Remember to join our birthday party this week, and come out smelling like lavender, eucalyptus, grapefruit, jasmine or simply a natural, complements of Eucalan.

Happy birthday, Hourglassy! And thank you, Darlene, for asking me to be a part of it. I have thoroughly enjoyed it and the diversity that this great group of women brings to the blog. For me this is the second year I’m writing my column so blowing some early second birthday candles on this day!
Corporsate Curves Report is on its second year.
Corporate Curves Report is on it’s second year.

Why do I enjoy writing my column on Hourglassy?

I suppose it often doesn’t come across how long I struggled to find my style being the shape I am. This includes coming to terms with my shape in my current size. It wasn’t easy accepting the changes in my body after I was forced to quit riding and could not exercise for six months after a few surgeries. Weight then piled up, and it’s been a long journey to get riding back into my life, which only happened this August after eight long years.

Took my time with high school and graduated at 20 after spending some time studying and living in New Zealand.
Took my time with high school and graduated at 20 after spending some time studying and living in New Zealand.

My boyfriend actually was the first person ever to point it out to me that my bras were too small for me. So I went to a specialist store and got fitted. They did not carry my size, and I am thankful that they did not try to sell a bra to me anyway. They even referred me to the ONLY place in Helsinki where I could find bras in my size UK 32FF back then. In that process I learned to understand how bras should fit and never turned back. It’s now five years ago.

Surprisingly the shirt fits, but the bra is really unsupportive.
Surprisingly the shirt fits but the bra is really unsupportive.

The next natural step was that I got sick and tired of not fitting into work clothes properly, having to size up and wearing ill fitting shirts, jackets and dresses where the classic “underbust seam sits in the middle of my bust”. So I wore tunics and flowy clothes that fit over my bust–but added about 10kg to my weight. Then I started browsing online for information, blogs, articles, anything that could tell how busty women can find styles that fit them.

Never again! Flowy tunics simply because they fit over the bust.
Never again! Flowy tunics simply because they fit over the bust.

I never liked plus-sized clothing stores because their clothes are mostly designed to hide thick arms or big tummies and look like a sack on busty women with a waist. So that was not a solution. But still that was all I could find! There was no easy-to-find info. BUT I did find Bravissimo, which became my source for bras and their amazing clothes! I cried the first time I put on their tailored tweed dress that fit me like a glove. It’s still one of my favorite dresses.

Bravissimo tweed dress on the right and a wrap dress on the left.
Bravissimo tweed dress on the right and a wrap dress on the left.

Along with Bravissimo I found their Facebook page where women shared photos of themselves in the Bravissimo clothes and met a bunch of women with body proportions like mine. That sense of community was wonderful. Having a bigger-than-average bust does make your self appearance revolve around the bust. You always have to wear a bra, and all bra styles do not come in your size. You always have to think how clothes fit and consider the C word: cleavage.

As you can see, never been a fan of cleavage personally. I'm about 24 years old in this photo.
As you can see, never been a fan of cleavage personally. I’m about 24 years old in this photo.
In my near mid-twenties, I just so and so fit my standard size tops.
In my near mid-twenties I just so and so fit my standard size tops.

Actually the busty women blogs in the UK were a continuum to the Bravissimo community on Facebook to a significant extent. And I think quite a few US blogs were inspired by the UK blogs. Suddenly busty blogs multiplied. Now there’s tons of info, like Hourglassy. I personally love to contribute here for the niche I found was lacking: adult women well over thirty with their grown-up style. I especially like to focus on style because bra information is everywhere now, and many of the bra bloggers are real enthusiasts and experts that I would rather refer to than try to write about bras myself.

Hourglassy is also dear to me because of the different personalities and styles. I mostly like blogs where there are multiple contributors for I find them more dynamic.

Sometimes I feel I could be more helpful, by posting how I found my style, for example, but to be honest,  I’ve been so happy with finding my cohesive style that I’ve forgotten most issues I faced. The main struggle was to find a cohesive style that suited my age, life and career. This was because I do love several styles and it was a learning curve to start understanding what is ME and what looks great on others. So I tried a lot of different styles and have abandoned most now and stick with an inside out style that’s me all the way. That makes me feel happy in my clothes and gives so much confidence. This is a message I want to relay to all women as it applies to everyone no matter what their style is.

Was not comfortable in these clothes and have mostly abandoned the turtle necks since they don't do favors for busty women.
Was not comfortable in these clothes and have mostly abandoned the turtle necks since they don’t do favors for busty women.
SeminarWallis
But was very comfortable in this outfit a few weeks ago on a seminar stage giving a key note speech.

And most of all, I write my Corporate Curves Report column because I would’ve wished there was something like it five years ago when I started to look for information online. Even if I only manage to give peer support, inspire or help one person, I will have reached my personal goal. It’s a big transition from a young woman to an adult career woman, especially with a big bust. This is not covered in the media well at all, so I find that the online blog community plays an important role.