Deathly practical. But necessary.
Ugh. I am going to do something that I had no real plans on ever doing. A blog on underwear. Now, as The Husband will tell you, I don't do underwear. Well I do, in the sense of I have to have something covering the bits but truth be told, that is where the interest starts and stops for me.
I've tried, oh I've so tried (well I've vaguely shown willing...) but I just can't get interested in it. To my mind, it's like buying exceptionally beautiful and expensive underlay to go beneath carpet. Just doesn't compute (up there with gardening and cycling for me - different I appreciate but things that other people adore that have passed me by in the interest stakes)
I suppose it doesn't help that I have fried eggs where other people have ripe melons. So for me, underwear falls under the heading of purely necessary. T-shirt Bra Queen over here. I will say that my nether region undies are the lace Hanky Panky alikes from Primark for £1 and I honestly can't recommend them highly enough. Superb. It's not all prep school navy big pants.
And it's that time of year again when underwear actually does play a more significant part as with less on top, what goes on underneath is more crucial. The laws of gravity have made me come to terms with that in a rather stark fashion.
I love a racer back top. And a racer back dress. I used to own (from Zara when they made underwear a gazillion years ago - it was like Calvin Klein underwear for 5p) the most fantastic nude t-shirt style, fasten at the front one. That I (no word of a lie) managed to stretch about 5 years out of. As I could then fit myself and one child into each cup, I sent it to its resting place in bra heaven.
Have I ever been able to find another one? Have I heck. I have been making do with those tiny bits of "clever" plastic that connect the two straps at the back of your bra together, making it - voila - racer back. Yes, in theory, they're amazing. In reality (and in hot weather) trying to get them on is akin to the most difficult Krypton factor challenge known to man. Think dislocating a shoulder to squeeze through the tiny gap you've made. Plus, unless the bra has a lot of strap to give, the cups end up rising up and so you have half boob in and half boob out with the underwire, attractively cutting it right across the middle. Gawjus. And so so comfy.
Hence my rather urgent need - nay, I shall call it a quest - for a racer back bra. Apparently the Holy Grail would be an easier choice of spoil.
Sweet diddly squat really to choose from in this country.
Here are my meagre findings which I shall be perusing in the flesh today.
Firstly, the dreaded Gilly Hicks. I love shopping. I adore shopping, I do it for a living. But this shop actually gives me the rage. Last time I attempted to go into GH I got lost (yes, actually got lost in a shop the size of a WHSmiths - we're not talking Selfridges here) and ended up being (mildly - very mildly) abusive to a 10 year old perky, very fragrant Sales Assistant who informed me that I was no longer in Gilly Hicks but in Hollister (information I was over the moon to receive as you can imagine) I didn't give two hoots where I was - I just wanted to find the exit.
Today I am taking a head torch.
Speaking of Calvin Klein this one is from House of Fraser
And.................... that's it. From the UK. If I could drag my sorry behind to Bond St I could try Victoria's Secrets as they appear to have some but, frankly, not this week.
So what could one wear instead - it being an emergency. Well the obvious is a strapless bra. Now I have always shied away from these as I have found them to, basically rubbish. They either stand 3 inches away from my (poor poor saggy) boob with the Grand Canyon dividing flesh and fabric or they're so tight I end up with Michelin tyres of back fat. And then somehow they always end up round my waist after an hour or so.
These I'm not sure are the best idea. Excellent I assume if you're 15 and still perky but on me, I fear this would have the same effect as foot binding around my ribcage. Flattened rather than lifted is what I reckon I'd end up with up.
But they're great for under those looser racer back tops and dresses where you should really wear a vest as there's a lot visible under the arm.
Padded Bandeau Bra from Boux Avenue - £16
And in white £16
Wonderbra Ultimate Strapless bra £27.20 Ok so the chances of me looking like the woman in the bottom picture without about £6k worth of surgery (and I'm only talking boobs here - we'd need a time machine to sort the rest out) are absolutely zero. But it's worth a look if they have it in stock .
Finally it does look like good old M&S may have come up with the goods.
Multiway Flatter me push up bra - £22.50
(normally I HATE these bras as I am lazy, lose bits from them and they always ping undone.....but I'm willing to give it a go - particularly as the strapless one looks
great. I am ignoring the fact that I know full well her boobs would not move if she took that bra off. I, on the other hand would have to tuck them into my waistband)
I will report back. Outfits for Marbs on the agenda.
