Month: March 2021

The push in recent years for more inclusive flesh-toned palettes is getting to a good place—even if it’s long overdue. From ballet slippers to Band-Aids, product designers have awoken to the fact that there’s more than one “nude.”

Now nude bras are never not important, but these neutrals become even more necessary in spring, when the layers come off and the clothes lighten up. They can make getting dressed as easy as a spring breeze.

“We have been passionate about inclusivity from the very beginning, and we’re not just talking about bra sizes and body shapes, we’re talking about body-shades, too,” the brand Freya shared with us in a statement. “We feel every woman should be able to find herself in our lingerie.”

Bare Necessities pulled together six of our most popular nude and neutral bras in the widest range of skin tones because once you find your perfectly true-to-you base layers you can do you: seamlessly, flawlessly, and confidently. Read on to discover the best neutral and nude bras for 2021.

Prima Donna Every Woman Collection (EU-sized bands 30-44, cups E-H)
As the name suggests, the Every Woman collection aims to offer more choices for finding the right nude shades for fuller-busted women. Choose from Ebony, Ginger, Light Tan or Pink Blush in both styles: The unlined, underwire Prima Donna Every Woman Seamless Bra feels and looks like a second skin (with a hint of shimmer for good measure);  the Prima Donna Every Woman Spacer T-Shirt Bra does more shaping with lightweight honeycomb-like, spacer-fabric cups.

Natori Feathers Plunge Bra (Bands 30-38, cups A-G)
Besides a bevy of gorgeous, fun colors, this beloved light-as-air T-shirt bra comes through in the size and complexion departments. Between Antique Pearl, Café, Cameo Rose, Cameo Woodrose, Cinnamon, Glow and Frosé, you can easily find a neutral hue that suits you and a bra you know you’re going to love.

Goddess Keira Satin Side Support Bra (Bands 34-46, cups DD-O)
Full busts and full figures should check out Keira, with her incomparable size range, unanimously positive reviews and feel-good price tag. Apart from the jewel-tone satins, you’ll also find beautiful neutrals like Chocolate, Cinnamon, Fawn and Nude. In the form of a full-coverage underwire bra with a five-part-cup.

Fantasie Fusion Side Support Bra (UK-sized bands 30-40, cups DD-HH)  
This best-selling bra recently expanded its neutral color profile beyond Sand to include Cinnamon and Coffee Roast. Its four-part, double-layer cups shape and support, bringing your chest front-and-center and, in semi-sheer microfiber, making it look effortless.

Freya Idol Balcony T-Shirt Bra (UK-sized bands 28-38, cups DD-HH)
Keep an eye out for more options in this top bra, a smooth T-shirt-friendly style. In Nude now, in short order it will also be available in other neutrals like Cinnamon and Coffee Roast (just like Fantasie Fusion, if you want to see what’s coming your way).

The post The Best Neutral & Nude Bras for Every Skin Tone appeared first on Bare it All.

Today’s the day we’re all a little snippy and out of it from dealing with losing an hour of sleep: You can thank Daylight Savings Time for starting up again. (Admittedly a worthy trade-off, we would still argue, for the return of long, sunny days.)

So to save you some aggravation, and maybe even a few Zzzs, Bare Necessities rounded up six of the top tactics experts suggest to try to get through this groggy Monday-iest of Mondays. We’re taking our own advice around here, too. If nothing else, we can slog through it together and get on with spring.

Honeydew Intimates Pajama Set

GO TO BED EARLIER.
It makes sense on paper that if an hour of your night evaporates into thin air, you’d want to try to make up for it by banking a few extra minutes when you can. Of course, there’s the rub: Who has spare time, even these days? The good news, though, is that even 15 minutes can make a big difference when it comes to your sleep-regulating Circadian rhythms.

“Daylight Savings is a joke when you have small children. Their body has its own clock and somehow both springing forward and falling back become obsolete. My kids wake up early on the days you want them to sleep in, and they sleep in, well, never. So losing this hour of sleep doesn’t faze me too much; we just all try to get to bed a little early all week long. I bought these Honeydew Intimates leopard pajamas to keep me cozy at night…even if it’s for an hour less than usual.” —Heather Viskovic, premium brands buyer

WAKE UP AT THE SAME TIME.
Sleep experts say this is key all year round—even more so than going to bed at a consistent hour. Avoid the temptation to take a nap, which can make it even harder to adjust to the new program.

