No Longer Just an Urban Legend

Fathers and grandfathers be warned: the entire point to this entry may make you uncomfortable.

A common grief that finds its way into the heart of every Western woman in Korea is the lack of bras. Not lack of. They're sold from the back of trucks and underground in every other subway station. But the lack of any sizes above cups that resemble the 1/4 measuring cup. For 9 months I've watched helplessly as my monster of a washing machine destroys clothing article after clothing article. And my bras were some of the first victims. The worst is when you open your washing machine and everything is just a big knot that you can pick up with one hand. And the binding that ties your jeans, sweaters, tshirts together is one bra, being stretched to its limits. But there's no where to buy bras. Even the American stores out here, like Gap and American Apparel, only stock items in children- I mean Asian women- sizes. A few foreign women whispered about shady dealings in dark alleys where suitcases were opened and wal mart bras were sold for hundreds of dollars. But the situation seemed pretty gloomy.

Until last Saturday that is.

I was wandering around Hongdae- a college/artsy/nightclub- area with no particular destination in mind. And I saw a Korean lingere store. For giggles, I thought I'd go in and peruse the merchandise. Not expecting anything to fit me. The quiet shopkeeper came over to me after watching me for a few minutes. And proceeded to cup me, nod her head, open a drawer and hand me the most lacy ribbon adorned bra I have ever seen. She ushered me into the dressing room, gave me approximately 45 seconds of privacy, before entering and manhandling me once again. Very few words were spoken during this exchange. The first one didn't really fit but she came back with a bra mysteriously labeled 85C (have no idea what the western equivalent would be and through al the persuing I've done in the bras sold from the backs of trucks and underground I've never seen a letter bigger than A) that lo and behold...FIT! A bra! In Korea! I was thrilled with my discovery and was quick to purchase many different colors, all equally lacy and donned with ribbons. I'm not going to call any of them particularly pretty. But they're bras. And they fit.