Miss Kitty Plum Has Moved Her Blog

Hi there

Miss Kitty Plums's Lingerie Lovers Blog has now moved.  I hope you will come and visit at

www.plumslingerie.com/blog

Prima Donna Lingerie Review

Prima Donna Lingerie Review

PlumsLingerie.com Prima Donna Lingerie SS2010

PlumsLingerie.com Prima Donna Lingerie SS2010

Plums Lingerie Marie Jo Lingerie Spring Summer 2010

Corsets on the Courts

The supremely talented tennis player Venus Williams has made a bit of stir at the Paris open.  She's has been sporting a black lace corset inspired dress with red detailing.  In case this wasn't racey enough she teamed it with flesh tone shorts.  The outfit was designed by Venus and I am thinking this maybe taking the underwear as outerwear trend a step too far?

As much as I adore my lingerie I am a great believer in leaving something to the imagination.  There is also the point that tennis is a profession and as such shouldn't a certain standard of dress be expected?  Even if the lovely Serena sported this outfit to a nightclub I wouldn't be surprised if it didn't raise a few eyebrows.  

But the joy of clothing and fashion it it allows us to express ourselves and in th great scheme of things maybe this outfit shouldn't have filled as many coloumn inches as it has.

Feel Confident When You Hit the Beach

Having just return from a trip to sunny Cuba I have realised more than ever how important the right swimwear is. You want to feel relaxed sipping your pina colada at the poolside bar not worried about whether you bikini is holding you up or if you are in danger of having to send a recovery time to remove swimsuit that has recently become wedged up your nether regions. Those are just the practicalities you also want to look good and feel confident that although you may not have the body of a nubile 20 year old you still are looking pretty good.

 

It seems the range of swimwear has now extended from the classic bikini or one piece swimsuit. You can now also choose a tankini or one of those trendy looking cutout one pieces, also known a monokini. One pieces are back in vogue and many of us have breathed a sigh of relief. Bikinis are great for lying by a pool or on the beach but if you fancy watersports, swimming or have to run around after kids a one piece is much more forgiving, especially if it comes with a matching cover up.

 

A few tips when you are buying swimwear

 

• Swimwear can often be sized a little small so you might have to go a size up especially if you have a long body and want a one piece.
• Go for quality, the last thing you want is swimwear that doesn’t keep its shape. Sagging bottoms that resemble a nappy are not flattering.
• If you do feel a little self conscious about wandering around in your swimwear then invest is some sort of cover up, shirts or skirts are great. Part of looking good in swimwear is standing up straight and walking about with confidence.
• Patterns are very flattering, they cover a multitude of lumps and bumps. Trying to blend in to the background in plain block colours doesn’t make you disappear.

 

I know that trying swimwear can be a slightly traumatic but once you have a cracked it you will feel fantastic on your holidays whether you are in Barbados or Brighton.

 

Top 5 Reasons to Give Your Lingerie Drawer A Makeover

Part of our mission at Plums Lingerie is to spread the word about the joy of lingerie so here are our top 5 reasons to get fitted and give your lingerie drawer a makeover.


1. 80% of women are wearing the wrong size bra and 75% of women who have been fitted in a high street store have been fitted incorrectly.


2. Wearing the right size bra can make you look thinner, up to 5lbs!


3. A properly fitting bra should be so comfortable you hardly know you have it on. If you are constantly tugging and readjusting it time to get a fitting.


4. If you get run over by a bus do you really want that handsome A&E doctor seeing you washed out greying bra? If you are ashamed for someone to see your underwear it’s time to retire it!


5. You deserve to look and feel sexy and glamorous every day. Gorgeousness doesn’t have to be saved for a special occasion.


So what are your favourites reason/excuses to treat yourself to new lingerie?


Thanks to lovely Sam Watts for the blog suggestion.

T Shirts Bras for Summer

It must be summer as I have unpacked my summer lingerie (that must be a sign I have too much!).  It also means I am scrabbling around for the perfect T shirt bra.  The deep purples and reds from the winter will no longer do and it's time to find out more muted colours that I can wear under white shirts and T shirts.

I'm obviously not the only one as Plums Lingerie can't get in the bras quick enough!  But what do you chose, I know that the nude colours are the best to wear underwhite without showing through and the Marie Jo Caffe Latte is definitely the most appealing but I don't think we should be that limited.  One thing I know for sure is I won't be wearing white under a close fitting top as it can easily been seen through.

