topic Re: Professional Bra Fitting in Fashion

Professional Bra Fitting

Funloving — Sun, 08 Nov 2015 19:28:39 GMT

I've always heard about the importance of a "professional" fitting. Where are a few places that do a good job at bra fittings?

After bilateral breast cancer reconstruction you aren't really working with cup sizes like you are with regular augmentation, until the end result.

A few weeks ago I thought what the heck. I slipped into Victoria's Secret for a fitting (of sorts). Truly, it must be just for their brand because it sounded way off to me. Either that or a sales technique to get younger girls to up their cup size. (probably not. I'd hope NOT.) I'm about the same size as I was presurgically-- and there ain't no way I'm double anything. Probably a C cup at most.. again, depending on the bra manufacturer. Their measurements had me at 30 DD and wanted to sell a 32 since they don't carry anything smaller. They also request you come back in 6 months... which makes sense when you're not talking *foobs* which remain the same size- regardless of weight fluctuation. I tried to explain this to the lady helping me.. however, I'm afraid it flew right by.

We don't have a Nordie's--unless they put one in south of me -- Just Nordstroms Rack. We have Dillard's, Macy's, Von Maur and I'm sure some specialty shops who do fittings day in and day out.

Have you been fitted? Where? Were they accurate in terms of fit and comfort?

I can understand some brand variances but there shouldn't be a large discrepancy. Plus, once you find the perfect **comfortable** fit, most women would probably stay with the same brand, style-- other than strapless & that kind of thing. Many bras these days are convertible.

Re: Professional Bra Fitting

Mz iMac — Sun, 08 Nov 2015 19:32:10 GMT

I have not worn a bra since high school. I am a proud member of the Itty Bitty club. I am 65 yrs young!

That being said, the twins have decided to move south. I never thought that was possible. I thought the twins would stay perky for life!

I just discovered that Sears have professional bra fitters. Some by appt for privacy. I am going to make an appt as I do not know what bra size I am. I know I am 32 - 34 something. Don't know what cup.

Check your local Sears store.

Re: Professional Bra Fitting

sunshine 919 — Sun, 08 Nov 2015 20:16:55 GMT

If you check in your area, maybe google. I found a place where I live and went in and was measured. I thought I was a 34 DD, however the cup was not quite big enough and I found out I am a 34G, never heard of this size. The fit is perfect. Bras are expensive but worth it

Re: Professional Bra Fitting

Buck-i-Nana — Sun, 08 Nov 2015 20:20:30 GMT

As there is really little standardization in bra sizes from what I've been able to tell in the 50+ years I've been wearing there is really no way to have a single fitting done that will work for all brands and styles.

I've had a number of fittings done over the years. A couple of them were done at a local womens lingerie shop. My most recent was done at Macy's specifically for Wacoal bras and it was the best fitting and comfy bra I've ever purchased.

Re: Professional Bra Fitting

Tallgal — Sun, 08 Nov 2015 20:22:39 GMT

Back in the day I had a bra fitting at Victoria's Secret, not too sure about how they determine your size. I remember they measured me over my bra and clothing which means the fitting might not have been so accurate. I discovered Soma and have been buying my bras from them ever since.

Re: Professional Bra Fitting

handygal2 — Sun, 08 Nov 2015 20:30:15 GMT

If you have a "foundations" specialty store in your area, they usually employ fitting specialists. You could probably make an appointment.

Re: Professional Bra Fitting

Funloving — Sun, 08 Nov 2015 20:44:58 GMT

@Mz iMac wrote:
I have not worn a bra since high school. I am a proud member of the Itty Bitty club. I am 65 yrs young!

That being said, the twins have decided to move south. I never thought that was possible. I thought the twins would stay perky for life!

I just discovered that Sears have professional bra fitters. Some by appt for privacy. I am going to make an appt as I do not know what bra size I am. I know I am 32 - 34 something. Don't know what cup.

Check your local Sears store.

