Learning Lingerie: The Fabulous Full Cup

Now that the demi has had it's day, let's talk full cup bras. It stands to reason that if a demi is exactly that, a half cup, that a full should be, well, fuller! That was easy!

Full cup bras (whose cups encompass almost the entire, if not the entire, breast) are often associated with larger sizes, even though they're made in an impressive range, usually from B cup onwards. The correllation between fuller cups and larger sizes isn't without merit, though, because a fuller cut generally allows for more support.

Prima Donna Deauville in Cherry Punch

We'll give a deeper lesson on the mechanics of exactly how bras work at a later date, but for now let's do a mini one. A bra gains most of its support from the band. Because the cups of a fuller bra are larger, the band has to be wider in turn in order to accommodate them. Hence a wider band and more expansive cups mean deepened support, both for the breasts themselves and the wearer's back. These selling points are exactly why Prima Donna bras are cut so wide in the band - it's not an aesthetic choice, but one that makes the difference between comfort and the absence of it.

As mentioned before, full cup bras are not just for well-endowed ladies. Brands like Lejaby, Simone Perele and Huit all make versions of a full cup for modestly-busted girls. A common misconception is that just because a woman is a smaller cup size, she doesn't need a supportive bra. Nothing could be farther from the truth! Age, weight loss and simple genetics play a role in the 'perkiness' of a woman's bustline and sometimes, no matter what her size, she'll need a little help from a fuller cup.

If you haven't yet tried a full cup bra, give one a whirl next time you're at A La Folie. More coverage almost always means more comfort, and springing for a full cup doesn't mean eschewing style or sexiness. There are boatloads of gorgeous styles in our midst!

Trash the Tape Measure!

So many women enter A La Folie convinced they’re one size, when they’re clearly quite another! With all due respect, mes belles, we do know what we’re doing!

Please don’t ask us to pull out the tape measure. We work without one for the simple reason that too often, traditional measuring methods don't accurately determine size. I’m the perfect example. Measure me and I should be a 36G. But what size do I actually wear? A 34F. That’s quite a leap – not only am I smaller in band size than my supposed “real size”, but I’m also smaller in the cup. We’re sure we don’t have to tell you that wearing the wrong bra size can be a painful experience, which is why we’re here to help.

Fitting bras and bustiers isn't nearly
as painful as it once was!

Nafissa has trained us in the fine art of spotting a woman’s size just by looking at her. We know everyone’s told you this a billion times, but chances are, unless you’ve been fitted recently, you’re likely wearing the wrong bra size. Don’t panic. It’s ok. It happens. Fluctuating in size each month is just part of the pleasure of being a woman. Some women can jump or drop as much as a cup size over the course of their cycle. That’s why it’s so important to get a good bra that really, truly fits you so you’re not constantly battling it out against your chest as you change sizes.

As I’ve mentioned before, I’ve had my own star-crossed relationships with pretty, yet badly-fitting bras in the past, but I’ve walked away a stronger woman, and I’m going to share with you a few signs (based on my own experience) that you’re wearing the wrong bra:

