A Little Lingerie Lingo

When shopping for lingerie online, some of the item descriptions can be confusing, especially for those purchasing a gift for that special someone and are not familiar with all the lingerie terms used to described a particular fabric or style. So, let's cover some of these terms so you can be better informed when choosing your lingerie.

First, some commonly used fabrics you may not recognize. These are charmeuse, chiffon, jacquard, lace and satin. When you see these terms, the material/fabric of the item is being described. Charmeuse is a very satiny, very soft and flowy non stretch fabric. This fabric is typically used for chemises and camisoles, slips, gowns, robes, short sleeping sets, and even blouses.

Chiffon is a fabric of sheer silk or rayon. It is a lightweight material with a slightly rough feel to it. It can be made from cotton, silk or synthetic fibers, but is usually associated with silk or nylon and can be dyed to most any shade you like. Chiffon is very delicate and must be hand washed very gently. Lace is a delicate fabric made of yarn or thread in an open web-like pattern. A Jacquard fabric has a pattern of some kind pressed into the solid background. It can be a flat or a raised pattern. It can be of any type fabric such as a knit or a spandex. Satin is a smooth fabric, as of silk or rayon, woven with a glossy face and a dull back.

Now lets discuss a how they describe an item having some sort of decoration on the fabric - this is called embroidery. So if you see an "embroidered lace babydoll", you know it's a lace babydoll with some kind of decoration or enhancement. You may also see the term 'appliqué'. This is a decoration or ornament made by cutting pieces of one material and applying them to the surface of another.

Men, if you are buying for your beautiful woman and she's self-conscious about her breasts hanging a little, you need to be familiar with the terms 'underwire'. Bustiers, bras, and other 'underwire' items have wire sewn into the fabric under the breasts to add support. You may also see items with 'boning'; these are rigid plastic or metal strips sewn in shape wear to give structure, support and body contouring.

There are several other fabrics available which you may be familiar with, such as silk, rayon and of course leather. There are also many other terms which we did not discussed, but the ones we went over will give you a little more familiarity with what's out there. Happy lingerie shopping!

Susan is the owner of Seduction Lane Lingerie. An online retailer of sexy lingerie, costumes and intimate apparel. Visit http://www.seductionlane.com for a vast selection of sexy lingerie at great prices.

MidLife Women - How Humiliating is That?

Have you seen the tv commercial that focuses on a woman stuck in bumper-to-bumper highway traffic with her partner and kids? She squirms and looks very uncomfortable, embarrassed and maybe even in pain. Suddenly a porta-potty floats gently down from the sky! The woman relaxes and smiles, and a picture comes on the screen showing a popular disposable pad/diaper product.

I find this commercial disgusting and demeaning. It's just a grab for a new market using any angle possible. And it's downright silly too - having a toilet come down from the sky!

It's true that many women suffer from some urinary incontinence or urgency. Sometimes it begins after pregnancy and birth, sometimes with the hormone changes in perimenopause. Some women just 'leak' when they laugh from a young age. But I hardly think a disposable pad for incontinence (billed as the traveller's porta-potty) will make everything tickety-boo!

Yes, these products are helpful in some circumstances, but why, why, why, don't we hear about products that can tone, build and strengthen the bladder? This is a preventive approach and the products that don't heal the symptoms wouldn't be necessary (or not for many years anyway)? Can't our allopathic medical docs get on board with the idea of 'complementary medicine', like in Britain. When allopathic medicine combines with natural (i.e. herbs, homeopathics, mega-vitamins, trace minerals, etc.) we get the best of both worlds. If it's good enough for the Queen of England, why isn't it good enough for us?

Through her 'Odyssey of Change' coaching program, Ellen Besso offers Midlife Women the opportunity to navigate the midlife maze and find joy & fullness in their lives. Personal action plans include strengthening the body-mind connection; releasing beliefs that limit growth; & specific actions to move you forward into your ideal life. Ellen is uniquely qualified to be your guide because she has personally journeyed through perimenopause and into an inspired life as a menopausal crone! Her professional credentials include certification as a Martha Beck Coach and an M.A. in Counselling from City University. To find out more about Ellen's work and read articles written by her contact: http://www.ellenbesso.com or http://ellenbesso.com/midlifemaze info@ellenbesso.com 800 961 1364 - N.Am. or 604 886 1916 - Gibsons, BC

Women's Centres in Ontario - Helping Thousands on a Shoestring

What is a women's centre? The definition is fairly subjective:

• If you are a woman who is abused, a women's centre is a place to find guidance or a respite from life's difficulties.
• If you are a new Canadian, a centre can offer an introduction and warm welcome to your community.
• If you are a senior woman looking to connect with others, a women's centre can provide a network of friends.
• If you are a young woman struggling with body image and self-esteem issues, it can offer support.
• If you are a mother, a women's centre can provide lessons in parenting.
• If you just need someone to talk to, a women's centre volunteer will listen.

