I’m always amazed by this statement and this aversion to bra seams. Don’t get me wrong, I love seamless bras and there’s no doubt that for many people, they are the best choice under knits and clingy fabrics. And, I agree that every bra should provide support without disrupting the look of an outfit. But at the end of the day, what’s more important, a bra that fits and supports properly (so what if a seam shows) or a bra that doesn’t enhance your shape (but by golly there’s not a seam to be seen!)?

The truth is, if you are a size D and up, you would most likely benefit from wearing a more form-fitting, seamed bra. Here’s why.

• It provides more superior support and better lift than a seamless bra.
• It defines and improves your shape, especially under fitted clothing, and any style with darts, such as dresses and jackets.
• It camouflages and evens out your shape when both breasts aren’t the same size (which is true for most people).

Wacoal Nipple Cover

What I can tell anyone with a seam-phobia, is that once the bra is worn and laundered two or three times, the seams soften and all but disappear.

To really smooth things out, no matter what style of bra you’re wearing, I recommend trying Wacoal’s nipple covers. Their wider size really works well to keep nipples under wraps AND they help give a smoother look when worn inside a seamed bra.

When push comes to shove, what matters most is that you wear the right bra. If that means that a seam shows a little here or there, so be it. Everyone should be wearing the bra with the best fit and support

- that’s the bottom…er…top line!

I think we are all influenced, to some degree, by the models we see in ads and TV commercials, but remember those women don’t have back fat – because they don’t have any fat to begin with, (or it has disappeared courtesy of the airbrush)!  In fact, the bra isn’t even supporting their breasts, because in many cases, they don’t need the support, since their girls aren’t the ‘originals’. Not a good example for you to follow!

Natural breasts are made of fat and glandular tissue which need to be lifted and supported, to help take the weight off your back and shoulders, and to improve your posture and appearance. The right bra, properly fitted, is the most important piece of clothing in your wardrobe and its primary function is to achieve this critical balance. It’s as much about your health and well-being as it is about your looks.

If your breasts are heavy (and this is true for small sizes too), or if you are a size D or larger, here’s a tip – check in the mirror, and if the band of your bra sits in a straight line from front to back, then it’s sitting right.

And now back to the topic of back fat. A good bra can and will help eliminate some of that. But at the end of the day, camouflaging back fat isn’t your bra’s main job, breast support is. So concentrate on the support and don’t stress about the back fat – the most important thing is that the front looks amazing!

p.s. … You can always rely on an extra layer of clothing and stand up straighter. Both will help eliminate that pesky back fat!

Let me share some words of wisdom with you, when it comes to special occasion dressing.

Please try on your outfit a few days before the event and take a good, long look in the mirror. Or, take a picture and look at yourself that way, (we tend to notice things more when looking at a photo). Carefully check the fit of your outfit to determine what undergarments are needed to make it fit perfectly. It’s interesting that we pay close attention to our hair, our make-up and our shoes – but what about the foundations, the important things you don’t see? A bridge can’t stand without the pillars supporting it!

Always, ALWAYS, match the colour of your bra to your dress. At this wedding, I saw a young girl wearing a gorgeous, black sequin dress, with a beautiful low back – and then, in plain view – the back of a white bra – quelle horreur! The solution – any black bra will do.

Check bra straps carefully, to make sure they will stay on your shoulders. It is not lady-like to put your hand under your dress to pull them up (and even less lady-like to have a wide, white strap showing through a feminine, sheer dark sleeve) That’s right – I saw this happening! The solution – Wonder Strap, discreetly keeps straps in place.

Strapless and plunge bra ALERT. These styles are not for everyone! They can be a problem for both very small and very large cups. Constantly pulling the bra up or adjusting it, is not an attractive move on the dance floor, especially when repeated frequently, (and I don’t care if it’s timed to the beat of the music!) The solution – make sure this style of bra fits before you purchase a dress that requires wearing one. Or, confirm you can return the dress after purchase, and take it with you to try on the bra.

Cleavage is feminine and attractive, ONLY IF the quality and quantity are right! Remember, sometimes it’s sexier to leave a little something to the imagination. If your cleavage is bubbling out over your dress; if your chest almost reaches your neck; or if you have a double (even triple) boob effect, this is not the look you want. The solution-choose a larger cup size.

