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

Dear Layla,

Thanks a bunch!
New Mommy

I can imagine how nervous you are to reveal your new baby to friends and family, but please don’t worry about your body! I’m sure most of that pressure is internal because family and friends that love you should not be judging you on how quickly you lose the bump. So relax a little…and let some shapewear do the rest!

I don’t know what type of bulges we are talking about but nothing should keep you away from those spring brights! Try some of the styles below in nude so they blend in with your skin and you will be able to wear whatever you like over it.

	Spring Dress: Your legs are probably in good shape so show them off and tame your tummy in this Hide and Sleek Hi-Rise Panty 140 by Spanx
	White jeans & Colorful top: Get some tone in your thighs and butt, while checking your gut before squeezing into classic white jeans and one of the colorful spring tops. This Get in Shape Long Leg Brief 805123 by Wacoal can help.
	Summery skirt: Don’t let your worry about the things your disappearing baby bump is leaving behind, shape up with a style like this one from Body Wrap with sheer skirts that flutter you still won’t be able to see this second skin shapewear piece. Try the High-Waist Brief 44811 by Body Wrap.

Again, please remember, your friends and family are going to be supportive of you with or without that extra little bulge. Enjoy the day, you deserve it!

Happy Mother’s Day!

Xoxo,
Layla

Dear Layla,

Briefly EmBareAssed

Hi EmBareAssed,

Well I can understand how she feels, I think it makes a girl feel more like a mom than anything to have to ask her boyfriend to buy new underwear and socks, but as much as I feel for her I do understand where you are coming from. It isn’t something you would necessarily worry about for yourself, but you know you obviously care because A. She’s in the picture, and B. You’ve written in. So I’m happy to lend a helping hand. Here are a few boxers I think you should try:

	Classic Woven Solid Vineyard Boxer Short U62612958 by Tommy Hilfiger I really like this classic style by Tommy Hilfiger, I think the printed waistband and solid colors are understated and subtle enough but still a little more “done up” than what you might be used to!
	Woven Slim Fit Boxer U1513 by Calvin Klein You definitely cannot go wrong with Calvin Klein! Come on, I think the classic plaid and the subtle logo are really nice and definitely an upgrade your girlfriend will appreciate.

Above I gave you a couple of boxer options but if you’d like to go in the brief direction there are a lot of nice styles out there. This is totally to your preference because it’s really about what you will feel comfortable in. If you’ve never tried one or the other before I always suggest branching out, who can it hurt right?

I recommend trying any of these briefs:

	Steel Micro Low Rise Trunk U2716 by Calvin Klein I think the Calvin Klein Steel collection in microfiber or cotton are both really great options for briefs.
	Classic Button Fly Boxer Brief U62512352 by Tommy Hilfiger I think this classic button style by Tommy Hilfiger might also fit the bill of not being weird but definitely being pulled together and updated.
	Basics Button Front Boxer Brief 50125009 by Hugo Boss Another classic button up, this one from Hugo Boss I think might also keep you securely in your girlfriend’s graces…just don’t let these wear too thin if you know what I mean!

I hope this gave you a start. The selection of men’s styles really goes on and on, and if you’re anything like my boyfriend, I know some of the pics may be much. But think about it this way… you can shop from the privacy of your own home, it’s better than staring at those pics in a department store with some creepy guy hanging over your shoulder right?!

Good luck, and please keep them fresh!

xo
Layla

Dear Layla,

Miss-matched Mom

Dear Miss-matched,

I’m no doctor, so I have no explanation as to why some people become allergic to things, and for that matter why it might be triggered by pregnancy. I can understand that a pregnant body goes through a lot of changes, and that the growth would also make previously sensitive skin even more so.

There is this buzz word going around that you might have heard of, it’s called organic. Well please don’t be fooled, we’re still working on what it means to be organic in the clothing industry. Maybe the fiber (i.e. cotton) is harvested without chemicals and bleach, it’s spun and woven or knitted, but then to get fun bright sellable colors, printed or dyed. Well most dyes and prints are not organic. Just because something is synthetic also does not mean it doesn’t have a base in organic matter either. For instance, modal is processed beechwood, but it took chemicals to process wood pulp into fiber then fabric.

What I’m trying to get at is, don’t assume you’re allergic to all synthetics because of an allergic reaction. I would recommend being cautious with your buying, of course. Just because you are buying an organic based fiber does not mean the final product is “green” or completely “organic”.

I would suggest cotton is a good place to start. I would stick with a fine grade pima cotton, but steer clear of mercerized cotton since it can involve a chemical process that might cause a reaction. On the plus side, the brands making pima cotton products happen to be doing something right on the style end!

Check out some of ADAM’s great lounge T’s and tanks. They really have a effortless look that I would suggest buying in black to avoid those thrills and spills I’m sure will happen around the house.

A couple of pieces I like are:

	the ADAM Three Quarter Sleeve Henley Shirt (EBJS27) great for layering or wearing alone,
	the ADAM Cap Sleeve Vee Shirt (EBJB14) for a simple, comfortable look,
	and the ADAM Traveling Gym Pant (E05S635) perfect for lounging, sleeping, or running those daily errands.

I think in the undergarment arena, On Gossamer offers clean sophisticated pieces with a great fit. Their signature elastic is virtually seamless under clothing.

A couple of standouts:

	the onGossamar Cotton Reversible Camisole (1427) perfect for layering under tops or sweaters
	and the onGossamar Cotton Hip Bikini (1402), a low-rise bikini that stays in place

And as a final word, I wouldn’t swear off all synthetics. I would take it on a trial basis. By swearing off synthetics you’re missing out on mesh, microfiber, and seamless technology. Unless you’ve seriously developed a lifelong allergy, I think you will find there are synthetic products that you can handle. It really depends on the fiber, the treatment of it with chemicals afterwards.

You might even try checking your brand of detergent! If you buy organic or natural clothing and wash it in harsh chemical detergent you might be having a reaction to that. After all you associate it with the garments next to your skin, but the chemicals from a detergent could be the culprit! We carry Soak Scentless which is affordable enough to give a try. It’s low suds, and so easy to use! I love this stuff!

Xoxo,

Layla