Bras with love

Philippa Mitchell offers women of the central west a unique, personalised measure-and-fit service for all bras, mastectomy bras and breast prostheses.

And more than that, she will come to you.

“I’m completely mobile, so I have everything in my car and I measure and fit women in their home and show them all the bras that they can order in their band of cup size,” said Philippa, who has been a fitter for Intimo bras for three years now and recently became a stockist for Amoena and Anita products.

“Intimo actually has the largest range of bras in the world, something like 300 different styles of bras — underwire bras, non-wired bras, padded bras, front fastening bras — in sizes 8A to 24G, so I can really fit anyone.”

Philippa, who is also a celebrant, was convinced by a friend to add bra fitting as a service for bridal parties, but following the closure of Myer’s Orange department store, she saw there was a real need for the service.

“I saw there was not a lot of scope for being fitted in Orange, there are some places, but with Myer closing it was much more limited,” said Philippa.

 “And so, I became an Intimo bra fitter three years ago, then in November I took myself to Melbourne and was trained with a German company called Amoena, who stock post mastectomy bras and breast prostheses.  So now, for women who have had a lumpectomy or a mastectomy, I can also fit them for bras and breast forms.”

Philippa now works closely with breast care nurses around the region and carries a range of products for women who have undergone surgery or are currently being treated for cancer.

“We also have very soft, high cotton content garments that help with radiation and oncology care, when you can't have any metal against you skin, so underwire bras and things like that are detrimental during treatment,” said Philippa.

“There’s also clothing that's pocketed for breast forms, pocketed activewear, sleepwear, leisure wear and even swim wear. If they are swimmers and they've had a mastectomy they can buy a swimming breast form that's chlorine and heat resistant and put it in the pocket of their swimmers and still swim.

“And I also sell headwear for ladies who are going through Chemotherapy and lose their hair.”

Being a mobile service is not just convenient, said Philippa, a but for many women it is the only way they can get access to a professional bra fitting.

 “I travel out to Eugowra, Forbes, Parkes, Condobolin, Trundle, Tullamore, Tottenham — all those sorts of places and often they are older ladies who are not mobile and not able to drive. So, I go to their them and do their fittings in their homes,” she said.

“And for a lot of ladies who've had surgery, they are grieving, and they don't want to go to a shop and be fitted in a fitting room. For them to be fitted in their own home, they tell me it's wonderful and much more relaxed for them and more private.

“It's great, I get to drive around the countryside, meet lovely women who need this service. It has been a really positive experience so far.”

Philippa’s service is completely free and any Intimo products ordered are usually mailed directly to the customer within a week.

“I try and take some stock with me, the most popular thing, so I can leave their garments and forms with them, but otherwise there is a week to wait,” said Philippa.

“But if I place an order with Amoena before midday, I actually have it the next afternoon, so the service is very good.”

“I also do fittings by appointment at A Frockwork Orange and I'm usually there Tuesdays and Wednesdays, but I will meet women in their homes, at Frockwork, at my home, at their work —whatever they feel comfortable with really.”