• Community Kitchens
• Kitchen Table Literacy
• Women's Business Clothing Project
• Young Women's Outreach
• Women's Family Law Clinics
• Entrepreneurial Skills Training
• Employment Counselling
• Peer Counselling

In addition to these core services, which are usually offered at no charge, many women's centres offer workshops and seminars on topics pertaining to self-care and life balance.

If you read this list and thought, "I had no idea", you are probably not alone. Such is the reality facing women's centres in Ontario. To borrow a marketing term, these centres have trouble with their "brand". Although they provide valuable services to thousands of women across the province each year, they are not well known, even in their own communities. They are also easily confused with other services, like women's shelters.

Many centres were established to assist abused women (hence the association with shelters), but have expanded their range of services to help women of all ages and backgrounds through a variety of life's challenges - divorce, loss of employment, poor self-esteem, grief, and transitions to a new community or new life situation. And they do all of this on a shoestring budget.

Funding Challenges

Like many small agencies, these centres lack a consistent and reliable funding stream that would allow them to expand and promote their program offerings. Byfunding many centres through the Ontario Women's Directorate, the provincial government offers some stability. Although generous, government funding is not enough, so most centres rely on fundraising and donations to help cover costs.

In most cases, fundraising is still not enough. The amounts the centres raise are small in comparison to the need. Why? Women's centres spend the vast majority of their budget on programs, leaving little for marketing and publicity. Without a marketing budget, it is difficult to attract attention and fundraising dollars, especially when centres are competing against larger organizations with deeper pockets and the ability to mount large-scale fundraisers.

With nothing to spend on flashy events, most women's centres rely on small fundraisers, like bake sales, walkathons, and book sales. Some run larger events, like awards ceremonies, luncheons or dinners. And most derive some funds from the nominal fees they charge for membership in the centre. Combined, these small amounts are a great help, but they are not the consistent and reliable funding that many women's centres require.

Not that a lack of funding seems to be much of an impediment. Even while focused on making every penny count, the women running these centres never lose sight of their mission. They continue in their way, quietly and without fanfare, helping some of the most vulnerable people in our communities.

That they can provide high-quality services on such a low budget shows resourcefulness, determination and ingenuity. Just imagine what these women could do if they had no worries about funding.

Women who live in Oakville, Burlington, Milton and areas can learn more about women's centres by visiting the Halton Women's Centre

A small sampling of programs from centres across Ontario demonstrates the tremendous diversity of services available.

Evelyn Mackenzie writes frequently on behalf of the Halton Women's Centre about women's issues and the value of community supports for women.

Women in Business - Playing Wonder Woman

"The only difference between a man and woman climbing the ladder of success is that a woman is expected to put it in the closet when she's finished with it", said American cartoonist Barbara Dale. Is it surprising then that a working woman (and we mean one that holds a job outside her home) is actually some kind of Wonder Woman! Isn't it remarkable that women in business control over nine million ventures contributing nearly US$ 4 trillion to the economy? You have to ask, how on earth does she manage?

From the get-go, women in business have been given the big brush off. Read anything to do with business leadership and you'll find that the star cast features the same bunch of men. "Women" as economic beings! Definitely, nah! And yet, ninety percent of American women will need to fend for themselves financially at some stage of their lives.

Over half the jobs created since 1992 can be attributed to the women in business owning the firms providing the employment. According to a study conducted sometime back, the glass ceiling that undoubtedly exists in the corporate world is not the only reason why there are more and more women in business. The boredom that comes with a paid job, along with a working environment that usually stifles creativity has as much to do with it. A lady president of an organization that deals with issues faced by women in business says that turning to entrepreneurship is not something women do just to "feel good"; their reasons are grounded in hard nosed reality. And they're as successful as men because of it. Programs such as Women's "Brain" -Storming On The Playground™ provide a platform to women in business to share their motivations and experiences with like-minded people.

