Tag Archives: Saturday Spotlight

Saturday Spotlight: My Overstock Boutique

Posted on by
4

Hello Ladies,

Last weekend, I picked up a pair of freshly-hemmed jeans from my go-to seamstress (Melanie Cook of Silver Threads and Golden Needles), and she recommended I try a nearby consignment/overstock boutique that receives new inventory from stores across the country.  As I mentioned yesterday, I love fashion, and I’ve heard tales of amazing finds at consignment and thrift stores—deals so amazing they border on legendary.

However, every time I’ve visited a thrift or consignment store in the past, most of the inventory was from another decade, unflattering, in poor condition, or in sizes nowhere close to mine.  Then there’s the organization.  Everything is stuffed onto racks often in no particular order, and as someone who finds department stores a touch overwhelming, the prospect of sorting through a bunch of densely packed and highly assorted clothes makes my skin crawl.  My emotional tolerance for the process dies quickly, and I give up searching for that rare gem which will have my name inscribed in the annals of consignment shopping history.

Needless to say, I was a bit skeptical about visiting the shop, but I fortified myself and drove over to My Overstock Boutique.  Located in a large warehouse in the Haw River area, our Saturday Spotlight forgoes some of the decorative flourishes of traditional shops in favor of an incredible selection that is updated often.  When owner Mike led me through the door to the warehouse portion, I was taken aback by how much inventory was lurking there, and within a few minutes of scanning a nearby rack, I found a J. Crew Collection Pencil Skirt from last year on sale for $60.00 as well as a whole collection of their shoes (sadly, my size was a little scarce).  Soon after I found a wool skirt from Ralph Lauren’s Blue Label for $125.00 (originally $275.00) that was out of my budget but gorgeous nonetheless.

Since I was in the market for bottoms or sweaters, I skipped the racks with dresses and blouses, but I could tell there were some beautiful pieces mixed in there as well.  Ultimately, I brought that J. Crew Collection skirt to the fitting room along with a teal a-line design which was originally $220 marked down to $5.  Yes, $5!  J. Crew’s collection items are apparently even narrower in the hips than their normal designs, so that was a bust but my $5 skirt was a great success.

If you’re in the area, stop by to see what they have to offer but come prepared to spend some time searching through the racks.  Had I more patience, I’m sure I would have left with more than the skirt.

My Overstock Boutique
828 Trollingwood-Hawfields Road
Mebane, NC 27302
Hours:  Monday-Saturday 10a.m. to 5p.m.
t : 919-923-3014
e : info@MyOverstockBoutique.com

Erica

Saturday Spotlight: Free for All

Posted on by
2

Hello Ladies,

This week there were a tremendous amount of blog and news activity that I found fascinating and wanted to share with you in lieu of our traditional Saturday Spotlight!

First, I want to spotlight Bras I Hate’s analysis of the Her Room breast shape survey.  When it was first published, I answered the questions and was left baffled by the suggestions they offered, but I was also perturbed about their tendency to use language with a negative connotation when describing breasts, particularly the “overly large” Omega breasts I’m lugging around all day.

Next up, I enjoyed Miss Underpinning’s comparison of the different Freya cut-and-sew styles especially since you could really see the different silhouette and shape each bra provided.

Women with curvy lower halves will appreciate Sweet Nothing’s first installment on finding jeans, skirts, and dress pants for your curves although Nicole of Fussy Busty (our Saturday Spotlight last week) and I would love to add an addendum for plus-size women.

Invest in your Chest reports on how Victoria’s Secret has leaped across the pond to open a flagship store in London where their horrible fit techniques continue to put women in the wrong size bra.  If you missed it, we recently wrote a blog on why their measuring methods produce such poor results.

Finally, on the body snark front, Hello Giggles featured a fantastic article on “The Real Reasons Girls Call Other Girls Fat” which is a must-read for anyone who has been on the giving or receiving end of negative comments about a woman’s figure.

Your turn:  What other articles popped upon the Internet this week that I missed?  Have a great Labor Day Weekend!

Erica

Saturday Spotlight: Fussy Busty

Posted on by
4

Hello Ladies,

A few weeks ago, our Saturday Spotlight popped up on my radar, but as I am prone to do, I leave a lot of windows open in my browser, it crashes (or I accidentally close it), and I forget what I had open.  This week, fate smiled on me because I clicked on the website listed by one of the lovely ladies commenting on our blog, and I found it again.  Yay!  As a result, our featured blog this week is Fussy Busty:  A Plus size, US bra blog!

