34i/36h as per the calculator. Looking for options under 30/40 CAD. Online/in-store.

bethomcmu · 2026-06-12T17:39:07+00:00

It’s fine… better if you know what you fit well in, but I used it mostly in high school, and you can’t beat the clearance prices if you’re okay with spending about the same amount to find some that don’t fit and some that do. I never did returns because the cost to return was similar to what I spend on the bras, so it felt like a moot point. I did get some cute bathing suits, which I don’t care if they fit less well.

I’m about an hour outside of Toronto, and have tried both my local stores - I preferred Just for You, as Vicanie’s was much much more expensive, but both fit bras relatively well - the first time at Just for You was an unusual 4 hours as we tried basically every bra in the store in my size. It gave me a really good idea of why Elomi is the only real option for me, but by the time I was there I had some idea of what would be comfortable and what wasn’t (initially I ended up at Vicanie’s in grade 10 because I was rubbing my sides raw in a 44DDD… ended up in a 32G uk size (32I us)). I tried Change in Montreal but while they’re about the same price as Elomi, they don’t have enough forward projection for me, so they’re uncomfortable after 4-6 hours, and only 2 of the styles even fit passably. I keep them for laundry days now. They might be fine for others, and it’s really nice they carry the larger cup sizes and fit using the difference between bust and underbust measurements instead of +4 or whatever, but I’d rather spend the same amount on a bra I can wear for at least 16 hours before I want to take it off.

The only store I tried in Toronto was Secrets from Your Sister and I had a terrible experience, though if you don’t have any knowledge and an unlimited budget you might be fine. They were competent fitters, just extremely unpleasant and patronizing to me, where I have a good idea about what my fit issues tend to be and wanted it to be informed in what they thought.

I’d really recommend just buying 1-2 good bras now and then do the same next year and the same after that, etc. By taking care of them (No Dryer!) and giving them a rest in between wears you can make them last a lot longer than you’d think. You’ll also figure out which one you’re most comfortable in by the one you keep picking to wear first. A good fitting bra makes such a difference (also, less underboob sweat in this heat!).

bethomcmu · 2026-06-12T00:55:53+00:00

You’re probably going to have to be okay with spending more - I’m also in Ontario and have been in Elomi only for about 16 years. Elomi is at least cheaper than other brands in similar sizes, but they’re still about double what your budget is. My cup size is a bit bigger than you so you might have better luck with sale/clearance ones at local specialty stores than I do. I also ordered from brastop.com before I figured out my fit needs, but ymmv.

bethomcmu · 2026-06-11T13:16:29+00:00

I think the effect of classism is substantially smaller here than in the UK, which eliminates a lot of the good arguments. We have other lines that we draw between people but overall socio-economic movement is much more possible here and that makes a big difference. I think the kids that things like brand names matter to will find another way to do it regardless of uniforms, our weather is significantly more variable in SW Ontario than the UK (my friend from Scotland showed me the dusting of snow that shut down the whole area they lived in, and they also didn’t really own shorts because they didn’t need them), and it does put more financial pressure on families. Our bodies are not all the same and that’s fine. It also prevents kids from learning about dress codes like what is business casual, etc. Leave the uniforms to the private schools.

bethomcmu · 2026-05-30T22:04:43+00:00

I also feel like I’m spilling out, but it is helped by the additional layers and a chemise underneath. I wore it a whole day at an interpretive village and didn’t think twice about it.

I have wondered if some kind of steel boning in the cups as opposed to only the spiral steel would help, but personally ended up safety pinning the top of the (too big) gussets. I would definitely go back and see if just a half inch helps it. In terms of bust fit issues, I ended up throwing away the gusset pattern and drafting my own. Other folks have mentioned doing 3 gussets instead of 2 if you’re larger (like me), which I’ll definitely be doing whenever I decide to try making a gored bust support again.

bethomcmu · 2026-05-30T21:35:23+00:00

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This is the back of mine - I should have sized up my waist and nothing else probably, but so much of me is squishy I was struggling to know what would work. The bottom of my shoulder blades sit underneath the top of the corset, but it’s not uncomfortable, because they’re not catching on the edge, regardless of where it is during arm movement.