@Mz iMac

Thanks for the laugh I was part of that IBT club for a while too. Quite liberating really! At the time of surgery they inserted expanders, yet filled them minimally- I think 25ccs each. That put me right at "pancake flat" & was quite freeing. I continued with the (very painful) fills much to one tall gray haired guy's delight. Little by little he was able to stand there and watch them grow right before his very eyes. Then I wiped that boyish grin right off his face when I shouted, ENOUGH!

Yeah, unfortunately our brick & mortar Sears have all gone buh-bye.

I do have one piece of advice- Avoid Victoria's Secret for fittings. They appear professional with their drawers of fit bras. But holy smokes! I can't even imagine a 30 inch band. OUCH!... I mean... who needs to breathe? I read that most of us wear bands much too big. You should have room to slip one finger tightly between the band and skin-- otherwise you aren't getting proper support. Further, if it doesn't fit snugly on the loosest set of hooks.... it's the wrong bra.

Who makes up these rules anyway?

Hey, I'm all about comfort, thank you very much.

Re: Professional Bra Fitting

Krimpette — Sun, 08 Nov 2015 20:39:03 GMT

SOMA stores have professional fitters, I believe.

Re: Professional Bra Fitting

DiAnne — Sun, 08 Nov 2015 20:39:58 GMT

I have always had my fittings at Nordstrom and have been happy with them. I do wear one size in Chantelle bras and another in Wacoal bras. If you go to a store that only sells one brand of bras I think you are very limited.

Re: Professional Bra Fitting

Citrine1 — Sun, 08 Nov 2015 20:44:51 GMT

After reading an article in our local paper about a woman and her shop in my city, my sister and I went to her for professional bra fittings. She had rave reviews and is supposed to be a real "expert" in this field. Well, turns out the one bra I bought from her is the absolute most uncomfortable and ill fitting thing I ever wore! My sisters experience was the same as mine. Lol

Re: Professional Bra Fitting

insomniac — Sun, 08 Nov 2015 21:02:05 GMT

We have a place called The Corset Shop, and they really know what they're doing! I really messed up for years, then I gave them a try. A world of difference.

Re: Professional Bra Fitting

kate2357 — Sun, 08 Nov 2015 22:55:34 GMT

I've had two bra fittings ... one at Nordstroms ... years ago and it seems I came away w/ a few bras. The last one I had was at Macy's and it was not a good experience. She measured me and brought me in bras where the band was way to small and the cups were HUGE. The bra I have on right now is a 34DD. She brought me in a 32H. I never even heard of a H cup. I think H stood for Heck no!

So what I ended up doing was going to a couple of different websites on how they said to measure yourself and wrote down a couple of different size options. Then I picked a slow day of the week and went into Macy's and pulled about 20 different bras to try on.

I eventually found the style and size I liked and bought 4 of them. I tried on all of them because even though they all say the same size ... they sometimes are not exactly the same.

I figured those 4 will last me about a year and this time I wrote down the style and will probably by the same one.

good luck. Bra shopping is like jean or bathing suite shopping ... ie., a horror show!

Re: Professional Bra Fitting

wishylady — Mon, 09 Nov 2015 00:46:19 GMT

Soma does a good job. Just make sure to go to one that has a mature fitter. I've found the very young ladies don't do as good a job. Also, department stores will frequently advertise the presence of a certified fit expert for a specific campaign. I really like Soma bras they fir me well and last a long time if you follow the directions for laundering.

Re: Professional Bra Fitting

CatsyCline — Mon, 09 Nov 2015 01:21:05 GMT

VS bras are skewed so the wearer goes up a cup size. for example if you wear a B cup in a Maidenform or Warners you are a C in VS

Re: Professional Bra Fitting

jackthebear — Mon, 09 Nov 2015 01:28:51 GMT

I think Soma is good, I looked for bras at Nordstrom but they didn't have anything that worked for me.

