My intimacy bra fitting – the day my life changed!
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I dropped 15 lbs instantly with the power of a properly fitted bra!
photos: we heart this
Ever since Tyna and I attended the South Coast Plaza blogger event a couple of months ago, there has been one store I couldn’t get out of my mind; {intimacy}. Never much of a lingerie person, I entered the store mistakenly thinking “my bra is just fine”. But as we stood and listened to the manger speak, I swear my girls ended up feeling like they were down around my waist in the “just fine” bra I was wearing. So, when the opportunity arose for me to have a fitting at their Century City location, I couldn’t say yes fast enough.
Upon arrival, I filled out an assessment card, letting them know what I thought my bra size was; 38C, plus any fit issues I was currently having (for me; straps falling down, not feeling supported, and the dreaded back fat) and what kind of bra I was interested in. I headed into my fitting with Tracy, the lovely store manager, knowing that the bra that I was wearing was ill-fitting. I wouldn’t have checked off any of those things if it wasn’t! But I quickly learned that was an understatement.
Tracy asked me to take off my shirt so she could see my current bra. She pointed out that the weight of my breasts was being held up (or, not held up as they case was) by my straps. This was causing me look “low and wide”. Wow, not a term you want to hear in reference to your boobs. Apparently straps should only carry about 10% of the hoisting duty and these poor straps were tired (hence they’re falling down my arms, trying to surrender).
The other 90% of the support responsibility should rest with the band, which should be firm and level around your torso, and rather snug. As Tracy pulled out my band and was able to place a clenched fist through the back of my bra, I knew this stretched out, absolutely unsupportive mess of a bra was going straight in the trash when I got home!
Another point about my bra (that I was hating more by the minute), as the straps tried to handle all of the weight, my breasts shifted lower and the band rode up my back. What does that equal? Back fat! Prior to the fitting I would have sworn I need a larger band to deal with back fat, turns out I needed a smaller band. In a properly fitting bra, the band fits tighter, rests lower on your back and doesn’t ride up. All of your jiggly-bits being tucked into it and not popping out as the band moves (because, it doesn’t). Well, that makes a lot of sense!
Tracy asked me to remove my bra and step into the super silky robe they supply, then headed to the back to pull sizes and styles for me. All the bras are behind the scenes. I felt a bit sad to not be able to choose the bra myself, but trusted that Tracy would be better at picking then me. She was the expert after all! And obviously, I didn’t do such a hot job previously…
First step, finding my correct size. One item noticeably missing from our fitting room, a measuring tape. They find them to be inaccurate and use the bras themselves as fitting guides (an approach they call holistic). And she nailed it with the first try. After some adjustments and making sure everything was where it should be (I kid you not, it involved touching my toes!) My correct size turned out to be a…36E!
Going down a size in the band admittedly felt a bit tight. But there’s a reason for it, a bra will be break in, like a new pair of shoes, within 2-4 weeks, and continue to stretch out out over time. A new bra should be worn on the loosest setting at first (the outside hook), allowing you to make it tighter as the bra ages. But, going down a band size also assured that my bra was firmly placed where it should be worn and wasn’t going anywhere.
Now, about that E cup, that was a surprise. Granted, they do carry mostly European styles (which are way different than American sizing). But most importantly, I learned that the size really doesn’t matter, it’s fit that counts. A, E; they’re just letters.
The straps were loosened quite a bit (remember, only 10% of the support should rest with them). So much so that when we moved them down my arms, my girls still stayed right where the were. And where were they? Versus low and wide, they were high and lean! I swear to you, I looked 15 lbs thinner. This fact being confirmed by everyone I put on a before and after bra show over the next few days, and that you can see for yourself right here.
The bra doing this magic act? What a beauty (it’s shown in this post). I kid you not, it looks and feels like a piece of art. It’s by PrimaDonna from their retro inspired Twist collection. The attention to detail is incredible; gorgeous top stitching and peek-a-boo sections. Plus, my bra only retails for $105. I spent half that on my ill fitting before bra!
