Twice a year I go to the Lingerie Show to buy new lines for the following year, at each show there are catwalk shows beautifully choreographed with professional models, with many of the manufacturers having their own models as well, showing off their ranges on the stands. When it comes to our own fashion shows, however, although we have occasionally used professional models, our preference is most definitely for amateur models, often shop customers, who might be a little nervous, but are willing to have a go. The resulting shows, have been spectacular, with the audience more able to identify more readily with the models. Last night we had a mini show in our Rochdale shop with Katie Hesketh and Claudette Doherty, modelling for us. I'd like to give them a big vote of thanks, for once again, being the face of Just Bras. (Katie is wearing the Spring Blossom Balcony Bra and Shorts from this seasons Playful Promises range, Shanghai nights and Claudette is wearing the Wild Rose Bra and Thong from Lepel).
(Many thanks to Colin Meredith from Rochdale Style Magazine for the photo)
Watch this space for the mini video, showcasing some of the sets worn by the girls.
First bras or bras for teenagers invariably tend to be soft cup (no wires). Many people believe that wires are not safe for young girls wearing their first bras, as they can trap breast tissue, glands or milk ducts, thus causing potential future problems. However the reality is that underwired bras are not dangerous for any bra wearers and the wire offers added support to the bra cup.
However, wire or no wire, you have to find what’s most comfortable for you.
Having a well-fitting bra is important. Most women wear the wrong bra size because they don’t get properly fitted and this equally applies to young girls. So although it may seem embarrassing, it is really important to be fitted properly, by a qualified fitter. (Try and steer clear of department stores offering fitting services as staff are not always experienced or properly trained.) You need to ensure that the bra is not only comfortable, but that it should offer plenty of support and be flattering too.
Most bras lose their fit and shape in six months, so it is important to change them regularly.
For adults, if you lose or gain weight your bra size will change too – so it’s important to get fitted for a bra at least every 12 months. However for growing girls, their breast size can change more rapidly, as well as growing more generally and possibly needing a larger backsize. It is therefore really important that young girls are checked for size more frequently, especially if they are wearing under wired bras. It is for this reason that soft cup bras are favoured for young girls, as changes in size are more easily accommodated by a soft cup bra, whereas, an underwired bra is likely to start to become uncomfortable as the size changes.
So, although their may not be medical reasons for young girls not wearing underwired bras, wearing soft cup bras will help ensure that the bra is comfier for longer and will not need changing every two minutes.
I know I beat the drum about lingerie being a fashion item and not just a piece of underwear, but with the Autumn Winter Stock now becoming firmly established in store and on line, a trend is starting to develop. The colour palette is normally quite varied, but there is always one colour that dominates, in the summer it was a coral pink and this season it is most definitely purple and shades thereof. We had a taster of the purples last winter with a couple of manufacturers dipping there toes into the water to test out what has most definitely become the 'new black' for 2009 / 10.
(Billie - Cleo by Panache)
The rule of thumb for autumn is normally all about earth tone colours. Mahogany brown, burnt red, harvest orange, dark golden yellow, rustic forest green, and the like, all falling into the category of autumn fashion must-haves. Burnt red is in evidence from Panache with Harmony range, yellows for some reason although popular in fashion generally, like green don't always go down to well when it comes to lingerie, however along with purple the other colour that has crossed over from fashion ranges more generally is teal.
(Portia - Curvy Kate)
Teal can be a rich and elegant colour with shades varying from those with more blue in them towards those that are more green. So if you want to have lingerie to compliment your fashion buys for this season or if you just fancy being a little 'adventuress', then why not give purple or teal a place in your lingerie drawer.
For those of you have been watching the latest series of How to Look Good Naked on Channel 4, you may be interested to know, that Just Bras stock many of the lingerie lines featured in the first three episodes of this seasons show. Fantasie, Freya, Pour Moi and Wonderbra have all been featured. The Wonderbra Plunge Multiway and Wonderbra T Shirt bra from their D-G range have both featured in the Practical Underwear section, you know the part where Gok Wan weaves his magic and shows how wearing the right underwear can give you a fantastic shape and is the basis of any outfit. The third bra featured in this section is the Fantasie Smoothing T Shirt Bra. A nice endorsement when these basics, featured in a show such as How to Look Good Naked are ranges stocked at Just Bras.
Moving onto the catwalk section the three episodes screened to date have featured bras from Wonderbra, Freya and Pour Moi all lines stocked at Just Bras, so if you want to 'Look Good Naked', why not pay us a visit in store or visit our website at www.JustBras.co.uk
The credit crunch and recession have had a profound effect on many of us, with businesses having to adapt to the changing economic climate. As a retailer pre-ordering stock six to twelve months in advance can be like sticking your finger in the air to see which way the wind is blowing. It is a gamble in normal times, what will be in fashion, what colours will be popular, what size ranges to buy in, all difficult thing to second guess, but something we normally cope with well. Of course with the recession the temptation for many shops is to cut back on what they buy in and reduce their ranges, we have tried to avoid this, as we want to ensure our customers have plenty of choice.
Manufacturers likewise have had to estimate demand and have pre-ordered their stocks accordingly. They like the retailers want to ensure that they sell their ranges in season, reducing what is left to clear at the end of the season, leaving some in the current season, already selling out of stock for Autumn Winter 2009/10 before winter has been reached. Some have also underestimated demand for their continuity ranges, the basic, black white and nude bras, strapless bras and T-Shirt Bras.
Retailers have always been able to rely on the general availability of the basics, but this season this has not been the case, with some suppliers running out of sizes in their basic ranges and quoting delivery dates often weeks and on occasions months ahead. For most people this isn't an issue as there is nearly always an alternative to be found, but for those of you who have a favourite bra, that you always buy, if your size happens to be out of stock, you may struggle to get it despite shopping around and patience most definitely is a virtue.
