Women's Expo: Find the right fit, for free

“Women of America, you need to rise up and get a proper bra fitting.”

It’s been six years since her Bra Revolution, but for many women, one question remains: Where?

That’s exactly what JoAnn Pasell wanted to know. The Rhode Island woman had seen Oprah speak about the glory of a great-fitting bra, so she went looking for one. She tried department stores, specialty stores and boutiques, but still couldn’t get a good bra fitting.

“My bra size was changing all the time,” Pasell said.

She had been to sales parties for cookware, candles, jewelry and the like, and it seemed like the perfect venue for bra fittings, too. In 2008, Pasell opened The Uplifting Makeover, and her good friend Suzanne Gendron partnered with her soon after.

Today, the duo has bra “stylists” in six states and has helped thousands of women find bras that fit correctly. The stylists go through five hours of training, not only to learn about the products and how to measure for bra sizes, but how to match different styles of bras with different body types and lifestyles for optimal comfort.

“The look and the confidence that we’re able to help women find ... We’ve had women cry on our shoulders because they are so happy,” Pasell said.

Uplifting Bra Makeover sells bras in a variety of styles in current fashions, as well as other undergarments, such as shapewear, ranging in price from $40 to $70. Unlike most retail shops, Uplifting Bra Makeover carries a large range of sizes, with bands from 28 to 54 inches and cup sizes A through K.

Uplifting Bra Makeover is offering free bra fitting throughout the Wyoming Women’s Expo. Those interested are asked to sign up for a time slot at their booth (so people don’t have to wait in line). The fittings only take a few minutes, longer if you try on bras, some of which will be in stock. Others can be ordered. Although, you don’t have to buy anything to get a fitting.

Check your bra IQ:

1. Bras were invented:

a. in the early 1900s

b. in the 1850s

c. thousands of years ago

2. What part of the bra does the most work?

a. the cups

b. the band

c. the straps

3. Cup sizes were invented by:

a. Warner's

b. Maidenform

c. Men, who needed a universal formula for describing breasts

4. The largest cup size is:

a. K

b. DD

c. Z

5. The Wonderbra has been creating bodacious cleavage since the:

a. 1930s

b. 1960s

c. 1990s

6. Wearing bras causes breast cancer.

a. true

b. false

c. maybe

7. Shapewear should be purchased in:

a. a size down

b. current size

c. none of the above

ANSWERS:

1. a. While many lay claim to inventing the first modern bra in the early 1900s, it is unclear who really made the first modern bra. We do know that bras became a household item in the 1920s, when a boyish, flat-chested look was fashionable.

2. b. The band does all the heavy lifting, says Suzanne Gendron, co-owner of Uplifting Bra Makeover. "Like the foundation of your house, the band is your foundation," she said. "The cups in the bra are like the windows and the walls of your house. The straps are the window dressing."

3. a. Warner's is reported to have introduces cup sizes in 1935 or 1937. They came in A, B, C and D.

4. a. K is the largest cup size. If you thought D was big, don't. A "D" is just an average woman, Gendron says.

5. b. The Wonderbra was invented in 1964 by a Canadian lingerie company. It was sold in Canada and Europe for years, but wasn't introduced in the U.S. until 1994. Today, Hanes owns the Wonderbra brand.

6. b. There is no scientifically credible evidence that bras cause breast cancer, according to the American Cancer Society.

7. c. It really depends on what you want your shapewear to do for you, says JoAnn Pasell, co-owner of Uplifting Bra Makeover. Some want control and support, others may want smooth lines or lift. To find the right fit for the right look, stop by their booth at the expo.