Re: Professional Bra Fitting

tedEbear — Mon, 09 Nov 2015 02:20:06 GMT

I also have a bilateral. My plastic surgeon told me to go to VS. I walked away with 2 36 DD. My expanded side( i had 2 unilaterals ) was soooo huge it was just a thumb width down from my shoulder. The expanders have to be larger than what you want at the gran finale. I still wear those 2 bras,5yrs now. About 2 yrs ago I tried SOMA found a wonderful bra, but of course they stopped making them and had nothing similar. So I have 3 total, because it is hard to find the PERFECT fit. Nordy"s does a private measure and can get you bras through insurance and Medicare(if you have that). You do need something from the dr, but Nordy's can tell you what paperwork they need.---------tedEbear

Re: Professional Bra Fitting

feline groovy — Mon, 09 Nov 2015 02:39:49 GMT

@Funloving wrote:
@Mz iMac wrote:
I have not worn a bra since high school. I am a proud member of the Itty Bitty club. I am 65 yrs young!

That being said, the twins have decided to move south. I never thought that was possible. I thought the twins would stay perky for life!

I just discovered that Sears have professional bra fitters. Some by appt for privacy. I am going to make an appt as I do not know what bra size I am. I know I am 32 - 34 something. Don't know what cup.

Check your local Sears store.
@Mz iMac

Thanks for the laugh I was part of that IBT club for a while too. Quite liberating really! At the time of surgery they inserted expanders, yet filled them minimally- I think 25ccs each. That put me right at "pancake flat" & was quite freeing. I continued with the (very painful) fills much to one tall gray haired guy's delight. Little by little he was able to stand there and watch them grow right before his very eyes. Then I wiped that boyish grin right off his face when I shouted, ENOUGH!

Yeah, unfortunately our brick & mortar Sears have all gone buh-bye.

I do have one piece of advice- Avoid Victoria's Secret for fittings. They appear professional with their drawers of fit bras. But holy smokes! I can't even imagine a 30 inch band. OUCH!... I mean... who needs to breathe? I read that most of us wear bands much too big. You should have room to slip one finger tightly between the band and skin-- otherwise you aren't getting proper support. Further, if it doesn't fit snugly on the loosest set of hooks.... it's the wrong bra.

Who makes up these rules anyway?

Hey, I'm all about comfort, thank you very much.

BTW, I'm also a member of the IBTC (Itty Bitty Titty Committee).

Re: Professional Bra Fitting

ladyroxanne — Mon, 09 Nov 2015 03:14:56 GMT

i know nordies has professionally trained bra fitters and most are pretty good. i did have one that came highly recommended though, and i don't know what she was thinking. she was sizing me way up. it was her last day before retirement! otherwise their fitters have been very good.

Re: Professional Bra Fitting

elruth — Mon, 09 Nov 2015 03:34:22 GMT

I had a bra fitting at Dilliards and had been wearing a cup size that was too small. I am very satisfied with my new bras. She had me try on several different ones and of course the expensive Wacoal brand fit me the best. I also bought Dilliard's own brand called Modern Movement. Call to make an appt and ask to have an experiened lady do the fitting. It makes such a difference in comfort and look...getting the correct size bra! Here's info I never knew before. Buy a bra that fits on the tightest setting as they do stretch with time. Don't wear the same bra 2 days in a row. Need a day between. She said get 3 new bras and wear each one and after 3 wearings each ( that would be 9 days total ) put them in a lingerie bag and wash in cold on gentle cycle and line dry. I'm loving my new bras. Wacoal is $ 55.00 but worth every cent. You may be able to find out the size you need and buy them at places where they have good Wacoal sales.

Re: Professional Bra Fitting

feline groovy — Mon, 09 Nov 2015 06:41:31 GMT

@ladyroxanne wrote:
i know nordies has professionally trained bra fitters and most are pretty good. i did have one that came highly recommended though, and i don't know what she was thinking. she was sizing me way up. it was her last day before retirement! otherwise their fitters have been very good.

I've heard that about Nordie's titter fitters.