Apparently in Belgium scarlet is the best selling T-shirt bra colour.  I'm not convinced it doesn't show through but am prepared to be proved wrong!  I am however very excited by the upcoming Prima Donna Perle that will be with us this month!  It's a new continuity and it's great to see an alternative to the Prima Donna Satin.  for more advice on what T shirt bra to buy check out my article on picking the perfect T shirt bra.

Sex Appeal is Ageless

Courtney Cox and the TV show Cougar Town are helping boost lingerie sales for women in their 40's and 50's.  Debenhams states that it's highest sales are to women in this age bracket.  Well it certainly doesn't surprise us here a Plums Lingerie.  Our lovely ladies are all different ages,  it strikes me a strange that the concept that a woman in her 40's and 50's being sexy seems like a new thing.  What about Charlotte Rampling, Catherine Deneuve and Anne Bancroft?

Storm in a G Cup

It seems that the good old US of A has got it's knickers in a twist about a plus size lingerie TV advert.  The news network ABC banned the add for apparently being too sexy. But the hoo ha really kicked off when they allowed the Victoria Secret Advert to run.  Lane Bryant, the company who sell plus size lingerie has come out accusing ABC of sizism and double standards and in the process got more publicity for their lingerie than the advert could have ever achieved. So what does this really mean?  Busty lovelies are sexier that their waif like sisters? The bigger the cleavage the more erotically charged the advert is?

I think it's refreshing to see an advert where the model is sized more realistically.  If you sell plus sized bras the customers don't look like a barbie doll, Lane Bryant have made a advert that their customers can relate to and realise that there isn't just one definition of beauty and sexiness.  Mind you I wouldn't go there for a bra fitting, that bra is clearly too big around the back and not big enough in the cup. (I know I sound like a broken record). 



Really too risque for TV?

United Nations Lingerie Delegation Arrives

Now the summer is here and the weather is warming it’s been all go at Plums Lingerie. We are still having our summer stock delivered and it's a very international affair. It’s the first summer that we have had the gorgeous Italian Ambra lingerie in stock. We usually just order for Christmas as it is so special but I don’t think we should neglect the A – D cup ladies. So we have had these gorgeous items delivered. I love the navy and with the white laser cut flowers if only it came in my size!


No need for you bustier lovelies to feel like you are missing out we have the fabulously cool Dutch Marlies Dekkers in 3 different collections no less!

And of course not forgetting out army of Prima Donna (Belgium) fans there is the new colouring of Edoras. You might remember it from the autumn range when it was hugely popular in the purple and lack. This time it’s a cool glacial blue.





Not only has Tricia been unpacking and pricing up boxes and boxes of bras and pants she has also been sorting through the lovely new babydolls from In Bloom in the USA.  So cute and they just cry out to be teamed with a pair of fluffy mules!

Waspie Waists in Hollywood

It looks like the celebs in Hollywood have picked up on the underwear as outwear trend. The corset belt cinches you right in at the waist to give you a curvy hourglass shape. I think this look is fab when worn with a figure hugging pencil skirt or a slinky dress. Eternal Spirits do a gorgeous range of steel boned waist cinches that will give you the perfect waist line, the wiggle in your walk you will have to work on yourself.

Pretty floral arrivals from Marie Jo

This season it seems to be all pretty and floral in fashion and so the lingerie industry have been doing what they are best at. The two latest arrivals from Marie Jo show these trends off perfectly. The gorgeous Marie Jo Mira is a pretty fresh print with tiny little pink rose buds on the skyblue bra accented with white lace.

The other arrival, the Marie Jo Fiona has a hint at the vintage with the rich ivory lace covering the cups. It's also one of the few collections that includes a suspender belt and also a basque. I would be perfect for a wedding or if you are loving the underwear as outwear trend would be perfect peaking out of a little camisole.

Both collection have the new style push up bra to give you A,B And C cup ladies a bit of added oomph as well as the classic plunge bra which is available to an E Cup. For all those volumptuous lovelies reading this never fear the new Prima Donna ranges will be with us soon and you are going to be wowed!

Love yourself for who you are......