What could have been uncomfortable was actually quite pleasant and turned out to be such a positive experience. How can I not be happy with these results? Best of all anyone can schedule a complimentary fitting. You need not be a E cup squeezed into a C cup blogger like me! If you think you may be one of the 85% of women wearing the wrong bra size, let {intimacy} help you!
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That is an amazing transformation! I am in awe. I would love to find a place like this to get a great fitting. But I have had no such luck because I live in Ohio and I have an unconventional size going on. I have a much wider band than cup size. It is sooo hard to find a good fit.
@stef doesn’t it feel so much better now that you have the right size?
I used to work at a lingerie store during college and we did bra fittings as well. It was amazing how much happier women were when they were in a bra that fit correctly. Who knew, if the girls are happy, you would be happy too!
Another thing to keep in mind, our body fluctuates throughout the months with weight gain/loss, during that “time” of the month, and if you have had any major life changes (babies or stress). So make sure to treat yourself and get fitted every few months to make sure you are still in the right size. Because remember, when the girls are happy, you are happy!:D
Those are some amazing photos, @Stef! I’m positive I’m wearing the wrong size, and after consulting the intimacy website, YAY! There’s a store in Philly! I’m going to do some arm-twisting and get my friends and maybe even my mom to take a little road trip one day soon.
Holy cow! The difference in those pictures is amazing! I know I’m guilty of wearing ill fitting bras. I really should get properly fitted. I wish they had a store in Minnesota!
What a big transformation! It really is incredible. It sounds like you had a really great experience, Stef! I’ll admit, I’ve never had a proper fitting and I’ve had such bad luck with straps I usually only get strapless bras! Thankfully, there’s a store opening in King of Prussia next month!
What a big transformation! It really is incredible. It sounds like you had a really great experience, Stef! I’ll admit, I’ve never had a proper fitting and I’ve had such bad luck with straps, I usually only get strapless bras! Thankfully, there’s a store opening in King of Prussia next month!
I felt that way about a year ago when I was finally properly fitted, but now I’m wondering if I need to get refitted again. But it’s so hard to spend that much money on bras! Why does everything exclusive to women have to be so expensive.
Wow is right! I am in great need of a fitting! I’m glad you got to get the girls taken care of properly! What a difference @stef! What I’m looking for is a bra that closes in front, not the back.. These are hard to come by in my size…
@stef -Welcome to the world of speciality bra sizes! Getting a new bra is the easiest 15 pounds you probably every lost. This is a great reminder for me as I HATE going bra shopping. Nordstrom is the only place around me that has “speciality sizes.”
@stef — Your story makes me want burn all my old bras that do not fit.
@stef – Doesn’t a properly fitted bra feel good? I was inspired months ago by a few videos on YT and TV, but since I can’t make it to Chicago to the intimacy there (a good 30 minutes when traffic is light, over an hour with traffic jams and 40 minutes at least by Metra), I took a good hard look at my own bras while I was wearing them.
The band of my 34B’s was too loose and didn’t conform to my body and the breast tissue wasn’t held in properly so the breast tissue was sagging. My straps also fell down. I knew what I subtracted from the band I had to make up by going up a cup size. I ordered a pair of bras with the VS semi-annual sale in 32C’s. Let me tell you, band felt really tight (and left marks on my body for the first week), but my breast tissue was happy and they were finally properly aligned.
A month later, my breasts are back to being perky, not saggy (21, no kids and they were sagging. Not pretty). The band does stretch out as it conforms to your body. Happy breast tissue makes BSE’s easier as you can tell what’s tissue and what’s not without second guessing. A good bra protects the elasticity of breast tissue, not destroy it (eliminate those minimizer bras, ladies!). I feel so much happier with my 32C’s. Best change of my life.
