Tag Archives: bra care instructions

Saturday Spotlight: Sweet Nothings

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Hello Ladies,

Last week, after I asked for suggestions about which blogs and websites to feature in the future, the incredibly sweet founder of “Sweet Nothings:  Everyone deserves a little sweetness” wrote me a lovely introductory email.  Providing information on bra fittings and sizing, lingerie finds, and mouth-watering baking recipes, Sweet Nothings reminds me of the desert tray at that over-your-budget-but-so-good-you-can’t-resist restaurant:  There’s a little something for everyone, and it’s all delicious . . . except reading her posts don’t make you go over your monetary or caloric budget!

For the last several years, one of my side passions has been baking deserts (cooking and I don’t mix, but baking?  Totally!), so this blog was especially interesting to me as it encompassed both my love of sweets and my earnest desire to help women find their bra size.  Her article on caring for your bra is top-notch and offers sound advice to anyone even contemplating using the dryer on their intimate wear.

On the conventionally sweet side, the Chocolate-Chip Rum Bars recipe has made its way into my baking bookmarks since the photo alone was enough to make me salivate.  Of course, my favorite part about the blog is the tone of voice and unique perspective it offers.  There’s a witty, fun sense of humor coursing through each post that makes you feel as though you’re having a conversation instead of reading an article on the Internet.  Blogger Sweets projects her warmth and makes you feel like you could enjoy some rum bars and coffee while discussing the latest and greatest lingerie from your favorite brand.

Enjoy!  Or should I say:  Bon appetit?

Erica

Some Updates

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Hello Ladies,

Ordinarily, I use Saturdays to spotlight local businesses or blogs/websites that I think readers would enjoy; however, this week I want to offer a more personal update.  This past week, I haven’t been able to add as much content to the blog as I usually do because one of my dogs had an unplanned litter of puppies.  I ended up closing the store very early on Thursday to go home and take care of them as the mother was a bit overwhelmed:

Between waking up throughout the night to check on them as well as working at the store, it’s been a long and exhausting week.  Next week promises to be better though!

Currently, I’m working on drafting a series of articles and videos for the main part of the website spanning everything from bra fitting advice to care instructions to building a lingerie wardrobe.  Hopefully, the articles and videos will serve as a valuable one-stop resource for bra dilemmas and information, and my goal is to have it completed in the next two weeks (puppy problems notwithstanding!).

Also, I wanted to let everyone know that the fabulous Amanda of 32AABra Blog has graciously agreed to write a guest blog for us!  She’s going to be discussing the inevitable fluctuations in bra size over a woman’s life and how we can all come to terms and accept our size.

Finally, we’re expanding our blog roll, so if anyone is interested in exchanging links or would like to be added, please email sophisticatedpair@gmail.com (Note: I’m only going to be including blogs/websites that I think our largely female readership will enjoy, so keep that in mind if you want to submit yours).  I’m also open to suggestions for Saturday Spotlights.  The blogosphere is so large that you may know of a fantastic blog other women would love to read but I may have missed.

Take care, and have a great weekend everyone!

Erica

Reader Question: Hooking a Bra

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Hey Erica, I read online that the best way to hook your bra is to put yourself in the cups, pull the straps up and then hook the closures in the back.  If you hook it in the front, you’ll wear out the bra faster.  Is this true? — Tamara

Hi Tamara!  About two weeks ago, I got into this kick where I decided I was going to stop hooking my bra in the front and try to do the whole “in the back” thing.  Of course, I love a snug band for the added support, and if I’m being totally honest, I’m not the most coordinated person in the world (walking in heels notwithstanding).  As a result, the process of twisting my shoulders back, pulling the band, and simultaneously trying to hook all three fasteners in the correct column proved too daunting.  I gave up and resumed hooking the bra in the front and twisting it around my torso.

Does this put strain on the elastic of the bra?  Sure!  But is it enough to significantly shorten the lifespan of a bra?  I doubt it.  First, you (usually) only put your bra on once per day, and the entire process takes less than a minute or so.  Even if we aim high and say it takes you two minutes, over the bra’s lifespan (let’s assume 130 wears), you create approximately 260 minutes or 4.33 hours of extra wear—less than a full day.

Additionally, the act of twisting the bra around doesn’t seem to be all that different than the normal wear you put on a bra.  On any average day, I bend over, lift things up, and do all manner of movement, some of which will tax the elastic more than the relatively fast act of rotating the bra around my body.  What is more important is how you take care of the bra over time.  Wearing it back to back days or throwing the bra in the washer or dryer will shorten the life of your bra far faster than doing the twist!

If you are able to snap your bra in the back without a problem, that’s fantastic!  I’m not always crazy about the little red marks I get from hooking in the front, but if you can’t, then there’s always an alternative.  Hope that helps!

Erica

How Long Do Bras Last?

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Hello Ladies,

Bras are investment pieces in our wardrobe, and as such, it’s natural to want to know how long to expect a quality bra to last you.  Some experts suggest a bra should last between 6 and 9 months or roughly 130 wears, which I feel is a good starting point.  However, there are a number of factors that can either shorten or lengthen the life of your bra:

  • Larger Cup Sizes:  Women who have heavier breast tissue and wear larger cup sizes may find their bras do no last as long because let’s be fair:  A bra for an H cup woman has to work harder to keep your breasts supported and contained throughout the day than bra for a C cup woman.
  • Activity Level:  If you work at a desk job where your bra has little more to do than stay in place and keep the girls lifted, then the bra will have less wear and tear put on it than, say, the woman who waits tables at a busy restaurant.  The more you stretch the elastic of the bra throughout the day, the faster it will wear out and stop giving you support.
  • Quality:  Not all bras are created equally, and even at higher price points, you will find bras whose quality doesn’t warrant a prolonged life.  At A Sophisticated Pair, we do our best to only stock bras that we know will last the test of time, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t styles out there that wear out faster.

