AllureFits.com Specializes in European Lingerie
Contents
- 1 About Us
- 2 Bras
- 3 Bra Issues
- 3.1 "My bra straps are always falling down. "
- 3.2 "My breasts appear to be sagging, and no matter how much I tighten the straps, I just can’t get any lift."
- 3.3 "Wires are always so uncomfortable – they poke, dig, rub, and otherwise drive me crazy."
- 3.4 "The cups of my bra are always overflowing."
- 3.5 "I have scoliosis – and I feel like my bras never lay correctly on my body."
- 3.6 "I have one breast larger than the other. Can I get a bra with two different cups?"
- 3.7 "I’ve had breast surgery - what are my options for bras?"
- 3.8 "The cups of my bra are always wrinkled. I never seem to fill them out."
- 3.9 "I just found out that I am pregnant – when do I need to get a nursing bra if I plan to breastfeed?"
- 4 Connect With Us
About Us
Allure was born in 2003. In a little lingerie shop in a corner of our hometown, we learned the business of underwear.
Hating to shop for bras myself, and knowing that there had to be a better way of doing it, I set out on a mission to save the world one bra at a time. My name is Peg O'Malley and I'm the owner of Allure Intimate Apparel. For years I had listened to every woman I knew complain about their bras and how generally dreadful they felt about shopping for them, when I decided to 'make' the change we were looking for. I got the idea to learn everything I could about bras and lingerie and open up my own shop.
After enlisting the aid of my husband Peter, who is the "Man Behind the Curtain" at Allure, our first little store was opened in the fall of 2003.
Simultaneously opening the store and raising our 4, 5, and 6 year olds was hard, but we kept our chins up and spread the word about our new service and beautiful products... Peter helped make my ideas come to life in our little shop that was all about women.
We had clients coming from all over to have a fitting and get educated about the old fashioned concept of "You Get What You Pay For" and "Take Care of What You Have". The quality of our garments was always the best and our customers raved about how fast and easy it was to be fitted and how much longer the bras lasted....not to mention how great they looked! And the pajamas and robes! Finding the best, softest fabrics and most flattering fits was a passion...changing into my own PJ's after work became my favorite part of the day!
Our incredible journey as a husband and wife team with an incredibly dedicated staff really worked and before I knew it, our kids were all in high school and we were opening our fifth store at the Galleria in Edina, Minnesota.
We try really hard to make our stores warm and welcoming (find us in Mequon and Brookfield, Wi and in St. Paul, Maple Grove and Edina, MN) and make it our goal to provide the best service possible. The women on our staff are just like you and me. They're trained in bra and mastectomy fitting and each bring a personal touch to the whole experience. They're women who truly care about what they do and they care about how you feel. In fact, I think I can say that they'll change your feelings about bra fitting forever.
We've seen it all too, so don't be shy. If you're still reading this, I want you to know that you don't have to be shy or embarrassed to have a bra fitting, or to try on some "special occasion" lingerie or fashion bras. We've literally seen it all. Every kind of woman in every shape and size...some have one breast smaller than the other, some have had breast surgery, some have lost or gained significant amounts of weight, and some just need a confidence boost.....at Allure, we're here for all of you and it's our pleasure to help you find the figure you never knew you had.
If you're finally ready to wear a bra that feels great, or you just want to do something nice for yourself, Allure has your fit.
Bras
T-shirt Bra
T-shirt bras usually have molded, seamless cups and are the best for wearing under t-shirts and fine knits. Cups can be soft or padded, but soft cups must fit the breast perfectly to avoid wrinkles. Padded or lightly molded cups dodge this problem and are a great bra for women with one breast smaller than the other.
Plunge Bra
For low cut tops or gowns or when cleavage matters! Not for everyday use unless your breasts are small enough that jiggles aren't an issue.
Bustier or long Line Bra
A longline bra, strapless bra or convertible bra for gowns where your midsection needs holding in or smoothing. A long row of hooks closes the bra in the back.
Convertible or Strapless Bra
For gowns or tops that show the shoulders. Convertible bras have straps that are adjustable to accommodate one shouldered dresses or crisscross backs. A comfortable strapless bra is essential in every woman's lingerie wardrobe!
Sports Bra
Look for good support appropriate for the activity. The higher the impact level, the more support you'll need. Larger breasts need the highest level of support regardless of impact level, plus bras that 'shape' both breasts. Bras that compress the breast into one single 'loaf' or 'uni-boob' are OK for smaller breasts but don't offer enough support for the delicate tissue of the breasts in larger women. Always look for good padding on the straps of sports bras.
