Bra fitting

Shewhomustbe...

Hi,

Apologies if there's been other threads regarding this topic, went through the first few pages but didn't come across one.

I need to get myself resized, esp after reading the Bravissimo page on FB, sadly though they don't have any stores in Ireland so can anyone recommend somewhere else that would be to their standard.

Thank you!

CK2010

a year or so back i decided to do the same- get fitted properly and splash out on a few different styled bras, t-shirt, everyday, special occasssion etc.

i had heard great things about marks and spencer so when i was in town i popped in and asked about the service and was told that it'd take about fifteen minutes and that the lady was already with someone and the service would be finished for the day after her so come back another day. i went to the one in blanchardstown another day and she measured only the band part and then looked at me and said i reckon you're about an A!! i was not an A! and it did not take 15minutes!

next i went to la senza in debenhams in blanchardstown- similar experience, measured the band and then judged from eye- again i was not happy with her sizing either so i went to the area beside la senza within debenhams- its like a mix of all bras-wonderbra, ultimo,etc. and they had a sign up saying about people wearing the wrong size and how they do a free fitting service so i asked them to do a fitting- they measured the band and the cup size- i was a c! and the bras fitted perfect!

i even went back to la senza and their C fit me so it wasnt a case of different brand sizes! i even tried changing the band size round because i was told by the girlin debenhams that if you go for a bigger band then the cup size will be smaller, but my band size was the same in each store!

i realise that this was a big essay of a reply but i just wanted to illustrate that even if you go to a specialist in fitting if you're not happy or dont think its the right size go somewhere else til you're100% happy because sometimes they're not always right. also,maybe try the bigger branches of stores- like with M&S, the one in town aparrently spent 15mins,the one in blanch didnt even last 5-she picked out two horrible bras to try afterwards which i didnt even bother trying. so shop around in places that are kind of known for the service as opposed to it just being available!

E.T.

There's a place in Dublin that's definitely mentioned in other threads, a few of my friends have gone there for fittings before their weddings, and found them excellent. Can't remember the name, but it's definitely in the other threads. I've tried M&S and Bravissimo - the bras I got in Bravissimo fit perfectly, I don't even feel like I'm wearing a bra half the time! They told me I was 2 back sizes smaller, and 3 cup sizes bigger than M&S told me! Disgusted with M&S because I bought a good few bras there when they measured me - they felt ok at first (because I hadn't had the Bravissimo experience, I didn't realise it was only ok!) but within a few days I had the usual straps niggling, back too loose etc.

lainey316

Possibly Bramora or the place on tara st - intimate lingerie?

I usually go to Clerys or Arnotts and get an older lady to do the fitting. Used to go to BT but now it's all pretty young things I don't quite trust (possibly irrationally)

It should take a while because after measuring (if they don't measure the cup, walk) you have to try on a few brands and so on, see if you need side support or what style works with the shape of your breasts for example.

Personally i think M&S bras aren't great and the sizing is weird.

Novella

I got fitted in Arnotts a few weeks ago, and found that fine. However, I do still think it's important to try on a bra before you buy it, because I've found that a few bras I've bought in the size I supposedly am are either a little too big, or a little too small. So different brands can size differently.

Twee.

+1 for everything Novella said! I always go to Arnotts, and always make sure to try different brands as they fit a little different.

Loopie

Hi OP,

Agree with the other posters re Arnotts but just to throw another one into the mix, you could try Susan Hunter in the Westbury Mall. Personally I haven't tried them but I've a friend who can't recommend them enough.

L

PlayGirl

arnotts aren't doing fittings during the sale
So I headed over to la senza in debenhams, the girl measured my back and "judged cup by sight" . I questioned her on this saying it wasn't the right way to do it and she just skilled and nodded like one of those toy dog things you put in cars?!

xp90

<snip>

@xp90 - Please take the time to read the forum charter. Inappropriate comments like the one I removed are not tolerated.

dudara

peasey

peaches and cream hibernia mall brilliant small shop one changing room but worth the wait if busy

Shewhomustbe...

Thanks so much everyone for replying, really appreciate it.

I was measured a few years ago but seemingly you need to keep getting yourself resized! I live in the Midlands so thought to myself instead of playing the I'll try a bunch of places and see what the consensus is I'd see where got the best review/s.

(I am curious as to what the inappropriate comment was!!! :eek:)

Twee.

