Where is the best place to get measured for a bra?

SallyD

Wacoal Bra's seem to fit me very well 36DD/E, but quite expensive - £35+ tried a couple of different styles in Selfridges which seem to have the full range and noted down the size and style. I searched Ebay and found one of the racer back bra's I had noted down was on auction in an Ebay underwear shop in USA. I set my bid and postage was stated as £6 to Europe. I won the bra for £12 including postage. Brand spanking news with tags in Selfridges for £40...............it came within a week and fitted great.

Peakma

I went to John Lewis today,and braved being measured,I always intend to ,then bottle it last minute! Well I tried 5 on independently,none of which fitted right.So I thought I'd have to dare to be measured,I know it sounds silly,but I just don't feel confident to ask for help anyway,and it is quite personal.Anyway she measured me and said I was between a 32/34 C or D,I was really pleased as I usually get 36 B.So I like the sound of my new measurement much better!!
Anyway,I bought two there both 34 D(cost a fortune,I never usually buy anything full price!)But they fit lovely,and make my chest look much better!
The problem I have is I am nearly 30 and have breast fed 3 children in the last 8 years for a total of 50 months,so I have changed shape so many times,and my poor boobs,aren't like they were before(sob,sob!).
Any way the lady chose me the bras,helped me put them on,checked the fit,saw me topless,and was really helpful.It wasn't half as embarrassing as I'd anticipated.
I usually find bra shopping so depressing,but went on to Tk Max and bought another lovely one for £6.99.I'm actually looking forward to buying more in my new size!

StompingOgre

Stomping,

Any big department stores, or smaller specialist shops, should have specialist fitters.

I am usually measured with my bra on, but then obviously take my bra off to try new ones. Don't be embarrassed about the assistant seeing you topless - they've seen it all before! x

ty dmg24 ... i went into debenhams n got measured ... i was totally in the wrong sized bra and its such a relief to finally be in the right bra ... so ladies get measured up NOW!!!

Emms

I went today and got measured for the first time. I only really did it as Im getting married in a few weeks and needed a good strapless one. It wasnt really that bad at all. Went to Debenhams as I knew they had a good strapless selection. The girl that did it was lovely and I was wearing totally the wrong size. Im looking forward to bra shopping now as I know exactly what to look for but its going to be expensive as im a 30E/32DD!! I was wearing a 36C so just a wee bit out!

Emma

ben500

Definately around the tlts, if you measure around your @rse they end up really saggy.

wisewoman

blue_monkey wrote: »

M&S are hopeless - they make bras for themselves so they have their own sizes. If you buy from M&S do not expect another brand to fit you the same as other people have said. Sure someone MIGHT get the fit just right but then you try to buy a bra elsewhere and you'll find that it does not fit.

Panache make the Firm Cup T-shirt bras it is called Porcelain and comes in White, Black or Nude (the better colour as you can wear it with anythingIMHO) and it costs around £24, Fantasie have one now as well but they are more expensive at £30. They also do a stapless version but they are very good as you get no show through when it gets cold - if you know what I mean!

Never, ever put bras with wires in the washing machine even in a net bag - it'll put the wires out of shape and a good bra handwashed will last a long time. I am still in my Panache Tango II bras that I bought 2 1/2 years ago as they are looked after and hand washed.

I sell bras online and if someone is in need of being fitted personally when my advice is not enough (sometimes it is, sometimes it isn't and more advice is needed) then I would tell them to go to Bravissimo, John Lewis or Debenhams because they sells bras of different brands and in different styles and different sizes so you can have a good try on because not all bras in the same size will fit. Think of shoes, you would not just walk up to the shoe counter pick up a pair without trying them on. Once you have found a brand then all the bras in that brand will pretty much give the same fit as they work from the same pattern.

Some little bits of advice:

If you wear a full cup bra and find you have a gap at the top of the bra where the strap starts then I'd look at a balcony fitting bra instead and it'll get rid of this.

