Shopping for bras

I shop online - I know not recommended, but I follow the measuring instructions carefully, then order from the lovely Sally at Amplebosom.com (NOT co.uk which takes you to a different site!!)
They will take returns and are SO helpful if you ring! I've been with them for years and they have gorgeous stuff.
They package everything carefully & individually so each item goes through your letterbox and doesn't need trekking to a depot to get.
Only underwear catalogue that has pictures of the Yorkshire countryside & Sally's dogs on the front! She even sponsors the odd race at York.

I find Bravissimo very helpful. They are good at fitting and assessing the right style of bra. Once you find a good shape and fit you can then buy the same one online for replacements.

Bravissimo for me!

Lovely staff, good range of bras but slightly odd clothing range that they've recently launched

Thank you for that jackyann. A friend also recommended ample bosom and she has had double mastectomy. I shall look them up and report back.
We spent a total of four hours in both shops which I resented, more so because the service was so awful, and they clearly just wanted to sell their bras.
This is my first venture into gransnet and I can see that it's going to be very useful.

Oh what a shame I had a lovely time at Rigby and Peller and the bra and knicks lasted ages- back to M & S for me mostly with the odd treat from one of the big names. My daughter who has a full bosom loves Bravissimo in Cambridge.

We have Sadie the Bra lady up here, I have not tried her but have heard lots of good reports.

In a 'wee town' just down the coast a bit from Fife's East Neuk is a really good little department store. I was measured there by a mature lady, and she fitted me with a Fantasie bra. Perfect! I bought a couple at the time. No messing about, she and the other staff did their job efficiently and without fuss, or pressure to buy.

I also had a lovely time at Rigby and Peller and still wear their recommendations (altho' I buy from elsewhere 'on line' at a slightly cheaper rate!). I treated my daughter just before her wedding and she has never experienced anything like it, or had such good fitting bras! An annual (or maybe every other year now) visit to R&P is a promise from me to me!

I also found Bravissimo excellent. Once you find a good brand, size and fit, stick to it, in different colours if you wish. I have wasted £££ on 'the wrong one'!

I've always found David Nieper people to be very helpful.

I'm an M & S girl. Inexpensive, supporting and they last! Mind you, I could probably do with new ones more often than I indulge. I've tried a pull on - it seemed to fit well until I walked from one room to the other and I wobbled about and I'm only a 36C!!!! I liked the idea of no strap adjustments or hooks and eyes though, but no, I don't think they're for me. I saw an Aah Bra on television. That's a pull on too. Has anyone tried one?

I also had a good experience at Rigby & Peller and I felt that they treated me very well. I have had a mastectomy and they dealt with the lopsidedness extremely well. The bras that I bought, although more expensive than I would normally have bought, have lasted far longer than M&S and the biggest perk as far as I'm concerened is that there is no hunting the rails for the right size, trying on in the cubicle then finding it's the wrong size, getting dressed again, back to the rails etc etc. At R&P I waited in the changing room with a cup of coffee while a very efficient saleslady did all the work for me and I am a very happy lady

I'm with Soupy - having been converted to Bravissimo too. Had an initial appointment and was fitted really well with no pressure or hassle. Since then I have always bought on line in the same size. Goods always beautifully packed and despatched really quickly. Would recommend a visit to one of their shops

Bravissimo seems worth exploring. As they get older, my M & S ones do tend to creep up the back and down at the front whatever I do to hoik them in the right place! I begrudge paying high prices for bras though and I like ones I can bung in the wash - hand washing is not my style.

Here's my tip for keeping bras nice - I wash them in the shower along with me (I use old-fashioned soap) and hang them to dry afterwards.

For the first time in my life I had a bra 'fitting' last year and ended up buying a Lejaby. Incredibly comfortable.

As with all things....its down to the member of staff they put you with. A recent trip to Bravissimo almost reduced me to tears. I had explained when I made the appointment that day that I had travelled down especially (they wont let you book before the date). The girl I was given hardly seemed to know one end of a boob from another and then disappeared of to lunch leaving me stranded. I was told I would have to make another appointment for an hour or so's time!!! It was at that point I nearly blew a gasket and finally a half decent staff member was produced. I was sorted out with one style that does fit well enough but its the only one in the shop that does so I just hope they dont change the style anytime soon. And who reckons having big booobs is an asset????

I love Rigby and Peller!

My OH took me there, the one behind Oxford Street, as present. It's a real treat and so I took my daughter there to be fitted for a bra to go under her wedding dress. She was breast-feeding her 9-month old so her size varied by the hour but they found a beautiful bra for her, nothing like the stuff suggested by M&S. She and I had tried M&S many times since they started the fitting service, but either ended up with something that was OK but not great, or we ended up with nothing, being told that our sizes were "difficult".

Both she and I were told by R&P that we were wearing the wrong size . I, over the years, had gone from 34A to 38A, or so I thought. I left with a 34D and it's perfect. That was 4 years ago, I wear it often and it's in excellent condition. Have bought that size in Lejaby and Calvin Klein (outlet centre shops!) and am really pleased. Daughter was in 34AA and they put her in 32C. Again, perfect fit and comfortable and that's the size she now wears.

R&P is expensive but we found that they know their stuff and it lasts. It's an interesting experience - no tape measures! You strip your top half and slip on a silky dressing gown. When you are ready the fitter comes in and looks at your breasts and your back - it's all done by eye. A little disconcerting the first few seconds, but they are so matter of fact about it that you soon get over it. And the results are well worth it.

It took a day to get used to the new size. As it was smaller around the ribcage it sat lower than my too big ones but after a day it felt much comfier than the old ones. They all went in the bin - very cathartic!

I'm saving up for another visit to R&P!

mrshat - good advice! mrsbra, maybe?

IDTS Twobabes - I hate having big boobs so "mrsbra" is a nono - thanks for the thought

Twobabes that sums up my experience so precisely that I could have written it myself, if only I could have been as descriptive as you!
I'm hoping to make another visit to them fairly soon (I went to the branch in Kensington). My three bras that I bought over two years ago are still OK, very comfy, have worn extremely well and the whole experience at R&P was a delight. I had a mastectomy several years ago with a breast reconstruction done at the same time and have always felt lopsided till I went to R&P. Brilliant

Sitting here with my bra in hand (sure this links to another thread) trying to read the faded label. Good advice Mrshat to buy online once you find a make and style that really fit. I started using a local shop about 10 years ago. They were very professional and I felt fantastic in my new bra it was very comfortable and it completely changed my shape but rather expensive. I have been using them on a regular basis but may be able to find the items cheaper on line. I am now going to do a google search but as I cannot read the label I will have to search until I recognis the style.

NB How do I embolden words on this site?

I have been to R&P every other year for the past 6yrs and have never felt so normal since I was fitted there,before I was alway's M&S or BHS and what a difference how she measure's you just by looking is an absolute art,expensive but worth every penny.

elderflower1 - making things stand out in bold is easy. Use the square opening bracket then type your word, then the square closing bracket. [....]
Easy peasy

Thanks [yogagran]