Please tell me I’m not the only one who dreads searching for new bras, being measured by numerous fitters only to informed I’m several different, sometimes vastly assorted sizes.
I should perhaps mention that my ‘cup cakes’ are of the modest variety so we are not talking about serious ‘scaffolding’, but in my old age I console myself that at least this means there is less to ‘go south’. Being fairly slim on my top half, (my legs make up for this), I tend to wear semi-fitted tops most of the time so merely want a plain simple supportive but comfortable t-shirt bra – surely not too much to ask.
Being conscious that most of us are evidently wearing the wrong size bra, I measure myself at home before I reluctantly launch myself into various lingerie departments.
Fitter No. 1 (from a well-known department store) informs me that I should be wearing a bra with a band size one size smaller but a cup two sizes bigger and that I should be easing my little boobs into the garment at the side to avoid side ‘spillage’! As I’ve never done this manoeuvre in the last fifty years, I can’t help but feel this is a bit late in the day. I understand the principle but presume it only aids your support if you never move your arms?!
Fitter No. 2 (from a store famed for its lingerie) thinks I should be two band sizes smaller and one cup size bigger than my current sizing. It takes some while to ascertain this as my fitter inadvertently gets involved with other customer requests whilst foraging for my alternatives, thus forgetting the new size she was searching for!
Fitter No. 3 (from the same but different branch of the well-known department store) drowns me in a surfeit of styles few of which are plain T shirt bras. As per Fitted 1, I’m advised to go down band size wise but in this case two band sizes smaller, the only problem being that for some models I can hardly breath and can already feel the red line forming round my torso – my protests are ignored. Cup wise we are all over the place from sizes I never even knew existed. By now I’m flagging but out of curiosity ask for the style and size advised by Fitter No. 1 (same department store but different branch) to be assessed, only to be told it is too big in both band and cup! In the end the one size that did seem to fit they didn’t have in stock in any case!
Perplexed I come home empty handed but decide to do some homework and learn about Sister Sizing which implies that say a 34C is similar in volume to a 32D or 36B. An intriguing website (What Bra Sizes Look Like) reveals more and confirms that bras may fit differently depending on (a) how breast volume is distributed on your body and (b) the style – a comment often made by fitters, though in my opinion occasionally used as a ‘get out clause’ when fitting becomes challenging!
Coincidentally this year (2023), Madonna 64, will be modelling her iconic conical Jean-Paul Gaultier designed corset when she goes on her celebration tour. Evidently, she previously wore this over 30 years ago in 1990 so I’m concerned that she too may now require a fitting so wish her the best of luck.
One can only hope that in future you’ll be able step inside an instant sizing cubical that will assess your physique (ideally with your togs on) and spit out the exact size and model of bra to suit your form.
Thank you for listening to my little rant, I feel a lot better for getting this off my chest with or without a good fitting bra!
