Finding a suitable sports bra is tricky. As with any bra, you need to consider both aesthetics and comfort, but here comfort will probably be the higher priority. There are six variables to consider when finding the style that is perfect for you. 

1. Size of your bust: A larger bust requires a more supportive bra. Conversely, support will be less critical for a smaller bust. 
2. Intensity of the workout: A high-impact workout requires a more supportive bra than a low-impact workout. 
3. Underwire or wireless: Sports bras come with or without underwire. Underwires tend to be even more supportive, but you can choose wireless styles and feel perfectly secure. Most brands offer both options. 
4. Pull-on versus back-fastening: Sports bras can be pull-on styles without fastening, or fasten at the back like a regular bra.
5. Your sensitivity to uni-boob: Bras that do not separate in the middle can cause what some consider to be an unflattering uni-boob effect. Consider bras with centre separation if this bothers you. 
6. Racerback or regular bra style: Sports bras can be racerback or regular. Some sports bras can be converted into racerback styles. Racerback styles tend to work best for sloping shoulders (the straps don’t fall off our shoulder), and sleeveless tank tops. But regular bra straps might be more comfortable. 

Most women wear their normal bra size in a sports bra, although this is not always the case. I wear a 30 or 29 inch band in a regular bra, but a 32 inch band has fit in the past if the sports bra runs very small. Opt for a snug fit for maximum support. 

I recently asked our forum members, who represent an excellent cross-section of shapes and preferences, about their favourite sports bras. Here’s a summary of the wealth of helpful information that they provided, categorized by the brands that were the most popular.

Moving Comfort

Moving Comfort sports bras were the most popular. They offer excellent support for all bust sizes, and are especially good for C-cups. They are great for running, yoga, Zumba and weight training. Their highly adjustable straps are a big plus for short-waisted body types. Their convenient back closure makes taking the bra on and off super easy. They are breathable, wicking, extremely comfortable and quick drying. They offer bust shaping without inner pads. And although the bustline is not separated, uni-boob is kept to a minimum. An excellent bra to wear on long flights. Available in a very broad range of sizes.

Shock Absorber

As their name implies, Shock Absorber bras offer amazing support for a large bust during high-impact sports. You will be securely locked and loaded and very comfortable. Surprisingly, Shock Absorber bras are equally good for small busted ladies because they create a nice shape and smooth coverage over the nipple. Excellent availability of sizes. 

 

Athleta

The Gap Sprint Reversible Bra is fab for the small busted lady. Their removable inner pads keep the nipple covered, which creates an extra smooth finish and a bit of shape. But the pads shift around while you launder, which is annoying. Their Extreme Control Sports Bra provides great support for a larger bust without ample coverage. 

 

Panache 

An extremely supportive bra for a larger bust, especially during pregnancy. Lots of extra coverage. Available in an impressive range of sizes (it might be the only brand that makes your bra size). No uni-boob effect because the styles separate in the middle. Great for any high-impact workout. Most styles convert to racerback. 

 

Freya

Another excellent highly supportive bra with or without wire. Creates a pointy bust shape, but a beautiful shape nonetheless. Straps are long enough for long torsos. Large collection of sizes, and nice full coverage on top. 

 

La Isla

The La Isla bra comes highly recommended for very good shape and support on a larger bust with no underwire and a separated centre. Excellent nipple coverage too. 

 

Under Armour

If you’re sensitive to chafing in a sports bra, this is the style to try for a small to average size bust. The removable cups migrate after laundry, so they’ll need readjustment. Although the cups are not separated, the uni-boob effect is minimal.

 

Lululemon

The Ta Ta Tamer provides excellent support for high-impact workouts. They also have fashionable strappy sports bras for the smaller bust that create a fun look when wearing loose sleeveless tees over the top, (check out the styles from the back). But their size assortment is narrow so you might not get the correct fit. 

 

Wacoal

If you prefer a sports bra that looks less sporty, and more like a regular bra, Wacoal is a good option. These bras do not show through under tops, if you’re after an “invisible” sports bra. I wear one of these for walking and yoga and it’s still going strong after ten years.

 

Anita International

Anita is similar to the Panache bra, but with less coverage over the bust in front. They are also available in Europe, and come in an excellent assortment of sizes for larger cups. Not the bra for the small chested lass. 

 

Champion

A good option for small chested gals and low-impact workouts. Durable, comfortable and lightweight. The style from Target is an affordable $10, but does not have a back closure. 

Enell

This bra looks like a crop top, and can be worn without layers. Of course, it works just as well under a tee or sports top. Great support for a large bust and high-impact workout. They size their bras a little differently, so you might not find the correct fit. 

 

One of our members wears a regular racerback bra under a Danskin shelf bra tank top when she works out. It’s a cost-effective option for a small to medium sized bust and high-impact workout. Forum members outside the US and Canada recommend Casall and Triumph sports bras. By all means do add to this list if your favourite sports bra has not been mentioned.

There is something special about early Spring fashions. Colours are happy, silhouettes are fresh, fabrics are crisp. And there is still a chill in the air, so styles are fairly warm, dressy and covered. Late Spring fashions tend to be less covered, a lot more casual, and not quite as crisp as retail gets ready for Summer. 

These items, like the dresses from Anthropologie I shared last week, look and feel fresh after a Fall and Winter season of dark neutrals.

