Trend-seekers by nature, Bare Necessities staffers are pretty go go go, always seeking out what’s new and noteworthy for fresh inspiration. This month alone, we’re headed for Greece, Israel, Ireland, Mexico, Miami and Chicago.
Bare it All checked in with a few of these intrepid travelers to put together a list of the essentials for a fab summer escape, whether by plane, train or automobile.
When it comes to bra shopping, we’re all Torrie Rathjen at some point.
We are weight fluctuations and trial and error and not knowing for sure if what we think is a good fit actually is a good fit. We are confused by US, UK and EU sizing. We are busy, lacking the leisure time to devote to coddling our chests.
Torrie, 38, The MAX Challenge marketing director, had to try on 30 bras and almost 20 bra-sized swimsuits before she found The Ones.
In the past five years, her body has been through it all: Torrie had twins and recently lost 40 pounds (she went down in dress size from a 14 to an 8) by ramping up her workout routine. Nothing fit her anymore, least of all her bras, and she really didn’t know where to start.
Bra Fit Expert Melissa, who’s lost a lot of weight herself, helped Torrie know for sure when they’d finally gotten it right.
If spring is the time for frantic between-season closet clean-outs, then summer is the time to wrestle what’s left into the space you’ve got. Because this is such an active time of year, you’re probably juggling a lot of different wardrobe categories—clothes, swimwear, intimates, activewear—on any given day and trying to get them all to peacefully coexist in what we’re guessing is never enough closet space.
That’s why we here at Bare Necessities asked professional organizer Amelia Meena of Appleshine Organization + Design in New York City (a place that isn’t exactly renowned for having expansive storage) for her expert advice on how to stash and store this season’s heavy-rotation delicates.
The Olga Secret Hug Scoop Hipster has a following so devoted, most celebrities would be envious. Hundreds upon hundreds leave our warehouse every day. This word-of-mouth favorite has been around for decades and remains more or less unchanged.
“Customers know it by style number,” says buyer Alyssa Barnard. “This panty runs deep, okay? I couldn’t believe it, even when I first became a merchant in this area. This is by far THE panty, our #1. It’s legendary.”
For a time, Olga discontinued it—and they heard about it from fans. This past fall, by placing an order for “a boatload of panties,” Bare Necessities was able to bring them back. The Olga Secret Hug Scoop Hipster continues to be our exclusive, and it continues to fly off the warehouse shelves. We carry the entire size range (S/5 to 2XL/9) in classic neutrals, the just-reintroduced navy and lace dot print, and the newest hue, sand.
What’s amazing about its ascendency is that, for all intents and purposes, we’re talking about “a granny panty,” in the best way possible: It’s generously cut in the seat and the wide, lacy elastic waist gently supports a tummy.
“Women also love it during pregnancy because it’s stretchy yet soft; it doesn’t dig in anywhere,” Alyssa says. She thinks this unassuming style is repeatedly referred to in near-perfect reviews as the “best panties ever” because they’re feminine, flattering, exceedingly comfortable, true to size and affordable (three for $27), yet very silky and luxe-feeling.
We had five staffers road test the Olga913, as it’s known around here, to find out firsthand what makes them so against-all-odds outstanding, and the common thread was this: You don’t even know they’re on.
We’ll be the first to admit it: There are a lot of bras out there, and finding the ideal ones for you can be…how to put this…challenging.
We here at Bare Necessities have cracked the code that turns bra shopping from drag to delight. Enter our expert Bra Finder, a bra size and fit quiz we developed using both the data we’ve accumulated and the know-how we’ve honed in 20 years in the business.
We get that the best bra goes beyond a number and a letter; it’s the one that makes you feel unstoppable. Because we know the perfect fit is about more than proper support; it comes down to confidence. Here’s how it works….
Winter is a great excuse for snuggling and all, but ratcheting up the thermostat to 85 degrees just isn’t the same as when the mercury gets there on its own. The sun, a little breeze on your warm skin—it makes a world of difference, mentally and physically. It’s a feeling you want to consume and carry through the rest of the year. We’re here for it at Bare Necessities.
In fact, we’re wearing it right now in the form of sexy swimwear and lingerie, because you’ve got to turn up for the life you want. C’mon in and find what makes you feel most alive.
Summer—make that life—is too damn short to do otherwise.
As with a lot of things in life—shoes, workout routines, coffee flavors—you want certain bras in certain seasons. Now’s the time when strapless bras, racerback bras, bralettes and sports bras reign.
We asked our resident bra expert, Bare Necessities merchandise manager Heather Garcia, for her favorite summertime picks of each style of bra so you can put on the best, get outside and enjoy every minute of what feels like the shortest season.
SUMMER STAPLE: A Strapless Bra
Why you need it now: “Shoulder-baring fashion is everywhere, and it requires the right bra to be able to pull off the look,” says Heather. Our team of buyers constantly scours the market to put together the widest possible size range of strapless bras that actually stay up, so whether you’re going to a cookout or a cotillion, you can count on feeling put-together and supported. The two most important tell-tale signs that your strapless makes the cut: The gore should be tacking flat against your chest between the breasts, and the bra should feel comfortable right from the start. Otherwise, you’re not going to wear it, no matter how well it fits.
Strapless bras we love:
1. Wacoal Red Carpet Strapless Bra (at left): You can bet your bra straps on this all-star for C-cups and up. When someone asks us for a strapless suggestion, this is where we start.
