Small bust, big heart

The Itty Bitty Signature Bra is not itty bitty on style or comfort

Nicola from Perfectly Petite Lingerie is proud to be the only UK stockist of Itty Bitty Bras — a line of lingerie from the US, designed to give small-busted women “the best fit, comfort and choice”.

Concentrating on AA, A and B-cup sizes, Itty Bitty Bras are made specifically for small busts, with cups molded and bands sized with the goal to avoid the common problems of gaping, puckering and ride-up. Nicola is so confident in this collection that she gave me an Itty Bitty Signature Bra to road test. Here’s what I thought:

This stunning gown by Terry Fox shows how to enhance a small bust

Show me a bride who’s happy to look “OK” on her wedding day and I’ll show you gossip magazine without a Katie Price revelation…

The fact is that neither exists. Brides quite rightly want to hear the audible thud of jaws dropping as they make their entrance — followed by the buzz of assorted exclamations: “Wow!”, “Beautiful”, “Stunning” etc…

The lynch pin of the bridal look is the frock. Choosing a bridal gown that oozes glamour, while being timeless and flattering, is a nerve-jangling task. The dress must work hard to play up the positives of the bride’s figure — and magically airbrush out any body blips that might prevent her from looking and feeling her best.

SBBH asked award-winning bridal dress designer Terry Fox to share her ideas on the wedding dress styles that give small-busted brides the “wow” factor. Terry says:

Good design is a question of balance. The “ideal” body shape is balanced in three areas: from top to bottom; from side to side; and from front to back. When someone has a particularly small-bust, if it’s desired, I can add extra fullness to the design in all three areas to give the most balanced shape possible. Tricks like waist-trimming corsets can also create the illusion of a bigger bust if that’s what the bride wants.

Volume can be created in lots of ways — with loosely draped fabric, ruched chiffon, layered lace, tulle, sculptured rich satins and folded deep silks. Then you can add any embellishments you can imagine — like rose petals, vintage beadwork or feathers. Small-busted women have the advantage of being able to wear more detail around the bustline — so the sky’s the limit!

I am a great believer that most styles can suit all figure shapes if designed correctly. It’s all about balance — and making sure that the seam lines, fullness and details are moved to the correct place for each individual. That said, some figure shapes lend themselves more to certain styles, for example:

‘Bananas’ – lean and boyish body shapes — look elegant and stylish in 1930’s inspired, bias cut dresses. Add a cowl neck or bias folds for smaller busts.

‘Pears’ – bottom heavy body shapes — look glamorous and shapely in A-line dresses with asymmetrical bodices and necklines. Ruching and one-sided drapes disguise any disproportion of the shoulders and bottom.

‘Apples’ – body shapes with an undefined waist — look romantic and free in draped Grecian-inspired dresses and Empire line styles that fall beautifully from under the bust.

‘Strawberries’ – broad shouldered body shapes — look contemporary and chic in halter necks and styles with added fullness in the skirt to create balance.

My main tip is to keep trying styles on — for as long as you can until it stops being magical. You’ll soon reach an understanding of what works for you and what doesn’t. Remember – don’t stress yourself out, it’s supposed to be fun! And don’t forget that your man is marrying you because he loves you just the way you are.

Tags: small-busted bride, wedding dress tips