Originally I didn't want to breastfeed. It just wasn't something that I wanted to do. Then I heard (besides being good for baby) breastfeeding helps you loose the pregnancy baby weight. So I thought I would try breastfeeding until I went back to work. At about 2.5 months I went back to work - and kept breastfeeding. Then it was "I'll stop when she starts eating baby food". At 6 months she started eating baby food - and I kept breastfeeding. Then it was "when she gets teeth and if it hurts I'll stop." At 9 months she started getting teeth, and it hurt - and I kept breastfeeding. Finally, just short of a year we ran out of frozen milk and she was ready for whole milk and decided she didn't want to nurse any more, so about a week before her first birthday breastfeeding came to an end.
I'm not going to turn this into a sappy post about how much I enjoyed breastfeeding. It's great if you can or want to, but if you can't or don't want to, there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. When I was nearing the end I did get mixed emotions, not knowing if I was quite ready to be done, but when it actually happened I was total ok with it; and I was so looking forward to wearing regular bras again! Which is what this post is really about.
As I was getting ready to finally stop wearing sports bras 24/7 I decided I needed to update and clean out the old bras I had. I've always gotten my bras, since high school, from Victoria's Secret, but there are so many other options out there now so I started looking around.
I'd seen a lot of adds for the Third Love bra and was interested in giving it a try, but when I saw the price tag I went back to looking for something else; and that's when I found Lively. Lively a new category and POV of lingerie, called Leisuree.
If you're not familiar, Leisuree is a trend that is a lot like athleisure - activewear and lingerie. I was drawn in because they borrow the best elements from activewear (sporty wide elastic bands and breathable mesh) and lingerie (front adjusters, j-hook backs, and gorgeous geometric lace). Having almost exclusively worn sports bras the last few months of pregnancy and the first year post-pregnancy I wanted something I could live in all day without compromising style or comfort. I was also drawn to Lively because of their prices - at about $35 a bra I could afford to update my undergarment collection.
I decided to try a wireless bra first. Since I wore so many sports bra, I figured wireless would be the best and more comfortable way to ease back into "real bras". I ordered the Deep V No-Wire bra and the Mesh Trim Bralette. They all fit very well. The Mesh Bralette was a too thin for my liking, so I sent that one back. However, I loved the Deep V bra; it gave great support with the comfort of a sports bra. The Deep V was padding lined, just enough so what needs to stay hidden stays hidden. It has front adjusting straps which are great so I don't need someone to help me if the straps need adjusting, I can do it super easy in 2 seconds. But best of all the back has a j-hook so it can convert to a racerback bra! So I don't need two bras for different tops the j-hook gets the job done!
Since the Mesh Trim Bralette didn't quite work for me I decided to order some more. I chose the Triangle Bralette and the All-Day Deep V No-Wire bra. I kept the Triangle Bralette. Like the Mesh Bralette it didn't have any padding, but the material on this was a little thicker. The thing I don't like about these bras is that there are two seams going on each cup that if you wear a fitted shirt you can see. However, the Triangle Bralette was something I was going to wear while I finished up nursing, wear around the house and to bed. The All-Day Deep V was a bra I would wear out and about and I didn't want to have to worry about seeing the seam lines under my shirts, so back it went.
I now had a new black bra and a new grey bra, but every woman knows you need a nude bra, and since I didn't keep the All-Day Deep V bra I was back on the hunt. I decided to try and go back to a wire bra so I got the popular T-Shirt bra; and it's great! The wire doesn't bother me at all and I love how soft the material is and the pretty lace detail on the straps and that it's just lightly lined. Like the Deep V bra, this one also has a back j-hook that converts from a classic to a racerback bra. I also needed a strapless bra. I feel like I've never had good luck with strapless. THEY ALWAYS FALL DOWN; then you look stupid trying to hike them up all the time. But let me tell you about the Smooth Strapless bra - WINNER! This sucker doesn't fall! It's very lightly lined and it has a wider band that helps support and keep it in place all day. It also comes with removable straps if you want to wear it not as a strapless bra. But seriously GET THIS BRA!
Lively also has underwear and swimsuits, which I haven't tried, but probably will in the future. Overall this seems like a great brand. I really like the bras and I love that it doesn't break the bank. I will definitely be purchasing more in the future. Try them out and let me know what you think. Oh and if you're still pregnant I found out they make a maternity bra too!! I wish I would've had that when I was pregnant - oh well, next time.
UPDATE: Lively has added even more bra styles - including a maternity nursing bra!
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