Blogger Nicole wears a 40J, meaning she is in a niche under-represented both in the blogosophere and in lingerie.  So often companies stop at 38 bands, and if they offer a 40, the cup size range is limited.  When I discussed our first year statistics, Nicole is one of the demographics I said needed more attention from manufacturers.  Large cup sizes aren’t unique to the 32-38 market!

When I was plus-size, I remember vainly trying to decide if a bra or dress would translate from the model’s thin frame to mine, and I wish I had resource like this.  Her bra reviews are relevant to women of all sizes, and the information she provides is top notch.  I like that she includes pictures too so you can see the bras on her body type and identify the signs of a good or poor fit, and her recent review of the Andorra strikes a chord with me because I’m also a fan (bonus:  I like how she wears it under a tee to prove seamed bras can be versatile!).

Her blog is definitely worth the read!

Erica

Saturday Spotlight: Busty Girl Comics

Posted on by
Reply

Hello Ladies,

Today I want share one of my favorite web discoveries:  Busty Girl Comics.  So many of these short but funny drawings apply to all of us, and they always provide me with a chuckle.  Not to mention, I love how Paige, the comic’s creator, promotes diversity by including women of all shapes, sizes, colors, and religions within the images.

Since pictures speak louder than words, here are a few of my personal faves, and if you like them, consider a donation!

Erica

P.S.  Don’t forget to like her Facebook page too!


Saturday Spotlight: Undiegamer

Posted on by
2

Hello Ladies,

Bra fitting was originally not my first passion and only entered my realm of interests after I was properly fitted.  Before opening this store, I had a completely different profession:  I was a computer programmer.  My first job was as a console game beta tester working with such illustrious titles (at least “back in the day”) as the Medal of Honor and Fatal Frame series.  There wasn’t a first person-shooter I didn’t love, and let’s just say I used to play a certain MMORPG (Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game) with an alliance of characters versus a horde.

What does this have to do with a Saturday Spotlight?  This week’s selection, Undiegamer written by Windie Gardie, is a blog that combines two totally unrelated but equally fun topics:  lingerie and video games.  For a geek like me, this is pure awesomeness captured in pixels and sent as packets through the Internet.  Her bra reviews are well-written and helpful, but I love the occasional break with video game speak because it reminds me of why I first fell in love with computers and went to college to study them.  Her posts on what she’s playing and reading add a personal touch that let you connect with her as a person even though the blog is still developing.  The mix of traditional lingerie topics with video games and anime creates a truly unique and unexpected perspective, and I, for one, can’t wait to see what new posts she writes next!

Erica

Saturday Spotlight: Resources for Altering a Bra

Posted on by
7

Hello Ladies,

Depending on your size and breast shape, finding bras that meet specific needs, such as those that blend well under special occasion wear, can be challenging.  Then, there’s always those occasions where we fall in love with a bra that doesn’t fit, and despite our better judgement, we can’t stand to return it.  In other instances, unexpected weight loss may render bras in good condition unwearable because of a band and/or cups that are too big.  These situations make altering your bra a viable option, and I have compiled a few links for our Saturday Spotlight to help.

June of Braless in Brasil created a comprehensive guide with “10 Rules of Bra Alterations” to provide background information ranging from what part of the bra to alter first to how to measure accurately.  Following this post, she also wrote a detailed step-by-step blog on how she has shortened the bands of her bra.  Nevertheless, if the idea of removing stitches seems a bit too advanced for you, Boosaurus developed a nifty technique involving ribbon to tighten a band as well.

Finally, if you’re like me and have doubts about your own sewing competence, there’s always a good seamstress or tailor.  In the Burlington area, I highly recommend Melanie Cook of Silver Threads & Golden Needles.  In many cases, she has bridged the gap between what we could offer with a bra and what a customer needed, and I can attest to her amazing skills.

Does anyone else have links to helpful resources for altering your bra?

Erica

Saturday Spotlight: Elegant Bridal

Posted on by
2

Hello Ladies,

This week’s Saturday Spotlight proudly shines on our new neighbors who are hosting their Grand Opening today:  Elegant Bridal!

Elegant Bridal is a new boutique in Burlington, NC focused on providing the most up-to-date bridal gown designs, quality service, and customer satisfaction.  A family owned and operated business, Elegant Bridal strives to make your shopping experience memorable and fun.  With an incredible selection of bridal gowns, veils, head pieces, bridesmaids’ gowns, flower girl dresses, accessories, and even tuxedos, Elegant Bridal is a one stop shop where you can find something for everyone in your bridal party. Owner Ginny and her daughter Lauren are dedicated to helping brides find the perfect dress for their special day by providing personalized service in a relaxed, friendly environment.

