Measuring Yourself for a New Bra

One of the things which can trip a lot of women up when choosing new underwear is the fact that they either don’t measure themselves properly before buying, or perhaps worse still they buy the same size they have always bought. Your bra size may change over time and lets face it, a few years may have passed since you last measured yourself properly.

Most lingerie and underwear stores don’t measure you using tape measures any more, but it is worthwhile knowing how to do this in the comfort of your own home so that you have a good idea what you are looking for when you are shopping for your next bra.

The video below will show you in a few easy steps how to accurately measure yourself for a new bra.

Beachwear Fashion

There are lots of situations where you would prefer to look your best and the beach is definitely going to be on a lot of people’s lists as we get into the Summer season. So, in the few weeks or maybe even months before you venture out onto the sand you may have been getting your body into shape. However, all your hard work may count for nothing if you don’t have the right beachwear. There are a number of things to take into account, and you may want to consider having multiple outfits, or at least multiple items of beachwear to suit different situations.

For example, if your day will consist mainly of lounging in the sun, then a knock out bikini will probably be the order of the day, but if you are planning on swimming, then maybe you could go with a one piece swimsuit. Maybe you would also go for the one piece suit if you don’t want to get too much of your body out. There are more and more cutaway one piece swimsuits on the market now. Sometimes they are called monokinis, but they are designed to keep you looking stunning even if you are a bit shy about your body. Don’t forget too, that sometimes, the temperature could drop unexpectedly as the clouds move in or the wind picks up and so a suitable coverup should also be on your list of essential beachwear fashion.

The cover up is something that a lot of people forget about until the last minute and this should not be the case. You should put as much thought and effort into choosing a nice cover up as you would to choose your bikini or swimsuit. It should be casual enough to throw on at a moment’s notice, which means it should be lightweight, not bulky. Look around for a nice Kaftan or casual dress.

Don’t forget that to finish off the look you will need suitable shoes for the beach as well as appropriate accessories. A nice pair of flip flops are always a winner for strolling along the sand, and for when you are taking lunch in a beach side restaurant, a nice pair of fashioable sandles will fit the occassion nicely along with a nice flowing skirt or sarong to make you feel more lady like and less exposed. Other accessories will finish things off nicely such as a nice pair of sunglasses, a hat and a nice bag to match your outfit. By the way, the choice of bag is important. Don’t just go for any old bag you have lying around or the cheapest one you have found at a local market. The bag you carry helps to define you and so you may have two or three bags for different occassions or to match your outfit for that particular day or activity.

So, remember, your beach attire is much more than just a bikini or a swimsuit. You need to consider your whole outfit to ensure you always look your best in every situation this Summer

Choose a Swimsuit that Flatters YOU

No-one is perfect and everyone looks different in the mirror compared with how they are viewed by other people. However, if you don’t think you look good in the mirror then you won’t have the confidence to wear that killer swimsuit on the beach of your choice this Summer. If you choose carefully, a good swimsuit can hide what you believe are your imperfections and can draw attention to the assets you think are your best. A flattering swimsuit is only flattering if it looks good on you – never mind what it looks like on the models in the catalogues pages. Having said that, the flattering swimsuit will show off everything that is good about a woman’s figure. There are some tips I would like to share with you that will help you decide on the swimsuit for you. These tips are based on a combination of the best colour, print, cut and lines:

1 – Use prints. Printed fabrics can trick the eye into following a different line to the one your body might actually possess. If you are self conscious and think that you look too thin in a swimsuit, be on the lookout for swimsuits with bold exciting prints in bright colours. This simple rule applies to both one piece suits and bikinis. If you are the opposite and want to take attention away from the fact that you are heavier, you will still find swimsuits with prints you can use, but in this case you should look for smaller prints on darker backgrounds and less contrast because this tends to have a slimming effect. Now, the interesting thing is that you can use this technique in combination, so if you have a boyish upper body figure but are fuller around the hips, then you could go for a combination of bold bright print on top and a darker, simpler bottom half. That’s the power of using prints with the right combination of colours and patterns across different parts of the suit.

2 – Choose a one piece swimsuit if you are overweight, especially if you carry weight around the stomach area. One piece swimsuits will have the effect of smoothing out sagging skin too.

