The Perfect Bra

The quest for the perfect bra seems never ending. They are always coming up with new fabrics, new techniques, new forms of support. My friend TC says "The perfect bra is NO bra!" Maybe I'm not so ordinary ..... or is the word "girly" ? ..... but I walk into the lingerie dept of a store and look at all the many different styles, colors, etc, and am totally baffled by the sheer number of choices in the matter. And barely even know where to begin looking. Of course, any good saleswoman will tell you to know your size first. Ok girls, how many of you really know your correct size ? At least, according to the way you're supposed to. Measuring for the band number... that part is easy. But ... not to get too graphic, but the next measurement is around the fullness of the breast. I can honestly say that mine are fuller if someone is holding them up in place, and gravity isn't playing evil tricks on me!! So... which number is it? hmm? *chuckles* Ok, Ok, I have a good idea what the right number should be.... so you start perusing all the choices in said size. And take a few into the fitting room with you, to give them a try. If you've gotten the band number correct, you'll know it in an instant. Too small and it won't reach around you, too large and you'll feel like you're swimming in an oversized tshirt.

The other part that gets difficult for me is ... in my job, I need one that provides support and comfort for me to move around. (ok, that sounds like a Playtex 18 Hour ad!) I don't want pretty laces that feel itchy if I'm hot and sweaty at work. Nothing worse than a woman who has to be scrunching and scratching because of some damned lace. Mostly, a bra with cotton blends works best for me there. But, why are they always in some drab neutral beige or grey? (Hello bra-makers, are you listening ?)

OK... so I've forged ahead into the lingerie dept with the correct size in mind. I am searching for two bras ... one for work and one that's lacier, prettier. I find the work bra with a very soft cottony feel, and its in a heather grey. (well, since i wear navy blue every day as a work uniform .. this should work well). The texture feels nice, no rough edges or seams anywhere, but goodness! It has "pre formed" cups. And yes, I get silly, and poke it, only to watch it pop right back out at me again. whoa. OK. I've scoffed at these for a long time now, but maybe, just maybe, there's something to them. Afterall, women wouldn't keep buying them if they didn't do what they're supposed to! The second that I spy is a deep red one, with very fine black lace over the cups. Pretty!!!!!! With two choices in hand, its off to the fitting room.

Behind closed doors, I shed my shirt and get out of the bra I'm wearing. (Which, I might add, is the cottony work one, which has molded itself to my shape, and which I call my fav. But eventually, one of the wires will snap, and that's the end of that one.) First, I'll try on the soft grey one. with the molded cups. And I snicker as I fling it around me, upside down and backwards, in order to hook the snaps (I've never mastered the slipping it on, bending over or hooking it from the back way.) The snickers are because these molded cups make the bra pop into odd positions from behind. Turning it around, and slipping it into place, I check the results in the mirror. Hmmm. Different than what I'm used to. *poke* ..... *pop* (insert cheesey sound effect here! hahaha ) Yep, still keeps its shape. And my next thought is .. wonder how this will work in the washing machine? But.. I model and preen, turning this way and that, in front of the mirror. Checking to see how "the girls" look in this thing. Not bad, overall. So I slip my shirt back on because things might look different that way. And ... its ok. [If they still made the one that was "my fav" that's what I would be buying. Sadly, they quit making it.] But back to checking the mirror.... with this new one? I seem to be pointing in two different directions .... right and left, rather than forward! This... is.... weird. But it sure is comfy, I think to myself as I move around, imitating my moving a few boxes from the floor to a bench, and back down again. (bending over and spilling out of one's cups is not a good look at work!) Possibilities.

Next, time to try the pretty one. Same thing to hooking and spinning and slipping into this bra that declares "more cleavage". Once I get into it, and check things out, I find that I am totally "smooshed" into this bra. I check the tag, making sure I grabbed the right size, and yes, I did. But what the heck? I'm not even bent over and I'm spilling out all over the place. This is not feasible. This does not make me look good in any way. Who want's to be all smooshed up? I wanted something that would show a little more curve, not smoosh. Nope. This one is not the one for me. Too bad. It's very pretty!

The history of the bra is inextricably intertwined with the social history of the status of women, including the evolution of fashion and ever changing views of the body. If you're interested in learning more, you can at : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_brassieres .

Bra shopping is not on my Top 10 list of things I enjoy doing. It's more a necessity than pleasure. However, as with most things, I take it in stride, and try to find the humor in it.
And in case you're wondering ... I bought the grey one. :)

HUGS to everyone!