WELCOME TO BRA WEEK! This week and next, the Autostraddle writers and some special guests will be giving you the scoop on over-the-shoulder-boulder-holders and otherwise-inclined chest-covering situations — fashion, history, feelings and so much more.
I have been a loyal user of one kind of bra for over ten years. Obviously, I’ve bought new ones (time and again) and that’s been great, but I have not strayed from my allegiance to the Lane Bryant Plunge Bra. I knew I should up my support game by trying something new and I’d always been curious about getting a custom bra fit. We’re lucky in New York City to have quite a few legendary stores to choose from.
The thing about a lot of plus size bra manufacturers is that they don’t conform to traditional bra sizing. They may use the same bandwidth + cup size measurements but they don’t actually work if you base it on your interaction with a tape measure. I’ve always found it’s about just trying them on in the store and seeing which one fits, kind of like you would try on dresses. I thought a lot about what it would look like to have someone come at me with a tape measure and rustle up the right fitting bra.
Racks and racks for racks.
To spend the kind of coin one needs to in order to get Bras That Fit And Last is a little daunting. To Go To A Place to get that done is also daunting. Soooo… I procrastinated. I knew the bras I had were no longer fitting as I had an unanticipated and unintended weight change and was kind of annoyed by it and resentful that I had to get new clothing and bras. I let it go until both my best friend and my girlfriend told me I was no longer allowed to wear these monstrosities that were letting my boobs roll around like chicken cutlets.
My bestie Jacqueline along for support.
I enlisted Jacqueline’s support and we went to a custom bra store a kinda-masculine-of-center friend had raved about. Linda the Bra Lady has two locations, one on the Upper East Side and one in Murray Hill where we wanted to get brunch.
Bra shopping pro tip: I highly recommend having lunch right before you go shopping for anything that might trigger body issues because it’s best to leave hangry out of the emotional equation.
Though we didn’t have an appointment and they are recommended, we were seen within about ten minutes. We poked through the showroom and I was a little confused about how little they had out considering the range of sizes they said they carried. I loved that the mannequins were different sizes and some were plus sized right amongst the smaller ones (or “straight” sized as they are called in the plus industry). I like a store that carries all sizes and I especially like it when plus sized clothes aren’t relegated to a secret shame kind of area. Our money is just the same and I find it very affirming when our clothes are viewed as just as valuable by a business.
We went to the fitting area and it looked like I was shopping for a wedding gown — super nice with a roomy center couch for the support team to hang out and offer advice. There was a huge variety of body sizes in the store with us and everyone had different levels of modesty. As someone who occasionally performs burlesque, I don’t have a lot of modesty concerns in changing rooms, but it would be easy to tuck yourself away and not have to show off your bra situation.
I was greeted by Linda herself, though there is a team of bra fit experts who are trained by Linda for three months to achieve that title. She measured my band size with my bra still on and then had me take it off and eyed my tits for a few beats. Then she said, “I’ll be right back,” and went into the stockroom. I peeked back there and that’s where all the bras are. Racks and racks, as tall as you can imagine, with lots of colors, lace and swirly magic.
Cushy support team area.
She came back with a few options and I slid in and out of them, with her expertly adjusting, appraising and approving or rejecting. There were a few winners right away, including a cute t-shirt bra and a really foxy red and black pinstripe bra. I let Linda know I like fun bras in fun colors and I got the run of what she had in my size. I ended up with this gorgeous teal bra that she gave me for half off ($60 down from $120). I also got a super cute beige lacey bra for everyday wear that was $82. And the red pinstriped one was only $38. The bras they have run the gamut from $29-$129.
Linda convinced me to let her throw away the bra I wore in, she said, “When it no longer treats you well it’s time to throw it away, just like a man.” Which is great advice if you modify the “man” to be “any gendered romantic relationship,” but I got the gist.
Me and a plus size mannequin killing it in a leopard bra. Here I am wearing an old bra that doesn’t fit.
They kept my records in their system, so if I want to order a new color or another of the bras I bought I can just call them or swing by. As for the leopard bra I coveted but they didn’t have my size in stock, I’ll need to go back because they know which bras fit a little different and require an in-person try on.