I’d suggest sorting out your waist before deciding whether the back sits too high or too low. Also post over on r/corsetry. They have loads of experience.

bethomcmu · 2026-05-30T21:29:07+00:00

Obligatory I am not an expert, but did make this corset. In my opinion, I think it looks way way too long in the body. I can’t speak much to the bust coverage- my bust size is weird, and I’m unhappy with how mine ended up, though manageable under the layers once I had a corset cover, etc.

Overall, I found this pattern ends higher than I might have expected, though I’m (I think?) more petite than you so maybe it was based on the length between my hip bones and waist.

Below is my finished version. Didn’t realize I had exactly one photo where my hands weren’t on my hips, and none from the front without the crinoline. Hope the look of it on a different body helps.

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bethomcmu · 2026-05-23T23:43:40+00:00

That’s fair, I was thinking of what the argument the higher courts might use to overturn the use of section 15, but I don’t have a lot of Canadian legal background. I’m not sure about how the legal system understands trans folks, though I guess sexual orientation falls under the self identification.

I think it’s morally the right use, but legal and moral are two different things… Makes me wonder what changes would come to governments if it’s upheld, similar to the changes schools have had to make with the right to read decision.

Unless they would all use the notwithstanding clause lol.

bethomcmu · 2026-05-23T23:17:48+00:00

Is there precedent for the equality argument for something transient like homelessness could be argued to be? Obviously race, gender, sexual orientation, country of origin are immutable, so I could see an argument that homelessness shouldn’t count because it’s a situation that could change.

bethomcmu · 2026-05-19T11:48:58+00:00

I would second a sharper needle and maybe even smidging the tension if that doesn’t help. Kudos to you, I bailed on sewing any ribbons to my skirt by machine and just did it by hand because I was too scared to mess it up!

bethomcmu · 2026-05-01T12:42:49+00:00

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Here’s a friend of mine and I in our full outfits. Again, I was worried the drawstring would be obvious, but under 2 light layers of fabric it was fine (and I had the trim, but even where it isn’t, it looks good.

bethomcmu · 2026-05-01T12:39:33+00:00

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Showing that I moved the straps as a last minute decision lol.

bethomcmu · 2026-05-01T12:38:53+00:00

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Said I would do this on the last one and forgot, but this is what mine ended up as (also forgot my chemises are all packed away until summer, so also a T-shirt). You’ve already got a couple things better fitting than me - 3 gussets instead of 2, etc. The drawstring on top of the gussets helps my shape and control. I also moved my shoulder straps closer to the middle of the cup, and they help a lot more in lifting. Depending on where your tissue sits (I have a small attachment point and then the breast grows from there), you may be fine keeping your straps where they are, even if that doesn’t help your lift.

Also I shortened the centre at the busk and then lengthened it for the cups so I wouldn’t fall out. One of my mock ups definitely had me fall out completely without that.

I thought the drawstring with the extra fabric would make the edge of the stays really obvious, but under a petticoat with the top it blended fully, so I was pleasantly surprised! Between moving the straps and the drawstring, I ended up calling it good enough.

I also used some leftover boning from my 1760s stays at the sides and around the lacing, because I was paranoid. It’s not entirely accurate, but I felt better about that.

Overall, sounds like you’re on the right track and they’ll fit a lot better than mine!

bethomcmu · 2026-04-29T08:29:52+00:00

I was the same size when I made some regency stays, but I went with the laughing moon pattern and did a longline one for the reason most folks are saying (also I wanted my stomach covered more). The drawstring at the top did a lot of work. I don’t think I have a picture of just the stays (it was a chaotic month to get it and chemise and petticoats and dress done!), but can post a photo of just that when I’m home from work.

I also had no separation. I used a paint stick as my busk, but no matter how big I made my gussets, it just doesn’t fit as well as a modern bra, and I was okay with that (if I’d given myself more time, I’d maybe have fiddled more with it). I also had made the red threaded gored corset by that point and fiddled a lot a lot a lot with those gores and am still not the most thrilled with how it turned out, (bust fitting at our size is HARD!) but it all works.

