Bra fitting
I apologise to the men reading this, and if you are of the kind who can’t even look in a catalogue with bras in without turning a shade of blush, I warn you to click away now.
Have they gone? Good.
What is it with bras? I’ve been looking for a white one for a while now, but all I can find is black or pastal shades. I’ve got one bra which is my correct bra size…one…and it’s black so not really that convenient when I want to wear a white t-shirt. And what is it with finding a bra that actually fits?? Take today as an example, I went into a well known underwear chain here in Aarhus today, and whilst the service seemed good, the two bras I tried whilst looking relatively ok, actually didn’t fit, yet the woman was determined that they did. Thankfully, I know when a bra fits me or not, so it was a polite thank you but no thank you. So it’s really not surprising to know that 8 in 10 women wear the wrong bra size, when you have supposedly trained staff saying they fit fine when they clearly don’t.
I’m not loving going bra shopping at the best of times anyway, I’d much rather do it in the comfort of my own home, however, that only works if you know your bra size and it hasn’t differed since your last purchase. I recently ordered a mass of bras in various sizes, purely because I knew that my cup size had increased, but I couldn’t be sure by how much. So, out of 15 bras, I ended up with one! One bra that fitted, and worse still I am now having to wear E cup. It wasn’t a good day for me that day. Most women would kill for a big bust, me, I was more than happy with my C cup of years ago, then I went up a cup to a D. It was rocky times but I got used to it, as long as I didn’t end up a DD (E), I was happy. So of course, now I’m a DD (E). I’m coming to accept the change, that’s all I’ll say on the matter.
But with this change, I’m coming to realise that there seems to be a threshold with bra design; up to D cup, and you get “yes here you go madam, here is the racy, lacy bits of stuff you’d like to try”, however DD (E) and above and you get “here you go madam, here’s the support you need”. Don’t get me wrong there has been a lot of progression in design for the ‘larger’ breasted woman, and many stores have now cottoned on that us women who happen to be well-endowed, want to feel sexy, not that we’ve got half a ton of scaffolding and half your mum’s sheeting rapped round your chest! But still, why is it that I try most bras on, and end up having the centre panel reaching to my chin, purely because I need a bigger cup size? Eh, what’s with that? Not only do I look like, well, not girly or sexy at all, but it also is a horrible reminder of the style of bras’ my mum wears…and I’m just not ready to go there yet at 28!!
Ladies, are you perhaps 1 of the 8 who wear the wrong bra size? Check out http://www.bravissimo.com/perfectfit/ as they have a guide on what to look out for when wearing bras and trying them on.
langvang
paulathecatlady
marriedtoadane
I know what you mean! I had a bra fitting at Victoria Secrets when I lived in the US and I was wearing the wrong size. Up til now I have bought from there, online, since I know my size….. but recently they are getting a little tight!
By: paulathecatlady on June 21, 2009
at 8:35
yes, I actually lost a little of my boobs once I had kids. I was a D and now I am a C. I am actually happy with it cause my mom had to hav surgery to reduce hers cause her back was hurting so bad. I guess it is one less surgery I will have to have, although I would like to perk them up a bit. I have never had a problem finding bras though. Have you tried Wacoal? it is a US brand designed for fuller proportioned women and it is very well made, and attractive. Give it a go, since it is not only supportive but they are really pretty bras too. Good luck finding bra number 2.
By: Lara on June 23, 2009
at 8:35
Most women in Denmark appear to be wearing their bras wrong, with the straps really high up on their backs when they should be lower. Lord knows what’s going on with their cups.
If you find a place here where one can get a proper measuring let me know, I haven’t yet found a bra expert in DK, and they tend to give the wrong advice, I KNOW because I’ve been measured by The Experts elsewhere and I know what’s what.
If you want a plain white bra try KVICKLY’s range. There are no whistles or bells on them, and they don’t go beyond a D cup as far as I can gather.
Bravissimo bras are alright for bigger cups.
You can’t beat Rigby and Peller. I am currently yearning for their Aubade half cup here- http://www.rigbyandpeller.com/Designer_Bras/Half_Cup_Bras/sc1565/p5396.aspx
My advice for proper bra fittings and bra purchasing is to go abroad to the experts to be fitted. Denmark is not known for it’s lingerie. I’ve been trying for years to tell the women here they are mostly wearing the wrong size.
(Rigby and Peller go way beyond a D cup and they are the BIZZNIZZ.)
By: babsindk on July 16, 2009
at 8:35
I hear you Babsindk well and truely.
It was only last month that we were sat outside an icecream place in Horsens and I saw the worst case of double cuppadge that I’ve ever seen in my life. Honestly, this woman should have been wearing a second bra just to support the overflow. And to be frank, she was no slim mini, and wearing a bra where your literally flowing over, isn’t helping the overall image of a larger women.
I did have a browse in Bilka and H&M for Bras (I was getting desperate!), both of which I seem to fall between a gap with. Bilka has a small range for the bigger busted of us, but frankly they look like, well, older womens bras, and the sizing seems to miss out the E’s and skip to the F’s. And H&M just stops at D so that’s a no goer as well. I ended up wondering into Fleur Bodywear in CityVest. This shop has always intimidated me, it’s the designer labels with their designer price tags but actually on reflection, it does appear that you get what you pay for. I wasn’t meassured but they did what was best, started with the size I was wearing at the time and worked from there. I ended buy two bras, one black and one white. Both the same design (well if you find something that works, isn’t it normal to buy one in every colour??). I was so happy and the service was very good, with the woman having the right amount of advice and giving me enough time in the changing rooms to leverage myself into each one. The lady who served me obviously knew what she was talking about and we were able to find something that fitted. So I walked out a happy bunny. On a more personal note (but how personal can shopping for bras get?), I was especially happy as I’d done the whole thing in Danish and when paying the woman complemented me on my very correct Danish.
I’d love to try out Rigby & Peller just once. We were watching a programe the other night and a woman had been taken there to get some proper fitting bras, and the assistant had put her in a bra without even asking the size. It fitted perfectly, much to the shock of the woman being fitted who just spluttered “but how did you know my size?”, to which the assistant responded, “by looking at you”, as if it was the most natural thing in the world. I want that! Maybe one day on trip to London. “So marriedtoadane, what did you do on your weekend in London”, “well, I went to Rigby & Peller, they sell their bras to the Queen, don’t you know”. LOL
By: marriedtoadane on July 23, 2009
at 8:35