535 Fully Bra

I have been asked by many Harwayes customers to bring back the popular Vanity Fair range of bras – so now I have! Vanity Fair has recently changed its name to become Bestform Lingerie. The brand continues to offer lingerie to fit larger cup sizes with great fit, comfort, shaping and support.

Style 535 Fully Bra

Illustrated is the bestselling style number 535 Fully bra, available from 2 September. Made from100% knitted jersey cotton cups, this comfort bra is fresh in wear and soft against your body – cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Available in White and Black in sizes 34B to 48F and 34 – 44FF & G.

Freya Dotty Maternity Bra and Shorts

Another new style added to the site today is the Dotty nursing bra by Freya. Now if you love Freya’s support for D+ cups and their high fashion designs, you will adore this maternity set.

And it is available in back sizes from 30 right up to 40 too.

Matching shorts from XS(8) to 2XL (18)

Group One – The Yummy Mummies (aged around 30 – 45 with one or more children aged 0 – 14)

Our first group – the Yummy Mummies reviewed the Freya and Fantasie collections. All liked the tankinis ‘because when you’ve had a baby the texture of your stomach is papery and unfit for exposure’ said one. All liked the underwiring and bra structure – once you’ve tried it you will never go back to unstructured swimwear again! Halter necks are proving very popular with this age group this season.

Swim skirts were very well received and likely to be an enduring trend in swimwear design over the next few years.

Anything for a quick cover up on the beach was seen as a ‘must-have’ – so for example the fantasie kaftans, the stardust hooded tunic and the freya galaxy tunic all got the thumbs up.Have a look at the Freya swimwear collection now at www.harwayeslingerie.com

Group 2 The Choral Society (Aged around 60+ with grandchildren)

This group considered a bra structure essential to give shape, didn’t like too low a front or too high a leg – ‘probably unbecoming at our age’ they said. They didn’t want anything too jazzy or loud – more muted tones were considered suitable. Definitely no bikinis. Tankinis are possible, but need to be long enough. Halter necks were not liked by 2 out of 3 customers as they were considered unflattering. Control linings and ruching effects to disguise stomach areas were popular.

Top designs with our choral ladies were the fantasie Zante swimsuit (with control lining) and kaftan, the fantasie Goa swimsuit (muted colours) and kaftan and the fantasie Barcelona tankini. Shop for Fantasie swimwear now at www.harwayeslingerie.com.

Open Corselette by Playtex

Harwayes customers will be glad to know that we continue to offer their favorite Playtex and Naturana girdles and corsalettes by mail order. We usually deliver within 4 – 5 days of receiving your order. If you cannot see what you are looking for, please do get in touch, as we can often still obtain even discontinued items from Playtex.

Elomi Lingerie Range - For fuller Figures

A recent Sunday Times article by Eleanor Mills (24 Jan 10) celebrates that more manufacturers are offering lingerie for bigger cup sizes and the availability of shops such as Bravissimo to sell it at reasonable prices.

However, interestingly in the comments section, (http://women.timesonline.co.uk) readers complain that it is still difficult to get bigger back sizes. We are actively working on this, adding the Elomi range to our website which goes up to 46 back size. Elomi is a sister company to Freya and Fantasie, so we know their bras are excellent – ultra supportive and elegant.

We already list the Elomi sports bra (www.harwayeslingerie.com/sports) and we can obtain any of the range if you are interested – please phone or email us for a colour catalogue and price list. Phone 01780 766 936 (enquiries@harwayeslingerie.com)

Fantasie Lingerie for Valentines

Fantasie Lingerie have developed a cool Facebook application that lets you send a jolly big hint to your loved one about which style of lingerie to buy for you for Valentines, which size, as well as specifying what would be your ideal date. To log in paste this link into your browser. Then, of course, suggest he should come to HarwayesLingerie.com to buy!

http://apps.facebook.com/fantasievalentines/

Fantasie and Freya are owned by the same Northants based company and are viewed as one of the premier manufacturers of swimwear in true cup sizes. As a bra designers first and foremost they are able to apply all their bra making skills to create swimwear that is comfortable, supportive and flatters your curves. Yes some of the prices are a bit steep if you are used to spending £20 in a supermarket – but compared to the cost of a holiday – wouldn’t you rather look fabulous and feel comfortable?

Freya Bikinis

The Freya range is aimed at a slightly younger audience, so bikinis, tankinis, on trend towelling hoodies and slash neck tunics are the order of the day.  But knowing that our customers are real women rather than stick-thin models, we have chosen the styles that include shorts, swim skirts and bikini bottoms with fold over waists – we may as well be practical and buy bikinis we are comfortable in, as well as looking fantastic. Have a look at the range at www.harwayeslingerie.com

Fantasie for Control Swimming Costumes

Fantasie is aimed at ladies with curves – so D+ with underwire as standard and all the visual tricks some of the best designers in the UK can cram into a single small garment! In addition to all the technical advantages Fantasie have access to as underwear manufacturers – tummy control front panels, side shaping and cleavage enhancing for the bust, they have researched the common problems women say they have with swimwear, such as the bust appearing too heavy and really made strides into helping to even things out! And if you are really lacking in confidence you can quickly cover up with matching swim skirts or floaty kaftans. See the range at www.harwayeslingerie.com

So all we have to do is swim up to the poolside bar knowing we look amazing and all that hard work has been done for us – cocktails anyone?

In the meantime, check out this video from Dove (the toiletery brand). They have a campaign for ‘Real Beauty’ and I think this video sums up what fashion photographers and designers really do to images of young women: It is quite short (20 seconds perhaps) and shows the transformation of a model from when she arrives at the studio to when she appears on a cosmetics poster. Show it to your young teenaged sons and daughters – its a real eye opener and well worth a look.

No Wonder our Perception of Beauty is Distorted

Thanks to Rev. Mark Warwick for bringing this video to my attention.

Which?, the consumer’s champion says it can’t recommend a single one of the services it tried.

Tessa Russell, assistant editor, Which?, says:

“We’ve been hearing for years that most women wear the wrong sized bra, with the advice usually being to get professionally fitted. Yet the services we tried are no use at all – they’re sending women away with bras that don’t fit properly and could be uncomfortable.”

One of my customers recently came in, having been fitted for a bra at M&S – she said it was very uncomfortable and we noticed straight away it was doing nothing for her shape. The lady in question was an E cup, but had been put into a bra that was far too big in the back. We gave her advice on how to check for herself whether a bra fits correctly:

• If the breasts are forced towards to the sides or bulging over the top of the cups, then the cup size is too small.
• If the cup of the bra wrinkles all over, it shows that the cup size is too big and a smaller cup size is needed.
• If the band of the bra does not sit straight around the body and rides upwards at the back, then the band size is too big.
• The band of the bra should be firm but not too tight.
• The shoulder straps should be properly adjusted to provide the correct support.

Sources: Which? www.which.co.uk, how to check the bra fits courtesy of Shock Absorber.

Freya Active soft cup sports bra

I gave one of my friends a Freya Active on sale or return. She runs and says she normally has to wear 2 sports bras. Well she tried this last night and said it was ‘awesome’ – perfect fit, excellent support – for the first time ever she only has to wear one bra! Full review coming shortly.