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Original poster

Bravissimo Horror, had to get it off my chest

80 replies

Hetaera · 05/01/2018 14:43

Today was my first visit to a new-ish Bravissimo and I wanted to share it as I am now blaming myself for being over sensitive.

The experience has left me feeing really horrid and upset.

The lady fitting me seemed annoyed I had not come wearing a proper bra (this was why I was bra shopping!). She absolutely insisted that I was a 36D or a 36DD if I was "lucky" in some styles. I was put me in a series of uncomfortable bras which gave me breasts in my armpits and rolls of back fat. The back of the bra was also riding up very high, which was odd considering the way it was pinching my flesh.
I was given absolutely no privacy, it was very shocking. No time was given to put things on myself and I was continually told about my asymmetry. She even left the changing room door open on me whilst I was topless.
Obviously, I decided against a purchase. I went and had a cry afterwards.
I now have a lovely bra from M&S in a 34E (self-fitted as I'd had enough nudity for one day), which feels very comfortable.

Should I complain or am I just being silly? I have been fitted a fair few times so I am not prudish or weird about it,

OP posts:
SlowlyShrinking · 05/01/2018 18:39

She made you remove your bra, op? What?!

OneMoreOne · 05/01/2018 18:47

Slowly they do sometimes do this IIRC. But only if you're comfortable with it.

SlowlyShrinking · 05/01/2018 18:48

Blimey!

Freshprincess · 05/01/2018 18:48

Definitely complain, this is he polar opposite of my experience, and everyone else on the thread. Didn't touch me without asking, left the cubicle whilst I tried the bra on, certainly didn't ask me to take my bra off. They pride themselves on their fitting service so I think they'll be very keen to hear about it.

Best fitting I had was in John Lewis though. This woman sized me up whilst I was fully dressed and came back with armed with tons of bras to try on. Her initial guess was pretty much spot on, cup size right, band size one size too big. She didn't stop till I was happy.

Coldhandscoldheart · 05/01/2018 19:08

Looking at the m&s k cups, they also only start at a 34” back. Bravissimo specialise in not only larger cups, but smaller backs.

Oblomov18 · 05/01/2018 19:13

Good grief. I'm sorry OP, but you are so right. That picture is truely awful, shows a bra that doesn't fit. At all.
I have no idea what this woman was thinking!! ShockShockShock

ilovecherries · 05/01/2018 19:15

I've been shopping in Bravissimo for over 20 years and I have only once had an upsetting experience, about three years ago, and I fed back to them. They took it very seriously, were very apologetic, and got back to me with the outcome. I also got a free bra, although that wasn't my intention, I really just felt they should know. So definitely feedback via CS on their website. I also started to take my DD there from her first bra - she has a lot of chest scarring after surgery and they were incredibly kind and sensitive with her - she's still going there now. They DO prefer to help you put the bra on, but I have always been asked and they have offered to leave me (though I'm happy flashing them :)).

PurplePoppySeed · 05/01/2018 19:23

100% complain, I shop there all the time and have also never experienced anything like that! They will take it seriously!

I have to admit whilst new bras should feel tight round the ribs (and should always be on the loosest setting when you buy) to allow for them stretching over time, your boobs absolutely shouldn't be bulging over the top! I hate the "back fat" look with new bras & spend the first few weeks stretching them out!!

Original poster
Hetaera · 05/01/2018 19:25

Ha, I love the idea of an evil bra fitting imposter! I'd much rather that than a lady who had no consideration for my feelings or modesty. If I had been younger, this would have wounded me terribly. Instead, the more I think about it, the angrier I become.

OP posts:
KathyBeale · 05/01/2018 19:27

I had a similar experience at Rigby & Peller about 15 years ago. The fitter undid my bra without warning me she was going to do it. I was so traumatised I haven’t been measured for a bra since despite being pregnant more than once in that time. I just guess my size now and couldn’t tell you what it was if you asked me now!

Complain!

ItsInTheDogsMouth · 05/01/2018 19:31

I've just been fitted for a bra in Debenhams in Chester and the fitter was marvellous. She couldn't do enough for me. I must have tried on about 15 different sizes/makes. She really knew her stuff and knew which bra was cut in a better way for my shape. She was very discreet and wonderfully helpful...in fact that reminds me to complete the online feedback for her.