2. Curvy Kate Luxe Strapless Bra: Full chests don’t faze this bra, which lifts, locks and loads, up to J-cup.
3. The Little Bra Company Sascha Strapless Bra: Smaller sizes get versatility and volume in one smooth, petite package.
Stepped-up sleepwear is a smart gift idea because it’s one of those things Mom loves but probably doesn’t treat herself to very often. So between our expert Bare Necessities buyers and Bra Fit Experts, we’ve put together the ultimate mother-approved sleepwear cheat sheet. All you have to do is skim and click and, presto, you’re Mom’s favorite.
Here’s the thing: You have to order by today if you want to get it in time for Mother’s Day on Sunday, May 13th. (Stepping up to preferred shipping buys you a few days and lets you cut the line for a nominal fee.)
Read on for our top 10 gift picks that are all about comfort and heart. If you need even more fast, fab ideas for a very particular mama, call 877-728-9272 x4 or chat via barenecessities.com with a Bra Fit Expert before time’s no longer on your side.
And if all else fails, send an e-gift certificate and remember to tell Ma how much you love her in the message.
Those comfy thongs with a cult following, Hanky Panky panties were first made by Gale Epstein and Lida Orzeck using repurposed embroidered handkerchiefs (so that explains the name). Safe to say that eco-friendliness has been a priority since Day One. Hanky Panky shares its sustainability policy loud and proud, stressing made-in-the-USA carbon savings, low-impact dyes and fibers (expect 100 percent organic cotton by 2025) and recycling of textile waste, packaging and shipping materials. #impressive
“As we all become more dependent on synthetic textiles that don’t biodegrade, we’re also more aware that we must be better stewards of our planet. Most used garments can be handed down, repurposed or donated, but intimate apparel—specifically panties and bras—cannot,” Gale told Bare it All.
For the best support, industry experts, including our Bare Necessities Bra Fit Experts, recommend replacing your heavy-rotation bras about every six months. What’s a girl gotta do to keep pieces that have lived out their useful lives from ending up in the trash heap?
This month, in time for Earth Day, they’re taking things a step beyond…by bringing you into the fold.
Lingeriecycle™, Hanky Panky’s new sustainability initiative, helps divert worn-out, no-longer wearable items from clogging up landfills, where more than 10 million tons of clothes wind up every year. Hanky Panky is even covering the processing costs for customers in exchange for taking greater ownership over the eco impact of its garments.
“It is the right thing to do for the planet. We hope that in the future, all brands and retailers will take responsibility for the entire lifecycle of the items they sell, and we are proud to lead the way for the lingerie industry to transition into a sustainable future,” says the mission statement. “In keeping with Hanky Panky’s 40-year commitment to sustainability, the brand has partnered with a textile waste management organization, B.R.A.Recycling Agency, to make it easy for customers to mail in their old, worn-out bras and panties, which will be shredded and remade into carpet padding.”
Through Lingeriecycle, Hanky Panky will provide single-use envelopes free of charge, which customers can fill with panties and bras of any brand. Add postage and drop into the mail to the recycling center address pre-printed on the envelope.
Look good, feel good, do good.
Everyone’s proclaiming the era of democratic fashion these days, calling for clothing lines that cater to every size.
But when Racked took a closer look, reality fell way short of expectation. While the average American woman is a size 16 or 18, Racked found fashion lines max out at a size 20, and bra brands like True & Co. extend only so far as a 38DD, a “combination easy to find at…any department store lingerie section.”
“Companies are always asking women over a certain size to wait just a little longer, apologize just a little more about the scale of difficulty their very common bodies represent, and be just a little more grateful that anyone is getting around to them at all,” wrote Amanda Mull in the article, “Why Aren’t Fashion ‘Disruptors’ Serving Plus-Size Customers?”
At Bare Necessities, we’ve seen firsthand how wearing the right size—starting with that very key base layer otherwise known as your bra—makes all the difference in the world in how your clothes fit and how you feel. That’s why, unlike the bra brands popping up in your newsfeed or on TV, we really do serve every body. The range of bras we carry (band sizes 28 to 58 and cup sizes AA to O) is, simply stated, unrivaled.
Here are the top brands that, taken together, deliver real support and style in every size.
We’ve all heard the statistic: Seven out of ten women are wearing the wrong bra size. Here’s the catch: That miseducation starts in our teens.
Bare Necessities and BRABAR are out to break the cycle.
Launched in 2017, BRABAR was designed to educate the girls of Generation Z on fit, beginning with that very first bra. Then, eventually, the brand instructs her in how to measure so when she becomes a woman, she feels empowered to get it right on her own.
“These seventh graders walk straight into Victoria’s Secret Pink and pick up a 32AA when they’re really 26 inches around,” said BRABAR founder Wendy Herman. “Right at this critical point in their development, they’re bombarded with this overly sexualized messaging. In school, they raise their hands, and the bra band rides right up over their chests. It gets exponentially worse from there.”
With a teenage daughter of her own and a lingerie biz background, Wendy gets it personally and professionally.
Welcome back to swim season.
Maybe things are starting to thaw where you are; maybe you’re even replenishing your vitamin D levels someplace sunny.
Fresh off our look at the top picks of bra-sized, plus-size and shaping swimwear newness, Bare Necessities is now adding a select handful of fab new swimwear brands with massive crossover appeal and a major emphasis on contemporary fashion.
“We want to be the swimwear destination for customers of every size who expect quality and support in the season’s latest trends,” says swim buyer Megan Puma, who curated the assortment headed your way.
Here are some of the top swimwear trends for 2018: