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Morrisa da Silva
Citizen
Username: Mod
Post Number: 35
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, March 18, 2004 - 9:45 am: | 
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O.K you can stop tittering now. (no pun intended). Wondering if any of you full figured gals can suggest a good shop to finally get a properly fitted bra. My last bra shopping sojourn was 4 hours in Macy's. They offer no discernable help and finding sizes is maddening as many of the bras in my size were hung way to high to clearly see tags or even reach. Is there some theory at work that bigger chest = tall?
I'm in the average size range so no real specialty sizes are needed but I do need some expertise in the fitting. Any suggestions? |
LibraryLady(ncjanow)
Citizen
Username: Librarylady
Post Number: 1290
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, March 18, 2004 - 9:50 am: |
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Try Helen Hirsch in West Orange on Mt. Pleasant Ave or Mildreds in Livingston on Livingston Avenue.
Both have the old fashioned, traditional "bra ladies"
Nancy Chiller Janow
On a coffee break..or something like it.
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greenetree
Supporter
Username: Greenetree
Post Number: 2096
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, March 18, 2004 - 9:51 am: |
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Helen Hirsch in W.O. In the strip with Metropolitan Plants, corner of Pleasant Valley Way & Mt. Pleasant (Rte. 10). Around the corner from Essex Green.
These are serious, old-fashioned "Bra Ladies" (search the archives for an old thread). No men allowed in the back of the store where the miracles take place & they can take one look & tell you your proper size. (There's nothing like walking in for the first time & hearing "Honey, that is the wrong size on you. You need a ____ ".  |
Morrisa da Silva
Citizen
Username: Mod
Post Number: 36
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, March 18, 2004 - 9:55 am: |
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thanks library lady. By old fashioned "bra lady" do you mean the pushy lady that insisted on remaining in the dressing room while I tried on my first bra when I was 11 ? |
greenetree
Supporter
Username: Greenetree
Post Number: 2100
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, March 18, 2004 - 10:24 am: |
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Morrisa-
No, these Bra Ladies don't do that! They stand outside the curtain & "coach". Although, if you come out to show them & aren't properly installed, they will say something like "get those girls in the cup & pick them up".  |
eliz
Citizen
Username: Eliz
Post Number: 737
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, March 18, 2004 - 10:41 am: |
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Nordstrom's also has knowledgeable staff and often has special fit sessions. And they are not those old bra ladies! |
jem
Citizen
Username: Jem
Post Number: 935
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, March 18, 2004 - 10:52 am: |
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I've had both very good and so-so experiences at Nordstrom's in the bra department. I recommend Mildred's - never tried Helen Hirsch. There's nothing like a good "bra lady"! There was a great piece on NPR a couple of years ago about "Selma Koch, bra fitter." Here's the transcript. Although you really had to hear it to get the full flavor. |
silkcity
Citizen
Username: Silkcity
Post Number: 186
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, March 18, 2004 - 4:30 pm: |
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Selma Koch's obituary last year was also a wonderful piece. Helen Hirsch is the best clothes shopping experience I've ever had. The ladies told me that a new bra would make my old clothes look new and better -- and they do! Go, try, learn from their expertise!! |
Frost French
Citizen
Username: Frost
Post Number: 24
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, March 18, 2004 - 5:34 pm: |
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I so dearly hope there is a new generation of "bra ladies" just hiding out until all the old bra ladies die off. It's such a wonderful thing, to walk into a proper bra shop and have an experienced woman who has seen it all take one look at you and tell you what you are doing wrong. If you are over 30 and still wearing the same bra size you wore in college, even if you haven't gained any significant weight, your body has changed and you probably need a proper fitting. I go about once a year to a bra shop on the UWS of Manhattan and get fitted by the lovely old biddies; there's simply nothing better than a perfect-fitting bra, especially for those of us who are well-endowed. |
eliz
Citizen
Username: Eliz
Post Number: 738
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, March 18, 2004 - 9:23 pm: |
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I used to live not too far from the Town Shop and had plenty of experience with Selma Koch. She was much cuter in retrospect (with all due respect...).
I even went, at some point, to a famous bra shop on the lower east side in a sliver of a space and you would walk in the door and Hasidic man would look at you and grab a box off the shelf and push it in your hands and basically hand you off to his wife behind a curtain. Too traumatic for me. |
doulamomma
Citizen
Username: Doulamomma
Post Number: 178
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Friday, March 19, 2004 - 10:18 am: |
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Gwen Amin at Nordstrom in Short Hills is great...you can call to find out when help is available.
