Went to Bravissimo on Sunday to get fitted....

[Birdly]

... and thought they were great! The fitter was really helpful, and from my vague descriptions of what I wanted she somehow managed to find bras I loved. She was very thorough - even suggesting that I try on the different colours I wanted in the same style, just in case there were any tiny differences in fit. She also stressed that quite often you need different sizes in different makes/styles, and I did indeed come out with bras in two different sizes. She didn't rush me at all, and kept bringing different styles and sizes until we were both happy.
I thoroughly recommend them! So much better than my last long and unproductive session in John Lewis

Think the big myth out there is that you are "this" size, it varies in different makes and designs and also over time/weight fluctuations. Once you know how a properly fitted bra feels you know if the one you're wearing doesn't fit properly anymore IYSWIM

I've had a good service in a local Debenhams too. I once went to M&S and they honestly didn't sell a bra that suited my nork shape nothing fitted properly and if it nearly did it certainly didn't enhance my fitting. I do indeed have wierd shaped norks.

I havent a clue what size i am

what do you wear at the moment, what is your actual inch measurement under your norks around you rib cage and what size tops do you normally wear?

a fitting for a pregnant woman is different from a fitting for a non preg woman.
is there any PG's out there who need advice? x

ps - can't believe this thread is still going!

well I am just nork obsessed

Can i just say i went to Bravissimo got fitted and was really happy with the service i got, however my bra's hurt. They are realy tight - which the girl told me was correct but surely it shouldnt hurt? When i take them off at night there are huge red marks?

perhaps you are like me, a 32 fits but only on the tightest so over time they get too loose whereas 30's are really tight and are uncomfortable but do actually fit?

You should have some red marks but the wires shouldn't dig in (had that in the past - torture)

This is all my experience I'm not a trained fitter!

I'd go back and explain. I bet they will refit you and let you exchange. Have you gained any weight? If not, no you shouldn't get red marks or pain!

Lizzie said somewhere that you should get red marks under your norks as they need to be tight to support, but not red marks over your shoulders????

hhmm i think i may go back in on Saturday and ask them - i havent put any weight on (if anything lost a little) but its all just so tight - i originally thought it was because my other M&S bras were just crap, but now its getting a wee bit painful and DH has commented on the marks.
Isn't it great to feel attractive hey !

the lady who said she is a 38c and wears a size 14-there is just no way!!!!

i am a size 20 and wear a 38gg.

i went into bravissimo wearing a 42f and the girl laughed and said 'there is no way you are a 42!'

i strongly reccommend it to anyone!!!

Nip do go back, perhaps you need to go up a back size and wear it on the tightest fitting, it should still be tight though, tight enough to leave some red marks.

Lizzz & Cargirl - thanks for the advice! Wish I could go to 'your' branch, Lizzz, but i AM near central London so I might go to Oxford Circus.

I get alot of customers complaining their bras are too tight and leave red marks.
You get red marks from your pants and socks, you should get the same type of red marks from your bras.
It does take some getting used to wearing a bra which is much tighter than your old size. But ultimately, once you have (hand) washed them a few times the elastic give out and you get used to it. Like Cargirl said, if you buy the next back size up and end up wearing it on the tightest notch within a few weeks you've wasted money.
Beauty is pain!

oh! i am so tempted, my nearest shop is 40 miles away but i am a 30 d and can never get this size anywhere.

lizzombie - oh great one - my straps are always falling down is it just my bad posture or is there something i can do?

tighten them?

or, if they are as tight as they can go, alot of shorter women find they are as tight as possibly as soon as they buy new bras. You could alter the straps by chopping out an inch off both straps and re sewing together. You will need some strong stitches to re sew though.

i do tighten them but i will tighten them again. the worst culprits are teh 32s i am forced to buy cos i can't get 30s

oh and thanks!

Mumsnet is just so fantastic sometimes.Finally plucked up courage to go to bravissimo as had been in denial for years re size of norks.V helpful fitter and am now sitting here in a bra that fits, smaller back size than I thought, but rather larger cup size.

Yeah I am going to do it too, hope to get to Covent garden tomorrow morning. Whats funny is that I have two bras from M and S in the 38c (which I do accept I probably am not!), and they are OK, but two others same size also m and s are saggy and horrible (and not old). But they do all have straps that feel too long and I am looking forward to having some cleavage

hiya i used to work in rigby and peller, glad to se bravisimo is doing it for the girls, cos i hated R + P having some sort of secret knowledge, even tho their bras are great, and they r very helpful. Its is so great to get women into correct fitting bras.

just remember, what you actually are uinder your breast, ie round the ribs IS you measurement.

Bras always used tobe measured by whatever cup you could get your boob into, ie if you had a large boob it would be put into say a C cup, with a larger band ie 38, cos the boob would fit into it, then u would end up with the band up round your ears!!!

Now band widths are getting smaller, and the cups larger to compensate, for bigger boobed girls who have little backs.

like if you read that someone was a 40 dd, and you can clearly see that that person is about a size 12, then in no way do they have a 40 inch chest!!

Lol Aloha! My bra rides up about 2 inches I think, but they always have, and I have been up and down the sizes...

Lizzie - I am in Brighton [blush}. If I come in and ask for you, will you promise not to laugh me out of the shop when you discover I am in fact an A cup girl?

Katepol - sure come in and see me! I am only working Saturday 10-2 this week as I have the IL coming down. Its mega busy on saturdays though. If you come in during the week its not so bad. You can book a 20 minute appointment on Saturdays and Sundays if you phone ahead to the shop.
There are lots of nice ladies who work there in the week to. Obviously I am the nicest of all of the staff though!
Please dont anyone ever be embarrassed about getting a decent bra fitting. Honestly, we have seen it all. In fact the only thing I have not seen is anyone with a 3rd nipple. Still waiting for that to happen! Plus, if we can all lie there on the delivery table with legs akimbo, then we can deal with any embarrassment of someone seeing us in our bras right?!