An Invitation for You to Move with Us

We are excited to share some great news with you. First, our Carissa Shirt and Amanda Shirtdress are featured in Oprah Magazine's February issue on page 94. Adam loves us! What can we say, most men do.

Secondly, our brand change is now complete. If you haven't already done so, please bookmark our new site http://carissarose.com/. I implore you to visit our new blog and comment! Really, let the commenting begin. Being featured in O is a great way to introduce a new brand, and while the shoppers are buying, they're not commenting on the blog. So I'm asking all you faithful Bratique Helene blog commenters to please move with us.

Perky, Seamfree (large) Breasts

The last client I fit in a bra (she was really a friend as I'm moving out of bra fitting and into designing more apparel) was a single, thirty year old nurse. I don't know why I feel the need to give you that background. We fit her in a G/GG/H cup, depending on the brand, with a size 32 back band.

We found a beautiful, but expensive, three part seamed cup bra. But being on a limited budget and given her lifestyle and wardrobe needs we opted for the less expensive t-shirt bra. Now, as you hopefully know, a seamed bra helps reduce nipple show-through by placing the nipple directly behind the seam. The pressure of the seam facilitates keeping the nipple "under wraps".

However, without seams women are nervouse of nipples expressing themselves at inopportune times. Thus the client purchased a pair of nipple concealers.

Which just seems like a bunch of work to me. Is Pamela Anderson what we wish to attain? Big, round, perky, smooth and nipplefree boobs? Definitely women think this strategy - seamfree bra coupled with nipple concealers (it cost us about $115 to get out the door that day) is necessary when wearing tight knit tops.

What about you?  Are nipple concealers required to feel confident? For what its worth, I wore a similar thing when nursing my third child, which is probably why I'm not interested in wearing them now. But, then again, I don't even have a seamfree bra.  I don't look nor feel good in tight knit tops.

Why the neckline is so important

All day yesterday I wore this sweater (over the Carissa Rose Farrah Shell in persian red) I received for Christmas.  After wearing it twice the tie broke so I had to wear it completely buttoned up with the cowl neck, as opposed to just buttoning one button and cinching the waist with the tie.

As I walked the cowl neck had a life of its own.  The thing bounced each time I took a step.  I guess resting on a FF bust was just too much of a spring board for it. 

Which segues us into the neckline discussion.  The neckline is important (in addition to no cowl necks allowed) because if its too low, "you look like a sl*t"! At least that's how one client put it. She followed her comment with, "if I get something that fits the neckline and bust, then I just look chubby because its big in the waist". And she is a curvy Italian, size 4 SW (small well-endowed) in our line.

Even wear to work pieces have necklines so low that they require wearing the ubiquitous camisole, which adds extra bulk, which is usually unwanted bulk.

Over to you, what are your neckline pet peeves?  Or better yet, what are the necklines you feel good in and enjoy wearing?

Pretty Sleepwear for the Full Bust

Just this week a client emailed us looking for a sleep solution.

As you know we are fans of Sleep Top (we have to give a shout out to our neighbor Margeurite McGee Haygood the designer).  I have one and it is in my sleep bra rotation.  We even had one client purchase their Sleep Top on Amazon.

I am super excited to introduce you to Bijte.  Several months ago Diana St. Louis called me and spoke about her new line of indulgent sleepwear for the full bust.  Bijte targets the small band-big cup, beginning with C cup.  Each style has an inner mesh sling (also known as a cookie) for soft support. 

Ms. St. Louis is sourcing beautiful fabrics, lace and silk, to use in her designs.  I vouch for the high quality fabrics as I'm familiar with the fabric houses Bijte uses.  In addition, Diana is a pleasure to talk with. 

My birthday is this week, Wednesday to be exact, and I'm thinking I should treat myself to one of these pieces.  I may be into bras, but my husband always reminds me, "but you don't wear lingerie".  This may be my chance.

