Carissa Rose by Bratique Helene - Fitting the Full Bust

An Invitation for You to Move with Us

2010-01-25T09:30:00.002-06:00

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

2010-01-18T08:28:00.000-06:00

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

2010-01-11T08:46:00.002-06:00

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

2010-01-04T08:00:00.006-06:00

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

2009-12-29T07:57:00.006-06:00

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

2009-12-21T10:45:00.001-06:00

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

2009-12-12T16:02:00.001-06:00

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.

Boobs of Yesteryear

2009-12-01T22:15:00.008-06:00

Back in the day before breast augmentation and implants, there were still big boobs. I guess being full busted wasn't so common then because Hollywood loved the stars with large breasts and small body frames. Think of the famous women of the 50's - Marilyn Monroe, Jane Russell and Jayne Mansfield, who is pictured below. They were valued for their big bustlines.

This picture actually warms my heart. Ms. Mansfield has such a small frame - look at her arms and waist, and a more than ample bosom. Do you think she would have been as accepted in Hollywood today? Are there any current celebrities who have that same body type? Natually, sans surgery?

Or would Jayne have felt societal pressure to have a reduction if one was available then?

And do you know who is looking at Ms. Mansfield's mounds of cleavage?

Ah well, fun fun fun!

De-bunking Bra Myths

2009-11-30T10:03:00.000-06:00

Bra Myths oftentimes stand in the way of us purchasing and wearing the bra that will optimize our assets.

1. If my bra leaves red marks on my body, it is too small.

Socks leave red marks, as do some panties. Even a hair band temporarily stationed around my wrist leaves red imprints on the skin and it does not indicate that the band is too constricting.

2. Making the straps tighter on my bra will lift my bustline.

Tightening the straps positions the bra better on the body, causing the cup to encapsulate the breast tissue more effectively. But the straps don't affect the height of the bustline as much as A) snugness of band, B) the best bra cup for your body, and C) the natural placement of the bustline on your torso.

3. I have to wash my bra after everytime I wear it.

In the heat of the Texas summer sure, wash your bra if its covered with sweat. Otherwise, use discretion to judge when its appropriate to wash your bras. If worn for a half day in mild weather, washing is unnecessary.

4. A bra expires after a certain date.

We have clients wearing bras that are five years old. Bras come and go out of rotation in our wardrobe for various reasons: weight changes, lifestyle changes (pregnancy, etc.) or we choose to stop wearing it for some other reason. When a bra is consistently uncomfortable, then it has expired.

5. The band should be comfortably loose.

The worst offender of all! Just a couple of weeks ago an acquaintance mentioned she had gone up from a 34C to a 36C because the 34 *felt* too tight. While I knew this wasn't the right move for her, being a C cup its not quite as imperative to have a snug band.

Do you know of more bra myths? Have I omitted one that really bugs you? If so please share your thoughts.

Big Breasts - Style on the Street

2009-11-22T22:36:00.001-06:00

Bloggers who profile street fashion are all the rage, even garnering front row seats at some of the most prestigious designer's runway shows.

This is a picture of me (in the Farrah Shell under my open cardi) with The Sartorialist blogger Scott Schuman. He was recently in Dallas for a book signing - I have never seen so many sky high platform pumps and boots in my life than in his audience that evening. His pictures are so famous that he's now a published author and much sought after photographer.

My favorite quote from his book, "She is one of my favorite subjects to shoot for the blog . . . she receives comments like, 'Oh she is sooo perfect.' . . . Julie has one leg slightly shorter than the other . . . and walks with a very slight limp. However, she has never let her physical challenges alter her appearance or diminish her presence".

He goes on to say, "In a world of fashion that celebrates a certain kind of beauty, I have so much respect for the people who don't let their non-fashion-world physique stand in the way of expressing the beautiful person that they know themselves to be."

The fashion world is mostly made up of easy to fit women, or at least women without prominent bustlines. In Mr. Schuman's book there is a picture of what appears to be an Italian ample bosom.

Check out this blog and tell me if you see any full bust women featured in street chic? What are your thoughts? Why is there a dearth of large breasts in the street fashion blogs?

Busline Quiz #2, And the winner is . . .

2009-11-16T06:46:00.000-06:00

First let me thank everyone who participated in our 2nd Bustline Quiz. It was markedly harder than last time (which only had one question) and I apprecite you giving it a go.

Below are the answers.

1. C - The cups are too small. I'm glad you all knew the right answer, which amazes that this fit issue is so prevelant.
2. B - size 34FF.
3. This was a gimme. All the answers were viable becuase the bra wardrobe is relative to lifestyle.
4. D - cut & sewn.
4. C - this was the question that was the toughest. 36C is the most common bra size sold, but still most women have bands too wide for their rib cage. We were lenient and put your name in the pot if you chose B.

Sadly to say we didn't have enough entries to have two awards. Thus we have one $70 Bratique Helene merchandise credit for the winner.

And the winner is . . . Maya! Congratulations Maya. Contact us and we'll help you select the best fitting new shirt for you.

Carissa Rose Holiday '09

2009-11-14T20:19:00.010-06:00

We are excited to announce the new Carissa Rose styles for Holiday '09.

You will look so beautiful in our Farrah stretch silk sleeveless shell (who knew I was good at alliteration?) you'll knock yourself off your feet! Available in both this hot persian red color and classic black for $90.

The picture really doesn't do this piece justice. We fashioned our Glenna wide strap camisole to not only fit large breasts, but also accentuate the waist. You've never looked so good in a cami. Available in both chocolate and black for $92.50.

We have a new white shirt style - Emma. Featuring our same great fitting bust & waist coupled with a long & lean silhouette over the hips. Made of high quality stretch cotton for $105.

These pieces are not available on our webiste, so please contact us for more details or to make your purchase.

Bustline Quiz #2

2009-11-08T13:18:00.001-06:00

Welcome to the second Bustline Quiz.

The rules are as follows: please post your answers to the blog, however they won't be published until the day we announce the winner, which is Monday, November 16. We'd like to award two prizes this time: 1st place - $70 credit toward Bratique Helene merchandise, 2nd place - $50 credit toward Bratique Helene merchandise. These credits don't expire and are fully transferrable. The catch is that we need a certain number of entries to have two awards. So tell your friends & family to enter as well!

1. What's wrong with this picture?

Its surprisingly hard to capture this on film, so here it is again in white:

a. the bra back band is too tight.
b. the shirt is too tight, nothing is wrong with the bra.
c. the cups are too small, cutting into the breast tissue.
d. the cups are seamed, a t-shirt bra will take away all that lumpiness.

2. What size is this bra?

a. 32GG
b. 34FF
c. 36E
d. 38D

3. A woman has these in her drawer:

Sports Bra (she likes to walk),

Underwire Bra (to look her best outside of the house),

Leisure Bra (when she comes home at night and still has to cook dinner).

Which of the following does she need to purchase to round out her bra wardrobe?
a. another sports bra because they get so gross & sweaty.
b. a special occasion bra to wear when she has to attend dressy functions.
c. a plunge bra so that she can wear V neck tops and not have the center of her bra peek through.
d. a t-shirt bra to wear with her tight knit tops.

4. Which type of bra cup gives the best support?
a. molded
b. seamless
c. stretch
d. cut & sewn (seamed)

5. What is the most common bra size in the US? Please also state your source or explain your reasoning.
a. 34B
b. 36C
c. 34D
d. 36D

The deadline to enter is Midnight CST Sunday, November 15. Happy Bustline Quizzing!

Empreinte - the Cadillac of bras

2009-11-02T05:00:00.004-06:00

Empreinte is a french brand of lingerie specifically made for women who are "generous of breast". They are at the high-end of the full bust lingerie market.

The lace is absolutely stunning.

The construction is solid to give strong support and a pretty shape.

This is the epitome of feminine luxury, to encase your breasts in soft, decadent embroidered mesh that will also make your bustline look fantastic.

If you've spent many years cursing your large breasts, then celebrate them with this luxury lingerie brand. You will walk very proud. Proud of both your pretty shape and investing in yourself with beautiful and expensive undies.

Bra-vo Intimates

2009-10-25T14:07:00.000-05:00

The last Friday in September, I had the pleasure of attending a fall trunk show at Bra-vo Intimates in Royal Oak, Michigan. This is an excellent week long promotion for Bra-vo clients to pre-order everything from lingerie to swim to our clothing line - Bratique Helene for women with large breasts and misses sized bodies!

Bra-vo's owner is the wonderful Rebecca Aughton, a lingerie industry veteran and master bra fitter. In addition to its urban location, hardwood floors, and resident cat, my favorite section of the store is the bra alcove. Lots of goodies I wanted to get my hands on. And on one of the many sample racks I saw a Freya bustier - Nadia - that I'm excited to see in stores.

As I worked with the Bra-vo staff that day I heard them say, "There is no normal size. Women come in all sizes & shapes, just like snowflakes." All they talk about is fit, fit, fit and I knew I was in good company when looking at a new bra that had just arrived Rebecca briefly inspected it and said, "Looks like jiggle to me", meaning she thought the fabrication wouldn't offer strong support.