Shewhomustbe... wrote: »

Thanks so much everyone for replying, really appreciate it.

I was measured a few years ago but seemingly you need to keep getting yourself resized! I live in the Midlands so thought to myself instead of playing the I'll try a bunch of places and see what the consensus is I'd see where got the best review/s.

(I am curious as to what the inappropriate comment was!!! :eek:)

Definitely! I've been three sizes in the last two years!

ABajaninCork

I usually wait until I go home and get fitted by Bravissimo then. I find M & S and Debs to be crap at fitting, and living in Cork, I don't know of any decent fitters here. I was once told by a M & S consultant I was a 38A!! :eek: I've never been an 'A' cup in my life!

I've gone up as much as two cup sizes before, so I generally get myself fitted at least once a year. It's a shame Bravissimo don't have stores in Ireland. They are excellent and really know their stuff. I've even been fitted over the phone as I'd lost weight and wasn't sure of my size. They were spot on!

If anyone knows of a decent bra fitter in Cork, then I'd love to know.

ABajaninCork

PlayGirl wrote: »

arnotts aren't doing fittings during the sale
So I headed over to la senza in debenhams, the girl measured my back and "judged cup by sight" . I questioned her on this saying it wasn't the right way to do it and she just skilled and nodded like one of those toy dog things you put in cars?!

The girl in La Senza is probably right. Nobody uses a tape measure to fit bras any more and do it by sight (Well Rigby & Peller and Bravissimo do). You also need to try on a few as different bras fit differently even though the cup size is the same!

Shewhomustbe...

It is quite upsetting, and infuriating, that there isn't one place that women are able to go to for a competent fitting, esp when it is supposed to help alleviate a number of medical issues aside from making one look and therefore feel better. I'm on the larger side and there's nothing more upsetting then thinking you look good to find out after looking at a photo that your boobs were resting halfway down your torso.

@ABajaninCork; Next time your home would you mind telling the ladies in Bravissimo we desperately need them to open a store here!! I'll begin the email campaign

The Lovely Muffin

I went to Debenhams recently and found them good. Will try a few other places as well.

Does anyone know, do B.T's sell 30b bras? And in nice styles, not plain ones.

Thanks.

And by nice, I mean anything like these.

Twee.

In Arnotts the lady measured my back, and then I told her what cup I was currently wearing she then judged by sight. She was spot on, and then augmented this for a different brands, knowing that one was a smaller fit. That shows good experience and product knowledge in my opinion.
Purple Bobbin, you best bet is to just go in and see. They stock so many brands in there, you're bound to find something!

sam34

i've found bramora on earlsfort terrace to be the best. they cater for those of us with bigger boobs, both big cup sozes, big back sizes or a combo of both.

very patient, and know their stock inside out.

terlywerly

Its really hard to get a proper fitting done in this country, so many people are going around wearing the wrong size! I buy all my bras from Bravissimo and find their customer service spot on. One of the times I was buying a few bras and rang to ask them about sizes and styles and they could tell me comparisons between different styles and whether to go up or down a cup size or back size in them, and 99% of the time what they say is spot on for me, and of course you can always return them (no I don't work for them ). Another time the girl on the phone advised me on how to measure myself and I have to say it was pretty spot on too.
My mother has started buying from them as well. She always bought a 38D or DD and I kept telling her it was completely wrong. She is now in a perfectly fitting 36F. One day I went into 3 local stores to be fitted and was given 3 completely different (and wrong) sizes
And +1 on M&S and their weird fitting sizes (when they used to fit me...) <sigh>

pow wow

ABajaninCork wrote: »

I usually wait until I go home and get fitted by Bravissimo then. I find M & S and Debs to be crap at fitting, and living in Cork, I don't know of any decent fitters here. I was once told by a M & S consultant I was a 38A!! :eek: I've never been an 'A' cup in my life!

+1 - M&S told me I was an F cup when I'm a D at most on a chubby day :rolleyes: I'd trust myself, a measuring tape and an afternoon in a changing room more than the 'fitters' I've met in Cork so far.

travellingbid

Can anyone recommend anywhere in Galway for fitting?
Last time I went I was in Dublin and went to M&S and Debenhams and neither got it right.
M&S too big in back size and Debenhams completely wrong.

serenacat

I tried debenhams didnt find them great. I found the women in La Senza better and she picked which bra style suited me best etc. I don't like the bras in debenhams they are itchy and unflattering.

