Boobquake might have been a bust, but cleavage didn’t lose any power to attract or distract attention. In an age of fashionable plunging necklines, though, it can be a challenge for women to exercise control over such mammary influence. The Boob Lady is happy to report on a plethora of products that offer both secure and complete coverage.

The Winkee ($17-$20, one size fits all) is a thong-shaped piece of fabric that comes in a variety of styles and easily attaches to your bra. You might also like Chickies ($37, sizes 28A-42F), a cute and colorful bandeau that transforms any too low top into one with greater coverage. Both items are packaged in smart little purse and pocket-friendly bags.

If you’re looking for greater versatility, check out the Camiband ($19.99-$26.99, XS-XL), pictured above. Creator Holly Xerri first designed the stylish strip of stretch lace to obscure “muffin-top,” but users quickly found it doubled as a pretty bust cover. If you’re shy about showing your bum at the beach, it also serves as an adorable bottom wrap. Camibands keep you covered from bust to booty.

No matter your shape or size, every woman can access beautiful and affordable Boobquake insurance. Make it your choice.

Need some support? Enter to win an autographed copy of bOObs: A Guide to Your Girls at The Luxury Spot. Guaranteed to perk up your “girls” or those of someone you love. Don’t delay, as the bOObs giveaway ends Friday, September 4th!

Summer is in full swing, but you might not be heading to the pool or beach because last year’s suit looks a little tired or tattered. Before you go to the store, keep in mind that – unlike bras — bathing suits are not just about our boobs: they expose the entire package. Regardless of body type, most women dislike shopping for swimwear. (Studies show that the act of trying on a swimsuit makes women more anxious and depressed and reduces their score on math tests. You are definitely not alone if you dread the experience.)

Here are some tips for getting the most out of any purchase:

• The earlier in the season, the more choice in styles and sizes. If you’re getting a late start, don’t freak if you can’t find the perfect fit. You may just have to shop around.
• Check the calendar to ensure you’re nowhere near your monthly menstrual cycle. (No use aggravating any potential PMS symptoms with shopping frustrations.) Also avoid any shopping outing after you’ve eaten a big meal.
• Enlist the help of trusted and similarly built breast friends. There’s nothing worse than having all those suits you don’t dare try on look impossibly perfect on another person’s pair (or rear).
• Choose flattering styles for your body type. If your breasts are the favorite part of your anatomy, play them up. If you have wonderfully long legs, work to highlight your great gams. Got a teensy waist? Show it off! It’s not all about the boobs when it comes to feeling comfortable in the scant amount of coverage provided by today’s fashionable swimwear.
• Avoid swimsuit catalogs filled with page after page of perfectly coifed, cloned body types. If it’s too late, and you’ve already overexposed your powerful female psyche to such unrealistic images (remember: even the models don’t look like their retouched photos), give yourself an immediate reality check. Go to the nearest swimming pool or beach and observe some real people without “perfect” physiques. It may even inspire you to temporarily put off your shopping expedition and just put on last year’s suit so you can get busy having fun in the sun.

P.S. Please don’t forget the sunscreen. It’s more critical in keeping “the girls” looking their best than any stylish bikini!

All boobs are unique in size, shape, and volume. Yet women must dress their breasts in less than a custom fit. Standard bra cups, under wires, and sizing can’t take into account the various ways our mammaries morph. Most women are forced to buy off-the-rack for their original “racks.” Pattern maker and clothing designer Don McCunn has a solution for crafty gals seeking the perfect breast supporter. McCunn has written an eBook and teaches an on-line class in how to make custom-fit bras. Given the price of most manufactured bras (anywhere from $25 to $150), his approach is a real bargain. The class is $50; eBook is $25, materials run $12, and McCunn’s Yahoo support group is free. Happy and comfortable boobs: priceless. (Don’t delay, though, as his bra making class is offered only once a year, and the next one begins May 11th.)

On March 9, 2009, the most adored and vilified plastic doll in the world turned the big 5-0. Ever the style conscious fashion queen, Barbie’s legacy now spans five decades. Many have criticized the molded model as the reason why some women compare and objectify their physical selves, especially their own breasts (unlike Barbie, we sport nipples). Ironically, while Barbie’s popularity among young girls has not waned, she’s also known as the most mutilated of playthings. If you fondly recall cutting off your Barbie’s hair or defiling her in some way, you may appreciate artist Margaux Lange’s jewelry creations. Lange skillfully dissects these dolls with an X-Acto knife and repurposes them in sterling silver rings, bracelets, and earrings. The above necklace is one of her original creations and is proudly worn by the Boob Lady. How appropriate that Barbie’s boobs are wrapped in heart-shaped symbols of love. May all women embrace their bosoms in the same fashion!

