To expect to actually be measured for a bra fitting?

[CaptainCabinets]

I booked a bra fitting at M&S today as I’ve just finished 13 months of breastfeeding and have also lost a little weight (only about a stone) so my old bras no longer fit properly. For context, I wore a 34G (properly measured and fitted) prior to pregnancy/breastfeeding/weight loss. The band still fits properly but the cup is now too large, so I guesstimated I’d be around a 34E-F these days.

I arrived for my bra fitting, expecting the fitter to have a tape measure to measure me, but she said she ‘just goes by eye’ and that she guessed I would be a 42C based on my shape. She brought a 42C into the fitting room and, predictably, it did not fit me at all. I explained I’d been a 34G previously and she actually laughed at me and said there was no way a 34 band would fit me.

She went to get a 42D and I scarpered from the fitting room while she was out because I had no confidence in her fitting ability and felt completely humiliated after she had laughed at me. Is ‘going by eye’ the norm for M&S bra fitting now?! I could do that my bloody self!

So what are you supposed to do with a girl who needs her first bra? Surely she will need measured at some point?!

A good fitter won’t need to measure, but would if absolutely necessary.

Bravissimo do have tape measure in their changing rooms. Neither of my DDs have ever been physically measured though - always fitted by eye. However, they were both happy to try bras on and let the fitter check how they fitted. If they weren’t comfortable with that measuring at home and then trying on may be better.

Just use a tape measure.... Get a ball park

Also learn what a good fitting bra looks like.

No, it’s because M&S consistently - and needlessly - add six inches to the back band measurement. It’s their policy. So yes, they are consistently awful, across all branches.

yes M&S believes if you measure 31 you should wear a size 36 bra. That's how they train their fitters.

I read all these messages. But I have tried 4 or more times to buy bravissimo bras and they all fecking hurt. I am a 32ff in my non wired sports bras, but 32 wired bras hurt so much. Bravissimo have fitted me 'properly' in countless 32 whatever bras that hurt so much and even make me bleed. So day to day I wear a cheap m&s 34E that doesn't rub me raw or make me cry! The whole bravissimo thing is not a magic pill it depends on your body!

M&S are consistently awful, they tried to fit me in a 40H
I’ve just used Bella rose on Instagram, I knew my size but she was very helpful in up a cup, down a band etc for what I was ordering and I got this gorgeous bra
I’m a size 18 and people tend to think I’ll be a 38FF or something but I’m actually a 34L

Their bras don’t work for me at all. I used to wear Elomi but I’m sized out so moved to Polish bras
panache also used to work but curvy Kate and Freya are a disaster on me. Once you know a particular brand fits, it’s a lot easier. I know I need a plunge or balcony bra and never a full cup one

Are you sure you're a 34"? It's looks quite digging in?

The method we are now supposed to use does not work for me. Neither did a Bravissimo bra fitting. I had always worn a 36 band, but they insisted I was a 34. Far too tight. I persisted, but it left red indentations. Imo the only sensible method is trying lots of sizes on!

I remember that shop opening so am now clearly very old 😂

no digging but it will look like it as I have fat, so to get the support it’s going to have to squish some of that fat. It’s so comfortable I can sleep in it
a 36 rides up my back

Agree. It would result in a loose band and unsupported breasts for me.

Go to Bravissimo

Fair enough.

I go to bravissimo and an independent bra shop near me

neither uses a tape measure, I wouldn’t go near Marks and Spencer due to all the times I have tried their by myself, or with friends or with DD. The bras every time have been too big around the band

its fine if you want a bra for the look/price of it rather than the fit or if you are happy to just try a load on and ignore what the sizing says until you find a bra that fits

I go to John Lewis, and am not measured, just fitted by eye and try on lots. Happy with them.

I live in dread of it either closing or not passing on the mystic bra fitting wisdom down the generations.

Totally agree with the boob or bust method. I came out at a 30d and couldn't believe how bloody comfortable a bra in the right size felt 😂

I'm a trained fitter at Bravissimo & Boux Avenue and unfortunately M&S are notorious for this. As someone previously said, your dress size +20 is the band size to start with (although at dress sizes 20+ this starts to decrease in effectiveness). We go by eye, mainly based on your overall size and shape and then checking where wire/seams are placed. The underwire should sit behind the bust tissue, in line with your shoulder and the band should not be big enough to spin. Trying on a bra upside-down with the cups behind you is a good way to gauge the band size, it should only pull out 2 fingers width from the body. One thing to note is in 99% of my customers, they are a bigger cup size (often multiple sizes) and a smaller band size than they were expecting. I don't recall ever fitting someone in a bigger band size than they came in with and I've been doing this for 8 years.

I went to an independent store ( sorry no help to you OP unless you live in mid Cornwall!) & the lady didn’t measure but got me 36F bras which totally transformed me! M & S had me in 40C! I even looked like I’d lost weight wearing the right size bra. Never looked back.

@Cat4324Isnt it possible that Bravissimo sometimes measures small in the band size. I used them for 20’plus years but in the end at over 60 I became fed up with the over tight bands.

I think you're meant to bend forwards then measure ribs/ just below boobs, than fully across middle of nipples? While also bending forward? but then you kind of end up hoiking up your breasts with the tape. Or not knowing how tightly to hold it.

I don't find it easy to do alone. Also BC I still can't find a bra that fits?!

It could be that your body shape means that a snug fit isn't comfortable, if you have little fat on your rib cage for example it may feel too tight. This is one of the reasons we fit by eye not by tape measure, every bra will have a size allowance due to the fabric and shape so even though its the exact same bra, there could be a different fit. Just like all items of clothing, every bra will fit differently and while in an ideal world every 34JJ would fit me perfectly, sometimes a different size fits better. At the moment I have 4 different bra sizes in my drawer to accommodate for different manufacturers and fabrics and I will buy for fit and comfort not because the label says it's the right size.

With dd, I put her in one of my smallest bras (30e) and went from there. I estimated she'd be about 28 d or e and I was right. People think e is massive, but on a 28 band, it isn't. Especially as her boobs are much perkier than mine.

Bravissimo brought her a range to try on and checked the fit for her.