To suggest that M&S should train their staff to measure bra sizes correctly?

[quietlyafraid]

It would seem that rather a lot of women on here think M&S are rubbish at measuring bra size and that they are responsible for making many women walk around wearing the wrong size bra. Especially since they do not seem capable of stocking a full range of sizes, like other department stores. M&S always had the reputation of being the place to go for underwear, and its SCANDALOUS that they are not not leading the way in proper boobs loving support. If I search my size on their website, I am even directed to bras in the wrong size!

Being told to shove your cleveage into the wrong size has created a situation where women think they are a bigger back size than they actually are. They are responsible for making the lives of women a living hell and suffering in constant strap sliding, wire poking, saggy tits, four boob syndrome, falling out at inappropriate times or other such hardships.

I blame M&S and their terrible measuring. AIBU?! Have you been a victim of the M&S "just shove your bras into the wrong size it'll do" mafia? Have you got measured there only to find out you are a completely different size elsewhere?

Worse still an underclass of unrepresented women are being persecuted for daring to be little. The high street does not seem to recognise that 30 backs are a real size and thinks there is no demand for them. This is despite the fact that a size 8 loosely equates to a 30 inch rib cage. Most places start clothes at size 8, so why do most bras, only start at size 32? And just cos we are small back size does not mean we are all flat chested. We are real people too!

We are fed up of having to hide away and use mail order rather than shop on the high street which stocks next to nothing or is totally sold out anyway. We are fed up of being asked whether a 30 back is even a real size and we are fed up of having a choice of deeply unsexy black or white only by other stores.

And AIBU to ask you all people who got measured at M&S to go and get yourself remeasured at House of Fraser or Debenhams (Especially if you are size 8 or below to see if you are one of us and to join the 30 Back club, to increase demand so we can be better represented on the high street) and force M&S to change their policy on boob shoving and fudging?

First AIBU thread of my own. Hope it is silly and hysterical enough to do MN proud. Seriously though, is M&S bra dept rather shit or not?

m&s have their bras made in different factories so they come up different sizes and shapes

i always buy freya bras and think it is best to go to a department store or bravissimo, r&p to have a bra fitted a good bra fitter will not only know what size you are (usually without measuring) but also what make suits your shape they will also find the right make that fits you

if you have been wearing the wrong size bra getting one that fits correctly is so much more comfortable and stops your boobs drooping (mine are still quite firm i put this down to not only luck but always wearing a correctly fitted bra, my mum used to be a lingerie buyer and drummed it in to me how important is is especially if you have big norks)

i once got measured in m&s the woman barged in, she said i was a 34c, i was a 30e at the time i have sometimes bought bras there becuase they look nice and always been a waste of money

try this bra size calculator

anyway, if you were right, then the industry would have changed bra sizes across the boars, which they haven't.

Rigby and Peller have their own bra makes - they will make your bra to your exact measurement.

that might be how they do their bra sizes, but that ain't the industry standard.

Haven't been to M&S for bras for years - Bravissimmo for me too.

I'm a 12-14 but have a narrow ribcage so need 30 back, 32 is too big. But even last time I went to Bravissimmo I was nearly in tears because they couldn't find anything to fit. Worried-looking fitter says "I think you want a 30L " which of course they didn't have. And they always try to put me into their fave bra (Alana?) which I hate because it makes me wobble at the top of the cup is a funny shape. Fantasie are the only make that fits me properly, and I'm right up at the top of their sizes.

And the thing is that although I do have big boobs they're not that huge - I see far larger ones on women walking around all the time, so goodness knows what they do about bras!

I have found a vast difference in the ability of M&S individual staff and stores. Experience has taught me that if I am not happy to treat the advice as a rough idea return later and try out several around the size I was told I needed or to go elsewhere and try again until I get something that is comfortable. I have wasted an awful lot of money in the past buying the wrongly advised sizes.

oh, PS - the reason that advice might work is because so many women are wearing the wrong bra size, or thinking they're narrower than they are, it would make sense.
just like shops making size 14s an actual size 16, because women will buy the next size down thinking they;'re slimmer than they are.

it's not how it works in reality - a lot of bras are made with substandard notions - the elastics are rather crap, and have no elasticity, so that you can try the bra on, and it fits, but after a couple of hours, it'll ride up - it doesn't ride up because it doesn't fit properly, it rides up because the elastic is the loosest it can be for that size.

if you use proper bra elastic, one that has a good stretch, but is hard to stretch, then it won't rider up (nor will it dig in) - like sports bras do.
it also doesn't help that a lot of normal every day bras are made with such stiff fabrics anyway, and with their underwires and their apdding, which means that there isn't as much space to put the elastic - it needs to go all the way around the band, and it needs to be the same stretchiness all the way round.

and I can guarantee my 32 isn't loose because I'm measuring wrong- at the moment, it's so bloody tight that I can't wear it - and my rib cage is measuring 30inches.
(which is why i'm wearing 34s for the last part of the pregnancy)

and looking at their advice just down the page from that - how could your cup size have a negative measurement if you haven't added anything on?

their advice is good for fitting, but only for fitting bras with bad elastic.

bras differ greatly in size and shape

for me a fantasie bra 32g i am bulging out at the top freya i am not because of the different cut my boobs are high and full where some are less full and sit lower but we may still measure the same size but a good bra fitter will know what bra make would suit best

Rigby and Peller have their own bra makes - they will make your bra to your exact measurement.

that might be how they do their bra sizes, but that ain't the industry standard.

