Bra clinic coming to town

The brassiere can be a woman’s best friend—and her worst enemy.
It can lift, enhance, and flatter, or it can pinch, slip, and sag. Some women’s magazines say anywhere from 65-80 percent of women wear the wrong size bra.
It’s no wonder. Even if you manage to take your measurements correctly, which is no easy feat, different bra styles and different manufacturers mean the size that fits in one style or brand may not fit in another.
For those who want to try something different, a bra clinic is coming to Fort Frances next Wednesday (Oct. 1).
Barb Chapman, who calls herself The Bra Lady, will be here to help women of all sizes get properly measured as well as try out a specialty bra she says eliminates most problems associated with store-bought ones.
“The science behind it has to do with weight distribution,” Chapman remarked.
Her brochure poses a series of questions, asking women if their bra straps slip off or dig into their shoulders, if the bra slips up the back and dips in front, or if their bras don’t provide enough support.
“Pretty well everybody answers ‘yes’ to half of those,” she said.
Chapman, a certified fitter who has been selling bras for seven years, spends about 45 minutes with each woman to get her properly measured. She then helps the clients choose the bra they want and orders it for them.
“They’re very well-made, and very comfy,” she said.
For women who don’t fit into the traditional sizes available in stores, Chapman also has good news. “We can fit every cup size on every band size,” she pledged.
For example, a woman who measures 42 inches around but only needs a ‘B’ cup would have a hard time finding a bra that fits in stores. But Chapman can order a bra specific to each woman’s measurements.
There are medium and maximum support bras, enhancers, breast prostheses, and “smoothies”—seamless cups for wearing under T-shirts. Available colours include white, ivory, nude, and black.
Chapman preferred not to discuss the cost of her bras. “Once I explain how it works and they try it on, they don’t care how much it costs,” she said.
There’s an added convenience to shopping with her, Chapman said. When a woman needs a new bra, she can simply call and order more as each woman’s measurements are stored in her computer.
Fittings are by appointment only. Call The Bra Lady at 1-800-254-3938, or e-mail her at barbchapman40@hotmail.com
(Fort Frances Times)