The Bra Fitter Diaries: Your Bra Fitter isn’t the Boss of You!

As big ol’ bra nerds, we love fittings. The challenge of matching a client to their perfect bra is a delight. But we get that we’re not the ones getting half-naked in front of a stranger (well, most of the time) and that fittings can be nerve-wracking from a client’s perspective. And if you’ve had bad experiences with bra fitters before, you might want to steer clear of the whole business forever. We’ve heard some real horror stories!

The Broad reaction to scary fitter stories.

But it doesn’t have to be that way. At Broad, we consider bra fitting to be a collaborative process. Your fitter is on your team, working with you towards the common goal of finding a bra you love. She’s not the boss of you! A good fitter is more like the Giles to your Buffy: she does the research, but you make the final call. And a super experienced fitter (like Sam!) is really more like Giles + the entire library. Think of your fitter as a resource you can turn to for specialized bra and boob information.

Stop, Collaborate and Listen

Sam only wears the hat on special occasions.

That means that we’re not here to tell you what to wear. A huge part of our job is just to ask questions and listen. We want to hear what you like and what you don’t. We combine that with our knowledge of different bra styles, shapes, and fits to bring you the ones that are most likely to match your body and your preferences. We’ll explain the fit signs we’re looking for, tell you why we do or don’t like the fit of a certain bra for you, and then you decide what to do with that information!

Another big part of the job? Being supportive. (Ba dum tss!) The fitting room can be an emotional place for a lot of people, and a good fitter gets that you’re in a vulnerable position. We respect your boundaries and privacy – no barging into the room without asking, no touching you without asking. Your fitter should always tell you what she’s doing and why. (At Broad, we have robes and slips available if you’re more comfortable being fitted that way, and we also offer the option of mirror-free fittings.) We’re not here to evaluate your body, and you certainly don’t have to apologize for it or for the bra you came in wearing.

Bad fitters are real and bad fittings are real; I don’t want to make light of anyone’s experience. My point is that you don’t have to settle for that. Everybody deserves their own Giles!