I often measure myself once you learn how to do it it can be much better than getting a professional if I tbink i have changed and i measure myself i can try the new size and see myself and get a 2nd opinion if i need to.

here are some useful links for measuring yourself and knowing when the bra is too small or too big, the second is a bra calculator.

http://www.oxendales.ie/shop/page?cm_re=OXI%20homepage-_-S3-_-Bra%20Fitting%20Guide&pageId=2425
http://www.newarabia.net/bra_calculator_bra_help.php

Shewhomustbe...

Thanks for the links serenacat, I'm going to see how I get on with them.
Had a look at Bramora's website, they look like they know their stuff, course one can never tell.

perri winkles

Where is this bravissimo? Never heard of it

In desperate need of a measurement, havn't gotten one since my last terrible experience with M and S.

Told the woman that I had gained a little weight over the few months, and felt I had gone up a cup size (was 36C). She then loudly exclaimed that "I must have put on ALOT of weight", because I was now a 40B :mad:
I was mortified she practically shouted it and I just put back on my clothes and got out of there as fast as I could!!

Havn't gotten measured since

terlywerly

perri winkles wrote: »

Where is this bravissimo? Never heard of it

www.bravissimo.com
They start at either a D or DD cup (I can't remember) but they have a really good advice section for fitting and tips on getting the right size!

CK2010

Twee. wrote: »

In Arnotts the lady measured my back, and then I told her what cup I was currently wearing she then judged by sight. She was spot on, and then augmented this for a different brands, knowing that one was a smaller fit. That shows good experience and product knowledge in my opinion.

see if you could trust that in every case that this was a sign of experience and product knowledge then i'd have no problem but i found that i could do a better job at judging by sight. i just felt that it was a young woman who was told that it was no longer appropriate to measure the cup so she'd have to judge by sight regardless of whether or not she had the ability to do so properly.

there is also the issue that if the person is wearing the wrong size bra (hence the need for a fitting in the first place) then her boobs are going to look different in shape and size than they would in a proper fitting bra, i know if i wear a bra thats a bit tight it sometimes acts like a push up but i also have another one thats a perfect size and because of the style it makes them look non existant!

it takes an experienced person to judge by sight imo and most stores nowadays, unless they're a specialist store (and even in some cases not), just have a woman thats given a half hour training session and a measuring tape and called a specialist in fitting. at least when they were measuring the cup there was less chance of error

The Cool

I got fitted in La Senza in Derry and I found them very good. She measured my band and told me I'd been wearing two sizes smaller than I should have. Then she asked me what cup size I'd been wearing - an E - so she went and got a variety of cup sizes and styles for me to try, from DD-FF. Left feeling happy with it, and with new bras that felt more comfortable than any I'd had before.

+1 on those comments about M&S fitting weird. They don't fit me right at all, tried on my size not so long ago and found that I had double-boob, AND big gaps at the side of the bra, very strange! Their band size seemed to big, or stretchy or something, as well.

E.T.

perri winkles wrote: »

Where is this bravissimo? Never heard of it

In desperate need of a measurement, havn't gotten one since my last terrible experience with M and S.

Told the woman that I had gained a little weight over the few months, and felt I had gone up a cup size (was 36C). She then loudly exclaimed that "I must have put on ALOT of weight", because I was now a 40B :mad:
I was mortified she practically shouted it and I just put back on my clothes and got out of there as fast as I could!!

Havn't gotten measured since

I went in there cos I'd lost weight, had been a 38C so was expecting to be around a 36D. The woman told me I was a 40C - turned out I'm 36E/38DD depending on the brand. Won't be going back to M&S for bras or measuring again.

The Lovely Muffin

Thanks Twee.

Do you have to make an appoint with Arnotts for fitting?

Thanks.

araic88

Haha I'm in shock, I've just been measured for the third time ever. I never fully trusted either of the other two measurements : 38B and "36 C or D" well my latest measurement....34F!!! hahaha this clearly isn't an exact science!!!!
I feel like I've just gotten a boob job Going to London soon, will have a fitting done in Bravisimo too - had thought before I wouldn't be allowed as I was too small a cup size

ABajaninCork

FYI -: Bravissimo stock from a C upwards!!:D