Bra-vo stocks Rosa Faia, Prima Donna, and Simone Perel in addition to the standard full bust brands Freya, Fantasie, Panache, etc. Every woman who emerged from the dressing room(s) had more than just one bra in her hands. If you are in the Detroit vicinity and need a bra intervention or update, the place to go is Bra-vo!

Why Do Designers Banish the Bust?

2009-10-18T11:42:00.004-05:00

As seen in this Dallas Morning News Shopping Blog entry, designer clothing rarely has enough room in the bust for women with large breasts.

And one of our more famous clients who covers the fashion industry states, "Most designers find breasts annoying complications, from a fabric-engineering standpoint."

The majority of clothing is cut for a woman who is two to three inches wider in the hips than in the bust. This pattern, from the 1940's has a 32" bust and 35" hip.

Being an hourglass (*not* one of those pretty latin or italian types), this explains why my Mom always made my clothes for really important occasions, and why we were always adding darts to, and raising necklines of ready to wear.

This is also the reason we do what we do: manufacture tailored, woven shirts for women with large breasts. If an hourglass body has a hard time finding blouses and dresses, what about the triangle body, whose bust is larger than her hips?

After all, jeans are available in curvy, straight, wide-leg, boyfriend, etc., which acknowledges that hips come in different sizes of fullness. And now, so are chic tops. Because busts come in different sizes too, and in our world that means big (well endowed) and bigger (really endowed)!

Having been to the women's wear apparel tradeshows, I know that fashion is not kind to women of a certain cup size, specifically D+. At least not if full bust women want to wear shirts other than knits.

But enough of my gospel, what do you think?

Your Bra Wardrobe

2009-10-12T08:30:00.000-05:00

We frequently get questions along the lines of "how many bras do I need?" And we've seen several of our clients struggle with finding the right balance of bra styles for their wardrobe.

One must compartmentalize one's wardrobe to find the perfect number of bras. For example, a woman who works long hours in a corporate environ will have different bra needs than a woman who is a nurse by trade and spends most of her free time training for triathalons. We don't assign certain numbers and styles because its completely dependent on one's lifestyle.

The example above needs four kinds of bras: lounge/leisure, exercise, softcup for work @ home, and underwire to put her best profile forward out of the house. Similar to different wardrobes for different lifestyles, we need different bras for different lifestyles. In general, for everyday use, good fitting seamed cup bras with a couple of seamless styles added in is the best mix. The example below only needs two kinds of bras: lounge/leisure (this includes sleep) and underwire to put her best profile forward while working.

A) evaluate how you spend your time,

B) have more than enough bras to be well prepared & excited to put on your empowering 'under armor' for each of your life's activities,

C) compartmentalize - decide when you do X activity (work, stay at home, exercise), you will wear either A, B or C bras. Very similar to stylists who take an inventory of your closet and then snap photos of the outfits - each shirt in your closet will ideally be compatible with 2-3 bras in your lingerie drawer. We suggest re-evaluating your bra arsenal once a quarter, especially as bodies and activities change.

What about you? Where are the holes in your bra wardrobe currently? I'll go first: I want a nude leBreeza sports bra. I need a nude plunge balcony bra - my everyday choice. I saw a great Fantasie sample at a retailer's event recently, but a sample is a 34D so of course I didn't even try it!!

An official announcement . . .

2009-10-04T14:38:00.002-05:00

Just wanted to let you know that we are changing the brand name of our clothing line. You, our valued clients, will no longer see the Bratique Helene name - it will be the name of our manufacturing company.

Instead, you will see Carissa Rose. As we expand our line and move forward with more styles, I wanted to continue to honor my Mom, Helene Rose. So the new brand name has my first name and her last name.
This is the back of our hang-tag, we hope to educate the beautiful full bust women out there about how our sizing works.

Our shirts are currently being produced with the new label sewn into them, so don't be alarmed when a Carissa Rose shirt arrives that you ordered from the Bratique Helene web-site. We are working to launch the new site in the new year.

We are excited about this re-branding, but what do you think? Is the new name a go?

Foxworthy's Fashions

2009-09-27T13:34:00.001-05:00

Foxworthy's Fashions in Tomball (NW of Houston) is a women's wear boutique that carries the Bratique Helene line. The proprietress, Karen Foxworthy, recently closed her Belaire store and has opened her new boutique in her fine city of Tomball. She invited us for a trunk show to celebrate the grand opening.

Foxworthy's has amazing customer service. Its the song from Cheers, "sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name". Karen and her staff know their clients' likes & dislikes, but are never pushy. The perfect combination.

Ironically, the owner and I wore the same pink wrap shirt for the event. So we had Sarah wear a black shirt to break up the monotony. Their clients thought Bratique Helene only made pink wrap shirts!

While helping the store staff and their clients I was surprised to see women of B & C cup size breasts purchasing our shirts. And I confirm, these women looked great in our line. I can't quite figure it out. Is it because instead of having a small band & big cup they have a bigger band & smaller cup? I always say that our W (well-endowed) size range is an every-woman's proportion, not just for big breasts.

I'm turning this one over to you. Do you have any insight as to why our blouses, which are built out in the bustline, look just as flattering on women who don't wear D+ cups?

Elixir de lingerie by Lejaby

2009-09-20T14:26:00.013-05:00

I was in Las Vegas a few weeks ago for the apparel and lingerie shows. When I saw this picture at the CurveNV boutique lingerie tradeshow I stopped in my tracks. As you can tell, this model is well endowed, and this bra is beautiful. Elixir de lingerie is a French brand from the makers of Lejaby. Elixir is their full bust brand, as the bras go up to a G (similar to a GG in the double cup sizes) cup.

The Melusine style is even available in a low center front plunge cut, up to an F (again, similar to FF in the double cup sizes) cup.

This peacock blue Cassiope style bra has gorgeous lace, embroidery and colors. If you are wanting a special bra to make you feel especially pretty, this is a good brand for you.

This pretty purple bra is by Lejaby, the parent of Elixir de lingerie, and goes up to an E cup.

And finally I want to show you this swimwear, Rasurel by Lejaby. It too, like Lejaby, only goes up to an E cup (we do have several 30/32E clients it seems) but is quite nice with the retro pucci print.

Not only are these bras good eye candy, I think you will also feel sweet in them. Bras for large breasts needn't be unattractive. If you have a small band coupled with a big cup, I encourage you to try some of these pretty underpinnings. You'll be surprised how your entire demeanor is positively affected.

Loretta's Intimates (of Plano)

2009-09-10T19:03:00.022-05:00

Undoubtedly, one of the best lingerie stores in the DFW metroplex is Loretta's Intimates. Not only is Loretta's my go-to place to purchase my favorite bra styles & brands, but whenever people ask us to refer them to a lingerie store that fits the full bust in Dallas, we send them to Loretta's.

Loretta's is a family owned store, celebrating 25 years in the business of fitting women in bras, with the current owner - Karen - being the second generation, while the third generation - Audrey - manages the store on a daily basis. While they fit all sizes accurately, they pride themselves in being full bust specialists.

Loretta's is a friendly & safe environment where all women are welcome. I have seen them shoo men away from the dressing rooms for the sake of their customer's privacy and comfort.

Loretta's truly does have a great selection of bras. I am glad they go above a G cup and am proud of the way they do business. If you need a smaller band/bigger cup they are happy to order one for you. And they reward you for referring your friends. The pictures in this post are just a few of the several styles either my clients or I have purchased from them.

Every swimsuit season I visit Loretta's as they always carry D+ cup swim separates and one pieces. And soon to arrive is the french lingerie brand Empriente, the cadillac of full bust brands and only available at a few select boutiques.

Karen, Audrey & their staff know that women feel better about themselves when properly supported, and to that end Loretta's fits women of all shapes and sizes, they have both bras that are accesibly priced and bras that epitomize luxury. Not only am I proud of the Loretta's team, I am thankful to have such a great resource in my area!

And the Winner is . . .

2009-09-06T21:46:00.011-05:00

This is my precious five year old, she looks just like my mom Helene, the name sake of our company.

She doesn't know how to read yet, but I wanted y'all to know that we had an official drawing by a non-partisan third party.

Then the cute two year old sister wanted to draw a piece of paper out of the colander.

Enough rambling, congratulations to J. Campbell, you won the Bratique Helene garment of your choice. Please email me to let me know what & where you want your winning to be!

Thanks to all who participated in our first giveaway. Please check back, the Bust-line Quiz will be an on-going series with a prize given to the winners.

How to make your bust-line look bigger.

2009-09-06T21:05:00.001-05:00

First, wear a bra that is too small, giving you not only cleavage but the sausage effect as well. You know the sausage effect? Have you ever seen a woman with sleeves that are way too tight? Or jeans too snug on the thighs? That's the sausage effect and the same holds true for one's bust-line.

You may find this hard to believe, but wearing the wrong size bra actually makes your breasts look larger. For example, you are wearing a 34D, and you actually fit a 30E. The 34D - wrong size - will sit lower on your torso, camoflauging your natural waist and making your bust look bigger. Also, the cups will be too small, squishing the breast tissue together and smashing it against the ribcage, giving the uni-boob effect. Lift and separation give the needed definition to break up a mass of boobage.

The last two pictures are courtesy of Bra*Tenders NYC, a wonderful retail outpost that also carries the Bratique Helene line. If you are anywhere in the vicinity of NYC, I suggest you visit them as they offer excellent customer service, are expert fitters and have a wealth of bras for you to choose from.

