I've noticed that in all the threads about the horrors and frustrations of buying bras, several people mention going for a bra fitting.

What exactly happens at a bra fitting? I mean, do they take you to some isolated back room and stare at your naked breasts?

I've found that the women at Nordstroms are good. They measure you with measuring tape over your clothes in the change room, then bring you bras in your size. You can try them on in total privacy, although I sometimes invite them in to help me figure out what fits. For larger sizes, a lot of women like Lane Bryant bras and I like the Elomi brand, although they are expensive.

Private yes, naked no. Lots of measuring and tugging on the bra you wear to the fitting in my experience.

I just wore my best fitting bra and there was a lot of measuring in the fitting room. But it's really not that hard to do. Wear your best fitting bra.

Measure under bust. Round up to even if needed. That's your band size. Don't be adding inches to that -- suggestions to do that are from before the great elastics the modern fabrics have.

Measure around fullest part of bust. Then subtract.

1 inches diff is an A cup.
2 is B
3 is C
4 is D
5 is DD
6 is F or DDD

When new it should be on the loosest hook. As the elastic starts to loosen with age, just hook it tighter. Replace in 6 mos or so.

HTH!
A.

I am going to get new bras this coming week and am so excited! Haha, I don't know why but there is something fabulous about buying new underwear (that fits and therefore makes me feel good and look better) that I absolutely adore. Anyway, I've gone to all kinds of stores and they measure differently in every one.

At Victoria's Secret, they are usually pretty good about being thorough. They do a basic measure and then get you a bunch of different bras to try on and you go from there. Usually at some point the fitter will see you in your bra (otherwise how would she be able to tell if it fit?) It is kind of uncomfortable the first time, but it is this woman's job to make sure that you get an excellent bra and she sees all kinds of people every day, so you are nothing but a blip in the best possible way.

Saks was the most in depth when it came to finding me a bra, but it was for a particular dress and that might have been part of it. I spent an hour in their dressing rooms, with two different women, my mother, a ball gown, and about five hundred bras. Nordstroms was also really good about getting me a good bra. Dillards was the same way. I've been to Soma Intamites as well, and they were nice but I started losing weight right after I bought those bras so I didn't get to wear them for very long. And I have also been to Lane Bryant, and I loved the woman who measured me! As you can see, I get measured a lot, and as far as I can remember, they have all been positive experiences.

Honestly, I think it depends on the woman who is fitting you as to what exactly will happen, but basically the closest to naked you should get is without a shirt on, and that is in the privacy of a dressing room.

I went to buy a bra after some weight loss and as we know, we lose weight in places that we do not choose. And gravity is not my friend. The nice lady came in to help me. She was very nice and professional. I told her that I think I need the size 40 LONG. And she cracked up laughing.

Astrophe, if that really is how you measure bras, I think that I have been wearing the wrong size all my life. Thanks for your input.

This is the best advice. Even a lot of bra fitters use the old "measure and add 4 inches" advice.

From there, you still might need to try on a coupld of different sizes because brands are all a little different.

Anyhow, when I got fitted, they didn't even measure me at all. They asked what size I was currently wearing and what I thought the problems were with it. Then they looked at me in that bra with no shirt to see how it was fitting (looking to see if the cups were giving me the double boob look or had extra space, if the band was riding too high or low, etc). Then she brought me in a couple that she thought might work and she came back in to check them out as I tried them on. I went in wearing, I think, a 44 triple D and came out wearing a 40H - and it felt so, so much better.

What a great thread! I've had issues with bras fitting all my life. I've had a bra fitting at Victoria's Secret once a year since I could wear a bra. Unfortunately with gaining weight my lady bits got bigger too and the bra size they suggest won't fit comfortably.
I think if you go to Vicki's ask a manager for a bra fitting, because the last few times I've had new sales associates fit me, and as nice as they were they didn't know the answers to half my questions as to why certain styles don't work for me. If I'm buying a $60 bra I want it to fit comfortably.

I see some one suggested Nordstrom's for a fitting... Anywhere else that is knowledgeable or that's worked for you?

Yes, that really is it for measuring. However then you get into different styles of bras for various purposes, and depending on the outfit you may need a different style/cut bra.

Definitions -- with pix.

Definitions -- no pix


So even if you know the SIZE... there's still some sorting. Best to bring the outfit with you to make sure your undies are working well with it.

I only do that for special outfits though. I just want a full coverage t-shirt bra for everyday wear that's comfortable... sometimes underwire, sometimes not.

Here's troubleshooting:

http://www.lindasonline.com/bra-problem-guide.html

A.

Astrophe!
THANKS for those wonderful websites!!!!!!!!!

I just bought new bras, same brand and cut I always do, just a smaller band. And I love them!! I go Lane Bryant, and get the Cacique lacy plunge bras. 36 each, buy one get one half. Its pricey, but sooo with it.

I recommend measuring naked at home, have your BF or sister or DH help. ASTROPHE's info is spot on. To measure you cup size, make sure you go from the point your underwire usually hits at on your side/rib area, to the point of your nipple. Thats what I do, and I like the results.

This would only work if you don't have super saggy boobs like I do. If I measured my naked boobs around the nipple, I'd be measuring LOWER than where I measure the band! LOL. So for those of us with saggy boobs, wear your best fitting bra and go from there.

I've only ever been measured and fitted at Nordstrom. They will stay right in there and put your boobs into the bra if you let them; I usually like a little privacy but I don't mind showing her how it fits once I've got it on. They'll push and tug and tuck, but mostly they just look at how it fits and then go out and get you different sizes and styles. Sometimes they'll bring in a bra that is totally different from what I requested (lace? with seams?), but I always try it on because those ladies know their business and it might turn out to be an awesome bra.

Last time I was in with my sister, the salewoman started asking me what bra I was in. I told her I wasn't buying bras today, blah blah blah and finally she just came out and said, "I'd like to fit you; I'd like to see you more like this" and she reached out and gently pushed the girls together and up. LOL. She wasn't creepy or crossing boundarys, she just really, really wanted to see my boobs looking perkier. And yes, I bought a couple of bras that day.

Oh, I also meant to say--I am glad apostrophe posted what she did, about adding the 4-5". I see that advice repeated over and over, both here and on bra-fitting sites and it makes me nuts. I'm a 34G; if I added 4-5" I'd be in a 38 or a 40 band, and my boobs would fall right out from underneath a band that big.

AAHHH, i get what your saying about droopy boobs, just hold one up with your hand!! lol. Mine don't point straight out lol. Most gals don't.