The Pencil Test, Renton — Local services in Renton

tl;dr NEVER AGAIN. RUDE. My friend is a local business owner and is wary of retaliation if she leaves a bad review, so I'm doing it for her: Wanting to support a local small business, and hopefully have something in my size, I went to The Pencil Test which is supposed to be plus size. They have a sign on their door saying they are appointment only today. I wave at the person who is working because the door is locked, and she reluctantly comes to the door. I ask if they have appointments and explain I didn't know I need one. She says they usually don't require one, but there is only one fitter today. I ask if they might have an opening. Lady rolls her eyes and goes to shut the door on me, saying she will be back. I ask if I can come in, and she replies, "Hhhh, I guess." About 2 min later, she comes back and says there are no appointments. They don't want me to just look around by myself. I ask if they have appointments tomorrow, and she says, "You don't need an appointment tomorrow." Then the fitter pipes up, "You'll have to wait at least 2 hours because it's our busiest day and we serve appointments first." At no point do they offer to make me an appointment. I finally ask if they have appointments and they roll their eyes (there are 3 people working btw, one doing alterations, the fitter, and the one who answered the door), and are like, "We are full. We get booked a week in advance. It's tank season so everyone needs strapless bras right now...." At this point I just walk out mid sentence. I go to a nearby boutique that I love and ask if they have strapless bras. She is really sorry and says, "No, have you been to The Pencil Test?" I burst into tears and tell her what happened. She said she has had that happen to her there too and doesn't feel welcome. She said she is going to email the owner. She suggests Nordstrom, so, We go to Nordstrom and the sales associate is super bubbly and nice. I say I understand she might not have my size in stock and I might have to order it online. She says, "If you need something we don't have today, The Pencil Test usually does." I tell her what happened and she is like, "Never suggesting them again!"

10 min later I had a bra in my hand and got a 30% discount. PENCIL...

I can’t even begin to describe how grateful I am for my experience here today.

I have pretty severe body dysmorphia/image issues. When the phrase “bra shopping” comes up, I can feel myself tense up and prepare for the emotional tornado that comes from trying on a bunch of bras, finding nothing that fits and resentfully settling for the grandma utility bra. My most recent size was 34H. I haven’t felt cute in a bra since my early teens and avoid bra shopping at all costs. But that also means never feeling pretty or sexy in my bras and avoiding certain clothes lest it reveal grandma utility bra. I drove here as a ball of anxiety, asking myself if I should warn the staff that I might just cry part way into the process. I felt like I was about to stomp into an emotional minefield.

My experience today has completely changed my… well actually several things for me. The ladies here are SO kind and SO helpful and SO patient! Nancy - you are freaking awesome and you made me feel so comfortable! You rock!

I never felt like there was any judgement of my body or my questions. I came in expecting to feel lucky if I left with one bra that fit and wasn’t hideous. The mountain of beautiful bras and swimwear I got to try today! There were so many I would have gladly taken home that I had to decide which ones were in the budget today (and which I will have to look for when I come back)! They also gave great suggestions for buying online and are fine with you taking pictures of tags if needed.

I truly feel like coming here was a therapeutic experience. I feel more confident in my body, I’m excited to try other clothes I would normally avoid, and I don’t think I will hate bra shopping anymore. I seriously cannot thank you all enough!

If you’re like me and you’re working up to courage to visit a place like this…. Don’t wait another second. You’re going to leave feeling like a new person! Their pricing felt fair as I’ve typically paid $50-70 for grandma utility bra. Most landed in or near that range and were gorgeous. While I was spoiled by a third party today, I think if I had left with just one pretty bra today, I would still have this same level of satisfaction and joy from...

Before coming here I have looked up the ratings. I brought a friend in because I thought they actually did fittings. At no point was a measuring tape brought out. I used to work professionally as a bra fitter and fashion buyer for a small bra boutique in California specializing in mastectomy fittings as well as large to small bra fittings. The bra fitter tried to put me in a 30 Double D when I had said that I was a 32c. At no point did they say that they did not carry cup sizes smaller than a d. I was patient and tried to explain what I wear and was completely ignored. The last bra I was put in was a 30 Double D it was so tight that it was squeezing across my back in a way that indicates that the band is too tight. If they had taken the measurement they would have known that my rib cage is 33 inches. I expressed that it was not a good fitting bra and was swiftly corrected by the employee. That was when I let her know what my background history was. At the end one employee told me that they only carry cup size d and up because women like me have an easier time finding bras. I couldn't wait to leave I've never been so insulted in my life. I would never talk to my women that way working in a industry that is difficult for all women to find anything that might be remotely pretty and attractive. I left feeling pigeonholed and depressed. The bra shop I worked for was called Galleria bra room.... for the excitement I had going into the shop I was...