“I’m already an early riser and a morning person. If I work out on a weekday morning, I wake up at 6 AM. If I don’t work out, or it’s a weekend, I make it 7 AM. While I do use an alarm clock, it’s rare for it to actually wake me. I don’t go to bed late, so it comes easy to me to naturally wake up with the sun. I like springing ahead because it feels like I’m sleeping in!” —Jeanette Cafaro, product merchandising coordinator

Birdsong Eva Full Cup T-Shirt Bra

MAKE THE LONGER DAYS WORK FOR YOU.
The point of Daylight Savings Time is that it’s bright out later into the day, so you should bank as much Vitamin D as you can. Keep the windows and the blinds open from when you wake up until it grows dark or, better yet, get out there.

“I’ve finally resigned myself to the fact that I need to get outside for my mental and physical health. Now that it’s nice out, I have no more excuses. My plan is to go on long walks after work with my dog, Gracie. If we go for a jog, I’m lost without the Panache Ultimate High Impact Underwire Sports Bra. For a quick walk and general everyday wear, I’m in the Birdsong Eva Full Cup T-Shirt Bra. Spring forward, let’s get to it!” —Moira Nelson, director of design and product development 

TAKE THE STING OUT OF SCREENTIME.
We all know by now how stimulating and addictive all those tiny screens can be; before you even realize it, you’ve been doomscrolling for an hour when you should have been winding down. Charge your phone or tablet at least an hour before bed, in another room (out of sight, out of mind). While you are online, blue-light glasses can help your case; a 2017 study showed that people who used them produced more sleep-inducing melatonin at bedtime.

“My job requires a lot of website programming, which is to say staring intently at two giant computer monitors eight hours a day.  Soon I noticed I was having trouble focusing on small characters on screen. My ophthalmologist suggested I try blue light-blocking glasses to help prevent fatigue and protect my eyes from the waves emitted from all of our devices. I found they really did help. Before long, I was wearing them for work and when I was just playing around on my phone. Wearing the glasses, especially in the evening, helped relieve some tension, and I noticed I was falling asleep with less effort. They’re cute and affordable, too: I have four different pairs I rotate almost all day long.” —Melissa Costello, e-commerce coordinator

Kate Spade New York Pajamas

EAT AND DRINK WISELY.
Help out your confused body this week by fueling it strategically: Cut the caffeine and alcohol as early in the day as you can, and sidestep spicy, fatty foods and late-night snacking.

“I’ve been really cognizant of this since a bout with insomnia a few years ago, so I’ll be extra careful when Daylight Savings further conspires against me. My second cup of coffee usually goes down around 2 PM, so I’ll make it more like 1 o’clock to compensate, and I don’t nurse my glass of red wine later than dinnertime anymore. Having a child, we eat a lot earlier than we used to, so if I can fend off my sour-cream-and-onion-flavored-kryptonite while on the couch, I know I’ll be all metabolized and primed to sleep in my supremely soft and snuggly Kate Spade jammies and Barefoot Dreams cardigan before it gets into the wee hours.” —Brooke Glassberg, editor 

Natori Gravity High Impact Sports Bra

GET SOME EXERCISE.
As long as it’s not right before bed (give yourself a good two-hour buffer), a serious sweat session will somehow magically both energize your days and prime you to sleep like a stone at night.

“After seeing my sister get a Peloton, then my mom, I traded in my ‘Pretendaton’ stationary bike. At first, I took beginner rides with all of the instructors to see which ones I vibed with. Jess King is my favorite: She’s fun, motivating and kicks your ass with a smile. I’m already working up to my 100^th ride. I’m not one to join in on something because everyone else is doing it, but I get why people are obsessed with Peloton. It’s so motivating and inspiring. You can let it all go in the comfort of your own place; sometimes I work out in only my Natori Gravity and leggings. Plus, the app offers yoga, Pilates and so many other off-bike workouts. You can get in the best shape of your life—at least, that’s my 2021 plan.” —Kat Stafford, email marketing coordinator

The post How to Beat Daylight Savings Time appeared first on Bare it All.

Megan is ready to swap sweaters for swimwear

Believe it or not, swim season is once again upon us. Of course, for many of us, shopping for swimwear has been a beyond stressful experience in the past. Fret no longer. Our resident swim expert, buyer Megan Puma, is here to help.

We caught up with Megan to find out what’s new in the world of swimsuits and, most importantly, how you can look and feel your best in a bathing suit. She’s sharing her top five secrets for a successful swim season.

1. Make sure your swimwear is up to par…even if you’re not going anywhere.

“It’s so important to keep updating your swimwear as you would any other part of your wardrobe,” Megan says. “Swimwear constantly gets worn down, even when it’s sitting in your drawer: Chlorine, sunscreen, body oils and saltwater get into the fibers of your suit and, over time, start to break down the fibers. If you’ve ever taken your favorite suit out from last season and it seems faded or more stretched out than you remember, that’s why. In the same way we should replace our bras every six months, we should be replacing our swimwear every couple of seasons.”