Demi Cup or Balconette Bra
The cup top ends just where the breast swells out from the body. This is a popular style because it's a very pretty fashion bra but also can be worn under a lot of clothing
Adhesive or Nu Bra
Seamless cups that 'stick' to the body with a medical grade adhesive. For wearing under backless dresses or halter tops, tank tops, etc. Adhesive bras are washable and can be worn many times. Always follow the directions on the package for proper washing.
Bra Issues
"My bra straps are always falling down. "
Often our straps fall because the band on our bras is too loose, and is riding up. This prevents the band from keeping your straps on your shoulders. Because every body is different, some styles of bras will help keep straps up where they belong, whereas other styles may be more prone to fall. Finding a correct fit is helpful – but in the event that straps still do not stay put, a product such as “comfy shoulders” can make falling straps a problem of the past.
"My breasts appear to be sagging, and no matter how much I tighten the straps, I just can’t get any lift."
A well-fitting bra is going to do most of the lifting from the band, and not the straps. Realistically, the straps are only going to provide the last 15% of the lift that a bra provides – the band should be doing most of the work, and to do this, it needs to be parallel to the floor against your body. Making sure that your band size is not too large will help with this issue. Certain bra styles provide more lift than others, and this is where an experienced fitter can work with you to find a bra with the right amount of lift.
"Wires are always so uncomfortable – they poke, dig, rub, and otherwise drive me crazy."
f your wires are consistently causing you grief, they may be too small or the wrong shape for your body. Getting the correct cup size can actually make an underwire very comfortable – so long as the wires are not digging into breast tissue, your arms, ribcage, or stomach. In the event that underwire bra wires are digging into your stomach, even if the wire completely encases breast tissue, a wire-free option may be more suitable. Modern construction techniques and fibers allow them to still provide good support, though typically not as much lift as a wired bra. Bras shouldn’t be painful – though sometimes wearing a different size or style than you are used to may cause very minor initial discomfort.
"The cups of my bra are always overflowing."
This would indicate that the cups of your bra are simply too small. Mass retailers typically only carry a fraction of the sizes available at specialty boutiques – Allure carries over 144 sizes, and is always happy to work with you to find the right size with a bra fitting. If the cups are in fact, the right size, the style of bra may be too low in the center, allowing breast tissue to try to spill over when you move. A different style of bra could alleviate this issue.
"I have scoliosis – and I feel like my bras never lay correctly on my body."
This is another case where, because every body is different, working one-on-one with a professional can alleviate a lot of stress in trying to find a bra alone. Often, one bra strap needs to be dramatically tighter or looser to help close any gaps in the cups for individuals with a spinal curvature. Typically soft molded cups – such as those with memory foam or spacer foam, will be a little more forgiving.
"I have one breast larger than the other. Can I get a bra with two different cups?"
You could – but the more economical option is to work to balance the size difference by having the straps adjusted to let tension out of the larger side, and pull up to close any gaps on the smaller side. Most, if not all women, have at least a slight size difference. Using a small insert to give the illusion of symmetry can also be beneficial. In cases where an individual has had some type of breast surgery, an insert is especially helpful, as they can be placed in different ways depending on the exact location of, for example, a lumpectomy.
"I’ve had breast surgery - what are my options for bras?"
Allure Intimate Apparel strongly recommends that you speak with your surgeon regarding the appropriate aftercare requirements for your specific procedure. Once we establish any medically necessary limitations, we are happy to work with you – all of our fitters are trained to be both professional and sensitive to your needs. Several wire-free options exist for the times when a wire is not an option, but typically, after the healing process, many women are, with their doctors’ permission, able to wear a wired bra.
"The cups of my bra are always wrinkled. I never seem to fill them out."
This might be an indication of a cup that is too large, or poorly shaped for your breast tissue. Full coverage styles can have this problem, even in the correct size, if your breast tissue is fuller on the bottom. Trying different styles, such as a demi, or balconette style, may provide a better, more flattering fit. It is very important to remember that every brand and style can fit a little differently – so keeping an open mind in trying new styles can be very helpful in finding an amazing new bra.
"I just found out that I am pregnant – when do I need to get a nursing bra if I plan to breastfeed?"
At Allure, we are happy to help you find bras that will help to make you more comfortable during pregnancy – these options typically have a stretch cup –and are designed to help make you comfortable during the many months of body changes ahead. It is not uncommon to experience breast changes throughout your entire pregnancy, and for this reason, we recommend that you wait until as close to your due date as possible to get your first nursing bra – either a few weeks prior to delivery, or within the first few weeks after. This way, we can get a more accurate picture of what your size needs will be for as much of your time nursing as possible – though again, it is not uncommon to need to refit partway through. This time in your life is full of changes, and while we try to anticipate your needs as best we can, they do sometimes change.
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