Larger, but inexpensive, bras in Toronto
December 5, 2010 8:07 AM Subscribe
Shopping filter (Toronto edition): Where in Toronto can you get unusually sized but relatively inexpensive bras?
I have a relative who needs to buy bra sizes larger than is normally available (40DD or 42E). I know of a good bra shop (Secrets from my sister) in Toronto, but bras from there average $100. She does not have a lot of money and her weight is currently fluxating, so she does not want to get expensive bras. Most department stores, however, max out below her size. Is there anywhere in Toronto with decent, larger bras around the $50 or less range? I've already been to La Senza - I like those bras, but they max out at 38DD. (Even 34DD only comes in two styles - really, DD is not that big or uncommon, but no one seems to carry much in that cup size, let alone larger).
I have a relative who needs to buy bra sizes larger than is normally available (40DD or 42E). I know of a good bra shop (Secrets from my sister) in Toronto, but bras from there average $100. She does not have a lot of money and her weight is currently fluxating, so she does not want to get expensive bras. Most department stores, however, max out below her size. Is there anywhere in Toronto with decent, larger bras around the $50 or less range? I've already been to La Senza - I like those bras, but they max out at 38DD. (Even 34DD only comes in two styles - really, DD is not that big or uncommon, but no one seems to carry much in that cup size, let alone larger).
Pennington's and Addition-elle both carry bras in the $50 range, and more often than not have them on sale at buy one, get the second 40% off.
posted by jacquilynne at 8:57 AM on December 5, 2010
posted by jacquilynne at 8:57 AM on December 5, 2010
I've heard amazing things about Freya, which a cursory google search tells me are in the $60 range. Here are stores in Toronto that carry it.
posted by R a c h e l at 9:16 AM on December 5, 2010
posted by R a c h e l at 9:16 AM on December 5, 2010
I love Secrets From My Sister, but you're right, they're expensive. What I do is go to Secrets From My Sister for a fitting, buy the one bra that works best and then order it in bulk from a US site like Freshpair.com. The selection is amazing and you can shop by size -- they go all the way up to 56F. Shipping to Canada is free on orders over $50 and the same bras that I pay $125 for in Canada are under $40 here. If you/your relative is particularly strapped for cash you can skip the step where you buy the bra you like best at SFMS, but the service there is so great I can't ever bring myself to do that. (On the other hand, I also can't bring myself to pay three times as much for every bra I buy.)
posted by kate blank at 9:22 AM on December 5, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by kate blank at 9:22 AM on December 5, 2010 [2 favorites]
Best answer: Change on Queen West (and several other places) is supposed to carry cup sizes up to J and offer reasonable prices. (I am nowhere near that range and have never bought there, so this is based on what I've read and is not a personal recommendation.) Groupon Toronto has a deal today ($20 for $45 worth of product), but you'd have to sign up and buy by midnight.
If it annoys you to have to sign up for Groupon just to see the page, here's the blurb:
If it annoys you to have to sign up for Groupon just to see the page, here's the blurb:
During the Stone Age, dressing for distress was all the rage, because cave persons knew tattered threads would make them less likely to be courted by a handsome triceratops. Dress for success with today's Groupon: for $20, you get $45 worth of designer lingerie at Change, with your choice of six Ontario locations. Change's emporium of underthings stocks a Danish-designed selection of high-tech brassieres and luxurious lingerie. This vast bounty of dainty drawers and more are neatly folded into a variety of collections that run the gamut of function and form, from sportswear to romantic unmentionables for special occasions such as Poltergeist Awareness Day. The knowledgeable staff uses “on the spot” bra fittings to help customers enhance their natural beauty with the right bra, selected from 90 different sizes to hug every variety of curve. Like a well-oiled skeletal system, a perfectly fitted bra can make its wearer feel more beautiful and confident by giving a slimming effect, helping clothes fit better, and providing stalwart back support. Check out the curvaceous collections for all the strap-and-lace goods.posted by maudlin at 9:35 AM on December 5, 2010
Reviews
Blog TO and Shopsterium featured Change, and Toronto Life magazine mentioned the shop. ChickAdvisors give Change's Queen Street location an average rating of 4.5 stars.