And lastly, to make your bust-line look bigger, wear a tight knit t-shirt or top! Just remember the term "sweater girls". Full bust women wear tight knits because they stretch over the bust and back in at the waist, helping to show the wearer's figure. Try this experiment yourself: put on a tight t-shirt and take your picture. Then put on a woven shirt and take your picture. What jumps out at you? We want people you meet to remember your pretty smile or great personality, not just your awesome rack.

We encourage you to wear the Bratique Helene line: tailored, woven shirts and tops that both fit the bust-line and flatter the waistline.

Bust-line Quiz #1

2009-08-31T07:30:00.007-05:00

We had an event this week at our Dallas boutique - a.k.a. the front room of our home - and I witnessed first hand lots of cleavage, especially among our clients that wear the "really endowed" (R) sizes. Thus the inspiration for today's blog post.

We're excited to announce the first pop quiz in our 'Bust-line Quiz' series. The theme of this Bust-Line Quiz is Cleavage - a popular topic among the full bust - whether its abhored or enjoyed by the possessor.

To enter the quiz, just answer the question in the comments section of this post. We will randomly select the winner from all correct answers submitted. The winner receives a Bratique Helene garment of their choice.

What is the cause of the cleavage in this picture?

A) the breasts are just too big, and there's no getting around that cleavage.
B) her breasts are too close together, nothing could separate them.
C) the cup of the bra is too small, more volume is needed.
or
D) the back band of the bra is too tight.

This quiz is open until Sunday, September 6, 8:00 p.m. CST. The winner will be announed Labor Day morning. Good luck!!

Intimacy NorthPark Center Dallas

2009-08-20T13:44:00.026-05:00

Our fine city Dallas now has the pleasure of having an Intimacy Boutique in NorthPark Center. Of course, I had to attend the grand opening event. The pictures in this post are the bras the Intimacy National Fit Specialist brought me. They range in price from $60 - $176 (in serial order least to greatest) and all fit wonderfully.

Does Intimacy fit the full bust? Yes, they accurately fit all sizes. To their credit, they don't believe in tape measures, but rather use the current bra as a basis for judging size and bring in several bras until they find the right snugness of band and volume of cup.

I'm proud of Intimacy, the Nethero family, and their funding partners for empowering women. The store has about a dozen pleasingly purple dressing rooms in which they validate women for who they are and how they're shaped. This is a full service boutique with all the bras in the "gold vault" at the back of the store. You will be surprised by the several hard to find European brands in stock.

What if you're a 30E and all they have is a 32D? They will alter the bra for you free of charge and ship it to you as well when its ready. I'm looking forward to November when their swimwear arrives.

Remember, if you have any questions about the best bras, swimwear and clothing for your full bust figure - 28-38 back band with a D+ cup, please contact Bratique Helene. And, being well-endowed is a blessing, not a curse!!

Is lace rigid?

2009-08-16T15:49:00.001-05:00

A couple of weekends ago I had a follow-up appointment with a client. As you hopefully know we provide a complimentary bra shopping service to our full bust clients. The first time I met with Madame X we fit her in a French brand three piece cup bra, size 34D. However, she needed a 32E in said French brand.

She was excited to show me the bra she purchased (without my consultation), but I was disapointed. Not only was the size off, 34 D or DD - I don't recall - she said she was tired of looking for a 32, but the fabric (lace) was uber stretchy. Do you know what that implies? You guessed it: wiggly jiggly, bouncing breasts.

Lace was initially used in brasierres because of the soft hand, yet it has no elasticity and therefore holds its shape well. With the invention of technical fabrics like nylon and spandex, the use of lace in bras dramatically decreased. These days not only are women flocking to seamless, molded bras in droves, we often hear that our clients find lace itchy and uncomfortable, which is due to a low quality lace.

Just imagine: a beautifully soft lace bra that gave you the best uplift imaginable (due to a power net back band). Not itchy, but more than comfortable against the sensitive skin of breasts. Please tell - do you have such a bra? The closest ones I've had seen are Chantelle and Lise Charmel, both French brands.

Remember - being well endowed is a blessing and not a curse. Please contact Bratique Helene if you have any questions about the best bras, swim & clothes for your beautiful full bust figure.

Your Bra Cup - Cut & Sewn

2009-08-09T17:20:00.013-05:00

Molded and seamless bra cups are very popular in the states. In Europe, the molded/ seamless bra is gaining popularity, but still more often than not one will find European women wearing cut & sewn bra cups. What are cut & sewn bra cups? Any guesses . . . its a seamed cup bra - made out of two to three pieces of fabric that are cut and sewn together to create one bra cup.

Have you even been to a mall or other people gathering place and watched the women as they walked past you? If you have, then you would see a bunch of wiggly, jiggly bouncing breasts on women's bodies. This is the result of our obsession with the seamless bra and our affinity for tight knit shirts.

Women wear clingy, stretchy knits because they feel it fatters their figure - it stretches over the large breasts, while shrinking back to show the (slim) waist. In the age of the clingy knit, bra makers came out with the seamless bra. But then, nipples started showing because we were wearing tight knit shirts with seamless bras, so molded bras were introduced. These bras sell like hotcakes. Still, Fantasie's 4520 is a well liked solution among our clients.

In a seamed cup bra, place the nipple at the cross hair of the seams - right where they intersect if its a three part seamed cup. That little bit of pressure will go a long way in preventing your headlights from showing. Cut and sewn cups prevent stretching of the bra cup, providing excellent support and precise fitting. And finally they give a beautiful shape.

So what's our recommendation for the full bust woman? Wear a seamed cup bra underneath your Bratique Helene shirts and you'll look and feel like a million dollars.

Lingerie - for the bedroom

2009-07-28T10:16:00.016-05:00

Our clients often ask us if we're planning to introduce lingerie to our line. And they mean lingerie that is meant to be taken off. And as we work with lingerie retailers across the nation I hear them also ask, "will you make lingerie for large cup ladies that's meant to stay in the bedroom?".

Boudoir wear for the full bust is very hard to find. The closest thing I see on the market is the Harlequin brand (Masquerade in the UK) by Panache. The brand's tag line is "Made for Romance". Aubade, Elle Macpherson and Pour Moi? manufacture underwired babydolls, but I'm not sure if they come in the large cup sizes.

This is walking a fine line because by definition *sexy* pieces don't have a lot of coverage, being either low cut or sheer, but no woman I know feels desirable when her voluminous breasts are resting on her tummy. We need lift to feel good about our selves.

This Betsey Johnson babydoll actually has potential because it has a tie back, so you can cinch the support under the bust, and the shoulder straps are adjustable. Maybe one of the best things is that usually this type of garment doesn't stay on long.

Readers, please clue me in if there is a great boudoir wear line out there for the full bust that hasn't made it on my radar. I know some are in the works: www.bijte.com.

A blast to the past - the Longline Bra

2009-07-19T16:53:00.003-05:00

We hear all the time that our clients aren't comfortable in a strapless bra. More often than not this apprehension isn't attributable to a specific characteristic of the strapless bra, but rather an overall sensation of, "this isn't working".

If you have a hard time wearing a strapless bra, give the longline bra a try. The longline bra is a decades old style that used to be a staple in every woman's wardrobe. All those sundresses of the fifties had such a pretty shape in large part due to the longline.

Widely available in strapless and/or convertible versions, a longline offers more support than a strapless bra because of the width of the back, and the boning down the torso; it is a substantial garment. A longline bra is not a basque or bustier because it stops above or at the belly button - your natural waist, while a basque comes down to the top of the hip. Also a longline bra doesn't have garter clips/suspenders.

The Goddess longline bra pictured at the top begins at 34 and goes up to FF, although since Goddess is a full figure brand, the cups can accomodate quite a bit of breast tissue. Wacoal's (I know some of you are die hard Wacoal fans) longline starts at 32 and goes up to DD.

Do you any of you wear a longline bra? If so, is it in lieu of a strapless bra?

Remember, if you have any questions about the best bras, swim & tops for your full bust, contact Bratique Helene today; being well endowed is a blessing and not a curse.

Your Breasts in their Clothes

2009-07-05T08:14:00.003-05:00

I had the pleasure of fitting a 60+ year woman for her first well fitting bra. While it did remind me of fitting my mom several years ago, this lady had it going on: 32G. She considered reduction because the weight of her breasts was hurting her back. This is what happens when a well-endowed woman puts on the correctly fitting, snug back band - AAHH, they breath a sigh of relief. No longer is there pressure on their back, or breasts hanging low on the abdomen. They immediately sit up taller as the hardware - BRA - does its job.

This particular client looked absolutely gorgeous in her new bra, yes the bra was beautiful, but it fit her like a dream, which made her waist look much smaller in comparison.

Then, she put on her shirt. And we lost it. We totally lost her pretty well-endowed figure by putting on the button-down shirt she wore into the store. I couldn't handle it, I had to grab all the extra fabric between her prominent bust-line and her smaller waistline (she's a Medium, size 8-10) and cinch it. At the very least she needed a dart. Bust & waist darts are your friends.