I'm the same size in all the eveden ranges (who own R&P and DON'T make bras to exact measurements), panache ranges, bravissimo, elle mcpherson, curvy kate, myla, debenhams own brand gorgeous, aubade, lejaby, (allowing for the fact they size slightly differently in france) etc...

Seems pretty standard. Especially since other brands just don't fit me.

I'd be interested in what other 30 back women have to say on that... the plus 4 - 5inch method is BOLLOCKS.

The other thing about M&S which I want to rant about. A few years ago they brought out a range of bras which were made very soft to cater for women who had mastectomy scars.

I have a big scar down the front of my chest from childhood open heart surgery (which gets sore and inflamed if an ill-fitting bra rubs). Went and examined these special soft-on-scar bras and they were just as hard in the under-breast band as any other bra. So I wrote to M&S asking if they would look at making their soft-on-scar bras soft on all scars which the bra might rub on, not just ones on the breasts themselves.

Got the usual "thank you for your feedback, which we are going to ignore" response.

I hate m&s sizing.

They measured me as a 42C. was way too loose round the back and the cups would barely cover me.

I then went to both Debenhams and Bravissimo who both measured me as a 38G/38F depending on the bra. Fitter in Debenhams told me that they have stopped using the 'old' style measuring of adding inches on as it gave incorrect measurements.

No. no no no. NO ADDING. really.

Nickelbabe, you say yourself that 32 is loose and unwearable when washed - it's obviously too big. If your ribcage measures 30 you should buy the bra in 30. the many hooks there are so you can tighten it when it becomes loose after wearing and washing - you should always buy a bra that fits when on the last hook.
I measure 32 and if I added 4 inches I should be in 36 - that's absolutely ridiculous, size 34s climb up my back and offer no support.

gordy try Shockabsorber for sports bras.

Whosegotmyeyebrows - actually I think it's more ridiculous that you believe whatever is printed in catalogues.

The tape measure method of adding 4 or 5 inches does not work - which is something I found out after wearing a 34D for years because I got my bras fitted at M&S via the add 4 inches thing. I am not a 34D. I thought everyone knew that method was a load of bolleaux?

Thanks HazleNutt. I was thinking I was being overly pushy about insisting saying she's wrong that if she's saying the band is loose.

You should be able to fit 2 fingers in the back and one in the front. No more. For a correct fit. It should be tight as the support is all in the back band.

When I told the fitter about the M&S sizing, she burst out laughing, especially about the cup size.

I am a bit on the large size

rigby and peller was the place that sorted me out years ago. But the last time I went (not the one near bond street) I was v. dissapointed. Gone are the days they can tell you size from just looking at you - this assistant asked ME what size I was. It ended up me trying on loads of different bras (them bringing me wincy little e cups when clearly I'm much bigger) to get my size.

Similar at bravissimo a few weeks back. Might try john lewis again.

it's not unwearable when washed- all bras should be washed by hand, anyway.

it's not too big.

my ribcage is 30" now because the baby has pushed it out - it's normally 27.
I tried size 30 bras when I was normal, and they were far too tight.

I have made bras to the a 32 using correct industry-standard sizing, and because I've used real, proper decent elastic, they've fitted properly and continued to fit perfectly.

If bras don't fit after a wash it's because the elastic is crap, not the sizing.

the tape measure does not work due to vanity sizing.

When I was 16 and a slim size 12, I was in a 32 back bra, which fitted me correctly.

Now I am older, and 2-3 sizes bigger, and pregnant, I am in a 34, which also fits me correctly.

Previously, at a size 12-14, I was wearing a 30, this was about 2-3 years ago.

The back sizes have definitely become more generous. A 32 from 1994 is probably a 28-30 now I reckon.

I agree that shops should stop using the tape measure if bras don't actually correspond to the size that they should be according to that method. This is why I go to bravissimo for fittings as they can see if the bra fits or not.

Hmm, I machine wash all my bras, and never had a problem with elastic after washing. Ever.

Strange.

you probably have good bras.

I have bras from all over the place - the ones with the best elastic after washing were Next - the cotton ones that have underwire but not padded cups.
and the elastic still works perfectly even though they're so old that the fabric is ripped and torn! (32c, and obviously I'm not wearing them at the moment because they're a) too tight and b) underwired)

So there are a few threads discussing bra sizing at the moment - my pet subject because I find it so bloody difficult to find a bra that fits in this country. I think it's because, like Iddling, I have a broad back.

So there seem to be 2 opinions on bra fitting here, based either on knowledge of the industry or of lingerie ranges currently available. If you are convinced your method works, I challenge you to find a bra that fits me...

I'm a size 8 normally but with broad shoulders, pregnant but currently a 31" back and 34" across the boobs. Of course, I will be secretly despondent if you do recommend a size/brand that fits because then I'll have no excuse to buy lovely (but expensive) French lingerie

Common theme among all those that don't like M&S measurements...

What brand you wearing plinkertyplonk? It sounds like a challenge!!!

DH is really the expert in our house on brands, sizing & fit, but hes away for weekend working (whilst ringing me every over five mins bitching about it! Joy) I'll ask him when he gets back if he has any recommendations.

I'd love to say he's simply a wonderful romantic who likes to buy me underwear, but truth is I know he likes to use it as a good excuse to perv on bra sites! (Now everyone will think he's a creep, but hey ho they don't know him and rather that than pr0n). TBF to him, he can size on sight and has helped out a good few female friends who have been very grateful to him and made a point of saying that to me too.