Yet, few would deny that there are some important differences between the men and the women in business. Men are good at creating and following a "top to bottom" hierarchy, and letting people know who is boss. Women, on the other hand create horizontal networks, and believe in nurturing relationships. Men will focus on business goals possibly to the exclusion of everything else, and fall back on logical reasoning during decision making. Women in business employ different techniques, giving greater importance to the process, or the means rather than the end. While men stand up for individual rights and entitlements, women are less likely to do so, preferring to go with group opinion. However, men are very good at mentoring and passing on their expertise to those younger or less experienced, but it's rare to see women in business mentoring others, especially other women.

Clearly, some of this can be explained by the fact that women are more concerned about fulfilling their affiliative needs, rather than satisfying their desire for power or money. No surprise that they put more emphasis on benefits such as flex time, child care facilities and retirement benefits.

And to those who wonder how women in business can ever be good "businesswomen", we'd like to present one startling fact - women owned firms outpaced overall business growth by over two times. If there are still any skeptics around, all we can do is to quote Barbara Dale once more. "I am a working woman. I take care of a home. I hold down a job. I am nuts."

Hi, I'm Akhil Shahani, a serial entrepreneur who wants to help you succeed. If you like to work smart, check out http://www.SmartEntrepreneur.net It's full of articles and resources to help you start and grow your business successfully. Please visit us & download our special "Freebie of The Month" at http://www.smartentrepreneur.net/freebie-of-the-month.html

Bridal Shower Party Games and Ideas

Different types of bridal shower party games must be considered for a bridal shower party depending on how well the guests know each other. It's generally good to have a mix of icebreakers and games played between people comfortable around one another.

To keep people from awkwardness, play music. Try to avoid written games-instead, have guests call out answers. Don't pick games that may embarrass your guests, and try to avoid personal topics.

Here are some possible games that you can arrange.

What Comes Next
Read the beginning of a known quote; the first person to shout out the rest wins.
For instance: You say "A stitch in time..." and someone calls out "...saves nine!" If the person calls it out before you finish your sentence, bonus points may be awarded.

Bride's Words
This one is for older audiences, so make sure young children aren't around. When it is time for the bride to open presents, write down (without her knowledge, of course) what she says as she opens each gift. After she's done, tell everyone that this is how she will describe her wedding night, and read the comments back to her!

Spice Guess
Collect as many spices as possible and place them all in unmarked containers. Have guests taste a bit of each and try to guess what spice is in the container. In the end, the guest with the most number correct wins.

Advice Compare
Sit in a circle, and have each guest relay the best and worst advice they've ever received from their mother or grandmother. Write these down; in the end, have the guests vote on the best "good advice" and the worst "bad advice". Winner of the best advice gets a prize, and the winner of the worst advice gets a booby trap! This game is best played with no more than 15 people.

Clothespin Game
Clip a clothespin to each guest's clothing as she or he arrives. During the party, if someone hears another person say the word "bride", he or she takes the other person's clothespin and clips it onto herself. At the end of the party, the person with the most clothespins wins. You can choose a word other than "bride"; however, be sure that it will be spoken often, but not too often.

Memory Game
Put twenty or so wedding-related small items onto a tray, and cover them with a napkin or tissue. Have your guests sit in a circle, and place the tray in the center for two to three minutes. Then, cover the tray again and ask your guests to write down every item they remember from the tray. In the end, the guest with most correct guesses wins, and penalties are awarded for items not on the tray (to prevent random guessing).

Bride's Outfit
Let the bride know ahead of time about this game. About midway through the party, have the bride leave the room quietly and listen from where she can't be seen. Then, ask about what the bride is wearing, whether her hair is up or down, what color her dress or shoes are, what her favorite food is, etc. Ask as many questions as you want; in the end, prizes are awarded to the people who missed least (or didn't miss anything).

Bridal shower party games is a unique way to turn a special occasion into a memorable party.

Written by Karin Koch: http://www.decor24.com Get more information on Bridal Shower Party Favors

Women's Safety Tips - 3 Common Mistakes Women Make About Personal Safety

Women are often targeted by attackers because we make a few common mistakes about personal safety that present us as easy crime victim prospects.

