Tips for Beginners Archives - With love from Lou

Did you know that across the UK the majority of women are wearing the wrong size bra? When I was told this I have to admit that I wasn’t surprised. After all, I’d been buying the same size bra I’d bought as a teenager for most of my adult life. Needless to say, they were the wrong size and ridiculously uncomfortable. Looking back I can’t believe that I didn’t do something about it sooner.

But not only can wearing the wrong size of bra be uncomfortable, it can also be unflattering, cause bad posture and sagging, and even have an impact on your long-term breast health.

These days I’m much more clued up on how to check whether or not a bra is the right size for me or not when I’m out shopping. And today I’ve teamed up with the lovely people at Playtex to share some hints and tips that I’m sure will come in useful at your next bra fitting …

No slack in the back
The main thing to remember when you’re having a bra fitting is that the main support comes from the under band. Your bra should fit firmly around your body without digging in or being too slack. A good way to check this is by sliding two fingers under the back band once it’s fastened. If you can’t fit them under then it’s too tight, and if you can get more than two under there it’s too big! For maximum support the back band should be horizontal across your back, and not sliding up.

Be strap happy
Just like the under band, the straps of your bra should be firm, but without digging in or being too slack. You can easily adjust them so they sit firmly in place, but if you find yourself needing to tighten them a lot it may be worth double checking that it’s not too big at the back.

Fill your cups
Your breasts should be comfortably encased in the cups of the bra, and feel fully supported. If the cups are loose, with excess material then the cup size is too big, and if your breasts are over-spilling then it’s most definitely too small! At the front, the centre of the bra should fit flat against the chest. If it doesn’t, it’s another sign that the cups are too small.

Check your wires
Make sure the underwire sits flat from under your armpit around to the centre. It should follow the line of the bust and sit behind the breast tissue, not on it.

And remember, there are plenty of places on the high street who can measure you properly and give you fanastic advice about getting the perfect fit. My personal favourite is Debenhams, but you might have somewhere else in mind.

I hope you guys found this guide useful, especially if you’re planning on buying a new bra soon. And if you have any suggestions for other ‘tips for beginners’ posts then please let me know in the comments below. Maybe you’d like to take a look at my Shoe Shopping tips while you’re here?

Do you have any other bra fitting tips you would add to this list?
Be sure to let me know if you do!

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Shoe shopping is one of my favourite things to do, but I have to admit that over the years I’ve made many mistakes when trying to find the perfect pair of shoes. It’s safe to say that there’s a stack of shoe boxes hidden at the very back of my wardrobe, each one containing a pair of shoes that I regret buying because they turned out to be either too high, really uncomfortable or practically impossible to find an outfit to wear with!

In this post I’m going to be sharing my top tips for finding the perfect pair of shoes on your next shopping trip, and I hope it will stop you guys from making the same silly mistakes that I have …

Choose the right size
One of the most common mistakes I’ve made when shoe shopping in the past is buying them in the wrong size. That sounds ridiculous, I know, but sizes can vary from shop to shop. These days I always start by trying on the size that I usually am, and then ask to try on half a size up or down depending on whether they feel a little too big or small. Sometimes I find that the design of the shoe causes an issue with sizing, and other times it’s that the brand in general runs bigger or smaller than average. Places like Clarks also offer a foot measuring service, so you get the correct size in their shoes every time, and these days their styles are very on trend!

Ensure the shoes support your feet
When shopping for everyday shoes, check that the fabric or structure around your heel and lower ankle is rigid and offers some support to your foot. This will support your ankle and help avoid any serious problems in the future. It can also help to improve your posture – something I find really important due to having Scoliosis, a sideways curvature of the spine. You don’t really need to worry about this sort of support for occasion shoes though, as you won’t be wearing them for long periods of time.

Only shop for shoes in the afternoon
It’s a well known fact that feet tend to swell as the day goes on, so the best time to go shoe shopping is in the afternoon. This will give you a better chance of finding a pair of shoes that fit you well and will be comfortable enough to wear on a daily basis.

Pop a pair of socks in your bag
If you’re shoe shopping for something that you intend to wear socks or tights with, but you’re not wearing any that day, make sure you pop a pair in your bag to use during your trying on session. I’ve lost count of the times I’ve not done this and then ended up finding that the shoes or boots I’ve picked up have ended up not fitting properly once I’ve got them home.

Walk around the shop in them
Remember when your parents took you shoe shopping as a child and the shop assistant would make you walk around the shop a couple of times? Well, there was a reason for this! Having a walk around in a pair of shoes for a couple of minutes can really help you decide just how comfortable they are. If you can’t walk well in them in the shop then you won’t be able to walk well in them once you get them home. Trust me on this one guys, I would be rich if I’d had a pound for every time I’ve said “They’ll be fine once I get them home” and they haven’t been!

And last but not least, don’t buy if they’re too high
I think most people I know have been guilty of doing this at some point in their lives. They see a pair of unbelievably gorgeous shoes that they just have to have in their collection and, despite having an exceptionally high heel that they just know they won’t be able to walk in, they’ve bought them anyway! I was once told that a good way to test whether or not you’ll be able to walk in a pair of high shoes is to try them on, and then try to balance on your tiptoes. If your heels lift off the back of the shoes, they are fine. If your heels don’t move, then they are most definitely too high for you and no matter how hard you try, you’ll never be able to walk properly in them. I’ve given this a try with several pairs of shoes that I can and can’t walk in from my own collection and I can tell you honestly that this trick does work!

I hope you find this guide useful if you’re planning on going shoe shopping this year. And I’ll be back with another ‘for beginners’ post soon.

Do you have any other shoe shopping tips you would add to my list?
Why not leave me a comment and let me know?

Thanks for reading.

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Bra Fitting Tips for Beginners

Shoe Shopping Tips for Beginners