Do your ears hang low...

As we were discussing this blog entry and what we wanted to write, this song kept coming to mind and hummed by either one of us spontaneously. It’s been awhile since we have addressed the issues and complaints of a poor fitting bra and now that the winter jackets are back in the closet we see it is time to draw attention to these grievances again.

We so often hear clients tell us that the back is riding up, the straps keep falling down, their cup runneth over. So what do you do? Well, you should head to the Girls Bra Shop for a fitting, where the Girls will take time to not only measure but find the right bra that will give you the support and comfort you are looking for. The following are some of the more common complaints:

“My underwire digs in and hurts” Many women visit us saying this and are convinced that they never want to wear an underwire again. In most cases they are wearing the wrong cup size. If the cup is too small naturally it will dig and cause chafing and irritation. By getting a proper fitting and increasing the cup size you allow the wire to surround the breast and lay flat against your side without poking or digging in.

“My straps keep falling” Now some woman may need more of a racerback style or straps that come in closer because they may have narrow shoulders but most often the reason the straps are falling is because they need to adjusted. Much like if your belt is on too loose a notch, your pants will come down so are the straps of your bra. If they are too loose, they will slide off your shoulders. Keep in mind that most women have one breast larger than the other; therefore your straps may need to be adjusted differently to ensure the straps fit comfortably.

“I’m bulging over the top” We call this pillowing, it sounds so much nicer than bulging. This can ruin the look of your favourite Tshirt or sweater. Your breasts should fill the cup of the bra but not overflow. If you are coming out of the top of your bra, the cup is too small. If you are limiting yourself to shopping only at department stores than you may not have many options to fix this problem. At The Girls we carry bras up to a K cup. Having the right cup size will eliminate the pillowing as well as slim your look down.

“I am always pulling my band down. I can’t keep it from riding up.” We have all fallen victim to this one at one time or another. If the band is riding up it must be too loose. Whether the bra is worn out and stretched or you bought it too big to begin with, the solution is simple. Make the band tighter. You need to have the band snug in order for it to stay in place. I can hear some of you saying “I don’t like the back fat” I realize this is a concern however a bigger concern should be that your breast are being properly supported. Another reason your band may be riding up in the back could be that the straps are too tight. Loosen up a bit. Women mistakenly tighten the straps to give them the lift and support. Your support should be coming from the band not the straps.

If you experience these or other problems call the Girls or go online (http://www.thegirlsbrashop.com/contactus.htm) and book an appointment. They will take the time and care to address your concerns and find the perfect fit for you. We have over 20 brands and styles, including Underwire, Wireless, Sport, Nursing, and Mastectomy to choose from. In sizes ranging from 28 to 54 bands and AAA to K cups. Our collection is made up of some of the finest bras from all over the world including Freya, Fantasie, Chantelle, Antinea, Empreinte and Charnos. Soon we will be adding Curvy Kate and Hot Milk – watch for details.

Cool Runnings

After a 2 week break from running and getting over a mild flu,I finally got back on the treadmill. I knew it was not going to be my best run but I was determined to get back at it none the less. While Tammy has been doing more of an endurance run, I prefer doing intervals. I started off with a 1/2 mile walk to warm up. I wanted to get a good warm up so I ramped up the incline to 6.5 and walked at a 3.5 mph. I usually run a 1/4 mile lap at 5 or 5.2 mph (running magazines would call that a light jog) but today I felt strong and wanted to push myself a little further so I pushed the buttons and ran at 6mph. It felt good but I was ready for a walk when I finished that 1/4 mile. I walked for 2 mins and pushed myself again and continued this interval training for the rest of my run. 28 min. later I finished my 2 miles. Not my best time but that didn’t matter. What mattered is that I pushed myself and did it.

Note to self: running gear is not as gimmicky as I once thought. Grabbing the first pair of track pants I saw I got dressed for my run. Cotton is not the best for running. Moisture wicking breathability is essential if you are planning on breaking a sweat. Half way through my run I was reminded of this. The cotton pants felt like 20 lb weights on my legs while my upper half was cool and comfortable. Thanks to my Freya Active sports bra.

I love this bra. It provides the lift and support my GG’s need without compression. The inner sling extends to the shoulder strap to enhance and reduce “bounce” when I run. The Cool Max Fabric does exactly what it claims to do, pull the moisture away. Cool Max Fabric dries five times faster than cotton. I have this bra in nude and red but I have to say I am partial to the red. Maybe it is because it could pass as a running top and I don’t really need another shirt over it or maybe because I love that a full bust girl like me can get something besides nude, even for when I am running.

~Ann, just one of the Girls

Ruby Tuesday

Every Tuesday come into our store for our ONE DAY blow out SALE.

This Tuesday ONLY:

40% off select T-Shirt Bras

including Chantelle, Calvin Klein, and more

You Can...A Lesson From My Mother

You are beautiful, intelligent, powerful, remarkable, AND deserve to believe in you.
This is one of the tenets behind The Girls. Much of what we do is based on this; from our professional fittings and beautiful product selection to supporting Coverdale Center for women. This tenet thrives deep in the hearts of Ann and I, The Girls.

As I was writing a blog for Mother’s Day I realized that for me, this principle came from my mother. Through every step in my life she has encouraged me. She is my best advocate and believes strongly in what I can do. But it wasn’t mom as my cheerleader that gave me this principle. Rather it’s how she models it in her own life.

My mother is the youngest person I know. She is exuberant, joyful, and an adventurer. She retired at the early age of 47, became a painter, and has written her first novel. All because she believes she can! It’s not an arrogance thing, she believes in her potential and has enough self-esteem and confidence to know she’ll do well; success or fail.

I’m so thankful that I learned this from her. I’m a successful career woman, co-own a fun and demanding business with Ann, journal an online travelogue, am penning my own novel and poetry, create my own art work, trying my hand at making my own clothing, and have become a runner...all because I believe I can.

Ann and I are similar that way. She is a doll maker, co-owns two demanding businesses, sketches, writes, and runs...all because she believes she can.

For Ann, I believe the principle comes from being a mother and wanting to pass this down to her beautiful daughter. There is so much potential in her young hands and imagine how much more she can accomplish, if she believes she can!

Happy Mother’s Day!

We’d love to hear from you, tell us why you or someone you know deserves Mother’s Day pampering. Enter yourself or someone you know for a draw for a Tashodi clutch. Hand-crafted in northern Ontario, this portable clutch made from native Canadian birch is filled with samples size body products by Tashodi. This travel set makes the perfect 'globally conscious & indulgent' gift from their genuinely pure collection.

• To enter, leave a confirmed comment below stating why you or someone you know deserves Mother's Day Pampering
• Tell us who you are entering for the draw
  
• The comment must be left before 12:00 AM on May 9, 2010.
• You may enter only once.
• One winner will be selected in a random drawing.
• One winner will receive a Tashodi Fair Trade Pouch.
• Winner must come to store to receive prize.
• Sorry but, Family and Friends of employees are not eligible to win.
• Winner will be posted on the blog and Facebook fan page, so be sure to check and see if you've won!