bra size measurement... help.

foreversomeday

Ooh, what a useful thread, perhaps you can offer me some advice...

I have smaller breasts and I don't believe I have ever been fitted properly as every time I have ever been fitted for a bra the experience has been very different, and I still haven't found a bra I find comfortable enough to really want to wear all day - this can't be right?

I have been fitted at La Senza multiple times - actually I found these bras slightly more comfortable, at M&S a couple of times, including once when I had a fitter spend ages with me - about 20 minutes - and she showed me how to check the bra was fitting correctly myself as well in different areas (cups, band and straps.)

Since I have been pregnant I think my bra problems have got worse! I hate the idea of spending out a lot of money if the bra isn't going to fit me for long but I don't want to buy cheap ones either - but I haven't found any bras at all I have been able to wear all day, so I haven't been wearing one at all most days. I know I won't be able to continue this for long though because I want to breastfeed and you can't wear brest pads without a bra - not to mention they will get bigger and probably uncomfortable.

Where would you recommend to be the best place to go to be fitted for a nursing bra? As far as I know my options locally are the NCT bra fitting lady, Blooming Marvellous, Mothercare, M&S and House of Fraser. We don't have any other bra shops apart from La Senza and Ann Summers/Knickerbox, but I don't think they do fitting. La Senza don't sell maternity bras.

Also I know that having a properly fitting bra is much more important than what it looks like, but I'd rather not have one of those bras which is like a sports crop top as it is too high across my front and means I will have next to no clothes to wear. That sounds like I wear really low cut tops but I don't really - I just find because I am small, bras tend to come up too high and show out of my clothes.

I'd like at least one "sexy" bra so Blooming Marvellous will probably be my choice from the above because they stock the Hot Milk bras - but any advice would be most welcome, and especially advice on how to pick and/or spot a good fitter!

Savvy_Sue

We already have a long-ish thread on bra fitting on the Health Board, so I'm going to move and merge ...

MrsTinks

!!!!!! wrote hoge long reply and must have posted as it was being merged so it's vanished... *sigh*

short version: try plunge and balconette bra's and check with one of your current bra's if it all fits using this guide until you can either get to a bravissimo or a local independant shop... personally I've never found a good fitter in the larger shops like M&S etc

http://www.bravissimo.com/perfectfit/getting-the-perfect-fit/default.aspx

Savvy_Sue

So sorry, Mrs T! will try not to do it again ...

MrsTinks

LOL it happens

Doom_and_Gloom

Raver2k7 wrote: »

Ill tell u what! i spent the last 10 yrs wearing 32A, as im quite small, however. i went to La Senza a couple of wks ago, and to my astonishment, got measured and was told i was a 32C...lol needless to say i was V happy! but other bras i need to get a 32B as the Cs are too big! have to stick to La senza ones me thinks!!!

I've been to La Senza and the person who measured me said I was a 34D. I turned to her and said a 34D hadn't fitted me since I was 13 and that I had some of their bras in that size that did not fit at all! Now with a rib measurement of 28 inches it's suprising she said 34 at all as that is 32 :eek: ! My bust measurement is 38 so a D is also unrealistic :rotfl: . I went out of the store with a 32F that fitted PERFECTLY with no help what so ever to the assistant :rolleyes: . I am a 32E or 32F depending on store and style :T . La Senza bras always seem to be a 32F though . Anne Summers depends on style but mostly 32F . My fiancé is a happy bunny for some reason. I can't figure out why :rotfl: .

3plus1

I heartily recommend Bravissimo for ladies like me who have larger assets but a small back size. If you need to wear a larger cup size but you're still relatively slim, your cup size will be too big for most mainstream high street shops and your backsize will be too big for specialist larger clothes shops like Evans.

If you're looking for something in a more 'normal' size, then I'd recommend the fitting service at Debenhams and John Lewis. The fitters there use a more traditional technique, which I don't necessarily think is the best, but they do get results and they have a relatively wide range of sizes including smaller cups.

