Susan Nethero wants me to wear different bras

In my book, I yammer yammer yammer about my general dislike of underwires, and the fact that I prefer the “smooshing” approach to a slimmer torso, courtesy of soft-cup minimizers like Sassybax. Well guess what? After a trip to the absolutely stunning new Intimacy store on New York’s Upper East Side, and a personal fitting with “bra whisperer” Susan Nethero, I stand corrected – literally. Not only am I now wearing underwires, I’ve also gotten a firm grip on my actual size. And quelle surprise – it’s entirely different than I thought it was.

Me: Why do so many women underestimate their cup size and overestimate their band size? What’s driving this disconnect? For me, it’s the fact that the cup-size you determined I am (D) seems massive compared to what I thought I was (B). I also assumed my bandwidth was 34, but pegged me at a 32. What gives?

Susan: Most women associate looseness with comfort. So if their bra is uncomfortable, they think they need a bigger band size. However, many comfort problems women have (like the straps falling down and the band riding up, creating back fat) are actually from the band being too loose. A bra is like a see-saw: When the back rides up, the front falls down. We want to reverse that effect by making the band smaller and therefore more stable. That way we can position the band to be level, which will in turn lift the bust.

When we take the back band down in size, we have to go up a cup-size letter to keep the same depth of cup. That’s because not all cup sizes are the same. A 34 B is one band size larger and one cup size deeper than a 32 B. So if we took someone from a 34 B to a 32 B, the band might fit better, but the cup would now be too shallow. Instead, we’d have to try a 32 C.

When it come to cup sizes, many women feel that a D or E or F cup is like a bad grade in school. But in fact a 34D is a very average cup size today. We carry over 90 sizes from an A to a K cup! So we help women get past worrying about what cup size they are and instead focus on how to look better and feel better instantly.

Me again: How often do you recommend women get professionally fitted?

Susan again: A woman’s bra size, shape and distribution can change up to 6 times throughout the course of her life due to diet, pregnancy, nursing, weight gain/loss, birth control, hormones, menopause, age, etc. We recommend coming in once a year for  a “bra check-up.” Even if you haven’t had any major life changes, we can see how your bras are wearing on your body and do simple alterations to adjust the fit.

But certainly anytime you have any major life changes, it’s imperative to have a bra fitter help you identify your new size. During pregnancy, it’s not uncommon to grow from two to four cup sizes, and once the baby is born and you are nursing, you’ll likely need to be fit again. Women typically find the need for a new bra in about their fourth month — about the same time they’re growing out of their jeans.

We typically recommend a new mom wait a week or two after the baby is born for her milk to come in and for her actual size to stabilize a bit. It’s very important that a nursing mom get a properly fitted bra, as the wrong size can cause irritation and impede milk flow.

Me, for the last time: What have you learned in your “travels” about fitting postpartum women?

Susan, for the last time: Most women have a love-hate relationship with their breasts and body. Of course a pregnancy, which changes a woman’s shape and size drastically, can be especially hard to cope with. We try hard to reassure women in all phases of their life that their body is perfect just the way it is. The right bra can help lift and center the bust, making a woman look ten pounds thinner instantly! Not to mention that we have really pretty and comfortable styles for women of all shapes and sizes. Many times just helping a woman feel that her body is not to blame for her bra-fit problems can help her realize that she has a lot more potential than she’s giving herself credit for.

To make reservations for a free bra fit makeover, simply visit myintimacy.com