1. We tend to be accommodating, to a fault
2. We ignore our gut feelings
3. Automatic trust is common with women

A few things to remember as we get into more detail about the common mistakes we make that put us in danger.

1. Attackers are insecure, have low self-esteem, feel out of control of their own lives and choose to control someone or something else in order to feel powerful again.
2. Attackers look for those who appear weaker than they are (mentally, physically) to attack.
3. Attacks may be verbal, mental, emotional or physical.

Too Accommodating

Women tend to be accommodating because we want people to like us and we enjoy being helpful. Although these traits are not bad they may allow us to be taken advantage of and pushed too far. This is where an attacker, known or unknown to you sees weakness and opportunity.

Solution: Establish and enforce personal boundaries. Know what distance you are willing to go and go no further. This will keep you from giving your power away to someone else.

Ignoring Gut Feelings

As women, we are generally much more in tune with our intuition or gut feelings than men are. However, we also tend to overlook, ignore and justify actions that are not in line with our gut feelings in order to be liked and to be nice.

Solution: Realize gut feelings are survival instincts you were born with. They will always lead you the right way. Follow them.

Automatic Trust

Because women have been raised to be nice and do good things for others, we often trust untrustworthy people automatically. We can all think back to a time we trusted someone and should not have.

Solution: Trust you gut feeling (intuition) without questioning or trying to justify it. It doesn't have to be logical to be right. You will "feel" if someone is trustworthy or not. A good personal boundary to establish and enforce is, "If it feels wrong, avoid it."

Although women may be targeted by attackers, these safety tips will help all of us avoid the personal safety mistakes that portray us as good victim prospects.

Bonus Safety Tip: Women are stronger and more capable of protecting themselves than most will ever believe. And now I would like to offer you free access to printed and audio versions of the "Seven Deadly Personal Safety Mistakes" when you subscribe to my free weekly Safety Quick Tip via email. You can get your instant access at http://www.PersonalSafetyTrainer.com

Women's Safety Tips - What's in Your Wallet?

Fellow women, ask yourself, "What is in my wallet?" knowing that several crimes can take place from just one stolen wallet. Of course you probably have a drivers license and credit card(s), cash, etc. But do you actually know what you would lose if your wallet was stolen this minute?

Wallet Safety Tips:

1. Photocopy the front and back of every card in your wallet.
2. Keep the copy in a very safe, yet accessible place.
3. Optional: Hand deliver a copy to a close, trusted friend or family member who you would call in an emergency.

Hour One Is Critical

The first hour is crucial when your personal information has been lost or stolen. The emergency numbers on the backs of your credit cards, etc. are important for you to access quickly.

Attackers are known for first filling up their gas tanks and then going on wild shopping sprees after stealing credit cards. This is common in the first hour and that is why you need those numbers handy.

The reason for the option of giving a copy to a trusted someone is that if you were to become missing, all of those account numbers can be tracked that much easier. Remember to hand deliver this info as email and text messages are not secure.

Identity Theft Prevention

It is always preferable to have a good identity theft prevention company on your side. There is plenty of information in your wallet to enable this crime to take hold of your good name and the life you have built. Many identity theft victims' identity is never restored completely. Just imagine that someone has purchased a house or vehicle with your name and credit and you are the one left to prove that you are the real you!

I tell the story of my own identity being stolen in my TeleSeminar series. Fortunately, my situation was much less serious than many but scary all the same!

Women are the promoters of safety in the workplace and family so please share this safety tip about copying the cards in your wallet with others. It will help all of us to be safer and less likely victim targets of thieves.

Bonus Safety Tip: Small purses are less likely targets for purse snatchers. And now I would like to offer you free access to printed and audio versions of the "Seven Deadly Personal Safety Mistakes" plus a free TeleSeminar replay about identity theft when you subscribe to my free weekly Safety Quick Tip via email; a 52 week newsletter on Personal Safety. You can get your instant access at http://www.PersonalSafetyTrainer.com

Women's Safety Tips - Repel Or Attract Attackers, the Choice is Yours

Confident men, colleagues and friends are attracted to women with confidence and attackers are repelled by them. Confidence, hmmm, seems simple enough but is it? Self-image is what we think of ourselves. Self-esteem is how we feel about ourselves and self-confidence is how we act.

Can confidence be faked? Temporarily yes, but if it comes across as arrogance, it can attract attackers rather than repel them.

