I don’t talk much about activewear on TLA and that’s honestly because most activewear campaigns are kinda boring. Impeccably made-up models going through vaguely athletic motions? Nah. Hard pass. But Lane Bryant’s new Livi Activewear Collection? Well, that had me grinning from ear to ear.
It’s that time of year – well, at least according to the calendar and the decorations already adorning homes and stores. I live in Dallas, where it is unseasonably warm at the moment, even for Texas, but I won’t let that get in the way of my very specific November to January urge to cuddle up in my coziest loungewear all day, every day.
Ever since the initial launch of Nubian Skin, there’s been an increased level of coverage dedicated to brands making undergarments in shades of nude which look natural on a variety of skin tones. I’ve been very excited about the level of attention the issue and the brands have received, but disappointed that most of the write-ups haven’t included more options for bras in larger band sizes or mention of the fact that these lines don’t include larger sizes.
Lane Bryant’s Cacique line of undergarments is a mainstay amongst plus size shoppers. They’ve largely been unchallenged as a primary source of bras in particular because they are the most well known and universally available. My first fully fledged bra came from Lane Bryant many many years ago and I remained a loyal customer through significant changes in band and cup size. Now, at a 44/46 DD, I continue to shop there, and I’m not entirely sure why.
Growing up plus size, I was in need of a bra long before any of my friends even saw a single hair on their legs. I looked for supportive bras but nothing too sexy. It was also a difficult balance of finding comfort without looking frumpy. As I got older, I still didn’t want to be seen as sexy, but I was also scared that not being seen as sexy was a reflection of my worth.
