As for fittings… I will again, heartily recommend getting a fitting at a good boutique near you. Ideally your fitter should be able to not only tell you your size, but explain to you what she is looking for in terms of fit. A good fitter will also know how different companies and styles cut their bras, and will be able to bring different sizes to compensate. In terms of varieties of body shapes and sizes, you should never be made to feel uncomfortable. I’m disgusted to hear stories about rude fitters, although sadly, these aren’t the first I’ve heard. And when it comes to feeling nervous about standing half naked in front of a stranger, keep in mind that they see scores of half naked ladies (and in my stores case, gentlemen) everyday. Also, part of my fit training was to get a fitting on myself, and later I acted as a “fit model” for other fitters-in-training. So I’ve kind of been there too.

Sizes and bra requests: one of the awfulest things ever in my former bra slinging life, was not being able to offer a customer what she wanted. Most boutiques do not make their bras, so they have to rely on what companies are manufacturing. Although things have gotten so much better over the years, there are still huge gaps in the market. As well, sometimes a company will make sizes/ styles that fill the gaps, but a store will not carry them because they fit poorly. Bras are complicated bits of engineering, and not everyone does it right. Lastly, not everything is possible. I would love a seamless cotton bra. But I know that cotton tends to stretch and sag, especially without the added structure of seaming… so for my size (32FF) it’s probably not going to work.

Actually, on that note, I have a complaint. I don’t think there is a lack of pretty bras for RODoomy ladies. If you know where to look, there are many gorgeous options (Freya, Fantasie, Panache, Prima Donna, Avianna, Elomi). But there is really a lack of simple non-lacy options, especially for those above GG.

I realize this is a huge rant. I could probably go on forever, as this is really important to me, but I’ll cut myself off now.

The only Nordstrom’s in the entire state are in the Phoenix area, and like hell am I going to Phoenix for bras. I wouldn’t be able to anyway, on account of how I can’t drive and there is no way in HELL one of my parents would drive me two hours to bra shop. My mother suggested Dillards, and online they seem to have a decent size selection, but I ahven’t seen anyone mention them? There also appears to be a Lane Bryant sort of near me, but I am quite posssibly too thin for anything from there. (I measured myself earlier. Holy hell, I have a 40-32-43 figure.)

tl;dr: Tucson, Arizona. 32″ ribcage and 40″ bust. Halp?

Incidentally, Nordstrom put me into a 36F. The fitter (and I use that term loosely) at Victoria’s Secret told me I’m a 40D.

There was a store in Dallas called Underneath it All, that was a plus size lingerie store………it was SO FABULOUS. Alas, it moved and I never did find it again!

*returns to googling and muttering under her breath*