Sunday 4 July 2010

The fear of bra shopping...

I finally plucked up the courage to go bra shopping today, something I've needed to do for a while... And it got me to thinking, why am I so scared of asking for help with fitting my bra?

I tried my normal tactic, picking up some styles I like in the approximate size I think I am. Five bras later and none of them fitted. So I stood in the changing rooms and wondered if I should go home and try again another day. And then a deep breath I walked out and asked for help.

For some reason the very idea is one which I get slightly unsettled by. Even though I know I need to get some advice and buy the right size I still shy away from it and have a drawer full of semi-fitting bras.

It also made me think about all those statistics of 90% of women wearing the wrong sized bra, how did this come to be? Or is that just marketing puff. When did we not get taught how to shop for the right size. Who is to blame?!

Should there be compulsary fitting with every new purchase to try and avoid this. Should we be taught at school the importance of buying the right size. And then almost as importantly, how is it right that even once you have been sized different brands fit in different ways. I know this brand size difference is the same for clothes as well as underwear but it just doesn't seem right that it's like this.

Thankfully Selfridges have lots of very helpful and lovely staff and a lady arrived to help me with my fitting. She was very sweet and I've managed to find two bras which actually fit! Now to relax until the next time...

13 comments:

CameronPoe2409 said...

Well done, its amazing that more women don't get measured properly when a well-fitted bra can make all the difference to an outfit. I go to a really old-school ladies lingerie shop and they insist on doing a fitting for each purchase and the bras are just really pretty and of course fit perfectly. And you're right, how strange is it that you can be sized for one bra, then try another and it will be sized differently!

Marie said...

@CameronPoe2409 - Do tell, is the shop you go to in London? I think Rigby and Peller are the same although not 100% sure but they're a little out of my price range I think!

Joan Hunter Dunn said...

Selfridges is the place to go. I remember the first time I went there to be measured and how professional, matter of fact they are about any size. Enjoy wearing your new undies.

CameronPoe2409 said...

Hi, unfortunately the shop isn't in London but in Blackpool near where I live :( The price range at this local shop is quite reasonable but I wish I could save up some money for a shopping trip to London as I would love to go to Rigby and Peller though.

Krista said...

I'm glad you had a great experience! It's scary, isn't it? Especially if you have a poor fitting, which I had once. Silly girl obviously couldn't read numbers or something! (I've since had a better experience, and now know where to go in my town.)

Metropolitan Mum said...

Good on you for asking for help. I desperately need new bras - after breastfeeding NOTHING is the same anymore.

Gaynor {Our Day by Design} said...

Glad you managed to find some that fitted; makes a difference when you can get someone proper to do it!

I had to go when I lost all my weight as my bra weres all too ill-fitting!

k said...

I hate bra shopping!

Make Do Style said...

YES! Selfridges well done they are the best!

Rose said...

love the new look!

yes good for you- I really need to go and get measured properly again- I fall into the trap of buying bras I like that don't fit quite properly which is really dumb- then I have a few really good ones that I ended up wearing all the time

Jenna said...

I get major bra shopping anxiety, not because of the "being nakie with the sales person" thing (I'm over that), but because I always think they are awesome and then I get home and wear them a few times and think they suck! So it all feels like a waste of time.

I splurge and buy mine at Nordstrom though, where they are really good at what they do. I think it's worth it for the time it saves and how much they know about their bras.

Marie said...

@Joan - They are great aren't they...

@Cameron - Damn! Maybe if I ever get near Blackpool.

@Krista - Knowing where to go is half the challenge I think. Glad that you now have a good place to go.

@Metropolitan Mum - Oh of course, I hadn't thought about that. Good and bad I guess, good excuse to go shopping but frustrating to have to go shopping too I guess!

@Krystal - I think I'm slowly going beyond the hating stage but know it's not something I'm ever going to love...

@Make Do Style - :D Took me a little while but I do follow advice when I have to!

@Rose - Thank-you. And yes me too, I've got loads I think are pretty but are also pretty useless... Fingers crossed it's onwards and upwards from here on!

@Jenna - Thank-you for popping by, lovely to see you here. I've had that before when they've fitted in the shop and then it's a diaster but hopefully I'm over that now. And yes I'm learning to splurge on bras as they are so important to how you feel, how you look, how you carry yourself.

anna and the ring said...

Rigby and Peller are great for not so sexy bras and the service is fab. They are more expensive but last ages.