Why Buttons are Evil

A few months ago I was enjoying a bowl of tortilla soup from the Mermaid Cafe in Neiman Marcus NorthPark, when I looked across the table to a pair of ladies walking by.  I was surprised when through the gape in one of the woman's button-down blouse I could see not only her bra but her stomach as well.  Oh my!  I felt for this unsuspecting lady because she had no idea that she was flashing people as she walked past them.  And actually being unaware is better than being insecure that you're going to flash people.  Insecurity is a defeating feeling.  Ignorance is bliss.

Buttons are hard to manage for small, medium and large bustlines.  If Jennifer Anniston causes a shirt to pucker and pull open . . . Both pattern makers we've worked with praise our hook & eye closure (our sewer and CFO have a different response though.  Hooks & eyes are cumbersome to sew and expensive to purchase).  Buttons have to be relatively closely spaced over the bustline to prevent the gaping, but putting so much pressure on one point of closure - a button - causes pulls and lines across the center front. 

Also take into account the height of the bustline.  The center bust point varies on bodies, and usually the gape occurs between the center bust point (where the nipple is in a bra) and the high waist.

I cringed when I saw this picture in The Financial Times.  It is slight, but her shirt isn't securely closed.  I wish the photographer would have taken her picture from the opposite side.

Lots of ladies are adept at safety pinning, able to do it in a matter of seconds.  Some women wear camisoles underneath their white button-downs so they feel covered in case of a pop.  I have only owned one button-down shirt in my life, and I put a snap inbetween the buttons where there was a pull.  I don't wear that shirt.

And that is why we think buttons are evil.  For women with large chests, we make button-down shirts that give that sleekly tailored look, but have a secure closure.

Merry Christmas

Months ago I read "Professional Pattern Grading for Women's, Men's and Children's Apparel" by Jack Handford.  His dedication reads as follows:

This book is dedicated to all those who share my philosophy that clothing is truly one of our necessities, along with food and shelter; but that food, regardless of the thought and care that goes into its preparation, is ephemeral and only the memory of it remains; that shelter represents an expensive and generally long-term investment that is not easily changed to suit our shifting moods. 

On the other hand, clothing can be as disposable as we wish, quicklky changed according to our needs and within a wide range of prices - and the pleasure and satisfaction that comes from wearing a well-designed, well-constructed and well-fitted garment of appropriate material can out live the most magnivicent meal without representing the expense or permance of housing.

Lovely, lovely, lovely.  I am likeminded with Mr. Handford and his sentiments.  Wearing clothes that we feel wonderful in is a more-than-positive experience.  It elevates our mood and we perform better.  That is our goal in designing clothes for women with large breasts.  We want you to look and feel your best.

I hope this holiday season you have the perfect mix of good food, warm shelter and excellent clothes that fit you well.

Behind the Scenes - Carissa Rose Launch

In the middle of November we had the Carissa Rose launch photo shoot.  Below are some pictures from the full day of shooting.  Notice how tall the model is compared to the stylists.  Yes, she has on very high heels which put her height well over six feet tall.  Model stature is giraffe-like, and I mean that in the best possible way.  Have you ever seen a giraffe walk?  It is one of the most stately and elegant things in nature.

The pictures of the dress on the stool looked a little like Victoria's Secret to me, not really the brand identity we're going for.  As you know we target the woman whose bust is bigger than the bras VC carries, but the dress pictures without the stool are some of my favorite pictures from the day.

I can't believe the developer is putting this picture of my husband kissing me on our new home page!  I'm not wearing a stitch of make-up, not that I normally do.  But if I knew I was going to be photographed, I'd put some make-up on my face!  At least my husband is more than good looking to compensate for me being au natural.

We're super excited about our new website and brand coming in early 2010.  I hope all women with large breasts looking for button-down shirts give us a try!  We'll knock their socks off, but keep their shirts securely buttoned.

P.S.  Dallas Child Magazine published a "Day in the Life" article about me, just in case you've ever wanted to know what I do during the day.  I lead a very exciting life.

In the print edition they mispelled my name with an E instead of an I - CarEssa Brown, with our new clothing line as Caressa Rose. 

The editor, who apologized profusely, explained that the mommy featured in Fort Worth Child was Caressa, so I too became Caressa.  I understand, everyone makes mistakes and Carissa is a hard name.  If I had a dime for all the times I've been called Clarissa.  UGH.