Charity's cup set to runneth over with bra offer

AS CHARITY fundraisers go, this one seems to fit the bill perfectly.

Lingerie shop owner Sarah Connelly is staging a special bra-fitting charity day next month.

Ms Connelly, who owns Odyssey Boutique, has pledged to donate 5 of her own money for every customer who opts for the service.

The 32-year-old, who opened her William Street store in August, hopes the event on December 2 will raise cash for the city charity It's Good 2 Give, and raise awareness of ill-fitting bras.

Ms Connelly, who previously worked in lingerie retail for five years, said she wants to do for Edinburgh what TV style guru Gok Wan, who released his Banger Boosters bra range, has done for women across the UK.

She said: "About 80 per cent of people who come to me are wearing the wrong bra size.

"While they have been fitted before, it was often so long ago that they've since had children, changed dress size and lifestyle, and somewhere along the line forgotten that their bra size will have also changed.

"There are women who come in wearing a 36B bra and leave with a 34DD, or even an E cup, so that gives you an idea of how much it can vary.

"Whenever I'm shopping I always see women picking up the wrong size and inside I'm thinking, 'no, you can do so much better'."

Ms Connelly believes that she can make women feel better about themselves by redesigning their figure with a good bra.

She said: "In the run-up to Christmas people are thinking about looking their best and the best thing you can do is get the right bra.

"Their back size is often too large and cup too small, so by having the right back size it can completely redefine your shape and give a lot of women their waist back.

"People like Trinny and Susannah have raised awareness of this and Gok Wan has been great in giving women their confidence back. I'm trying to do for Edinburgh what Gok Wan has done everywhere."

As well as giving shoppers a boost, Ms Connelly hopes the event on December 2 will raise funds for It's Good 2 Give.

The city charity, run by Lynne McNicoll, who has previously helped raise over 650,000 for the Teenage Cancer Trust, supports the families of young people who have been diagnosed with cancer.

She said: "It's lovely to hear that we have the support of local businesses like Sarah's. We only set up the charity recently but we are thrilled by the response that we've had."

"Everyone getting fitted that day can be assured that they are helping to get funds to the families of those affected by cancer."