Small bust, big heart

The Instant Uplift bra: You just wouldn't, would you? (Image source: The Daily Mail)

Breasts are always in the news — and I don’t mean just on Page 3 of The Sun. They are a serious news topic, don’t you know? It doesn’t seem to matter what size breasts are — so long as there’s a story that can be loosely hung on them, they are worth a few column inches and a gratuitous boob shot.

I certainly think there’s enough tit-tle tattle to bring you a monthly round-up, so I’m launching a new blog category: Boobs in the News. I plan to bring you the latest topical boob-related stories I’ve spotted. In turn, it would be great to hear about anything you’ve read or seen in the media on the subject of bras and breasts.

Here’s my March round-up:

• I’ve already blogged about this, but Selfridges got some PR mileage from the inclusion of a K-cup bra in their lingerie offering. Good news for the ultra-large boobed — less so for small-busted women (many of whom could use a K-cup for a camping expedition and not much else)
• The Instant Uplift bra got some press coverage. It’s a cup-less, multi-strapped, super-elasticated device that looks as if it was invented to inflict torture. We’re informed it’s comfortable and can provide dramatic uplift. It’s available in 32A to 44C cup sizes.
• A new poll says 1 in 4 men prefer fake boobs to natural ones and 55% of girls want to change the shape or size of their breasts. Who did the pollsters talk to? I don’t know a single man that would rather grapple silicone breasts than the real thing.
• Makers of a new plumping wonder cream claim it can boost fat in the breast tissue, making them curvier and firm. The scientific proof of the efficacy of the caffeine-based cream, which costs £120, was not clear. I’d say you are better off stuffing wads of £10 notes in each cup.

I'm loving this pretty lilac bra at Perfectly Petite

Perfectly Petite Lingerie is a relative newbie to the petite-size lingerie community, just like SBBH. If you haven’t already checked it out, this exclusive offer for SBBH readers should give you a reason:

Perfectly Petite Lingerie is offering a 10% discount for SBBH readers until April 21st 2010 (Midnight GMT). Simply use the promotion code SBBH10 at the checkout to take advantage of this perfectly super deal.*

Set up by Nicola Scarrott last year, the idea for Perfectly Petite Lingerie came after a frustrating shopping trip that hammered home the limited choice of lingerie sold on the high street in AA-cup and A-cup sizes. Driving to the shops on a futile hunt for pretty styles was a waste of petrol money, Scarrott thought. Mulling this over, she came up with the idea of setting up an online store offering AA-cup, A-cup and B-cup lingerie — of the ‘luxury’ ilk, a far cry from the unsexy ‘training bra’ styles more commonly available.

Scarrott says, “Lingerie should make you feel good about yourself and buying it should be a pleasure, not hard work and disappointing.”

Research revealed that some small-busted women want cleavage enhancement, with gel bras and the like, while others are simply looking for comfortable, well-fitting designs. Scarrott explains, “Firstly, AA-cup women want something that fits well. Smaller busts are not the same shape as larger ones, so bras need to be manufactured differently. There is no top cup to speak of, so far less material is needed. AA bras don’t need to be rounded, as an AA bust does not have a lot of flesh to fill a cup. The underwire, if any, does not need to scoop so much. And the straps, generally, need to be fairly short as the petite bust sits quite still and perky.”

Armed with first-hand knowledge and research that backs it up, Scarrott seems well-placed to make a success of Perfectly Petite Lingerie. I wish her all the best.

*If you live outside the UK and would like to place an order at Perfectly Petite Lingerie using the SBBH promotion code, please contact Perfectly Petite directly for a bespoke postage price.

Tags: A-cup, AA-cup, B-cup, gel bra, offer, petite lingerie