Meet My New Bestie

Chantelle's High Impact Multiway Sports Bra is a serious lifesaver for the larger breasted gal. That's coming to you directly from my size 36G breastfeeding bosom.

With all the holiday bliss behind us and a new year ahead, most of us have put to paper a plan to get active. For me, it's a plan to start shedding those post-baby pounds. Now that Baby J is giving me some sleep, my plan is to run. Running is my thing- it's good for my body, but more importantly, it does wonders for my soul.

High Impact Multiway Sports Bra by Chantelle in Light Gray and Lipstick.

Having been down this road before, I know that the right gear is a key to success. A well fitting bra is as essential as well fitting footwear. For me that bra has to accommodate my newly found 36G breasts. Even though I'm mentally ready to hit the trails I still have the boobs of a breastfeeding mama and bounce is a real issue!

Any of you ladies larger than a C cup know what I'm talking about. Regular sports bras from sports stores feel like bandages binding my chest. Discomfort aside, most do nothing to control painful bounce. As a result most high impact activities are out of the question.

New for SS16 - Raspberry.
(Image via here.)

Not so with a bra that is designed with full busted women in mind, specifically for high impact activity. Chantelle's Multiway Sports Bra offers the freedom to run, jump, skip or do whatever it is that makes you sweat!

This bra covers more of the décolletage than most. I am guessing that contributes to holding the girls in place without the need to bandage them down. Instead the moulded cups with underwire offer full and comfortable support. Cups run from C to H. Bands from 30 to 42.

Another detail I love about this bra is a J-hook in the back which allows it to be switched to a racer back style instantly and ups the support factor immensely.

J-hook in Black and Turquoise.
(Image via here.)

The smooth and sleek look of the bra, with contrast stitching detail is in keeping with the esthetic one would expect from a french lingerie brand. To me it makes sense that an established maker of bras would make the perfect sports bra as well.

In short, I am absolutely in love with this sports bra. I can't wait to pick it up in raspberry this spring (shown above).

Do you have a fave sports bra? I would love to hear about it!

Outgrowing all my intimates means it's time for maternity!

With my existing stock of intimates slowly tightening around me, I've decided that it's time to invest in some new bras and panties (Read about First Trimester Must-haves). Fortunately for me, Calliope + Clio is friends with some of the best in the biz. We turned to the expertise of Kristin Wells at Forever Yours Lingerie. Mother of two and on board with FYL for 6 years, Kristin had a world of experience to share with us.

CC: Kristin, you are so authentic and enthusiastic about your work - I was immediately at ease with you. Where do you get all that great energy?
KW: Women come in with all kinds of body issues and hang-ups. When they walk out of here with the perfect fitting bra it is clear that they are also walking out feeling more confident about themselves. I find it so rewarding to enable that in women every day. Outside of the boutique, I have the opportunity to do this for in-need and at-risk women with Forever Yours Lingerie's Supportive Start Program. We collect new panties from our suppliers and gently used bras from our customers then go out into the community to fit and provide women with these very basic essentials.

Bravado Silk Seamless Nursing Bra

The most comfortable, buttery soft and stretchy fabric (stretches in four ways!)
that can be worn to bed. A god-send for tender breasts! 

Moulded cups that can be removed, or replaced with nursing pads.
One-handed nursing clasps that can be switched to "regular" strap clips
when baby is no longer nursing.

Sizing is limited: S, M, L, XL; which can be a pain if you find yourself between sizes.
A must-have transition bra!

CC: On the topic of perfect fit, you are like a Fit Magician. You were able to gauge my fit almost exactly with a few quick glances and measurements. That must come from a lot of experience.
KW: At FYL, this is a requirement for fitters. There is 3 month training process before our employees fit independently. Training involves time on the floor getting familiar with the product, time shadowing experienced fitters and finally time being shadowed by experienced fitters.

Hotmilk Eclipse Nursing Bra

Not your grandma's nursing bra. Lace detail and crystal embellishment that you still feel sexy in.
Soft cotton-lined cups and straps don't trade style for comfort.

Stretchy microfibre will transition well from maternity to nursing, as milk comes in.
Convenient one-handed drop-down clasps, are great for nursing.

