If I go to Rigby and Pellar....

[Collection]

instead of M&S or Debenhams or somewhere similar, how exactly will it improve my life sufficiently to justify the expense?

I've been thinking of treating myself for a while. I've fitted myself using the guidelines on here but I'm still not 100% convinced I'm wearing the right size or that my bras are as comfy as they could be, but to kit myself out with R&P bras for all occasions will cost me £500+

I measure myself as 32C and wear mostly plain t-shirt bras that don't show under clothes, or sports bras (for sport!)

I could do it but how exactly will my life improve if I do?

I went to R&P to get a bra for my strapless wedding dress. I went up a cup size according to their measurements so was def worth the money in my eyes

I went to Rigby and Pellar for a while until their Brent Cross branch closed down.

Overall experience was very good, I was happy with the fitting and the bras. But be prepared to spend ££££.

Why don't you just buy a couple and see how you get on?

Because a couple will cost me the best part of £200!!

I want would like someone to explain how I will feel the benefit, compared to my MN fitting and 2 for £20 M&S bras.

I've done M&S (terrible) and R&P (better, but not perfect).

Can I suggest John Lewis? They have a much bigger range of bras than R&P because they stock loads of brands, and their fitters are really well trained...it's not just the random woman in the changing rooms with a tape measure approach that M&S seem to employ.

Whilst JL bras are more expensive than M&S (around £20/25 upwards) they're nowhere near as eye-watering as the R&P ones. And fit just as well, if not better because they will happily spend an hour bringing you 30 different styles and sizes whilst you figure out what is best for you.

Best bra-buying in the world ever is at Selfridges, London but that's a pain in the arse for most people to get to (and more expensive than JL...) but even bigger selection and, again, really well trained fitters.

There is a half way house between M & S and R & P.

I wouldn't touch M & S with a bargepole but Bravissimo and John Lewis do good bras for much cheaper than R & P.

I sort of self fitted myself recently in John Lewis. Having been fitted at R & P and Bravissimo in the past I knew what I was looking for.

X post filly!

My r+ p bra stretched very quickly.
Cost me £90

My bravissimo one fits just as well

You can just get fitted there without buying.
I have.

Great minds Dancergirl

Collection if you can get to a JL, phone in advance and book a fitter. They're really great and not at all pushy - oh, that was one thing I really didn't like in R&P: once they had spent 30 mins fitting me, I didn't feel like I could leave without buying something. In JL, they aren't on commission so there's no pressure.

I love Bravissimo bras, but not their fitters at the shops. I'm a 32E. JL tell me I'm a 32E. When I follow the rules myself I'm a 32E. Selfridges tell me I'm a 32E. Even R&P tell me I'm a 32E.

Fenwicks tell me I'm a 34DD, but I was for most of my life, so I'll take that.

M&S said I was a 36B

Bravissimo told me I was a 30F in their Cambridge store.

And a 28H in London.

And then last time they simply couldn't decide. I wasn't too impressed.

But their web site is brilliant, so now I tend to get measured at JL and get basics from there, then buy more from Bravissimo over time as they have the same styles but more colours/bigger range.

My R&P basic bras have lasted a long time. It's the one girly thing I ever did and only because it was my wedding coming up. Everything moved 2 inches up. Tops fitted better. I felt better about my boobs. Improved my low confidence.

If you go once and buy one or two to give you an idea of what feels right then you can go elsewhere to supplement.

I have a slight funnel chest so it confuses poorly trained fitters I realised after R&P had got me sorted.

Ah, thank you, I will try JL

Think it depends how much you need good support. I'm fuller in the chest area and really need a well fitting bra. I'd much rather have 2 well fitted bras from R&P than 8 which don't fit right from M&S. I've also tried a triumph store but didn't find their fitting that great. R&P I've had mixed experiences from - when I get a good fitter they give me ace bras but I have been completely mismeasured there too.

That's what worries me Reastie. If I/they get in wrong in M&S it costs me £20, if the same happens in R&P it will cost me a month's groceries!

If it helps my mismeasured issue was only with one specific member of staff at my local R&P whom I haven't seen there for ages so I can only assume she's no longer there. Maybe there's someone here who can recommend the name of a fitter at your local one wherever that is and you can ring up to make an appointment specifically with them?

Another vote for JL or bravissimo, R & P are bloody expensive and you can find their bras cheaper online.

I have to say, I wasn't that impressed with Rigby's fitting. I went there looking a strapless bra to go with my wedding dress a few months ago. I already knew what size I was and the lady there agreed, but they didn't do a bra band narrow enough. I needed a 30G, so not that narrow and plenty of options in bravissimo.

Rugby didn't have a 30 band in strapless bras, but said I could buy a 32F for £95(!!!!!!) and then they could have it adjusted to make it small enough in the back. When I enquired if this service was free, I was told it would cost me £25 on top of the cost of the bra.

So £120 for a bra that wasn't even a perfect fit! Sod that for a game of soldiers!! So I bought one online from Figleaves in the end for about £30, in the right size and it works perfectly.

So I would suggest a fitting in JL or bravissimo to get the right size, and then look online on the Figleaves website, 'The Bra Stop' website and bravissimo website. If you know the style, size and brand that you like, you can also buy bras from amazon for a fraction of the price too.

I'm going to stick my neck out here and say that if you're a 32C you won't be suffering the nork misery of poor-fitting bras that afflicts the ginormously-knockered among us.

This said: two of my worst ever bra fitting experiences (I'm normally a 32G) were at Bravissimo and Rigby and Peller. SAs in both places sneered at my enormity: at Bravissimo I was pregnant and a J cup, and she clearly regarded me as a circus freak; at R + P I needed a strapless bra for my wedding and was treated like a total pariah. When I went to John Lewis for a nursing bra (having really had to screw up my courage to face a human) they were entirely nice and helpful.

I have absolutely refused to buy anything from either emporium ever since - particularly Bravissimo, given that their USP is supposed to be fitting large cup sizes. I now either order online from Figleaves and return anything that doesn't fit, or go to a wonderful independent shop in Dorchester called Mirari (even though I live in London).

And one final comment: all bras are different so being told that you're two different sizes isn't necessarily the fault of the person measuring you. Lovely Shirley in Dorchester doesn't measure anyone, but gives you bras to try until you find the right one.

Wow cashmere I was fitted for a strapless bra for my wedding dress and it was about £35.

The problem with knowing what size you are is the sizes come up so differently between brands, which is why I like that R&P actually fit you not just give you a size and leave you to it (which is my experience at JL). Have had a good experience at bravissimo but alas none near me

Do you have any local independents near you? Might be worth a try.

You're a very standard size so there's no reason why you'd need to shell out ££££ for a specialist service. A John Lewis fitter will give you a choice of lovely well-fitting bras - £40 quid tops.

Have had my R&P bras for ages but have to admit that they were expensive. Before going though I was 36 B but after they measured -34 E

Have you got an independent near you?

I can recommend one in Tring, Herts.

I like Panache brand.

I also think they may not have what you want style wise. When I went in to R&P I wanted a white bra. Fairly simple but to wear under T=shirts to give me an amazing shape. They only had "fuss and frills". Very little white. Lots of cream. And lots of bright colours. Were beautiful but utterly useless for under white/light Ts.