I don't think I've ever worn the correct bra size. I've gone to Victoria's Secret many times over the years and bought items that were pretty and fit decently enough, because that's what I thought I was supposed to do, but I know now that this wasn't working for me.
I've recently decided to put more of an investment in all my clothing, both because I've gained weight as a result of covid and also because I'm approaching my 30s so I deserve a closet that works for me. Undergarments are no different, so I did a Yelp search and found Jenette Bras in Burbank. The idea is that you come in for a fitting, find items you like that fit you well, and create a relationship with the store as you continue to come back. I'm making a larger effort to support local, responsibly-run businesses whenever possible, and my research yielded some promising information. Employees are paid a living wage, are given insurance/PTO/401(k) match, and are all required to be vaccinated. The owner Jenette is very particular about the fashion houses they stock, too, with an emphasis on folks with larger cup/band sizes. This all really resonates with me, so I made an appointment online. It's easy to schedule, and they send reminders too, with the option to reschedule within 24 hours of your appointment.
The shop is located on Magnolia in Burbank, just down the street from Porto's. The exterior storefront is bright pink, and there's plenty of street parking both on Magnolia and the side street as well. The store itself is tidy, well-organized, and welcoming--but it's not really a store for browsing, which is much different than the big box lingerie stores I'm used. This is intentional, given their business model of maintaining a relationship with their customers. It was actually also far less overwhelming--I didn't have decision fatigue from staring at hundreds of garments on the walls and it allowed me to focus on whatever was brought to me.
My appointment was on a Sunday morning, and I was lucky to be the only person in the store besides Charisse, who helped me out for the duration of my appointment. She was incredibly warm, friendly, and knowledgeable about how to best assist me. I haven't had a fitting in a long time, and my closet was filled with old bras that managed to somehow fit too big and too small. I wore my least awful one to this fitting just as a frame of reference for how desperately I needed help, and Charisse was so sweet and understanding.
The entire appointment was incredibly low-pressure, as Charisse was committed to finding a good fit for me instead of just making a sale. If something didn't fit right but I liked it, she was able to quickly identify where I needed to change my sizing (band, cup, or both) and we'd reassess after if it was better. I felt incredibly safe and comfortable working with her, knowing that she cared about working with me instead of just moving on to the next customer. She also gave honest opinions on whether or not something looked good on me, and was able to pivot accordingly. I left with a lot more than I expected, but not because I was pressured into buying anything at all; instead it was because she really understood what I was going for and gave me the option to pick whatever I wanted to buy.
Highly, highly recommend. This is the only place I'll be buying my skivvies from! read more
