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Original poster

John Lewis, you should be ashamed of yourselves

130 replies

Nevershoppingagaininjohnlewis · 31/01/2026 16:16

I had a bra fitting today. The partner was excellent and really knew her stuff.

The fitting was coming to an end. I was trying on the matching knickers.

As I was pulling them off, I heard a man talking to someone in a different cubicle just the other side of my curtain. I felt so vulnerable in that moment - I was only wearing a bra. I'd been having normal volume conversations about my boobs and my body with the partner, believing it to be a single sex space. And there was a gap in the curtain I could see out of, so knew it would be easy enough to see in.

I pulled my clothes on as quick as I could, whilst holding the curtain gap closed to recover them.

Once dressed, I found the man about 1m away. He was there with his wife. Why he couldn't wait by the sofa's and her come to him like it has always been, I don't know.

I spoke to the partner and she was very sympathetic. I asked her if there was a single sex space I could have had the bra fitting in, and she said no. John Lewis don't have them.

The bras are the last items I'm buying from John Lewis brand.

Bye bye Waitrose weekly shop.

I honestly cannot believe it has come to this.

OP posts:
CantThinkofaNam · 31/01/2026 19:40

Given they allow bloody shitty dogs in there, I am not surprised. I would much rather encounter a man in the changing room, than a dirty dog among everything

FieldInWhichFucksAreGrownIsBarren · 31/01/2026 19:39

grumpygrape · 31/01/2026 18:47

How do you get the right size first time if you don’t try them on ?

Agreed, I haven’t needed to try on for ages because I always buy the same packs of passion killers but if I had to change brands for some reason, I’d try them on.

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Dunno, just do. Never got it wrong.

ThisGutsyQuail · 31/01/2026 19:31

I think you are required to try pants on over your own pants.

LVhandbagsatdawn · 31/01/2026 19:28

I was trying on the matching knickers.
As I was pulling them off... I was only wearing a bra

So you weren't trying them on over other underwear or trousers?? Sorry but that's fucking mucky.

Why he couldn't wait by the sofa's and her come to him like it has always been, I don't know.

So you want a woman to parade in her underwear through the public area of the changing rooms so you don't have to have a man in earshot while you're talking about bras?

I think hearing a strange man while only in your underwear is rather less stressful than having to walk around in front of one in it, but you do you.

thedramaQueen · 31/01/2026 19:20

Jijithecat · 31/01/2026 19:16

If you can't cope with someone trying on a pair of pants over their own, I hope you're taking your own bedding with you when you stay somewhere other than home. You don't want to know what happens in hotel beds.

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Don't know about you but I look where I'm sleeping and I can usually tell if it's dirty and if it is not I will not stay, or I will ask for clean sheets....

Interestingly just asked my husband if he has even tried underwear on in a shop - never in his nearly 60 years!!! Got me thinking if this is a female thing!

Jijithecat · 31/01/2026 19:16

thedramaQueen · 31/01/2026 17:52

Who does that!!! I'm not sure I believe this post... because of that!

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If you can't cope with someone trying on a pair of pants over their own, I hope you're taking your own bedding with you when you stay somewhere other than home. You don't want to know what happens in hotel beds.

Bearbookagainandagain · 31/01/2026 18:49

OMG, there are men on the planet!!! HIiiiiiiiideeee!!!!!!

Serencwtch · 31/01/2026 18:47

purpleme12 · 31/01/2026 16:23

I assumed OP tried them on over what she was already wearing?

She 'accidentally' pulled them off with the ones she was trying on 🤔

grumpygrape · 31/01/2026 18:47

FieldInWhichFucksAreGrownIsBarren · 31/01/2026 18:29

Same.

I'm now wondering how many people do and thinking I'm never buying a pair of knickers again.

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How do you get the right size first time if you don’t try them on ?

Agreed, I haven’t needed to try on for ages because I always buy the same packs of passion killers but if I had to change brands for some reason, I’d try them on.

offtothegymagain · 31/01/2026 18:35

what about bikinis and swimsuits? Same thing. Of course you try them on over your own knickers. Makes sense. 🤷‍♀️

And @Nevershoppingagaininjohnlewis totally with you. I hate hearing male voices in the changing rooms. My instincts just kick in. Hate being undressed when I can hear male voices. It’s definitely a new thing, men being in female changing rooms . I complained about it recently in New Look.

Didshejustsaythatoutloud · 31/01/2026 18:31

FreshInks · 31/01/2026 17:04

The idea that a woman can’t try on clothing without the help of her husband is really strange.

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I would rather have my dp helping me, whilst in a nakedish state than a mere stranger.

FieldInWhichFucksAreGrownIsBarren · 31/01/2026 18:29

MidWayThruJanuary · 31/01/2026 16:26

I have never once tried on knickers

Same.

I'm now wondering how many people do and thinking I'm never buying a pair of knickers again.

grumpygrape · 31/01/2026 18:27

thedramaQueen · 31/01/2026 18:15

This is why I always wash new knickers...

