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.
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.
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| Intimacy: Copley Place, Boston, 857-277-7887, myintimacy.com | Victoria's Secret: |
| RACHEL’S TAKE |
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| 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) |
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| GONZ’S TAKE |
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| 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. |
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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.
