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

I find Bravissimo wonderful. Thanks to them I'm now wearing bikinis on holiday for the first time in my life.

Yes, they are expensive, but if you sign up for emails from them, you get first go at the sales stuff on line. Wonderful.

Can anyone advise about actually measuring oneself? I find quite a difference depending on my breathing. Should you be fully relaxed, breathing in or out or what? I'm sure this would make a difference to the tightness of the bra.

Breathing normally, there shouldnt be that much difference in the band measurement.

by industry standards (which are not an exact science unfortunately) your band size is under boob measurement plus 4 or 5 inches.

Bravissimo and figleaves were the first to move away from tape measures for fitting, but its becoming very widespread.

Best way is to put on your best fitting bra and look how it fits.

In general, US bras are more generous than UK and European are less generous.

Oh and the licence for rigby and peller has changed recently, so the style, fit and quality may change.

Rigby and peller just fit the bra to your back size, they dont measure, as you can put on one bra and it may come up slightly bigger or smaler than the next, just ike clothes do.

If you have bulge at the side and arent particularly overweight then that has to do with the depth of the bra at the sides, eg, the style of it.

If you have a full bust, ie an F cup as you said soya, and you also have a small band measurement, then the particular bra you were fitted with may not be exactley right, it may be the best they had for you, and it may take a little while to get used to it.

Saying that, justbecause soemthing fits you, like with other clothes doesnt mean it 'feels' uncomfy.

I dont know what makes bravissimo sell. I now go to debenhams to get my bras, and because I used to work in R + p, I know the makes they preferred to put women in, and the shapes. R + P sell all types of brands.

These are my faves, and I am a 34E, which is the equivelantto a 32F.

Fantasie, they have really good support, and excellent strap width, which id really importnat for keep ing larger cups supported. Fantasie were made by the same company that makes the off the pge R + P bras.

Freya, they have some wonderful bras, and particularly flattering are the balconette styles.

Some actual Debenhams ones are good, a few of their t shirt bras Are nice.

Prima Donna-- prob THE best bras for comfort, fit and shape. And they have some beautiful colours and designs.

Marie Jo, to for slightly smaller cups.
Dont buy bras which are to stretchy round the back, as they give too easily, and over time.

can i just add, that industry used to always measure under the boob and add 4-5 inches, just like marks and Spencer did.

thats why people would come out of marks and spencer with a bra that , yes their boob fitted into, but it was up round the back of their necks.

as i said in my post below, there are many more sizes now, catering for smaller backs, bigger cups, which is what was always missing form the ranges.

to anyone measuring, dont add 5 inches to your band width, that is simply not your size.

I must try Bravissimo one day - are they a national chain? [slightly dumb icon]. I have to say (not dissing Bravissimo iyswim) that several fitters in different M & S stores and Mothercare stores hve all made me a 32B. Unless they're all in collusion with each other, that's the size I've worn for the past 6.5 years and been quite happy with (previous to getting pg I was convinced that I was a 34b).

I persuaded my sister to get measured in M & S and they came up with a totally different size to the one she'd imagined she was (she got the boobs in the family). The difference when she walked out of the changing room was fabby . I also got my Mum to check her measurements since the last time she was measured was probably when she had her wedding dress made . Over 40 years ago!!!

macmama73 the online Bravissimo service is very good - and I think costs the same overseas as in the UK (they substitute the VAT saving for the extra postage or something). They're also very good with returns - you just pay once for postage and can return and swap for something else as often as you want.

If you haven't been to the store though, I would recommend that first - having them teach you how a bra should fit is probably the most important thing that they do!

I went to Bravissimo in Solihull today. Apparently I'm a 30F. I have always found that M&S bras don't fit well - and they don't stock a wide range of sizes do they?

Ok, so if Bravissimo is good for big boobs where can I go for nice, well-fitting bras for my smaller mammaries?

How small????? What is your rib cage measurement and what are you wearing at the moment?

Debenhams and other department stores should be fine it all depends on how good the fitter is? It needs to be tight and not ride up, try on lots of different styles etc

Currently wear 32b. Will look for tape meaure in my sewing box and report back...

Ok, 28 inches under my bust, 32 inches around my bust iyswim. Dress size 8.

What size bra do you think I should be wearing???

28d and 30c would be your starting point, if norks spill out go up a cup size

I would also recommend as you are of small nork like me to try the ultimo gel filled bras and similar - they are fab and can be bought in Debenhams. HTH

Where on earth will I find 28d bras?

check bravissimo website.....?

Oops .

Would nver have thought of looking there as always thought I had little boobs!

don't know if they do, you may have to put up with 30, at last a reason to be thankful that my huge babies have stretched my rib cage to 29"!!!!

figleaves.com stock 28 back sizes

Actually - one thing I forgot to mention is that the person who fitted me did not ask what bra size I was wearing - she just seemed to know (it was a 32E). She looked at me and said "Ok, this is not a bad fit but I'm going to try you in a 30F".

I would like to know what their training involves as they do indeed seem to possess magical powers.

If you order from Figleaves be prepared for shockingly bad service

Hi - glad that a couple of you got sorted out this weekend, soya tbh, 99% of women have back fat rolls, but its a trade off for having your boobs in the right place. People dont notice your back when they are talking to you, but they notice when your boobs are droopy. Its up to you which you decide you prefer. But start looking at other women in the street, and most of them have 'back fat'.
Electra - your fitter may have seen the label in your old bra thats how she knew you were a 32E?
We dont have magical powers, but we do have an intensive training course, work shadowing, fitting other members of staff etc. And once you have fitted approximately 20 women every day for a year or so, you sort of get to know which bras suit which breast shapes etc, and you develop an eye for womens sizes.
So - none of you were fitted by me on Saturday morning in Brighton then?!

Also, just to say, I fitted my SIL at Debenhams yesterday. They start at a 30" back and I found a couple of H cups knocking around. The selection of brands is great, and the prices are fab, she got a great one in the sale for £5 (from £24!) but...the lingerie department was a mess, and there was only one member of staff on, who was extremely flustered. The changing rooms were closed and the air con broken. It was not a pleasant experience.
If I was a 'normal' bra buyer, I would not have known where to start. Am thinking I may just hang out in the bra dept with my LO helping random ladies though, and eventually they may may give me a job there!!!

i'll look out for there then lizzzombie

ha - I was just thinking about you Cath!
how did the party go?