The Best Women's Lingerie And Intimates Options In Chicago
By Staff in Arts & Entertainment on Mar 26, 2014 7:20PM
Let's face it, buying a durable, comfortable and cute bra, underwear or piece of lingerie can feel impossible most of the time. Life is plagued with too tight bands, dreaded double boob from too small cups, stretched out material with no support or the cursed broken underwire that wiggles out and stabs you at a moment's notice, letting you know the bra you just dropped $40+ bucks on is now a piece of trash. Same goes for lingerie with the corsets that get bent or the ruffled boy shorts that start to lose their ruffles or the sexiest teddy that offers absolutely no support. It's enough to make you want to burn your bra for something other than revolution.
Is it so much to ask for quality undergarments that not only fit but make the person wearing them feel sexy or cute? Apparently so. But we have found a few places that are worth checking out if you need an updated fitting, a bit of an indulgent treat or just a really great sports bra. And we included some handy online resources as well, because us bra seekers need all the help we can get. Just remember, the key here is quality over quantity. That cheap bargain bin bra will never treat you well, just accept it. And if you know any awesome spots, please share in the comments. We're all in this together.
Best Bra Fitting:
Intimacy
The best bra fitting I’ve ever had didn’t involve measuring tape and the fitter didn’t lay a hand on me. Intimacy’s Bra Fit Stylist simply looked me over in the fitting room - spoiler alert, you’re going to be seen topless—and then brought me some sample sizes to try on and perfected the fit from there. She also gave me a lesson in how bras should fit: the band should be tight around the chest (tighter than you probably think) and on the last hook so that you can move to tighter hooks as the bra inevitably stretches over time, extending the life of the bra. There’s another thing, bras have a life span. Once your straps are yanking up the back of the band, it’s time for a new one. Another way to extend the life of your bra is not wearing the same one every day. Those suckers need a day off to rest, or at least time for the elastic return to regain its strength.
I walked out with a new size, and a bigger cup--did you know that the smaller the band, the bigger the cup label (ie the cup volume of a 32B is the same as a 34A)?! Some of the bras at Intimacy can be pretty pricey, but they do carry an incredibly large range of sizes. And once you have your new size, you can always head over to another store and buy in bulk so you have a bunch in rotation.
One tip before you go though, make an appointment. You can call or make one online. They take walk-ins, but their schedule is usually pretty full, and this isn’t the kind of thing you want to rush.—Michelle Meywes
Intimacy is located at 900 N. Michigan Ave.
Best Sports Bras (tie):
Fleet Feet
Fleet Feet is already a great resource for running gear and shoe sizing but they also excel at offering some of the best quality sports bras around. And we’re not talking about any of that cheap cotton stuff, actual breathable fabric that contours and fits to your body in a wide range of sizes. I ended up at Fleet Feet after being stuck in a sad Lane Bryant flimsy cotton contraption, realizing the lack of plus size sports bra at most retail outlets. Not only did Fleet Feet have some bras in stock that actually fit my larger frame, they gave a lot more support. And they were willing to order in a larger size in one bra I was interested in, regardless if I ended up purchasing it or not. They carry Enell, which is a great brand to invest in especially if you are a plus size and looking for a great long lasting sports bra. Sure, it might cost a bit more than your cotton three pack at Target, but your boobs will thank you later after a few lakefront runs. —Lisa White
Fleet Feet has three locations in Chicago. Find them here.
Ganesha Yoga
Ladies blessed with a little more on top are familiar with the struggle of finding a properly fitting bra, but sports bras can be even harder to find that perfect fit. Most stores carry XS through XL, but how does that translate to your bra size? I don’t need any more reasons to skip my workout, so I don’t have time for a too-small sports bra riding up while I’m dropping into downward dog. The store at Ganesha Yoga offers yoga and athletic wear, with a wide selection of plus-size bras. Some of the lines even come with standard bra sizing, so there’s no more wondering if your double-Ds are going to fit into that XL. Yoga and performance wear can be pricey, but make sure to check the sale bin at the front. There are usually a few great sports bras marked down so much you can talk yourself into buying two. —Jennifer A. Freeman
Ganesha Yoga is located at 3113 N Lincoln Ave.