One thing I am constantly saddened by in our little boutique is how women lack so much confidence about themselves. It seems that nearly every lady who walks in to our fitting room starts with


“I’m sorry I’m not wearing a good bra today”

“I’m sorry I am wearing the wrong size”

“I’m a really weird shape”

“I’m a funny size, I can never find a bra that fits”

There’s no need to be apologetic, if you’re wearing a perfect well fitting bra you probably wouldn’t have much need to visit us for a fitting,. Between Mumsie and me we have seen it all, big ones, small ones, different sized ones, saggy ones, perky ones, fake ones, young ones and old ones. All perfectly normal, it is easy to forget what normal is when we are surrounded by glossy images of bright young things wearing backless strapless dresses with boobs defying gravity with no visible means of support.

So why do we all look in the mirror and immediately focus on that little bit of fat under our arms or decide that our boobs are too big or too small. I think all women would agree it has more to do with our own issues than trying to please anyone else. Most men I have spoken to only notice our little flaws when we point them out or go on about them.

One of the greatest joys of owning our little lingerie boutique is seeing the difference that a beautiful well fitting bra can make to someone’s confidence. After all if you are such a funny misshapen size the lingerie designers wouldn’t make a bra in your size would they. Here’s a great site that that show you that women’s breasts come in all shapes and sizes and are still perfectly normal. So take a look and try not to be so hard on yourself, no one is perfect or 100% happy with what they have but if you can try and be 80% happy and see what difference it makes.

Carrying on Regardless...

It seems that summer will never arrive with this dreadful weather still necessitating the wearing of coats and the carrying of umbrellas, Thankfully my umbrella is a lovely pink to match my handbag which makes it slightly less awful. Despite this we’ve been carrying on regardless, Mumsie has put the brightest swimwear she can find for the window and I have now got all of the new swimwear on the website. Our final delivery of Marjolaine nightwear is also on its way with some gorgeous lemony yellow and lilac silk pretties.

As part of my quest to spread lingerie love far and wide I have recently signed up for Squidoo and published my first lens. It’s a little piece about stockings based on a blog from earlier this year. Would love to know what you think and whether you have written your own lens and what sort of feedback you’ve had from it.

At Last Time to Show Off Your Lovely Lingerie...

I knew it! Eventually if you love something long enough it will come into fashion!

The catwalks have been filled with the underwear as outwear trend this season. Unsurprisingly the ladies at Plums Lingerie think it’s about time this trend came back. The iconic of image of Madonna in the cone bra Gaultier corset still looms large and Dolce Gabbana have always produced stunning corset inspired dresses. The trend is now firmly on the high street with cute little bra tops, lacey camisoles and pretty delicate pastels. Like all trends I can already foresee this pretty seductive trend being mutilated and some using it as an excuse to just flash the flesh. Those crops tops really should only be worn by the young and skinny. However there are lots of ways to take inspiration from the designers who have brought the trend to the catwalks of Milan, Paris and London. You may even be able to raid your lingerie drawer and give some of your favourite pieces a new lease of life.

Lace
Lace has become a firm favourite since the trend appeared in the winter. The lace is now moving away from classic black to the pretty delicate pastels, creams, pinks and nudes. A great way of flirting with this trend is by wearing lacey bras with tops that show just the edging of your bra or allow you to show the lace straps. You can also look at wearing a lace and silk slip like the Marjolaine Divine over a pair of skinny jeans or leggings. Alternatively the lace cami tops of the pyjamas would look great teamed with a pretty pastel cardigan and floaty skirt.

Corsetry
The corset dresses seen in the Christian Dior, Versace and Dolce & Gabbana collections are stunning. Many of the lingerie designers already produce bustiers that look great with a pair of jeans or a slinky pencil skirt. The key to carrying off this look is picking a bustier that doesn’t look too much like it is underwear. If the bustier is mainly opaque like the Marie Jo Rose bustier it looks more like it is designed to be seen. Marlies Dekkers also produces sexy bustiers that can be worn as a top. If you have a bustier that looks a little too seductive to be worn on its own a great idea is wearing it underneath a sheer blouse or a lace top. The Prima Donna Babel bustier lends itself perfectly to this and if you aren’t quite ready for the pretty peach pastel tone it also comes in black.

If you are willing to take the plunge you could go for the full steel boned corset. Eternal Spirits produce a fabulous range that are so versatile they can be worn out to a night club, dressed up with a tailored jacket for dinner or worn with a full length skirt for a black tie event. Combine the lace and the corsetry with the stunning lace Bettie corset. Alternatively there are the super sexy waist cinches that can be worn over a dress, or over trousers and a blouse.

