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    The Pencil Test

    4.6 (245 reviews)
    ModerateLingerie
    Closed 11:00 am - 6:00 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

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    Fan in dressing room is a nice touch
    Sarah C.

    Highly recommend The Pencil Test! If you, like me, are still wearing the bras you purchased pre-pandemic - even though the elastic is falling off and you've gained about 20lbs - it might be time to head in to The Pencil Test. I booked an appointment for a fitting/shopping about a month ago. Yes, you do need to book that far in advance - they are busy! (You can stop in anytime just to shop if you already know your size and fit.) I didn't know what to expect but this was phenomenal. They accommodated my schedule when I arrived early. They measured my size with their eyes (no awkward tape measure like I've experienced at other places). They had me try on a sample size to be sure it fit well, then asked what styles I was looking for and brought me a ton of options to try on. It was fun, informative, and confidence-building. My attendant was Eva - she did an excellent job. From figuring out the correct size to being attentive without checking in too often. She helped me understand how to shop for the right size in the future. The fitting is free and there is no pressure to buy. However I feel like you're likely to find something you love. For me, the cheapest item I purchased was $38 and the most expensive was $82. I walked out with more than I planned on purchasing, and will maybe return 1-2 items. But the quality of their stock is excellent and I am hopeful that they will last longer and be better for me than what I had previously! At least they fit correctly!

    Amazing selection of bras to try on, all brought in by my fitter Desiree.

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    Page 1 of 7

    Ask the Community - The Pencil Test

    Hi-this sounds like a GREAT shop-and just what I am looking for-BUT...I live in California. (darn) Do you have any sort of mail order or catalog?…

    Sorry, we are bricks and mortar only. If you are ever in Portland or in the Seattle area we'd love to see you! We can recommend Jenette Bras in Los Angeles and Pasadena and Creative Woman in Monrovia for a good selection of sizes. Good luck!

    Hi! I've heard you have chest binders, and was wondering if those are also just for D cup and up, or if you carry smaller sizes?

    We carry binders from XS-2XL

    I see that there is a wide range of cup sizes, but have not seen the range of band sizes posted anywhere. I currently wear a 44DDD, does the store carry bras in this range?

    We stock from a 28-band up to a 48-band :)

    Do you carry many options for small-breasted women (A cup)?

    Hi Allison, Our store only carries D-cup and larger.

    Do you carry bustiers in shop? I have some dresses that are low in front and low in back and think that would be the best solution. Thanks!

    Hi Jessica- We don't carry bustiers. We have strapless bras and "low back converters" that will work for some degree of low back. We also have "stick on" bras for a totally backless look. These are appropriate up to about a UK FF cup. There are low… Read more

    What is the largest cup size you carry in store?

    In most band sizes we carry up to a UK K-cup or an American O-Cup.

    What is your general return policy? I'm only in Portland once a week on the only day of the week you're closed. I need to return a bra that I've worn once but have had it nearly a month.

    Hi Megan- sorry for the delay, we didn't see this question until today! Please sent us a message at thepenciltest@yahoo.com and we'll be happy to discuss your return. Thanks!

    Hi there! I was just wondering if you cater to all sizes, or just larger sizes? I desperately need a fitting, but I'm on the B-cup side :)…

    Katie. I took my daughter in because I wasn't sure what the right fit for her was. I'd been buying her a 34B cup. And I couldn't understand why she would prefer to always wear sports bras. Turns out she is a 30DD. We walked out of there with the… Read more

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    Review Highlights - The Pencil Test

    Bra shopping has been frustrating for me for a couple years now that I am an odd size, but this place makes it a breeze!

    Mentioned in 20 reviews

    Read more highlights

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    Spartacus - Me

    Spartacus

    3.5(72 reviews)
    3.2 miDowntown
    $$

    Spartacus, a much beloved Portland icon since 1987 is closing its doors for good in June 2026, and…read morehaving a grand going out of business sale. I used to go there with my bestie Oscar B. in our drunk, stumbling around at night days. They used to sell really cute stilettos. I bought 3 pairs. I can't wear them anymore because I'm too old now but they're so pretty that I keep them as art. Unfortunately now, they only sell ugly stripper shoes. We also used to come for the amazing selection of costumes. I have a closet full that I wear to parties and on Halloween. Unfortunately now, no more great clothes and costumes. Just ugly stripper lingerie and stripper gear. It's no wonder they're going out of business. All they sell are sex toys and ugly stuff. The staff working there however, are super sweet and friendly. I'm sad to see them lose their jobs. I'm also sad to see another legendary iconic Portland store close its doors. RIP Spartacus 1987-2026 BCE 2026 Review # 12

