Where to begin? We caught wind that images from the first Victoria’s Secret catalog have resurfaced on a site called Retronaut. We found them and alternated between cracking up, furrowing our brows and shaking our heads at the old images. See for yourself.

The first catalog was distributed in 1979 … a time before every image was Photoshopped and before so many models opted for enhancements. And while we did snicker a bit at the dated images, the furry slippers and the silly poses, the photos contained real ladies with real bodies. As one article said, “The catalog actually showed what many real women would look like wearing the lingerie.” Unlike these days when catalog images seem to be over airbrushed, all breasts are perky, and many models, while very beautiful, are often waif-like and not very realistic looking at all.

One thing that hasn’t changed in the last 33 years is that women love pretty lingerie. One retail expert says more than $30 billion worth of lingerie is purchased annually in the U.S. alone. That’s a lot of bras, underwear and nighties. Oh, and furry slippers, too. J And something tells us Victoria’s Secret, starting with its first catalog in 1979, is a big reason this industry continues to grow.

CupCase is the perfect way to protect those billions of dollars worth of lingerie. Now available in Red Hot!, it’s a great case for those super sexy lingerie sets. Not only is CupCase a great travel accessory, it protects those fancy undergarments and keeps them looking good for years to come. Heck, it might have even kept some of those items from 1979 still in pristine shape had it been around!

We know what most girls dream of when they think of an engagement ring and wedding band: diamonds. We do, too! But we came across some really unique rings lately and wondered what you brides and brides-to-be think about them.

Just in time for Earth Day, which just passed April 22, we wanted to tell you about engagement rings and wedding bangs made of … wood. That’s right, there’s an eco-conscious company called Simply Wood Rings that has an entire selection made of wood! The rings are made for men and women from all different types of wood, even some salvaged wood.

But don’t discount the rings just yet. Take a look. They’re actually pretty. There’s one called “Breaking Traditions” that’s made of mahogany and stone. It uses crushed stone, including mother of pearl, coral, malachite, concrete and sand to mimic a “traditional” three-stone diamond engagement ring.

There’s another called “Love is Now” made of walnut and maple and includes a diamond-like gem called moissanite.

Simply Wood Rings are made by hand from a single piece of wood in a way that the structural integrity of the wood is maintained. The website says the rings can withstand the occasional shower or hand wash. A finish is added to the rings to make them waterproof, but they cannot withstand a lengthy submersion. At the first signs of wear, Simply Wood Rings suggest sending in your ring for its free refinishing service.

The rings are obviously not as durable as metal rings, but are said to last for many years. Because of the care that must be taken of the ring, it’s said that the ring is more than just a ring that’s worn and forgotten. Instead, it’s a “very special thing that the ring asks of us is to be in the moment and aware.” As the website says, “Let the tree hug you.”

So, what do you think, CupCasers? “Wood” you go for a wooden ring?

Some celebrities seem to pull off the look effortlessly (Beyonce). Others, not so much (Courtney Love). We’re talking about the look where a woman’s bra is somewhat exposed. It can look chic and can be done tastefully, but fashion experts say the key is to not try too hard. Keep it simple, classy and make it look effortless.

After all, summer’s coming and exposing one’s bra in some fashion is typically a hot trend. So, we thought we’d offer you a few tips so if you decide to try it, you can do it the right way.

• First, be sure that the “where and when” is appropriate. A night on the town is your best bet. We don’t recommend trying this look at an office function or around impressionable children. One more “no-no” is: Do not go overboard. Do not wear your bra instead of a shirt.
• Try wearing a bright or patterned bra under a sheer shirt or under a tank top.
• Consider wearing a pretty lace bra and expose just a tiny bit around the edges of a button-down or v-necked shirt.
• Try wearing a lacy bra under a loose, basic top.
• Make sure it’s a nice bra and that it fits properly. A colorful, lace or embroidered bra is a good choice. A plain, dirty or fraying bra is not a good choice. If it’s the bra straps that will be showing, make sure they’re in good condition, too.

Of course, one of the best ways to keep your bras in good condition is to store them in a CupCase, especially when you travel. If you’re going to be (tastefully) exposing your brassiere, you don’t want them to be creased, crimped or worse!

Were you able to pull off the bra reveal as a fashion statement? Do share with us some photos!

For many women, losing weight means losing it from the breasts as well as other parts of the body. Sometimes it’s even the first area women notice a change and for many, decreasing breast size can be a little worrisome.

The fact is most of the inside of the breast is composed of fatty tissue and fibrous connective tissues that bind the breast together and give it shape. So if you’re on a mission to lose fat, it’s likely you’ll lose some fat in your breasts. It’s simply not possible to gain or lose weight in one specific area of your body, according to the American Council on Exercise. Still, there are some ways to compensate for lost breast fat and keep your breasts looking full and lifted.

Here are some tips for healthy weight loss as well as exercises that will help tone your pectoral muscles so you can firm up what you have!

What you should be eating? Experts say you should focus on making good food choices but allow yourself the occasional indulgence. Your diet should consist mostly of whole grains, fruits and vegetables. Be sure you also include lean proteins and low-fat dairy.

How much cardio? American College of Sports Medicine says to aim for at least 150 minutes of intense physical activity per week to promote fat loss. Be sure to wear a supportive bra while working out!

How much strength training? Experts say exercises like bench presses, pushups and incline presses will help strengthen muscles of the chest wall and give the illusion of larger (and perkier) breasts. Aim to strength train 3-4 times a week. Here are more weight lifting exercises to benefit the chest area.

Don’t worry. Many women say it’s much better to be a healthy weight and have smaller breasts. Just tone up what you have, make sure you have a great bra that lifts you up in all the right places and enjoy the summer!