This summers key trend is so easy to wear and play around with and a great excuse to show off your gorgeous underwear that spends so much time undercover

K cup bras hit the British High Street

I don't know if any of you ladies would be surprised to hear that Britain is getting bustier and due to the surge in demand of larger cup sizes the K Cup bra has finally been introduced to the British high street. Selfridges in London and Manchester have introduced the K cup made by Fantasie for the first time. According to new research, sales of bras in the D to G category have risen 50% every year since 2005. I can't say this surprises me, the average cup size of a Plums Lingerie customers is an E at least.

I think ladies are now becoming more aware of the importance of wearing a correctly fitting bra due to programmes like What Not to Wear with Trinny and Susannah and Gok Wan’s How to look Good Naked. We now stock the lovely Prima Donna Deauville in an I cup which is the equivalent to the UK J and they tick on quite well.

Apparently

'Breasts are getting bigger but it's not just because we are getting heavier,' biomechanics professor Dr. Joanna Scurr told the Telegraph. 'We don't yet know the reason, but it has certainly made women much more aware of the need for correct support.'

Lingerieblog.co.uk are currently running a survey to see what the average bra size is so if you want to have your say you can fill it in here

Burn those tape measures, not your bra

In our quest to ensure the women of the world wear correctly fitting bras I have had my little chums at Google scouring the web for questions on bra fittings. There are several questions a day about what bra size to wear and what is normal. I am not so much astounded by the volume of these queries or the confusion of the lovely ladies but rather by the answers from so called experts. Whoever came up with the concept of measuring around the rib cage and then around the boobs then doing some complicated mathematical equation to come up with your bra size must have been bonkers. Boobs, breasts, baps what ever you want to call them come in all shapes and sizes, no two the same. How can mathematics cope with the all the different permutations of the female form? Well in my experience it can't! If you are ever in a fitting room and someone comes at you with a tape measure just politely make your excuses and get the hell out of there. This is a woman with no concept that lingerie and its fit is an art rather than a science.

An experienced fitter will be able to judge by eye and asking a few canny questions. It may take a couple of goes with different sizes bras but really it is the only way to tell for sure. By making sure the band is nice and snug around the back you are supporting the weight of your boobs from underneath rather than suspended from your shoulder straps like a hammock. The wire should go around the width of the boob and not dig in under the arm. Those wires should also sit flush against your breast bone. If you put your arms in the air and the bra doesn't stay firm, its too loose. For those ladies who have had a proper fitting you know the difference the correct sizes bra can make. So I implore you help us spread the word, tell your colleague that that back strap on her bra shouldn't be riding up by her shoulders, tell you friend that 4 boobs aren't better than 2! And if you happen to send them our way and we manage to show them the light and they walk out with a new bra will give you a £10 gift voucher to say thank you for supporting the cause, just make sure they mention who sent them.

Are stockings too seamy?

After a couple of dry days where the sun is beginning to poke through the clouds I am confident enough to pop on the pencil skirts again. Personally I have found the days where I wear trousers distinctly less glamorous. Although I mentally conjure up images of Katherine Hepburn and Marlene Dietrich I just can’t seem to mirror their sophisticated devil may care attitude, may be I am not angular enough to carry it off with aplomb.

And so it’s back to my trusty black pencil skirts and silk blouses, much more forgiving for us girls with a few curves. The pencil skirt also brings with it the requirement for a bit of hosiery and as I rummage through the stockings drawer in Plums (don’t tell Tricia I am stealing stock again!) it makes me wonder why so many women shy away from wearing stockings. Stockings seem to have become the preserve of special saucy occasions. Women who do own suspender belts have received them as a Valentine’s or Christmas gift and have worn these lacey red or black numbers on a token number of occasions. Suspender belts have gone from almost being an essential for every lingerie drawer to a sordid piece of dress up, put away in a box with naughty nurse outfits and accessories from Ann Summers.

Maybe it’s about time women reclaimed stockings and suspenders for themselves. As much as you hear claims that stockings are more hygienic or practical than tights it’s never going to make women want to wear them. It is undeniable that stockings and suspenders are sexy but surely there isn’t anything wrong with feeling alluring? Why is it that being frumpy is more acceptable than being glamorous?

Next time you are putting on a skirt, and no I’m not suggesting full time mums should be tottering around in stilettos and seamed stockings, why not dig out that special occasion suspender belt and open a fresh pair of stockings and see if it makes you feel any different. Think Dita Von Teese and channel a bit of Hollywood film star in your wardrobe. Don’t be afraid to feel sexy, start slowly with some simple nude stockings and before you know it you will soon be wearing fully fashioned seamed stockings on a night out! Feel the need for a bit of inspiration? Then watch the film Silk Stockings it has an amazing scene where Cyd Charisse puts aside her black wool stockings and tries her first pair of silk stockings.

