First, we’re going to measure you and suss out your needs. You’ve heard the oft-cited statistic that about eighty percent of people are wearing the wrong bra size, but you probably think you’re part of that vaunted fifth that has it right. Then again, sixty-four percent of Americans think they’re above average drivers, which might make you more willing to reevaluate how certain you are about your own personal bra.
When we opened Underpinnings, we definitely thought our patrons would be shy during their bra fitting appointments. After all, being half-naked in front of a stranger sounds daunting.
We were wrong about that; people were shy about the process. What’s going to happen when you make an appointment for an Underpinnings fitting?
Bra Fitting at Our Shop in Louisville
What to Expect During Your Bra Fitting Appointment
When you come to our shop in Louisville to get a bra fitting, it’s going to be a little different than what you’ve experienced in the past. Expect to spend about an hour with us from start to finish. First, we’ll have you undress to your point of comfort so we can take a quick measurement of your bust and rib cage. This is just as a point of reference— it’s no final judgment!
Brand to brand, style to style, and even garment to garment, bras vary like anything else, so even after you find your size, style and fabrication matter a lot. We have bras from size 28A to 54N in stock in our shop every day; we will be able to find your fit.When we fit our clients in store, we often find their fit two to four band sizes and three to five cup sizes off what they expected. Finding your fit without the help of a pro also depends on you being able to self-report accurately what’s wrong with your bra. Many people have been wearing the wrong size for so long they don’t even know something is wrong or that it could be better! This is all to say nothing of the size range, quality, variety of styles, and the needs of those who have softer tissue, hormone fluctuations, widely spaced breasts, or significant asymmetry.
Once your fitter has taken a look at your body and gotten the measurements she needs, she will head back to the Wall of Bras, a.k.a., the backroom where we stock over 200 unique sizes. Based on the measurements the fitter just took, she’ll get two or three “first guess” options and rejoin you in the dressing room. You’ll face the mirror and the fitter will put the bra around your ribs with the straps at your elbows. Once the band is hooked, she’ll get your cups arranged and show you how to scoop and swoop. That’s what we call getting each breast nestled tidily in each cup. The fitter will adjust the straps, band, and cups, then evaluate the fit. She’s looking for a few things: does the gore lay flat on your sternum? Is the band too loose? Is there spillover or gaping at the cup? Your fitter will try a few other sizes until she finds just the right thing.
Once she has the right size, she’ll assess your shape. Are your breasts planted narrowly or widely? Is your breast tissue firm or soft? What shape are your breasts? Are they of significantly different sizes? Armed with both the quantitative and qualitative data about your breasts, she’ll head back to the Wall of Bras to find your best options. This may mean you’re in different sizes based on the styles and brands we’re able to find. We may not get it right on the first try; that’s why we stock over 200 sizes!
Finding Your Perfect Match
Most of our clients try on at least fifteen bras during their time with us. Of those, several will fit well, and a few will fit perfectly. Our goal is for you to feel like you’ve found the right fit for your body and your life. More than anything, we want you to understand that if a garment doesn’t fit, it’s something wrong with the style, not with you.
You wear a bra very nearly all day every day, so why not get the exact right thing? You’ll feel more comfortable as you move around the world, and you get to avoid that “can’t wait to take off my bra” feeling when you get home from work. Schedule your complimentary bra fitting today to find your fit.
A Note for Online Shoppers
Shopping for your new favorite bra is always easier when you do it in person, but we get it! Sometimes, that’s just not an option. For clients shopping online, we recommend getting a friend to help you measure.
Finding Your Band Size
Calculate your bra size by taking an underbust measurement at the top of your ribcage just below your breasts, then taking a measurement at the fullest point. For both measurements, get the tape taut against your skin and make sure it is parallel to the ground.
The measurement of your underbust is your band measurement, like 28 or 44. More old-fashioned fitters recommend that you add four inches to your underbust measurement; this is an outdated practice that dates from a time before reliable elastic.
For Support, Band Size Matters
More than 90% of the support and lift you get from your bra comes from the band; the looser the band, the less help you’re getting from the garment! Even if the number surprises you, stick to it. Lastly, if you measure as an odd number like 37, round down to 36. If you’re just over or just under an even number, just round up or down to the nearest.
How to Determine Your Cup Size
Take the measurement of your bust and subtract the measurement of your underbust. That difference in inches will indicate your cup size., like B or H. This will vary depending on which numbering system a brand uses, which is typically dictated by country of origin, but for example, if your underbust is 28 and your bust is 35, you would be a 28DDD in US sizes. We have made the effort to label each bra for sale on our site according to the chart they use. For the above example, that client would be a 28E in UK sizing and a 60F in European sizing. This isn’t foolproof; individual garments vary and some brands have their own peculiarities for sizing; we strongly recommend that you familiarize yourself with individual brand size guides as well as our return policy before purchasing.
Need Help Finding the Right Fit?
Getting a great fit for our online clients is important to us, so please don’t hesitate to call or email with any questions you may have for us. We know it can be confusing and frustrating, and we’re here to help; our goal is to do our best to guide you!