According to her website, custom bra fittings can happen via phone, online chat or email, so far away folks have access to Linda’s magic as well. I’ve been wearing my new bras for over a week now and have been very happy with them. The bras range from AA-N (yes, N cup is a thing) and they have swimwear, nursing bras and mastectomy bras available.
Me and Linda the Bra Lady. I’m wearing a bra that fits super well in this shot. You can definitely tell a difference.
It was daunting to go in for a custom fitting but I’m a convert, now. I definitely feel way more confident in my choice of size and style.
Header by Rory Midhani
Wait, so if non-plus-size is called straight size, does that mean that I’m gay size? Awesome!
<3
This is exactly the article I needed from Bra Week! I’m a fat femme who’s wearing a 36H cup bra right now and I clearly need to be in a bigger cup size, but I’ve been putting it off for ages. I am in the city and will definitely check Linda out because this sounds like a magical experience.
This …”I highly recommend having lunch [or breakfast food] right before you [insert here the impending crisis (likely of a head space nature)] because it’s best to leave hangry out of the emotional equation.”… is the prescription that all good friends should dish out in case of impending emergencies. Especially mother related ones.
Also ‘had’ (hungry/sad) is a thing :(
I have that leopard bra! Bought from adoreme.com :)
As someone who has been wearing a DDD/F cup since I was 15, I really recommend going for a professional bra fitting at least once in your life! (I used to go every 3 or so years, and am seriously due for another one soon). The fitting is free, though you are often expected to buy a bra as a part of the service. The good side of it is even if you buy one bra in the store, you can usually eyeball a few others that are your liking and have your bra consultant write down their information- then you can find the bras online later for cheaper if you wanna be thrifty.
You will be AMAZED how different your clothes fit with the right bra- I have more than once thought my clothes were too small, only to find out that the problem was the bandwidth of my bra was too tight. Whoops! And if you are a type of woman who is busty, the right bra will do wonders for your back and shoulders.
One of the best things I mother ever did for me in high school was insist I get a bra fitting. It changed my whole relationship to my body, particularly my then love/hate relationship to my breasts. Even if you don’t have a bra specialty store where you live, a lot of department stores and even some Victoria’s Secrets have bra consultants. Call and ask! Good luck!
I don’t think you have to be topless to get a bra fitting… Some places just measure over your clothes. Which is good news for people like me who have crippling body issues and don’t want to show their boobs to strangers.
LoL @ the “plus size” mannequin! So that’s what the fashion world deems “fat”?!
Yesss. I had a bra fitting over the bra I was currently wearing, which was confusing (how do they do that?) but I was about half as scared as I would have been, the results were a revelation, so it was worth doing. I was in a cheapish high street store too, so you definitely don’t have to go to specialist boutiques.
Loving this. I recently got sized properly and discovered that I’m a 40G. I’ve been trying to squeeze into way too small DDD bras for years. The article mentions they do swimwear as well, and I checked the site but there are only 2 choices in my size. And they’re both boring (black and solid dark purple).
Can we have a Swim Week next?
I want a cute one-piece (I hate wearing bikinis) and I can’t find one anywhere. Every site I’ve looked at has a tiny selection and they’re all black. If they can make a pretty turquoise bikini in 40G, why can’t they make a one-piece?
Do you have Bravissimo where you live? It’s where my best friend buys her bras and swimsuits and they sell swimsuits by bra size rather than dress size. They definitely have a catalogue so you should be able to order online. Might be worth a look.
I’m so glad you covered Linda’s! I love the massive selection of bras they sell online. It really helped me out when I realized that I couldn’t find my size in normal stores anymore.
I’ve got a small cup size and a large band which can make it really hard to get bras, specially when I’m heavier as my band goes up but my cup never really changes. Dammit bras!
I’m glad you had an awesome bra shopping experience! <3
HOLEY SHMOLEY, you look FABULOUS!!!!! That is amazing. I did a pro fitting after my (first) mastectomy and it was so tight I thought I was going to asphyxiate right there in the fitting room. Apparently it was bogus. If there’s any hope I can look that good, I’m there.
i looooove linda’s!
Thank you SO much for writing this! I’ve been trying to talk myself into my first professional fitting for a while now.
I love Curvy Kate. They make small rib cages and big cups. Love.