Underpinnings

"Underpinnings" is the word Tim Gunn uses to describe what the rest of us call bras and underwear.  I love Tim Gunn.  Last week I went shopping in preparation for my new job.  Before I left the house I spent a little time looking through my wardrobe and figuring out what gaps needed filling.  I noticed that I needed another pair of pants for work that could be more of a light-brown neutral and that I needed new black and brown heels.  When I approached my underpinnings drawer I realized that there were some real gaps to fill there.  I had only been wearing basically two dependable old bras - the others didn't fit or had something funky going on that made me avoid them.  It was time to focus on my underpinnings again.  I tend to avoid bra shopping.  I just prefer to buy things everyone will see rather than spend good money on something so private. 

I ventured into Victoria's Secret that afternoon dreading the experience and realizing that I had no idea what size I was.  A sales associate noticed that I was putting like 3 sizes of every bra in my little shopping bag to give myself options in the dressing room and she suggested a bra fitting.  I warily agreed and pleasantly found that the experience was less embarrassing and more helpful than I thought it would be.  First of all, the fitting included none of the expected groping or old ladies comparing the size of my breasts to types of fruit (I guess this is how I'd always envisioned bra fittings!).  The "bra specialist" did some measurements (over my clothes...luckily I wasn't wearing anything padded or I don't know how that would have gone) and to my surprise, announced that I was a completely different size that I had ever considered (I'll spare you the personal stats!).  She then brought me an entire drawer of all types of bras in that size for me to try on and then decide which ones worked best.  I even needed an opinion a couple times and felt comfortable letting her my dressing room to  decide the verdict.  She then recorded my favorite kinds on a little card and showed me where the drawers were in the store with those types so I could select particular colors.  I ended up buying three really beautiful bras - different colors, gorgeous lace (much better than my typical nude-colored ones).  Wearing these new underpinnings makes me feel surprisingly fabulous.  There's something about knowing that what's under my clothes is sexy and sophisticated that makes me feel more confident.  So please...go buy a new bra today and get measured - it will make a huge difference in how you feel about yourself and probably how you look. 

Comments

[Caity]

That's so true! The first time I got fitted I was a bit wary too, but when you have the right fit you feel so much more comfortable in your own skin. Good advice :)

[Kelli]

I've never gotten an actual bra fitting because I've just assumed that being small-chested means I don't need to. Maybe I'm wrong? You will be proud of me though, I found a cute pink and black polka-dotted bra at Target and threw out an old bra I've had for-freaking-ever!