My faith in the ancient cult of bra fitting saleswomen is shattered. The sole reason I went to the Town Shop is because it reminded me of Schwartz's lingerie shop. My mom always took me to buy bras at Schwartz's because the salesladies there are trained in the art of fitting bras. The Town Shop has the same set up as Schwartz, in which some woman measures the customer, shows her some bras from the boxes behind the counter in which they are kept, then brings stuff to her in a fitting room, and finally adjusts and tugs the products once they are donned in a final fit test.
I went through the process (minus the measuring) when buying two bras to replace two of mine that were branapped. I thought one of he bras was too tight, but the saleswoman, who was my age, insisted that there was plenty of room.
"If you can stick your hand under the back, it's too big," she said, criticizing me for wearing bras that were too loose.
I figured that she was a bra expert, and that the bra would stretch a bit, so I purchased it. However, when I wore it yesterday, it was so tight that it left red marks all over my back in the shape of the bra. The receipt clearly states that bras must be unworn and have the tags on to be returned, but since I bought mine based on the recommendation of their staff and could only tell by wearing it that it was wrong, I am hoping that they will exchange it for a product that actually supports and uplifts without also squeezing my rib cage like an angry octopus.
Either way, the age of the wise bra fitter is over for me, although I did watch two episodes of How to Look Good Naked on Lifetime (yes, I am admitting that I stooped low enough to watch that crap channel, although this show is awesome and worth it), and the show has a "bra whisperer" who helps women find their best tit supporting garment. It almost restored my faith.
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Since I only get cheap bras and I don't like people touching me, I buy what I think will fit. It's hit-or-miss, but I'm getting better at being able to figure out how it's going to fit me by eye.
ReplyDeleteI used to wear too-tight ones too, but it was because I was in denial of the fact that I was a 40 instead of a 36. At least now I really am a 36, so no more red marks.
If the woman was your age, she clearly was not the expert; she was the apprentice. Like you said, becoming an expert bra measurer takes a lifetime. I wouldn't trust someone of our generation, until we are much older.
ReplyDeleteIntimacy is awesome, and their fitters are actually experienced and good at what they do. And I love you so much that I even looked up their New York location for you:
ReplyDeleteIntimacy on Madison
Corner of 90th and Madison
1252 Madison Ave.
New York, New York 10128 USA
Phone (212) 860-8366
i am quite sure i'm wearing the wrong bra, but i'm a cheap date, and i can't get myself to pay more than $30. ugh, going to have to bite the bullet.
ReplyDeletelove this blog.
Don't tell me stories like that. I have to go get fitted for new bras soon (since I am FINALLY done nursing, after what feels like 87 years) and I don't want some 20 year-old little snot giving me the wrong size.
ReplyDeleteI think I'd call the shop and complain.
Hmmm...I can stick my hand up the back. My problem with bra fitters etc, is even if a bra fits the allegedly perfect way, it may not be comfortable. I hate demi-bras. No matter how perfect they fit I will always feel uncomfortable. I'm intrigued by the bra whisper. I'll have to check that show out. If you get a few of your girlfriends together, you can get a girlfriends room at Nordstorm for a bra fitting and you also get good bags. I have no idea what a girlfriends room is, but my moms group is going in April.
ReplyDeleteI would like to hear from some of you who have had bras custom fitted to check the online bra calculator to see it they come out the same, or close. I use two or three of the online calculators, and they all came out the same, even the ones where you take an over the bust measurement as well as under the bust.
ReplyDeleteMy bras seem to fit nicely and even after a long day, they are not that bad. Although after a long day of wearing any bra, it is a pleasure to take the bloody things off.
I recently went to be fitted. I was wearing a 36DD, I should have been wearing a 36FF. The FF fits soooooo much better and I went to Nordstrom and got a fairly young gal, but knew what she was doing. I never have crazy indentations in my shoulders anymore, and my tits look fabulous. I highly recommend Freya and Fantasie, you can get them on ebay new for way cheap. Also Nordstrom Rack has an amazing selection here in Sac I usually pay about $12.95 for bras marked at $68.00.
ReplyDeleteWORTH every penny though, you use them daily! Only bummer is when a bra fits the right way it makes wearing the low cut tops harder....
Here's the problem, gals: there are a slew of bra-fitter wannabes out there. I went into a store that was selling the whole 'we're all wearing the wrong size' hoo-ha and they tried to tell me I was a C cup. In my dreams! Their own bras didn't even match the salesgirl's (I call her a girl because I could have been her mother) calculation. Finally, she told me, essentially, that the calculations were often wrong. So much for finally finding my size after all these years.
ReplyDeleteI love this conversation because it shows that there is no miracle solution to our bra and boob needs although the lingerie industry is hard at work trying to promote it. I think the key is to get measured for some idea of what might fit, then try on a slew of bras and see what works best. Then, my favorite part, hope the manufacturer doesn't change their products once you find something you like, and hope you don't change your products too much either. ;)
ReplyDeleteI will vouch for Victoria's Secret. The woman who helped me there really did know her stuff, and now those are the ones I buy. I used to just buy cheap ones, but I used them forever, so investing in a couple that are well made is worth it.
ReplyDeleteA friend of mine has two very different sized breasts and her dilemma is always which one to buy the bra for.