I hope you’ll take my advice to heart, because I truly care. Think of me like your mother or better yet, your true breast friend. I really, really want you to look gorgeous, feel your best and have everyone notice your special smile and how beautifully you’re dressed!

So it wasn’t surprising this morning, when I was spinning around the dial looking for a weather update that I came across The Mom Show. Catherine Marion was discussing the fact that she’s fixated on always matching her bra and panty. (Love to hear that…thought I was the most obsessive bra and panty matcher!).

She was sharing her frustration about getting dressed in the morning with a gorgeous matching set, only to arrive at the studio and find out that she has to change her top. (Resulting in a top that doesn’t match the bra – her worst nightmare come true.) Or, at night she’ll select a beautiful duo to wear out on the town, only to change her mind about the outfit, meaning extra time to change her lingerie – time-consuming and frustrating.

Special Empreinte Contest

For the month of March, when you purchase any Empreinte bra, enter your name to win an Empreinte bra & panty set from the Spring 2012 collection.  There are 7 sets to be won, so get shopping and enter soon!

I felt this year’s show totally lived up to my expectations – the jokes were (for the most part) funny, Cirque du Soleil was a wonderful, unexpected surprise, the actor’s ‘movie memories’ segments felt real and were very interesting, the presenters were funny, the acceptance speeches heart-felt and the dresses, oh the dresses – they were just gorgeous,  a true return to high couture and good taste.

My first choice was Penelope Cruz in her dreamy periwinkle organza, custom Giorgio Armani gown and second was Sandra Bullock in an elegant white and black, low-cut back, Marchesa design!

I was pleased that some of the stars who wore disappointing attire at the Golden Globes redeemed themselves at the Oscars. Meryl Streep looked like a golden statue herself (and did not need her glasses to deliver a very beautiful speech). Tina Fey’s dress was really lovely, appropriate for the event and she wore it with so much poise.

Art Deco influence was the main theme of the evening – seen in many of the dresses with geometric shapes and details. In general it was a good night for Oscar dresses, but I can’t say I approved of some of the choices. Angelina Jolie (my pick of the GG’s) did not make my best dressed list for the Oscars. (Angie I love black but you look more angelic in white). J Lo – interesting dress but next time leave more to the imagination!

The bevy of beautiful white dresses took my breath away -  Mila Jovovich’s studded, one-shoulder dress, Gwenyth Paltrow’s royal looking, white Tom Ford design, Rooney Mara’s beautiful lace Givenchy had a statuesque Erte look and Octavia Spencer’s gown was perfectly designed to flatter her figure. And I absolutely loved the pale green dress (another geometric, Erte-inspired cut) that Kelly Ripa wore – class and elegance!

Unfortunately there were some unwise undergarment choices – Jessica Chastain’s dress was absolutely gorgeous, but the strapless bra was too high and showed spillage at the back. Also ABC’s red carpet interviewer, Robin Roberts’ could have used some thigh “shaping”. If your dress is very tight, shapewear like Rago (seen on Dr. Oz) can make the look!

I know working out is good for you (and I’ve promised to work out this year) but don’t you think that some celebrities are looking more like WWF fighters? While the real one,  Stacy Keibler (Clooney’s girlfriend), looks like a Hollywood celebrity should…go figure!

Signing off from my living room…

This Valentine’s Day Linea Intima was the go-to-source for intimates gift buying advice and the latest lingerie trends to give romantic moment’s stylish sizzle.

This year was no exception. My days were a whirlwind of gorgeous lingerie, glamorous parties, fashionable new lines and as always, unexpected encounters.

My visit began with a party at the Baccarat House (once a gorgeous private hotel, now a museum). It was organized by the house of Simone Perélè, as a thank you to their best stores from around the world and also to present their beautiful new Fall 2012 collection. And it was beautiful!  I had the opportunity to meet and talk with other lingerie retailers from around the world (South Africa, Australia ), and discovered we are a lot alike and in many cases, they envy Canada and our economy.

with the store manager- Bellynda

I also visited the Marlies Dekkers Paris store. I did not introduce myself as a lingerie retailer and experienced a bra-fitting as a customer (just like you would).

I enjoyed my experience very much, as I hope you enjoy your experience at our Linea Intima stores. Note: I was pleased (but not surprised) when I was fit with a different size in each of the 3 bras I purchased. It really does not matter the letter and number on the label- choose the fit and comfort every time.

