Small bust, big heart

Wacoal Petites bra: Proof that a nude-coloured bra doesn't equal "Granny chic"

The sun’s out, the sky’s blue and Lambing Live was on the box last night. It’s still brass monkeys out there, but Spring is on its way.

Which means it’s time for a seasonal wardrobe review. As you start stalking the new trends in the shops, don’t forget to update your lingerie. Woe betide the freshly-bared shoulder adorned with a grey bra strap. Or the Winter white cleavage sporting a visible “cosy” cotton bra.

If there’s one way to ruin your new Spring look, it’s by teaming your clothes with the wrong lingerie… and giving a public viewing to what should be under wraps.

The right bra provides uplift and hidden support under skimpy Spring and Summer tops and dresses. It should be seen only if it plays a role in the ensemble, adding a sexy glimpse of lace or satin, or a complementary touch of colour.

To help you get it right, I’ve picked the best AA-cup bras on sale in the UK for Spring looks:

• HALTERNECK BRA: Show off strap-free shoulders in halterneck tops with the incredibly versatile multiway bra at Little Women.  With smooth, seam-free cups, this underwired, balcony-style bra can be worn with straps, strapless, or as a halterneck. Available in AA-cup and A-cup sizes.
• RACERBACK BRA: Give impressive lift to small busts in racerback tops with the Atlantis strapless gel bra by Panache at Know Knockers.  Gel-filled, ultra-padded cups and multiway straps give revealing tops and dresses a bit more “filling”. Available in AA-cup, A-cup and B-cup sizes.
• BRA-TO-BARE: The Wacoal Petites push-up bra is too pretty to keep under wraps.  Team it with a sheer top to reveal its decorative lace and ribbon detailing. The underwired cups and removable padding give the bust-line a gentle boost. Available in AA-cup, A-cup and B-cup sizes at Freshpair.com.
• NEARLY NUDE BRA: Loving the nude & pastel shades for Spring? You need a skin tone bra to blend in with light-coloured tops. The lightly padded Wacoal Petite lace-up contour bra at Figleaves is just the ticket. And stylish too, with corset style detail and seamless, underwired cups. Available in AA-cup, A-cup and B-cup sizes.
• COLOUR FLASH: The Limited Collection padded plunge bra from Marks and Spencer is begging to play peekaboo. A glimpse of coral pink strap, a flash of colour beneath a denim shirt… this bra will add a totally tropical twist to a Spring outfit. Available in sizes AA-cup to DD-cup.

Tags: 30AA, 32A, 32AA, 36A, 36AA, AA-cup, gel bra, halterneck bra, multiway bra, padded bra, push-up bra, racerback bra, strapless bra, underwired bra

Alice in Wonderland opens in UK cinemas tomorrow, starring Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter, Mia Wasikowska as Alice and Anne Hathaway as the White Queen. Alice’s adventures after another tumble down the rabbit hole get the mad-cap Tim Burton treatment. Sounds like the sort of mindless escapism we can all do with in our lives… I’ll be going for sure.

The film provides the theme for SBBH’s very first caption competition (details of how to enter below) — the fabulous prize for which has been offered by the lovely people at Lailides, the specialists in petite size lingerie (from AA-cup to B-cup). If you don’t know about Lailides, check out my recent post and find them on Facebook and Twitter.

The Coppelia lingerie set could be yours

The Prize: Made from sheer mesh fabric and trimmed with French lace, Lailides Coppelia bra is simple and sophisticated. The soft-cup, triangle style is like a second skin, ideal for everyday wear. Available in sizes 1-4 (see size chart). This exclusive prize package teams the bra with the Coppelia thong, available in S/M or M/L (see size chart): I am reliably told it’s the most comfortable G-string you’ll ever wear.  The winner will receive this gorgeous luxury lingerie set, worth $70, in black, in the size of their choice.

Picture caption? YOU DECIDE!

HOW TO WIN

Check out this picture of Anne Hathaway looking a little pasty as the White Queen. Inexplicably (if you haven’t seen the film), she’s eyeballing a mouse. Not much to read in her expression, so who knows what she’s trying to say to her rodent friend. If you can think of a caption to go with this picture, please comment on this post with your suggestion. On Friday April 2nd, the competition will close and the best caption will be selected. Its author will become the owner of a beautiful Lailides lingerie set.

Tags: 32A, A-cup, AA-cup, B-cup, competition, petite size lingerie, soft-cup bra, thong, triangle bra