Best Splurge (tie):
La Perla and Agent Provocateur
If something makes you feel sexy and beautiful we say follow some wise words and “treat yo self!” If you have the means to afford it, treating yourself to beautifully crafted lingerie is money well spent. It’s always nice to pamper yourself and two boutiques in town will do just that when it comes to lingerie. For a more classical approach, La Perla can’t be beat. They have a wide selection of bras, bustiers, garters and slips in some of the most gorgeous materials. The fit is finely tuned on these pieces and this is the type of item you’ll pick up for a special occasion and cherish for a long time. Sure, you can buy their items (and Agent Provocateur) online, but if you are going to drop a pretty penny you might as well enjoy some wonderful customer service too.
Agent Provocateur serves up the same amazing materials, styles and customer service as La Perla but with a bit more vamp and playful attitude. Currently they have a lot of neon and retro floral patterns, which are perfectly trendy and ready for the summer. If we’re comparing the two, La Perla is more the lingerie you wear under your wedding dress and Agent Provocateur is the lingerie you wear on your honeymoon, if you get our drift. One is a bit more romantic, the other more bold and playful but both offer up quality pieces to indulge both your body and bank account. —Lisa White
La Perla is located at 535 N. Michigan Ave. Agent Provocateur is located at 47 E. Oak St.
Best All-In-One Shop
G Boutique
We’d love G Boutique even more if they carried (or at least offered the option to order) larger sizes but we have to give them props for being a great one-stop shop for all things feminine sexy. [Editor's update, March 28, 8:30 a.m.: G Boutique informed us that they do carry lingerie pieces up to an XXL and go up to 38G in bras. You can also check with them to see if special orders are available, they are willing to order in a larger size if that is an option. Just make sure to confirm their return policy with special orders.] Lingerie, sex toys and generally owning your sexiness is something a lot of ladies (and men for that fact) struggle with. So we appreciate any place that offers a safe and inviting environment where you can expand your knowledge all while grabbing some cute underwear. Speaking of underwear, G Boutique offers a underwear of the month club if you like what they offer. And we love that they carry maternity options including some cute lacy underwear perfectly fitted for an expanding baby bump.[Editor's update, March 28, 8:30 a.m.: they no longer carry maternity options at G Boutique.] They have a nice selection of wedding lingerie and bachelorette items as well. With a well curated but decent variety, G Boutique is a great local shop to check out if you need a little variety with your lingerie shopping. —Lisa White
G Boutique is located at 2131 N. Damen Ave.
Best Online Options When Things Get Really Frustrating:
True & Co.
True & Co. is an online-only bra fitting retailer that gives you your correct size through a quiz. It might sound crazy, but I recently found my new favorite bra through their site. Here’s how it works: you take their online quiz where they’ll ask you specific questions about fit based on the size and brand you’re currently wearing and about how your twins sit (well rounded, bottom happy, taking sides). True & Co then sets up a personalized “store” with bras for your body type with sizes they recommend based on your quiz. You pick three bras and they’ll throw in two additional expert picks for you to try on. Yes, try on. Shipping is free both ways and you only pay for the bras that you keep. They carry bras and other lingerie in brands I’d never heard of like She Walks In Beauty (+ Light) and Day To Night alongside more familiar names like Calvin Klein and Spanx. It’s a nice risk-free opportunity to try on some brands that might not be available at local retailers, in a new size you might not try on your own.—Michelle Meywes
Check out True & Co. here.
A Bra That Fits
I’ve had some serious issues finding bras and I’ve tried most bra fitters in Chicago already. I blame my very narrow sloping shoulders. A Bra That Fits is Reddit’s community (a “subreddit”) for helping women find good bras and it’s a godsend for those of us who are hard to fit. They recommend an empowered method that involves measuring yourself and calculating your own bra size. There are also many resources they link to for buying bras online and other bra nerd resources like Bratabase, a bra fitting database.. Once you have your bra they can help you evaluate the fit. Thanks to this community I have my first bra that fits, which I purchased through Amazon Prime. — Melissa McEwen
Check out A Bra That Fits here.