MetaChat - Hope Me Mecha with womanly unmentionables!

MetaChat is an informal place for MeFites to touch base and post, discuss and chatter about topics that may not belong on MetaFilter. Questions? Check the FAQ. Please note: This is important.

05 December 2007

Hope Me Mecha with womanly unmentionables! →[More:]Mrs. Plinth is busty and has changed size with the last pregnancy. Now that the gargantuan boy has weaned himself (CHOMP! OW!), the Mrs. could really use new brassieres.

Question 1: should I buy a gift certificate at a local shop where prodding matronly hands can ensure that she is sized properly or with Bravissimo (as seen on AskMe)?

Second, given that choice how much would you budget for her for getting several nice garments?

post by: plinth at: 18:07 | 18 comments

Assuming that she hasn't been professionaly sized since the pregnancy/weaning, I'd say definitely go with a local shop for a gift certificate.

A well-made bra will be anywhere from $35-$60.

posted by Specklet 05 December | 18:11

Yay boobies!

posted by Specklet 05 December | 18:13

Several nice garments? I'd budget up to $400 (I think the range Specklet states is a little low; I'd say somewhere in the $40-$75 range).

posted by ThePinkSuperhero 05 December | 18:13

There are times in life to try and save monies. Buying bras is not one of them. An uncomfortable bra makes life not worth living. Conversely - a really comfy bra can change your life in ways you didn't know possible.

Encourage her to get properly sized and budget the upper end of $60 per bra. Her boobies will thank you.

(And as a good friend of mine wisely imparted - "If the boobs ain't happy, ain't no one happy.")

posted by grapefruitmoon 05 December | 18:16

Go with the local shop - and see if you can set it up as, like, a morning or afternoon of self-indulgence. Take charge of the young'uns and send her off for a few hours. She can go for the fitting, get nice nice underthings, have coffee and pastry nearby, etc. Time to herself to be girly. Maybe throw in a gift certificate to the coffee or breakfast place so she doesn't have a chance to say "oh, I don't need to do all that."

Sounds like much more fun to me than shopping around online!

At a shop like that, allow at least $100, but budget (of course) for what you can afford and typically spend on one another for holiday gifts...and then toss in a little extra. ;)

posted by Miko 05 December | 18:16

I concur with the above, especially Miko's wise advice re: morning/afternoon of indulgence. I don't know what they cost 'round your way, but a really good bra can run $60-$100 up here in Canada. Maybe check the prices at the shop you're thinking of.

If the boobs ain't happy, ain't no one happy.

Ain't that the truth, sister.

posted by elizard 05 December | 19:33

Booooooobies!

posted by Specklet 05 December | 19:52

Depending on what shop you're going to, I'd budget at least $55 per bra. I usually opt for Victoria's Secret, because I think they're consistent in their sizes and styles. Once I've found a style that I like and know my size, I can walk in and pick up a new one without having to try it on. They've got some styles that have been around for years. Other shops seem to change their products so quickly - if you find a bra you like, you'd better buy one of each color because it won't be there in six months when you need/want a new one.

posted by youngergirl44 05 December | 20:05

Specklet, if you didn't have them yourself, I'd play the sexism card on your boobicommentary. As such, it's still not funny, and if you don't quit, I will post a picture of my man-boobs (which are almost as hairy as my chin) which is something everybody will regret.

posted by wendell 05 December | 21:23

You should see my back then.

posted by mischief 05 December | 21:34

$55 per boob????????

posted by danf 05 December | 21:50

As a counter to what youngergirl says: Victoria's Secret does have the benefit of being consistent, but so does every individual brand. I know that a Wacoal in my size is always going to fit me. VS is not a good choice for anyone over a C cup, D at most. I can only buy my size online because the stores simply do not stock anything over a D.

I also wouldn't recommend "HOLY COW, PUSH UP YOUR BOOBIES! SEXX!" which seems to be the prevailing attitude at VS to a new mom. Sex, definitely, but be nice to the boobs, don't be strapping them into some weirdo push up nonsense.

posted by grapefruitmoon 05 December | 22:10

I don't know if you have a Dillards there or equivalent high end department store, but that's where I went when I'd weaned the Younger Boy. I had a saleslady who knew what it was like to change body type/size/shape and we went through about 10 different sizes and styles until we found the right fit.

A couple of good bras are going to be around $50 bucks each, but sometimes you can find the same things at outlet stores for much cheaper once you know the size.

Seconding the multiple gift certs - maybe a mall money card?

posted by lysdexic 05 December | 23:05

Thanks for the advice! I will be sending Mrs. Plinth here.

posted by plinth 05 December | 23:48

Ooh! Nice choice, plinth. I'm sure she'll love it.

posted by elizard 06 December | 02:56

What a sweetie you are! If budgeting is a factor, let her go get "sized" at a store that offers that as a personal service (and buy ONE bra there as a "thanks" for the service, because it will cost dearly)... THEN, once she knows her comfortable size, she can shop anywhere for a lower price.

posted by amyms 06 December | 03:00

Yes, what amyms said. My Rigby & Peller bra was £57.50 (plus another £37 for the matching panties). That's about $200 in total. But they are the best-made bra and panties evah. I wish I could afford to buy things like that all the time. But Marks & Spencer £12-£18 bras are almost as good.

Until I was fitted properly, I had no clue how important a well-fitting bra is.

posted by essexjan 06 December | 05:13

That place looks awesome and way body-positive, plinth. Nice choice! Also, downtown Northampton has all those great places to have a coffee...or mimosa...

posted by Miko 06 December | 13:10

← OMG Wireheads! || MeFi Breakups! →

HOME || REGISTER || LOGIN