Do you look better in your bra than in your clothes? If so, look for clothes that give direction to the neckline (V), have a defined center front, and nip in at your waist. Really, shop Bratique Helene and you'll look and feel better than you ever have.

One Piece Sport Swimsuits

2009-06-28T17:22:00.000-05:00

If you're a lifeguard, want to exercise in the pool, or engage in water sports you will be more comfortable in a sport swimsuit. And if you want to cover your midsection, a one-piece sport swimsuit is what you need.

When searching for a one piece sport swimsuit, we recommend soft cup suits because it is very hard to anchor underwires in the right place without a snug fitting back band. Also, a sport swimsuit is used primarily for swimming, be it water aerobics, life-saving, or river sports. Quick movements combined with twisting and turning one's body doesn't bode well for an underwire to remain comfortably in place.

The best support comes from a combination of inner soft-sling construction and mild compression from the fabric. Classic speedo swimsuits hold the breasts in with lots of compression and sometimes a shelf bra. More than sufficient for a D cup that is on the small side.

Admittedly, a two piece sport swimsuit gives more support, just think of a sof-cup sports bra.

Tell us, what do you use for a sport swimsuit? Remember, we encourage you to view your endowement as a blessing and not a curse. Please contact Bratique Helene if you have any questions on the best bras, swim or clothing for your bust-line.

Summertime? Go strapless . . .

2009-06-21T16:52:00.000-05:00

Sticking with the summer theme, I wanted to address the strapless bra for the full bust. We've gotten several questions on this issue. A strapless bra is sometimes cooler for the hot summer months, but can also open up one's wardrobe options. A halter neck top, cut-in shoulder tank, or strapless dress all become possibilities for the well endowed girl with the right strapless bra.

It seems that most strapless bras are now molded and convertible. A molded bra has a thin layer of foam giving the cup shape (and nipple coverage), and a convertible bra has straps that can be used in a myriad of ways, as well as not being required.

This bra has a nice smooth satin fabric on the outside of the cups. Panache lingerie makes a seamed and non-molded strapless bra, part of their Confetti collection. They also have a more plunge style strapless bra based on their best selling Procelain Oasis t-shirt bra. We fit our broader chested clients in Panache, and remember, one can be broad chested and still have a narrow back band.

Our standard go-to for clients is the Fantasie 4530, pictured below in black. Fantasie's Ava cut also looks to be a strong candidate, but I have yet to fit a real body in it.

If you have a favorite strapless bra that is not listed here, please share it with us in the comments. We encourage you to embrace your endowment as a blessing and not a curse. And remember, please contact Bratique Helene if you have any questions about the best bras, swim & clothing for your body.

Cleavage - How to get It.

2009-06-09T11:25:00.012-05:00

Its summertime, the season of tank tops and sundresses, and since a couple of weeks ago we blogged about avoiding cleavage, I thought it only fair to give equal time to the plight of trying to acquire it. On certain special occasions you may *want* to have cleavage. Or a certain dress may be required - think bridesmaid - and you need a low-cut bra to keep your breasts in the dress as prettily as possible. A plunge bra is what's required, and most plunge bras for special occassions are padded, to increase the cleavage affect.

Women with a full bust can still be challenged in the cleavage department because of the shape of their ribcage. If the thoracic shape is comparatively broad, the breasts will be further apart, whereas if the body depth is comparatively deep (yours truly) the breasts will be relatively close together. This has nothing to do with the back band size, even a 30F could have breasts that are relatively far apart. I have a great graphic on this issue, I'll work on posting it.

While at Dallas Market last week showing the Bratique Helene line (hence the lapse in blog entries, sorry) I visited my friends in the lingerie showrooms. For me, being around a bunch of lingerie is like being in a candy store. Its so very fun & yummy. Eveden (manufacturer of Fantasie, Fryea, Goddess & Elomi) is excited about this new bra - Savannah. Based on their best selling style Bridgette, Savannah comes in a padded plunge style WITH side seaming. The side seaming works to bring the breasts together, so if you have breasts that are wide set due to a broad thoracic cavity and want some cleavage, this is the bra for you.

Please contact Bratique Helene if you need any help finding bras, swim & clothes for your full bust-line. Being well-endowed is a blessing and not a curse.

How to Relax in a B-R-A

2009-05-31T08:15:00.009-05:00

Finding a leisure bra for the full bust is one of the most challenging lingerie wardrobe gaps to fill. A leisure bra used to be termed a day bra in the industry, but now it is more accurate to call it a house bra. While the aim is to be comfortable, one's upfront & together appearance isn't such a top priority. However, comfort does entail support, noone feels good having breasts rest on their ribcage/tummy as they enjoy their day at home.

This is my favorite house bra. In general I advise our clients against wearing an underwire bra at home. One can see it akin to wearing pumps/heels around the house. We may wear them at work and around town because we feel good in them and those shoes are stylish, but when we come home, whether to cook dinner, watch TV, or what have you, we usually rest our feet. Likewise please rest your breasts from the underwire.

When looking for a house bra, consider the "good bra" tenents:

snug back band
seamed cup
rigid fabrication

You can find a soft-cup bra that is made of cotton or cotton/polyester that won't stretch, but will have a soft hand. I warn you that a soft cup bra usually comes up higher in the center front to give the support in lieu of under wires. When purchasing a soft cup bra, which are available only in full cup styles, you may take a different size than your wired, blacony bras. For example, if you wear a 32F in an underwire balcony/plunge bra, then in the full soft cup bra you may take a 32E. A soft cup has a more universal fit because wires are not involved.

When you come home from work and change your clothes, do you change your B*R*A as well? If so, what do you put on in its stead? Sometimes, a sports bra does a fine job.

As always, please contact Bratique Helene if you have any questions on bras, swim, or clothing for your full bust.

Cleavage

2009-05-24T19:58:00.002-05:00

Cleavage is defined as the partial exposure of the separation of a woman's breasts; the depression between a woman's breasts especially when made visible by the wearing of a low-cut dress.

Rihanna is sporting some cleavage in this picture, where the breast tissue starts to rise up from the ribcage. This form of cleavage is usually seen in a scoop neck or square neck top and can be hard to avoid, especially in summer time clothing a la Anna Kournikova in the picture below. I say that it is harder to avoid because as well endowed women, we look better in necklines that are v-neck, u-neck, scoop, square, etc., and not so good in crew neck, boat neck and similar. As I heard an ample bossomed woman say, "my boobs start right under my collar bone". The neckline of one's shirt has to hit right at that sweet spot so as not to show any cleavage, but also give direction and be flattering to our bust-lines.

However, the "bottom crack" as shown below, is really only acceptable when a woman is trying to be overtly sexy, as in at a certain function (romantic date with husband?). This type of cleavage, when not intentional (this isn't usually an appropriate every day look), is due to an ill-fitting bra. Because as we know, the center gore of your bra should rest flat against the chest wall, thereby seperating those breasts - even if its by 1/2 inch.

So look down at your bust-line or in a mirror, do you have the "bottom crack" caused by the breasts being pushed together? Then get thee to the nearest bra salon for a fitting. Unless of course you WANT to have cleavage, then purchase a bra such as the one below.

Cleavage, when not intentional, is caused by one of the following (listed in order of importance):

improperly fitting bra

neckline too low

And as always, please contact Bratique Helene if you have any questions concerning the best bras and swim for your full bust.

The Back Band of your Bra

2009-05-11T10:37:00.001-05:00

The back band is the size of your bra that is typically something like 32, 34, 36, etc. Most of the women we see wear their back bands too loose, this causes the back band to ride up, which in turn creates the back fat that noone likes to see. Please, try anchoring your bra band below your shoulder blades, just a tad lower than the bottom of the bustline in the front (easily done while viewing your profile in a mirror).

The picture on top has the band higher in the back and you can see a back-fat roll. While the picture on the bottom has the bank pulled down a bit and the back fat roll disappeared. We illustrate this to clients all the time.

We recently went shopping with a client - Bratique Helene provides a complimentary bra shopping service to full bust women. This woman is a beautiful hourglass, maybe fourteen inches or so between her bust - waist - hip measurements. Previously she'd been measured as a 34 band size and even she knew herself that was too big. We tried 32s, because that's all we found at this particular store. But when we found a 30 back band and put it on her she proclaimed, "there, now I feel like I have on a bra". Really, a snug & seccure (as opposed to moving up the back) back band takes the pressure off the breasts. And takes the pressure off the abdomen (if breasts are laying there), the shoulders (if the straps are super tightened), and relieves back pain from heavy breasts. She purchased Freya balcony plunge bras in size 30HH.

Prior to that we shopped with a client who was wearing a 36G. She had lost some weight and we put her in a 34G. As she wore it that evening she said, "This is really uncomfortably tight (in the back), I think I may return it". I told her to wear it for a week and if she still didn't like it, then return it. A week later she says its the best fitting bra she's ever had and is going to buy more of the same kind.

BH recommends the following:

Wear your new bra on the loosest hook, so as it stretches you may tighten it.

See how snug you can go. You may be pleasantly surprised at your uplift - both mental and physical.

If the bra band can be pulled several inches away from your center back, its time to either a) wash it, b) tighten it, c) go shopping!

