Anika's Story: Bra Shopping is Awkward

By: Anika In't Hout

If I could sum up the first time I went shopping for a bra in one word, the word awkwardness comes to mind. While I already went shopping for training bras at a clothing store a couple years earlier, this was the first time I actually went into a lingerie store. Even though most of my friends loved and continue to love shopping, I’ve always hated it. So shopping for my first actual bra made it all the worse. 

While I just wanted to stay home and read Twilight for the twentieth time, my mom insisted that it was time for me to get a new bra. Being eleven or twelve at the time, in my mind, I was pretty much embarrassed by almost everything. My mom explained to me though that while bra shopping is annoying and uncomfortable, it is just a part of life that every girl has to go through.

Although I wasn’t excited about going shopping, I was relieved that at least my mom wasn’t dragging me to a bright pink store with loud music and sexy lingerie everywhere. Instead, she took me to a little lingerie boutique down the street called Change Lingerie. At this boutique, there was no pink, no loud music hurting my ear drums, no super sexy and intimidating lingerie dressed on the mannequins. Even though it was not as loud or big as other popular bra stores, the fact that my mom and I were the only customers in this small and quiet boutique almost made the experience more anxiety-inducing. 

The friendly sales associate greeted us and my mom explained that I need to get fitted for my first bra. Even if it was just us three in that store, I remember just feeling so uncomfortable when the woman wrapped that cold measuring tape around my chest. Ugh. After giving me a few B-cup bras to try on, I would awkwardly try on one at a time and come out of the dressing room, seeing what my mom and the sales associate thought in terms of size and fit. As a tween, I had low self-esteem and didn’t feel comfortable in my body so I definitely didn’t want my mom and this woman to see me in these small beige bras. 

After trying on a few more bras, my mom and I eventually bought a couple of bras and headed home. While I finally feel more comfortable in my body and walking into bra stores now, I wish there was something like Apricotton ten years ago to help me deal with the awkwardness of getting my first bra. I would have loved to know how to find the best bra or how to ask my parents for a bra. 

If you or someone you know is feeling the same way I did ten years ago, check out Apricotton's bras, which are designed specifically for the teen girl body type where girls can try on their bras in the comfort of their own home. 

About the Author

Meet Anika, our content creator and copywriter! In her final year at Western, she’s studying media and creative writing. Even though it’s been a while since she had to deal with the awkwardness of buying her first bra, she is excited to join the Apricotton team and make bra shopping a little bit easier for tween and teen girls. You can connect with her here.