Fairylea · 05/01/2018 19:32

Definitely tell their customer service people.

I had a bra fitted in their Norwich store that seemed comfortable when I tried it on but after an hour of wearing it at home the underwire was really cutting into me (I know sometimes they need “wearing in” and have worn bravissimo styles for years so it wasn’t that). The customer service team sent out a prepaid envelope for me to return it and then exchanged it for another style for me; no questions asked. I love Bravissimo. Sounds like you had a very rare bad experience!

timeistight · 05/01/2018 19:39

I gave up with Bravissimo in Leamington Spa. I never had a comfortable bra from them.

Service was fine though.

FairfaxAikman · 05/01/2018 19:43

You've had a (rare) bad experience and I would complain.

I will never go anywhere other than Bravissimo ever again - my last bra purchase saw me "measured" in Debenhams and M&S as a 40K!
I am normally a 38E but boobs have gone up due to pregnancy.
I was in tears at that - I had visions of having to phone Govan shipyard!
In the end I tried Bravissimo as a last ditch - not only was the woman lovely but the first bra she handed me - a 30GG - fitted like a dream. And there was not a single measuring tape in sight.

TroysMammy · 05/01/2018 19:57

Complain. I went for my first bra fitting a few months ago to Bravissimo and the fitter was lovely. I was in an awful bra but she asked relevant questions, decided what size I may be and off she went not before offering me a robe to wear. I was having a flush so declined. On her return she knocked the door and came in when I replied. She offered me some bras and asked whether I wanted her in or out of the room whilst I tried them on. I had no problems with her staying. I tried on a few bras and she pointed out the best and not so good parts of the fit of each one. My heart was soaring when I bought one that made me look and feel fabulous and that is how it should be.

Liz38 · 05/01/2018 20:01

Complain. I'm a massive bravissimo fan, never had anything like that and they need to know!

grannytomine · 05/01/2018 20:35

But they're two or three sizes smaller than other K cups because they don't do FF, GG or HH. I don't know about FF or HH but they do GG because I was with a friend when she bought one a few weeks ago.

treaclesoda · 05/01/2018 20:38

Sorry about that Granny, you're right. They don't do FF or HH though. Smile

grannytomine · 05/01/2018 21:06

Isn't that odd. I wonder why GG is so honoured? I didn't know about FF or HH, it was just a coincidence I know about GG but I must admit I sort of assumed if they did a GG they probably did FF and/or HH. I must tell my friend how honoured she is. It was a nice bra. My problem is more the other end of the scale, it can be hard getting an A cup that doesn't look like it was intended for a 10 year old.

I suppose fitting bras was a funny job for me when I didn't really need one.

I got a shock once when I walked into a fitting room with some more bras for the customer to try on, she was something like HH or J cup, and there she stood in all her glory, starkers. It was an education working there I can tell you. Old ladies with their corsets that they didn't believe in washing, I had a few funny turns when I was suffering from morning sickness.

TooExtraImmatureCheddar · 05/01/2018 21:21

I once moaned about a bra fitting I had in Bravissimo when I was pregnant on here, and lo and behold someone from Bravissimo appeared on the thread and asked me to email customer services to complain, because they'd like to sort it for me! I was mightily impressed. And I did email, and the store manager called me to arrange a fitting with her, and she replaced both bras even though I'd washed them in the hope of them softening a bit in the wash.

MiddleClassProblem · 05/01/2018 21:22

That’s brilliant service! When my takeaway was an hour late last week they didn’t offer me anything. Idiots.

TooExtraImmatureCheddar · 05/01/2018 21:22

So, the fit can be crap, but they will make it good. Try with customer services!

TittyGolightly · 05/01/2018 21:30

I suppose fitting bras was a funny job for me when I didn't really need one.

That explains it.

grannytomine · 05/01/2018 22:04

Actually now I think about it I was pregnant and breastfeeding twice while I was doing it and I definitely did need a bra then. Made me thankful for my A cup.

domesticslattern · 05/01/2018 23:15

This sounds very very odd. I must have been fitted in Bravissimo twenty times at least (have only shopped for bras there ever since the first branch opened- am a big fan) and have never experienced anything like what you are describing. I think once they put me in a too-tight bra, but only the once (and nothing like that photo!!!). And the etiquette sounds all wrong.
Definitely complain. They would want to sort it.