I address confident body language in my article, "Women's Personal Safety Secret #2," which is important in repelling attackers. Below is another way you can become more confident, attracting the right people - repelling the wrong ones.

"What Would You Do?" Can Repel Attackers and May Save Your Life!

We hear about crime and often do nothing to prevent it from happening to us. A good habit to get into is thinking about what you would do if the same situation occurred in your life. Although a bit scary, thinking it through has several benefits.

1. You've acknowledged your vulnerability therefore, you don't look oblivious like most people do (attackers love oblivious people)
2. You have a plan of action which gives you confidence (attackers are repelled by confident people because they themselves are weak).
3. You are more aware of your surroundings and therefore may avoid situations of vulnerability (attackers hate aware people).
4. When you have thought things through, you walk more confidently and body language is the most common way attackers select victims.

So there you go. Just by simply thinking through a situation with you at the center, you benefit by being safer immediately attracting people who are confident themselves and repelling weak ones who will drag you down and or victimize you. Just being dragged down is a form of attack because it weakens you mentally and emotionally, which in turn, weakens you physically.

Gross Seekers and Arrogance

Although gross curiosity gives birth to rubber-neckers at crash and crime scenes, the magnitude of the situation seems to bounce off of those same people who very likely have their heads in the sand, ignoring their own vulnerability. The "head buried in the sand" syndrome causes those buried to look insecure in a dangerous situation or arrogant if they try to fake confidence. Arrogance is insecurity personified and looks opposite of confident.

As a paramedic in my early 20's, I still get asked, "What is the worst thing you ever saw?" Obviously, the question begs for therapy rather than an answer but the people who ask it are usually careless in their lives and know little about avoiding dangerous situations. Although unfortunate for them (and hopefully not tragic) this makes it easy for us to set ourselves apart from the general public by looking and being confident. Just the knowledge of what you would do in a certain situation makes your body language stronger without you even knowing it. Well, now you know it!

Remember:

1. Attackers may be male or female of any age
2. Attacks may be verbal, mental, emotional or physical
3. Attackers have a plan of attack - do you have a plan of escape?
   

Confident or Insecure?

Confidence can keep you out of dangerous situations and improves your physical health as well. It is obvious how confidence attracts confident people, friends, significant others and great coworkers, isn't it?

If you are a person who attracts people who are insecure, remember that your own confidence has to be in place to attract a different kind of person. You can only help an insecure person so much because self-image, self-esteem and self-confidence are all inside jobs. If you get dragged down, your self-confidence will suffer.

The concept of personal safety being quite dependent on confidence may be new to you but I'm sure you'll agree it makes sense. Remember that confident men, colleagues and friends are attracted and attackers are repelled by a confident woman.

Bonus Safety Tip: Holding your head up is the most important aspect of confident body language. And now I would like to offer you free access to printed and audio versions of the "Seven Deadly Personal Safety Mistakes" and free Personal Safety TeleSeminars when you subscribe to my free weekly Safety Quick Tips; a 52 week newsletter on Personal Safety. You can get your instant access at http://www.PersonalSafetyTrainer.com

Women of Today - The New Super Power

We talk about equality, equal wages, political correctness and acceptability in all walks of life. But it is worth considering whether these factors apply, when it comes to women. They are paid less in their work places and in the field of games such as Tennis. It's a kind of accepted saying that women work less than men and therefore deserve less! It may have been true in the past when women were expected to stay at home and look after the children and nothing more. But women have changed over the years: they have 'come out'!

Intelligent, sharp-witted, agile, independent and immaculately dressed; there you have it, 'The New Super Power', the women of today! She is capable of accomplishing anything, if given the chance. She goes out to work and return home in the evening, only to find that the evening meal is yet to be prepared! How many men do you find who are happy to show their culinary expertise in the kitchen? It is expected of women, but the reverse is true for men; of course there are exceptions to the norm. Men today are more willing, to try cooking, cleaning, change the occasional nappy and perhaps even to cope better when the wife earns more.