I have this bra in Coral and I LOVE IT! It’s amazing how a great bra makes you feel. I stand straighter, have a little more confidence and feel so much sexier. I love wearing my pink, red, & purple bra’s the most especially under conservative work clothes. :) Enjoy your bra.
wow that is incredible, i thought my bra was okay but now looking at that transformation i think its time for me to search for a store near by . I hate bra shopping i buy one bra and after about a month i need to get another one so this looks like its worth my time and effort. thanks so much for the post:) keep us all updated
I had this life-changing fitting done once. I thought I was a 36C for years and years and it turned out I was a 32D! What a huge difference it made in how well I stood straight too and how my clothes looked! It really is worth the expense when you can ditch all those ill-fitting bras. I couldn’t afford alot of them so I just bought one in nude and one in black and I hand wash them and air dry them (learned that one the hard way with my very first one!) and they are still in perfect condition a couple years later…even though I think they’re not the right size anymore after having a baby.
It truly is amazing how many woman that are smart, well informed shoppers are walking around in the wrong bra size. I was one of them until today – yep, just this afternoon I meet with Susan (or as she’s known “The Bra Whisperer”) owner of Intimacy for my own fitting!
Details to come, but Susan is a force – impeccably dressed (clothes look so much better when your underthings fit properly), super friendly, and just bursting with knowledge and information! I had a blast – and walked way with the prettiest and best fitting bra of my life.
Like Mel, I discovered I am a 34C or 32D – depending on bras, brands and fit, those two sizes are interchangable – who knew? From what I gathered, the size of the cups (A,B,C) are not uniform – they grow with the size of the band (32, 34, 36″etc).
Finally, pictures to come, but for the first time in my life I went with the pretty colors. Instead of a basic black or boring beige, I came home with my first colored bra (How sad is that? And it’s not unusual – Susan said she hears that all the time – women are such practical shoppers.) So, I went with a the lovliest coral hued bra from Marie Jo – I’m in love with a bra!
Update: Make the color officially Raspberry – here’s a link to my best bra ever – Marie Jo Jane Balconnet Bra (This link goes to a push up version – but it looks just like mine)
I remember Oprah doing this on her show. It’s amazing what a properly fitting bra can do for you. I never thought about bras stretching out, but that makes total sense. I need a new bra and a fitting soon. Great post @Stef!
I’m all for anything that makes me look 15lbs lighter instantly. I need to get properly fitted tout suite! Then I’ll probably cry thinking about the hundreds of dollars wasted at Victoria’s Secret…
That looks great, Stef! I soo wish I could get a proper bra fitting. Something I’ve been thinking about since it was last mentioned on the blog.
@Katie – There are ways to properly fit yourself. I did mine by myself.
Unfortunately I was not as lucky as everyone else. I am different, small bust large band size. The fitter decided on a size, (I had bras this size as home but not comfortable). She ordered a 40B They did not have any bra in that size in the store for me to try on. I waited 9 weeks for it to be “made” and got a call telling me that my 40C had come in. According to her nobody makes the size she ordered for me, so I am stil braless.
I missed the Bra whisperer.
My transformation is even better! I ditched my 34C for 28FF and 30F (UK sizing so H and G in US respectively). Check the link below.
One of the happiest days in my life!
I can’t describe in words how happy I am today because today is the day I purchased the right size sized bra in 5 years!!! I walked into the intimacy store in KOP Mall and met this wonderful lady,Helen(Assistant Manager). When I told her what I was looking for (I was actually looking for a 36DDD/36E because that is what I was told as my size when they measured me at Victoria’s Secret and one more store yesterday) she simply asked me to remove the denim jacket I was wearing and asked me to turn around. She gave me some bras to try on and told me not to look at the sizes she gave me. She didn’t even measure me with a tape. All I know is that I was in tears after I tried the first one. I couldn’t believe myself. I too felt a 15 lbs or more lesser. I tried all those she gave me and I felt so much confidence about me and my body standing right there in that fitting room. She was so helpful that she checked how I was doing constantly and helped me to get more bras which suited my style to the fitting room (you know how much time it will save you when you shop for a bra). This is one of the best shopping I have done in my life though I spent a little more than I thought I will (I couldn’t stop buying them because I felt they were all made for me, they fitted so perfectly). I walked into this store wearing a 38D and walked out with so many 34G s in my shopping bag :)