The confidence of a well-fitting bra, in menopause and beyond!
I am talking to those of us out there who have anything over a double D. Those of us who are E’s, F’s G’s double G’s, H’s and J’s and never wanted to be, or those whose bodies have changed through the menopause. Who have back, shoulder and neck pain every day.
My sister would say they’re your secret weapon, your power. Really? Thanks, but no thanks. Clothes don’t fit. Go big with a top and you look like a tent, go fitted and you either look like a sex symbol (which I could probably carry in my 20’s even though the attention was unwanted) or matronly. Not to mention chronic neck and back pain and boobs so sore every month, you wish you could take them off. You can’t run like other people either.
So yes, I’m talking to you my E-K cup friends.
I am now post-menopausal, following a surgical procedure in 2022 for Stage 3 ovarian cancer. The last year I have been wearing the same size bra. Excess baggage spilling out from underneath, not over the top strangely. Neck and shoulder pain, putting off the inevitable- I know I have gone up another cup size or even two. Until I met Julie.
Julie is a Breast Angel. She is an engineer, an artist, a pro. Julie runs a lingerie shop. I walked in on the off chance at the end of the day on a Saturday,- nearly closing time. She took one look at me and knew, without me even taking my coat off. It was a cold winter day, I was wearing a puffer jacket, and thick jumper, straight away she handed me the prettiest lacey bra I’ve ever seen and said ‘here, put this on’. She didn’t tell me the cup size only that I’m still a 34. She showed me how to perform the ‘Julie Jiggle’. This is leaning forward and holding the outside edges of each cup, possibly a burlesque move, and ensures a tight and supportive fit. Then she handed me the magic top. A fitted top-‘Whoopeee!’ there before my eyes, my waist was back, I’d lost weight too, in seconds, I stood taller, looked like I’d had a boob lift and felt younger. Neck pain instantly gone.
Thank you, Julie! Julie had left the boutique changing room to dispose of my tired ill-fitting bra into recycling. Despite my protests, fearing that other people would see it. She assured me that it goes with other defunct bras to be weighed and then the proceeds donated to a breast cancer charity. How could I argue with that?
I need to mention that in 2021 I had a breast cancer scare, which resulted in some surgery to remove pre-cancerous cells. Not major surgery and all that remains is a tiny scar. But for those of us who have to face breast cancer head on, Julie and her team are a recognised as A Centre of Excellence for Anita. This means they’re trained to the highest standards to enable women to wear the prettiest, most comfortable bras, wherever their surgery takes them. Whether it be mastectomy or non-mastectomy bras.
Thanks to Julie I’ve learnt to love my boobs and the game changing confidence a beautiful lifting bra has given me. I see my new bras as an investment in myself and my confidence. My posture is better, and the neck pain is almost gone. I read recently that women with a cup size bigger than DD are at risk of curvature of the spine. Don’t put it off. Love your boobs, they are part of you and give them the lift they deserve.
If you’re looking for Julie, you can find her here
https://www.studiolingerie.co.uk/
All photographs from Studio Lingerie & Resort, used with permission.