Plunge bras are not for everyone and some people cannot wear them so make sure you get a good look in the mirror before walking out of the shop with it. My tip: Give a little jiggle and/or bend over - if you start popping out put the bra back and get a bigger size!! Remember, if you are popping them back in when you are in the fitting room they'll pop out at work/at the school gates/supermarket, etc... it's not a good look and you'll spend all day tucking them away - it is very annoying, LOL! Don't forget when in the fitting room you tend to 'shrink' a little due to cold or nervousness and when you get warmer after getting home this is when you find you'll start popping out a bit over the top and you'll realise that it does not fit. Don't remove the tags until you are sure it fits - if it doesn't take it back for the next cup size p.

If the back is riding up and you are tugging at it get a smaller back size but this means your cup size will also change and go up by 2 or even 3 cup sizes so bear this in mind. For example, one of my custemrs mailed this morning after buying a 34D - she has worn this size for a while- yet this weeken she went for a fitting and is a 30FF!

It is easy to wear a bra that is too small by wearing the wrong back size. If you find you have a bulge comeing under the bra you are wearing a too big band size - get smaller (usually 2 sizes if this is happening). The band of the bra should fit flush against your chest and should not stick out at all, the band should run around the back and should not move around at all.

Remember, measuring is a guide only and you might feel comfortable in something that is a smaller band size and bigger cup size. If you find the bra is moving around and you are not happy with this go smaller, it should be fitted on the first hook so, as the bra stetches you can take it in and the cups should hold you firmly, the bra strap should not dig into your should or put undue weight on your shoulder - if it does you are not in the right size.

Generally you do not need a bigger band size when your size changes during your cycle but a bigger cup (this is the A, B, C, etc... bit of the bra size) size so if this is the case buy a couple that will do during this time - you might find you need 2 sizes so bear this in mind.

If you are wearing a t-shirt and are finding that you have an extra set of boobs or are bulging over the top then you need the next size up. Always put your top back on when buying a bra so you can look in the mirror and see how you look with clothes on.

Nursing bras are best fitted 3 weeks before your baby is due - buy just 2 that you can wash/wear daily so that if the fit changes you have not wasted too much money. Buy branded maternity and nursing bras, they last so much longer than the cheaper ones - I found the elastic went in mine in no time. Another suggetion is that you do tend to lose weight quickly when breastfeeding so get a bra one size up from what you started and buy some bra strap adjusters so you can use these and take the bra into your original fit gradually. Likewise for pregnancy if the cup is fine but the back too small get some adjusters so that you can get some more wear out the bras. The best bra I found during pregnancy is a berlie one that is not all that attractive but it has a cross over bit at the front and is just so supportive and that is essential to avoid stretchmarks.

Maternity bras can be any bra without a wire as long as it is supportive and holds you firm (as above, this avoids the stetchmark problem)

Don't forget you can also get bra sized swimear now so you can get something to suit you rather than making do with a size 10, 12, 14 etc... you can get tops and swimsuits to a J cup. PM me if interested and I can tell you more about these.

And, I might of mentioned this already don't put any wired bra in the Washing Machine - also should anything happen to the bra and it needs replacing (it comes apart at the seam for example) then washing it in a machine will invalidate this warranty and we do know when they have been machine washed!! Likewise it'll invalidate any warranty on your machine should am engineer find a wire in there as wired bras should not be machine washed.

That's all I can think of for now but I am sure something else will come to me while doing the housework. Don't forget, most places should take the bras back and refund/replace if you get home and they do not fit so check out the returns policy from the place you are buying from first. If it does not fit send it back, ask or advice and get something that does. Most places can offer advice but remember the bigger online stores probably will not be able to due to the sheer volume of emails they get so if you are shopping online and want a more personal service try on the smaller stores and email first to get an idea of their customer service ad returns policy.

Hope this helps someone.

