Dear Layla,

Ms. Perfect but Pinched

Dear Ms. Perfect,

I have no doubt that your curves are fabulous, so I can’t help but wonder why you are wearing your bra so tight that you’re wrapping yourself like a sausage? Here’s my advice, your curves should be cupped not clenched in, hugged not dug in, and smoothed but not smothered. A properly fitting bra does not bind you so tight that it leaves marks. My guess is that you are tightening the straps or the band to compensate for an ill fitting situation with size.

I recommend making sure you are wearing the right size first. For instructions on how to get the proper fit, visit Freshpair’s Fit and Size Guide for Women.

Will you do an exercise for me? Take a look at yourself in the mirror, do the cups on the bra look like they sit away from your skin when your straps are loosened? If they do you are tightening the straps to compensate for cup size. If not, it might be the style of bra that you are wearing. You need to look at bras that have a wider strap, if the strap is 1/4″ thick and you have anything larger than a C, you’re putting all the weight of those puppies on that one little 1/4″ spot on your shoulder. No wonder they’re not thanking you at the end of the day!

Thicker straps can help alleviate some of the digging as well as clear up any discoloration. If you don’t mind trying bras with a thicker strap, here are some that I suggest:

Awareness Soft Cup Bra 85276 by Wacoal This style from Wacoal features a nice soft cup with no underwire as well as a padded strap.	Beautiful Benefits Minimizer with Lace Details Bra 75-070 by Vanity Fair For more substantial straps, try this style from Vanity Fair with pretty lace detail.
Smoothing Cup Bra 4500 by Fantasie Seamless and supportive, this style by Fantasie might fit the bill for you as far as support. The wider straps along with the proper size should minimize the digging in effect.	Satin Edge Lined Underwire Bra 35089 by Olga For an elegant and understated statement, try this style from Olga. The sleek straps coupled with the soft cup lining won’t irritate the skin or dig into your shoulders.

Here is another exercise I want you to try: can you fit two fingers in between the band and your skin comfortably? If you can fit more than two fingers between you and your band, then your band is too loose. On the other side, if you can’t fit two, you need to loosen it up.

This may also be another reason why you are tightening your straps. If the tension around your body is not strong enough or is too strong you might be throwing the engineering of your bra off balance! It is really important to get the combination right for a proper fit. For more fitting tips and tricks take a look at Freshpair’s Fit and Size Guide.

It really is about finding the right size in combination with a bra that has the right features to support your body and breast type properly. I hope these options work for you! Happy hunting, Ms. Perfect!

xo,
Layla

Sometimes you feel like you’re the only one that has to struggle finding pieces that work. Well we thought it would be great to share our expert advice, because whether we care about fit, fashion, function, or price all we see day in and day out is underwear!

We’ve got a description of everyone’s personality so you can find the Freshpair staffer that matches up to your style, and maybe you’ll find some new styles that are right up your alley!

Here are some of the most popular Freshpair staff favorites:

On the Girls’ Side

	Lindsay, Erin, Courtney, and Michelle picked the classic Hanky Panky thong which is great! It’s made in the USA and has a super wide lace waistband that doesn’t dig in and comes in lots of yummy shades. No wonder it’s so popular among the staff and customers!
	Amy, Amanda, and Layla love the Calvin Klein Modal with Lace Hipster below, it’s comfortable fit and super light and smooth modal make it a pretty everyday pair.
	Lindsay and Erin picked Wacoal’s iBra. Perfect for everyday, this bra is so smooth it feels like second skin.
	Shannon, Erin, and Amanda all seemed to like the Flirt Push-Up Underwire Bra from B.Tempt’d by Wacoal.
	Shannon and Michelle both recommend the Chantelle Africa Shorty. This panty is sure to make you feel sleek and sexy!

On The Guys’ Side

	Both Michael Kleinmann and Brenton agreed on the Diesel Graphic Trunks, and other than that there are so many styles, prints, colors and brands that the guys all went their own ways!
	The 2xist tops were popular but each guy leaned toward a different style! Like Ben, who recommends the tank version.
	Michael from Customer Care recommends trying out the crew neck t-shirt or the v-neck t-shirt.
	While Matthew leans towards the comfortable Long Sleeve Henley from 2xist.

