Bra Adventures: Kismet and Other Stories

My friends, there is so much excitement around here lately... There's the window washing (since the reno, we have a zillion more windows) and the gardening and the fabric shopping and pattern choosing and the knitting-fitting math and the spring cleaning - but (as I pause to take a breath) let's leave that for the moment.

Let's talk about some developments in the Bra Adventures department:

For starters, after a mere 6 weeks, my Ewa Michalak order arrived. I haven't yet had time to try it on, but I will very soon. And then, natch, you'll hear all about the fit and all of my many feelings. I just tried it on and, of course, it doesn't fit. I don't know what degree of proportional upper cup fullness one would require to get this bra to actually fit but, let's just say, it's far more than mine (and I'm not a slouch in that department). I'm going to review the bra in detail shortly. But briefly: Boobs on a plate, my ass.

However, much more exciting, here's a little story for you:

Many years ago, I was fitted at a TO bra boutique by a delightful and extremely talented young woman. To preserve her privacy, let's call her Veronica. (I think that name sounds rather "sassy bra fitter", don't you agree?) Time elapsed, she moved on to other venues (as did I), and we lost touch with one another.

At any rate, a few weeks ago, Veronica contacted me by email to advise me that she'd found my blog, was enjoying my bra-related posts and, perchance, did I remember her? Um, did I ever! I've thought of her often over the years as a) she is the best bra-fitter I've come across (and I've known many good bra-fitters) and b) long before the term was coined, she and I were "boob twins". In case you're unfamiliar with the term, a boob twin is someone who shares your size and shape of breasts and can wear - and look equally fab - in most of the same bras, in the same size as you.

Back then, boob twins were like unicorns (especially with our boobs!).

Veronica would let me know when new styles arrived - those that were destined to work on me because they worked on her - and we had the same quirky taste in patterns. This was in the era of quality Freya (vs. the "fits young boobs at the young boob price point" thing they've got going on now. Oh Freya, how you have forsaken your original market. I hope it doesn't come back to bit you in the derriere.) 

Intriguingly, we two are not similar in size and shape in any other way. She is tall. She has a broad frame. (She also has the loveliest hair!) The point is, you don't have to have the same proportions as your boob twin. And, as ephemeral as is everything else in the world, so is boob twinness.  Having met recently on a couple of occasions (oh, read on!), we are no longer boob twins (in size, anyway). She's still much younger than me - and her bust has expanded slightly, while mine is in a different sort of flux.

As I recently bought some bras that are too large for me, and she has some that are too small for her, we decided to do a swap! More on this later, but I want to tell you that I walked away with two great bras and (amazingly, given that my swap collection was far less substantial than hers) EVERYTHING that I had worked for her. It was like bra Christmas in May!

Anyway, I could go on forever about the truly illuminating bra-talk we've been having. I sense it is possible (though I loathe this terminology) that I am a bra "geek". How can 3 hours go by, as if in the blink of an eye, discussing the relative cup depth and wire widths of independent brands?? 

And better still, having asked a zillion questions of Veronica, and having been fascinated by all the answers, I requested that she might assist us here in a little exercise called "Ask the Bra-Fitter".  

How do I Ask The Bra-Fitter? 

So here's what I suggest. If you'd like to ask a question - about anything bra-related (from the structure and technology of bras to the politics of bra-fitting), please email me. It would be helpful if the subject heading alludes to the Ask the Bra Fitter series. It's no problem if you'd like to remain anonymous for the purposes of these questions. Just let me know in the email that this is your preference. 

When I receive your questions, I will forward them to Veronica (without names or distinguishing detail, as requested) and ask her to provide a response. Then, I'll post the question and the response on my blog (administrative process, tbd).

Please do avail yourself of this awesome resource. I have learned so many things from Veronica and I'd love to expand the dialogue to include you! 

Today's questions: What do you think of this concept? Are there any burning questions you've just never had the chance to ask? Have you ever befriended an "expert"? Let's talk!