Help! Dreadful bra fitting experience has made me feel rubbish

[Jamoffmytoast]

This was in Bravissimo. During the pandemic I've been wearing more bralettes and non underwired, so thought now I'll treat myself to a proper one which will look better under a t shirt. (None of my old ones fit, since the menopause I feel like my size has gone up.)

Anyway, the ones she brought out all felt far too tight and like torture instruments. I said they weren't comfortable but she said that's the right size. Under my armpit was a whole load of kind of wrinkly overhanging flab, it looked awful. She (about 20) said it was due to my age. The lighting in there was really harsh as well and the whole experience made me feel bad about ever wearing a normal bra. I left without buying one.

What next? Stretchy bras forever or what do I do.

Thanks Twizbe I could get to Bromley so will look that up. John Lewis is a good idea as well to try.

It it was cutting me so it bled! How can that be the "right" fit. I'm a size 10/12 (at the time) 30 year old
That's awful!

I like Bravissimo, but they do tend to fit tighter on the band than most people. It's worth saying as well though that you could get an obnoxious fitter in John Lewis or Rigby and Peller, it's nothing to do with the shop!

I have bought quite a few soft bras from there, if they say it looks like the right size then you're allowed to say it's too tight, can I have a bigger band or whatever.

Elomi are my most favourite brand but they're hard to find in shops, I normally buy a selection online to try.

Personally I'm never wearing an under wired bra again. I've got a couple of over the head style ones and some that do up at the back, but no wires.

I went to Rigby & Peller when none of my 34DD M&S bras felt right any more - she diagnosed a 34F on sight and I haven't looked back. Whole experience was very discreet and polite and uplifting (hoho). It cost me a £90 Prima Donna bra, though, but it fits perfectly and just makes clothes look instantly better, in a way that no other bras ever have done.

Another vote for John Lewis over Bravissimo here. Good luck!

If you try boob or bust, be prepared for it to be very tight. I tried it, I measure 31/32 under the bust and thats the size they say I should wear, I wear a 34 and thats sometimes tight.

I go to rigby and peller once a year, buy one bra they recommend and then look on ebay for the more of the same. I try to buy a beige or pale pink initially as they go under most things .

Personally I'm never wearing an under wired bra again. I've got a couple of over the head style ones and some that do up at the back, but no wires

I can really see why. Feels like I need a bit of uplift under a t shirt though, I can get away with it more with jumpers.

I think so far John Lewis or Rigby and Peller have the most votes for fitting then. I did google the Bromley place that looks nice as well. I think I will give it another go in a shop. If it had dimmer lighting I'd prefer it!

The best place I’ve ever found for bra fittings is an independent shop that specialises in mastectomy aftercare and honestly, I’d recommend scouring the local area for one. She sold me a t shirt bra I literally could not feel and my chest isn’t small

It is horrible. Last time I went bra shopping I was in there for bloody ages, trying on multiple styles, sizes. Ended up with three, 2 of which fit nicely but one feels good at the start of the day but by late afternoon I went to rip it off and set it on fire.

I like some of the bras bravissimo sell but I can’t stand their fittings. They want me in a 30GG but I find that so ridiculously uncomfortable I just don’t bother wearing the bras I got in that size. I can appreciate they fit well in the sense that my boobs are enclosed properly and they give me nice shape but they’re just too tight to be comfortable. I prefer to wear a 34F as that’s the size I can comfortably wear all day without wanting to rip my bra off. I like Fantasie illusion bras best. That’s my go to comfort bra. I’m a size 16-18 but quite tall and 41 if that makes any difference.

The trend now is to fit women into the snuggest band they can do up, but I find v tight bands uncomfortable and so I usually wear a band size larger. You can use an extender until the bra stretches but unless you wear a bra most days they take a while for the band to loosen by which time the bra is on its last legs anyway, and there are other hooks to tighten it up, so I buy bras that feel comfortable on the loosest hook.
It seems to have gone from anyone over a D cup having bands riding up their backs because they had gone up a couple of bra sizes, to everyone above a d cup with rolls above and below the band as the bra is fitted so tightly.

I always annoy fitters by taking a big deep breath before I get measured. I need to be able to breathe comfortably.
Bravissimo bras are rubbish for me. The gore's always sit away from my chest. My last fitter there told me they had nothing in stock because my boobs are too close together but I should buy their badly fitting bras anyway.

@woodhill

John Lewis are always good imo

I'd second this advice.

Then go to TK Max and look for similar. Choose a time when you're relaxed and have oodles of time. Just try on as many as it takes I es.

NB: I hardly ever wear a bra these days, but my boots are fairly average. I appreciate that YMMV

Boobs...!!!
Bloody autocorrect...

I had a bad bravissimo experience too.
What back size are you? There back sizes are fairly limited (only up to a 40) and mostly the bras they stocked stopped at a 38 with few 40's.

I had high hopes but they turned out like other bra stores where they try to fit you to the sizes they have rather than the size you are. If you are a size they don't have much stock of then they will push you up and down the band size to match the cups they offer

They basically told me that of course I wouldn't get an attractive bra when I was so "large"

Made me feel like shite and I've subsequently found plenty of that style bra available (including in ranges they stock but sizes they don't keep in store!)

Sister size definitely. I am supposed to be a 30DD or 30D but I don’t like the 30 band and honestly life’s too short. So I wear a 32C and it’s perfect for me.

The one in Bromley sounds good. If you can get to Wimbledon Caroline Randell (who for full disclosure is my friend) runs a shop there and she really knows her stuff. She trained at Rigby & Peller. www.carolinerandell.co.uk/

££ though, but you can get her to fit you and then buy online (feel disloyal for saying that but it's true).

Sorry to others who've had bad experiences too. It does make you feel rubbish, and it's such a personal thing, they need to be able to work out your size but also to make you feel good, it's something that's meant to be nice, treating yourself to a new bra.

They said my back size is 30. Definitely agree there's a trend for back sizes to be going down, as I used to be 34 and then 32 and am not getting thinner

Thanks so much for all of these posts and tips, everybody is very kind.

I am in the South East and I went to a fabulous independent lady in Faversham if that is do able. I gave up on Bravissimo too !

If you’re Surrey direction at all, Victoria’s Little Bra shop in Dorking is great - highly recommend it. I’ve not had a great experience in department stores!

I've been for bra fittings at various places. But the one I found to be really helpful was actually in Victoria Secret. They were really great and I managed to get a couple of decent bras. It could be worth trying a different place.

That sounds awful. Bras are simple terrible to buy. I would suggest your armpit issue was as a result of the cup being far too small rather than your age/hormone production. Order tons online maybe start with the size that used to fit and go from there. Or go to Marks and Spencer then remove four inches from the band they fit you in and add a couple of cup sizes

Try moulded wireless bras, I get mine from victorias secrets. They are supportive without wires and are pretty comfy compared to normal ones. I’m never wearing a wireless bra ever again.