Can A Bra Fitting Actually Change Your Life? Here’s What I Learned
Okay. Confession time. Until very recently, I hadn’t had a bra fitting for years. I’m not talking a year or two here… I’m talking four or perhaps even five years. It had got to the point where I couldn’t actually recall the last time I’d checked that I was wearing the right size. I just assumed that if it felt right, it must be right. Oh, how very wrong I was.
Last month, since my birthday was coming up and I wanted to look killer in my lacy red dress, I decided to bite the bullet. Honestly, I’m not sure what had taken me so long. It wasn’t that I was scared to get fitted. It was merely that I was too lazy to take the time to do it. Month after month, it slipped smoothly down to the bottom of my to-do list until I stopped contemplating it altogether. That meant that when I finally did head to the store to get it done, it was all pretty alien to me. Here’s what I learned:
Booking a bra fitting appointment is always a smart move
I was lucky. Very lucky. I headed into the city, walked straight to my nearest boutique lingerie store, and got an appointment. But, as the friendly fitter pointed out to me, that is not always the case. In fact, it’s something of a rarity. Often enough, the fitter said, she is fully booked from opening time to closing time. If you’re hoping to squeeze in a fitting, especially in a smaller store, it really does pay to take the time to book in advance. At least then you can be 100% certain that you will get seen to.
Bra fittings take longer than you think
Did I mention that this was all pretty alien to me? I made a silly move here. I was under the naive impression that it would take a few minutes to get my bra fitted. So, despite being en route to my friend’s engagement dinner (a soiree you do not want to be late for), I decided to stop at the lingerie store.
The bra fitting process took much longer than the time I had set aside for it. I was in the changing room of the store for around 25 minutes, which came as a huge surprise to me. It’s not just a case of getting measured and told what size you are; you have to try on a bunch of bras too. Don’t panic – I still made it to the dinner on time… with a minute or two to spare.
Related: 10 Bra Fitting and Lingerie Store Secrets Professional Bra Fitters Want You To Know
You have to be direct and honest with the bra fitter
I have to admit that I was a little nervous about the whole thing. Talking to another woman about my breasts seemed… intimidating. I needn’t have worried, though. In truth, the fitter was a real pro. She knew what she was talking about. I quickly found that the best way to deal with the situation was to be honest and direct.
She asked me the obvious – how long had it been since I was last measured. While I briefly considered lying, I thought better of it and told her the truth. There was no judgment there; she just wanted to help. There were more questions than I’d imagined, but each of them served a specific purpose. What’s more, the fitter was so very helpful that I felt at ease right away.
You can wear different sizes in different bras
After I’d been measured and the fitter had pulled out a rather snazzy plunge bra (ideal for my dress), I thought we were done. It fit me like a glove. I was ready to pull my clothes back on and head for the checkout, when she stopped me. It wasn’t over yet. Not by a long shot. She told me to wait just a moment as there was one thing left to do.
The fitter went back out to the store floor to find me a range of bras in different styles. As she explained to me, your size can vary depending on which style you choose so it’s best to get a good overview of the size you should be buying. She had me try a full-cup bra and a t-shirt bra too. Sure enough, my cup size varied a little between these styles.
The bra fitter might give you extra advice
Since I’d walked in there for a specific bra, I wasn’t all that interested in the other styles available. However, I soon learned that different styles suit different people. The fitter was patient with me and explained that since my size was on the larger side (not bragging here… it’s just a fact), I may be better with a full-cup bra. It was certainly news to me, but she was oh-so-right!
I hadn’t expected her to be so brimming with advice and help along the way, and yet it was just what I needed in the end. I left the store with a well-fitted bra that really suits my shape and feels fantastic. So, my advice to everyone else out there would be this: Listen to your fitter. She really is an expert. Oh, and don’t leave it as long as I did to get fitted; it’s worth getting it done every few months. That’s the rule I’ll be living by from now on anyway.
Related: 5 Reasons Why You Should Shop Local Lingerie Boutiques Instead Of Victoria’s Secret
We Highly Recommend
Whether you’re shopping for new everyday bras or lingerie for a special occasion, it’s always a good idea to seek out a second opinion. We know how hard it is to find bras that fit well and feel good, especially when you’re doing it on your own. If you’ve ever felt unsure about your bra size or you just don’t know where to go to find good bras, it’s time to let a bra fitterhelp.
Many specialty lingerie boutiques offer bra fittings. Their expert bra fitters will take the pain and frustration out of bra shopping and do all the work for you. Even better, their product knowledge can save you time and money. Plus, they know where all of the best bras are hiding.
If you’ve struggled with finding bras in the right size, it’s time to make a change. Visit our specialty store locator to find a store near you and schedule an appointment.
Happy bra shopping!