6 hook and eye extension gives a lot of room to grow and room to shrink again.

KW Tip: Dark dyes often cause the same bra to fit snugger in a darker colour, than a lighter colour. This is something to keep in mind, especially if you were fit for a white bra and now you are ordering black in the same style.

CC: When do you suggest that women come in for their first maternity fitting?
KW: Anywhere from 4 to 6 months. By this time you have likely had a significant amount of growth. You will need something with a stretchier cup that will grow and expand with your changing size. We also fit your bra to grow and expand with you; adjusting size and band width to give you the maximum amount of room for growth. We recommend waiting until about two weeks after baby has arrived before getting fit for a proper nursing bra. Once baby comes, size will change as milk comes in and things adjust. Some people can change one cup size while others can change up to five cup sizes.

Hotmilk Eclipse Brief
Update: This panty is so perfect, I have since ordered one in every style/colour combo available!

Not your granny's panties,with lace, ruching and surprise keyhole detail in the back,
but just as comfy.
Sits comfortably under bump. Silky soft microfibre fabric.

CC: What about underwired nursing bras?

KW: Underwired nursing bras, moulded cup bras, and generally those with a well-defined center gore, can be tricky. The fit must be perfect which means that growth should have plateaued. In the case of an underwired bra, poor fit will cause the wire to push against breast tissue and result in clogged milk ducts, which can be very painful. We recommend holding off on the purchase of these bras until after baby has arrived to get the best fit possible.

KW Tip: Same as a regular bra, the center gore of a nursing bra should lie flat for proper fit and support.

We'll continue chatting about all things maternity in the months to come. Follow us on facebook, twitter and instagram to join the conversation!

Holiday Lingerie Gift Guide: Buying Tips

Looking to buy her something special this holiday season, but not sure where to start?

We've got you covered with our Lingerie Buyer's Guide!

Want to drop a not-so-subtle hint? 

Share this guide with him (or her) below!

(More on the Lingerie Gift Guide: Santa, Baby!, Swimwear, Luxe + Decadent!)

It's not all about size: What your band width and cup size don't tell you.

At a recent Fit Clinic with Chantelle I learned that not all 34DD's were created equal.

Specifically, I learned that bra size does not capture breast shape. Imagine two women, one with shallow breasts and one with full breasts; both with the same band and cup size. If their breast shapes differ the same bra would fit them entirely differently.

(Images via here.)

Wide set breasts, particularly in larger cup sizes, can make finding a bra with a wide enough underwire to emcompass the breast difficult.

In contrast, swooping breasts, fuller at the bottom than the top, typically require shallow cups with a less round shape.

Variation in cup shape can be found not only across brands, but also across models within brands, and with every intention!

Enter the amazing value-add of an experienced fitter. Independent lingerie boutiques have a wealth of expertise with various bra styles, such that they know which styles are best suited for which breast shape.

So why hasn't anyone standardized a model to size breast shape? Some estimates suggest that there could be over 6000 shapes! This is why a fitting is always a good idea. Experienced fitters recognize signs of poor fit immediately.

This is also why boutiques suggest that when you find a bra that works for you, you should buy in multiples. (I always thought this was a not-so-clever cash grab, until I actually started wearing bras that were a good fit for me. I found myself looking to stock up on my hard-to-find breast-mates!)

Despite the wide selection of bras on the market, the perfect fit remains elusive for any individual.
Body shapes change over time, as does the form of bras. As a consumer, it is best to familiarize yourself with the signs of poor fit as well as the shape of your own breasts.

(More breast shapes here.)

Do you know your breast shape? What bra style do you find best suits your unique shape?

On bra fit

(Image via here.)

Not too long ago, I began the search for a perfect 'Not your everyday t-shirt bra'.

In the process, I've had two surprisingly insightful bra fittings (here and here). Apparently, I am not a 36C or even a 34C, but a 34DD!

I learned that spill, sag, and slip (you all know what I'm talking about) are all symptoms of poor fit.

What difference does rectifying these problems make?

Enough to make me stand taller..need I say more?

Here is what to look for:

(Image via here.)

Does your bra fit create spill, sag, or slip?