Gosh! You seem to know your stuff. Any advice for post-mastectomy bra-fitting, with a prosthesis?

belfastgirl23

Just to say that Which! did a survey of bra fitting services across all of the major stores a few years ago and found that they were all poor. It included an examples of an 80 YO woman being sold a wonderbra by a bra fitter! Their conclusion was not to worry about getting fitted, just take as many bras into the changing rooms as possible and keep trying them on till you find one that fits. My biggest tip is before you buy, to put your top back on over the new bra - it's easier to see if there are any problems with clothes on over it somehow. Jumping up and down a couple of times can also help to establish whether you'll pop out. The other tip is if it fits buy at least two

jojoj_2

There is a Rigby & Peller factory shop in Northamptonshire (Desborough) that does free bra fittings by highly trained staff and also sells end of line/samples/seconds really good quality bras.

Marks & Spencers is the worst place i've been for a fitting, I was fitted once, bought a bra in the size i was fitted in but it didn' feel comfortable so I went back the next week to get fitted again and they measured me a completely different size! Not to be recommended....

House of Fraser / Beatties do a fitting which is very thorough and is free!

blue_monkey_2

Gosh! You seem to know your stuff. Any advice for post-mastectomy bra-fitting, with a prosthesis?

I like to think so - I've been selling online and face to face for over 4 years now - and rather bizarrely - thre is nothing more satisfiying than seeing a lady in the right sized bra and seeing how pleased she is with the fit and how she looks as it makes so much difference to how she feels and how she presents herself.

In regard to the fitting with the prosthesis, if you have not bought a bra before then I would call your local indepenants and ask if they have experience with this as it will always be better to have help and a good opinion the first time. While you can buy them online, for your first time I would suggest that it is better to be able to go and try some brands on and see how they feel when you wear them for the first time it is going to be a pretty daunting experience initially until to get used to the fit of the bras and inserting the prosthesis. You can buy with Bi-Lat pockets at https://www.royce-lingerie.co.uk and this will have a pocket both sides so you can wear either one or two prosthesis. You might also find later on that if you find a nice standard bra that you like that is not sheer but if you want something pretty (I admit, they are pretty bog standard from Royce) then you could speak to a local seamstress and ask if she can line the bra for you and give it a cotton pocket - cotton is always better as it prevents rubbing and will not irritate any scarring - depending on how the prosthesis fits this may be an option for you but make sure you are happy with your size and also how the fit is before you go off and do this though. If you only need one side and your bra is the same size as before your op, it might be worth having an experiment with the bras you have left and see how they look with pockets - it will not work on every style as they will have to be full cup bras, no other style will work as it will show too much, but you might find you can do this and the bra will look great - sometimes it is just nice to have something pretty to lift your spirits and if the bra looks good under clothing that is all it needs really. Just a suggestion really but you are welcome to PM me if you wanted to ask more. I just wanted to wish you well with everything. x

blue_monkey_2

There is a Rigby & Peller factory shop in Northamptonshire

There is a factory shop in Desborough but they will not be selling the R&P Brand, they stopped selling R&P in February but they might have a few odds and ends hanging around from the last season but they are no longer going to be selling R&P. This company supplies me with my bras and we cannnot buy R&P from them anymore so there will not be much in the way of R&P left.

They do however sell Fantasie and Freya though, both of which are excellent brands and the fitters are excellent ladies who really know their stuff and could fit you in the blink of an eye, the are lovely ladies and really nice and you feel comfortable with them. They are not R&P fitters and this is not a R&P shop so don't travel all the way up there thinking it is. if you want to make a special trip it is better to call them and ask if your size is in stock as I have been up there many a time and not had a single thing in my size. They get busy at the weekend though. Bear in mind if buying the cheaper stuff though that it is cheaper for a reason, some might be incorrectly sized or have a mark on them and it be fine but something that they cannot sell full price, all I am saying is that it is better to try it on first.

PS. If you buy the stuff from eBay with tags marked/cut or BNWOT (Brand new without Tags) then this is where it comes from so just beware before you buy as most of these companies will not deal with returns.