The Fitting Curve is Revolutionizing the Bra Industry

Written by Katherine Fernandez

It is no secret that women generally hate bra shopping. Studies show that upwards of 70 percent of women are wearing the wrong bra size, resulting in physical pain and damage to their bodies as well as deep-rooted insecurities and body dysmorphia.

The Fitting Curve founders Kelly Saintus, Helene Delince, and Stephanie Vincent have a collective experience of over 50 years in the lingerie industry. Unfortunately, their personal and professional experiences with undergarment fittings left them dissatisfied with how the industry serves their customers.

Specializing in various disciplines like merchandising, retail management, design, and garment construction, they realized they had the perfect dream team between the three of them. Inspired by their own negative shopping experiences and their intimate (no pun intended) knowledge of the business, they sought to create a new type of shopping experience. Thus, The Fitting Curve was born. 

“When I was younger, I went to bra fit shops, and it was these little old ladies, and they always made me feel uncomfortable with myself, to the point where I had a breast reduction at 16. I made a personal vow to myself that nobody should ever feel like that in their shopping experience,” Saintus said with emotion welling in her voice. 

The core values of TFC are evident in every aspect of their business, with comfort, self-love, and educating women about their bodies as the foundation. Their store, located in Long Island, NY, even has a feature wall dubbed the “bra wall” for you to commemorate your new bra and newfound confidence.

“Because we are a smaller shop, we wanted to be the complete opposite of what a big box retailer would provide you with,” Stephanie said. “We wanted to make the personal experience actually personable. It’s really an education process while having fun.”

The educational aspect of the experience is vital to the process. Many women are grossly misinformed about their breasts and their bodies as a whole, picking up misinformation from family members, peers, or the internet at a young age and carrying it with them into their adult lives. The myth that going braless will make your breasts “sag” is still prevalent today despite being wildly untrue. These misconceptions and old-wives’ tales are inaccurate and harmful in terms of self-perception. 

“The moms, the aunts, the grandmas all really drill in the importance of foundation,” Stephanie said. “We’re super grateful for that but on the flip side, we pride ourselves on being body-positive, so there were a lot of things we had to unlearn within our industry.”

At TFC, inclusivity isn’t limited only to size inclusion. In 2018, after undergoing a specialized training program, TFC introduced their post-breast cancer collection and began fitting bras for survivors who have had a mastectomy. As a part of their partnership with the American Cancer Society, TFC donates 5 percent of the proceeds from select products to breast cancer research.

TFC offers virtual fittings in addition to their traditional in-store fittings. During our virtual fitting, Stephanie walked us through the proper way to fit ourselves for a bra and explained the factors that affect your fit. First and foremost, you’ll want to start by wearing your best-fitting bra and have a flexible tape measure handy. Then, Stephanie demonstrates how you should be measuring your breasts and guides you through it as you measure yourself. She explained that several elements weigh into bra fitting, like breast shape and tissue density. After taking measurements and determining some facts about your breasts, she provided some insights and product recommendations, taking your preferences into account while also considering your body’s needs.

Keep in mind that to get the most accurate fitting, TFC recommends getting fitted in person.

Visit their website to learn more about the founders, book your fitting appointment and shop their lingerie and TFC branded merchandise. You can also check out their new YouTube channel, Uplifted by TFC.

Visit their website to learn more about the founders, book your fitting appointment and shop their lingerie and TFC branded merchandise.