    I just shopped at Spartacus And purchased an item with the intention of trying it on to make sure…read moreit was the right size so that I could buy another exact item. It was not sure if I was a size large or a size queen Leg Avenue pantyhose due to a recent weight loss of 90 pounds this past year. Currently, I am on the border of the sizes. This is why I was confused about whether I was a queen size or a one-size-fits-all. I informed the red haired clerk, apparently the supervisor on duty, that I planned on trying on the pantyhose after purchasing them to see if they were the correct size so that I could buy more if it was the right size. Immediately after purchasing them, the supervisor, a man with long red hair, accused me of being not sober and told me he was calling security and that I had to leave the store. I did not use any profanity, I was not aggressive, and I am 100% sober (because I am a sober person. I've been sober for more than a year, out of choice, not because of any reckless issues with substances. I am sober because I enjoy using my full faculties when making choices and I do not drink and I do not use any drugs. Period.) I was treated with discrimination and very poorly disrespected. The red haired rude supervisor told me that if I did not leave the store that they would call security, and I told him to go ahead and call security. I asked for his name because I told him that I would like to leave a review and he would not give me his name. He lacks transparency with his actions and is discriminatory. This is unacceptable of him. As I am not afraid of being drug tested or an alcohol test or anything because I know I am fully sober and I'm not ashamed of who I am,I told him my full name and told him that he should not make assumptions about people and that it was very rude what he did. A person who is in charge should not act this way. I've worked customer service before many times and retail settings and never once made an assumption like this. This man lost hundreds of dollars worth of income for the store because I was planning on trying on one pair of stockings to make sure they were the right size, and if they were, I was going to buy a bunch of stockings. However, he just lost a major sale and a very solid customer of more than 20 years. Obviously, anybody who treats somebody this way has a problem with their own self-esteem and their own ego and really needs to get their priorities on track. Maybe he's just used to people being downtown and on drugs and he thinks that that's what's going on... Maybe he had a problem with the fact that I'm a person that was vocal about there not being any high cut panties in the store and that everything was not in the style that I was seeking, (aka high cut and not a string back) and looking for a different style, he made the assumption that I was on substances. When I left, I did not curse him out, I did not say anything rude to him. Rather, I told him he was very rude, and that he was making assumptions and that it was really inappropriate for him to not share his name and it was really rude of him to treat me that way, and that I planned to not come back to the store after this behavior. I do want to note that there is a very lovely person that works there that helped me that has blonde hair and was also on shift. They know who they are. They are very kind. This red haired supervisor, who refuses to provide their name is has terrible customer service, exhibits discriminatory practices and just lost a good solid customer. I hope that Spartacus corporate reads this and speaks to them about how they should treat customers. It's very disgusting the way that I was just treated, and I am honestly truly offended. I would appreciate it if the head corporate of Spartacus contacts me to discuss what just occurred today. 6:30 PM on December 26, 2025. Downtown Portland. Thank you very much.

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    Fantasy - Explore our latest lingerie collections, where timeless elegance meets modern inclusivity.

    Fantasy

    3.9(56 reviews)
    3.4 miAlphabet District, Northwest
    $$

    I've been a loyal customer for years, and am sad and disturbed they wouldn't take responsibility…read morefor their own mistakes. I recently had a friend in town from Cali and we'd booked a special boudoir photoshoot session for her visit. We went shopping earlier that day for outfits, and I ended up splurging on a $95 super fancy outfit, solely because I thought the pics would be worth it. Imagine my disappointment when it was time to change and I realized it still had the anti-theft device on it, right in the middle, no workout at all. That already sucked enough, but then, fantasy didn't just refused to refund it, the first person made me come back 30 mins later for a manager, who still said no and then sent to me another location, where they said no as well. I honest can't understand this. why am I the one being punished for their mistake? Really shitty. please don't buy here. You're just a sale, not a customer worth giving a fuck about.

    I was very nervous to go into here to be completely honest. When I went in, I instantly felt at…read moreease and the staff were so friendly and nonjudgmental! They had a very wide variety of goods. A little on the speedy side but I will be returning for the great service!

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    Fantasy - We offer stunning lingerie for every body, featuring an extensive selection of plus-size fashions.

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    Fantasy - Lubricant is a must and when natural ingredients matter, we've got you covered.

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    The Pencil Test - lingerie - Updated May 2026

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