing with a seamless bras! Shop our Seamless Bras here.
  • Cami with built in bra: Camisole tops are a great alternative to going braless and still provide some support. Amoena’s popular Valletta camisole top is soft and comfortable and features an integrated shelf bra with modal pockets. Shop our Amoena Valletta Camis here.

We miss seeing all of you in the store, but in the meantime, we’re here to serve you through our website, www.cybras.com, by phone at (217) 366-0244 and via email at [email protected].