As a follow-up from Saturday, the bra shopping went well. I was fitted, and we found one (count it ONE!) that fits me. However, I learned something very interesting about myself that I think may help me in my knits. My body is wack. I am continually learning why it was that I had a messed up body image as a kid and teenager. I couldn’t find any female clothes that fit me, so I would buy from the young men’s department. I thought it was because I was fat. At the time, I wasn’t. But I’m getting distracted…
Apparently, I am significantly long across my shoulders, front to back, and significantly short from my armpits to my, well, let’s stop at the belly button. This makes for a difficult fit. While we were in the dressing room, the cute old lady with the pink measuring tape around her neck stood back, looked me up and down, and said, “I’m not exactly sure what to do with you.”
Time out. Does that sound familiar to anyone else? I seem to remember my PT telling me that last summer, and I blogged about it.
I guess I need a bra that is high in the front and cut out on the sides. I’ve never been normal. So I got two in the same style, and I scored on a great sports bra. I can actually JOG in this thing and it doesn’t hurt. I’m thrilled.
Ok, what I’ve learned is that I have tall shoulders. This is interesting to me. When I started on the Vogue Cable Cardi, I was getting good stitch gauge, but my row gauge was a bit long. I wouldn’t mind having the whole cardigan a bit longer, but I was worried about the armholes being too big and baggy. Based on what I learned from the cute old lady on Saturday, I’m assuming it would have worked out alright had I continued with those needles.
Now I need to think about how I feel having shoulders that are too tall for most bra straps, legs that are too short for tall pants, but too long for regular ones, and a trunk too short for everything else. I am inclined at this point to make some wise-crack about someone being drunk when they assembled me, but I am a religious woman, and that seems a bit harsh to throw heavenward.
Oh, and because I have no shame, I’ll tell you about the conversation happening in the fitting right next to me. The woman had spent her life wearing size 38 DD. The fitter said that her ribcage measured 31 inches, and that she’s most likely never been a 38 in her life. She was fitted into a 34 G. Most of us are wearing the wrong size, simply because most stores don’t carry bras that will fit us busty girls.
The moral of this story? If you’re having trouble knitting clothes that fit, go and get fitted for a bra. Maybe you’ll learn something useful.
March 20th, 2005 at 11:17 pm
I hear ya. I am a tall gal who is odd sized. Yup, that means I am screwed because unless I am ill looking thin, I wear all plus sizes and they don’t come in odds.
March 21st, 2005 at 12:14 am
Gald to read the bra fitting went well. I am all for getting help when it comes to buying bras. A well fitted bra can do wonders.
March 21st, 2005 at 12:17 am
so, where did you go to find the perfect bra? at some point i may well need to visit the place and find a bra that actually fits.
March 21st, 2005 at 12:30 am
I wouldn’t say it’s perfect. It’s pretty tight on my shoulders, but it fits well everywhere else.
I went to Nordstroms, which I think is a strictly local company.
March 21st, 2005 at 1:35 am
I just checked out Nordstrom’s website at nordstrom.com because I knew they had a store in Anchorage, Alaska. It appears that they have lots of stores around the U.S. You can do a detailed search on their site to find “nordstrom stores” as opposed to their other kinds of stores which may not have the services Laura described.
March 21st, 2005 at 2:02 am
We’re joking about Nordstrom being a local company right? Actually, a friend’s dad (who is a real Cliff Claven) was telling me that it started in Seattle or Portland but is now of course a huge department store chain. I have heard they are really good with fitting, though. I just might have to get fitted myself when I’m back to a “normal” size.
I guess everyone has their sizing issues. I usually wear “petite” but even though I am in no way a tall “petite”, all “petite” pants are way too short on me. I’m always surprised when “normal” sized pants are not way too long. I know that my legs are more normal sized than my torso, but it is still hard to find clothes! I toy around with making my own every so often.
March 21st, 2005 at 3:06 am
Well, that shows you what I know, or more accurately, that I don’t travel. I legitimately thought it was local. Oh well.
I went to Nordstrom.
March 21st, 2005 at 11:28 am
I’ve never had a bra fitting before – I may just have to try it. I’m curious to see what’s happened to my bosom now that I’ve two kids. As for pants, I find it really hard to find anything that fits right. I’m 5’3″ which I don’t think is abnormally short, yet almost all normal pants are a few inches too long. Sure, I could hem them but why should I have to do that? (And when would I find the time?) I usually end up buying crop pants which tend to be just a tad too short, but close enough. The “normal” pants that are the right length are way too tiny around the waist. Grrr….
March 21st, 2005 at 8:15 pm
ladygrace.com. We have a store in Boston, and it is an excellent place for those women who fall outside the bra “norm” or for those times when you just need a particular bra.
March 21st, 2005 at 8:45 pm
you need to read my zine! i’ve had a bit of a breast obsession my entire life and finally two years ago i put out “the boobular issue” of my sex zine beating around the bush. with around 20 contributors there’s writings on bra fittings, boob surgery, breastfeeding, puberty… my point is not to sell you my zine, but it seems like you could really relate to parts of it. your story’s all too familiar…
March 22nd, 2005 at 3:12 am
I can sympathize all too well. When shopping for nursing bras online I came across a site that had a very helpful and enlightening page about how to do your own bra fitting. Who knew there were sizes above DDD, for heavens sakes? Here is the link:
http://store.yahoo.com/breakoutbras/noname1.html
March 22nd, 2005 at 6:50 am
So, where did you go for your bra fitting? I haven’t found anywhere that even carries my size (36G/H), and so I save up for orders every year or 2 from bravissimo.com, which is located in England. It’d be nice to find somewhere that had reasonable bras and didn’t require international shipping…
March 22nd, 2005 at 9:15 am
Bra fitting. So much fun and such a learning experience.
In the space of a half hour, I went from wearing a 42DDD to a 34G (or H? I can’t quite recall). Talk about cups overflowing.
Bras are hard to find, the bigger you get. It’s sad…At this point I only dream of a bra costing less than $50 that is a color other than ivory, beige or white.
March 22nd, 2005 at 10:46 am
Don’t feel bad, Laura. I think there are very few women who are “off the rack” with bras or anything else. For years, I wondered why my sister (whose body type is very similar to mine) could find jeans that fit her in the waist and the hips. I chalked it up to her superior shopping acumen. It wasn’t until recently that I found out she has her pants tailored.
March 24th, 2005 at 6:53 am
He wasn’t DRUNK, dear, He just likes VARIETY in life and when we were created, we weren’t wearing clothes, then we made some from fig leaves. Should He be expected to conform us to our clothing sellers standards? I don’t thinks so.
This is one area, with all our things in common where we are complete opposites. Perhaps that is where the commonality lies?
I can’t find a bra with straps short enough. My torso is the right length to the belly button but my rise (from there down) is too short and short pants are too short and long pants are too long, because to fit right in length I have to pull them up to my bra strap.
Yes, it is very frustrating. But there is nothing nicer than having good lift and great cleavage!! (even if mine has a big old ugly scar, I could be dead so I’d rather have the scar.)
March 24th, 2005 at 7:53 am
I am the same way – long in the shoulders, short in the middle torso – high waisted I think it has been described.
Totally hear you about bra shopping – only every find one style that will *do* but even that is a compromise. I seriously think that I will save up to have some custom bras made!
thanks for the smile today!