While in Chicago I found myself at the Bloomingdales, which is located in a mall off the Magnificent Mile. That mall also had a store I had heard a lot about from other larger bosomed ladyfriends, called
{intimacy} Bra Fit Specialists. I think Oprah had hyped the store at one point too.
Anyway, I didn't make an appointment or anything but I knew when I was heading to a city with many shopping options that I wanted to try and locate some new foundation garments. My favorite bras were fitting me oddly and I feared maybe I needed a different size. I scoured the discounts at Nordstrom Rack in the Loop and on North Michigan but came up empty. I could have gone to Pittsburgh's Nordstrom or Saks where I had been fitted previously, but I was eager to see if the hype about Intimacy was founded. They were able to see me almost immediately. I hadn't been fitted (other than when I bought my wedding bra at
Smartform Pittsburgh) for a few years. And they say you should go whenever you have a change in weight. I will detail my experience below (without photos because that would be weird).
Some things to consider before you go:
*You might want to make an appointment. They can get busy, particularly on weekends.
*I am not the most modest gal when it comes to being fitted but I was very glad that I happened to wear a slip that day. It made the changing process a lot more clothed than it might have otherwise been.
*Although you weren't obligated to buy a bra if you were fitted, the business model presupposes that once you learn you are wearing a size you don't own that you will be amenable to shopping. This would be fine except...
*The bras were EXPENSIVE. I usually wear Wacoal, Chantelle, Le Mystere, Fayreform, Freya, and what not, so it isn't like I expected to be spending $10. But these bras started at $90 and went all the way up in price from there. I definitely felt major sticker shock.
*You can probably find the bras/brands they carry for less elsewhere. There is a markup. This is likely because of the level of service you receive, but also because you are a captive audience. It's like buying beer at the ballpark. Expect to pay more than you might elsewhere.
*Once you learn your correct size you can absolutely go elsewhere and try on bras at lower price points. Or locate the ones you liked for (on average) $20 less than what they charged there. (Feel free to marvel over the fleeting beauty of a free and open market like a good capitalist consumer).
*If you do buy from them, they will do free alterations at the point of sale or in the future. This includes if/when the band stretches and you need/want the hook closures to be tightened up.
*They don't allow returns so buy carefully and try not to get wrapped up in the excitement of wearing an amazing(ly expensive), well-made, perfectly-fitting bra. They offer exchanges/store credit only.
*There's no tax on clothing in states like PA but in the city of Chicago, the tax on clothing was almost 10%. Now I use the public transit and love the amenities of a big city like Chicago so I am on board with paying taxes to support such things. But I personally felt another sticker aftershock when I realized that tax would be assessed on my purchases.
My fit specialist was very professional and kind. She was efficient and explained to me how they fit there. No measuring tapes or math. They do it based on visual signifiers. She took one look at me in my own bra (without checking the size I was wearing or asking me what I typically wore) and said, "I will be right back with some bras in size 32dd/e." I was wearing 34dd/e so although it wasn't the size she determined, I wasn't that far off. The experience was educational and eye opening, particularly when I switched from the bra I was wearing to the one she fit me with. She brought a few styles to try but it was clear that my favorite was the sturdy but beautiful lace number you see below. I'm not into molded cups and I like things that don't have much of a profile underneath lighter-weight clothing. Lace fit the bill.
I ended up loving the French bras of a brand called Empreinte for their fit and their appearance. Each one had a back-wing which, at my cup size I think is important. My favorite style was the Melody in lace, which you can see above.
To be honest, I left feeling mixed about the whole experience because while I really liked the bras I tried and the person who helped me, I didn't like the idea of paying $35 or so more in mark up on each bra. Personally, I would prefer to pay the fit specialist a one-time fee. $20-35 for a bit if personal attention and advice isn't that unreasonable, but $20-$35 or more PER BRA is enough to deter me from being a frequent/repeat customer. At least now I know. And as they say, knowing is half the battle.
