Showing your support

Susan Nethero’s business cards don’t read “the bra whisperer” for nothing. As founder of Intimacy — which just opened its first Philly-area boutique at the King of Prussia Mall — chances are she knows your chest better than you do.

“Bras are the most intimate thing you own, but the most technical thing we buy,” says Nethero.

Which is why at Intimacy, the fittings are, indeed, intimate. A specialized bra fitter will first make sure you’re wearing the correct size — something Nethero estimates 85 percent of women aren’t doing — and understand the principles of fit and support before you browse the store’s European styles.

Intimacy carries everything from all-business sports bras to the laciest of sexy demis in more than 90 sizes with cups A through K, but free alterations are available for anyone who needs them. Because, as Nethero says, “every woman should be able to have something beautiful.”

Pro tip!

The most common problem is relying on straps for support. “Think of a bra like a seesaw,” says Nethero. For a perfect perky fit, 90 percent of support should come from a snug, level band.