And finally, do you have a good bra size story? I'll start . . . we had a client who was wearing a 36DD from a mainstream lingerie retailer. I could tell by looking at her that she was a 32 band size because her body was a small size 4-6. Sure enough we fit her in a 32GG. Again, an enviable hourglass with more than a 10 inch difference in her measurements (and believe it or not she wish her body was less curvy). We also have a 32GG client who has a size 14-16 body, can you guess on which body (the S or L) the bust-line looks bigger? Because technically they are the same size - 32GG.

Remember, embrace your endowment; it is a blessing and not a curse

The T-Shirt Bra - Do you have one?

2009-04-28T10:34:00.000-05:00

An anonymous commenter (Rainee) on the BH blog reminded me that I haven't posted about t-shirt bras for the full bust. I am so sorry, I really thought I had already done that.

A t-shirt bra is rather an American phenomenon (especially the molded version) and in general are better suited for the smaller bust-line - and aren't even available past a G cup (save the Prima Donna which goes to an H), but I know there are those of you out there who really want to wear a seamless bra underneath your snug fitting knit tops.

The best selling molded t-shirt bra for the full bust is Panache's Porcelain Oasis.

The best selling seamless (sans molding) t-shirt bra for the full bust is Fantasie's Smoothing Balcony. This bra also comes in a full cup version, but we have greater luck in fitting the balcony style. If you are full on the top of the breast, firm, or have been augmented, then the full cup is a good solution.
Chantelle also has some t-shirt options, as does
Wacoal, but when one gets into the voluminous cups of FF/G, they aren't as good fitting as the aforementioned.
We have clients who swear by Prima Donna's t-shirt bra; it also is the most expensive one in the list.

I confess I do not own a t-shirt bra. I used to, but ceased wearing clingy knits so I no longer have a need for a t-shirt bra. On the positive side, usually these bras are less expensive than their more structured (seamed) counterparts that have a more rigid (lace or similar) fabrication. Let's suffice it to say there is a reason these bras usually don't come past a G, a breast with more than a G cup worth of tissue needs more support than the t-shirt bra offers.

Contact Bratique Helene if you have any questions on bras, we are here to help.

Mother's Day

2009-04-22T10:35:00.007-05:00

This blog entry is not about solutions for the full bust, rather it is about Mother's Day. The picture below is my mom on the beach in Galveston TX on her honeymoon, circa 1962.

This next picture is her on the same beach on my college graduation trip, circa 1994. When I see these pictures I see the same pose, thirty years later: The knees are at similar angles, the hip cocked, arms bent, sunglasses on, even the same blousy overshirt. The wind was blowing in the second picture so she had to hold the hat on her head. Accept your Mom the way she is right now, please don't wait or require her to change.

After mom's memorial service, one of her Home Depot co-workers, Jose, came up to me with a vase full of roses. He said, "I want to give you this, there are seven roses, one rose for every year I knew your Mom. Everyday when Helene saw me she would give me a kiss on the cheek and a hug. That was the bright spot in my day". I never liked it when she did those kinds of things, they embarrassed me and I didn't think they were always appropriate. But it sure made Jose feel good. So what you don't like about your mom may have a positive impact on somebody else.

Finally, please love your Mom, even if she's crotchety, hard to connect with, or out of touch. She is still your Momma.

Although this post is not about solutions for the full-bust figure, if you have any questions about bras please contact Bratique Helene, we will give you a great answer!

They come in All Shapes and Sizes

2009-04-21T08:18:00.012-05:00

This post is along the same lines as last week's post: debunking the myth that boobs have universal sizes and shapes.* image courtesy of http://www.breastandbaby.com

Certain bra brands fit a particular breast shape better, and likewise certain types of bras (balcony, full-cup, plunge, etc.) fit a particular breast shape better as well. I know we all want the grapefruit, madonna shape, narrow set boobs, but alas reality sets in.

In addition to breast shape affecting one's optimal bra choice, so does breast placement and body proportion. We often hear, "when looking at a side view, the bust-line should hit halfway on the arm between the shoulder and elbow". However this is not always the case. We have clients who are long torsoed - which means the breast would be lower on the chest - and short limbed. Bless her heart if she tried to hike her bust-line so artificially high.

Panache is a good brand for breasts that tend to have fuller sides. And a full-cup works better if the breast is fuller on the top, as opposed to the bottom. If a woman has shorter upper body proportions - short neck, short under the arms, short waist, then a plunge bra - lower center gore - works better.

So study your breast shape and its placement on your body. All the style books and experts encourage us to know our body's length proportions to dress it best, likewise I encourage you to know your breast proportions so you can dress your breast best!

Contact Bratique Helene if you have any questions on bras, we are here to help.

Bratique Helene Live on Good Morning Texas

2009-04-13T13:45:00.018-05:00

Watch video

Carissa and the make-over capabilities of Bratique Helene clothing were featured Friday, April 10th on Good Morning Texas.

A special thanks to our awesome models Kimberly, Crystal, Yuddie and Wendy. My BH Angels rock, look out Charlie!

Proportion is in the Eye of the Beholder

2009-04-12T09:23:00.009-05:00

I got a phone call this week (I think it was this week) with this request, "I'm looking for a custom made swimsuit". As I inquired why she needed custom made the answer was, "I'm a 38G and I need an underwire". Of course those swimsuits exist.
Also this week I heard a client exclaim, "I have such a strange size". She is a 30H/32GG, and while that is a tough size to find nice bras for, they are also available.
And finally, while conversating with another local (very successful) Dallas designer she commented, "I have a couple of girlfriends that are just so disproportionate, they could really benefit from your line".

This mindset breaks my heart. Have you ever seen two faces that are the same (save for the rare identical twins)? Similarly boobs - sometimes I just like to say that word - come in all shapes and sizes. If a woman has a size six waist, who's to say her bust-line can only be six inches bigger than that?

You know my story, I grew up with a mom who cursed her more than ample bosom, then grew indifferent towards it (the ultimate surrender). And while I have always been blessed with a nice bust-line, my passion is to empower women who feel burdened by their large breasts.

At Bratique Helene, we encourage you to embrace your endowment and see it as a blessing and not a curse.

Books on Boobs

2009-03-30T07:58:00.006-05:00

Being a boob-girl, I find it fun to read books about lingerie and enlightening to read books about the female breast. I'm a sucker for eye-candy (People Magazine at the Salon) so the pictures in the lingerie books are the best for me.

Lingerie in Vogue since 1910. One has to go goo-goo for all the photos as this book chronicles the lingerie pictures in Vogue Magazine over the past century. Its not a new nor recent book (so few of the books I read are new/recent) but it needn't be because the pictures are retro and vintage and yummy.
Uplift: the Bra in America. Fascinating read on the history of the bra in the States. Written from a research standpoint by two university professors, this book offers insight into the plight of the American woman as the first bra came on the scene, how she turned on herself when the undergarment vanished again, during the sixties, to the bra's current status.

With the increasing occurrence of breast cancer, breast health books are prolific on the market. These books are not those. These works present the facts in a fun and lighthearted way.

Stacked: a 32DDD Reports from the Front. This book is absolutely hilarious and can be a pretty quick read. It opened my eyes to our culture's fascination with the female breast and what women go through to attain the bust-line of their liking. Best of all you will laugh out loud!!

bOObs: A Guide to Your Girls. Elisabeth Squires is fastly becoming, if she hasn't already achieved it, the best known boob expert around. Her book is written with a mix of historical research and interviews of today's women, with all sizes, shapes, and ages considered. Elisabeth taught me that I am a boobiesexual - you'll have to read the book to know the definition of the term! Also Elisabeth's daughter is a BH girl. I can not sing of Elisabeth's praises enough, both her and her work are wonderful.

These are just a handful, really my faves, of books available on our fascinating topic. Do you have any good bra/breast book recommendations? I'd be fascinated to know what they are.

Bra Makeover

2009-03-23T19:28:00.008-05:00

Here in the Dallas area, Bratique Helene offers a personal bra shopping service to our clients. As you know, when it comes to the full bust, its almost like one has to be or have been well-endowed herself in order to know our pain. Its akin to wanting a woman OB/midwife who has delivered a baby herself before she delivers your baby. I have witnessed countless lingerie sales people, in both large department stores and small boutiques, that don't know their D's from their G's so to speak, which frustrates the full bust bra buyer.

The Before Bra. This woman is a standard small on the bottom, usually a size 6 and sometimes a size 4. She is not short in stature either, about 5 feet 5 inches tall. This terrible bra creates a bust mound - a real term that garment pattern drafting books use in reference to the bustline. We use it as a negative term, in that you don't want a bust mound, you want a bustline.

Talk about lift!!! This is the deal: lifting the boobs creates a waist, which immediately makes you look slimmer. A bust mound is an eye catcher, people will definitely notice a pair of low and and large boobs, so go for it if that's the effect you're wanting. Overall her bustline looks closer to her body's proportion. We call this a silhouette makeover. Try it, it works wonders and is a lot cheaper than surgery or pills. Just FYI, her size is 32GG.

We have clients that immediately say, "wow, I look smaller" when they have on a well fitting, supportive, and often times seamed bra.

Please contact us - Bratique Helene - if you need input and counsel on bras. And if you're in the D/FW metroplex, call us and we'll go shopping!!!

