6 Honest Things We've All Thought While Getting a Bra Fitting

Do you remember the first time you were measured for a bra?

If you’ve ever had a bra fitting, the memory is probably wrapped in foils of anxiety with a touch of humiliation. For me, it involved holding my breath while a stranger seemingly did some mystery-measuring-tape-magic, muttering numbers under her breath.

My mom nodded when the stranger gave her the numbers, and then they both dispersed to find the right bra. I remember pondering the 34D diagnosis and trying to commit it to memory in a pool of my own sweat. 

Decades later (and with two years of Knix fitting rooms under my belt) I’ve come to appreciate the patterns I see when being on the other side of a fitting. You’re not alone in your anxiety or your confusion.

Let this list of common experiences alleviate your worries a bit, and remember; in a single day, we fit anywhere between 20-50 people who all feel similarly! 

I’ve never done this before. Do I take my shirt off?

This is really up to you! Our jobs are easiest when you’re comfortable. If that means measuring your band and bust with a shirt on, then that totally works. That being said, we get more accurate measurements without the extra fabric. 

“Bra fittings are an artform, not a science.” - Every bra fitter ever

Things can change depending on the thickness of the shirt you’re wearing or the padding in your bra. We ask for patience during the try-on process. Rome wasn’t built in a day…and neither was the perfect bra. 

Note: Please keep your bra on during the fitting, if possible! We LOVE free breasts, but gravity can sometimes make our jobs a bit more difficult.

I’m sorry I’m so sweaty and for the deodorant stains!

Us too, girl! Shockingly, bra fitting could be its own Olympic sport and, as such, we’re right there with ya. 

There’s absolutely no reason to be embarrassed or ashamed of some perspiration; you’re doing a lot of work. Additionally, people come in when they’re on their periods, going through medical treatments, or are smack-dab in the middle of a major hot flash. I’ve doubled as a fanner many times in the fitting rooms!

On our end, we have a big ol’ steamer in the backroom to clean the bras of sweat and deodorant after every use. This helps to keep our products looking and feeling fresh, but it does nothing to help our own overheating situations while working. We’ll get through this together!

I have always been a 38DD… your measurements mustn't be correct!

I’m going to let you in on a big secret: our bodies change every single day of our lives! 

If you were one size when you were a teenager, or before you had kids, or even up to a few months ago, you will probably be a different band or cup size now. If you’re like me, you’re probably going to be a different cup size after dinner, for goodness sake!  

I know… it’s not fair! Our body (I’m looking at you, hormones!) will never be the same body it was yesterday, and we shouldn’t expect it to be. When you’re buying a bra, you should buy it for present you, not five-years-ago you and definitely not I-plan-on-losing-a-few-pounds you either.

You wouldn’t buy a shoe size that wasn’t correct, would you?

I’m tired of painful underwires!

Join the club! NO. MORE. UNDERWIRE BRAS. EVER!

I sometimes have flashbacks to the bra my mom ended up buying for me that fateful day. It was beige, slightly-laced and looked innocent enough. After wearing it for an hour, I looked at her and said, “Am I seriously expected to wear this sh*t for a full day?”

We’ve all had the red lines running across our chests. We’ve all heard that TWANG as a rogue wire broke loose for a full on scratch-assault. 

I see scarring on a daily basis in the fitting rooms. Scarring around the band and permanent shoulder dents. Of course we’re tired of it! There’s no reason for us to be wearing painful ANYTHINGS on our bodies for a full day. Forget the myth that you can only get support from a wire and ditch that sucker for a wireless option. 

Don’t judge me, but my bra is oooooold!

This is a judgement-free zone! 

And let’s be honest.. we all have that one bra that we keep around for some unknown reason. It may have been our Covid bra. It may be one of the most comfortable (if not ancient) bras you own. It might even be a nursing bra that you used when your teens were still babies. 

I laughed for a very, very long time when I heard the life of a bra should be MAX one year. In this economy?! 

Depending on the care you take and how often you wear it, your bras should be supporting you for one to two years. But nobody is going to blame you for holding onto something you love! 

How do I know if it’s a good fit?

This is a great question! My first response is to gauge the comfort level; is it feeling tight or loose? Are the straps digging in or are they fitting nicely? How do you feel in this bra?

From there, I check for spillage (are one or both breasts trying to escape the confines of their prison?) or gaping (could you fit an entire third boob in there with you?) specifically in the chest. Based on that analysis, we can adjust. 

Note: people are often drawn to the self-conscious parts of their body first. The dreaded term ‘back fat’ is tossed around a lot in our fitting rooms. We call it something else entirely; skin. I often have to remind people that they aren’t usually strolling the streets in a bra. With a shirt on, that extra skin spilling over the sides won’t be noticeable. 

There are certain things you can do to test the bra you’re trying too. First of all, do the scoop-and-pull. Bend forward, scoop one breast in your hand and pull it upward so that it’s using the cup to its fullest advantage. Additionally, people often do the bounce, dance, t-shirt test and more. Let the bra move a little bit and WERK IT! 

With any luck, your Knix fitting room experience will be nothing like the days of old. You’ve got boobs. I’ve got boobs. We’ve all got boobs. Be honest with your fitting room attendant about what doesn’t work for you.

The same applies to virtual fittings (yes, you can get a full fitting without leaving the comfort of home). The results will be well worth your time.