* Change provides all the elements of a specialty boutique without the large price tag. Professional bra fitters are available to ensure you get the best fit. – Anita, blogTO
* Immediately I found the store welcoming. The staff approached me right away and almost on sight alone, was able to size me. I went in with little hopes of finding something that would fit and be supportive, but managed to do just that. – citygrl, ChickAdvisor
* Shops at Don Mills
* 8 Karl Fraser Rd.
* North York, Ontario M3C 3R6
* (416) 385-3223
* Promenade Shopping Center
* 1 Promenade Cir.
* Thornhill, Ontario L4J 4P8
* (289) 472-5070
* 315 Queen St. W.
* Toronto, Ontario M5V 2A4
* (416) 977-7667
* 2645 Yonge St.
* Toronto, Ontario M4P 2J6
* (647) 478-5311
I sent this page to a friend of mine in Toronto who needs very large sizes and she sent this back (slightly paraphrased from instant message)
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Change Lingerie on Queen does GREAT and adorable bras for about $30-60, Which is about the same as La Senza, and they are much better quality. And they stock pretty much every size ever! It's pretty awesome :)
Tryst is also pretty good I hear, but I've never been. If she wants to try online, then Bravissimo and Freya are both excellent. I always feel bad for girls who can't find good bras, it IS really tough and it hurts your back like crazy if you're wearing a bad one.
posted by Canageek at 9:44 AM on December 5, 2010 [1 favorite]
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Change Lingerie on Queen does GREAT and adorable bras for about $30-60, Which is about the same as La Senza, and they are much better quality. And they stock pretty much every size ever! It's pretty awesome :)
Tryst is also pretty good I hear, but I've never been. If she wants to try online, then Bravissimo and Freya are both excellent. I always feel bad for girls who can't find good bras, it IS really tough and it hurts your back like crazy if you're wearing a bad one.
posted by Canageek at 9:44 AM on December 5, 2010 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: I've actually bought a Change bra from Secrets from my Sister - and it is a great, comfortable t-shirt bra and only $40. I think they stopped carrying them though - I'm glad there is a store.
I wasn't being coy when I said it was for a relative - it's my mom. (I fit into La Senza and like them, but they don't carry her size. But I'll also check out the Change store to find more for myself). She's so busy that I don't know if I can get her all the way downtown to try them on, but if they have a good returns policy, I can play personal shopper by buying a bunch in different sizes and styles, and taking them to her place to try on.
Freya is supposed to a good brand; so is Chantelle. Unfortunately, both seem to run $100 or more in Canada.
posted by jb at 9:55 AM on December 5, 2010
I wasn't being coy when I said it was for a relative - it's my mom. (I fit into La Senza and like them, but they don't carry her size. But I'll also check out the Change store to find more for myself). She's so busy that I don't know if I can get her all the way downtown to try them on, but if they have a good returns policy, I can play personal shopper by buying a bunch in different sizes and styles, and taking them to her place to try on.
Freya is supposed to a good brand; so is Chantelle. Unfortunately, both seem to run $100 or more in Canada.
posted by jb at 9:55 AM on December 5, 2010
Response by poster: Oh - there is a store at Glencairn and Yonge -- she could do that. (She works at St Clair & Yonge, and has a metropass).
posted by jb at 9:58 AM on December 5, 2010
posted by jb at 9:58 AM on December 5, 2010
The way I managed was to find a brand I liked that I was able to find expensively in a bricks and mortar store and then buy them from ebay (usually from the US shipped USPS- never UPS). It took regular looking online, but I bought over time and was able to buy in the DD and larger sizes for less than half retail and typically no more than $40, shipped to Canada. Personally, I found that the Penningtons ones were in the same price range but they deteriorated quickly. Also, Victoria's Secret does do 38DD and 40DD online (but not always in store). That might be an interesting option, although I understand that's not your preference.
posted by kch at 10:29 AM on December 5, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by kch at 10:29 AM on December 5, 2010 [1 favorite]
I was also going to recommend Change. Thought I'd add my reco just as a confirming "i second that" (or third it!)
posted by Kololo at 12:24 PM on December 5, 2010
posted by Kololo at 12:24 PM on December 5, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by jb at 8:19 AM on December 5, 2010