Finishing with my dress that I was so over the moon with. Well I can report it is amazing. It is the Whistles Cocoon Maya Dress at £95
I know it sounds trite but honestly the pics don't do it justice. I wore it from 3pm on Sat for a BBQ which was so warm - 30 degrees like most places - and I feared I had made the biggest fashion faux pas ever. I was sat down directly in the sunshine and couldn't actually get up as I thought it was going to look like my pelvic floor had truly let me down.
Not a mark on it. Not a crease on it. Totally amazing.
To prove how my dress deserves canonising, I wore it straight out (dashed home to whip cream for a pavlova, let the babysitter in and drop the kids off - so 15 mins for a wipe round with a wet wipe and a respray of deodorant - apologies way TMI there). Apart from the slight mark from a lemonade lolly courtesy of my 4 year old, you would genuinely not have been able to tell I had been wearing it all day - in Sahara like temperatures.
I so so hope they do it in other colours or prints as well as this really is the perfect summer dress. Would love to be able to get hold of it in the pink they did earlier in the season if anyone has a size 10 they'd like to sell?!
Cocoon Maya Dress - Whistles
Earrings - bought from a friend
Leopard print sandals - M&S
Black Diego bag - Alexander Wang
Black razor blade cuff - McQueen by Alexander McQueen
Sandals - Zara
Snakeskin clutch - Michael Kors
And for the last couple of days in the sweltering heat!
Cut off shorts - Warehouse
Butterfly top - TK Maxx
Rose gold gigis - Sam Edelman
Silver kidney bean necklace - Tiffanys
Cognac satchel - Campomaggi from Plumo
Cut off shorts - Warehoue
Multicoloured top - FCUK
Rose Gold Gigis - Sam Edelman
Silvery bean necklace - Tiffanys
Grey Cherelle bag - Whistles
Nearly getting ready to go to Marbs.......
Thank you so much for this post Kat...I am off to check out my local M&S later. Had to discard a right load of relics yesterday that were stabbing the back off me!! You look stunning as always:)
ReplyDelete~Anne
Check out todays blog (17th July). FAB M&S bra on there xx
DeleteYou just summed it up for me - expensive underlay. If it holds me up and you can't see it through my tees (love a nude bra) - it's a winner and my winners come from Primark at £2.99. Even the M&S ones didn't do as well. Which reminds me - I should stock up shouldn't I?
ReplyDeleteAnd the Cocoon dress - total winner. Love a good shift dress.
My fave fave bra which did die this year was from Dunnes. As you'll see from my blog today I'm rather addicted to a shift dress. Who can be arsed to breathe in all day? xxx
DeleteSo funny, expensive underlay. Being blessed (or not as I think ) with a big chest I have to buy decent bras, but I hate the expense, would rather buy shoes or a top. Always buy nude, as they are more versatile. Absolutely love the Whistles dress, looks fab with both the flats and heels you teamed it up with, love those Zara shoes. Enjoy Marbs, visit http://www.trocaderoplaya.es/ my favourite beach & restaurant, your dress will look fab there.
ReplyDeleteYou have made me just buy the pink at asos in the sale plus with 10% take10 or julday2013 both work. X
DeleteYAY! it's bloody sold out in my size sob. So I just had to buy the newer one. grrr !
DeleteYou wanted the pink? It's here... in a 10...
ReplyDeletehttp://www.asos.com/Whistles/Whistles-Maya-Cocoon-Dress/Prod/pgeproduct.aspx?iid=2765163
for 66.50!
Love your blog, by the way. Got that Mint Velvet jacket you recommended. Lovely.
Anna
Thank you so so much but it had sold out by the time I got there! So pleased you like the MV jacket xxxx
DeleteLOL at your description of Gilly Hicks! My idea of Pure Hell! I too have a similar problem trying to find racer back bras. Victoria's Secret was the only place I was successful .. and thankfully I have an obliging sister who lives in the US. I've yet to find a strapless one that doesn't make me look like a boy! Oh ... and gorgeous dress :)
ReplyDeleteGet theeself to M&S and the memory foam one. Fabulous! xxx
DeleteDress is gorgeous. asos have the pink one in the sale in a 10. http://www.asos.com/Whistles/Whistles-Maya-Cocoon-Dress/Prod/pgeproduct.aspx?iid=2765163 Jill
ReplyDeleteThank you my love but it's sold out now. Managed to find an alternative tho...!!
DeleteI laughed when I read your new post when I got in last night (iPad wouldn't let me reply for some reason though). I also spotted the black and white version and it is sitting in my basket - trying to find some way of justifying it. Love the neon but I already have a Cos neon dress from last year and I think two neon dresses would definitely be overkill! Have a great holiday. x
DeleteWas just about to say asos have one in pink in a 10 I am very tempted after seeing it styled on here.
