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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to think that any bra measuring services are utterly inaccurate.

238 replies

microfight · 09/07/2011 15:42

There is always talk of so many women wearing the wrong bra size but I have been measured differently in three different shops! From a C to an F and 34-36!

Shouldn't they all measure me the same?

OP posts:
Amaretti · 12/07/2011 16:17

Yes, if an M and S 36 actually measures 30 then that would make a lot if sense.

kingbeat23 · 12/07/2011 17:59

Am a fitter, have done it for years. Do it by sight and tell my customers how to do it themselves. Fantastic when I see people walking out wearing the correct size, like they're walking on air.

Alot of the people being fitted are 30+ or teenagers. Usually after having children and the shape has changed. A couple of times people getting fittings done for thier daughters will have one for themselves "just to see" and generally will be amazed.

I am using a lot of generalising, sweeping statements so that I cover the bases of "well, I'm not like that!" :)

Different shaped bras will suit different people due to the shape of thier breasts and a good fitter will be able to show you the different types of bra for your shape as well as your size.

I vary back size and cup size from store to store, so it is worth trying on a few to know how they fit. Everyone should get a fitting during thier lives and I would recommend getting a fitting at least every 2 years. Shape will change month to month.

Am so glad more women on here have found the wonders that is a properly fitting bra and if anyone else has anything they would like to ask, feel free to pm me. You can find me on other bra fitting threads too, just so you know i'm not a hairy handed trucker!! :D

emmam25 · 12/07/2011 18:05

I feel like I must be a freak in the boob department as I went to Bravissimo and hated it!

The bra I ended up with was ludicrously expensive and so horrifically uncomfortable I have only worn it twice. It also did none of the things they seem to do for others. The cup is so high on my boob it sticks out from under anything I wear, the underwiring digs in painfully at the sides and the band is so tight it nearly cuts straight through me. I hated the whole experience, it took ages for them to "fit" me and all the while the sales girl was desperately trying to flog me things I didn't like because they were my size, in the end I gave in a brought the hideous thing just to get out. I would NEVER go back.

My best bra and the only one I own comfortable enough to wear all day at work was brought by my OH, who guessed the size by eye, at Tesco and cost £5!

fostermumtomany · 12/07/2011 18:17

i have the saggiest boobs since having my kids (think ethiopian woman like) and at 34 its so depressing

anyway i was measured at la senza as a 34c......thing is my boobs still looked non existant when i got dressed. while i toyed with the idea of just not getting dressed ever again, i decided to go and get properly fitted at a proper lingerie shop. so i found a little independant one and went in.
i wasnt too happy about having to get my udders out for a stranger but im glad i did.
turns out im actually a 32dd and the bras i tried on actually put them back up under my chin!!
well not quite but you know what i mean.
to say im pleased with the result is an understatement.
i spent hours when i got home looking at my profile in the mirror. i finally no longer have litle ski slopes but full on womanly mounds sticking out of the front of my chest.
i love it and now i dont have to give my hubby a heart attack by begging asking for a boob job!

Original poster
microfight · 12/07/2011 18:31

So does anyone have any suggestion for buying a flattering swim suit??

OP posts:
fostermumtomany · 12/07/2011 18:38

i believe m+s are doing some with lifty up bits and flattening bits.

fostermumtomany · 12/07/2011 18:39

or (Sorry just remembered) there is a company called panache who do the most amazing swimsuits though they are a bit pricey. i have no idea where you buy them, but if you google panache swimsuits you will find somewhere.

i saw a few on ebay the other day x

YoungMotherTubby · 12/07/2011 18:44

Read this thread last night and realised that I shouldn't be putting up with ill fitting bras.
So today looked out the 13 that I have - including those which I bought and didn't fit at the time and I kept because I thought one day they'd fit Confused

Anyway only 3 actually fitted - I threw out 7 of them and the rest (unworn) are going to the charity shop.

Original poster
microfight · 12/07/2011 19:11

thanks fostermumtomany x

OP posts:
PinkSchmoo · 12/07/2011 19:32

My recommendations for a good bra shop in northern Ireland? Currently bf dc2 and my poor boobs need a treat.

ungratefulbiped · 12/07/2011 19:50

This threas has talked me into throwing out my new ill-fitting bras and just suck it up and get a couple nice ones from Rigby &P. Thanks :)

parentallyinept · 12/07/2011 20:09

Wow! Inspired by this thread, I got properly measured today and have gone from a 36c to a 34E. For the first time in my life, my boobs look and feel so much better! Shame I could only afford one new bra really.