“Another reason: our bodies are always changing. This past year especially, many of us have gone through some changes. Whether you’ve been extra focused on your fitness routine or adding pandemic pounds, it’s possible that your suit from seasons past won’t fit exactly right. Swimwear is the most intimate kind of clothing. You’re in public, in front of so many people at the beach or pool, and you need to feel confident to look fabulous. Your perfect suit is out there, and you should not feel like you have to make a drastic life change in order to feel at ease on the beach. So treat yourself! I hope we all get to spend a little extra time this summer by a pool or with our toes in the sand. We’ve all been going through so much this past year, and there’s a greater need than ever for rest, relaxation and recharging. One thing I’ve learned is that every day is a special occasion, so we should think of a vacation or a staycation as something to celebrate.”

2. Bra-sized swim makes all the difference.

“Just as you would expect your bra to support you, feel comfortable all day and flatter your figure, your swimsuit should do the same. But so many women don’t realize that they shop swim by their bra size,” says Megan. “There’s no reason to settle for a subpar suit that doesn’t make you feel and look absolutely incredible.”

“Stepping away from the S/M/L game is going to give you a customized fit that will visually enhance your whole shape. If you find yourself sizing up in a top for some extra coverage and it’s still not fitting the way you want, it’s time to try bra-sized swimwear,” Megan advises. “When you shop swim through that filter, you’re going to find options with and without the underwire, in a range of silhouettes, with all different coverage options. Your new top or one-piece is going to give you lift, enhance your curves and take the strain off your neck and shoulders.”

With more choices than ever out there, all that possibility can fast get to feeling overwhelming. That’s where our Bra Fit Experts come in. Speak to our experts over the phone (877-728-9272, x4) or chat with them at barenecessities.com. They can help you figure out your size and point you to the best brands and suits for it.

Birdsong Hibiscus Bloom Bikini

3. That’s why you’ve got to check out Birdsong Swim, our exclusive new line.

“Even though Birdsong Swim launched last year right at the start of the pandemic, the response to it was amazing,” says Megan of our expertly designed contemporary label that makes the top trends not only available but wearable for full-busted and plus-size women.

“For our second season, we’re expanding the assortment to include updated silhouettes like a wire-free triangle top that’s actually supportive, a new tankini inspired by our top selling Tie-Front Bralette and a fabulous one-piece. Even with the fresh cuts and prints, the heart of Birdsong remains the same: fashionable, high-quality, supportive, reasonably priced swimwear.”

4. Shaping swim has never looked hotter.

Miraclesuit Jena Network One-Piece

These days, no one need be the wiser that your swimsuit has smoothing powers built right in: “Every year, the assortment of slimming swimwear gets more and more impressive,” says Megan. “Not to steal Miraclesuit’s tagline, but who wouldn’t want to look 10 pounds lighter in 10 seconds? Shaping swim is really for everyone now. You can find a really vast assortment of firm-control shaping swimwear from Miraclesuit and Magicsuit in any silhouette you could want. Many of them now also offer the added benefit of an underwire so you get the maximum chest support; a lot of these brands have been expanding their DD and DDD offerings, too. Along with their signature bottoms that deliver the shaping, Miraclesuit also recently debuted a bra-sized line of separates. So if you want a suit that helps you out while hitting the season’s top trends. you can find it.”

5. Swimwear is a state of mind.

“Swimwear is even more intimate than your bra and underwear because people actually see it! So without a doubt, comfort and confidence are of the utmost importance here,” Megan says. “We have got to stop focusing on the number printed on the tag! Instead, let’s focus on wearing whatever size suits our body the best. You’re not one size across the board. While I was working in swim stores, there were times I would rip the tags off the suits so the customers would try on the size I knew would work best for them. You can’t look good in something you don’t feel confident wearing. We all get so hung up on the number, but what makes you feel your best matters way more. ”

MORE ABOUT MEGAN
Favorite swim: My personal preferences are driven by print and color, which is one of the reasons Birdsong has become my brand of choice. I also love one-pieces and cover ups from Becca, and Freya’s wire-free triangle silhouette is another one of my go-tos.
Top advice: Swimwear gets looser in the water, so make sure your bottoms and top fit a little snugly to start. Also, less coverage can be better! Covering up too much can sometimes inadvertently accentuate areas you’re trying to camouflage.
Best beach: I’m not one for big resorts; I like to be able to walk around and explore. Key West has become our favorite vacation destination by far. We cannot wait to get back there.
Local spot: Manasquan.
Dream vacay: Greece, for sure. Napa is also high on my list.
Also into: Cooking! I love the focus it takes. It’s an escape from the stress of everyday life.
New addition: Archie is our 3-month-old pup we rescued last month. We are completely enamored.

The post How to Buy a Swimsuit Online: an Interview with Swim Expert Megan Puma appeared first on Bare it All.