How to Put on a Bra - Graphic

2009-03-17T09:01:00.022-05:00

When I was a child and witnessed my mom putting on her bra, I swore to myself I'd never put on a bra like that, what silly nonsense that whole bending over thing was!!

A solid 30 years later and here I am, relatively neked (that's Texan for naked) from the top up to show you just how to bend down and put on a bra.

First of all I'm not a fan of putting on your bra like this, fastening it in the front and twisting it around and pulling it up:

It stretches out the back band, which is ever so important in keeping our full busts up lifted on the body.

I just want to say NOONE looks good bent over like this, but I am willing to sacrifice looking good to illustrate how important it is that you get the underwire/bottom band of the bra underneath the entirety of the breast tissue, especially when there is a lot of breast tissue!

Standing back up to an upright position, fasten the bra. If this procedure of putting on a bra is new to you, don't worry, with lots of practice you too will get it. Which means after a couple of put-ons your arms will be accustomed to fastening a bra from the back.

DON'T stuff the breast tissue into the bra, I see this all the time. Women put on the bra and fasten it, then as if stuffing a turkey they push and shove the tissue, which only makes the bust have a down & out appearance on the body.

Here I am pointing to the nipple location that one achieves by stuffing the breast into the bra.

Instead, LIFT the breast and place the nipple right in the cross-section of the seams of the bra. This gives the bust a great upfront shape and hopefully the slight pressure of the seam intersection prevents and covers the extension of the nipple (read cold, headlights, etc.).

And VOILA, you have a great fitting bra and a good looking bustline when you know how to put on a bra!!

Please contact Bratique Helene if you have any questions about specific bra brands, the proper bra fit, or the best bra type for your body.

Bratique Helene Video

2009-03-01T21:23:00.009-06:00

Do you have a full bustline, but not a full figure? If so you will really enjoy watching our video. This video is a treat for women who have a busty figure and yearn to wear tailored, woven clothing. The busty gal is a beautiful body with curves, but in our society "curvy" has come to symbolize plus size. I myself am a fluffy size 12-14 and reach the top in most brands and don't even fit in other brands (sadly), but am not plus size. And really its my top half that has the nice curve, not so much the bottom, nor the middle for that matter.

No longer is a woman "too busty" for structured tops, clothing and jackets to look good on her. Bratique Helene clothes provide an instant and inexpensive silhouette makeover. Our clothing line really does optimize your assets and enhance your female form. Try it and you'll see.

And remember, the bra is the foundation, please contact us if you need help with the best bra for you. We encourage you to embrace your endowment.

Cami Top for the Full Bust

2009-02-22T22:48:00.010-06:00

The camisole is everywhere on the market today, however oftentimes it is a poorly fitting choice for the full bust figure. Invariably there is never enough a) strap to conceal the bra straps, b) cleavage coverage, or c) volume in the bustline, creating the horizontal pull that signals too small.

Panache Lingerie manufactures a cami top with their molded t-shirt bra built into the top. The cami top is one of Panache's best sellers, and their Porcelain molded t-shirt bra is the number one selling molded cup bra for the well-endowed woman.

Bravissimo , the wonderful UK store, offers many "strappy tops" under their Ovation brand; Panache private labels that brand for them. In the states one can find the cami top at Lions Lair Designs. Many ladies camoflauge their large chests by layering knits upon knits (think tank top, then t-shirt, then sweater/jacket, etc.). The relatively new Yummie Tummie product is a viable layering option, but again, there is not enough volume for the full cups. I tried on the XL Yummie Tummie, and my (small in comparison to others more blessed than I) FFs overflowed the allotted area. If you like to layer and want something to go over the mid-section, the best fitting choice is the Panache Cami Top. Let me know what you think?!

Trunk Show at Loretta's Intimates

2009-02-15T16:53:00.006-06:00

Last Saturday Bratique Helene had a trunk show at Loretta's Intimates of Plano, this generationally owned family boutique also has another store in Flower Mound TX. To say the trunk show was a success would be an understatement, as Audrey the manager (and third generation) said, "your shirts were flying out the door".

Loretta's is an excellent place to go if looking for lingerie, and they fit all sizes. In fact I have purchased two out of my last three bras from their store. Their website is a breeze to navigate and their shipping is quick and free. The staff at the Plano store - Audrey, Sarah, Katie and Monica, are helpful, kind and knowledgeable too.

Although most of the women who came to the event were wearing unstructured knit tops, it was encouraging that their bustlines were nice and uplifted. We fit women from their 20's through their 60's that day, the working single women to the grandmothers, because everyone wants to feel their best in a structured, woven article of clothing (when was the last time you left the house in knit pants and felt put together?). Regrettably I forgot my camera, so didn't take any before and after pictures. It was a blessing to meet the women, and have the opportunity to get their feedback, which was positive, on our clothing line.

The fit of the line was right on for our target market. At first the women who came to us were incredulous and skeptical, as in "you'll never get a shirt to fit my bustline" (this especially was the sentiment of the R's - really endowed's), but once they had the shirt on it turned to pleasant surprise and astonishment, "OMG, it looks awesome". From the dressing room we heard women exclaim, "GASP, I have a waist", and "WOW, look at my back, you can see that its shapely", etc. etc.

A big thank you to both the great staff at Loretta's and the beautiful women who participated in the trunk show!

Picture Perfect

2009-02-08T12:56:00.008-06:00

This is a picture of our family with my in-laws celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary. I really like this picture and let me tell you why: the WRAP shirt!!! It covers the chest, unlike this picture, where we had to photoshop out the cleavage (husband says I'm reaping all my judgments on my mom for always having cleavage showing when I was growing up). And more than that, I am more than happy with the silhouette of my body in this picture. The wrap shirt fits the bustline and flatters the waistline. I was encouraged to see the shirt photograph so well.

I want you too to experience how great it feels to wear this shirt. From now until Valentine's Day we are offering a 20% discount on all orders placed by Saturday, February 14 (midnight CST), this includes pieces that aren't in stock yet, like the wrap shirt in baby pink and the shirtwaist dress. Simply put VAL20% in the comment section on the checkout page during the order process. The discount will show on your credit card, not your Bratique Helene receipt.

Like a client who called saying, "I'm thinking a little structure (in her shirt) is what my body needs to look its best", we want you to feel both comfortable and confident so you can enjoy yourself on this special occasion. Have a wonderful Valentine's Day!!

Jump in the Water

2009-02-02T20:01:00.014-06:00

It is the beginning of February, definitely still in the middle of winter. However, one can tell the days are lengthening and the scent of swimsuit season is in the air! The upcoming swimsuit season has the lingerie industry all a dither, understandably, its fun to talk about the latest and greatest. This season gives me the opportunity to sing of Lions Lair Designs' praises. They are the premier destination for swimwear that fits the full bust woman. The staff at Lions Lair have several things going for them: A) they know the full bust, B) they know swim - they are located on the Floriday Keys, and C) they have excellent customer service.

Bikini:
I hands down recommend Fantasie's classic full cup bikini top. It gives a great shape and excellent support. Fantasie and Freya have been making bra sized swim separates for years - previously the brand name was Footprints. The bikini tops come in a range of cuts - balcony, triangle, bandeau, padded, etc. As hopefully you know by now I am a stickler for support and shape, thus I stick with the full cup for my bikini tops. Plus I think it gives a little retro shape and I just love that.

On the tankini - which is an American phenom - Lions Lair again stocks several brands to choose from. Surprisingly, Tara Grinna gives better support in their tankini. I say surprisingly because they are not a lingerie manufacturer, but strickly a swimwear manufacturer. The frame of the tankini cup isn't quite as on-target as the Fantasie/Freya bikini, but it is a great option for more belly coverage (read four large babies).
One piece solutions abound as well, particularly Panache and Anita.

I sound like a broken record even to myself, but, when looking for a swimsuit look for the same things you need in a bra: seaming, coverage, a snug back band, adjustable straps, etc.

I implore the beautiful full bust women reading this blog to realize that she needs a swimsuit with an underwire in it. Do you wear a soft-cup halter bra to work during the day? I laugh at the thought . . . but wearing a soft-cup halter swimsuit gives one the same look; S-A-G-G-Y. The structure-less swimsuit is best left to the person who will be in the water the entire time they are in their swimsuit, they will need the buoyancy to hold up their bustline. For the rest of us, please enjoy the benefits of hardware so you are both comfortable and confident in your swimsuit.

Shake it, Don't break it, It took your Mama 9 months to make it

2009-01-25T20:58:00.002-06:00

That is a line from one of our family's favorite Toby Mac songs.

We are fortunate enough to live within walking distance of White Rock Lake in Dallas. Thus we can not only be active ourselves, but witness other people being active as well. We see marathons (half and full), cross country runs, cyclists, walkers, roller bladers, etc. Recently we were taking a family walk and I saw an attractive lady clad in her black exercise gear running past us. The above refrain from the Toby Mac song immediately came to mind because of the immense movement coming from her bustline. Let's just say her chest had more movement than her backside - not a good thing.

If a woman is a small D cup or less Champion makes plenty of fine sportsbras. However, better than Champion for the same size range (young, pert D cup) is the Donna Karan underwire sport bra.