Whether you’re in search of the best deal on the latest beauty product, or if you just want to have fun “trying on” your favorite celebrity’s hair style, there are several beauty apps out there that are helpful, fun and best of all free!

Here’s a look at a few featured by the style website TheHighLow.com.

InStyle has a free Hairstyle Try-On app for the iPhone and iPad. This is an easy way to try out a new ‘do. It has celebrity styles and a fresh selection of haircuts that are updated every two weeks. You simply upload an image of yourself and virtually try on the looks!

Another cool app is one from Total Beauty that offers a ton of unbiased reviews of beauty products. Right now, there are about 45,000 product reviews. You can check ratings, price comparisons and even tag your favorite products.

Have you ever wanted to virtually try on nail polish? Sephora’s app, Sephora To Go, is for you, then! This app not only helps you find stores nearby, you can use it to make lists and learn about new products.

Have you discovered some helpful and fun beauty apps? Please share them with CupCase!

Do you remember when you first realized you were developing breasts? Did you talk to your mother about it? Did you already know what was happening and why? When did you get your first bra?

For some of us, “The Girls” developed earlier than others and open communication with our parents was easy. If you’re now a mother with a daughter of your own, how will you talk to her about how, when and why she’ll go through puberty and develop breasts?

We found a great website called KidsHealth that offers information and advice for parents, kids and teens about bodies, what happens when and how to talk about the changes openly, honestly and in a safe environment.

According to this site, girls develop breasts between the ages of 8 and 13. And from “bud” to full-on breast, kids can have a lot of questions and insecurities. For them, there’s a great section called Breasts and Bras that provides info (on their level) about what’s happening. It answers all sorts of questions, including all the “silly ones” many of us had, as well. There’s even a description about how to measure to determine the proper bra size!

For parents, there’s a great area that gives tips on talking to children about puberty. It’s a discussion that needs to happen with boys and girls, and according to the site, you should start talking about these things early so kids not only learn from you first, but so they’ll also feel comfortable coming to you with questions.

One of our favorite books dealing with breasts is “Are You There God, It’s Me Margaret” by Judy Blume. Remember her mantra: “I must, I must, I must increase my breasts…” At any rate, it’s a book most girls can relate to and opens the doors for a great discussion.

Check out the site and please share with us your tips on talking to your kids!

If you have gal pals who’ve just come back from a Spring Break trip in a sunny locale with a gorgeous tan, don’t worry. If you didn’t have time to get out of dodge, you can get a spray-on tan and no one will know the difference!

MyTanningTips.com says spray tanning has been around since 1997 and comes in two forms: airbrushing and tanning booths. The airbrushing method of spray tanning involves a technician using an airbrush machine to apply the tanning chemicals to your body. The second method of spray tanning is automatic tanning booths, which apply an even, continuous mist of tanning chemicals over your body while you stand in the booth. Both methods of spray tanning offer degrees of tan and allow you to choose how tan you’d like to be.

Here are a few tips from Glamour magazine for achieving a natural-looking and long-lasting tan:

1. Exfoliate before you tan, preferably with an oil-based product. Exfoliating helps to get rid of dead skin cells that can make your tan look blotchy.

2. On the day of your spray tan, your skin should be clean, dry and free of any products. Make sure you do not apply any lotion, makeup or deodorant, as they contain oils that can keep the tan from soaking in. When your skin is healthy and hydrated it holds the tan longer and better, so in the days after your spray tan, moisturize every day after your shower.

3. If you wax, do so a couple of days prior to your tanning appointment. Waxing after your spray tan can make the tan come off in those areas. You’ll also want to shave the night before your appointment, as shaving can cause the tan to come off, as well.

4. If you’re getting a spray tan for a special event (wedding or party), book a trial appointment so you can try out the tan and find the right shade for your skin.

5. For the most foolproof results, Glamour magazine says to splurge on a tan administered by an experienced technician for the most even and realistic results.

Have you gotten a spray tan? What did you think?

Patterned pumps are all the rage this spring. Glamour magazine says this season’s hottest high heels feature everything from geometric shapes to vibrant flowers and some of them are pretty cool looking.

We love heels and how they make us feel and look. But what we’ve learned is that there is a time and place for heels. As much as we love them, sometimes they’re not that practical.

Here’s a fun top 10 list of the wide range of ways women in history have worn high heels. Some are a little cringe-worthy, but they’re still fun. How many of these can you check off?

10. When you’re dancing … pole dancing. (Ok. We don’t want to go there! )

9. Very carefully. (Ha-ha)

8. With your sexy lingerie.

7. In the nude.

6. At your wedding.

5. With your business suit.

4. With your bikini.

3. With jeans.

2. On the red carpet or other fancy affair.

1. Cleaning house. (Yeah, right!)

Where’s the craziest place you’ve worn high heels? Please share and we’ll share some of the best on Twitter @Cupcase.

We love strong colors and interesting prints. You probably could have guessed that based on the colors in which CupCase is available: Pretty Purple, Hot Pink, Little Black Dress, as well as Spot on Leopard and Charming Cheetah. And Red is on its way!

But what do these colors “mean?” After doing a little research, we found out:

• Purple symbolizes luxury, wealth and sophistication.
• Pink represents femininity and softness.
• Black is powerful and associated with elegance and class (think black-tie affair). It’s also a serious color (that goes with everything!).

And the animal prints, well, they’re just plain fun!

Do you have a CupCase? Which color is your favorite?

If you don’t have a CupCase yet, we we’re offering a special deal right now that will allow you to purchase a CupCase in each of our fun colors and patterns at a reduced price! If you purchase five or more CupCases, you will save $5 per CupCase. That’s right! Buy five or more and pay just $19.95 per CupCase.

Be sure to let us know which color (or colors!) you decide to purchase!