Working the room at the fabulous Zovo Lingerie event, the Boob Lady encountered a party-goer with a pesky problem: how to keep  her “nipples of steel” from protruding profusely through her undergarments.  The gal in question was fed up with keeping  ”the girls”  confined to thick, molded cup bras in order to keep her nips neutralized. (While there is nothing more beautiful and alluring than the female nipple, some women are uncomfortable with theirs at 24/7 attention.) The Boob Lady’s solution? The amazingly practical  Nippies Natural. Made of ultra-thin silicone, they come in two colors (beige and brown) and two styles (adhesive for strapless gowns, and non-adhesive for extra coverage under thin bras or clothing). Now armed with proper girl gear, the satisfied customer left Zovo with two new beautiful, soft and sexy bras — and a personalized copy of my book!  Boob mission accomplished.

Like

Unlike

Join me at Zovo Lingerie this Thursday, March 12th, 6:oo-9:oo pm, for bOOb Talk with the bOOb Lady. Enjoy chocolates and delicious discounts on fabulous Kai beauty products. Get a free fitting from the best chest experts in town. Here’s your chance to talk all things breastacular, or purchase a personalized copy of my bOObs. Guys and gals are welcome to browse, shop or chat up “the girls!”

Many larger breasted women find it difficult to wear tailored tops, since most are manufactured for the proportionately smaller boob owner. Their choices are limited: buy a bigger size which fits poorly everywhere else, or put up with overstretched fabric straining to cover a well-endowed chest. Enter Carissa Brown, founder of Bratique Helene, a company with several answers to this frustrating fashion dilemma. Bratique’s shirt sizing system is based on a bust to waist ratio (28-40 ribcage with a 34DD+ cup). Their innovative hook and eye closure system eliminates any chance of unsightly gaps. Recently reviewed by You Look Fab, styles can go from the boardroom to flattering a fav pair of jeans. Thank you, Bratique Helene, for providing a smart solution to a top heavy problem!

Like

Unlike

Want to instantly improve your figure? Exercise and diet are important, but wearing the right bra will also change your appearance, and make your girls appear more perky and fit. If you haven’t had your boobs fitted in the past year, make it a New Year priority. Even when properly cared for (read: hand wash in delicate soap and hang dry), bras lose their elasticity and shape over time. Our much loved and well-worn favorite bras can wear out in less than a year! If your foundations look a bit tired, it may be time to give your lingerie drawer a lift. Here are some tips to boost your breast assets:

Choose an experienced bra fitter. You want someone who has seen a bazillion boobs and is familiar with many manufacturers. Bras are like women’s breasts: they, too, come in a variety of shapes ad sizes. One style may not fit your girls as well as another. Consulting an expert in this area will save you time, money, and a bra load of frustration. The Boob Lady recommends visiting a boutique lingerie shop with a variety of designers or a large department store with lots of choices. Visit the Bras and Beyond page of my website for a list of manufacturers and retailers.

Give your girls the gift of time. You may have to try on a dozen or more bras to find one that’s just right. Remember: no two breasts are alike, even on the same woman. Since custom-made bras aren’t readily available or affordable, you’ll have to buy “off the rack” for your rack. Your twins are not the problem; it’s the challenge of engineering support for a multitude of distinctly endowed women.

Embrace your true size. Don’t be shocked if your fitter places you in unfamiliar bra size territory. Any number of factors – such as weight gain or loss, going on and off the pill, aging — can morph your mammary flesh. Ignore the ABC’s (or DEF’s). What’s more important is how it feels and looks under your clothes. If so, buy a minimum of three different colors to replenish your bra inventory. That way you’ll always have one to wear, one to “air” (to rest and recover its shape after two-days wear), and one to spare.

Complete Your New Look. You match up shoes to your outfit, so why not panties and bras? Even in the black, white and beige basics, there are plenty of pretty thongs, boy-shorts and other styles from which to choose. Complete your wardrobe by stocking up on three pairs of panties for every bra purchase. No matter what you’re wearing, you’ll always feel like a goddess underneath!

Like

Unlike