That time of the year is once again upon us… it’s going to be time to go back to school. With back to school time comes the inevitable need for a new wardrobe of the latest fall fashions to help set one apart from the rest of the pack.

Of course while the environment we are planning on attending school in dictates part of that, there is a necessary list EVERY schoolgirl needs in her drawers to emphasize her school spirit. School spirit is in fact something that colleges, boyfriends, and therefore future employers will look for. It demonstrates creativity, admiration, and above all the level of commitment you are willing to express to a worthwhile institution. What could be more worthwhile than school?

The Top 5 Things Every School Girl Needs In Her Drawers:

1. An above the knee pleated skirt, in the school colors
2. A pair of panties in the school colors to wear with the aforementioned skirt
3. A school color coordinated pair of thigh-highs or knee highs
4. Comfortable night time sleepwear, preferably in school colors.
5. A sensible, but intimate and color coordinated, bathrobe

With just those bare necessities… you’ll be sure to make a splash and lead the pack at back to school.

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A brassiere is a foundational undergarment for all women. While its primary purpose is to lift and support our breasts, it can also serve as a fashionable garment in and of itself. The design of bras which aim to be fashionable, rather than functional, has been driven by changing fashions in outerwear. This has often dictated what could be worn underneath which is why the bras shape has evolved through flat, round, pointed, conical, to “natural”.

Almost 2/3 of all woman do not wear the right bra size. Proper fit will provide support, maximize cleavage, and enhance clothing. The fullest measurement should be used for clothing size charts.

Use a flexible measuring tape, measure while either naked or in a loose slip/camisole. Don’t pull the tape tightly. Begin and end the tape measure along the side of your body, so you can glance down and be able to see the numbers. It is also helpful to have the tape measure upside down so that when you do look down, the numbers will be right side up.

1. BAND SIZE: Measure under the breasts along chest wall and straight across the back. Round up to the nearest whole number. Now add 5 to that measurement for the band size. Example, measure 29 + 5 = 34 band size. Measure 30.5 + 5 = 35.5 or 36 band size.

2. CUP SIZE: Measure the fullest part of the breast and across the back without compressing the breasts. 0″ difference = AAA, 1″ difference = AA, 2″ difference = A, 3″ difference = B, 4″ difference = C, 5″ difference = D, 6″ difference = DD

Correct bra size will help you buy other garments confidently, such as swimsuits, lingerie, gowns and formal dresses. Remember that bra size will change before and after a pregnancy, as well as with any sort of weight loss or gain over 10 pounds or so. Be sure to remeasure yourself for the best fit possible.

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Corsets have a long history through the ages in a woman’s wardrobe.  The corset was instrumental in the shaping of a woman’s body to the desired “hour glass” shape.  During the 1800’s, it was not uncommon for men to also don a corset to shape their bodies.  Corsets during this period were usually constructed of a flexible material like cloth or leather and stiffened with a boning material that was inserted into channels created in the cloth or leather.  In the 19th century, steel and whalebone were favored for the boning material thanks to its rigidity.

Corsets are held together by lacing usually at the back.  Tightening or loosening the lacing produces changes in the firmness of the corset.  Depending on the desired effect, corsets can be laced from the top down, from the bottom up, or both up from the bottom and down from the top using two laces that meet in the middle.  In the Victorian heyday of corsets, a well-to-do woman would be laced by her maid.  Many corsets also had a buttoned front opening called a busk.  Once the lacing was adjusted comfortably, it was possible to leave the lacing as adjusted and take the corset on and off using the front opening.  Self-lacing is also almost impossible with the technique of tightlacing, which strives for the absolute most possible reduction of the waist.  Modern tightlacers are usually laced by spouses and partners.

Since the 1920s, traditional corsets have been replaced by girdles which do not need a second person to perform its primary function of waist reduction.

Corsets offer a number of advantages:

• Corsets promote good posture
• Corsets can improve function for people with certain back injuries or spinal disorders
• Corsets can reduce the waistline 2-4 inches
• The abdominal pressure maintained by frequent use can inhibit the appetite without conscious dieting, drug use, or surgery and result in the reduction of body fat

While there are obvious benefits, there are also inherent dangers to using a corsets improperly:

• If a corset is correctly fitted, the wearer’s posture should be upright; the corset should provide pressure from below the ribcage, rather than on either side.  Incorrectly fitted corsets can lead to chest compression.
• Improper corset use may cause deformation of both the stomach and liver.
• Wearing a tight corset may lead to difficulty breathing or more use of intercostal breathing.  Tightlacers are more likely to notice this, as the volume of the lungs diminishes.
• Growing children are far more vulnerable to the potential health risks of corset use.  Corsets should only be worn by fully-formed adults, never by growing children.

Use of modern corsets has moved away from being intended for bodyshaping and moved more to being relegated for costuming and in the fulfillment of erotic fantasies.

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