Do Your Bras Die Young?

I always thought bras were supposed to last you at least a year. According to the Lady Grace website (famed experts in the science of bra fitting) they're only built to last 3-6 months. Um... three sounds like you're either wearing them in heavy combat or your cans are each the size of a small child. Judging by the condition of some of my best-loved bras I'd say six-ish is more like it.

Want to keep your bras alive longer? 3 tips:

1.) Don't wear the same bra more than 2x in a row.

2.) Hand wash your bras. If you're lazy like me, make sure you hook them and use the cold gentle cycle and a lingerie bag when you machine wash.

3.) Make sure the bra FITS in the first place. Not sure? Measure around your body right under your boobs, then measure again over the fullest part of your boobs. Subtract "underboob" from "overboob" - each inch you wind up with counts as a cup size. The underboob measurement is your band size. And no excuses, you can buy a measuring tape for $2.

My favorite bra (pictured above) for both shape (literally no lumpiness) and comfort is the Maidenform Sleek Fit Moulded Demi Bra - available in black, white, beige or brown and on sale for $15 at Amazon.com. The old standby for normally overpriced bras (VS) is having their winter Semi-Annual sale right now too - some of their bras are pretty decent. I'm curious - what's your favorite bra?

Rodarte Target Collection Pics!

The official press kit for the Rodarte for Target collection (due Dec. 20th) is not yet up on Target.com, but unofficial preview pics have been leaking since early August, when the above snap was taken on the sly by a Paper magazine reporter.

From what I see so far, it's vintage budoir with a side of grandma's attic. Any female who came of age in the early 90's knows that good old fashioned GRUNGE is the intersection of those sartorial avenues! Maybe it's nostalgia (I finally got rid of my huge "kinderwhore" vintage leopard coat from a 1994 the other day... maybe just in time for a new one?) but I'm loving these looks. Top of my list is the yellow version of the bow-shoulder slip dress. The line will run you from $9.99 for the knee high stockings on up to $79.99 for the catty coat.

P.S. - As for the up-to-your-tits tights with the bow... the only way I can imagine rocking those is layered over leggings or opaque tights and worn as pants. Under a dress that bow would appear to be the most fucked up outie belly button ever seen.

Where Do You Get Your Panties?

Where do you buy your panties?
	Victoria's Secret
	Department Store
	other mall store (Aerie, HM)
	Target
	Other

I have a serious panty purchasing compulsion. I have like 90 pair - some with the tags still on - and yes, I throw out my old ones with regularity. I get mine pretty much everywhere: Marshall's/T.J. Maxx, Forever 21, Macy's, Aerie, and of course Victoria's Secret. My favorites used to be the VS cotton low-rise bikini, but the did away with the cut and introduced a new VS cotton bikini that was supposed to be a lower-rise version of the regular bikini. I got a coupon for a free pair the other day so I grabbed one to try them out. Holy Baywatch Bathing Suit. How anyone can wear these with a low rise pair of pants is beyond me, they're cut up to your tits with a hi-leg opening and suited for the longest ass in human history. Horror. Where should I turn to find great panties now? Help.

Sonia Rykiel for H&M

H&M Divided Exclusive Collection
[Images via H&M Magazine Autumn 2009]

I have to give H&M props for their stellar stock this season (Autumn/Winter '09). It's a massive wash of black and sequin with splashes of deep berry, emerald green and burnt gold, ravaged denim and exaggerated shoulders. I want so many things I'm finding myself eBaying for items just to be sure I can afford it all.

More H&M Divided Exclusive collection
[Images obviously via Nitrolicious.com]

To ice the cake just a little bit thicker, December 5th brings an exclusive collection of knitwear, accessories and lingerie from French fashion legend Sonia Rykiel. There is nothing on the H&M website but a wordy press release and a portrait of Sonia, and google search for leaked images only produced this:

If the Sesame Street inspired sweater/scarf on the right is in the collection, call me Big Bird cause I'm totally rocking that shit.

Keen on Peaches

Maybe it's just cause she's British and somehow even trashy Brits seem less trashy than American ones (it's gotta be the accent?) but I kind of love Peaches Geldof. She has a great, eerie face and impeccable rock-spawn style, but above all she looks like she consumes more than 10 cigarettes and a vial of powder for lunch - which is a fucking FEAT for a girl running in her rich-idiot circle. Sure, this probably only means she's into downers instead, but body-wise her impending death seems far less obvious, and therefore I can't logically blame her for the 14 year old barfing in the stall next to me.

Not only does she have a somewhat healthy appearance, but she's getting paid for it. Check her out as the Miss Ultimo spokesperson. FYI if you see anything you like, this cute lingere shop is UK-based but does ship to the U.S. for some hefty postage (close to $25.) And if you have megaboobs, their sizes go up to a G-cup (holy shit.)

Boobs McGee Starts Selling Bras

Next spring the Jessica Simpson brand is expanding beyond shoes (great designs - though they run big by about 1/2 size), apparel and accessories and launching a line of bras and panties.
Not a bad move for a girl known for her boobs!
Her brand is expected to top $300 million in sales this year.
Meanwhile Nick Lachey is... doing... something? Bwwaahaha.