However, once the volume of the cup surpasses the D/DD cup range, the sports bras not only become more important, they also become more substantial in their construction. Hands down my favorite sports bra is the Shock Absorber Level 4 High Impact (why would one ever want to buy a sports bra for medium impact? Please always buy the highest impact available, your breasts need the protection). The LaBreeza sports bra looks to have a very similar construction, but I have no experience with bouncing in it.

Of course an old stand by is the Enell bra, and although some ladies swear by it, Enell doesn't pass my bounce test. And there's the Norvell bra found in this previous post. My favorites are the Shock Absorber and the Norvell.

Please don't be gimmicked into thinking just because it says Sports Bra that it offers support. As always look for:

seams in the cups
a rigid fabric (the opposite of the jogbra of the early 90's)
a snug back band
lots of coverage. A sports bra will have more coverage (fabric around the chest) than your everyday underwire bra. You want it to come up high in the center front.

One of these days I'm going to stand at the finish line of the White Rock Marathon and hand my business card to every bouncing full bust lady I see. Then again, maybe that's not the best time to introduce myself.

Happy and Safe Sporting!!!

How Low Will You Go?

2009-01-19T06:28:00.000-06:00

If one is short necked, short shouldered (decollete area) or short waisted, a plunge bra can be one's everyday bra.

By Plunge bra I don't mean these silly U-shaped contraptions: (it only goes to a D cup anyway). And even the deep plunge/push up bras are best reserved for special occasions when a dress neckline requires it. When I wore this bra in the past I felt more than risque trying to put it under a simple everyday merino V-neck sweater: It was hoochy-mama all the way!
Several everyday bras for the full bustline are available from the brands that specialize in the full cups with narrow/misses sized back band sizes: Freya, Panache, Fantasie, etc.

Below are three great solutions for everyday plunge bras. The Tango Plunge bra by Panache is the most basic and disappearing of colors. Eveden (makers of Fantasie, Freya and now they also own Goddess and have come out with Elomi) don't seem to make their plunge bras in foundation colors, but rather mostly in fashion colors and prints.

By definition a plunge bra is a bra that has a lower center gore in the front of the bra. That is where the wires rest on your chest bone between the breasts. To give good uplift and shape in the full cups, the gore is normally pretty high. Think a good two - three inches. However with these bras, the uplift & shape are great with a much shorter center gore.

I no longer hear husband say, "I can see the bow on your bra". A great relief to both myself and our marriage!!!

Nursing Bras 101

2009-01-12T07:14:00.001-06:00

Breastfeeding a baby is as equally challenging as it is rewarding. I daresay it is more challenging for the woman who is well endowed. A full bust will become heavier when lactating because of all the milk those mammary glands have capacity to hold. To borrow my husbands famous line, "your breast is bigger than the baby's head". To help you feel great about your bustline in this time of transition, lets talk about the best nursing bras for the full bust.

These bras:

are of course all soft cup bras with no wires.
have an inner 'cookie' which is a ring of material going around the breast that is separate from the outside of the cup which drops down to feed the infant.
drop from the top of the cup to feed the infant, no side openings.
have seams.
are made from a rigid fabric.

These bras give you the best shape under your clothes and the best support to increase your comfort. Big, heavy breasts need support, but I want you to feel and look good in your clothes as well. So much of one's body changes through pregnancy and childbirth, we need our bustline to be a source of confidence.

The industry standard is the Goddess 511. This is a full-figure bra, Goddess is a full-figure brand. That translates into a whole lot of bra, and the smallest band size is a 34. A woman who wears a 32 could take in the band of a 34 and make it work, but smaller than that and this bra will be too big in the back.

The next bra is the Norvell bra. Norvell touts itself as a 'custom fit' bra, meaning it has lots of funky sizes. Knowledgable sales people of this bra will guide you through selecting the right size. This bra as a 'shelf' that is under the breast to give it uplift. Also it is made of a rigid, yet soft lace. I have actually run in this bra, it is so supportive. Warning, at first it looks torpedo-ish, but it softens to a more natural shape. I have a 36J client who swears by this bra for the best 'lift and separate' action.

The last bra I endorse is not as long lasting as the top two. By that I mean when you first put it on it looks nice, but over the course of two to three hours as the milk re-fills the breast, the support of the bra fades and the bustline begins to sag, although it gives the most 'seam free' look of the above bras.

Several nursing bras are comfortable and are fine for wearing around the house (Freya, Bravado, Royce, Fancee Free). Recently I have seen a move among nursing lingerie to be "pretty and sexy, just like your pre-pregnancy bras". Are your lactating breasts just like your pre-pregnancy breasts? No, they need extra support, especially in lieu of underwires. These bras are pretty to the eyes, but do you feel confident in your clothes in those bras? One of my clients is pregnant with her sixth child (she is a size 34DD), she has certainly been a nursing mom for many months of her life. Her quote sums up the nursing bra situation for the woman with a full bust: "I am too vain to wear a nursing bra".

Below are nursing bras that we DON'T recommend to wear out of the house if you want to feel comfortable & confident!!

To sleep: perchance to dream:

2009-01-04T21:44:00.002-06:00

I began wearing a sleep bra about nine years ago. Since then I have worn the gamut, going through roughly a dozen sleep solutions. Before I share with you what I think the best options are for ensuring a well endowed girl sleeps well, let me tell you what we at Bratique Helene have heard our clients say:

wearing a GAP shelf bra camisole with the shelf bra (which was so small on her bustline the elastic band hit across the center of the breast) cut out.
wearing the same underwire bra that she wore the entire previous day; her quote "I wear it 24/7". I implore you NOT to do that.
wearing a really tight hanes old school tank top.
wearing nothing, and then having a fitful night of sleep, trying to wrestle the boobs under control.
sleeping in a sports bra.
please, we all get the point by now.

One of my attempts was this hanro 'leisure' bra. Leisure means no wire, usually. Not only was the cup not deep enough for the E+ volume, but the fabrication was not rigid nor seamed enough to support the weight of the breast either.

One of our clients said she sleeps in her underwire bra because if her breasts touch, she gets an ugly and uncomfortable rash due to the moisture. We referred her to the sle ep bra, and it works well. This product was designed to prevent the creation of wrinkles in the decollete area that form from the breasts being pressed together during side sleep.

The second option is a sleeptop by Margeurite McGee. Let me be honest and say that Margeurite is my neighbor, she resides four houses down the block from me. However,
proximitiy aside, I highly recommend her product to you. The fabrication is uber stretchy and super soft and feels luxurious to put on at night. My favorite two products for the full bust are the highneck sleeptop and the chemise.

When sizing a sleep bra, we generally say go up a size in the band. For example, if you are a 34-36 in your underwire bras, a sleep bra would work in the 36-38 back size. Remember, you will be laying down for the most part while wearing it.

So, with that being said I wish you a good night and sweet dreams!!

Minimizers: for the Birds

2008-12-30T01:02:00.001-06:00

As you know, I am a boob-girl. Not a leg lady, not a woman with killer abs, nor a girl with a great booty. I have long held that my best bodily feature is my bustline. I must tell you that I abhor minimizer bras and have never intentionally worn one. When I was in college in the early nineties, I realized that all bras for the D/DD + (full bust) market were by default minimizers, as if our volume was something that needed to be suppressed. That's when I began buying french lingerie at Neiman Marcus. Those labels made D & E cups with seams and lace, very pretty. They also gave a good shape and were comfortable to wear.

Tonight proves this point beautifully. We were having an event at a local boutique and a beautiful blonde hair, blue eyed twenty something was present. And so were her breasts. But, they looked exaggeratedly big and low. Sure enough, she was wearing a minimzer bra. This greatly saddened me. Her breasts were squished together in the front, read no separation and looking similar to buttock cheeks. Secondly, the bustline looked low because a minimizer flattens the breast tissue across the rib cage and spreads it under the arms, hence the downward angle of the bustline. She said her size is a 32DDD, which in the full bust brands I'd peg her to be near a 32F/FF.

And as myth number two explains, she said "they (her breasts) don't need to look any bigger than they are". Minimizer bras don't make the bustline appear smaller, they make one's bust appear oddly shaped and poorly positioned on the body. To quote from a vintage bra commercial, "lift and separate", as given by the full bust brands Panache, Freya, Fayreform, Fantasie, Prima Donna, etc., will give a higher and more proportional bustline on your body.

Trust me on this and try it. Its a new year - embrace your endowment and celebrate your curves. Don't minimize the part of your body that epitomizes your femininity.

No Bouncing on the Hopper

2008-12-22T21:31:00.001-06:00

While visiting my sister and her family in Orlando we went to the FunSpot USA, which I highly recommend; it is a mini amusement park. Sister was kind enough to ride the rides with my four year old daughter while I was holding the one year old daughter. They rode the Frog Hopper ride that ascends into the air and then bounces all the way down. It is great fun for all parties involved. I critically watched sister's bosom as I had anticipated some serious movement because this ride is basically like jumping on a trampoline. Let me just say her bustline did not move, it was stationary. I was amazed and so once she got off the ride I of course had to inquire as to her bra. Sure enough, she was wearing a three part lace balcony bra from Freya, the black version of the above.