PinkSchmoo · 12/07/2011 21:16

That should be any not my.
Bloody phone.

PaulaYatesbiggestfan · 12/07/2011 21:33

bravissimo was nylon city when i went in...cheap and nasty

Original poster
microfight · 13/07/2011 06:54

Paulayates

Really nylon city? which one did you go to?

OP posts:
HeavyHeidi · 13/07/2011 07:07

microfight, figleaves.com has a good selection of swimsuits, check it out.

NacMacFeegle · 13/07/2011 07:58

Pinkschmoo, try Chantilly Lace in Newcastle Co. Down, the girl in there is amazing :)

trixymalixy · 13/07/2011 08:09

My bikini from bravissimo is by panache.

Maybe we should start a MN campaign. Well fitting bras for all women!

moomoo1 · 13/07/2011 09:02

I would not recommend Bravissimo.I went the other way from a 36 to a 32 size (basically the same size as my skinny flatmate) It was for my wedding bra, It was so tight I took it back before the big day, I was basically told it would take getting used to as I had worn the wearing the wrong bra size. I was sent on my way feeling very silly as they insisted they were right and I was wrong. I wore the bra and ended up very red and sore and in a lot of pain at the end of the day. So never again.

Orbinator · 13/07/2011 10:56

Morning everyone.
I hope no one minds, but I decided to send this link to Marc Bolland's office (Head of M&S) yesterday to highlight our issues. Here's a copy of their reply:

Thank you for copying Marc Bolland in to your email about bra sizes and bra fitting. As a member of Marc?s personal team, I?m replying on his behalf.

I?ve read the Mumsnet thread you provided a link to, and I?m really sorry you and your fellow Mumsnetters are unhappy with our bra measuring service.

We offer this service to help our customers find the correct sized bra. We try to be as accurate as possible, but I should point out that the bra measurements we give are only a guide as bust sizes may fluctuate. The style and fit of the bra may also affect the measurements we give, and these measurements may therefore vary from bra to bra.

We recommend our customers are fitted for each new bra they buy, as this enables our bra advisers to find the right style and fit for each individual. This also gives the customer the chance to tell our adviser if the recommended size feels comfortable.

I note that some contributors to the Mumsnet thread suggest they?ve received poor service when being fitted for a bra in M&S. This concerns me as we want to provide excellent service to every M&S customer. If you and your fellow Mumsnetters would like to contact us directly whenever you feel you?ve received poor service when being fitted for a bra in M&S, we will of course investigate and take appropriate action accordingly.

I?ve passed the details of your complaint to our Board of Directors to review. We regularly consider customer feedback as part of our ongoing review and improvement programme and we?re very grateful you?ve taken the time to bring this matter to our attention.

Thanks again for contacting us.

Kind regards

S H (I've taken his name out so people don't badger him)
Executive Office

Woodlands · 13/07/2011 13:35

I desperately need new bras - my DS will be one on Monday and I am still BFing (and hoping to carry on for some time yet), but only 2-3 times a day so I wouldn't mind now getting non-nursing bras (but I suppose they should still be not underwired - I don't mind either way). The nursing bras I have been wearing for the last year are greying and the clasps are a bit loose, plus they seem too big now. The bras are 36DD (pre-pregnancy size 34D or so). Does anyone know whether I can expect my boobs to stay this sort of size (feeding 2-3 times a day, milk supply stable) or whether they will shrink more when I stop BFing? I can't afford to buy bras that will only last for a few months, I'd rather stick with the grey nursing bras if so.

Ephiny · 13/07/2011 13:39

Interesting to see the reply from M&S - though they seem to have missed the point about using the outdated 'add 4 inches' method.

Original poster
microfight · 13/07/2011 14:25

M&S's reply has completely missed the point.

It's also fairly patronising for them to feel the need to point out that we fluctuate in size....really? I'd never noticed Hmm
However, the one thing that didn't fluctuate with their bra sizing was my underarm bulge and four boob look Grin

OP posts:
lolaflores · 13/07/2011 15:48

I got some very personal comments from the "ladies" at M&S when the measured me. "Have you put weight on dear?" and then proceeded to put bra's on me that obvs. did not fit but brushed off my comments. I think training is the key here.

TheDeathlyMarshmallows · 13/07/2011 15:50

I had pretty much an arguement with the ladies in M&S once. The bras they were putting me in obvisouly didn't fit and were horribly uncomfortable - I could see this but the tape measure told them it should fit so they were adamant that they did! I'll never go back there for a fitting.

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