Nevertheless, at the end of the day, the life of a bra comes down to:

  • How Often You Wear It:  If you wear a bra everyday for several weeks, the bra’s lifespan will be seriously shortened because you are not giving the elastic time to snap back.  Even if you only have two bras in rotation, you will notice those bras tend to wear out around the six month mark simply because of how much wear they receive.  My recommendation is have three to four different bras you can rotate if you want to prolong the wear of your bras.
  • How you Care for It:  Sorry ladies, but throwing the bra in the washer and especially the dryer is one surefire way to destroy the bra and require it to be replaced faster.  Some women have assured me that the washing machine works well on delicate wash, but I’m skeptical.  My bras routinely cost over $65, which is a lot of money to waste if something goes wrong with the lingerie bag.  Personally, I follow my own advice, and I hand wash my bras and let them hang dry.  The result?  I have bras that are still acceptable for around the house or for country picnics that are over two years old.

When I buy a new bra, I aim to have the cost-per-wear (CPW) under $0.75 before I retire it to the “in home only” drawer.  Usually, this requires about 90 wears; however, most of my bras have a CPW of under $0.50 from instituting a rotation and carefully washing them.

Hope that helps!

Erica

Reader Questions Answered: Video Blog

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Hello Ladies,

For this week’s video blog, we wanted to address a few of the questions we’ve received from blog readers, newsletter recipients, and customers in the store.  Topics include which hooks to use when you buy a bra, tips for caring for your bra, alterations on bras, and the lack of smooth cup options for women with higher cup sizes.  As always, if you ever have any questions, please feel free to email sophisticatedpair@gmail.com!

Erica and Debbie

Reader Question: Longevity of a Bra

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Hello Ladies,

Today, we want to answer a question submitted by one of our readers.  Charlene asks:

How long will one of your bras last me?  I usually spend between $20 and $30 on a bra at (retailer’s name omitted) for them to only last a few months.  I don’t want to pay double that for the same amount of wear.

Great question, Charlene!  The short answer is:  If you follow our suggested care instructions, you can easily get over a year’s worth of wear from one of our bras.

All of the products we carry in the store are measured up against our quality standards, meaning you will never see us sell inferior merchandise that wears our quickly.  Even our manufacturers set rigorous standards for what they will ship to us.  Recently, Natori delayed the launch of their highly anticipated N line because of quality control issues—a move we personally admire!

Most people are familiar with the cost-per-wear (CPW) equation (cost of the garment divided by the number of wears), and we aim for a low cost per wear with all of the bras we sell.

For example, let’s suppose the $30 you purchased lasts around 60 wears, which means the CPW is $0.50.  In contrast, the $60 bra you purchase at our store will last you at least a year of wearing it 3 to 4 times a week (conservatively 144 wears) for a CPW of $0.40.

At first, this doesn’t seem like a huge savings, but there are a few factors to consider.  First, the bra you buy here will be your correct size and will offer you the support, shaping, and comfort you deserve.  It won’t be a “good enough” size or style, and you’ll love the way you look and feel in your bra.

Secondly, the 144 wears is a very conservative estimate.  I personally have a Fantasie 4520 bra that I have been wearing for over 18 months (3 to 4 times a week).  The CPW on that is $0.17 ($50 divided by 288 wears), and I’m still wearing it!

At the end of the day, there’s an old adage:  You get what you pay for.  And this is true of our bras.  They may be a little more expensive than what you are used to, but they will fit you better and last longer.

Erica and Debbie

How to Care for your Bra

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Hello Ladies,

For today’s blog, we wanted to share with you our suggested care instructions, which both of us have used for years with positive results.  To prolong the life of your bra, we recommend all merchandise be gently cleaned and dried after every couple wears.  Perfumes, lotions, perspiration, and even body chemistry can cause the straps and band to lose elasticity over time.

Hand Wash (Preferred Method)

Fill sink with cool water and mild detergent then lightly agitate the water for no more than five minutes.  Rinse the bra with cold water and squeeze excess water, but do not wring.  Blot dry with a towel.

Machine Wash

Using a lingerie bag, wash intimates on the delicate cycle.  Before washing, snap all hook and eye closures and check that bras are not tangled together in the bag.

Dry Clean

Some bras are not designed to be hand or machine washed.  If the manufacturer recommends dry cleaning the garment, follow their advice.

Regardless of whether you hand or machine wash, never place bras in the dryer.  The heat will destroy the elasticity of the bra, cause shrinkage, wire distortion, and fraying.  After washing, reshape the bra and either allow the bra to hang dry or dry flat on a towel.  Keep bras away from heaters, radiators, and sunshine to prevent the fading of colors and discoloration of whites.

If you follow these instructions, your bra will truly last!

Erica and Debbie

The Proper Way to Put on a Bra

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Hello Ladies,

After we posted our original blog that outlined Tomima Edmark’s instructions for how to properly put a bra on, we received a lot of questions about the various steps.  As a result, we decided that some things are just easier to show than tell, so I decided to brave the camera and demonstrate the technique for you.  For the video, I used the new Fantasie Vivienne bra, which we reviewed last week.

As always if you have any questions, we are here to help!

Erica