Does any woman get fitted for a bra?
LilyAnna80
Posts: 3,560 Forum Member
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Not many of us truly know which bra size we are. It is a good investment.
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LilyAnna80
Posts: 3,560 LilyAnna80
Posts: 3,560 LilyAnna80
Posts: 3,560 LilyAnna80
Posts: 3,560
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M&S are rubbish, their sizes are ridiculous.
Surpringly, I find Ann Summers very good for a good fit of you have a big cup size. They have very attractive day to day bras and cups go up to huge sizes!
M&S only large cups are in the granny range..eurgh!
Not true. I wear M&S 38 FF bras and they are not all granny bras.
For instance
http://www.marksandspencer.com/Pack-Limited-Collection-Embroidered-Padded/dp/B00AB2FUH0?ie=UTF8&ref=sr_1_15&nodeId=47591031&sr=1-15&qid=1356897864
Get fitted regularly; especially if your weight has changed, during and after pregnancy and of course if you start/stop the pill or HRT. Most women are in too big a back size and too small a cup.
Where would you recommend going then? I've never been properly fitted and I can't be arsed to traipse around places.
If youre in between cups which is best to go with? Eg if i try a particular bra in a b and c cup, the b is a little small but the c is a little big. Which would be the best choice?
Recently having lost weight I started at M&S who told me that I was a 36D but only two out of the eight bras they brought me in that size actually fitted well.
I then went to a small local shop where the lady took her time and told me that I was most likely a 32 back. In the end I bought 4 bras from her, all fit like a dream and each one a different size! I was a 32F in one brand, 32FF in another, 34F in another and 34E in Fantasie. So even if you know approximately your size, you need to try them on.
men wear bras? lol
Some of them probably should!
I've always just measured myself. Don't know how accurate that is *shrugs*
Plenty of men wear bras and knickers and things.
June Kenton from R&P is so good, she doesn't use a tape measure apparently.
Debenhams, Bravissimo and I've heard ok reports on John Lewis too. Then there are the small independents too. Of course there are great and not so great fitters in every store. But some shops seem to have a general bad reputation, such as M&S that must be down to shop policy. I do also think there's a bit of dishonesty in some shops and they're telling you a size that they stock - so if they only sell up to a DD then you're a DD.
There's no simple answer I'm afraid. Every bra make differs slightly and then different bra styles differ again. It might be that the particular bra you're trying just isn't a good shape for you, as fit is down to more than straightforward size. If depends on the shape of the actual breast - which varies a LOT. Try on a few different styles. But you want to avoid bulging out of the cup. If you're trying on in a shop get one of the fitters to check it for you.
Definitely try on. The different brands vary. Part of the problem is that the old sizing method meant you had to add 4 inches or so on to your measurement. But modern elastics and fabrics have changed the fit and now for most manufacturers your band size is your measurement or close to it (with some variables). It seems M&S still hold to the old system, hence the 36. However from what I'm seeing in the fitting room, it doesn't match up with the actual bras they're selling.
You want a store that fits you rather than just measures you. Which is what you got in your small lingerie boutique. It doesn't have to be a small shop though, but I'd definitely say go to a shop that sells the full size range and not just the smaller cups. That way you'll get your correct band/cup combination.
The tape measure is only a starting point, a guideline. No decent bra fitter really needs one, but people expect to see one
Noted that isn't your stereotypical granny bra, but its not my preferred bra design type. Also, my local store never have any bras like/similar to the one you put a link to in store in my size.
A lot of the women around here are very svelte chested/ backed so guess they go with what the majority need, which means its a no go bra zone for me.