3 – Some people feel too exposed and uncomfortable in a bikini, especially if they are larger. It is important to choose a swimsuit that emphasises your best assets. If you have a classic hourglass figure, most one piece bathing suits will flatter you. If you have large breasts, look for a suit that has adequate built in support in the top so that you can show off some cleavage without looking trashy. If you have an amazing bottom, then go for a suit with a high cut skimpy backside.

4 – Have you heard of the Monokini. This is essentially a bikini that has some extra fabric joing the two halves together to essentially make a relatively revealing one piece swimsuit. This type of suit is ideal if you are pear shaped, i.e. your legs and bottom are larger than your bust and waist. This works because there is less fabric joining the top and bottom halves of the suit and so it draws attention to your torso and giving the illusion that it is longer and slender. This also means that attention is drawn away from your lower body.

5 – If you have small breasts then go for the classic triangle top. This doesn’t just apply to bikinis, you can get the same shape in a one piece swimsuit too. Most of these types of top come with padding, some of which may even be removable, allowing you to create the illusion of larger breasts.

6 – If you are apple shaped, i.e. there isn’t much difference in size between your top and bottom halves, then go for the suit that emphasizes both your chest and your bottom.

7 – Try a Brazillian cut bikini for a different shape on the beach

8 – You could also look for a padded or push up type bra as part of a two piece bikini to draw attention to your assets.

9 – Don’t forget that in some circumstances, swimsuits are not necessarily for swimming in. For some Summer adventures and perhaps cruises etc, the call is purely for fashion as the most it will be used for is sunning yourself at the side of the pool. Go for a bandeau, tube top or strapless one piece for this, especially if shoulder tan lines are a concern.

10 – If however, your activities will include some swimming you may want to go specifically for a one piece suit or a cropped top with a pair of swim shorts or trunks. Especially if your swim includes other activities such as pool games or aquarobics. The aim here would be for functionality over fashion.

Finally – shop around. Just because you have heard of a certain brand of bikini or swimsuit, it doesn’t mean they have something to fit the bill for you. Check out all the different brands and styles as they are extensive and so you are bound to be able to find something that is absolutely perfect for you.

Calypso Sliding Halter

The Calypso Sliding Halter bikini top from Wahine. Stunning sliding bikini top with halterneck and tie at the back in unusual leaf design. Match with the Wahine Calypso Fold over Rio pant and be the belle of the beach!

Price: £23.00

Kaleidoscope Double Strap Fixed Tri

The Kaleidoscope Double Strap Fixed Tri bikini top from Wahine. Lovely tri bikini top in fun reds, oranges and pinks with white stripe which ties at the neck, has a clipback and removable cups. Match with the Wahine Kaleidoscope Rio Pant.

Price: £14.25

Electric Disco Hook Front Bandeau

The Electric Disco Hook Front Bandeau bikini top from Wahine. Sexy black and white bandeau bikini top with moulded cups, removable neck tie and clipback. Match with the Wahine Electric Disco Double Ring Side Rio Pant or the Wahine Electric Disco Ring Side Hipster Pant.

Price: £20.00

Superstar Banded Halter with Gold Ring

The Superstar Banded Halter bikini top in Midnight with gold ring from Wahine. This banded halter top has removable cups and ties at the neck and back to give a flattering shape. Match with the Wahine Superstar Double Ring Slim Side Hipster Pant or the Superstar Basic Bikini Pant with Sash for a stylish look on the beach.

Price: £14.25

Secret Garden Ring Front Bandeau

The Secret Garden Ring Front Bandeau from Wahine. Colourful bandeau bikini top with removable halter strap, tie back and front ring. Ideal for no strap marks! Match with the Wahine Secret Garden Tie Side Rio Pant for a pretty, colourful bikini.

Price: £21.25

Wallflower Hook Bandeau with Neck Tie

The Wallflower Hook Bandeau with neck tie in Midnight from Wahine. Sexy bandeau bikini top in colourful print with moulded cups, removable soft tie at the neck and tie back. Match with the Wahine Wallflower Rio Pant for a beautiful stylish bikini.

Price: £18.50

Romantics Strawberry Cupcake Balconette Frill Bikini Top

Romantics Strawberry Cupcake Balconette Frill Bikini Top from Storm in a D Cup. Lovely bikini top in pink with underwire, frill edge and clipback. Match with the Storm in a D Cup Romantics Strawberry Cupcake Frill Skirt Pant for a pretty feminine look. Sizes: D-G Cup.

Price: £55.00