Don’t know your fully fashioned from your rht then check out my guide to buying stockings.

Spring is on its Way

Mid February and hopefully the worst of the cruel biting winds are behind us. The first pastel hued bra of the spring has now arrived a Plums Lingerie in of the delicate Marie Jo Rose, available is a stunning turquoise, white or black. We’ve plumped for the turquoise to bring a bit of colour to these grey days. The pretty rose embroidery is so fresh and summery and for all you fans of the Italian briefs that have been so popular in the Jane they have brought one out in the Rose.

Blue is definitely the colour of the season in Marie Jo and Prima Donna, the Marie Jo Camille is a deep purply blue with pretty floral sprigs embroidered in pretty pinks. We’ve had the Camille in for a week or so at Plums Lingerie and it’s proving to be really popular, the first colours of the spring are always light relief after the heavy seductiveness of the deeps reds and purples of the winter.

Our busty lovelies haven’t been forgotten, the Prima Donna Babel is now in stock. The delicate cobweb effect embroidered with a gorgeous floral design has made it my favourite for this season. It is definitely high on glamour especially if you treat yourself to the basque!

New lingerie and nightwear seems to be arriving daily so to get the latest updates you can become a fan of the Plums Lingerie Facebook page or follow us on Twitter.

Time to Say Goodbye, when is the right time to throw away your bras?

This weekend I had to come to a difficult decision, whether or not to retire my trust black Goa bra from Prima Donna. I love this bra, elegant and not too flashy. A smooth cup with a little embroidery on the top half. Perfect for wearing under fitted tops without declaring it’s presence to passers by but pretty enough that if I was run over by a bus my ER doctor would still be suitably impressed. On first inspection there seemed to be absolutely not reason to stop wearing this ensemble, the colour was still true and it still appeared to give enough support. So why on earth send this bra to lingerie heaven? Well for some god forsaken reason I had to run, not a natural activity to for me but I suddenly became rather aware of an increased bounce factor that was a tad uncomfortable. On investigation I notice the elastic between the cups and the fastening on the back had completely lost its stretch. I was forlorn, it doesn’t seem right to toss aside such a faithful friend, especially as I can no longer purchase a another Goa.

So when exactly is it time to say goodbye? At Plums Lingerie we recommend that an every day bra has about an 18 month life span maximum. Elastic is a perishable material and the more you wash and wear your bras the quicker it will loss its stretch. This is why we always recommend hand washing, popping your bras in the machine in a hot wash will only make their life span shorter. If you are wearing bras that you would be embarrassed for someone to see it’s probably time to move on to a new one. You wear a bra every day which if you wear a bra once a week for 12 months that’s 78 wears. At £60 a bra that’s 76p a wear, worth investing in a new one ever so often to make sure you get the fit and support you need 365 days a year!

And yes the Goa did get retired and I have replaced it with the rather more ostentatious Babel but its flirty embroidering and the fact it comes with a suspender belt lured me in. No doubt in a few weeks the Goa will become a dim and distant memory.

Sever Weather Warning!

Tomorrow brings with it a severe weather warning at Plums Lingerie. The hurricane force that is Nicola from Marie Jo and Prima Donna descends on our little boutique. Tricia is currently battening down the hatches and preparing for the whirlwind of lingerie that will hurtle out Nicola’s suitcase like something out of Harry Potter.

It’s always lovely to catch up with Nicola, listening to her animated tales of boutiques far and wide. Her enthusiastic laugh fills the boutique like the contents of her suitcase. Tricia and I have the challenge of putting together our biggest order of the season hoping that we don’t miss out on ‘the next big thing’ and I’m not referring to the H cups! I have already had a sneak preview in Paris and can reveal that the fantastic Prima Donna Deauville will be coming in raspberry for the autumn.

I am sure after an exhausting couple of hours, a few lattes and a lot of laughs we will have our order sorted. Then this weekend it’s time to put in the Simone Perele and Implicite then we are all set and we can get back to organising our party on the 10th February.

Party Time at Plums

What better way to cheer ourselves up than having a little party. The chill wind and ever impending rain with be shut out while we are inside sipping on champagne and treating our customers to a cheeky little 20% off all lingerie and nightwear. So see more details of the party you can check out the invitation here.


