M&S bra fitting never again

[Chrystalll]

At the appointment the assistant asked me to take my top off and what size bra I was wearing, I explained I am considering one without wires. She brought the size I currently have and stood in front of me and said right with a nod that told me she wanted me to strip, I was so embarrassed having had breast cancer surgery in the past and turned my back to try on the bra she brought. It didn't fit so she brought a smaller size then undid the bra I had on and took it. The new bra was so tight I looked like I had another boob under each armpit, she said it was the right size for me. I am annoyed with myself for not speaking up and asking her to leave. This wasn't at my local store where I have seen the assistant step out of the cubicle for others and had expected the same. The last time I was measured in a local small independent store the assistant only ever came in to check how it fit after asking my permission.

Since when did female shop assts fit men into Speedos?

Now, there's a job- forma queue, ladies.

Being serious if you are gay and attracted to woemn then yes, you will look at their boobs.

You may not know this but psychologists have proved (!) that women look at men's crotches.

Gross, I can’t think of anything worse and I’m straight (I think) but men’s bits are revolting

Thanks for all the replies which I read with interest, it looks like we are all in the same boat when trying to find the correct size.

People always go on about Boob or Bust method or Bravissimo but whenever I’ve tried their methods, I’ve ended up being recommended a band that cuts me in half. I can’t be only one that they don’t work for. I want a bra that is supportive and comfortable, not something that’s going to leave bruises.

You can't see 'everything' when they are in clothes.

You might not know it but you will look at men's crotches, biceps and bums- we're programmed to.

Exactly the same experience here as well - I had dreaded the idea of it but it was fine.

Bravissimo only caters for D cup and above- occasionally a C but not many.

I hated the bra fitting I had with M&S, and hated the bra that apparently fitted. It was far too big. Went Bravsdimo a few weeks later after flopping around in the M&S bras. Lovely service, great fit, v comfortable bras that are supportive but don't leave marks.

M&S size: 42H
Bravissimo size: 38F

As a guide your band size is usually your clothes size plus 20 so you can go from there if self-fitting.

Most of the previous generation spent years walking around in the very limited sizes on offer so I thought I was a 36C in my youth, because that's what my mum bought me. I'm a 32FF.

Errmm, do you know any gay men?😁

The average bra size in the UK is 36DD, so they're not just catering for a tiny (or large) minority.

Yep! The Mumsnet way - a man dressed as a woman is a much more likely happening than a (creepy, unprofessional) lesbian liking boobs. 😂

Many years ago I was trained to do this in an old fashioned store. You need to measure, under the boobs and across the most prominent part. You need to look - some women are naturally set higher than others and have more lift of their own and so different styles work for some but not others. Very good, practiced fitters don't need to measure.

You need to try different styles, and sizes, and know your stock well. A 36d and a 38c are not as far from each other as you may think, but it can make all the difference.. Underwires can help women who are larger, but may be less comfortable. Adjust straps and use different hooks. Extenders and pads exist for a reason. Scrappy bits of lace are fine for the small and/or youthful. For larger and older women, some solid corsetry can be very good.

Make sure everything sits in comfortably with a little room, but not much. Nothing should be bulging out, particularly under the arms - get the client to hold her arms out to the sides.

You should never, never do anything the client is uncomfortable with, and watch her body language as many women will say nothing even if quite unhappy. If she does not want you in the room, gently explain it is better if you can see her naked, or at least in the bra she arrived in, but never insist and deal with it as best you can. Asking her to put a light top on without a bra can relieve some anxiety. Leave while she is changing unless she asks for your help.

Is that a euphemism 😀

If they had a nice figure I certainly would. Not so much if the Speedos in question were complemented by skinny legs and a beer belly.

I had a rubbish bra fitting in Bravissimo. I normally wear a 36DD or 38D depending on the make, but the Bravissimo fitter insisted I was a 34F. I made the mistake of buying two bras on the spot. But even though I could tolerate them in the shop, over a full day's wear I found they were so uncomfortable I couldn't wear them. I couldn't breathe in them, they were suffocating. I have never gone back there.

In other weird experience, I recently started wearing non-wired bras. Some of these don't come in normal sizes but are marked size 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 and they give a self-measurement system to guide you as to which to order. I did their measurement system and it came out with a size 2, which I knew was going to be too small. So I ordered size 4 and it fit perfectly.

I find the whole bra sizing thing a load of nonsense and I wish some clever person would sort it out once and for all so that we all stop wasting money and time.

That's news to me. Maybe it's gone up .

They did establish themselves as a company for larger boobs- that's their USP.

I know lots of small busted women (friends).

If they've measured you, your band size could be a 28 or 30, cup size it's hard to know really.

Cup size isn't a static thing so an E cup on a 30 band won't be the same volume as an E cup on a 38 band.

M&S measured me as a 34A, I used the Boob or Bust method after years of accepting M&S must be right and came out as a 30F. Tried a few different brands & styles and finally found some in the boob or bust size that fit brilliantly (as well as giving me proper boobs).

Guess you have not seen David Gandy in a pair of speedos then!! 😎😍

I find that M&S fit well, maybe because I have a large rib cage, 35" so wear a 36C

As others have suggested, try Boob or Bust. I was measured as 34C by M&S. Measured myself at home and I'm actually a 30F. Bought a cheap bra from Primark to give it a try and it fits perfectly. The band did feel tight at first but only because I was used to the oversized M&S bra! Felt fine after a day or two.

I haven’t been back to M&S after my last bra fitting either. The bra she recommended was so uncomfortable, a cup size too large and the band was too small. She was quite pushy so I bought it but instantly regretted it, returned it the next day and now just buy them In Sainsbury’s.

Google abrathatfits. It’s a website that will show you how to find your size range. It has link that will direct you to forums who give advice on the right shape and brand for you. UK retailers and brands do provide a good range of sizes. Once you know you size it is trial and error to get a good fit.

once you get your size you can use the fitting services. Which should involve you trying on things to get a good fit. If they aren’t offering you sizes that are in and around your abrathatfits size they are badly trained or just offering you what is in stock.

I've had really good fittings in Bravissimo in Glasgow, I'd highly recommend them.

Also it's so shit suggesting that lesbians are ogling women's breasts when they work in a professional environment. I mean, does that apply to lesbian nurses, or other professions? You might find it funny but it really does cause issues when you make derogatory remarks about gay women. It's not funny and it just encourages other idiots to jump on the bandwagon. Lesbians are not the same as men.

No desire to see any man in his budgie-smugglers tbh