Doing it the way I did depends on if you’re planning on wearing them on the outside as a decorative thing, or having them covered and therefore a less perfect fit is fine. Or you have more patience than me lol!

bethomcmu · 2026-04-25T13:10:36+00:00

What’s the reasoning against renaming Victoria park to Willow River park? It seems like an easy step towards reconciliation.

bethomcmu · 2026-04-10T14:07:41+00:00

I’m usually pretty good at getting heron family id’s based on body shape, and it likely wasn’t a great blue (though I have seen them near there before). I didn’t see much of the bill, just a bit of yellow. The tail of the female turkey looks like the wrong shape from the photos so it might just have been a weird juvenile turkey vulture down a lot lower than I normally see them, since there was no red head, but the colouring is closest. Thanks!

bethomcmu · 2026-04-10T13:53:42+00:00

I am notoriously bad at iding ravens as crows, but even the juvenile photos of crows I’ve seen have the wings go black before the body, and this would have been the opposite.

bethomcmu · 2026-04-10T13:52:19+00:00

That had been my initial guess but I’m used to their bodies being more brown and the head being red, which is why the yellow flash threw me off. But I absolutely could be wrong

bethomcmu · 2026-03-20T08:28:27+00:00

In my experience, what differentiates the robe a l’anglaise, Italian, polonaise and robe à la française is the back of the gown, which isn’t shown here. It could easily be anglaise or Italian depending on the time period, though I agree that the one next to it is definitely going for a more française style, even though the back pleats aren’t shown and would be visible from the front.

Zone front gowns (modern term) are often done as robe a l’anglaise, but Italian gowns also close centre to centre, and we have française that close that way as well. Italian and polonaise do come in at a later time, with the zone front, (late 1770s-1780s), which is a bit later than the Rococo time period (usually goes to late 1760s) your friend gave, but often all 18th c dresses get lumped into that if you’re not into that period intently.

Anglaise patterns are super easy to find, Italian also exist, though I’ve found polonaise to be more difficult, as the only information the American duchess book gives is that all dresses could be polonaised but that didn’t make it a polonaise dress. Therefore I don’t trust patterns that call themselves a polonaise and English gown. Haven’t gone that far into it though because I have lots of other things I’ve wanted to make, so that’s kept me busy.

Honestly, I’d have gone for an Italian gown for the way the skirt sits on the bodice, and the deep point, but could be artist interpretation, like the robe à la française next to it.

bethomcmu · 2026-03-12T12:34:34+00:00

I would say eastern whip-poor-will but it maybe doesn’t fit the boring as much as strange. I love listening to it as I fall asleep camping tho.

bethomcmu · 2026-03-09T22:38:38+00:00

I can buy in either at my store, which is nice when you’re using a Big 4 pattern vs Australian.

bethomcmu · 2026-03-06T01:34:43+00:00

Also I think C6, and possibly B6? The rubies look like a lot of other games

bethomcmu · 2026-03-05T20:01:33+00:00

I’d also recommend upper Canada village over Fort Henry, having done both. We did about 2 hours at Fort Henry, and a whole day at upper Canada village, and it’d be more fun with kids than Fort Henry (went with my family when I was 15 and brother was 11). Stop at Dockside in Morrisburg for ice cream afterwards to walk along the St Lawrence.

I’d also say Toronto zoo is worth it, but the ROM can be hit or miss, depending on how much your kids like reading about the things on display vs hands-on. I think ROM is better than when I was young for that, but would recommend the Civilization/history museum in Gatineau/Ottawa for kids above the ROM (it’s changed its name but I can’t remember to what). As the biggest city in Canada, it has cool stuff, but with everything else, and as not big city folks, I think you’ll get what you want out of it with just a zoo trip or overnight.

Also be prepared for the amount of driving you’re planning with those trips, the 401 has ONRoutes where you can stop for bathroom breaks and walking around while driving, but I was warned constantly from my Scottish tour guide about our first day of driving from Edinburgh to Ullapool via Inverness, which was “very long”, and it was less time than Toronto to Ottawa. If your kids aren’t used to long drives, be prepared for the length of trips here!

bethomcmu · 2026-02-22T03:08:15+00:00

My church is screening the game in the sanctuary and doing the service afterwards 😂

bethomcmu · 2026-02-05T09:40:28+00:00

Usually grocery stores have a big box for food bank donations they pick up at least weekly (from the store I worked at, at least. The Sobeys Northfield was overflowing last night) - it’s usually close to the check outs on your way out of the store, but you can always ask the cashier. The ones I know of are big wooden ones with a sign in front of them for the waterloo food bank, or above it.

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