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.

Bravado Body Silk Nursing Bra

Body Silk Seamless Nursing Bra

The biggest selling Bravado bra is the Body Silk Seamless Bra – designed to melt onto your body and give you comfort unlike any you’ve experienced from a bra before (nursing or not!) Our view -  Perfect as the comfiest T-shirt bra ever!

This bra is so comfortable and has such an excellent range of sizes I sold one to a wheelchair bound elderly customer last week – I’ll let you know how she gets on with it.

Bravado Essential Nursing Tank Top

Essential Nursing Bra Tank Top

Our other new Bravado product is the nursing vest top – perfect for day wear, nightwear, yoga classes, the beach…long enough to cover your bump, fitted and flattering without being clingy – once discovered, this top is one you’ll never be without.

To order go to http://www.harwayeslingerie.com/brands.asp?bid=31

Multiway sports bra invisible under clothes!

If you are looking for a sports bra that doesn’t show under tops, have a look at the Shock Absorber multiway sports bra. I have switched to this skin tone bra to wear under white sports tops for Spring/Summer when I go to the gym. The cups are made from a double layer of microfibre and are completely smooth, therefore pretty well invisible under clothes.

This is the most flexible sports bra Shock Absorber have invented as there are 5 different ways to wear the straps, depending on your sport and the shape of the top you are wearing over it. There are 2 sets of straps – wide and padded for comfort, or narrow to wear under strappy tops. A strip of open weave webbing runs beneath the bust helping you stay cool and as you’d expect, this bra features all the latest moisture wicking coolmax fabrics on offer.

Our verdict on the Shock Absorber Multiway

A feature laden sports bra, perfect for B – C cups at most activity levels or for larger cups with light to moderate exercise. Not as much support as the shock absorber classic sports bra, which has a super supportive 3 part cup design. This product is being discontinued by shock absorber, sadly, as it fills a really useful gap in the market for smaller cups. When we run out we won’t be getting any more stock so order it now if you think you need it!  Follow the link to buy this bra at Harwayes Lingerie.

‘Do you have sports bras or crop tops in small sizes?’

The answer is yes! One of our best sellers is the Shock Absorber pump top padded sports bra, illustrated. Available in size 32 – 36 A, 32 – 38 B, C, D.

This style really enhances the small bust, adding shape and cleavage. Light padding gives a smooth line under sportswear. And as you would expect from shock absorber, fabrics are moisture wicking and breathable. To buy online, just go to www.harwayeslingerie.com.

Shock Absorber Crop Top for Small Cups

We also have a few of the shock absorber reversible sports bra tops available – in 32 and 38 only. This is a lightweight top with a little bit of support, will prevent nipple show through under sports tops. On sale at only £15.00 to clear. www.harwayeslingerie.com/croptop

The classic sports bra (Shock Absorber N102) is available in size 32 – 36 A and B – this is the bra I wear as you put it on like a normal bra rather than over the head crop top style – quicker and easier for changing I find!

This bra is an ‘encapsulation’ style – it does not compress the bust so gives a natural looking shape. To see this style go to www.harwayeslingerie.com/classic sports bra

Why do I need a sports bra if I have a small bust?

Even if you have a small bust we recommend wearing a sports bra when exercising. This is because there are no muscles in the breast – only ligaments, which can stretch over time resulting in sagging and breast pain. If you have a small bust, the last thing you need is sag!

Have a look at the Shock Absorber bounceometer to look at the difference wearing a sports bra, no bra or a normal bra makes in women measuring A – G cup: www.shockabsorber.co.uk.

Shock Absorber’s research found that even among 34As, breast movement ranged up to an average of 40mm away from the resting place of the body. Breast movement is reduced by 38% when wearing an ordinary bra but this rises to as much as 74% with a Shock Absorber sports bra.

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)

Hotmilk Nightwear

First up – the nightwear – looking for something glamorous to pack in your hospital bag? Then we suggest the cotton camisole with drop-cup for discreet feeding. The fashion forward gathered floaty look defies the power fabric support.

The matching long PJ pants are perfect for a hospital stay – a Valentine’s gift perhaps? Made from deliciously crisp 100% cotton, the mineral blue and cloudburst hem add a flattering splash of colour – to your night, or your day!

Hotmilk Lingerie

HOTmilk’s Ever After theme has an enchanted forest setting to promote a powerful and provocative lingerie collection. Recall your favourite fairytale heroine and empower her!  The HOTmilk woman is sexy, strong and scintillating. She is at her most feminine, she bewitches and beguiles.

We have selected two of the lingerie sets for you to try:

‘Radiant In Her Rescue’ -  exquisite fabrics and styling. Perfect for pregnancy and beyond. A sumptuous apricot floral print on the cup is beautifully offset by delicate ivory gardenia lace.

‘Tamed By Her Sensuality’  – striking, sexy full cup bra is befitting of every new mother’s wardrobe of seduction – stunning, strong and sophisticated. Jet black lace and microfibre decadently lined with deep purple cotton, giving richness and depth.

Both collections feature a bra in size 34 – 38 C – FF, with power support sides and A frame design to ensure fantastic support and one-handed drop cup clips for ease of feeding. Matching g-string, brief or French knickers complete the look.

New Zealand based HOTmilk founders Lisa Ebbing and Ange Crosbie are both young mothers who believe intensely in their product. ‘Beige, bland and boring‘ was once the offering for the maternity and nursing market – but not anymore.

‘Our mission is to make women feel fabulous when they most need to,’ says Lisa Ebbing. ‘Being pregnant is a time to celebrate; it is one of the most feminine times in your life so pregnancy and nursing lingerie needs to reflect that.‘

(Quotes from an interview by Kate Pope, Lingerie Buyer Magazine Jan 2010)

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.

We have stock of this Fab bra in red, black or white, AND the matching briefs. This bra is designed for D – H cup, but for larger back and cup sizes, have a look at the Elomi Energise range, to be added to the website in the next couple of days.

Triumph: excellence of fit

When selecting new lingerie for a mail order and web business, the key is to stay one step ahead of fashion and ensure products selected for the next season are bang on-trend.

Harwayes wasn’t traditionally a fashion led business: The purchasing policy was that of selecting bras that fit really well, so brands such as Triumph and Playtex have always been, and continue to be at the fore. However, with new brands seemingly popping up daily, and every celeb endorsing a lingerie launch, how is a retailer to continue to ensure excellence of fit, whilst responding to the demand for fashionable undies?

Luckily, some of our newer suppliers have made it their mission to put fit first. This is why we have chosen to feature DiMurini, Royce, HotMilk, Fantasie, Elomi and Bravado in our new collections for the Spring.

The collections encompass ‘dressing up box’ feathers, polka dots, taffeta and ribbons, architectural slate and charcoal greys, layers of antique ‘shabby chic’ french embroidery, lacing and bows galore and a preponderance of raspberry pink …. and we haven’t even started on the swimwear yet!

We hope you enjoy the new collections, keep an eye on the website for all the latest in bra design!