Retail Showdown: The Battle of the Bras

Pick out something sexy for the lady in your life at one of these two new lingerie meccas.

By Rachel Baker and John Gonzalez

Boston-area women (and men) in the market for unmentionables have two new options: Intimacy, an underthings boutique in Copley Place with an advanced degree in bras, and the extravagantly made-over Victoria's Secret in Natick. In the chart below, Rachel Baker and John Gonzalez bring you a stripped-down hers-and-his comparison.

	Intimacy: Copley Place, Boston, 857-277-7887, myintimacy.com	Victoria's Secret: Natick Collection, Natick, 508-650-0900, victoriassecret.com
RACHEL’S TAKE
Poster gal	Intimacy's CEO (a Phyllis Diller clone) onscreen, holding forth on back bulge	Gisele and Karolina Kurkova posing seductively in floor-to-ceiling photos
Inventory	Impressive selection of practical, pretty bra-and-panty sets from Simone Pérèle and Aubade, and undies from favorites like Hanky Panky	V.S.'s standard sexed-up catalog fare—but with even more pink
Staff	Chirpy and pleasantly attentive	Distracted
Bra fitting	"Holistic" approach (read: eyeballing) calls for getting naked from waist up. My size is estimated as a 34C.	Traditional tape measure; clothes stay on. I measure up as a 36B!
Bra price	Average $75–$250	From around $25 to $12.5 million (for their annual diamond-encrusted publicity stunt)

GONZ’S TAKE
Staff sex appeal	Attractive, inviting—ladies who look good in the light	Let's just say fluorescent lighting isn't flattering on anyone.
Female shopper	Classy—like Nicole Kidman	Trashy—like Nicole Richie
Male shopper	A man who wants to be loved	A man who wants to be handcuffed
Hottest item	The petite brunette at the checkout.	Teddies with fur trim. Grrrrr.

Our Verdict: Head to Intimacy for everyday underthings and boutique service (and cup sizes that give you the benefit of the doubt), but if you want something that screams sex, Victoria's Secret remains the queen.

Originally published in Boston magazine, February 2008