Where to go to get a proper bra fitting?

[Satori]

I'm down to one sad looking bra and went bra shopping and its obvious I need help: I want to get a proper fitting, where in the world do I do that!? Please tell me I won't have to get naked either!

[~Megan~]

I say you do it yourself.

Without a bra on, measure under your bust straight across. You may want to ask another person to help. This should be fitted but not pulled too tight.

Measure above your bust, right under your armpits straight across your back.

Take these two measurements and find the number between the two, this is your band size. Round up to an even number if you need to.

Ex. 1: Underbust is 37, Abovebust is 39 your band is 38
Ex. 2: Underbust is 40, Abovebust is 42, your band is 42 because you round up to the even number.

Put on your best fitting bra. Measure around the fullest part of your bust, do not pull so tight that it dimples in but don't have it too loose either. Take this number and subtract the difference from you band to get your cup.

Each bra is slightly different but generally:
1=a
2=b
3=c
4=d
5=dd
6=ddd
7=f
8=g
9=h
10=i
11=j
12=k (some bras go up to an M cup)

So in the above examples:

If you have a band of 38 and your bust measurement is 41 you are a C cup.

If your band is 42 and your bust is 50 you are a G cup.

Go to a place with a big selection of sizes and try on a few styles.

If you are 36 and B or over Lane Bryants have a good selection of well made bras. Nordstrom has a good selection I've heard as well.

[To-Fu]

I've had great fittings at Nordstrom, believe it or not. They have trained bra fitters there.

It's best to do a braless fitting for most accurate results, but my fitter was careful to make sure I was comfortable with it. You could always ask.

If you don't want to hit up a big department store, you could also check for local lingerie shops. They should all do fittings as well.

Remember that every bra brand fits differently, so even if you end up, say, a 36C, that doesn't mean you'll wear that size in every brand. A good fitter will talk to you about what style of bra you feel most comfortable in and will make sure you have plenty of options in the right sizes. She'll show you how to know when your bra fits well/poorly.

In case you can't tell, I'm a huge believer in bra fittings! Ha.

[texaspeach]

I have had very good experience at nordstrom.

[ledzepplon]

I second (or is it third?) the Nordstrom recommendation. I used to work there, in the lingerie dept., and we were well trained for this, plus we understood how the different bras fit so we were pretty good at finding a good one for our customers. They can be pricey, but I've found that good bras just are.

ETA: Megan did provide the proper formula for measuring above. So you could do it yourself, but keep in mind that the breast tissue is not distributed the same way for everyone, so there is some trial and error as far as styles.

[delphiniumpansy]

Originally Posted by texaspeach

I have had very good experience at nordstrom.

Another nordstrom's fan here.

It is one of the few oprah episodes I've watched, the bra episode from a few years back, and I became a believer and went to nordies and I've never looked back. I bought really nice bras and I take care of them and I look much better and feel better. Well, I did before I had a baby. Now, I don't wear those lovely bras anymore but they are there for when I will need them, when I am done breastfeeding again.

[Fiestabeth]

People here wear bras?


Couldn't resist.

[nascarbebe]

I was once fitted well by a woman at JC Penneys but I think I got lucky because when I've gone back (to a different one but in a larger city) the clerks barely knew how to run the cash register. The higher end store, the better customer service.

[snitker79]

Originally Posted by yellowpansy

Another nordstrom's fan here.
Well, I did before I had a baby. Now, I don't wear those lovely bras anymore but they are there for when I will need them, when I am done breastfeeding again.

You don't have to quite wearing pretty bras just because your nursing. I carry sexy nursing bras in my online store, in red and white lace with matching panties. I love them so much that I will continue to wear it even after we stop nursing. PM me if you want some links. I don't want to "spam".

Miranda