While these are only a few, there are a lot more recommendations from the knowledgeable staff at Freshpair. Click here to see all of the Freshpair Staff Picks. Keep checking back to see what they recommend for this time of year!

Labor Day has passed, meaning the end of summer is quickly approaching. But there is much to look forward to with the coming of fall. The rich, beautiful colors of autumn foliage, bonfires and lower subway station temperatures help us ease our way out of the carefree summer months. But the most fun fall activity of all is shopping for new, cooler weather threads- and you better believe this includes unmentionables! Check out our top five picks for men’s and women’s fall must-haves.

For Men

	Ginch Gonch Weiner Eaters Reworked Long John 1217WE As the fall winds blow in, lounging around in boxers might get a little drafty. Warm things up with these fun and colorful long johns from Ginch Gonch. How clever would you be wearing these while roasting hot dogs at a fall barbeque?
	Polo Ralph Lauren Kimono Robe RL91 Walking from the shower to your closet wearing merely a towel may feel fine in the summer, but you’ll want something cozier as the temperature starts to drop. Check out this plush, cotton terry robe from Ralph Lauren Polo. The classic design has two convenient front pockets and tie waist for a comfortable fit.
	ADAM Long Sleeve Henley Shirt ABJS28 If you looking for a vintage design that is both sexy and comfortable, this long sleeve Henley from ADAM is a good bet. It is constructed of soft pima cotton and has a slim-cut design, making it perfect for layering or wearing by itself.
	Calvin Klein Bloomfield Stripe Knit Slim Fit Boxer U1029-72509 Why not change your underwear to match the fall leaves? This Calvin Klein boxer short has the perfect orange stripe pattern to complement the changing season. And the slim cut makes these ideal to wear under those new skinny jeans.

For Women

	Ginch Gonch Multiple Trucks Loader Dumper Long John 2217Mt Ginch Gonch has fun printed long johns for the ladies too! Soft stretch cotton keeps you warm whether you’re lounging around on chilly fall weekends or layering for outdoor leaf-jumping. Either way, the cheeky truck print will make you want to show these off!
	P.J. Salvage Comfy Robe MIC-R This ultra-plush robe may be the softest you’ve ever experienced. The shawl collar and longer length are extra cozy for lower temperatures. Two front pockets offer plenty of room for trinkets, and the sash let’s you adjust for a perfect fit.
	ADAM Three Quarter Sleeve Henley Shirt EBJS27 If you’ve never worn a Henley, you need to snag this one for fall. Perfect for layering or wearing alone, this ADAM tee is constructed of soft pima cotton and has a slim cut for a contoured fit. The button neckline can be conservative or sexy to fit your every mood.
	b.tempt’d by Wacoal Teeny Weeny Low Rise Hipster 978150 This hipster is so fun and flirty, you’ll forget the carefree summer months have passed. The sheer stretch mesh fabric is super comfortable and low-rise design is perfect for those new skinny jeans. Plus, the feminine details are too precious to pass up. Fresh Salmon Dots is a bright orange that will rival the foliage.

For Everyone

Wigwam Merino Comfort Hiker Sock F2322 Whether you prefer the city streets or the country trails, these Wigwam hiker socks will keep you warm and comfortable all day long during the chilly fall months. Soft, stretch merino wool is combined with a cushiony construction that hugs the foot for a perfect fit every time.

Are you? For those of you who aren’t familiar with Twitter, it is a social networking site wherein members communicate with their friends with very short (1-2 sentence) updates. Twitter asks users to answer the common question: What are you doing?

Follow Freshpair on Twitter to get the latest underwear updates! You’ll find out when a new article is posted to the blog. The same great advice and recommendations you get from Underwear Observer will be on twitter (just shorter!). Find out about our biggest sales when they happen. One of the most popular questions we’re asked at Freshpair, is “What’s hot now?”. Follow us on Twitter for updates the latest underwear trends and our newest brands. We’ll also put up some posts that are just for fun!

As you know, we love underwear at Freshpair, but we also love to keep people up on emerging trends. We teamed up with Marie Claire to get the inside scoop on upcoming it styles - they are forecasting black & white to be the rage. To help a lucky person update their wardrobe for this Fall’s must-have recommendation, Freshpair & Marie Claire are offering the chance to win a complete black and white underwear wardrobe.

Free stuff rocks. Check it out!