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cppkqp
Citizen
Username: Cppkqp
Post Number: 22
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Friday, March 19, 2004 - 10:32 am: |
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I've heard similar things about the Dain Shop. I think it's in Montclair, but I'm not sure. Anyone have any thoughts?
Also, does Helen Hirsch also carry bathing suits? Someone mentioned that to me very recently. |
greenetree
Supporter
Username: Greenetree
Post Number: 2104
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, March 19, 2004 - 11:12 am: |
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Yes-
HH has a very large assortment of swimwear, in all sizes. |
candy
Citizen
Username: Candy
Post Number: 102
Registered: 8-2001
| | Posted on Friday, March 19, 2004 - 12:00 pm: |
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My last bra fitting experience was in Victoria's Secret. I was standing in the middle of the store, and the sales lady wanted to help me find the proper size... I said "ok" and with that she whips out the tape measure and wraps it around me right there! Well... Needless to say, I would never recommend Vicky's for bra fittings. I almost never wear the one I bought that day because I am sure it is not the right one for me. |
lamojo
Citizen
Username: Lamojo
Post Number: 81
Registered: 7-2002
| | Posted on Friday, March 19, 2004 - 7:13 pm: |
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The Dain Shop is also known for fitting bras well - and its in Morristown on a small side street off of South Street (east of the Green). I got undergarments to wear under my wedding gown there. They also specialize (I think) in bras for masectomy patients. |
Lydia
Citizen
Username: Lydial
Post Number: 234
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, March 19, 2004 - 10:26 pm: |
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Victoria's Secret bras are pretty but always kinda scratchy - they never fit exactly right.
The best bra place was that store that closed on Essex in Milburn "Milady's" I think it was called. A bra lady with high hair came into the dressing room told me to take it down to the (ahem) "essentials" - walked around me Um-hmming and came back with her selections. Everything fit so well and was so comfy.
I went to Helen Hirsch and they didn't even measure - I bought some uncomfortable contraption that ended up in a Goodwill bin. They were great with bathing suits however.
There's a good bra shop in Hoboken on Washington and (I think) 14th street - "Galatea", not the stern bra ladies but they know their sizes and they have everything from pretty to utilitarian.
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cppkqp
Citizen
Username: Cppkqp
Post Number: 23
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Sunday, March 21, 2004 - 2:08 pm: |
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Just went to HH yesterday. It's been ten months since my son was born, so 'the girls' aren't even in the same place they used to be! I had no idea what size to look for in bras or swimwear.
Marilyn in swimwear was tremendously helpful and knows the store's selections well. She looked at the suits I picked out for myself (half of which were ALL WRONG!) and brought additional suggestions. She did not tell me that everything looked great on me, but rather gave me fair and honest opinions, pointing out when a suit did not fit properly. I bought three swimsuits, one of which is a conservative two-piece!
The woman who helped me in the bra department was a little brusque, but it was the end of the day... Anyway, I bought three new bras a cup size larger and a number size smaller than I used to wear despite the fact that I thought the girls had gotten smaller since becoming a Mom. Even my DH noticed that the new bra makes 'the girls' look better.
Prices were higher than I expected, but it had been ages since I had bought such things (swimwear starts at around $90, new bras were $38 each). Staff was discreet, helpful, knowledgeable, and above all, not pushy. I'm pleased with what I purchased and recommend HH if you need help with sizing and shaping. |
Lydia
Citizen
Username: Lydial
Post Number: 236
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, March 21, 2004 - 3:46 pm: |
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I had a great experience in the bathing suit dept at HH as well - Let's face it, after age 10 bathing suit shopping is never fun - no one looks good under florescent lights in March. It's worth it to spend a little extra on a good well-made suit that you can walk around in and swim in without tugging at it.
I once got a gorgeous swim suit at Fiorucci (waaay before I had kids) A white one-piece to show off my dark, dark tan (this was before tans were bad for you). I was walking up and down the beach and I was just the coolest thing. Until I went into the water, when I came out my friends started waving and pointing from the shore - when I looked down the suit was completely transparent! There weren't any panels anywhere to hide anything. The longest walk ever was the 50 feet back to my towel. When I took the suit back to Fiorucci they said it was supposed to do that when it was wet! Ever since then I only get "Mommy style" suits - black, and if it has a skirt that's even better.
Glad you had such a good experience at HH - a good suit is a beautiful thing. |
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