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Having a B.R.A. Fit

Ambrassadors, Having a B.R.A. Fit, Swimwear

Bethany’s Bra-Sized Swimwear Makeover: From 34H to 32G

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Bethany Jung, 39, is a registered dietician/lactation consultant in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at a hospital (“my passion and my purpose”) and a mom to three kids under five, so it’s safe to say that one thing she doesn’t have a lot of time for is swimsuit shopping.

That’s why she jumped at our call for women to try out bra-sized swimwear: “Swimsuit season is like that annoying uncle—nothing to look forward to. I could never find anything to fit my boobs and the rest of me. The band would ride up, or the suit would give me uniboob. Even the DD-cups the stores sell now don’t cut it. There was nowhere for me to go. I had nothing to lose.”

Continue Reading Bethany’s Bra-Sized Swimwear Makeover: From 34H to 32G

July 31, 2017
Ambrassadors, Having a B.R.A. Fit, Swimwear

Leah’s Bra-Sized Swimwear Makeover: From 32D to 32DD

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Finding a great fit on top has always been Leah Jiorle’s biggest swim season challenge, which is why Leah, 41, a freelance medical editor/writer, was the perfect candidate for Having a B.R.A. (Before – Revelation – After) Fit. “I need an underwire, and it’s really hard to find a nice selection of underwire swimsuits. I can see a whole rack of adorable triangle top bikinis in a store, and I know I can’t have them—it’s frustrating!” Leah said.

amBRAssador Mette, who, with her 34J or K-size chest, majorly empathized with Leah during their over-the-phone consultation. “Since I first found out about it,” she said, “bra-sized swimwear has been my best friend.”

Leah told Mette: “When I was looking around Bare Necessities, I appreciated all the one-pieces and tankinis with bra-sized support, too, because that’s another thing: I tend to wear bikinis in situations where I might prefer more coverage, but they’re the only suits I can find that look good. Most one-pieces mash my boobs together, and it’s not flattering. I don’t want to look like an Olympic swimmer; I want something attractive, with a little coverage. There were a ton of styles I liked.”

Continue Reading Leah’s Bra-Sized Swimwear Makeover: From 32D to 32DD

July 24, 2017
Ambrassadors, Having a B.R.A. Fit, Swimwear

Stephanie’s Bra-Sized Swimwear Makeover: From 32D to 32DD

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Stephanie Makrias’s Having a B.R.A. (Before – Revelation – After) Fit search for a swimsuit was textbook trial and error. As with April Compertore, finding the right fit and support mattered more than troubleshooting her bra size and, as petite as Stephanie is, not everything worked as expected on her figure.

Stephanie, the copy chief at Entrepreneur magazine, had never tried a bra-sized swimsuit before. She flagged a dozen possible suits—solids, prints, bikinis, tankinis, one-pieces—for upcoming trips to the Jersey shore and to visit her father in Florida. “From experience, I know you have to try on a million to find one,” she said. “This process is somewhat terrifying, but I trust I’m in great hands.”

amBRAssador Brittany assured her of it: “Especially with a swimsuit, our main interest is your comfort. If you’re not completely comfortable, that will come across in whatever you wear. I’m here to make sure you’re feeling confident along the way.”

Continue Reading Stephanie’s Bra-Sized Swimwear Makeover: From 32D to 32DD

July 10, 2017
Ambrassadors, Having a B.R.A. Fit, Swimwear

April’s Bra-Sized Swimwear Makeover: From 34DD to 32DD

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April Compertore, 35, is never not on the go. She’s a meeting planner and a mother of two little girls, and both roles keep her on the move. As a former professional touring musical theater performer, though, she’s used to it.

These days, April is always up for “giving my daughters experiences,” which, in the summer, usually translates to getting into a swimsuit and hitting an amusement park or town pool. And she definitely wouldn’t mind parking it for a few days in a lounge chair on a Caribbean island for her ten-year anniversary with her husband later this year.

For all these reasons, April was game for Having a B.R.A. (Before – Revelation – After) Fit, the swimwear edition. While she wasn’t far off in terms of bra size, she was missing the style and support a bra-sized swimsuit can give and the precious free time a personal shopper could save her.  

