Let me start by stating for the record that I think my bra size is a 95B. At least that is the number on the faded label of my current bra once I have unrolled it and held it up to the light.
My daughter, B, and I went to Le Bon Marché last week as planned. Both of us were looking forward to our day together in Paris – a shared mother-daughter experience and a celebration of femininity – otherwise known as shopping and lunch.
Except that…
Finding my correct bra size turned out to be slightly more complicated than expected and now I have opened a can of worms…
I had called ahead to make sure that Le Bon Marché provided a fitting service, which they did – no rendez-vous necessary. Upon our arrival, we found a saleswoman and I explained why we were there and confessed that some time had elapsed by since my last fitting.
“You are a 90C,” the saleswoman said looking at me fully dressed.
“Are you sure?” I asked, wondering if she had telescopic vision. “I thought I was a 95B. Would you check more accurately please?”
She pulled out a tape measure and wrapped it around my rib cage. I looked down at the number – 63cm.
“63 plus 15,” she muttered to herself holding the tape measure between her forefinger and thumb in the middle of my cleavage. “Yes, you are a 90.”
I did the math in my head and then counted on my fingers to make sure.
“But 63 plus 15 equals 78. How do you know that 78 means 90?” I asked.
“Because we are professionals, Madame,” she replied with her hand still holding the tape measure. “She is a 90C, right Lydie?” she called over to her colleague who was out of ear shot, unlike the other customers around me.
“Yes, for me you are 90C,” confirmed the saleswoman releasing the tape measure thus freeing me from her grasp before turning away to look after another client.
B looked at me mortified and I reassured her that I wouldn’t put her through any of that.
We headed to Aubade. The saleswoman didn’t have a tape measure but was convinced that I was a C. Over at Simone Pérèle I was a 95C and at Dim either a 90C or a 95B – apparently it was hard to tell since I have more back than one would think.
No wonder 70% of women don’t know their correct bra size!
Slighty embarrassed and definitely confused, we decided to call it a day and went for lunch. Fortunately, it only took a fondant au chocolat for me and an éclair chocolat for B to appease our frustration.
For now, my bra size remains an unsolved mystery.
I’ll keep you posted as the clues come in.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
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2 comments:
Mmme Soyelle --
90-95!!!! You must bring great joy to the men in the street! How do you keep them up! And has your daughter inherited this great bounty?
An unrelated question -- finding myself braless in an emergency (going from gym to business lunch in sheer spaghetti strap sundress) I ventured into Walmart. I trolled and trolled the ill-lit racks in search of something small enough. I must be the most unvoluptuous woman in the world, next to my friend Polly, whose Zaftig Dominican ESL students asked kindly, "Mees Polly, did you have cahncer?"
The only place I found a 34 A was in the little girls department -- hot pink trim and hearts, and a Disney theme, if my memory serves.
In my serch I kept coming across bras in 38-40 DD that were heavily padded. Why in the world would someone so well-endowed want additional bulk?
Additional question -- what bra would you recommend for someone of my modest gifts. Obviously I need some structure or I look totally flat. But underwire is unecessary and so uncomfortable.
Signed -- mystified American
P.S. -- I'd like to warn readers off buying bras (or indeed anything) at Walmart -- the one I found not only wouldn't say up, but hurt.
I am so happy to know that Princess Tam Tam is still making cute young lingerie. When I was a college girl in Paris many many years ago, Princess Tam Tam was THE thing.
I do want to know though: have the French caught up with the fact that some women are nearly flat, but still require bras? (Americans have only in the past 5 or 10 years started carrying bras for A cups). When I was last shopping in France, I couldn't find any anywhere!
I would be interested in your opinions/comments on small sizes in sophisticated European brands. Do they exist now?
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