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.

I had a fitting at Rigby and Pellar (you know, bra fitters for the Queen) to go under my strapless wedding dress and she stayed in the room with me to make sure I put it on properly and adjusted it. Frankly I think that's part of the job, and like when you get a mammogram they have no interest in your chest other than getting you the right bra. But of course you can ask them to leave. Sounds like she wasn't very well trained anyway!

No?! I’ve never known a single woman, straight or gay, who wants to see women’s boobs for personal pleasure while at work in an entirely non sexual setting?!

I’m not even sure I’d be confident on the reason if you said a porn star loves their job for obvious reasons.

I’m a straight woman and I don’t think I’d love a job fitting jock straps “for obvious reasons” so I’m actually not sure what any “obvious” reason is…

I go to Bravissimo and have found the staff very helpful, went once to M&S and was given incorrect size info. Never again will I go to M&S for a fitting.

Yes! This! Boob or bust suggested I was a 28F, which is as far as I can tell a made up bra size they don’t make bras in, but even when I ‘sister’ sized to 30E they still didn’t fit properly, so here I am back in the 32DD I was sized in at M&S and I feel comfortable and supported.

What about 'boobs'?

When I have had a bra fitting the assistant always stayed with me, ensured it was adjusted properly and that my breasts were sitting correctly in the cups. As another poster has said, it's only like the handling for a mammogram.

M&S was the worst bra fitting experience.
I went in (late teens) and they measured, added 4 inches and tried to put me in an 38G. I expressed some doubt about this as it felt awful with no support. I showed the woman that the band was riding up to my shoulder blades and there was literally enough room to place my fists into the cups alongside my breasts. She kind of shrugged and said 'well, Ive measured, so thats your size'.
I suggested that maybe it was this particular bra structure and she could find some others I could try - she came back with some sort of salmon coloured Doris 1950s granny construction that my mother wouldn't have been seen dead in. I gave up, walked out without buying anything and got a proper measurement in a little independant shop, and have never been back. I only shop online or in independants now.

They’ve left the room for me to put it on then come back in to check adjustment and fit.

Agreed. Which can be helpful if you’re buying bras from M&S.

Wrong board!

I’m another that’s been to Rigby and Peller. Twice. No measuring, just looking at you without a bra on. She then stays with you while you try on and will adjust your boobs manually.

I think it’s a bit daft to be coy in a bra fitting. You shouldn’t have one if you don’t want the fitter to see your breasts.

My first bra fitting was with M&S. The bra they gave me after insisting it was the right size hung on me. It was so big that only the top of the bra strap made contact with my body

So similar to me. I wore 34B for years, and after DC, I thought I was a 36C maybe. Turns out I was, and still am a 34FF.
Bravissimo fitting was courteous, respectful and accurate.

@Chrystalll I once went to m&s and they used the wrong end of the tape measure and then insisted I was a 42 instead of a 32 or something. 🫠

Years ago I had a terrible fitting at M&S. She insisted my back size was 3 sizes higher than it was, and that I was a C cup when in fact I'm a DD. I walked out in the end. Absolutely shit.

That's an invasion of privacy really.
It's a shame you didn't feel able to ask her to leave, but I actually think you should have been asked which you'd prefer.
I hold no stock with M&S bra fitting after I went knowing I needed a bigger size than the D I was wearing & she measured me to be a B 😳
I measure myself now.

That’s weird @Chrystalll wasn’t my experience at M&S at all? She measured my under-band, measured across the fullest part and worked out the cup-size then asked to see me in current bra to see if it was fitting ok. Then brought me loads to try and only came in then if I sought her opinion?

I went to Bravissimo for a strapless bra for my wedding.
"It's got to be that tight to support you"
Needless to say I didn't die on my wedding day but it is not a comfortable garment to wear.

M&S had me wearing 32D for years when young. Boobs changed they tried to put me in an E which didn’t fit either. Tried various dept stores before giving up and going to Bravissimo (an hour away nothing nearer). Fitter was awesome and yes they do hoik your boobs as they need to check fit correctly. Was amazed, I had amazing boobs at last and was a 28G.

They are best for larger cups but I had no idea I needed a larger cup. They were great when my lovely balconette style no longer worked and my boobs looked like a sack of potatoes as they had drooped lol.

I don’t feel as if they fit you properly. I didn’t even fit into one of their own bras after being fitted there!
i prefer boux avenue or bravissimo

@Tickyandtackyandjackiethebackie, it isn't that the M&S fitter just got it wrong, by putting your daughter in a bra that was completely the wrong size. It's that they have a very narrow range of sizes (probably 32 is their smallest back size) and so they purposefully mis-measure you, using their own "system," so that you "fit" into a bra that they sell...
It's dreadful. And particularly bad for young girls, who often have smaller rib-cages but larger breast sizes, but are started off in the wrong size.
There's a reason why it used to seem that EVERYONE was a 34 B... everyone wasn't....
In fact, the back size mostly (not always - if you have a larger rib cage or a very small one) reflects dress size. So someone who is a size 14 is probably a 34, someone who is a size 12, a 32, size 10, a 30. My tiny mum, who is a dress size 8, had thought all her life that she was a 34A - which made sense to her as she is slightly slimmer than most, with not much breast tissue. She wondered why her bras slipped off her shoulders, rose up at the back, and why she had "double-boob" (when the cup cuts into the breast) and back-ache. Turns out she is 28 DD!!!!
I, average build, always thought I was a 34 B.... Actually, a 32 DD.

@Chrystalll YANBU but I am not surprised I went to M&S for a bra fitting and not only did they get my bra size wrong (3 sizes smaller than I actually am) their bra's are so uncomfortable and being on the bigger size I need a wire bra can't wear a wireless as I fall out of them but the M&S bra's cut into me like cheese wire, left red raw marks on me and they're bloody expensive!!!

I went to Debenhams and not only was the bra fitter the ultimate professional she found me comfortable bra's that were an instant relief because I had suffered with back, neck and shoulder blade aches from wearing the wtong bra size she also showed me how to make my bra fit me properly she found me two types of bra's that would suit my size the best and were very comfortable.

Also Debenhams cater for my size with plenty of choices even though their bra's are a bit pricey they're well worth the money.

Off topic, but I sometimes think I'm the only straight woman on the planet to not fancy David Gandy. Someone once mentioned that he looks a bit like Dean Gaffney, and I've never been able to unsee it.

Sending a hug to you OP. Sounds a horrible experience. Bravissimo are usually much better than this and I think they do all sizes. I Did have a horrible experience there once and I know how difficult it can be to advocate for yourself when you're in a vulnerable position.

M&S are rubbish at fitting and their range is crap. My daughter is a size 8 in clothes so a 28 back. They don’t have many if any 28 backs yet they sell size 8 clothes. Yet when measured they told her she is a 32 back. I could get my whole head under that band 😂