ReplyDeleteWould it be rather too cheeky to say on here that I have listed my pale pink sequin jacket from Zara on fleabay? Never worn due to pregnancy then post baby life. I know loads of your readers loved it as much as I do, if I don't sell it I'll just look at it in the wardrobe!
Finally, wonder bra ultimate strapless does work but you must buy one or 2 sizes smaller and one cup size smaller. And then you can't breathe but can wear all sorts of racer back and strapless tops!
Good luck with selling your jacket. I'm looking forward to wearing mine during the day in the Autumn. Upping the ante with things I don't wear in my wardrobe. Didn't have the Wonderbra in my size (or anything smaller than a D cup) but I had success in M&S thank you xx
DeleteI'm with ya on the underwear Kat, I loath buying bra's, can't see the point in putting a lot of money into them. But I'm sort of in the fried egg category myself so perhaps that's why.
ReplyDeleteLove love love that yellow dress, it my favourite colour and it's it such a perfect shape, as demonstrated by you wearing it in both the day and night. And don't get me started on those Zara heels, yellow and tan is my favourite combo! X
Thank you love and yes I know you'll always loved those shoes! Giving them a totally new lease of life with the dress. BEyond chuffed (like stupidly pleased. Duh) xxx
DeleteMuch to my astonishment (and everyone I tell) that Wonderbra has changed my life! After years of very delicate dancing for fear of some kind of boob explosion and being cut by the tight band then every strapless bra seems to be finished with that bra is a breath of fresh air. So comfy and looks amazing. That photo is pretty accurate in what it does to ones chest. Amazing.
ReplyDeleteNadine
boooooooooo they didn't have it in my size (or any size that would have remotely fitted!) but I'm loving my M&S one. thank you though, I will hunt one out though. xxx
DeleteKat, have you checked this out, if your boobs are constantly misbehaving? I suspect you wear far too big a back (34?) and so it does nothing for you, hence the fact you think you have fried eggs when in fact I can see something is holding your clothes out! You are probably a 28D or E really like me... nightmare to find but look fab once you get hold of one.
ReplyDeletehttp://thebetterbracampaign.blogspot.co.uk/p/fitting-advice.html
Thanks, Alexa
I will check that out thank you so much xxxx
DeletePS They have 28s on Figleaves, so you don't even have to brave a shop to test the theory at better bra. Changed my life! A
ReplyDeletePrincesse Tam Tam does quite nice strapless bras for the flat-chested.
ReplyDeleteNoted, thank you! xxxxx
DeleteWith you here on sooo many levels (gardening why oh why?? - not until I'm at least 50!) and hate wasting money on bras. I find the more expensive a bra and the nicer it looks with no clothes on, the worse it looks under clothes - you know ribbons/lace/patterns you can see through the line of clothes. Much prefer smooth strapless bras. Btw, don't go near those bandeau style ones - they will flatten beyond flatten you (fried eggs here too). Never heard of Gilly Hicks but if it's anything like Hollister, loving the flash light comment - what is it with their (lack of) lighting?!
ReplyDeleteHope you snapped up the pink Whistles and have a great time in Marbella. Please please post a packing blog - love those. Also love the butterfly top from TKMaxx.
Packing blog to follow! And yes - bloody frilly bras. Shoot me now. x
DeleteYou look amazing in the Whistles dress. Stunning xxx
ReplyDeleteThank you - I fear I have a Whistles dress addiction coming on.....
DeleteLove the Whistles dress on you Kat, i have a party to go to next month and had no idea what to wear, have ordered the Maya in pink from ASOS to try it and also managed to snag a mint one from HoF for £36! That's in a size 10 though so might be too small for me...
ReplyDeleteJust want to say your article is as astonishing.
ReplyDeleteThe clarity in your post is just great and i can assume you're an expert on this subject. Well with your permission let me to grab your RSS feed to keep updated with forthcoming post. Thanks a million and please continue the gratifying work.
My web blog: Mesothelioma Charitiy
I'm with you and the fried eggs, and all the pretty bras give me no shape at all so practical t-shirt all the way! And don't get me started on how the white of a t-shirt bra goes greyer so much quicker!!
ReplyDeleteYou are definitely right to put your money into the clothes we see, love your outfits:)
I'm a sucker for pretty undies! I think its a treat to have them & I always feel better if I wear nice ones as opposed to stretched out grey grannies! LOL! I so need a racer back bra! I hate bra straps on display with a passion & have seen some awful sights this summer already! Why do women do it?! You nailed it with the yellow dress! Its perfect! Andrea x
ReplyDelete