As well as our lovely party we've also managed to think of the joys of summer when the new Gottex swimwear arrived this week. Lots more colour was the request last year and that's what we've tried to do. However we couldn't resist the sophisticated Gottex Cosmic in black. My favourite is unsurprisingly the fantastic Gottex Paradise. I can just feel the hot sun on my face when I look at this collection. Can imagine not everyone would be a fan, maybe it's the swimwear equivalent of Marmite?

If you want to be the first to hear about all our product updates then become a Facebook Fan or follow me on Twitter.

Au Revoir Paris....

Back from Paris and once again the Salon de Lingerie didn’t disappoint! It was great to see it so much busier than last year. The mood it definitely more optimistic however there seems to be a reduction in the men’s lingerie section. Six packed, toned lovelies wandering around in their pants seem to be a scarce breed. Perhaps the bottom has fallen out of the men’s market?

The professional that I am I focused on the buying for next winter and feel quite pleased with the orders placed. Purple is still popular but I think that every woman must own a purple lingerie set by now! The colour raspberry is also very popular, not too red and not too purple. Not sure if it’s particularly boy friendly, one for the girls I think. I have also sourced a new supplier which will be kept under wraps until later in the year but it will take us in to a slightly different market place.

I also picked up the new La Decollete, a bra that dewrinkles your cleavage, as seen in the Daily Mail I am not sure that bra is an accurate description, it more like a mini pillow with shoulder and back straps. The sales rep swore blind it was brilliant, so I thought I would pick one up and bring it home to test out what people think.

After all this work, despite the exhaustion, I continued with my hunt for the perfect location for a glass of champagne. I really don’t understand when people are skeptical about how tough this trip is. The Hemingway Bar at the Ritz was cosy and intimate but I felt I should have been drinking whisky rather than champers. I preferred the Meurice Hotel on Rue de Rivoli, perfect for a post purchase relaxation accompanied by a bit of plinky plonky piano. I will continue the research when buying for next season, any recommendations will be gratefully received and tested thoroughly.

The Fontainbleu Bar at Le Meurice

Paris... 1 day to go!

Paris in January... it maybe a tad fresh at this time of year but to me it looses none of it's magic.  However I may change my mind if it feels like my ears will be blown off in the wind or the rain dampens my glamorous 'do.  I jet off tomorrow on a mission to choose lots of lovely frillies for the autumn winter season.  Obviously with no thought for myself I shall trudge relentlessly from stand to stand until I find the perfect collections.   Just thought of having delighted customers will spur me on (not to mention the champagne and chocolates).

I am leaving Tricia at home to make sure the website is managed and everyone who comes to the boutique is helped to find the perfect lingerie. You will be please to know that I have finally worked out how to take photos with my phone and upload them to Twitter so prepare to be bombarded!

In between meeting our lovely suppliers, attending seminars and shows I shall be going undercover to research some of our Parisian competitors.  Always interesting to see how others arrange their boutiques and what designers they sell.  If you want to be kept uptodate on the latest from the show you can either follow me on Twitter or visit our Facebook Fan Page.

Au Revoir....

Fit to burst?

Wind, rain sleet and snow but still we are open after the Christmas break. Tricia as finally dried out from the Christmas excess and has managed tidy up the boutique and sort out the new window display. Despite being promised the new range from Prima Donna called Twist, we have yet to see it. We have our suspicions that those chaps from customs may be sporting the pretty spring collection.


Had an interesting phone call from a customer last night asking for fitting advice over the phone. Bit of a challenge to do a virtual fitting, we would always recommend that you do get a proper fitting at least once a year to make sure your lingerie purchases are perfect. But if you see the fitter getting out a tape measure it’s time to politely make your excuses and leave. Any good fitter will pretty much be able to get the right size for you by eye.

We’ve had many a woman who has been emotionally traumatised by a bad experience. Even when you’ve got the courage up to go and get fitted a shocking 80% of fittings from high street shops and department stores are right. A good fitter will never try and get you to fit the bra rather than get the bra to fit you.

Don’t get disheartened if a bra doesn’t suit you or doesn’t fit well. It’s just like trying on dresses, you will always get styles that just don’t work for you. It doesn’t mean you are a funny shape, you’re just not that shape.

Well that’s enough of the do goody bra expert malarkey, I’m off for a G&T.