Gone are the days when she toiled at the kitchen stove all day long; she is aware of her needs and willing to fight for them. She expects to be given the respect she deserves, both at home and at work. Women were happy, to deal with the daily routine of ordinary life, parents' evening, swimming lessons, music and dance classes, sitting room full of coloring books and toys and still are, but they demand more. They have realized their intellectual potential and determined to do something about it! One likes to believe that the 'Dumb dame' stigma has withered in the wake of equal opportunity. She is still branded as 'Loud' if she as much as voices her opinion and would be snubbed if she happens to be more intelligent in certain circles. The dictum, 'Women should be seen and not heard' is still very much alive! Men still find it very difficult to accept new ideas when it originates from a woman.

Women on two wheels have become a familiar sight on the roads of most Asian countries during the past few years; it is not unusual to find a woman taking her whole family on her two-wheeler, children to school and husband to work and then manages to reach her office on time. It would have been inconceivable a few years ago! One can find even driving schools run by women just for women. She has a major part to play in every aspect of the family decisions and how it is implemented; at least she likes to believe that she does!

It is rather difficult combining a career and a decent home life, 'Super woman' though she is. She needs to feel supported and fulfilled. Is she stressed out? She may arrive at work feeling as if she has already done a full day's work, colleagues may doubt her commitment to her jobs, making it difficult for her. She may be told that children with behaviour problems were the products of families where mothers worked, despite her belief that children get more 'quality time'. Women of today expect their partners to contribute towards childcare and household chores. Most women even find time to help the children with their homework. It is a known fact that the women are in the fore- front, in the field of medicine, nursing and teaching, to name a few.

These days, women are even controlling their reproductive destiny to some extent. Contraceptive pills are not the only ones on their list, but emergency contraceptive pills, the Implanon, IUD/IUS, the patch and the injection are very much on their list of things to consider. They are aware and quiet willing to accept other methods when any of these fail. Women are determined to decide when they wish to have babies and how. They need, not just babies but the power to create an environment that is fit enough for their survival financially and socially. The welfare of their children, family and society is enshrined as the guiding principle in all their endeavors. Women are capable of considering their options and making evidence based choices.

Today's women are learning to avoid situations that make them stressful and it is a hard struggle to reach that goal. She has found music, yoga, aerobics, swimming, aromatherapy, massage and hypnotherapy that gives her the 'Quality time' amidst the multitude of chores! There will be a few who would class her as the 'High maintenance woman'. Despite all this, the new woman, 'The Super Power' has arrived' who still believes in the power and value of a family unit that she is quite determined to hold in high esteem.

© E Menon 2008 I am a doctor working in the UK. I love writing and my articles have been published in the UK and abroad. My hobbies include reading, writing, gardening, cooking, watching films, listening to music, helping environmental causes. Etc. Visitors to my homepage get the unique opportunity to read my monthly write up,'Corner' and articles written by me on various topics in two languages, English and Malayalam (the language spoken in Kerala, otherwise known as 'God's own Country'!)

Pain Caused by Ill Fitting Bras

It is estimated that well over 70 percent of women wear ill-fitting bras. Not only does this lead to discomfort, it can actually manifest as actual pain over time.

Most people view bras as top down support systems. In English, this means they view the support being provided by the straps over the shoulders. In truth, bras are meant to be bottom up support system. The strap around the bottom of the bra is intend to carry 80 percent of the weight of the breasts with the cups and straps taking on the remaining weight.

Most women wear bras that rely too much on strap support. This can lead to physical discomfort that one might not always associate with the ill fitting bra. Let's take a closer look at some of the common pain issues that arise.

Shoulder pain is one of the more obvious problems of an ill fitting bra. The straps dig into the shoulders causing pain. For some, however, the problem is a bit more intense. The straps may dig into the trapeze muscle and nerves. This can lead to numbness and tingling in the arms.

A second area of pain that most women are familiar with is the back. When straps are carrying more weight than intended, they tend to pull the upper back forward and down. This creates poor posture and strain on the upper back. This can lead to aches and a knot in the middle of the upper back. As the back tries to compensate, it can also lead to significant lower back pain.

Neck problems are a third area of pain that can arise with an ill fitting problem. It can be easy to miss the cause and effect relationship, however. Pain can manifest in the form of headaches and shooting pain which is derived from pinched nerves. Running ones hands along the outer edge of the back of the neck can quickly reveal tight areas.

The vast majority of women wear the wrong size of bra. Smaller breasted women tend to wear bras that are to big for them. Plus size women tend to wear bras that have cups that are too small. If you are having any of the above pain issues, try changing to a different fitting bra. Remember - support should be from the bottom.