We girls know it can be downright maddening to find bras that fit, especially when we’re trying to accommodate breasts that aren’t the same size or even the same shape.
Then throw in trying to find a bra in your size in a color other than nude or black and you might as well throw in the towel.
Bra experts to the rescue
It’s a common problem Jodi Albanese set out to fix when she started her high-end custom bra boutique, Amata Lingerie, out of her Southgate home two years ago.
“I was breastfeeding my first son and realized I was an ‘I’ cup,” she said. “I didn’t even know that size existed. I had a horrible time finding bras, and the ones I could find were ugly.”
That’s when Albanese signed up for an eight-week program in Canada led by “The Bra-makers Manual” author Beverly Johnson. She returned well versed in custom bra-making and ready to help.
Custom undergarments
Albanese’s customers run the gamut ““ from small-chested women who don’t want padded bras but can only find bras in their size with padding, to large-chested women who have trouble finding strapless bras to wear with cute tops or dresses in the summer months, to women who have had mastectomies.
Here are some tips Albanese has learned from her customers and from her training to help you on your next bra-hunting expedition:
- Don’t be afraid to go up a cup size (or two!).
- If you go down a band size (the measurement of your rib cage), you usually need to go up a cup size.
- Sizes vary by brand, which makes it difficult to order bras online. In-store or in-home fittings truly work wonders.
- Always choose a well-fitting band that’s parallel to the floor. When you purchase the bra, it should fit on the loosest section of the closure. As the oils in your body stretch out the elastic, you’ll need to tighten the band. If you bought your bra already on the tightest setting, you need to get a smaller band size.
- Bra fittings are very personal. If you’re looking for a bra for your daughter and she’s younger than 18, you should probably accompany her.
- Many women don’t like to spend money on bras, but it is a worthwhile investment, especially for someone who has a large chest and needs plenty of support or someone who is breastfeeding and needs multiple bras that are comfortable and supportive.
- It’s OK to buy a bra without foam. Seamed bras (in the right size) actually provide more support because there is more shaping than can occur in foam cups.
In addition to Amata Lingerie, Albanese recommends women shop for bras locally at Nordstrom, Knickers of Hyde Park and La Silhouette in Madeira, all of which offer in-store fittings.
“It’s awesome to help women feel confident,” Albanese said.
