Glamazon: Joanie got a Gunn

Intimacy. Dictionary.com defines it as "the quality of being comfortable, warm, or familiar." I think it's the most feared word in the English language, at least according to many of the men I know. I recently went to a bra boutique called Intimacy at Aventura Mall. Founded by "Bra Whisperer" Susan Nethero, who swears the right bra can change a woman's life, the first Intimacy store opened in Atlanta in 1992. Since then, locations have popped up from Boston to San Diego. "Eighty-five percent of women are wearing the wrong bra size," said Gri Rosenberg, assistant manager of Intimacy's Aventura store.

As I walked into the highly organized Intimacy store, the mantra "beauty, style and shape" adorned the walls in gold paint. It was far less fussy than Victoria's Secret, and saleswomen weren't pushing fruity scented lotions in my face as I perused the lingerie. The layout made sense—sleepwear on one side, swimwear on the other and figure-enhancing garments such as Spanx in the middle. Every woman who enters Intimacy is asked to fill out a questionnaire. It asks about frequent bra problems such as strap slippage or cups digging into the rib cage. It also asks what type of styles women prefer, from sporty to ultra-girly. The salesperson then selects a variety of lingerie based on the results.

Rosenberg escorted me to a dressing room with a dozen bras in tow. "All our brands are European and each fits differently like jeans," Rosenberg says. "Women also tend to be fuller in the left breast."

For most of my adult life, I wore a 36 C. But as the weight started to creep on one bad relationship after the next, that size bra dug into my back, creating a lovely inner-tube effect around the middle of my expanding torso. For a while, I switched to sports bras in an attempt to smooth out my back fat, but all that did was give me a uni-boob. So I dropped the toxic exes and 50 pounds only to find my bra still didn't fit right.

"You're a 36 E," Rosenberg happily informed me. "Our bras run from 32 A to 46 JJ."

I never knew bra cups even went beyond a size E without making a special order. This was a fascinating breakthrough. "Tell me everything you know," I demanded of the saleswomen.

"You should never wear the same bra two days in a row because it shortens the life of the bra," Rosenberg says. "And the strap across the back needs to be low and firm to give you lift. … Every woman should have at least five to seven bras to rotate through. Seven to 12 bras is ideal, and never use detergents with alcohol."

After reviewing delicate lace bras from Lise Charmel ($193) and nude netted bras by Simone Perele ($72), I felt qualified to move to the BunnyRanch and never get dressed again.

My favorite part of the store was the flaw-fixing section. I fell in love with Yummie Tummie tank tops ($62), which look like a normal tank top from the outside, but underneath contain a girdlelike panel to hold in the midsection. I also enjoyed the "nipple dimmers," which resemble miniature flesh-colored pancakes to shove in your bra on a cold day. At last, a trend with a point.

Intimacy is located at 19501 Biscayne Blvd. in Aventura. Call 786-629-9229 or visit Myintimacy.com.

Gunn Shy

Still recovering from a broken arm I sustained in a recent car accident, my worst nightmare came true when I had to interview my style icon, Tim Gunn, in a sling and my aunt's oversized button-down shirt because I couldn't fit any of my own clothes over my swollen arm. Gunn was in South Florida May 14 to 16 appearing at Kate Spade stores.

The "Project Runway" host is chief creative officer at Liz Claiborne Inc., which owns Kate Spade. "Tim, what should people wear when they have an injury and want to look good?" I nervously asked him as he pulled a chair out for me in Kate Spade's stock room. "Black. You can never go wrong with black and you look great. You make it work."

Slightly loopy from my afternoon Vicodin, I wanted to throw my good arm around Gunn for uttering the three words any fashionista longs to hear—not "I love you" but "make it work."

I asked Gunn to reveal Kate Spade's must-have accessories for summer. "There really wasn't a handbag before Kate Spade," Gunn says. "Her Hula Ida bag made out of rafia strips is just incredible. It comes in fuchsia, natural and orange, and this season is all about color."

Gunn then introduced me to Spade's Mariachi Ric Rac Bangle. The $65 bracelet is inspired by the polyester trim used on everything from clothing to curtains in the '70s. But the trend that Gunn says absolutely won't work is gasp—shoulder pads.

Our moms wore them in their power suits in the '80s, and now these foam foes are busting out in women's apparel again. "This is what happens when younger designers channel the '80s," Gunn lamented. "They're coming back and really shouldn't."

While shoulder pads are unfortunately making a comeback, I had to make sure Gunn's show didn't get the ax. "Project Runway'"s sixth season was supposed to air this past January, but network lawsuits delayed it. Gunn said the show will air on Lifetime Aug. 20. "I was really worried about the season six designers," Gunn reports. "We did season six in L.A., and there's no shortage of talent this season."

Contact Joanie Cox at jcox@citylinkmagazine.com.