Shopping for intimates is, well… intimate. You give a tentative nod to the luxurious Chantilly lace bra on the rail but all you want to know I what all those numbers on the tag mean. Wonder no more as we chat to Blairgowrie’s Taryn Palacios AKA The Bra Guru.
Intimate Secrets is a magazine feature that The Bra Guru interviewed in. Taryn (The Bra Guru) offers us a deeper understanding of what makes having the right-sized bra so important to us as women. Find out how such a simple thing can have such a huge impact on our lives. Read below to find out some amazing bra facts.
A perfectly fitting bra is like a best friend – it lifts you up, is always supportive and never leaves you hanging. But here’s the thing – with so many brands, sizes, styles, colours and cup shapes available, too many options can quickly become your worst enemy when deciphering the best fit for your bust. Enter Taryn Palacios – the woman who will quickly put an end to the nightmare that is bra shopping.
After giving birth to her two sons, Adriano and Alessandro, Taryn admits that she was flabbergasted at how much her body had changed. ‘After having children, my bust and cup size was totally different – it was crazy!’ she exclaims, ‘I couldn’t find anything decent in an E cup, which is what I needed at the time. For a couple of months I felt I was never going to find my perfect fit and that I’d just have to make do with uncomfortable, badly fitting bras’, Taryn confesses. ‘How silly I was back then! After a few months of non-stop back pain and wires poking into my ribs, I thought to myself ‘I can’t live like this anymore!’, and I was prompted to start The Bra Guru, my very own bra fitting studio in Hyde Park.’
Before The Bra Guru, Taryn worked in the events industry, but this doesn’t mean she was a stranger to proper bra fitting. ‘My mom had a close friend who worked as a bra fitter and in many ways, she shaped me into the fitter I am today. She taught me so many tips and tricks!’ she says. ‘When I opened my studio, I planned to use the knowledge she gave me and start something totally different. I now offer women professional bra fitting services in a private, comfortable space with a selection of imported bras in different sizes and styles from which to choose. I believe bra fitting is meant to be a wonderful experience. And now, with it being breast cancer month, I encourage all women to treat themselves to a fitting’.
Taryn also stocks five ranges of bras that include everything from sleek everyday styles to va-va-voom lacy lingerie in cup sizes A to K. ‘The PrimaDonna collection is my favourite – it’s simply exquisite!’ Taryn says. ‘It’s super-luxurious and there’s a style and colour for everyone,’ she adds while showing us one of the magnificently detailed, silky soft bras in a minimalist nude shade. ‘Then there’s the Corin, which is the ultimate T-shirt bra. It’s essential for most outfits and is a really “healthy” bra to wear. It’s made with spacer foam, which is gentle on your breasts.’
If you’re hesitant to strip down for a bra fitting, you may want to think twice… ‘I can’t tell you how many of my clients phone me the day after their fitting to thank me and say they wish they’d done it sooner!’ Taryn laughs. ‘It’s funny how so many women are daunted at the mere thought of going for a bra fitting. My studio has big screens and is very private, so there’s nothing to be shy about. You’ll never regret going for a bra fitting. It’s extraordinary how the correct bra can give your shape a total makeover.’
Five super-surprising bra facts
1. If you fasten your bra on the last set of hooks, your back band isn’t properly fitted.
Taryn stresses that your bras back band does about 90 per cent of your bras job, so it’s important that you get properly measured to make sure you’re fitted to the correct back band size. ‘A simple way to tell if your bras back band is too big is to see if it fits well when its fastened on the first set of hooks. If you’re wearing your bra on the last set, it’s not your perfect fit,’ Taryn explains. ‘And if you’re constantly pulling your bra down your back or if it shifts up and down all day long, that’s another big indication that your bra is way too big for you!’
2. Painful straps are a sure sign that you’re in the incorrect size or style
Taryn explains that when you’re in a well-fitted bra, you should hardly feel your straps at all. ‘If you’re aware of your straps, it may be a warning sign that your back band size is totally wrong or that the style isn’t working for you’, she says, ‘Also, if you’re a heavier cup size, you should stay away from thin straps completely _ they’ll just dig into your shoulders…ouch!’
3. The perfect bra collection doesn’t need to have more than five bras at a time
Taryn encourages women to focus on building their bra collection with quality over quantity. ‘This is so important – good quality bras may cost you a little more, but excellent structure and support will only boost your confidence and self-esteem!’ she says, ‘We all deserve to look and feel our best in a well-supported bra, so in my opinion, buying less but better far outweighs buying more for less,’ Taryn adds. That’s right – the perfect bra collection doesn’t mean a drawer full of different styles… ‘The ideal collection actually doesn’t need to have more than five bras at a time. Once you discover your favorite style, you may want it in five different colours!’
4. Poky or painful wires are often an indication that you’re wearing the wrong cup size.
‘Many women complain about painful wires.’ Taryn says. ‘In most cases, this is because they’re wearing the wrong cup size and the wires are now poking or probing their delicate breast tissue,’ she elaborates. ‘It’s absolutely essential that you get your cup size correct to make sure that the wire of your bra is sitting flush and comfortably against your rib cage.’
5. There are certain moves you can do to make your bra fit better once you put it on
Once you have your perfectly fitted bra in hand, you need to know how to fit yourself into it properly. Taryn explains, ‘After putting your bra on, you need to adjust your breasts into the cups to make sure they’re in the right position, which is with your nipples in the centre.’ So how exactly do you do this? ‘The best way is to lean forward into your bra, fasten the hooks at the back then scoop your breast tissue up and away from the wire. It’s as simple as that!’
Source: Author- Candace May from Get It Magazine
I hope this article has inspired you to say goodbye to backpain, and hello to having the perfect fit. To book your appointment click below.
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