Frequently Asked Questions

• Manufacturers ordinarily give a bra (3) to (6) months or about 1000 hours of comfort wear, per bra.  Over the years, manufacturers have made bras more comfortable, unfortunately, the fabrics from which today’s bras are made also tend to stretch more during the wear-life of the bra. Bra stretch is one reason bras become uncomfortable, which is a fact of Bra life. A quality bra may cost around $70.00 however, Think about it, you wear one bra for 3 to 6 months, 12 hours a day,  your bra cost 5 to 10 Cents an hour to wear. A perfect fitting Bra is essential to your comfort and support. A cup of coffee cost more than $5.00  and  last less than an hour. 
• If you gain or lose weight and your bras start to mis-behave, Tina's Closet invites customers to come in for a Bra Checkup. We may be able to alter your bra to extend the life by taking it in before providing you with another bra.  However, if you gained weight don't wreck your smaller bras, store them and replace with the correct size to regain comfort and support. It doesn’t make sense to wear bras that hurt.  When you are pulling and tugging on your bra due to bra stretch or weight loss, you might start to experience neck and back pain from the bra rolling up the back cutting into your Latissimus Dorsi muscle which has thousands of nerve endings.
• FYI women change sizes all through life.  They gain weight, lose weight, take medications and face different transitions during their life. I never throw away my bras because I put on a few lbs. Like most women we diet, experience bra discomfort with surgeries and hormonal challenges. Having a bra to fit keeps you from pulling and tugging all day long on straps and bands. When a bra no longer fits right you may experience back and neck pain from the bra rolling up the back cutting into your Latissimus dorsi muscle which has thousands of nerve endings. 
• Tina's Closet recommends you be organized by separating your bras by size.  Customers are also encouraged to bring in previously purchased bras from Tina’s Closet before purchasing new ones. Summer months with high temperatures also cause premature bra stretch.   If the bras  still look new Tina’s Closet performs an alteration to help extend the life to provide extended comfort and support. Resizing a bra to last longer is part of Tina’s Closet customer service. For a small fee, the bra will feel like new again. 
• If a customer is going through menopause, her bras won’t last during her hot flashes.  Bra stretch is a big factor and one of the many Men-o-pains which becomes frustrating to many women.  Once Tina's Closet performs quick surgery to the stretched-out bra, it is brought back to its original size providing support once again. Unless you have access to a sewing machine, you will be going through bras daily, searching for a perfect fit, only to become more miserable. Over 50 years of experience allows Tina’s Closet to understand and solve your bra woe challenges through whatever transition you are facing.
• Keep in mind that all bras are not created equal. Tina's Closet recommends trying on all bras before purchasing.
  • Different fabrics wear better than others.
  • Different styles from the same manufacture may not fit your body type comfortably.
  • Different Manufactures may not fit you in the same size as another Manufacture.
• Allow Tina’s Closet to take the guess work out of your bra fitting experience. We provide answers, solutions and valuable information that helps you receive a better relationship with your bra. Tina's Closet customers have a better understand to why they were having Bra Woe challenges. 
• These size differences are due to the fact that all manufacturers have their own designers and patterns and may use fabrics with more lycra and or spandex content %.  Having been fortunate to be working with so many of these manufacturers from different countries allowed me to understand their products.  What use to take you 2 hours trying to find a comfortable bra, can take as little as the first bra we select for you to try on during your fitting.  We know what questions to ask, as an experienced bra fitter, this information helps us be more efficient during the fitting process.
• All bras are not created equally and will not fit every single body type, even though it may be available in the size you may be wearing.  This is also why it’s so hard to purchase a bra without trying it on. 
• At Tina’s Closet, we just don’t hand you a bra and walk away, we make sure your straps are adjusted, as well as educating you in the fitting room on Bra purchasing 101. Tina's Closet listens to your challenges, explain why you are experiencing them and help you find your very own perfect fitting bra. An expert fitter will understand what guess work is needed in finding your perfect fit with the different manufacturers and styles.  Bras are made all over the world in the UK, China, France, Sweden, Etc. Tina’s Closet will show you the difference in fit once in the fitting room. 
• Just because you like the look don’t assume that it will be a perfect fit.  Sometimes the bra may just need a small alteration to make it work.  25% of Tina's Closet customers need some type of alteration to provide the additional comfort that can’t be received from off the shelf bras.  
• A Big misconception is thinking there's a miracle bra to help cover back flab. Tina's Closet helps eliminate most loose skin when your get fitted properly, however, realistically when we loose weight or reach menopause, skin becomes loose. This is why Camisoles were invented.    A healthy cell wall has equal parts of progesterone and estrogen. When we reach middle age at around 35 years of age, our body naturally stops producing progesterone. Progesterone is our youth hormone.  Estrogen becomes dominant until we go through Menopause. Our adrenals glands stay heathy until we stop producing these hormones. When we stop, the adrenals look for what they need in the foods we eat. When more food enters the body, the adrenals store the previous fat and won't release it until it finds what it is looking for because it thinks what it needs is hiding in the fat cells.  Once you give your body what it needs it releases the fat stored and your puffiness subsides.  I personally have been their and found relief by communicating my findings with my Endocrinologist. You can find more information on this subject at ProgesteronePlace.com. Once you understand, you and your Endocrinologist can find the right solution for you. 50 years and fitting over several millions of bras has provided Tina’s Closet with shared knowledge from customers who found relief and information to help. Today we feel empowered to pass along things that we experienced, solutions we find and share our information to help others.  Empower yourself to understand what your Doctor is saying by working together, finding your very owner solutions.  