1. Muffin tops. You know exactly what I’m talking about. If your breast(s) balloon even slightly above the cup of your bra, chances are you’re wearing the wrong cup size. If you’re not quite sure if that barely-there bump is a muffin top or not, submit yourself to the tee-shirt test. Put a white tee shirt on over your bra, jump around a little, then look in the mirror. If you can see the line where your cup ends and your breast begins, it’s time to get re-fitted.
2. Popover sides. This phenomenon happens when your breasts peek out over the band of your bra, past the straps. There are two reasons why you’d get the “side peek”. Firstly, you could be wearing a cup size that is too small for you. Secondly, you may just need a bra that offers an overall differently shaped cup. Some bras have cups that are closer together, and that’s often the culprit when size isn’t to blame.
3. Sagging swag. If you can grab your bra’s cup material just below the strap and get more than an inch’s pinch, you might be wearing a cup that’s too big for you. Before you head out to buy a new bra, try tightening the straps. If that doesn’t fix the problem, consider getting re-fitted.
4. Under-cleavage. Ouch! If your breast tissue is poking out from underneath your underwire, but the rest of your breast still adequately fits the bra, you need to promptly remove your bra-turned-torture device and go up at least one cup size in the style you’re wearing.
5. Hiking band. Put your bra on, move around a bit, then look at yourself from the side in the mirror. Your band should be absolutely, positively horizontal, meaning absolutely, positively parallel to the floor. If it’s hiking up in the back, guess what? Your band has either stretched out over time or it’s simply too big for you. Try going down a band size.
6. Shoulder dents. Your bra should not feel like an over-the-shoulder-boulder-holder. Red welts or dents in your shoulders often have very little to do with the shoulder straps themselves. They suggest an overall poor fit or construction. Big-busted gals should aim for bras with wide shoulder straps to avert this issue. Bra strap width aside, I’m always inclined to check and make sure the band is tight enough. Hypothetically, the band of your bra should be doing all the work (read: tight enough to hold up your breasts sans straps). Straps and cups are more for shaping than anything else. You should be able to slide your fingers behind the bra’s band at your spine and pull outward only one inch without discomfort. If you can pull back more than that, wear your bra using a tighter hook, or buy a bra with a smaller band size.
   

We encourage you to check all your bras for these issues. Your arsenal should be in tip-top shape, with phenomenal fit. If you’re still unsure about your size, we’re always around, ready to eye you up and put you in a fantastic bra that you’ll love for a long long time.

Prima Donna's Got You Covered

You’d never believe how many E+ cup women walk into A La Folie, demanding low cut bras. Not just plunges, but traditional half-cup balconnets, bras that do next to no work from the top (hence, a “balcony”). Sometimes they scoff when we tell them that most high-end lingerie designers don’t make itsy-bitsy balconnet bras past a D cup, but there’s truly a good reason for it. A more voluptuous figure demands a more voluptuous bra: one that will support you in every undertaking and make you look and feel great. If it sounds like I’m describing a best friend, that’s because that’s what a truly fantastic bra should be.

Less isn’t always more.

I know what you’re thinking – this girl can’t possibly be writing about lacy underthings. Isn’t the whole concept of lingerie based on a “less is more” attitude? Au contraire, mon amie! I spent my college years squeezing my chest into Victoria’s Secret bras that didn’t fit me, all because I was convinced (as many women are) that the more skin I showed, the sexier I was, adequate support be damned! I moved as slowly and stealthily as possible everywhere I went, so as not to “dislodge” anything. Quelle horreur! When I moved out to the West Coast, A La Folie’s owner, Nafissa changed my whole perspective. After all, what could be more alluring than a woman who wears a bra that fits so well that she stands up straighter, and completes her glamorous everyday tasks without having to constantly adjust herself? That woman exudes confidence and grace. Ask any man you know and they will surely confirm: those qualities are what makes a woman sexy.

Prima Donna's Odeon full cup

When I discovered Prima Donna bras, I simply couldn't stop checking myself out in the mirror. I was supported, comfortable and, dare I say it, sexy! The amazing thing about Prima Donna bras is that they not only make full cup bras that span a variety of colors, styles and shapes, but they also craft the most sturdy and supportive plunges I’ve ever encountered. Even better, those of us that like to wear lower cut clothing can still get all the amazing support of Prima Donna’s full cup bras with a notable difference: a lower bridge, and hence, a daring plunge without the risk of any… ahem… surprises!

A parade of full cup bras:
Prima Donna's Odeon (nude), Deauville (black) and Satin Boudoir (lace print)

It’s funny – young women seem to associate a full-cup bra with being frumpy. I could not disagree more. Here I am, in my mid-20’s, and wear full-cup bras almost every day. I’d like to think I’m relatively youthful and fashionable. When I wear my Prima Donna Kyoto, Goa or Samui, I get more attention than I could possibly want, and I feel privileged to pass along everything I know to A La Folie’s beautiful customers. One of our recent Prima Donna converts told me this: “My mother always said that the more you cover, the more you leave to the imagination.” That’s certainly true, but Prima Donna’s bras allow us to meet halfway – all the coverage and support a big bust requires, with all the provocativeness and mystery of fine French lace.

What are you waiting for? Come by A La Folie and try one today!