As a huge “Say Yes to the Dress” fan, I was excited to hear that Ginny was going to be recreating the experience on a smaller scale next to my shop, and I practically squealed with delight when she showed me some of the dresses.  Photos and even video cannot capture the intricacy and detail of these gowns, especially for the ones that utilize lace or embroidery.  Check out the pictures below for a small sample of what she has available:

As if the wedding dresses aren’t beautiful enough, she has the most adorable designs for flower girls:

Elegant Bridal also has bridesmaids’ dresses in every conceivable color and style, many of which would work for cocktail, prom, or evening gowns.

Finally, for their Grand Opening, they are offering $150 off any wedding dress now through August 31st.  If you or someone know is getting married, this the shop to visit!

Erica

P.S.  Don’t forget that we can help you with all your bridal lingerie needs too!  (I know, I know, very opportunist of me)

Saturday Spotlight: Victoria’s Secret

Posted on by
5

Hello Ladies,

Admit it.  A few of just had a head scratching moment after reading the title of today’s blog.  This week I’m not actually sponsoring Victoria’s Secret but rather two posts written by women who have gone shopping at the aforementioned retail giant only to receive abominable fit information.

Blogger Boosaurus, who usually wears a 28H, was improperly fit into a 34C/D during her trip—all the while an irony-laden inscription adorned the fitting room wall:

Meanwhile Maddie wrote a guest post for Braless in Brasil where her 32JJ/K breasts were crammed into a 38DD.

Sadly, I’ve had many women come to the store who were fitted into similar sizes by Victoria’s Secret, and they are shocked at how different a size they truly need.  When I was around 17, my mom took me to find bras for my ever-expanding bosom, and our first stop was Vickie’s.  The woman fitted me as a 38DD, which were still too small, and she suggested, quite rudely, that I try Lane Bryant.  At the time I was probably about the size I am now, and she made me feel very uncomfortable in my own body, which is something no seventeen year old girl needs.  It was a nightmare, and I have never been back even for buying underwear or sleepwear.

While I won’t deny there is an element of the self-serving in my blog post (I am a lingerie store owner, after all), that is not my primary purpose.  I know firsthand how Victoria’s Secret fits women into bras, and the two blog posts linked above demonstrate that in the last nine years, they haven’t changed anything.  If you’re in need of a bra fitting, please find a reputable boutique in your area, or contact the fitters/owners through email.  You will be much happier with how your bra fits and feels!

Erica

Saturday Spotlight: Freya’s Blog Star Competition

Posted on by
Reply

Hello Ladies,

Freya Lingerie is looking for new blogging talent to write for their blog, “Fitting Talk,” and they are relaunching their fabulous Blog Star competition to find it!  You can win the chance to join their blogging team as well as a year’s supply of free lingerie by entering here.

The Blog Star competition presents a great opportunity for Freya enthusiasts to write about life, love, and lingerie all while receiving previews of the latest and greatest designs from the brand.  Blogging can be a fun and rewarding experience because it’s an easily accessible platform upon which you can help millions of people across the globe with advice on bra fitting and sizing.

Furthermore, I love how Freya is looking to the people who love and wear their lingerie (a la the recently concluded Curvy Kate “Star in a Bra” competition) for new bloggers.  It’s a personal touch that lets the Freya fan know the brand cares about her concerns, and I feel like this opportunity would allow some of the issues we’ve all been discussing in the lingerie blogging community (more shades of “nude,” smaller and bigger bands, etc.) to come to the attention of a major manufacturer.

Do any of you plan on entering?

Erica

Saturday Spotlight: Always Best Care

Posted on by
1

Hello Ladies,

Today, I am focusing on another local business . . . very local, in fact, as we’re located in the same shopping plaza!  It’s my wonderful neighbors Joanne and Steve over at Always Best Care: Senior Services, which focuses on providing seniors with a range of services including affordable and reliable transportation, in-home care, and assisted living placement services.  Joanne has worked in the industry for years, and Steve has personal experience dealing with the challenges of caring for a family member with Alzheimer’s and Dementia.

Joanne and Steve are also actively involved with non-profit events designed to help seniors stay active and vibrant, including sponsoring weekly bingo games and leading free jazzercize classes.

On a personal note, Joanne has greatly helped me promote the store, and I’m pretty sure she’s working on bringing her entire family my way for new bras.  They’re genuinely caring and dedicated people, and they run their business with these traits in mind.  If you or a loved one need in-home care or help finding an assisted living center, give them a call.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Erica

P.S.  On a totally unrelated note, I am helping my aunt Debbie move from MD to NC on Sunday and Monday, so I will not be answering emails or blogging.  This week has been crazy trying to prepare for their move, so I’ve slacked off a bit here.  On Tuesday, everything will return to normal.  :)