Wearing First Bras from Li’l Barbizon Girl
Some girls look forward to it as they would their first kiss; most however, have mixed feelings about it. Boys on the other hand, are oh so curious about it.
What’s the mystery subject? We’re talking about wearing first bras. I remember my eldest girl who was then 9 years old. She matured quite early and I thought it was the best time to buy her first bra. It was a challenging shopping adventure. There were not many first bras offered for teen girls. Eventually I found one at the Rustans Department store where they offer a lot of imported under garments. I can still remember the giddiness and excitement my daughter faced when I handed her the “training bra”. It was in between a sando and a bra but still she was terribly happy about it. Yes, I believe it is the “Firsts” that mark a milestone in their life. I wished there were pretty first bras then. Today, the young pre-teens are quite lucky.
Rossana Unson, Marketing Manager, mother of a preteen daughter and resident bra expert of Barbizon, the Philippines’ niche leader for high-quality intimate apparel, recognizes the importance of the first bra experience. “This milestone is something that women will remember for the rest of their lives We’re all aware that pre-teens can be sensitive; so choosing the right first bra is an important step in fostering a healthy self image and boosting her confidence,” she says. “For example, if you have a 10 year old who is wearing an ill-fitting plain bra that bunches up or has its straps sliding off; then wouldn’t she feel bad and shy away from the whole bra experience?” Rossana asks.
In its commitment to make the transition of young Filipinas to full-blown womanhood as joyous and as interesting and fun as possible, Barbizon gives the lowdown on the mysteries of the li’l first bra.
Perfect Timing
There’s no fixed time when a girl should buy her first bra, but the right time is when she begins to develop breasts and begins to grow self conscious. For most girls, this happens between the ages of 11 to 13. But Rossana Unson notes that there might be few exceptions. “Of course late and early bloomers top the list; but if your daughter asks you to buy her a bra because ‘all her friends have it,’ its okay to give in since psychologists say that doing this will make your daughter not feel left out or different from her peers.”
Size it Up
Because breast tissue can be tender and delicate while it is growing, proper sizing is crucial for that perfect first bra. Rossana observes: “The first bra is the perfect opportunity to teach young tweens how to choose the correct size so they don’t spend the rest of their lives believing that they’re one size when actually they’re a different size already To do this, Rossana believes that it’s best to enlist the help of a professional lingerie consultant to explain sizing to pre-teens and to let them be more involved in the experience of choosing their own bra. Rossana suggests visiting the Barbizon area in all Robinsons Department Store branches. “Our team is specially trained to make recommendations on pre-teen breast size and body shape to give them a better overall bra fit. With their help, getting sized up is a breeze.”
Barbizon First Bra Weekend
Barbizon’s Timeless Firsts
What will you do if you find out you can go back in time?
In the Barbizon First Bra Weekend held on October 5 at the Robinsons Galleria Activity Center, top society and celebrity moms were unanimous in saying that they would want to recreate their monumental firsts. Yes, these hip moms went back to the time when they were still gangly young women giddily in love with their first crush.
The Barbizon First Bra Weekend was more than just a venue for extended reminiscing; it serves to strengthen the ties between mothers and daughters. “It’s hard for daughters to imagine their moms as being once as young as they are now; when in reality they also faced the same issues before,” says top psychologist Dr. Aurora Foronda. “It’s heartening that through the open forums in the Barbizon First Bra Weekend, we get to see mothers opening up and joking about their interesting first dates with their pre-teen daughters,” she adds.
Some celebrity mothers who joined in include Mariz Ricketts, Pia Magalona, Yayo Aguila, Jaime Rivera and Chiqui Brosas
Meanwhile, respected key opinion leader Rowie Matti from Sacred Heart Academy hailed the Barbizon’s First Bra Weekend for another reason. “Most people are not aware of how crucial the pre-teen years are. It’s very important because it’s the time when our children’s beliefs, ideas and way of thinking are molded in preparation for their becoming an adult,” she asserts. “And at a time when the influence of media, peers and society may not necessarily be positive, through this event, Barbizon ensures that tweeners will turn towards the best role models—their parents.”
The unveiling of a quilt which contains images that celebrate the interwoven bond between mothers and daughters will serve as the highlight of the event. Prom tiaras, broken heels, bra straps, neo prints, candy wrappers, pressed flowers, mother-daughter pictures and many other simple yet significant tokens are artfully combined in the unique quilt as shown during Barbizon’s First Bra Weekend as a touching pastiche of tween life.
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