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.

Yes - and she would definitely be about a 28 back as I'm a 32 back, and she is much smaller than me! It made no sense. This was only in the last year.

We have a local independent underwear/swimwear shop and they’re brilliant. They’re so experienced they can size you up in a moment and provide you with a selection of bras in a minute. I’d never go anywhere else.

I was measured in m&s as a 34A. Went to Victoria secrets and Boux Avenue who both measured me as a 36D. I looked like a child in the first one!! 🤦🏻‍♀️

I had a bad experience at Marks a couple of decades ago. Due to the +4 thing she declared me an A cup (I’m a B/C) and insisted she was right. When she couldn’t find a single bra in the whole shop in that size that fitted, she said I was an odd shape.

i still buy their bras because i find them most comfortable, but I stick to the style I know works and i try several sizes and choose. I’d never have another fitting. It was too humiliating.

I measure myself and my daughter. Never had any problems

But not helpful if you are buying another brand stocked by M&S.

Did we ever find out what the (not so) obvious reasons are..?

I buy their bras as they suit me. Id never let them fit me though.

Another upvote for Bravissimo.
M&S was one of the worst fittings I had.

I remember a TV show where they discussed that and showed women doing it. They even fitted women with cameras not telling them what they were studying and these women were shocked when they realised what they were doing. It was years ago.

Every bra fitting I’ve ever had was so tight it left red marks. 36C was changed to a 32DD. Bonkers

I think bra fitting is in the same camp as "the magic of clarks shoefitting"
Go to a bra shop, marks, john lewis, whoever. Wear a black t shirt. Try on loads of sizes until you find one that is both comfy and puts your boob's in the right spot.
Ditto kids school shoes. I usesd to order 2 sizes and 2 widths in marks, with in store collection. Plonk kid on bench, try them on choose the ones that don't slip/rub and a bit of growing room. Return others. Get them to give them a good go around the house. Jobs a good un.

Years ago I'd an M&S bra fitter look me up and down, huffed and walked out. I think she was fed up with previous customers and was running late. At that point I should have walked out myself but I'd waited a while for the appointment. Another assistant who eventually came was lovely and helped with a correct fitting but I've not had a fitting since.

And I have a comedy chest. Bravissimo tried to sell me the tightest bra ever. And when I said it was uncomfortable I was told more or less that they were right.
I left empty handed

I thought Bravissimo were very good. I don’t mind the staff being in the cubicle but they did step out. Also, had a good fitting at Rigby & Pellier. John Lewis a bit mixed and I don’t rate M& S and don’t like their bras either.

So women who've been raped, assaulted and more need to know they are safe, they should have the options of no one in the room while they are topless.

It's not about being coy is it.

It's not like abused women get to go braless.

I’ve now got an image in my mind - a mash up of Father Ted and Benny Hill - of the poster’s friend chasing several scantily clad customers around the never ending M&S lingerie dept. to the tune of ‘Yakety Sax’!

🙄🙄🙄

We are talking about general bra fitting. Do we have to caveat that with an exemption for people that have some sort of trauma? Obviously, that’s entirely different.

I have to say the M&S assistants in the M&S stores I have been bra buying in ( all Dublin stores in Ireland ) are always very respectful of privacy.
I'm not sure I got the right size but they let me try them on in peace and always knocked on the door first to check, if they were bringing another selection to me.

This is an awful thing to say. You have NO idea why someone might not want to strip off.
Perhaps think before you speak.

Isn’t the idea of a bra fitting for the assistant to be with you while you are trying them on, giving advice, otherwise it’s just trying them on yourself?

I got left in an M and S bra fitting room for over 30 minutes once; it was around Christmas time and the floor was manic but I was enjoying the sit down, thanks Newcastle Northumberland Street branch, it's your own stupid fault you ended up with a queue back to the bubble bath.

I had a slightly better experience at Bravissimo bur Rigby and Pellet could only find one bra that even part fitted I thought they were over rated and over priced.

Every brand is shaped slightly differently and we go through so many shape changes in life, especially if there are medical or traumatic conditions involved I end up trying on loads of different shapes and sizes until I find one that fits.

I am in awe of a friend who is such a fantastic seamstress that she now makes her own. If I didn't have stupidly floppy bosoms I'd go braless - I really envy less busty girls.

You live up to your username I see.

As soooo very many women have experienced traumas it seems to me the default would be leave alone to try on, not assume it's ok to be in the room while semi naked.

People with AA cups, have you measured yourself recently? AA would mean you have less than 1 inch between your under and overbust measurement. quite rare.

Otherwise same experience as others. 'Oh, you measure 29, so as it's an odd number, we add 5 inches..'. The 34 bra was almost flapping in the wind, certainly didn't offer any support. I wonder how many bigger breasted women have ended up getting reductions, because they suffered from massive backpain despite being 'professionally' fitted.

Yes, I am a moustachioed cartoon villain 😂

Surely the sensible thing to do is say you have an issue with nudity before the fitting. I’m sure every single establishment would be happy to accommodate.