• J.Crew Maddie pant in bi-stretch wool: The fit and fabric are fantastic, and the colour is very happy. The fabric is thick, soft and non-scratch. Very comfortable, and well tailored, if not slightly fluid. The front seams down the sides of the style are slimming. The best part about the pants is that the front pocket linings do not show through to the front. They don't cling onto your thighs, which is quite genius. They are about half an inch longer on me than on the model, so regular length and fab with flats, pumps and booties. You might need to size down if you're very straight on the hips, bottom and thighs. Also available in petite and tall, and in many colours.
• Zara Bowling Bag With Metacrylate Handle: A vegan bag in a pretty light blue. It's not a beautifully made bag, but it's fun, fresh, affordable and on trend.
• Ann Taylor Faux Leather Piped Sweater: A gorgeous blue to wear with black bottoms. The subtle black piping down the sleeves amps up the style of the sweater.
• Trouvé Trouvé 'Evans' Leather Slip-On Sneaker (Women): A very comfortable slip-on sneaker that's a copy of last year's style from Miu Miu. Supportive, trendy and more refined than chunkier slip-on sneaker styles. The bone is as nice as the black.
• Fossil 'Sydney' Satchel: A versatile satchel that doubles up as a crossbody. A good size and well made. Works for business casual and casual. All three colours, cranberry, ink and cognac, look super fresh.
• Paul Green 'Vince' Flat: These Paul Green loafers have been a top pick before in ink and cognac because they are beautifully made, comfortable, and surprisingly supportive for a flat. The rounded toe is quite almond, and not stumpy at all. They work both for high and low volume feet. You might need to size down half a size if your feet are low volume like mine. They just brought out the style in white. Modern, crisp and refined.

I bought the loafers and the red trousers. I hadn’t planned to shop for Spring shoes in January, but since we’ll be visiting a much warmer climate in February, I’ll be able to wear the white loafers sooner than I thought. BONUS. And a pair of wool tomato red trousers — to replace the ones from Express that I passed on — has been on my shopping list for a while. I can wear them right away and for most of the year.

The premium denim trend has been going strong for over a decade. It took one of the most common wardrobe items in the world and made it into a coveted luxury item. Premium jeans are marketed as a cut above the rest, as jeans that feel magical when you put them on, that don’t bag out, and that look good all day, day after day. And based on the popularity of premium denim brands, the superior fit, fabrication, workmanship, silhouette and fashionability justified the premium price for many people.

My experience with premium denim jeans has been that for the most part they lived up to the hype. Until recently I would have said that they couldn’t be beat. But that has changed.

For one thing, non-premium denim is improving. The Loft, Ann Taylor, Levis, Lane Bryant, NYDJs, Cookie Johnson, Eileen Fisher and KUT from the Kloth generally offer much better fits for curvy and extremely curvy body types and plus sizes. These days, straighter cuts from J.Crew, Madewell, Banana Republic, the Gap and Boden can fit just as well as premium denim (if not better), are equally well made, and go the distance laundry cycle after laundry cycle. All for a fraction of the price. 

At the same time, premium denim is losing its advantage in some areas. I’ve found the sizing of premium denim for skinnies and straight legs to be smaller than ever at the moment, often sizing out clients who are larger than a US size 10. The fabrications are not as substantial as they used to be, and many are fashionably distressed to the extreme, making them less versatile and robust than you’d like for the price. It’s not uncommon for styles to have doubled up on their percentage of stretch which causes the shape to bag out during the day. Very few are made of 100% cotton, which makes truly authentic denim hard to find. 

All that said, premium denim does offer more silhouette, fabric and wash variety than non-premium denim, thereby making it more exclusive. If you want a hot off the press fashion forward jeans silhouette, or something different from the mainstream offerings, premium denim is probably your best bet.

Unless, of course, fast fashion giants like Zara, H&M or Forever 21 have beaten the premium denim houses to it. 

On the whole, my clientele has become less interested in premium denim over time. After all, if they can achieve a more flattering and comfortable fit with similar quality at a quarter of the price, why not? They would rather spend their budget on other wardrobe items. Premium denim hasn’t gone away, but it is a smaller component of their denim capsules. 

I used to be a devout premium denim gal, but like many of my clients, I’ve added lots of non-premium denim into my wardrobe. It fits and feels fab. Some of my favourite pairs of jeans are premium and others are non-premium, which speaks to my love of high-low style. I will continue to purchase premium denim when it gets me the exclusivity in fabric and silhouette that I’m looking for. But I’ll snap up a non-premium pair just as happily when they fit the bill.

Caroline Issa to design for Nordstrom, Selfridges’ “Bright Old Things” campaign, a new Target collaboration, and other fashion news that made headlines this week.

• Caroline Issa has signed on to design four collections per year for Nordstrom. The first will launch on 9 February.
• Here’s an interesting project: Selfridges celebrates the “retirement renaissance” with their “Bright Old Things” campaign.
• 80-year-old writer Joan Didion is the face of Céline’s newest ad campaign.  
• It has also just been announced that Joni Mitchell (71) will be the next star of Saint Laurent’s Music Project.
• Next Target collaboration: a 250-piece lifestyle line from Lilly Pulitzer. Here’s a first sneak peek. 
• Stella McCartney and Adidas are bringing out a more affordable sportswear line for girls aged 15 to 19: Stella Sport.

Fun Fashion Fact

Did you know that the word parka means ‘animal skin’, and is derived from the Nenets language — a language spoken by an indigenous people in northern arctic Russia. The first parkas were actually invented by Caribou Inuits, and they were made of skins or furs. “The hides gathered in Summer would provide heavier, warmer coats, while Spring skins created a sleeker, thinner coat often worn in layers.”