A Bra for Every Body

TC boutique Intimi is all about making lingerie feel (and look) good

By Brighid Driscoll | Nov. 23, 2024

Recently, the Victoria’s Secret fashion show returned to television. After a six-year hiatus, the oft-controversial runway show came back, trying to display reform from the old ways with models beyond size zero and a specific body type. Audiences felt lukewarm about the show when polled afterward, citing that it felt too little too late.

Carolyn Greenman, on the other hand, is the owner of downtown Traverse City boutique Intimi and is dedicated to changing the narrative that attractive lingerie is only for women who look a certain way. Intimi embodies inclusivity and beauty through her careful curation.

Dreaming of Comfort and Confidence

The first thing Greenman tells us is that the majority of people are wearing the wrong bra size.

“Retail stores in the United States have a very small selection; they’re only covering about 10 to 15 percent of sizing for the average American woman,” says Greenman.

A typical size range offered in big box stores is 32A to 38DD, and shopping for bras can be a disheartening experience if you don’t fall within that range. When Greenman was professionally fitted for the first time, she was employed at Bon Fitte Brassiere Boutique, where she first worked with lingerie. The difference in comfort and confidence was profound.

“It changed my mind about everything and blew me away with how bras should actually fit our bodies,” she says. “My comfort level and security with my body were so different after that experience.”

When fitting a customer one day at Bon Fitte, the customer commented that she wanted to wear the same kind of beautiful lingerie made for smaller sizes. “She said, ‘I want to be able to walk into a place and pull off the same rack as you. I don’t want to be in a separate section,’” Greenman explains.

She started to dream about what that kind of shop could look like and the thrill of helping others feel more confident and beautiful. With the help of her partner Karen, who has experience as a retail business owner, Intimi opened this past April.

Creating a Beautiful, Welcoming Space

Walking into Intimi feels like entering a luxe bedroom. Warm light bathes bright silks and feathery slips, the colors a delight for the senses.

“There’s a lot of inspiration going on here,” says Greenman. “My mom managed the Victoria’s Secret here in town when I was a kid. Everything was ivory and gold and beautiful and lacy. I had these really amazing memories of spending time there and watching her help people feel beautiful.”

Intimi’s inclusive sizing covers band sizes 28-50 and cup sizes A to M, and no matter the size, attention to detail is important. “I try to get things that, from a 30 to 46 band, have very minimal changes,” says Greenman. “They tend to take design elements from the smaller sizes and get rid of them for the larger sizes. The brands I work with design them intentionally to be beautiful and supportive.”

Beauty is subjective, but feeling included isn’t. At the heart of Intimi and Greenman’s vision is a place where anyone can go to feel safe, supported, and gorgeous.

“Every body shape, every person, needs something different. It was important for me to have this place be somewhere anyone can feel comfortable going,” Greenman says.

She recommends making a consultation appointment for a first visit to the shop. Consultations are free and don’t just pertain to bra fittings.

“We call everything a consultation. Because you can come talk to us about sexual wellness. You can come talk to us about bras, underwear, getting the right type of lingerie for your body style, a special event, gender-affirming items, there’s a whole list of things.” For Greenman, the real question is, “What do you want to talk about?”

More to Shop (and Read!)

While the boutique’s setting is inspired by the feminine, offerings are inclusive across the gender and size spectrum. Tucking underwear is carried, and binders—a gender-affirming undergarment worn to create a more masculine or androgynous look—are something that Greenman is working to bring into Intimi.

“I promised to bring binders to my store for our community,” she tells us. But she adds that the process is not as simple as just choosing a line of binders and bringing them into the store.

“Bras and breasts I understand like the back of my hand, but there is a huge liability with fitting binders and doing it correctly. I don’t know what the needs and desires of people who are binding are, and so I’ve been learning more about what that looks like. The biggest challenge is minors. They may not get acceptance from their family, but I need them to have a guardian when they come in. There are instructions that need to be heard and understood, and it’s so important to use them correctly.”

Also offered at Intimi are sexual wellness products like toys, lube, and intimacy games, period and leak-proof underwear, bath products, and robes. Recently, Greenman started hosting a book club at Intimi, too. The group meets monthly to discuss the most recent pick. The first meeting was at the end of October, and, according to Greenman, lots of fun.

“We have 30 people signed up, and 13 people came to the first meeting; we had someone on Zoom,” she says. “We do spicy books, romantic books, body-positive books, and a bunch of great picks. We have resources to help you get the items however you want, physical, digital, or audiobook. And we also partnered with Brilliant Books for a discount.”

Find Intimi at 124 S Union Street in downtown Traverse City. Visit them online at intimitc.com, where you can sign up for a book club, make a consultation, or shop.