M&S Bra Fitting

[LuckyAmy1986]

I have booked a bra fitting here, however I keep reading bad things, aibu to cancel and go somewhere else? And where would I go?! Anyone have any experience good or bad of them?

[Imnotaslimjim]

Go elsewhere, they're awful. Or Google "boob or bust" and learn how to do it yourself properly.

[rizlett]

bravissimo is best!

but also i heard that brastop.com can do it from a photo of you in you current bra - but maybe that was just a weird kind of dream....

[AnathemaPulsifer]

John Lewis, Bravissimo or an independent. Never, ever M&S.

[Ridingthegravytrain]

Haven't been measured there but I find their bras are a poor fit anyway. It's like someone just makes up the sizes in each style!

[mrssmith79]

I second Bravissimo, even Debenhams at a pinch but steer well clear of M&S.

[Branleuse]

another one that thinks you should steer clear of m&s. It will be a complete waste of your time

[LuckyAmy1986]

Ok I am definitely going to cancel, no one yet has said they are good! Thing is I don't really have many options (in person) where I live, there is a house of fraser and ann summers though? Wish I could go to Bravissimo

[SusanChurchouse]

I know they are seen as sacred but I've had a couple of poor fittings in Bravissimo. They also only start at D cup so they don't suit everyone. I'm lucky to have a fantastic independent place near me who,to quote a friend, will 'fit you to within an inch of your life'. Debenhams has been ok before too.

[Soulcakequack]

I'm also lucky to have fab independent shop nearby. They measured me as a 36FF while m&s had me as a 40 C ( have used them for bra fitting all my life) I've been having awful neck and shoulder pain. The physio suggested getting a bra fitting at the independent shop. A correct sized bra has pretty much cured my shoulder and neck pain, it's been a revelation!

[gigi556]

I've had fittings at M&S and I thought the fitting aspect was quite good. That said, I'm busty and their actual bras are terrible. They fit great when you are in the shop but stretch out quickly and don't last - and I didn't buy the cheap range ones.

I had a terrible fitting experience at Bravissimo, but I'd probably write that off as a one off and try again some time. I was 20ish weeks pregnant and hormonal and upset my bras weren't fitting anymore, but the girl didn't really listen to me and kept bringing me bras that weren't suitable.

[goodnessidontknow]

Another vote to avoid M&S. I had a fitting there where I was measured as a 40b when I was closer to a 36dd. The fitter kept telling me it was a great fit even though it was hanging off me and wouldn't listen until I put my arms up, popped out from underneath the band and said I didn't think that was supposed to happen. She went beetroot red (god forbid a bra fitter should catch sight of a nipple!) and suggested doing the band up tighter. I suggested I would be better off elsewhere.
We have a lovely new service near me where a specialist will measure you and do a personal shopping visit for about £30.

[Eeeeek2]

Check if you have an independent shop near, you probably won't know about it until you go looking as they are often small shops tucked in out of the way spots.

[PollyPerky]

It's not JUST M&S. If you look online about 'how to measure for a bra' there are literally dozens of sites saying the old 'add 4 inches to your under bust measurement'. I looked earlier this week and was shocked to see this. ie 'If your under bust measurement is 30 inches, add 4 so wear a 34 back.'

I did this for years putting myself in 34A cup when in fact I am a 30D or 30DD.

[PollyPerky]

And it was only when I was browsing in a small independent bra shop (a tiny shop in fact) and the owner asked what size I was looking for, that I saw the light. I said I was a 34 and she took one look at me (I was fully dressed) and she said no way could I be 34. I am a size 8, and she said I looked about a 30 back or less.

[Izzabellasasperella]

Another vote for avoiding M&S. The fitter there made me cry.

[UKrider]

Another one suggesting you avoid m&s.
They measured me at 38C. Bravissimo measured me at 34F.
My boobs are now perky and I have no more slipping bra straps.

[PollyPerky]

M&S is fine if you can measure yourself. There is nothing wrong with their bras as long as they fit you. Many of my bras are from M&S. The problem I have is finding pretty bras in a 30D - sometimes 30DD, sometimes 32 D depending on style- because most start at a 32.

Bravissimo doesn't work for me because they start at a D cup - okay- but the styles are for women with big boobs so the bras tend to be full cup and no padding. My boobs are small even though a D cup- I need padding.

[oklumberjack]

PollyPerky, there are plenty of bras with padding in bravissimo's new catalogue.

[bananafish81]

M&S will only tell you you're a size they sell

If you're bigger or smaller than their sizes, you will definitely get the wrong size (actually pretty much everyone will because they use the +4 measuring system so most people will end up with too large a back size and too small a cup size)

M&S told me I was a 34B. I'm actually a 28DD!

[NapoleonsNose]

Yep, avoid M&S. I'm a 36H and M&S measured me as a 42C! Rubbish. I measured myself and then went to our fab local independent place and she confirmed I was wearing the right size.

[EB123]

Avoid M&S for some reason Tey always measured my back size much bigger than it was.

[SoupDragon]

I don't understand M&S sizing. I measured DD for her first bra myself using the bra intervention method (29AA I think) and she ended up in a 34AA. I just bought her different sizes to try on in the fitting room until we got ones that fitted nicely.

[oklumberjack]

I once had 36J boobs (I've had a breast reduction now).
M&S put me in a 38D. They are awful. I've never met anyone who was fitted to the right size. I had a row in there with a fitter because my 12 yr old dd has 30E boobs. I was there because my believe was looking at bralets, so I took some in to try on for dd. The fitter said that dd was much too young for wires and threw some flimsy angel padded bras at her. I said no, my dd is 5 ft 5, is a woman's size 10, she has substantial boobs, she needs support. The fitter said there was no way a 12 year old had E-cup boobs. I left.

I'm very experienced at bras (having had 36J boobs!). I was measured properly once in a shop called Bentalls. I don't think they exist now. I've since used the DIY method on many people including myself and found it to be very accurate.

[SoupDragon]

because they use the +4 measuring system

I had wondered if their bras were sized like this.