M&S bra fitting

[Poppyseed14]

I've taken the plunge (no pun intended) and booked myself in tomorrow to be measured. I don't actually own a bra that fits me well. I was unwell with costochondritis for about 18 months during the pandemic so I didn't even bother wearing a bra unless I was going out as I was just too sore. I've also lost 2.5 stone in the last year though mostly from my bottom half. Anyway M&S is my only local option for fitting but I've heard mixed reviews. Just wondering whether anyone has any experience of them as regards measuring. Do they do that add 4 inches to the band measurement thing? Am I likely to come away with a bra that fits or just another bra to put in my already full to the brim drawer of badly fitting bras. I've never had a fitting before so any advice is most welcome.

I tried the Boob or Bust method after reading about it on here, and also thought it was ridiculous. I’ve worn a 34A/B all my life and it came out with 32E which seemed laughable. I basically tried on multiple different sizes and have ended up in a 32DD, so I would really consider listening to what it tells you.

I'll remeasure tonight with BOB and make sure I've done it right. The only thing that worries me going down in the back size is that it might make my chest hurt where I have the costochondritis. It's right where the cups meet in the middle just where the band sits. Re bralettes I did buy some when my costochondritis was bad but I couldn't wear them because they felt tight on my chest too. I might try them again though just to see. I do prefer a bra though. A couple of the bras I tried on today literally made me breathless. Just because of the inflammation in my chest. Which is 90% better than it used to be.

I just discovered the Elomi Mathilda. It’s amazing!

I ended up with a fungal infection wearing those things! Never again.

Bravissimo do some nice sized wireless ones which do keep things separated, if the wires make the chest constriction feel worse. The cups are proper triangle shapes so you don't full get mono boob!

Please, i beg you ignore booborbust! Absolutely crap!

M&S staff are trained, you won't have to fully undress, they won't poke and prod you!

I used that website and it gave a measurement cup size G.... I'm an A cup and now have nice supportive bras with no need for extensions by going to M&S

Youdoyoutoday, she has already been to M&S and they were completely useless

I have bought some amazing and comfortable bras from Ms Pomelo

They have a chart to help you find your right size, and I have found that works well for me.

M&S staff are trained, you won't have to fully undress, they won't poke and prod you!

M&S staff are badly trained

The bra fitter at my local independent shop didn't prod or poke me. I needed to take my top off so she could see how my old bra fitted.

BoB is a guide only, but gives you a better starting point than M and S do. I measure 30" under my bust but a 30" band is way too tight for me so I wear a 32" band.

M&S staff get about half a days training, not the weeks of training and ongoing supervision Bravissimo and most independent shop staff have.

When I was a bra fitter my boss had trained at Rigby and Peller and she then trained me. As I said upthread I wasn't allowed to fit unsupervised for 3 months!

I've just boobed or busted again, trying to be as accurate as I can and I'm coming out at a 34E. Was a 34F first time. Still a long way away from the 38A and B of M&S.

I had a drawer full of bras that didn't fit me. I contacted Bravissimo via their online chat initially and then went in to a shop. Honestly OP, they were so helpful and lovely, the whole experience was great. I now have 3 bras which look really good as they actually fit me properly. I would defo recommend getting in touch with them :)

OP get to a Bravissimo. Or book a virtual fit. I used to work for them and the training is rigorous and brilliant. If you are a size 14 a 38 back will be far too big.

M and S had me in a 34C. I was falling out the bottom! Once I got Bravissimo'ed I now wear a 32F or 30FF when I'm thin.

I often 'offer' drunken bra fits in nights out once took know I can do it (grin)

You definitely need a larger cup size OP

I always thought I was a C cup and that’s what I bought from M&S. Went to Bravissimo and turns out I’m an F cup. The difference of a properly fitting bra is amazing.

M&S were terrible when I tried them. Bravissimo gave my daughter a fitting even though she's a c cup and couldn't buy anything there. I shop there regularly (which was poss why they did the fitting, although I don't think so). They're lovely, understanding and really know their stuff.

If boob or bust gave you a G cup measurement then no way are you an a cup.

What's your actual measurements?

I have done the Boob or Bust method and got new bras, after a few months swooping and scooping, bend over when putting you bra on so they dangle into the cup and scoop the flesh from under the arm into the cup my cup size has gone up a couple of sizes.
I feel so much better and supported in the old and now new sizes. A bit snug in the band to start but I have got used ti it.
If you join the Facebook group you can get loads of information from the fitting posts of others.
Certainly try Bravissimo and Boob or Bust.

M&S bras etc are quite expensive so make sure you try any on before hand to make sure your getting your moneys worth, I recently had my boobs measured and then purchased some really comfy bras from Bras & Honey. They have all sorts of types of bras to fit all body types, they have something for everyone :)

M&S fitting is notoriously crap but their bras are actually pretty decent IMO.

The best option is to measure yourself the BOB way and really have a look at what a good fitting bra should look like and what shapes and styles are likely to fit you. Then you can try a few bras on and adjust from there.

I measured 28FF/30F on BOB (and I have pretty small boobs- I'm almost flat chested without a bra but my boobs are quite wide and high so there's actually quite a lot of breast tissue if that makes sense). I wore a Freya Deco 28FF for years but when two of my old trusty ones broke I couldn't find any at a reasonable price.

I went to M&S and tried a load on. I actually came out with a 32E (which is a 'sister size') but it fits exactly like the 28FF, passes the band test etc. When I measure it against the 28FF it's exactly the same size.

An M&S 30 was too tight on the band test, so their bands are a bit smaller than other brands, so maybe their plus four works? However I think the leaning measure is what really makes BOB fitting work, then you really need to swoop and scoop.

So, if I'm making any sense, you could try a BOB measurement and then sister size it up one or two bands to get your M&S size. Eg if you measure 32F on BOB try M&S in a 34E and a 36DD as your starting sizes and adjust from there, following the BOB fitting tips.

Just read that you're a 34E/F in BOB. So maybe try a 36DD/E or 38D/DD in M&S and double check the band (try on backwards) and really scoop everything in there (plus I lean forwards when I do up my bra so it all falls into place.

If you get pain in the middle of your chest then a plunge style might be most comfortable if that suits your shape, as there is less wire in the middle.

M&S fitting is notoriously crap but their bras are actually pretty decent IMO.

That is certainly true for me. As a 32D I find that I have plenty of choice as well.

M&S are awful. A few years ago I had a fitting because if you had a fitting you then got 10% off any lingerie purchased at the time. They said I was a 38C and gave me lots of bras to try which gave no support and looked awful.

I’d already been to two other specialist lingerie places (one being Rigby & Peller) both of who have me at 32FF in most styles. Unfortunately at the time M&S didn’t sell wired bras in that size and the “density” of my boobs mean I need an underwire to be happy with the look. BOB has me at a 30 band but I do find that a little too tight.

The photos OP has shared of the M&S “fitted” bra just shows how awful their service is.

I have a little extra “menopausal tubbiness” on my back but the Fantasie Side Support bras are great for me and help contain the “extra”.

If you’re a 34 band size why would you try a 36 or 38 band? 🙄. That’s going to be huge in the band and not give you the proper support.

@Goldencarp IME M&S bands are generally tighter than other brands so it's not uncommon to need to go up in the band size there.

As I mentioned in my comment above that, my M&S 32E band is exactly the same as my Freya 28FF (Freya come up a bit big on the band so probably both are about a 30 band). The cup sizes are exactly the same too.