Judy, originally, I went to Revelation in Fit, in Piedmont (Oakland).  It is a small store, run by a lady named Robynne.  Rene referred me to her, as Rene knew her from the time in her (Rene's) life when she was doing re-enactments and period dancing.   She specializes in larger, difficult to fit styles.  She knows her stuff.

Now, I had an in-person fitting (which she isn't doing right now due to covid 19) but her website says that she will do virtual fittings via Zoom.  Info in on the website.   Having said that, she has apparently done well enough so that she has opened a second store in SF and there *are* in-person fittings at that location.  Again, info on the website.

I will say that I am still wearing the 3 bras (plus a **sports bra**) that she fit me with.  They are superb.  I can personally recommend her highly.

Her website: Revelation in Fit 

Update:  OH MY GOSH!!   She has a 3rd location.... in Los Gatos!!!!!  Can you believe that???    386 State St. Los Altos, CA 94022 650-518-5025 Hours: Tuesday - Sunday 11am-7pm

I would strongly suggest that you call them FIRST to see if they offer any sort of virtual fitting also.


Another update:  then I went to Nordstroms.   At least the one in Walnut Creek had ladies who knew how to fit properly at the time I went, so you might check Nordstroms out.   According to their webpage, the closest ones to you are the 3 in San Jose.

Listen to (read) what pirate said. I went to a small specialty store in Billings, MT -- TLC Lingerie.  I had an in-person fitting the first part of July.  We both agreed that we were comfortable with each other without masks.  Anyway, the woman who helped me was at least middle-aged and maybe bordering on senior; she really knew what she was doing.  My new bras WERE expensive compared to the Kohl's ones but oh so comfortable and worth the price.

If you're ever in town, I'll take you there.  <G>

Cris in MT

5dogmom (CRISR5) said:

My new bras WERE expensive compared to the Kohl's ones but oh so comfortable and worth the price.

And if you take care of them . hand wash/air dry ... they will last for YEARS, making their cost almost reasonable. :-)

furthermore, now that I've found a supply of replacement underwires, I think I'm pretty well set.  

Pirate (PIRATE_SR) said...

She has a 3rd location.... in Los Gatos!!!!!  Can you believe that???    386 State St. Los Altos, CA 94022 650-518-5025 

Dang!  You got me so excited and then with that addy I realized you likely made a typo and Los Gatos was supposed to be Los Altos.  BUT it is still closer than SF or Oakland.  Thanks.  I'll check her web into out and Nordstroms too!  

Thanks Cris!  That would make a yuck job much more fun!!!

Years? Gosh, I've never had one last >2 years.

Where did you get those underwires from?  I need to fix some of my favorite bras.

Loved the bra sites you shared too.  Thank you

The website I found the underwires at is https://www.sewsassy.com      On the left hand side, click on "bras".    Go all the way to the bottom of that category and click on "underwires".  You'll find more underwires that you thought possible.

To find the *right* underwire for you, it helps if you have an underwire from an existing bra.   You'll want to know the 
1.  Inside width

2. inside depth

3. outside length

take those measurements and compare them to what is on their website.  See if anything comes reasonably close.  I'm glad that they provide a *picture* of the actual underwire so you can see it's shape.

Thank you.. You have been a wealth of info for me on my bra issues.  It's like they don't make them for normal people, if they ever did... LOL

My favorite bra was a Vanity Fair, underwire, no padding and was made from that silky nylon type fabric.  They stopped making it in that form some years ago and went to the rubber formed crap like teeny bopper buy.  Had I known then, what I know now, I would have bought a dozen of them, no matter the cost.

My favorite underwire bra of all time was purchased at -- Walmart!  They came in several colors, and I went to several Walmarts in my area, buying all I could find in my size.  They actually looked a lot like Dupioni silk.  I totally wore them all out over the course of a few years.  I liked them so much that of course they HAD to discontinue them.  And it's not like it was an off brand.  I believe it was also Vanity Fair.  They fit so well and were so comfortable and I never had a problem with the straps slipping, and they were also very attractive.  It was all just too good to last.