The Salon International show was simply vibrating with energy and activity this season and pulsating with excitement – about the existing lines as well as the many new ones. I felt that it was larger than usual – both in the number of exhibitors as well as visitors.

The Fall season is all about indulgence and acceptance. Indulging your own secret fantasies and your weaknesses, but also the acceptance and love of your own body. And speaking of love – love for the city (Paris) and everything French!

Next Fall you will see high heels intricated in the lace and in the fabric (the perfect accessory to lingerie), Eiffel tower and mots d’amour (words of love) prints, plus lots of lace and frills! The reigning colour will be purple (the colour of royalty) with peach, different shades of coral and navy as hot alternatives along with the ultimate, sexy shade of black. Nautical influences will be very directional and geometrical.

with Joanna and her Mother.

At the PrimaDonna-MarieJo booth, I was enjoying the models and admiring the new collection when I had a touching experience. The owner of a store in Athens recognized me and introduced herself – then told me how influential Linea Intima’s website and newsletters were to her career. She has even watched my TV appearances … in Greece! I felt like a movie star – thanks Joanna at Mavrommatis Lingerie Shop.

The last evening, we attended a beautiful dinner at the Opera house restaurant, as guests of Chantelle’s Canadian importer, who invited the Canadian stores attending the S.I.L. It was a wonderful ending to an amazing show – thank you Robert!

Here are a few things I learned on this trip:

- Don’t assume people will understand you if you refer to a Paris street  “Avenue of Americans” . Instead call it by its true name: “Avenue of theUnited States” ( the address of the Baccarat House)

- To get to the Salon International lingerie show, don’t ask for the “Exhibition Park at Versailles”, otherwise, the taxi might take you to either the Exhibition Park or to the Palace of Versailles- both more than an hour from Paris. Just simply ask for “Exhibition Place at Port Versailles”.

- Don’t eat a lot of baguette before dinner- even though the dinner portions look small, they are very filling and you might not have room for dessert (which would be a pity!).

In future blogs, I’ll be showcasing the gorgeous new lines I’ve selected for you  and will be sharing my unrelenting love for lingerie, so stay tuned.

Au revoir (which actually means “see you”!)

After seeing The Artist (which by the way I loved) I got this longing for 1930’s glamour – for beauty and fashion the way it used to be. I don’t think I was the only one feeling this way because last night was a fantastic show of beauty, glamour, glitter, feathers and ruffles. There were a lot of daring looks, lots of low décolletage and dramatic open backs!

I loved that there was a big change from the usual elegant black (dark blue was a favourite dark colour) with peach, yellow and green as the hues of choice.

Here’s my little list of the most gorgeous dresses and overall, best red carpet style. In first place Angelina Jolie’s statuesque Atelier Versace white dress and Evan Rachel Wood’s low décolleté black and green, peacock feathered Gucci. Also I loved Jane Fonda, both her dress and appearance (boy, I hope I can look like that at her age) and of course the elegance and class of Dame Judi Dench.

At the bottom of my list, I am sorry to say, is Meryl Streep. I adore her in every movie I have ever seen her in, but her fashion choices – not so much. And Madonna – wow – those girls were probably screaming – “let us out, we are in pain”. I have mentioned before that she could benefit from a professional a bra-fitting!

In general I did not see too many faux pas, (except someone needs to tell Claire Danes of Homeland, that red carpet glamour doesn’t not include showing your nipples). You can wear the most gorgeous gown, but without the right undergarments, you set yourself up for fashion disaster.

The styles last night were so perfect and so colourful, that I can’t wait to show you all of the pretty new colours coming into our stores for spring. Seamless, nude bras have their place, but this year let’s live it a little and add some colour to our lingerie wardrobes!

At this time of year, we’d like to pause and extend our utmost gratitude and appreciation to each and every one of you. We are most grateful for your patronage. Without your support we would not be looking forward to celebrating our 15th anniversary this year!

We will continue to seek out the finest brands and products for our stores and we will strive to meet your every expectation.
 Happy New Year to all of you and to your families. The Linea Intima family wishes you the very best in 2012 – a year filled with health, happiness and of course – gorgeous lingerie, luxury and love!

 Thank you once again for your loyalty. We look forward to ‘supporting’ you in the coming year.

As always we would love to hear from you. Please share your thoughts and comments with us so that we can continue to provide the highest level of customer service we feel you deserve.