I guarantee you that if she were wearing a seamfree, molded, or too small in the cup bra, she would have been bouncing all over the place, and probably very uncomfortable. Have you ever experienced the knee jerk reaction of putting your arm up over your breasts when you suddenly have to run or engage in some other bounce inducing activity to prevent the boobs from hurting themselves or you? It is not a good feeling. Her top was a structured knit and the bra seams didn't show through. This illustrates two points:

The most supportive everyday bra is a three part seam cup made from a rigid material, i.e. lace. Rigid does not imply rough. One can find rigid fabrications that do have a soft hand.
A woman is not tied to wearing a "seamfree" bra to prevent seams from showing through her clothing.

Balcony bra vs. Full cup bra

2008-12-11T12:12:00.001-06:00

A balcony bra is cut lower across the top of the cups than a full cup bra. A balcony bra is similar in cut and coverage to a 3/4 bra. However, it is different than a demi bra. Truly, if you are a full D or anything near a DD, please do not expect a demi bra to be your everyday bra. Demi implies a 1/2 bra. It is cut super low across the top of the bra cups. A full busted woman experiences lots of movement in a demi bra because so much of the breast tissue is out of the top of the cup. While it is sexy, it is not very practical. A demi bra is definitely a date night bra or a special occasion bra necessary for a certain outfit. When Mom and I would shop together and I tried on one, she would exclaim "Hello Queen Victoria" because that is the look. Lots of breast tissue out of the bra. Just imagine Reese Witherspoon in Vanity Fair. And let's remember, that was the access for the ladies of that time period to nurse their babies – from the top of the dress.

A balcony bra also gives less coverage than a full cup bra, and some people attest that a balcony bra gives less support. But I disagree.

The balcony bras from the full bust brands (freya, panache, fantasie, ruby pink, miss mandaly, etc.) have excellent support. And better than a full cup bra, the balcony gives superb shape and positioning of the bustline. A balcony, or balconette, bra is my everyday out of the house bra. It is plenty comfortable for an 8+ hour day. It’s the seaming difference and shape of the cup in the balcony bra that gives the improved shape and uplift.

You can tell by this picture that the full cup is more bra, and can be difficult to wear under certain tops like wide scoop necks, square necks, etc. Even more importantly, a full cup bra does not give as much of an up front and together look. The shape of a full cup bra is more natural, which means the breasts can sometimes go directionally under the arms. The opposite of together, as in apart from one another. I know several full busted ladies who refuse to wear a full-cup bra when they want to feel put together and sharply dressed. That being said, I do wear a full cup bra everyday: only at home and only without wires.

BH Inaugural Trunk Show

2008-11-19T21:53:00.001-06:00

I just took a few pictures at our trunk show last Thursday, November 13. My mom, Helene, our store’s name sake, was the resident picture taker for our family so I am challenged in the picture taking area. Oftentimes I don’t eve remember to take them.

In the photo on the left is Yudie, a pre-K teacher, in the shirt she wore to the trunk show. A beautiful color tee – in fact a very similar color to the teal sleeveless shell. Note it is an unstructured knit, a common article of comfort in our society. But not so flattering on ladies with a full bust. I ask you, where is her waist?

In the photo on the right is Yudie in the longsleeve Bratique Helene shirt. Yudie is so expressive and charismatic, truly a jewel of a woman. She put the shirt on and started spouting out the one-liners. I ran to get my pen & paper. This was the best: “I don’t even have on Spanx and I feel this good.”

On a side note: while at church on Sunday I glanced behind me and saw this lady with a great front silhouette (she was seated so I could only see the front profile). And then I realized it was Yudie in her new shirt. What a testimony to her comfort & confidence in the shirt: she bought it on Thursday eve and wore it on Sunday morn. That’s awesome!!!

This is Jill on the left. She is wearing a cute blue top, but look at what it does to her shape. The bustline looks so big and her posture saggy.

The photo of Jill on the right has not been re-touched at all. Please I am not that good. Jill’s quote: “I can’t believe I can put a shirt on off the rack and it fit me this good. It makes you feel like you want to have better posture.” Mom would be so proud.

Jill is wearing a black brassiere, thus the darts really stand out. Please wear a skin tone color bra when wearing this great white shirt.

And finally is a picture of my dear friend Gina and I, she came to support us and partake of the delicious food and yummy libations. This is my clean-up outfit (bra included), so I'm not looking my cutest. Next time I'll try to take more pictures.

Bratique Helene

2008-11-01T22:24:00.001-05:00

I should have known in high school when I was the only girl during drill team practice to wear a sports bra that I was going to be a boob-girl. I recall in college I had brassieres that fit well, but were matronly in appearance and didn’t quite match the image of myself as a cute new sorority pledge. As a young single woman living in Dallas in the mid 90’s, my hobby became acquiring luxury lingerie at the likes of Neiman Marcus and exclusive boutiques around the world. I had disposable income and easy to fit 34Ds. My eyes were opened to the fact that one could have a correctly fitting underpinning that was also aesthetically inspiring. I became a bra aficionado.

I married and had a family, which affected both the pert D bust and disposable income. Hint: the bustline grew and the money for bras shrank. These changes lead me to start researching brands, body types, breast shapes, etc, and increased my knowledge and skill. Shopping with family and friends and fitting them in bras, I began giving consultations and evaluations to friends’ friends as they were referred to me. My flair became evident, my passion developed. I was offered positions in both the retail and the trade sectors of the lingerie industry, but I chose to stay home with our growing family.

Then in May of 2007 my life dramatically changed: my mom - Helene - died suddenly of an aortic aneurysm. We went to pick her up to go to the children's swim class and discovered her body; I was eight months pregnant with my fourth child. Through the next several months as I mourned our family’s loss I realized that if GOD can walk me through a nightmare, he can walk me through a dream as well. Thus became Bratique Helene, both my dream and my homage to my best friend who I know looks down and says, “YOU GO GIRL”.

My Story, My Dream

2008-10-01T14:14:00.009-05:00

I should have known in high school when I was the only girl during drill team practice to wear a sports bra that I was going to be a boob girl. I recall in college I had Brassieres that fit well, but were matronly in appearance and didn't quite match the image of myself as a cute new sorority pledge. As a young single woman living in Dallas in the mid 90's, my hobby became acquiring luxury lingerie at the likes of Neiman Marcus and exclusive boutiques around the world. I had disposable income and easy to fit 34Ds. My eyes were opened to the fact that one could have a correctly fitting underpinning that was also aesthetically inspiring. I became a bra aficionado.

I married and had a family, which affected both the pert D bustlilne and disposable income. Hint: the bustline grew and the money for bras shrank. These changes lead me to start researching brands, body types, breast shapes, etc., and increased my knowledge and skill. Shopping with family and friends and fitting them in bras, I began giving consultations and evaluations to friends' friends as they were referred to me. My flair became evident, my passion developed. I was offered positions in both the retail and the trade sectors of the lingerie industry, but chose to stay home with our growing family.

As a child my Mom, like many other moms, made not only our Halloween costumes, but also matching outfits for my sister and I. By middle school she had me sketching my ideas and in fact wouldn't discuss a new design unless I had drawn it first. In high school she taught me the skills of construction, utilizing darts & seams to fit the bust and flatter the waist; she and I collaborated to create pieces together. Even as a post-graduate we worked together when I couldn't find a flattering garment to wear. Mom was never a fan of tent dressing - big baggy clothes always added pounds to one's look in her book. Fast forward ten years, and I hired dressmakers and tailors to make woven shirts cut specifically for my body that I felt great wearing.

The birth of Bratique Helene followed upon the heels of the death of my Mom, Helene. I hope women benefit from the dream; I encourage you to embrace your endowment!!

She's My Inspiraton

2008-09-30T10:14:00.005-05:00

My Mom, Helene Agorastos Rose, was born in Galveston to a working class immigrant family. At the young age of 13 her bust-line had developed to a D cup; and consequently she spent many years pining for a smaller bust-line, one that was easier to fit in stylish clothing. Suffering from an absent mother, Mom had no one in her life to offer guidance about bras, shirts, breast health, etc. She graduated high school in 1958 and went to the University of North Texas to study Fashion Design, where she didn't enjoy all the extra attention from men that came with her nice rack. Mom's picture is the middle one on the top banner of the home page, the head shot in the ruffle blouse.

To say that my Mom was my best friend would not be an understatement. Although she struggled being a single mom in Dallas and working two jobs, she never complained about it. When I was in college we corresponded weekly, and she came to visit me in all my strange travels. She termed us 'running buddies'. She was kind to me, never saying critical things about me (or my figure), she believed in me, telling me I could do anything, and she was proud of me, continually saying I was smart, beautiful, etc. What more could one want in a Mama?

You can imagine my devastation when, going to pick up Mom to come to the childen's swim class with us, I found her dead body. Eight months pregnant with my fourth child, I ran down the apartment stairs back to the truck to tell the children, "something's happened to Mamaw". I'll spare you the emotional details, lets suffice it to say that was the longest afternoon, evening, and night of my life. After the coroner's autopsy we learned she suffered a ruptured aortic aneurysm.

Through the next several months as I mourned our family's loss, I realized that if GOD can walk me through a nightmare, He can walk me through a dream as well. Thus, when I received the proceeds from Mom's Home Depot 401(k), I decided to use them to start Bratique Helene. Bratique Helene is both a dream of mine and an homage to my best friend whom I know looks down on me and says "YOU GO GIRL".