Author: Brooke Glassberg

Brooke is the editor of this here blog. In a previous life, she was an editor at Good Housekeeping and O, The Oprah Magazine. Brooke has written for Glamour, Travel+Leisure, New York Magazine and more. She’s into concerts, travel and her exceptionally adorable daughter and husband.

From 36DDD to 36G, Irene Wins in Wacoal

Post author By Brooke Glassberg
Post date December 30, 2018

Irene, 38, works out at The Max Challenge with Torrie Rathjen, and once she saw her workout buddy’s bra fit makeover, she had to have one.

Now that her three young sons are getting more independent, Irene can shift a bit of her focus to her own well-being. New Year’s resolutions have got nothing on her: Since Irene already works out five days a week, what she needed was new sports bras that were up to the challenge.

So was Bare Necessities Bra Fit Expert Kristyn, a certified personal trainer and a mom of three boys herself. She instantly got where Irene was coming from: more of a feel-good style makeover than a dramatic size overhaul. These two showed us how to end the year on a high note….

Pop Culture Power Figures

Author Rachel Bertsche Writes About What Women Want

Post author By Brooke Glassberg
Post date December 23, 2018

Rachel Bertsche’s calling card as a writer is throwing herself into uncomfortable situations to find the lesson so that we don’t have to. That’s what she does in The Experimentalist, her monthly Chicago magazine column, where recent exploits have included freezing off her fat cells and demolishing electronics in a “rage room.”

After relocating to the Midwest from New York, Rachel sent herself on 52 blind “friend dates” over the course of a year, trying everything from improv classes to rent-a-buddy services. That became the subject of her first book, MWF Seeking BFF: My Yearlong Search for a New Best Friend, which she followed up with Jennifer, Gwyneth & Me, channeling the likes of Jessica Alba’s pregnancies, Sarah Jessica Parker’s wardrobe and Gwyneth Paltrow’s goop-iness to see if she could live like a star on a mortal’s budget.

Her adventures have landed her a third book deal in the genre of very personal journalism: The Kids are in Bed, due out in 2020, looks at how parents can make better use of their scant spare time. We picked this Power Figure’s brain to find out what’s in her research for us.

Personal Style Pop Culture

How to Rock New Year’s Eve Shapewear

Post author By Brooke Glassberg
Post date December 17, 2018

Whether you’re going to a black tie party or a dive bar, if you’re leaving the house to ring in 2019, you’re going to want to start by layering on the shapewear. It’s the farthest thing from constricting anymore—on the contrary, its stretchiness makes curves look flawless while still allowing you to eat a slider. Or five.

We sat down with Bare Necessities shapewear expert Melissa McDonald to outfit-strategize. You’ve got the invites, we’ve got the style solutions. Here’s exactly what to wear under your ready-to-wear….

Behind the Seams Personal Style

Anatomy of a Perfect Bra

Bras are one of those things in life that prove you get what you pay for. Because when there are $17 bras and there are $170 bras, there are differences.

So what makes a splurge bra so special? Bare Necessities asked Jennifer Conselyea, an industry veteran and regional manager for Belgian-based Van de Velde, parent company of luxury bra labels Prima Donna (for curvier figures) and Marie Jo (for average figures).

“It’s the difference between ready-to-wear and couture,” Jennifer said. “Every body is not the same, even in the same size. Prima Donna, for example, is a more generous, higher-coverage 34D than a Marie Jo 34D.” Said differently, they’re tweaking the bras to fit real bodies so that it never has to be the other way around.

Another advantage of pricier bras: consistency. “With a better line, you’ll know what’s going to work for you next season; with a cheaper line, you can’t always assume that,” said Jennifer, who recommended starting with a Bare Necessities Bra Fit Expert to figure out what will work best on your body rather than guessing.

“If you haven’t had a great bra before, the willingness to spend isn’t always there. And I know people wish there was, but there is no universal bra. One bra can fit you right yet not look good under your shirt. This is why we all need a bra wardrobe,” Jennifer said.

