I had to hit REI today for a couple of new sports bras for my expanding self, and so was amused to read this piece by Emily Piacenza appearing at DoubleX.
Inside the store, I was seated briefly in a tight corner, surrounded by lingerie and hosiery, and there I filled out a questionnaire about my goals. I was interested in comfortable, everyday bras, not "special occasion" lingerie. Yes, I often found that my straps slid down and that underwire left marks. I did not have a problem with bras being too tight. I wasn't sure if they were too loose. No, I did not need a lot of padding. Yes, my breasts were two subtly different sizes. In the space marked "other concerns," I wrote, "I am a schoolteacher and cannot have my nipples visible at any time. Thank you." A small bespectacled woman eventually approached me through the screens of silk and lace, collected my paper, and glanced over it quickly. "OK, Emily, please follow me into the dressing room," she said, not really smiling, and back we went.
In a small, curtained cubicle she asked me to take off my top and bra, and I stood uncomfortably aware of my boobs as she looked at them quickly and quizzically and then left. Alone, I gazed at myself in the full-length mirror, but before I could do a thorough analysis, she was back, armed with twenty bras. She chose a plain black one with lacy straps, held it up in front of me, and then with one swift movement hooked it around me. I couldn't remember the last time anyone had actually helped me put on my underwear, and so distracted was I with that thought that I didn't even really notice that she was tugging at the bra and adjusting the straps, the band, and my breasts. She stepped away to give me a glance into the mirror. I stared.
I had a very similar experience (only with a consultation rather than a questionnaire) when I bit the bullet and went to the Expensive Department Store to get properly fitted a few years ago, and was transformed in the space of a few minutes from ill-fitting 40C to correctly-fitting 36DDD. Had to get re-fitted again last year after dropping 50 pounds; who knows where I'll be post-baby?
Needless to say, REI does not employ bra fitting specialists that I know of, but by now I have a decent idea of how they are supposed to fit. It's sort of amazing that I went for so many years doing it all wrong, though.
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