A customer can extend the wear-life of their bra by following Tina’s Closet Tips below. 

Tina’s Closet Tips:

• NO WASHER and NO DRYER. Hot dryer temperatures, spinning,  and twisting endured in the washing machine will actually decrease the wear-life of a bra. Some customers see the poor results after their bra’s very first mis-adventure in the washer/dryer.

Tina's Closet Cautions:

• The agitator in the washing machine can cause an underwire to bend, twist and snap; forcing it to rip through the channeling of the bra. Many women ask if it is OK to wash their bras into a front-loader, which has no agitator. My answer is an emphatic ‘NO!’ The bra’s metal hooks can get caught inside the drum’s drainage holes and/or bang against the metal drum of your machine causing chips in the metal hook and eyes as well as damage to your washer’s drum! This invites rust, which can stain every piece of laundry. I never recommend a mesh laundry bag to wash your bras in the washing machine. They won’t save your bra from twisting and becoming disformed.  They also don’t get as clean as soaking would. 
• NO HARSH LAUNDRY DETERGENTS. The bleaching agents and harsh chemicals that can be found in many laundry detergents will prematurely damage the fibers in most lingerie fabrics. Tina's Closet recommends washing your bras and lingerie with a citrus-based lingerie cleanser, like Forever New,(Available in store or call to purchase) which requires no rubbing or scrubbing. Forever New simply lifts the dirt and oils right off of the fabric; all you have to do is rinse after a 20 minute soak and air dry.

Bra stretch it’s a fact of bra life! Your own body heat adds stress to your bra. You can reduce the ‘wear and tear’ on your delicate lingerie by alternating bras and note wearing them two days in a row allowing them to rest, and washing at least every other time you wear your bra unless you perspire, then you should soak each time you wear it. Many manufacturers of quality, put wash instructions on the tags of their bras: ‘Hand wash warm and air dry’. 20 minute soak is just what the bra needs. 

When a bra misbehaves, Tina’s Closet ‘routine bra maintenance check’ is the perfect cure. Bras mis-behave for a reason, most often due to a common case of ‘bra stretch.’ or any type of Bra Woe™ challenge.  

