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?

I know it can't be - but if her back measures 30inches, then she should be.

I'm wearing a 34DD nursing bra today - I don't need a nursing bra, but nothing else that fits is clean!

and it doesn't fit on the cup at all. (the little part of the cup that holds the bra together when you undo it fits, but the cup itself is massive)
I'm only wearing it generally because it fits around my back.
and it's holding me up mainly by virtue of the back and the short straps.
son't tell anyone, though - it's breaking my own rules1

but i did get fed up trying to buy a comfy bra last time my rib cage grew. all the non-wired bras I could find had nipple seams. That's the worst design ever - give a pregnant woman who has very tender boobs a bra with a nipple seam - it's like putting a rotating sanding blade in my bra!!! ow owowowowowowow.
:(

Omg. I have never been happy with my bra size, but I've never found one that has a great fit, and have no confidence in stores measuring services. Inspired by this thread, I'm planning a trip to the Bravissimo store on Saturday...

I'll never forget the first time I went to Bravissimo ... M&S fitter had told me I was a 34C. Bravissimo put me in a 30DD. At first it felt pretty tight, but the difference it made to my appearance was astounding (as was the experience of having straps that didn't fall down constantly). Bravissimo have been great throughout my two pregnancies and through 3 years of breastfeeding (so far). Currently a 30G.

I agree about the difference to your appearance. if you are a big busted woman, getting in the right bra size thanks to bravissimo makes you look a whole dress size slimmer from the waist up. Also their clothing range is excellent (but not cheap)

YANBU. I found their measuring service to be total pants. She basically asked me what size I thought I was and then started from there. Brought me a bra in the size I said I thought I was (but since having a baby knew I now had it wrong) and said 'yeah that seems about right'. She put me at a 34B (size I have worn since 15 yrs old). Then went to Debenhams were the girl seemed to know what she was talking about a bit better and she very confidently measured me at a 32D. An independent bra shop put me at 34C. This was all in the space of 1 week. So I either have daily fluctuating boobs or bra measurers clearly dont know what they are doing or else have different criteria they measure too. M&S was by far the worst service though.

How long should a bra fit for? I spent a lot of money on new bras last year, or thereabouts, and they don't fit as well now. My breasts seem to be growing a lot of the time too [confused.

This is fascinating. I measure 30 inches round the rib cage (how tight are we pulling the tape measure for this?) and always buy a 34 (changed from a C to D cup post pregnancy after getting measured at M&S). I have just spent the last ten minutes at my desk trying to discreetly shove my fingers down my blouse between the cups without anyone noticing and can practically get a whole hand in, let alone a finger. I am guessing from what everyone is saying that I have this completely wrong.

I am definitely going to get measured elsewhere. The trouble with trying them on yourself, is that if you have always worn the wrong size (as I obvs have for years), then anything else is going to feel wrong even if it fits.

Where is Bravissimo in central london? Perhpas I need to take a long lunch hour.

it should fit for as long as it is comfortable.
I know that doesn't sound very helpful, but a new set of bras once a year can't be a bad thing.

My measurements are

34inches below breasts.
41inches across the middle.

I have spent hundreds of pounds on bras over the years and they never seem to fit for long.

And having it flat against your chest between the breast, is that still the way to know it fits right?

i measure 32 under my bust and 41.5 across, and wear a 32G or 34F depending on the fit/shop. I generally buy from brastop.com as they have bargainous bras and i like being able to try bra's on with various tops as different styles look better with different clothes.

FAB, I posted tests to check fit up the thread if that's helpful.

KatieMiddIeton Sun 13-Nov-11 12:24:02

And always buy with the strap on the loosest hook so you can tighten it up as it naturally loosens a bit through washing and wearing.

I will take a look, KM, thank you.

To late for lunch now but there is a Bravissimo in Covent Garden. I bet you end up being something like a 30E or a 32DD if you can get your hand down the front of your bra.
I'm a size 16 top and I wear a 34. It fits snugly round the ribcage and the middle bit sits flat against my ribcage between the breasts. This makes the bra much more supportive.

Bravissimo website has a fit guide which explains how to tell if your bra fits properly. The video might help people who are in the wrong size but not big enough for bravissimo range.

www.bravissimo.com/perfectfit/

Lamb, you've just made me choke on my tea with your hand shoving! I'd say you're a 30E if your D cup fits well at the moment. Ask a member of staff to quickly check the fit if you're unsure, but you're right that it's likely to feel strange at first. Good luck!

FAB, I'd say you're a 34F. The time that bras last depends on too many factors (frequency of wearing/washing and whether or not you tumble dry them) to easily say how long they should last for. I've found tumble drying has shrunk a couple of mine, but it might stretch others. If a bra's too loose and you have a tumble dryer, it's worth a go as long as the wires are nowhere near protruding from the material. I've found that mine last around two years, but I usually have about 20 or so that fit me. I don't think that's normal. I only have 5 now though.

If you measure at a 30 back or even a 28 back there is a compnay called Curvy Kate who start at a 28 back

I used to have a lot of bras but have cut down since I seem to be changing sizes all the time. I am currently in 36F/G. I don't tumble dry my bras but they do go in the washer in a lingerie bag. I recently bought a gorgeous basque but I should have got a cup size bigger and it is really hard to put on on my own. Cost me £35 too which could have bought a bra and knickers set that fits.

fab you should go down a back size, 36 is probably too big and therefore not supportive enough after a couple of washes.

A lingerie bag?! Oo la la! I shove everything in together and put it on 40. I can't be bothered with any form of sorting. [lazy]

Top marks to debenhams today. 4 32g bras £28,80

Reporting back after trip to Debenhams - they get top marks for their fitting service. Turns out I'm a 32B currently (doesn't bode well for post pregnancy!) and they found a few bras that fitted me that didn't look like mattress covers. :)

However I found their bras look a bit cheap and nasty - lots of cheap synthetic material, but I guess that's all you can expect for under £20 and at least they had a greater variety of non-wired bras than have been proffered to me in the past.