M & S Bras - Inconsistent sizing in Per Una range

usignuolo

I am an unusual bra size 38B - I have a wide back and a deep rib cage and I need a wide band. I struggle to buy bras in my size and usually buy on line (from Figleaves) but needed a couple of new ones in a hurry recently. I went first to my local House of Fraser where they said it was not a size they stocked! Then to M & S where I was pleased to buy a single bra and a joint buy - 2 in same style different colours - all in the Per Una range.

When I got them home, the single purchase one fitted fine but in the pair sold jointly, the band was too small, by about two inches. I measured the band against an old M & S 36C I had lying around (from an earlier abortive attempt to buy a bra in the right size), and the set of two matching bras were identical in size to it. So they were clearly wrongly labelled as 38B. They are in fact 36C.

Of course I can take them back but I am tearing my hair out over this sort of thing. Can anyone recommend a reliable range, not too expensive, where the sizing is at least consistent?

Mrs_Arcanum

Virtually any branded bra will be more consistent than M&S I suspect. They seem to vary widely in size depending on style

mildred1978

Mrs_Arcanum wrote: »

Virtually any branded bra will be more consistent than M&S I suspect. They seem to vary widely in size depending on style

M&S actually have a sizing system all their own. Their bras are dreadful.

skintscotslass

Have you tried Debenhams? I find them consistent and not too bad, price wise. They always have 20% days as well, so would never pay for anything full price.

usignuolo

Do you mean Debenhams own brand? I thought by buying Per Una in M &S that the sizing would at least be consistent across the brand, which it clearly is not. I want to be sure that if I buy a 38B in several styles, from the same manufacturer, they will all be the same size.........

roxiegriff

i bought some ms bras thinking that they would be a good quality and i got measured by the staff, so i asumed i wouldnt have to try on each individual bra,


but i have also found their sizing to be stupid in some bras im a 36 dd and in some bras in a 36e and in some bras i have to go to a 38 back



fffs :facepalm:

very diappointed by m&s

Armchair23

It's really frustrating isn't it. I've bought the same M&S product in different colours only to find the sizing way out. In fact at M&S if I'm buying something like a coat I try on two or three different ones in the same size because they vary so much in cut and size.
TBH I've only found the more expensive brands to be in the least bit consistent in sizing and that's no help at all is it.
You have my sympathy.

skintscotslass

usignuolo wrote: »

Do you mean Debenhams own brand? I thought by buying Per Una in M &S that the sizing would at least be consistent across the brand, which it clearly is not. I want to be sure that if I buy a 38B in several styles, from the same manufacturer, they will all be the same size.........

Yes, Debs own brand, but I would always try them on to make sure.

I find sizing extremely frustrating. I am a size 12, but have clothes ranging from a size 8 to a size 16!

vixarooni

Another case of lack of knowledge in bra shopping!!

Try every bra on because they will fit you differently!! That goes for each store, each brand ect. I wouldn't dream of buying a pair of shoes, or jeans without trying it on first. A breast is very important part of you to support and fit correctly. Trying something on only takes a few minutes.

M&S are rubbish for their sizing though, i tend not to get my bra's from there which is disappointing as their other stuff is normally pretty good

usignuolo

I do understand that but in this case, the single bra and the joint offer pair were almost identical in style, both underwired not padded balcony bras. Same wire size etc By same manufacturer Per Una etc The main reason why the single one was slightly more expensive that the pair was that it had more lace. Surely in this case, in the same brand, the band size might be expected to be the same?

As it happened I had the 36C bras with me today as I was hoping to go into M & S to return them butin the end did not have enough time. But I was in Tesco and compared them to a F & F Tesco own brand 36c in a very similar style (underwired balcony no padding etc) and the bands were identical in size. Clearly a lack of quality control.