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Well, yes, but they’d still possibly be getting yucky just hanging in the shop with random people touching them so I’d always wash them first.

Didshejustsaythatoutloud · 31/01/2026 18:25

GreaterCassowary · 31/01/2026 16:40

Don't be silly.

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Why is that silly?

Didshejustsaythatoutloud · 31/01/2026 18:21

TheGrimSqueakersFlea · 31/01/2026 16:39

You were standing there wearing only a bra? Sounds like you were the weird one

😂

thedramaQueen · 31/01/2026 18:15

grumpygrape · 31/01/2026 18:09

I suppose over trousers or leggings could be a solution but trousers would be bulky and could be wet or dirtier than your own knickers and not everyone wears leggings.

I’ve been trying knickers and swimwear on over my own knickers now for about 60 years so apologies if I’ve been doing it wrong. 😉

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This is why I always wash new knickers...

Didshejustsaythatoutloud · 31/01/2026 18:11

GrannyAchingsShepherdsHut · 31/01/2026 16:32

Is trying trousers on over pants yuck?

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No, but trousers aren't as close to the discharge area and you usually wear your own pants as a barrier.

grumpygrape · 31/01/2026 18:09

thedramaQueen · 31/01/2026 18:02

I wouldn't try them on over my pants - I would keep my trousers on - would most likely wear leggings if I needed to shop for knickers like that.

I hadn't seen the post where the poster explained that she tried them on over her pants- but still don't buy it - as they came off with my pants..if this is true suggests this method isn't the best.

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I suppose over trousers or leggings could be a solution but trousers would be bulky and could be wet or dirtier than your own knickers and not everyone wears leggings.

I’ve been trying knickers and swimwear on over my own knickers now for about 60 years so apologies if I’ve been doing it wrong. 😉

Didshejustsaythatoutloud · 31/01/2026 18:04

thedramaQueen · 31/01/2026 17:52

Who does that!!! I'm not sure I believe this post... because of that!

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That was the most alarming part of the post, imo 😂

thedramaQueen · 31/01/2026 18:02

grumpygrape · 31/01/2026 17:55

How do you check for size if you don’t try them on ? It’s only the same as trying swimwear.

Please don’t say always buy the same size, that’s a whole other issue.

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I wouldn't try them on over my pants - I would keep my trousers on - would most likely wear leggings if I needed to shop for knickers like that.

I hadn't seen the post where the poster explained that she tried them on over her pants- but still don't buy it - as they came off with my pants..if this is true suggests this method isn't the best.

grumpygrape · 31/01/2026 17:55

thedramaQueen · 31/01/2026 17:52

Who does that!!! I'm not sure I believe this post... because of that!

Show quote history

How do you check for size if you don’t try them on ? It’s only the same as trying swimwear.

Please don’t say always buy the same size, that’s a whole other issue.

grumpygrape · 31/01/2026 17:52

We don’t have a JL near us anymore, but M&S have solid doors (well, not all the way to the ceiling but about 6”6’ high) on their dressing rooms and a larger dressing room for bra fittings and wheelchairs so there’s enough room for an assistant and/or wheelchair as well as the customer.

I went to our local Bon Marche recently and as I need to sit to take trousers off and put them on I used their larger ‘accessible’ fitting room but as the curtain didn’t go all the way across I just bought the trousers and kept my fingers crossed they’d fit. I mentioned the curtain at the till and got an ‘oh we keep telling them about that but nothing gets done’. 🙄

Can someone tell me how you get knickers the right size if you don't try them on over your own knickers ? 🤔

thedramaQueen · 31/01/2026 17:52

Didshejustsaythatoutloud · 31/01/2026 16:18

You tried pants on 😮

Who does that!!! I'm not sure I believe this post... because of that!

Original poster
Nevershoppingagaininjohnlewis · 31/01/2026 17:38

TheWildEyeBoyfromafreecloud · 31/01/2026 16:53

Thanks for this op.

I'm glad you told me becsuee I would feel uncomfortable we well.

Underwear I always thought was women biological only .

My teen DDS would also want to be in a single sex space.

No problems.

I drove to a different town for a JL appointment as I'd read on MN about M&S policy. I should have done more research, shouldn't I?

Is there any high street store where women can have their bra fitted without men being in the changing room?

For all those suggesting that the wife may have mobility issues, straws and clutching spring to mind.

I am not happy being naked from the waist up with only a lightweight curtain separating me from a man. It was hard enough to get past the partner fitting me. We're not all body confident and happy being undressed in front of strangers.

The partner was talking about her customers she fits who've had mastectomies and her maternity customers. I felt extremely vulnerable having a bra fitting post giving birth. I never would have gone if i was being fitted in a mixed sex space back when I needed that service.

Teenage DD feels the same as yours.

OP posts:
TheGrimSqueakersFlea · 31/01/2026 17:28

FreshInks · 31/01/2026 17:04

The idea that a woman can’t try on clothing without the help of her husband is really strange.

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Mobility issues for a start