Extending the wear-life of your bra makes your investment in ‘A Perfect Fit’ go farther!

Finally, remember to rotate your bras. This helps extend the life when you give the bra a day of rest.   You are worth it! 

If you are on a weight loss program, then Tina's Closet recommends that you plan on purchasing a minimum of two [2] bras: One to wear and One to wash.

Depending on your size, Keep in mind that 7 to 15 lbs. can change how your bra is fitting. 

Bras are an investment of comfort and support so of course if your time to shop is limited and you do laundry once a week you may want to purchase additional bras to get you through.   If you wear lots of vibrant colors make sure you have a few dark color bras to eliminate color bleeding which transfers onto your bras. Before shopping for new bras, remember to check your wardrobe and see if a strapless bra is needed.  If you work out everyday, you will want to soak your bra same day. Depending on how often you work out, make sure you have a good supply of sport bras to get you through the week. 

The bra is the most remarkable invention and can make you look good or bad. So, as soon as your bra begins to mis-behave it may be time for Tina's Closet staff to, ‘See you in the Fitting Room!

With over 50 years of experience helping pregnant and nursing mothers, Tina’s Closet can help find what you need during the different transitions of your pregnancy.

When you first experience discomfort, Tina's Closet recommends purchasing two bras  for daytime and a few sleep bras. Purchasing a nursing bra when your waistline is growing will not fit after her give birth because you not only pre-stretched the bras you may be a different cup size once you start to nurse. Sacrificing support is bad for your shoulders and back. You deserve to be comfortable and supportive. I know bras are expensive however, your breast during pregnancy will feel heavy and have more weight to the cup.  Support is extremely important during this transition in life. 

Tina's Closet recommends a few bras as soon as you notice your breast swelling and spilling over the cup within your first trimester. Do not go without a good supportive bra.  A seasoned Bra fitter will have suggestions that may get you through. 

Tina's Closet recommends not purchasing nursing bra any sooner than 30 days before your delivery date. Make sure you have room to engorge.   After you deliver when you engorge your ribcage will slowly come down. This will cause the bra band to become loose.  After a few days or so, your breast milk comes in. New, anywhere between 2 to 6 weeks you may lose a cup size and two to three band sizes.  If you need another fitting then get refitted.  

At Tina’s Closet our nursing mothers know we take in there previously purchased bras to help them extend the life and comfort.  Its hard to predict what bra size to purchase. this is why Tina's Closet work with our customers to educate their options. Once you deliver your baby, your size may change again around the band.  Make an appointment to bring your previously purchased bras from Tina's Closet so we can make sure our seamstress can alter and resize your bra band once your bra begins to mis-behave.  It is very important for comfort and proper support for a bra check, to make sure you have the right support at all time. Support and the right fit at all times is the key to eliminating clogged milk ducts.

If you changed a few sizes during pregnancy, do not get rid of any of your bras  or nursing bras. If you plan on a larger family, you already own a verity of sizes to work with you. 

First of all, Congratulations! This is another memorable day of your life. Let us do things the right way the 1st time. Tina’s Closet can help! We ask that you text Tina’s Closet at 630-810-0046 with a picture of the front and back of your dress on your body, when making an appointment.  This allows Tina’s Closet to better understand your needs.

Remember: Bring your dress to your appointment to make sure the dress works over the garment. This allows the fitter to make suggestions that will work for the dress.  
See you in the fitting room!

The answer is simple, once you know the facts. 50 years of experience allows us to share what we know in the fitting room. 

Being a woman who has been fitting bras for most of her life, I was able to find answers and solutions, which enabled me to solve my own Bra Woe™ challenges.

With 50 years of research and hands-on experience, We have helped nearly a million women find their Perfect Fit™ during my career. My life has given me purpose and positive proof that women can find comfort and support in bras by following a few simple rules.  

