À La Mode Intimates in Baltimore: Lingerie Built on Fit, Not Size Range Alone
À La Mode Intimates is an independent lingerie boutique that stocks sizes from 28A to 40H across bra, panty, and sleepwear lines, with an in-house fitting service and a repair workshop. Located on the Avenue in Fells Point, it operates at a scale and depth that sits between chain retailers and online-only specialists, serving customers who need either a proper fit consultation or a replacement for worn basics.
What À La Mode Intimates actually is
The shop carries primarily intimates: bras, panties, shapewear, sleepwear, and robes from brands including Freya, Elomi, Panache, and Gossard, alongside house-label basics. The core function is fit, not fashion display. Most customers arrive either unsure of their size or frustrated with chain-store stock, and staff will measure and recommend during a visit. The shop does not carry costume pieces, swimwear, or apparel beyond intimates.
Sizing, stock, and pricing
À La Mode stocks bras in the $55 to $95 range; panties typically $18 to $35; sleepwear $60 to $120. The house-brand basics (bra and brief sets) run $40 to $65 and are designed for everyday wear and durability. Confirm current pricing before visiting, as supplier costs shift seasonally.
The store maintains a physical inventory of approximately 400 bras across the size range listed above, which means a customer seeking a 32E or 36G is more likely to find multiple fits in stock than at Target or Macy's. Chain retailers typically stock only A through D cups in limited band sizes; À La Mode's depth in full-bust sizes (E and above) is the primary draw for customers with larger cups or smaller bands.
In-store fitting and alteration
À La Mode offers free fitting consultations, typically 20 to 30 minutes. The fitting room is private. A staff member will measure, rule out sizing myths (a common one: cup size does not stay the same across band sizes), and suggest trial styles. No purchase is required, though most customers buy at least one bra after being fitted.
The shop also operates a small alteration and repair service: strap adjustments, closure repairs, and relining of worn elastic run $10 to $25 per bra. Turnaround is typically five to seven business days. This service is uncommon among local lingerie retailers and appealing to customers who want to extend the life of a well-fitting bra.
How À La Mode compares to other Baltimore lingerie options
Nordstrom (The Gallery at Harborplace and Perry Hall) offers fitting services and brands like Calvin Klein and Wacoal but carries primarily sizes 32A through 36D and 38D, pushing fuller-bust customers to special order. Nordstrom fittings are free but the relationship ends at purchase; alterations are offered but cost more.
Target and Walmart carry fast-fashion intimates at $8 to $25 but stock sizes 32A through 38D almost exclusively. Fitting advice is unavailable.
Soma (Towson Town Center) carries intimates up to size 40D and offers fitting, with bras in a similar price range ($60 to $90), but the brand philosophy leans toward leisure and comfort wear rather than everyday support; Soma is the better choice if you prioritize softness and bralette styles. À La Mode suits customers who need structure and a precise fit.
Online retailers like ThirdLove and Aerie offer convenience and free returns but no in-person fitting and no repair option. For a customer new to proper sizing or tired of returns, À La Mode's hands-on approach justifies the local-shopping premium.
Who À La Mode suits and who it does not
The shop works best for customers seeking sizes outside the mainstream (28 to 32 bands, D cups and above), anyone frustrated by poor fit from chain stores, and people with questions about sizing or fabric care. A customer who knows they wear a 36B and wants a pack of basics in 15 minutes will find the boutique format slower and pricier than Target.
First visit: what to expect
Walk in during business hours (verify current hours) and state whether you are there for a fitting, a specific size, or browsing. If you want a fitting, staff will ask your current size and what comfort issues you have noticed (straps slipping, gaps, spillage, riding up). Fittings use a soft measuring tape and do not require undressing past your bra. You will be offered three to five bras to try in the fitting room, and staff will explain the differences (cup volume, band flexibility, strap placement) as you go. If you find a fit, you can purchase or take a photo of the label and order online later (though staff will gently note the markup difference). The whole process is low-pressure.
Hours, location, and parking
À La Mode is located in Fells Point on the Avenue. Parking is street-only in that neighborhood; a municipal lot is two blocks away. Hours tend to be Tuesday through Saturday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., closed Sundays and Mondays; confirm before a special trip, as independent retail hours sometimes shift with staffing.
À La Mode fills a real gap in Baltimore retail: proper fit service and repair for customers whose bodies do not fit the standard six-size sizing grid. For anyone regularly buying mail-order bras out of necessity rather than preference, a single fitting visit often pays for itself.
