to think that a certain well known clothing store is crap at bra fittings

[RachelWatts]

And WIBU to return the bra they sold me in the wrong size without a receipt? It hasn't been worn...

I got fitted for a bra at said well known clothing store a couple of weeks ago - they fitted me as a 36DD.

I got fitted again today in a specialist lingerie store - they fitted me as 32FF - a bit of a difference!

Having an emergency bra situation a few weeks ago (I cycle to work, my rucksack packing had gone a bit wrong) I ended up in a local M&S as nowhere else was open. I was told there was 'no demand' for anything over a DD cup and anyway I could probably get by in a 36D. I am a 32FF.

Had to wear my sweaty mono-boob sports bra for an hour and a half in the office till House Of Fraser which stocks Freya and Fantasie opened.

I'm a 34ff/g when not pregnant (36j/k when I am!)

M&S tried to persuade me I needed a 38c.

I used to wear a 36E from my own guesswork which I thought was okayish, Bravissimo put me at a 34G and it was perfect. All they did was look at my old bra, look at my boobs and get me a new one that fit!

I wanted some cheaper bras though, so went to M&S and knowing not all bras are made the same, I got fitted there. They tried to make me a 38DD. A 38DD with the saggiest ever boobs, apparently. It just looked like I wasn't wearing a bra at all!

I wasn't having any of it and the fitter got super snappy with me for arguing, claiming all her measurements were right and I was indisputably a 38DD. I'm a size 12-14, and not very broad. I couldn't be a 38 back size, not at all! They should definitely do you a refund, even if just for store credit and you buy a bra in your real size.

Can you go to Bravissimo for a fitting if you're smaller busted? I've been told I'm a 34B all my life but it just feels wrong.

What size clothes do you ladies wear? Sounds like you are all tiny with giant knockers! Admittedly I don't like tight clothes but at 5ft5, 10.5 stone and a size 14, I wear a 36/38 band. Anything less feels way too tight. Wear a b or c cup too but don't think I look small, just normal

Lookingforadvice - I always wore a 34b for years, and wore a 36b after kids. i always thought I was pretty small chested. Went to R&P (in the sale): I am a 32d. I have bought the same brands they have cheaper online, and also been to department stores (incl House of Fraser, M&S) and bought bras there in my 'new' size.

I am a size 20/22ish, 5' 6", 15 stone and wear a 36 back (I am a 36GG). If you wear a cup size that is too small it makes the band feel tighter as your breasts 'steal' fabric from the band to try to enclose the breast tissue.

Missknows most people think they're a bigger back size and smaller cup-usually they end up being 1 or 2 band sizes smaller and many cup sizes bigger! The amount of people I've fitted who have gaped at me when I have brought in a completely different size to what they are wearing, and been astounded that it fits perfectly, is amazing!

I love seeing boob transformations

Size 16 here with 32 back

Thanks Afritutu. I think my only option is to just try loads of different sizes in the changing room, bravissimo are D-L and as I currently wear a B they might not measure me

Looking, do you have a tape measure? You can get a general idea of your size using this bra fitting guide and then you would know what sizes to try

Looking, a B cup means only a 2" difference between under bust and over bust measurements. Do you think that is likely or do you think the difference could be greater than 2"?

It's this 'I'm now a 24MM' thing that puts me off getting measured in a shop. In my experience, 38/40in bands feel okay and don't leave red dents all over me, so I don't want to be told that my big fat wide back and chest is only 30in when it clearly can't be. So I might be wearing the wrong size but that seems preferable to me than a size that sounds agonising

I was wearing 40DD bras but when I measured I was 37 under bust so tried 38 and 36 back sizes. I do have a couple of 38 back bras but need to fasten them to the tightest hook which is another sign that the back is too big.

Since finding that 36 back bras fit I have tried on the bigger backed bras I had and then wonder how on earth i thought they were comfortable. The back rides up, the wire doesnt sit flat between by breasts and I can pull it away from my body.

My 36GG dont hurt as they fit me and support all the breast tissue in the correct place i.e. not in my armpit!

picnicbasketcase honestly, the right (possibly smaller) band size with the right (almost certainly bigger) cup will not be uncomfortable at all. Have you tried measuring as per the guide linked to above?

Marks and shite told me I was 34C, I'm actually 28F! Nowhere seems to cater for smaller back sizes and larger cups though which is annoying, I end up spending a fortune in more expensive shops!

Oh yes - totally wrong. They measure your back and add 4 inches. So they are precisely 4 inches too big!! WHY?????

I had similar situation to you OP. M&S measured me as 36, I'm 32 (on edge of 30). She stood there all confused when the 36B that she had brought me could have fitted a small child underneath it when fastened on the tightest clips.

Their bras are good, but get your measurement in selfridges or house of fraser. Or measure it yourself. Measure round your body just under your boobs - that's the number. Then round your body but at the fullest part of your boobs. Each inch of difference is a cup size. So 32 back and 36 fullest is 32D. If you see a bargain on a 30 then go up a cup (30DD), go down a cup if you go up a size (34C)...

Took me a long time to get this right - thanks to Trinny and Susannah I persevered til I understood properly.

missknows I'm a 32G (have bras that fit in anything from a 34E to 30GG) and a size 14.

I've always had m n s measure me at 44f, always been scared to go bravissimo incase they don't cater for my bust

picnic my socks leave red marks on my legs. That's the nature of close fitting clothes. I get no more redness from properly fitting bras and often less, as they don't slip about.

ohdear they go up to a 40 band with a L cup, so no danger of that.

I have never had a fitting at M&S, but have had fittings at Debenhams. I found them to be absolutely useless. Woman took one look at me at tried to tell me I was a 40DD!!! erm, try a 38F love!!! slight difference!! She kept bringing me bras in that size, and surprise surprise, none of them fit!!

I used to get fitted at Camille (lingerie shop - we had an outlet near us), and they were really good. Got it right first time.

After our appalling fitting at Debenhams, my mum and I taught ourselves how to measure properly, and go bra shopping together. I personally find M&S bras really comfy, and quite reasonably priced for the larger breasts.....but as I said, I have never had a fitting there!!

M&S told me it's not possible for an adult to wear a 26 back bra
So my 26G bras that fit well must be imaginary then?
(By the way, 26G is barely a handful, but looks like a decent rack with a good bra)
Bossy Matron said I was probably a 32C, I declined a full fitting (I'm a size 6, could easily get a 32 bra off without unhooking it!)

Am I missing something here OP? If your bra was fitted in store and was the wrong size, why did you buy it? I would have told the fitter it wasn't comfortable for whatever reason and either asked her to try again or walked out without buying...