Continue Reading April’s Bra-Sized Swimwear Makeover: From 34DD to 32DD

June 14, 2017
Having a B.R.A. Fit, Personal Style, Swimwear

Danielle’s Bra-Sized Swimwear Makeover: From 36DD to 38FF

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Having a B.R.A. (Before – Revelation – After) Fit is headed on vacation. Out of office. Having a moment in the sun.

Now through August, we’re delivering bra-sized swimwear success stories. And we’re kicking things off with Danielle LaBarbera, a 34-year-old life insurance agent and single mother to a 14-year-old daughter.

Continue Reading Danielle’s Bra-Sized Swimwear Makeover: From 36DD to 38FF

June 6, 2017
Ambrassadors, Behind the Seams, Having a B.R.A. Fit

Tera’s Major Bra Fit Makeover: From 34DD to 30GG

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Meet Tera Gallagher. She’s our premium brands assistant buyer here at Bare Necessities, and not even she was immune to the scourge of wearing the wrong bra size.

Reader, we hired her anyway.

And on Tera’s second day on the job, we saw to it that she was Having a B.R.A. (Before – Revelation – After) Fit.

Continue Reading Tera’s Major Bra Fit Makeover: From 34DD to 30GG

April 3, 2017
Ambrassadors, Behind the Seams, Having a B.R.A. Fit

Rebecca’s Bra Fit Makeover: From 40B to 38DD

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Welcome back to Having a B.R.A. (Before – Revelation – After) Fit, real stories of game-changing bra makeovers. Our expert amBRAssadors are here to help women who settled for “good enough” long ago to finally find the bras for them. Over the phone or via email or chat, they use their experience to triage your fit issues and narrow the field of available options. The results are nothing short of staggering, not to mention stunning.

As it turns out, one good makeover begets the next. After we shared Leann Dawes’ bra fit makeover on social media, we received one comment we couldn’t resist:

“Bet you can’t find a bra to fit me!”

Challenge accepted, Rebecca Mazzarella.

Continue Reading Rebecca’s Bra Fit Makeover: From 40B to 38DD

March 6, 2017
Ambrassadors, Behind the Seams, Having a B.R.A. Fit

Leann’s Incredible Bra Fit Makeover: From 38DD to 34J

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When is a bra more than a bra? When it changes your life.

This is Having a B.R.A. (Before – Revelation – After) Fit, our new series documenting real moments of bra salvation and euphoria made possible by our certified team of expert amBRAssadors whose goal it is to improve women’s day-to-day lives, beginning with the right bra.

And Leanne Dawes started it all.

At 40, Leann not only finally learned her actual bra size, she found the comfort, confidence and cute styles she’d written off ages ago. Read on to find out how you can have what’s she’s having, too.

Continue Reading Leann’s Incredible Bra Fit Makeover: From 38DD to 34J

December 19, 2016
Ambrassadors, Behind the Seams, Having a B.R.A. Fit

Bra Fitting: How an Over-the-Phone Professional Bra Fitting Can Change Your Life

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As the editor of the Bare it All blog (hi, I’m Brooke, nice to meet you!), there’s little I love more than some old-school undercover reporting. And there’s nothing quite so under-the-covers as a bra fitting, right?

One of my first priorities after I came to work for bare necessities was to get fitted. I was both brimming with hope and filled with dread. At 5’2” with the faintest suggestion of a chest, my bras have been riding up uncomfortably and gaping widely for as long as I can remember. Padding has long been my frenemy. Since my first department store fitting in middle school, I’ve been convinced NO ONE makes bras that fit me.

Brittany finally broke me free from that idea.

She’s one of our certified amBRAssadors™, and she is as kind and smart as they come. When I started here, she personally gave me the once-over, sizing me up in a conference room with nothing but her well-trained eyes. Three times, she pulled different brands and sizes from our warehouse until we found the elusive bra of my dreams. In fact, we found three.

Continue Reading Bra Fitting: How an Over-the-Phone Professional Bra Fitting Can Change Your Life

December 7, 2015