I remember my teen years hating to wear my bra only to be the second in line to burn it. I also remember the pain of not wearing one. It has left me with breast pain to this day when I don’t wear a bra. So, what’s a girl to do?

I remember suffering in silence with my own Bra Woe™ challenges.

I was 20 years old, and one day, while at work, I had a customer who was in pain because she couldn’t find a bra to fit her. She was pregnant and had grown out of her bra by 8 cup sizes.  This customer couldn’t find a bra to support her properly. Having already gone through one pregnancy myself, I understood her dilemma.  I too faced the same bra challenges. She asked me if I could help. I wasn’t trained to fit bras even though the business sold them. However, I asked her what she needed, and she said a bigger cup than she could find in stores.  So, I started helping her with larger band-size bras because that was the only way I could provide her with a larger cups.  Most women don't realize that all C cup are not the same size.  A 32C cup bra is equivalent to a 34B in the cup.  However, the 34B cup bra is two inches larger in the band size. I  found a cup that fit, however, the band was just too big. She commented she wished the bra would stay lower on her back, so I grabbed it snugly. She replied ‘yes’ just like that.  She remarked that her back felt better while I held the excess bra band and asked me if I do the alterations to make the bra fit.  This is when I had a light bulb moment! I knew how to sew so I replied that I could take it in. I listened to what my customer wished and addressed the problem.  The rest is history…

Though a bra can look good, if it doesn’t feel good in the fitting room, it’s not a perfect fit! Only you can decide what feels good on your body. If every bra feels good, then no problem.  A Bra fitter is only there to make sure that the bra is positioned correctly to provide support and comfort. If after the fitter makes the adjustments, you don't feel comfortable, then move to the next style bra.

Women go through different transitions during their life.  Weight gain or loss could make a difference in the bra’s comfort by as little as 5 lbs. Childbearing years, pre-menopause, menopause, medications, and aging can cause shrinking in the torso, which causes the body weight distribution that makes bra shopping inevitable. (50) Fifty years of fitting bras have allowed Tina’s Closet to understand each transition in one’s life. 

Your body is changing why wouldn’t you change the style or size of the bra, which will allow you to be comfortable and supportive? I know why because I see it day after day. Women give up and stay in the same size until they can’t stand the bra they wear anymore. Or they see themselves in a picture and it looks like they forgot to put a bra on that day.  Many think they put on weight and purchase a larger band size bra or two.  This caused them to sag and bra straps to slide off their shoulders.  

(50) Fifty years of experience measuring women has given me the answers to solving Bra Woe™ challenges for my customers. There is no Bra school, so what’s a woman to do? Only those who experienced Bra Woe challenges personally decided to make it their mission to help those who couldn’t help themselves.

I knew someday I would own a store, however, I didn't know it was going to be a bra fitting boutique. Helping customers and listening to what they were saying allowed me to have that lightbulb moment.  

Most women made it their mission to help others find relief from ill-fitting bras. A tape measure will not be the answer, as I discover. If you are not wearing a bra, how can you measure a perfect size while sagging?   If you are sagging when measuring yourself, you have no idea that your breast size could be H, HH, J or K cup in a bra. If you are wearing the wrong bra and you get measured, you are measuring over an ill fitting bra which won't lead you to the right size.  

The most important tool in my business is communication with the customer to understand her challenges. We start with the tape measure and when the bra does not fit, it gives us fitters an idea of which bra size to retrieve. 

This is why Tina’s Closet has been in business since 1987. I started fitting bras in 1975, developed my niche and mastered helping women in the fitting room.  My Bra Fitting Methodology has helped educate women during the fitting process. They acquire a better understanding of why they experience Bra Woes™.

I have been able to document my customer’s changes over the years to help them make sense of why they were experiencing these challenges. I also was able to develop a dialog with confidential, extensive information that allows my clients, to understand why women face so many Bra Woe™ challenges during their life.  Once a challenge is diagnosed by Tina, The Bra Doctor, a solution can be prescribed.