Strapless Bras for your Special Occasions - Make sure you get fitted before you say yes to the dress!

The expert bra fitters at Bra~vo intimates share their top tips on how to make this strapless season trouble free.

Calling all Brides, Bridesmaids, Mothers of the Bride/Groom and Special Occasion guests – this blog is for you!

We are in the midst of the strapless season - a time when weddings, special events and even prom takes precedence in the fitting room.

It can often be frustrating when you find the dress of your dreams and then realize you now require a bra that won’t show to and one that will get the girls into the right place. But all too often leaving the undergarments until the end is a sure recipe for frustration. It also can mean that the size you thought you were isn’t right – and the correct size doesn’t exist in a strapless, backless low front bra in an H cup. (And there’s a reason for that!)

We can’t state this enough but… Get Fitted Before You Buy Your Dress.

Lingerie is known as foundation-wear for a good reason. It builds the best base for anything that you wear on top. There’s no way that the beautiful clothes you see in historical dramas would have the same effect if they weren’t draped over boning and corsets, hoops and all manner of other contraptions.

Thankfully, we’ve moved on from the organ shuffling days of old and advances in fabrics and underwires means that most undergarments are much more comfortable. However, the structural aspect remains, and you must remember that it’s the foundations and not a magic wand or surgery that are going to make that dress look great!

Thanks to the Royal Weddings and brides such as Kate Middleton, sleeved dresses are much more popular but if your heart is set on lace or sheer styles, you may still need something strapless.

The strapless bra is the unsung hero of any lingerie drawer. Perfect for all kinds of outfit options, the strapless bra can serve you faithfully year-round, but it can be a nightmare if you get it wrong... You don't want to be constantly pulling it up, or god forbid, a wardrobe malfunction!

The only thing holding up your strapless is a firm supporting underband, and sometimes we would recommend wearing your strapless a little tighter than you would wear your everyday bras.

A firm band will still have its limits though, so if you have an extremely heavy or large bust you may find your bra bows forward – the pressure of the bust is pushing the wires and garment away from the chest wall. Find out if strapless is even an option and more importantly, if you will feel secure in it.

Strapless bras generally have a high center to help give as much support as possible, this can cause problems for deep plunging necklines. Remember when we said there’s a reason you can’t get a strapless, backless, low front bra in an H cup? It’s because once you remove these areas of support there’s not enough garment left to give you the support or control you need. Just like taking pieces of Jenga away destabilizes the structure, then so does taking away the constructs of a strap, a back and a high central wire destabilizes the support of your bust.

A strapless bra that is slightly moulded will give you a smooth outline (super practical) and helps to give a bit of lift and shape to the bust. Most strapless bras have the option of removable straps, which can help with one-shoulder or halter styles and again, give that all important lift.

Do you have the perfect size but still feel it’s slipping a bit? Look for styles that come with silicone grips either at the top of the cup or around the band. Extra tip: avoid body lotion or oils in this area for the occasion so the skin can be properly gripped.

Need a little extra shaping or smoothing in the body? Look for highwaisted, bra-level shapewear garments that give you a lovely, smooth shape without the bulkiness or boning in corseted styles like basques and long-lines. Pro Tip: You can wear each independently for future occasions, getting a long life out of these pieces.

Our favourite strapless styles:

Wacoal Red Carpet Strapless Bra 854119 – This is the strapless bra we love to fit with; it’s available in a brilliant range of sizes and is geared to C-DDD busts. Smooth, moulded cups with silicone grip at the top of the cup and edges of the underband ensure it stays in place. Available with detachable straps to wear criss-cross or one shoulder. US sizing

Sculptresse Dana 9670 – The usual high support we know and love from Sculptresse for our fuller figured and fuller busted customers. Double layered, deep sided wings and underband gives exceptional support and lightly sculpted four section cups offer shape, hold and lift. Also has silicone elastics for extra gripping power. This is our best seller for the F-J cup girl. 36F-44H, 36HH-40J. UK Sizing

Fantasie Aura FL2320 – An excellent option for our smaller framed full busted girls, the seamless, moulded cups are cleverly cut to allow for a slightly lower neckline. Powermesh lining at the side wing area and back give great hold with additional flexible boning. Available with detachable straps to wear with different shoulder options. 30-38 DDD/E - GG. UK Sizing

It’s not just the one special day though, especially when it comes to Weddings. Think of the Bridal showers, the rehearsal dinners and all the other occasions you’ll be photographed at. There’s no reason why you can’t look fabulous in all the photos, therefore make sure you ask your fitter for an excellent everyday bra too.

The right size bra can make you look trim and toned with little effort, help with posture (no one likes to be photographed slouching!) and give you the best foundation for inner confidence which is priceless.

It’s vital to a positive, dress buying experience to ensure that you have the right lingerie before choosing your dress for your special day. By knowing your true bra size, you’ll have a better understanding of what will be your most flattering style gown, saving you hours of frustration and confusion in the dress and alteration shop!

Be the best bride and make sure your wedding party get fitted too, gift certificates are available on line, they’ll love you even more.

In the case that you are new to us and have already chosen your dress, please know we carry the largest size and style range in the state and are there to offer the best for your dress and bust size.

For your very own Bra~vo Experience call us to book an appointment - 248-582-7286.

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