Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Go for a Bra Fitting Before you Buy your Next Bra

Add to Technorati Favorites  Every year around our annual Portland, Oregon Race for the Cure sponsored by the Susan Komen Foundation, komen.org, I think of bras. Yes breast cancer is about breasts and breast conservation or mastectomy or reconstruction if you have the disease. Breast conservation, similar to conserving any habitat, there are some damaged areas that have to be taken into consideration. This is what brings me to bras and bra fittings.

No one’s natural breasts are the same as we age. The girls start heading south. A nicely fitted bra can do wonders for an overall good looking silhouette. Many shows on television have devoted their entire program to bra fitting and before and after looks or pictures. Going to Macy’s or Nordstrom or an independent lingerie shop and being measured and fitted by a trained bra fitter is the best way to go. You may have been buying an incorrect size for the last few years, which is like throwing away money and no one wants to do that.

Those of us who kept our breasts after breast cancer, (breast conservation) surviving biopsies, lumpectomies, and radiation face an additional bra fitting challenge. Radiation can make the area around the breast that was radiated shrivel up a bit. Also the effects of radiation can continue for about a year after treatments. This means that even if you were fitted a year ago, a re-fit can’t hurt!

Often breast cancer affects one breast only. So this breast results in being smaller and maybe not pointing as straight forward as the non diseased breast. Here is where a professional bra fitter shows her expertise. A molded or foam bra can even out the breasts. A bra in half sizes can be suggested and fitted to wonderful comfort. A good fit of a bra can make all the difference in symmetry and balance.

Many bra companies support breast cancer foundations with a percentage of their sales during October going to this cause. If you need a bra and have not been fitted in a year, make an appointment in October during the promotion times. If you are over 40 make your mammogram appointment too!

Do you have a favorite brand of bras? Do you have a great bra story? Are you ready to be fitted?

8 comments:

Rachel Blaufeld said...

Great info Haralee! I think it is important be sized for bras every so often -- I recently changed size and was shocked how much better the new bras felt.

It is crucial to support bra companies that support beast cancer research -- a necessary foray.

Rachel

Haralee said...

Thanks Rachel I appreciate your comment. I know you are an authority on this subject so I am grateful that you agree!

Nicole Fende said...

Hats off to you Haralee, these are topics I would never personally be comfortable covering in a blog. Yet there is such great info. Never been fitted so I'll give it a go.

Haralee said...

Is that your way of saying TMI, Nicloe?
Just among we girls!

Unknown said...

ya know, i was fitted in a department store once years ago. there's a locally owned place here in town i've been meaning check out. i'm really in need of a great fitting strapless bra. while i typically don't spend alot on bras, i'm willing to make a good investment in a strapless. thanks for the nudge!

Haralee said...

You are right about getting a fitting for a strapless. The right fitting strapless can actually be comfortable and with-out the strapless pull up!

Cathy Anderson said...

This was the third bra I tried with a bridesmaid dress that I wore recently. It was the only one that was actually out of sight, but wonderbra ultimate bra did a great job of supporting my larger size. I didn't look like I've nursed three babies!

Haralee said...

Cathy, they don't call the wonder bra for nothing!