Read on for her explanation of bra benefits….

Personal Style Pop Culture Relationships

Real-Deal Stocking Stuffers

Post author By Brooke Glassberg
Post date December 3, 2018

We’re all in on the holiday traditions right now, including (but not limited to) Christmas stockings and the goodies that gets stuffed into them. Those kinds of tiny, thoughtful tokens go a long way, because not everything has to be a lavish grand gesture, right? Sometimes, the little things mean the most.

It’s extra nice to extend that sentiment to the people who help keep your life on track: a coworker, the kids’ teachers, the babysitter, the dog walker, the front-desk staff that always gets you in for an appointment. So spare them another gift card, and give presents that will get some use.

This week, hot on the heels of National Sock Day, Bare Necessities hosiery buyer Kelly Morales is here to point out her favorite holiday “stockings.”

Personal Style Pop Culture

Pajama Party! We ❤ The Season’s Coziest Sleepwear

Post author By Brooke Glassberg
Post date November 26, 2018

Wintertime, and the hibernating is easy when you stick to Bare Necessities buyer Megan Irvine’s handpicked mix of pajamas, loungewear and the like. Her gift-worthy favorites are a surefire way for you and your near-and-dears to snuggle up in high style.

Ready, set, Cyber Monday!

Inner Beauty Pop Culture Power Figures Relationships

Author Virginia Sole-Smith Debunks Some of the Most Harmful Food Myths

Post author By Brooke Glassberg
Post date November 19, 2018

Virginia Sole-Smith wrote the just-released book The Eating Instinct: Food Culture, Body Image and Guilt in America and co-hosts the new podcast Comfort Food, about the joys and meltdowns of feeding a family. Trained as a magazine journalist, Virginia embedded with nutritionists, dietitians, critics, mothers, food obsessives and others to get at why our meals are so often served with a side order of guilt and self-loathing.

Her deep dive wasn’t inspired by idle curiosity. Virginia’s daughter Violet was born with a rare, dire congenital heart condition. She spent the first weeks of life spiraling into heart failure, too weak to nurse. Once the problem was discovered, Violet was subjected to countless emergency procedures, including open-heart surgery at five weeks old. Stemming from her trauma, Violet stopped eating and became dependent on a feeding tube. It took two years for her to learn to eat by mouth again.

Bare Necessities talked with Virginia about body image, hunger, the so-called “clean eating” trend, the specious connection between health, weight and nutrition, and modern diet culture. (Virginia is adamantly anti-diet.) Surprisingly, the takeaways couldn’t be more uplifting.

Tags Virginia Sole Smith

Personal Style Pop Culture Relationships

2018 Holiday Gift Guide: Who are You Shopping for?

Post author By Brooke Glassberg
Post date November 12, 2018

The holiday season goes hand-in-hand with cozy sleepwear and lingerie that invites snuggling to chase away chills. We just so happen to know a thing or two about those worlds here at Bare Necessities.

To make it easier to cross off a few items on your endless gift list, this year we’ve organized your life by recipient. From matching pajama sets for every family member to edgy teddies for you to wear behind closed doors, there’s something here to jingle everyone’s bells.

So tell us, who are you shopping for?

Tags holiday gift guide, holiday gift guide 2018

Having a B.R.A. Fit Health & Wellness Inner Beauty

From 32D to 30DDD, Lauren Russo Finds Her Best Bra Brand

Post author By Brooke Glassberg
Post date November 5, 2018

Lauren Russo, 36, is a mom of two, a teacher, a certified personal trainer who runs a baby boot camp class and, with her husband, a partner in a health and wellness business.

“I love being an advocate for others to feel their best,” Lauren said.

With the help of Bare Necessities Bra Fit Expert Kristyn, it was time to turn the tables. Lauren wasn’t getting the support she deserved from 32D T-shirt bras and sports bras from Victoria’s Secret and Target—mass retailers cater to the general population rather than specialize in designs for busty, petite women like her.

