Problem page

Welcome to Aphrodisia's Lingerie Problem Page!

If you have any lingerie-related problems, please email us by clicking here and we will email you your answer. If you do not wish us to post the question and answer here - under your initials, not your name - please let us know and we will of course respect your total privacy.

(Please note these letters have been abridged to save space.)

FLAT CHESTED ON THE BEACH

Dear Aphrodisia,

I wear gel filled bras so no one knows how flat-chested I am. I'm going on holiday with a group of friends, and wonder if it's ok to wear my silicone shapers in my bikini in the sea or whether the salt or chlorine will damage them. FM

Dear FM,

Theoretically you can wear silicone shapers in any underwired bra top. But I wouldn't recommend wearing them with a bikini or bathing costume - they might deteriorate, as you suspect. The recommendation is that you wash 'chicken fillets' very gently.

The solution is to opt for a gel-filled bikini top like the lovely hot tropical print one pictured to the right. (Panache also do a plain black gel bikini, and a white dot on black or pink one).

WHAT SIZE AM I?

Dear Aphrodisia,

It would be convenient for me to order lingerie online, but how do I know what size to go for? SB

Dear SB,

Ideally you would go for a professional fitting such as the one we offer free of charge in our shop, but I do understand that because of your remote location this isn't going to be possible. So let's do an online bra fitting!

If you have a tape measure, grab it now! If not, we can still do an impressively accurate bra fitting for you online.

Here are the instructions:

1. Copy and paste this section of our problem page into Word. That will allow you to fill in the answers, then you can email it to us as an attachment, or if you prefer, copy and paste your completed questionnaire into your email to us.

2. Put on your existing, best-fitting, non-padded, underwired bra and stand in front of the mirror, then answer the following questions with as much information as possible.

a. What size (i.e. 38B) is the bra you are now wearing?

b. Does it sit flat in the centre? Or does the middle - or bridge - stand proud of your body? If it does, this is a sign the cup size is too small.

c. Does the underwire trace the underside of your bust? (The underwire should correspond precisely to the semi-circle of the underside of your bust.) Is it digging in at the sides of your body? If you are not sure, lean forward slightly then pull the outside of the underwire (i.e. the bit at the side of your body) away from your body. That way it's easier to see where the underwire is sitting on you and whether it's digging in or proud. If it's digging in, the cup size is too small.

d. Reaching behind yourself, pull the bra away from your back. How far out can you comfortably stretch it? You should not be able to stretch it out more than 2-3 inches. If you can, then this is a sign your band size i.e. 38, is too large.

e. Take the tape measure, if you have one, and pull it around your ribcage, just under your bust, as tightly as you can. Please give us the measurement. This way we will be able to calculate your band size, i.e. 38.

That's it! Wasn't too painful, was it?

We will get back to you with your correct bra size shortly!

UNDERWIRE PHOBIA

Dear Aphrodisia,

I hate underwired bras. They are really painful. GH

Dear GH

You MUST throw those bras away immediately. It is not normal for underwire to be painful. Pain with underwiring can cause abcesses and lead to other medical conditions.

The following reasons might explain your predicament:

• You are in the wrong size bra (please see the question above), either because you don't know your correct bra size, or because you are pregnant or a teenage girl and your bust is growing faster than you know.
• You have had surgery and your bust is very sensitive.

We would recommend you immediately switch to a soft, non-underwired bra and make sure you are fitted by a fully trained bra fitting specialist (not just a salesperson with a tape measure) before buying another underwired bra.

PLUS SIZE BRIDAL LINGERIE

Dear Aphrodisia

I have been looking everywhere for a pretty, strapless bra that gives support and push up for my wedding dress. I'm a large back and bust size. PG

Dear PG,

This is a frequent request. The problem for brides is that they want functional lingerie, i.e. to provide support and/or push up, but also something visually pleasing. It isn't easy to find a solution, particularly in the larger sizes where uplift and support are essential. I attended a wedding recently and couldn't help noticing the bride kept 'hoiking' herself! Not what you want to be doing at your wedding with all your friends snapping away with their cameras!

The compromise is to go for a functional bra that creates a perfect silhouette for the dress, and then buy some dreamy lingerie for the honeymoon. After all, when you think about it, you will both be exhausted on the wedding night, so most of the action will take place during the honeymoon!

Panache do some wonderful strapless ivory bras in 30D - 38G cup.

A great alternative to strapless bras for ladies with larger busts is a vertically boned bustier or corset - called a 'princess' corset. We have a lovely antique white Shirley of Hollywood corset, which is available up to dress size 50. The beauty is that it doesn't matter what size your bust is as there is no underwire.

NEW ON THE SINGLES SCENE

Dear Aphrodisia,

Having been happily - or so I thought - married for years I now find myself single and on the dating scene again. My confidence is very low. I have met someone I like and don't want to get it wrong with my lingerie. What do you advise? TH

Dear TH

You have my sympathies, and the most important thing is to find lingerie that you feel totally comfortable in. No point in buying an in-your-face red bustier if it's going to intimidate you and make you feel like an imposter!

The answer depends, of course, on your size and your budget, but if you can afford it, why not have a browse through our Designer lingerie section? There are some lovely silk and lace bra sets guaranteed to make you feel your most alluring.

Alternatively, Splendour do some very pretty, special lingerie at competitive prices.