What To Expect In A Bra Fitting

Doing something new can be scary. Especially when it involves taking off your top in front of a stranger! Some nerves can’t be avoided, but we’d like to take the edge off a bit. So, inspired by some frequently asked questions, here’s what to expect in a bra fitting at Broad Lingerie.

The Store

Our store has large fitting rooms and a wide enough door-frame for most wheelchairs and strollers. We stock our cozy waiting area with old issues of Sassy magazine, a few good books, and a toybox. (Feel free to bring your kid to your fitting! We recommend taking very young ones into the room with you, or bringing another adult to watch them in the waiting area. Our store is kid-friendly, but not kid-proof.)

One important note: we do not have a washroom for customer use. Our washroom is down a very steep, somewhat dodgy flight of stairs. While we can manage it, we don’t want you to! Happily, we’re located near a McDonald’s and a library, both with public washrooms.

The People

Broad’s team is tiny right now: just Sam, the store owner, and her trusty sidekick Shavaun – that’s me! We both do fittings, and we’re both here most days. If you have a preference for which one of us you’d like to work with, let us know and we’ll do our best to accommodate.

The Fitting

Step 1: Drop by or book an appointment. Appointments are useful during busier times like weekends, but we love walk-ins. You can book an appointment over the phone or by email.

Step 2: Meet your fitter. We’ll introduce ourselves and show you into a fitting room. We start by taking a couple of measurements over your shirt, and then we’ll bring you a “test” bra to see if we’re on the right track for size and shape. (We keep most of our stock in the back, with a selection on display. This is the best way to keep organized in our small space.)

Step 3: Try on bras! We’ll chat about what you’re looking for, what you like, what you don’t like, and bring you styles that match your preferences and your body. We assess the fit of each bra, make adjustments, and share tips and tricks with you. And we’ll always give you a heads up before touching you – no surprises!

Here are a few of our most-asked fitting questions:

“Do I try the bras on over my own bra?” It’s best to try the bras on without your own bra underneath. This gives us a true picture of the fit, without extra layers confusing things.

“Do I wear a shirt over the bras I try on?” You can if you want to! It’s easier for us to check the fit without a top, but your comfort comes first. If you’d rather wear a shirt, a stretchy tank top works best. (Learn more about partially covered and mirror-free fittings here.)

“Will the fitter see me completely topless?” Not unless you want us to! We always ask permission before entering the fitting room, and we leave you to change on your own unless you say otherwise.

“Can someone help me put on the bras?” Absolutely. Just ask and we’ll jump in wherever you need us.

“What if I’m on a tight budget?” It can feel awkward to talk about money with a stranger, but we’ve had these conversations before – from both sides – and we get it. Tell us what you’re working with and we’ll respect it.

“I’m trans/non-binary, will my pronouns and identity be respected?” Yes! And if we mess up, please tell us. Right now Broad is entirely queer owned and operated, but that doesn’t mean we’re perfect at this stuff. We always want you to feel safe and comfortable with us.

The Rules

Mostly, we just want folks to be kind, considerate, and polite to us and to other shoppers. This includes body talk! We promote body positivity for all bodies. We don’t do diet talk, or “omg eat a sandwich” talk, and we don’t believe that any body of any size, shape, colour, gender identity, or ability, is more valid or worthy than another.

While we’re not officially a scent-free space, we do appreciate it when people go light on perfume and other scented products. It’s more comfortable for people with sensitivities (including us!) and it decreases the risk of scents transferring to bras.

A couple of other common questions:

“Can I bring my male partner?” Sure! However, we don’t allow partners in the fitting rooms. While our rooms are bigger than most, three’s still a crowd.

“Can I bring my dog?” Please do! We keep a stash of treats behind the counter just for these occasions. For safety and as a courtesy to other customers, be sure that your dog stays on leash and with you at all times.

We’re here for you.

Our goal is always for you to leave happy and feeling good about yourself. I’ve written this a hundred times, but it’s true: bra fittings are about so much more than technical fit. Your boobs aren’t the client; you are. So tell us what you need! We want to know.