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Personal History

Support System

From Northern California to the Lower East Side and back again: An illustrator goes on a circuitous, emotional, and ultimately satisfying search for a well-fitting bra

By Vanessa Davis|February 25, 2011 7:00 AM|27comments
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'Support System' comic by Vanessa Davis, page 1

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Vanessa Davis' most recent book, Make Me a Woman, includes many comic strips first published in Tablet Magazine. Her first collection of diary comics, Spaniel Rage, was published in 2005.
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  • Steph F.

    If only the non-large-breasted knew what an ordeal it is for the rest of us to find a bra that does the job with making you look like Brunhilde. And don’t even get me started on sports bras…

  • Rachel

    I loved this! Great work and nice find!

  • http://www.nerdegade.com Adriana

    Next time you come to LA, I’ll take you to the Wizard of Bras.

  • Lusterkaboom

    Haha, this is funny. Great work!

  • achicago

    I feel your pain, Vanessa! It is really an emotional experience for those of us that are bigger in the chest endowments! Thanks for another wonderful tale!

  • Sheila Ryan

    My life was changed by Sally Ann of the Sally Ann Corset Shop in Chicago’s hinterlands. Fabulous stock and fabulous fitting.

  • http://www.melstringer.blogspot.com Mel Stringer

    Ah, Vanessa. Continuing to warm the cockles of my heart (behind my C-cup boobs) since 2005.

  • Dolly Joern

    We are all sisters under the unattainable perfect bra but try Wacoal, Vanessa.

  • http://www.rickparkerart.com Rick Parker

    I enjoy your work very much. In fact, you’re one of my favorite cartoonists. It’s very appealing both visually and literaturerarily (if that’s a word) and the way you tell the story seems exactly right. Also I appreciate the opportunity of learning a little bit about women, whom I have always found both fascinating, mysterious and unfathomable. Congratulations of your success. It’s well-deserved. I look forward to more of your outstanding stories.

  • Angela

    Read “Sima’s Undergarments”

  • http://vollsticks.livejournal.com vollsticks

    Brilliant as per usual Ms.Davis! I’ve been a fan of your work since Kramers Ergot 6 and Spaniel Rage…I showed this strip to my equally amply-endowed other half and she said: “Jesus, she thinks she’s got it bad–she should try getting a bra over here!” (U.K) But she’s a convert to your work, now, anyway!

  • http://LingeriebySusan.com Sue Speiser

    Get sized, go on the website of Lingerie by Susan, the store is in Edison, N.J., order the Edith-Lance Bras, they will be made just for you, and they will be drop shipped to you. Not Cheap!! But no one has tried them on, just you. The support is wonderful, the shoulder straps, don’t dig in. They are uplifting, come in minimizing, if you want that, many colors, styles. I have been using them for at least 40 yrs! It is not my store!! Before I found them, I would go through a underwire Bra, every 6/wks.!

    When You call the store, ask for Suzann, she is the owner!
    Susan speiser

  • suzi

    Very clever. It gets even worse for those of us who have had a lumpectomy for breast cancer. Finding the right bra is an ordeal. Finally I have found comfortable ones at Soma, a division of Chico’s.

  • Sheryl

    I live in Phoenix but buy bras in LA at Jeannette’s Bras “where the alphabet starts with D”. The ladies there are fabulous.

  • Michele

    Yeah, but this story has a happy ending. I’m still searching for one of those. I may have to go to California. Good story, good laughs…it’s all true. I’m on my way.

  • Rachel

    Forget the Lower East Side: Thousands of Orthodox Jewish women buy their bras at “Saposh,” a store on 18th Avenue (around 46th,47th St.) in Boro Park , Brooklyn. Owned by Sara Saposh, it is a no-nonsense place. They take you in, you go into a private curtained-off booth, and you get personally fitted by an expert. If she needs a second opinion, she calls any of the other 10 or so experts (some Russian bubbies, some just bubbies–but they know their stuff) to check. It’s a bit surreal, but they will fit you to a T–or a D. All the while keeping up a conversation about the latest wedding, recipe, etc. Needless to say, no men anywhere near the store. I think of it as the Orthodox Jewish version of the “beauty shop” culture.

  • Dara

    Ugh, me and my DDs loved this piece! Thank you for so perfectly illustrating the snark other people seem to love to engage in over busty ladies!

    Also, I am a huge fan of Gazebo in Northampton’s Massachusetts!!! Those ladies can help you out.

  • Helen

    The truth about big bras well presented. In London, England..there is Bravissimo as well as Rigby and Peller. They fit those with generous sizes.

  • http://www.marjorieingall.com marjorie

    Wow, fellow commenter, I never heard of Saposh! Enticing!

    Great piece. And so funny, the proprietor of Orchard Corset also tried to sell me a long-line bra. But when I said no, I did end up leaving with some fabulous (and heavily discounted!) Wacoals.

  • Susan

    Funny writing! As an owner of one of those life saving boutiques and a DD myself. I recommend you look up boutiques that cater to women who have had breast cancer. Many of us are very experienced in fitting and so we carry large sizes to fit women who have a hard time finding their size. As for the women with the lumpectomy, we know how to help with that too!

  • http://thewordmavens.com schmom

    very funny– and i like your art too. don’t get insulted if i say you remind me of roz chast….i’m 42DD and like wacoal from nordstroms–pricey but good, somehow i end up augmenting my wardrobe with onsale versions from kohls

  • robin

    just a terrific comic! I’m glad I lucked onto this, so that I can try to track down more of this artist’s work.

  • kag1989

    Wonderful!!! And so true! For years I was wearing poorly fitted bras and it wasn’t until I found a store that was exclusively for women that I was fitted and found the perfect bra!

    When I was enjoying the article, I was also reminded of a very funny song that was in the movie “Beaches” about Otto D. Brassirre and the “Tit-sling.” Very funny!

  • http://www.jfashion.co.uk Marie Clothes

    sooo funny this comic great Thanks for sharing

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    I’ve said that least 1473639 times. The problem this like that is they are just too compilcated for the average bird, if you know what I mean

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Support System

From Northern California to the Lower East Side and back again: An illustrator goes on a circuitous, emotional, and ultimately satisfying search for a well-fitting bra