Finding the perfect wedding underwear

Katie meets: The Bra Boss of Kent

So many brides have the same dilemma when it comes to wedding underwear….Infact so many ladies have the same dilemma when it comes to underwear in general! How do you actually find a bra that fits!? What size am I?! Well ladies, Meet Joanna….

Who you are and what you do?

Hello! My name is Joanna and I am The Bra Boss of Kent. I am a fully qualified, advanced bra fitter and I have worked in the lingerie industry for almost 10 years now. I hadn’t always planned to work fitting bras & knickers, but as many people do, I fell into the industry, and have never looked back! I started off my bra fitting career in Fenwick Canterbury, where I received my bra fitting training and I got a lot of experience on the shop floor. I was then poached by the brand Gossard(who invented the Wonderbra!) and was asked to help them out with bra fitting events and merchandising. I then moved into an Area Sales Manager role and looked after the independent lingerie boutiques, department stores and online retailers who stocked Gossard in the South East of the UK. After working for a few other lingerie brands, I decided I wanted to take the ‘plunge’ and open my own lingerie fitting boutique and help women find their perfect bra!

What kind of ladies come to you?

I have so many ladies come to me, all looking for different things in lots of different sizes! No two days are the same at Bra Boss HQ. For example, I might have a new mum who is breastfeeding and looking for a supportive nursing bra in an H cup, then I will help someone who has had a mastectomyand are looking for something soft and comfortable in a C cup. I stock a wide range of bra sizes at Bra Boss HQ. I stock bras from an A to a K cup and from a 28 to a 44 back.

What you can offer?

At Bra Boss HQ I offer ladies a bespoke bra fitting in a private, cosy little bra haven. Private fittings are an hour long, which sounds like quite a long time, but the time really does fly by! When you arrive, you will be offered a drink and a cupcake and then we will have a short consultation about what size you are currently wearing, and what type of bra you are looking for. Then it’s time for the Bra Boss magic to begin! After fitting hundreds of ladies over 10 years, I do not need to use a tape measure to get your bra size – I fit by eye.

It is important to point out that as a bra fitter, I will fit you to each product rather than measuring you as a ‘set in stone’ bra size. You will not be the same size in every single bra that you try on. Bras can come up very differently depending on the brand, the style/shape, the fabric and even the colour! Just like clothes and shoes, bras can differ so much and that is why it is so important to try every single bra on before you purchase it. My job is to bring each of the products into you, help you adjust it properly and to then highlight what a good fitting bra should look and feel like.

Bra Boss HQ is full to the brim of lovely branded lingerie made with the finest fabrics, elastics, wires and lace. The lingerie brands I stock are all well known and respected within the lingerie industry and produce award winning products, designed with comfort, fit and support in mind. I specialise in Sports, Nursing and Mastectomy bras, but also offer a small selection of everyday bras too.

Alongside the private bra fittings, I also offer pop up bra fitting events and “Fizz and Fitting events, which can be held for you and a group of your friends in the comfort of your own home.

Why would they come to you?

I am a fully qualified, advanced bra fitter with 10 years’ experience in the lingerie industry, therefore I would like to say that I know my stuff when it comes to bras and all things boob related!

When I set up The Bra Boss of Kent, I wanted to create a nice, cosy relaxing space for ladies to come and enjoy a private bra fitting. So many other large department stores on the High Street can be a bit overwhelming or impersonal and so I wanted to make sure that it is a fun, enjoyable experience, rather than a daunting one!

Why is it important to wear a bra that fits?

It’s so important to wear a bra that fits correctly! Firstly, a good fitting bra can help to improve your posture. If a bra is too loose in the back this means that the bust will naturally fall forwards, and if the bust is heavy, this could then lead to back, shoulder or neck problems. Secondly, a good fitting bra can actually make you look slimmer! I have helped a lot of ladies who have not liked their bust size, or the way their clothes fit. However, after their bra fitting, they have left happy and more confident with their shape. If the bust is being lifted and supported properly, then this will give you such a great silhouette and a great shape under your clothes. Many ladies who come to see me may actually go up in the cup size, but once their top is back on, they will look smaller than before! This is because the bust has been lifted properly and is sitting where it should be! It also goes without saying that it’s so important to wear a good sports bra – this can make such a huge difference to your performance and you should get fitted for a sports bra if you are an A cup or a K cup!

What’s your Mission statement?

My mission as The Bra Boss is to support the lovely ladies in Kent, one bra fitting at a time! I want to ensure that the ladies I help feel supported, uplifted and confident in their new bras.

What do people get from visiting you?

Usually, they will come out as a completely different bra size compared to what they arrived in, and sometimes a completely different style of bra to what they would usually pick (usually because they wouldn’t know which style suits their shape and they would go for the safe option of a T-shirt bra!)

Ladies will get a bespoke, personalised service from someone who is really passionate and genuinely cares about making sure their customers walk out of Bra Boss HQ happy and comfortable. Helping ladies discover their new bra size and a new-found confidence fills me with joy!

Do you also still collect bras for charity?

I do collect bras for charity. I have a bra bank at Bra Boss HQ where you can donate any unwanted or unloved bras to Against Breast Cancer. The donated bras raise vital funds for pioneering breast cancer research. They also help to support small businesses in Africa.

The textile recovery project prevents these bras from going into landfill and gives them a new lease of life in developing countries such as Togo, Ghana and Kenya, where bras remain too expensive to be produced locally.

For every tonne of bras collected, Against Breast Cancer receives £700 to fund their research. With over 30 million women in the UK – we can definitely make a difference!

Where can people find you? (physically and socially)

Bra Boss HQ is based in Priory Row, in Faversham. For a private bra fitting appointment, you will need to make an appointment via my website: www.thebrabossofkent.weebly.com where you can then select the date and time that suits you best.

You can find me on:

Facebook – “The Bra Boss of Kent”

Instagram – @the.bra.boss.of.kent

Thank you Joanna!

If you provide a wedding service that you think might be of interest to my brides then please do get in touch, id love to hear from you!