Avoid M&S at all costs, whatever size you are!

keelykat

foreversomeday wrote: »

Ooh, what a useful thread, perhaps you can offer me some advice...

I have smaller breasts and I don't believe I have ever been fitted properly as every time I have ever been fitted for a bra the experience has been very different, and I still haven't found a bra I find comfortable enough to really want to wear all day - this can't be right?

I have been fitted at La Senza multiple times - actually I found these bras slightly more comfortable, at M&S a couple of times, including once when I had a fitter spend ages with me - about 20 minutes - and she showed me how to check the bra was fitting correctly myself as well in different areas (cups, band and straps.)

Since I have been pregnant I think my bra problems have got worse! I hate the idea of spending out a lot of money if the bra isn't going to fit me for long but I don't want to buy cheap ones either - but I haven't found any bras at all I have been able to wear all day, so I haven't been wearing one at all most days. I know I won't be able to continue this for long though because I want to breastfeed and you can't wear brest pads without a bra - not to mention they will get bigger and probably uncomfortable.

Where would you recommend to be the best place to go to be fitted for a nursing bra? As far as I know my options locally are the NCT bra fitting lady, Blooming Marvellous, Mothercare, M&S and House of Fraser. We don't have any other bra shops apart from La Senza and Ann Summers/Knickerbox, but I don't think they do fitting. La Senza don't sell maternity bras.

Also I know that having a properly fitting bra is much more important than what it looks like, but I'd rather not have one of those bras which is like a sports crop top as it is too high across my front and means I will have next to no clothes to wear. That sounds like I wear really low cut tops but I don't really - I just find because I am small, bras tend to come up too high and show out of my clothes.

I'd like at least one "sexy" bra so Blooming Marvellous will probably be my choice from the above because they stock the Hot Milk bras - but any advice would be most welcome, and especially advice on how to pick and/or spot a good fitter!

Ive also got to get some nursing bras soon, seeing as im due in three weeks time. But i think im going to wait untill ive had baby and am out of hospital-if the breastfeeding doesnt go well i dont want to have wasted money on bras that will be useless. Dont know yet where ill get them from-probably m+s or mothercare as there isnt a lot of choice where i live. I find it a right pain, as since becoming pregnant my boobs have only gone up about one cup size yet my ribs have expanded a lot! meaning ive got a big band size but small cup size if that makes sense? only had smallish boobs to begin with

vixarooni

blue_monkey wrote: »

Absolutely Vix - I always say the same, to get measured but to take the number from inside the bra and see if you can get the same bra. This is what I explained further back, that you can have 5 bras and only one will fit.

M&S, heavens don't get me started on them. I've have so many ladies tell me 'M&S fitted me in......' and they are a band size smaller and 3 sizes bigger. Some people are adamant thought that M&S are the best and you just have to let it go, but then they complain that the branded stuff 'does not fit'.

I agree with you totally that girls need education but I think many people are embarrassed and think they have to strip to their pants to get fitted for a bra - this is so not the case, you can be discreet about it (or most of us can, I am sure that some have been scared off for life by some fitters, LOL!!). And does it become an obsession, staring at womens boobs where ever you go once you do this for a living. You can sit there and think 'no, no, no, no, for gods's sake NO', I'll say to my husband 'for gods sake, she has the wrong bra on' he doesn't look as far as I know but I cannot help it. LOL. Please tell me you do the same thing else I'd be slightly worried about my behaviour.

many people are embarassed yes - i was too! i first got fitted at 19 when i started to work in debenhams, wouldnt go before this. Thats where education comes into it i think, if there was some way of watching a video of a fitting session to see what happens would have probably made me feel more at ease.

Oh and as for constant staring at womens breasts where ever i go - yes!! I was watching the women olympic hockey team the other day thinking lord has she even got a bra on! i often tell people i know too.

chookwoose

Hi. Can anyone recommend somewhere to take a very reluctant 12 year old to get measured and fitted for bras please?