From communism to cup sizes – U

Because Renata Carlseen grew up under communism in the Soviet Union, she didn’t have access to things like nice clothes and good undergarments.

But now the former Latvian surrounds herself with high-quality, handmade garments at her Little Italy store, Kapreeza European Lingerie Swimwear Specialty Shop.

Carlseen, 43, opened her boutique (which translates to “spoiled little girl” in Russian) in 2009 after living in Europe and experiencing high-quality lingerie but not finding anything comparable in the United States.

The Eastlake resident, who moved to San Diego in 2000, explains why having a good bra is important.

Q: Why did you want to open a lingerie shop?

A: After living in San Diego for a few years, I got frustrated with the lack of selection of beautiful, comfortable and long-lasting bras, underwear and lingerie that I was accustomed to as part of the everyday experience in Europe. Everything looked the same at the mall and department stores, as if they all were trying to clone each other’s styles with underwhelming, unattractive beige bras and poorly made garments. Everything I bought fit badly and fell apart quickly. Blah.

Q: Do you have a background in design or lingerie?

A: I am a self-taught designer and trained seamstress. I learned the sewing skills and crafts from both of my grandmothers and my mother when I was a little girl. I used to make my own clothes as a child and during my teenage years. I always liked to stand out and wear unique outfits. During my young childhood, I lived in the Soviet era and there were no options for beautiful clothing; everything looked the same in the Soviet department stores. I had to improvise and create my own style. I always had been drawn to designing and sewing.

Q: Please walk us through the process of getting a fitting.

A: There is a lot more to it than most people realize; a new client should expect to spend 30 minutes to an hour making their selections. First we engage in conversation, listen and narrow down needs and concerns. With our extensive experience, we are very aware of different bra problems and how to correct them. This is not something that can be taught in a book or video, there are no perfect measuring techniques, there are no firm industry standards as to what the sizes should be labeled to, and each manufacturer and product is different. Our training is like an apprenticeship — you have to fit literally hundreds and hundreds of women to learn the skill. Just think of us as bra doctors. It is not uncommon that after fitting the client walks out with completely different size or shape than they were accustomed to.

Q: What are common problems you see with how women wear their bras?

A: We see so many women come in with stretched out, loose bras that just kind of hang there, covering something, but not supporting or shaping anything. We also see a lot of wrong sizes and shapes: too small or too loose. Even for women who understand how to buy the right bra, it can be difficult because most stores only carry a very small range of sizes and styles and so they just get crammed into whatever’s available.

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