“I never even had a bra fitting until after my first son was born. I walked into Victoria’s Secret, and that was that. But those don’t cut it anymore,” said Lauren. “Aside from needing better-fitting bras, I hope I gain some knowledge what’s available out there, and some confidence.”

Given her day-to-day, she was hoping to find a superior sports bra (“I tend to wear them to teach, then linger in them”) and a good everyday bra with some lift. So that’s exactly what Kristyn found her.

Pop Culture

Planning for Thanksgiving: What to Wear & What Not to Forget

Post author By Brooke Glassberg
Post date October 29, 2018

Whether you’re driving to the next town over or flying across the country, Thanksgiving entails pretty much the same degree of travel planning as any vacation, and it means dressing strategically. That’s why we asked the Bare Necessities buying team for their recommendations for what to wear on every (turkey) leg of the big event so you can look cute and super comfy.

*Barefoot Dreams Luxe Milk Jersey Modal Set*

HEADING HOME
Athleisure is the name of the game when it comes to planes, trains and automobiles, and that goes double for one of the busiest, most maddening travel times of the year. Flying the day of is always the most affordable; if you get out early enough, you’ll arrive in time to say grace. This year, Tuesday and Wednesday are both predicted to be some of the worst times for heading out, transit-wise.

So no matter if you’re going to the airport or your own garage, leave yourself loads of extra time, pack your patience and, above all, wear something really comfortable, from your base layers (we’re partial to the Calvin Klein Modern Cotton padded bralette) to your whole outfit. You’ll be smugly pleased with yourself that you went with the unbelievably soft Barefoot Dreams collection.

Personal Style Pop Culture

Fall’s 15 Best Bras—and Shapewear

Post author By Brooke Glassberg
Post date October 22, 2018

Welcome to sweater weather! Though there’s less skin on display, what you’re wearing underneath your clothes matters. From T-shirt bras that sit smoothly under thin knits to shapewear that refines your figure for that party dress, these sleek foundations set you up for greater wardrobe satisfaction.

Much like these are the bras you need around in warmer temps, here’s everything you’ll want to have on-hand this fall-winter, according to the Bare Necessities in-house experts.

FALL MUST HAVE: A T-Shirt Bra

Why you need it now: “You need a good T-shirt bra for wearing under sweaters and for layering smoothly under a cami, a cardigan, or whatever you pile on top,” says premium buyer Heather Viskovic.

T-shirt bras we love:

1. Prima Donna Twist Tresor T-Shirt Bra: This smooth operator works in your figure’s favor every which way, from the uplifting underwire to the not-too-thick-not-too-thin contour cups, the supportive sides and no-slip straps.

2. Freya Idol Balcony T-Shirt Bra: For style as good as the support it provides, go with this Bra Fit Expert Pick. Pretty pinstriped, full-cut cups prevent show-through with a soft foam lining. Bold colors brighten up your day.

3. Natori Pure Luxe T-Shirt Bra: See all those five-star reviews? They’re because this bra lives up to its name. It’s comfortable to the point of decadence—no elastic ever so much as touches your skin—and seamlessly supportive at the same time.

Inner Beauty Personal Style

Top 3 Reasons We’re Loving (and Living in) Stepped-Up Sleepwear

Post author By Brooke Glassberg
Post date October 15, 2018

It’s pretty much scientifically proven: Sleep and loungewear are key not just to surviving but to thriving in the cold months. Plush, polished pieces designed to give you the warm fuzzies are all anybody wants to wear these days. They’re as much little luxuries for you as they are can’t-go-wrong holiday gifts for the ones you love.

“My favorite thing about our assortment is that there’s something for everyone. You’ll actually be able to find your personal style in sleepwear this winter,” says Bare Necessities buyer Megan Irvine, who built the mix this season around the three Cs: cozy, cool and comfy.