What Happens at a Bra Fitting?

Updated on November 14, 2011
C.H. asks from Normal, IL
16 answers

I've been considering having a bra fitting for years. What exactly do they do? Do they take a look at you in the bra you're wearing, or just size you up with your clothes on? Please tell me they don't see you naked!

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D.C.

answers from New York on

I just took my 14-year-old daughter to Victoria's Secret. She is EXTREMELY modest, and they did the bra sizing in a private dressing room, over her clothes. It took a few seconds and everything went well.

2 moms found this helpful
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J.T.

answers from Chicago on

Do it!!! Don't be shy!! I cried at the end of my session because it was such a relief to have someone help me. I really bonded with the last girl that did it--I just changed in and out of them in front of her. But, you can be as modest as you'd like.

Good luck!!!

2 moms found this helpful

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L.C.

answers from Dover on

A bra fitting is the best thing a woman can do for herself. In fact, when my daughter starts wearing a real (as opposed to training) bra, I am taking her for one, so she can know how sizing works and always wear the appropriate bra for her body type. I also think they are a good idea to have as you go through some things like childbirth, aging and things start to "shift".

They do not see you naked. In fact the best bra fitting I had was when I had a decent bra on, so they did it over my clothes, or just in my decent bra. If you have had babies, and things are a bit lower than they used to be, doing it without a bra will not give you an accurate sizing. They establish your size by taking a measurement of your torso, just beneath your breasts, and then one across your breastline at the nipple area (sorry so graphic).

You should do it, you will get a great fit on future bras. You should also try all bras on as each fit differently depending on how they are made. Never just pick one up and buy it, based on size alone.

4 moms found this helpful

C.J.

answers from Milwaukee on

You could leave your shirt on but I always took it off so they could see how BAD my old bra fit.

Be prepared to be EXHAUSTED afterwards. I did a fitting last summer and could have used a nap when I got home. I'm not a big shopper and bra shopping suuuuuucks BUT I did get two AWESOME fitting bras!

Once you get a properly fitting bra you'll look ten pounds lighter (REALLY!) and you'll stand up straight. It's SO worth the trouble because you'll look and feel better!

3 moms found this helpful

R.D.

answers from Richmond on

No naked, unless you're comfortable with it ;)

At Victorias Secret, they measure you with your clothes on. Be honest. Like I tell them that my boobs are awful from having 3 kids and breastfeeding... find an older saleswoman (not a 21 year old who wouldn't know)... they can relate ;) They'll give you a box of literally every bra to go try on... if you're comfortable, you can show them different ones and ask them if they fit properly.

This whole process usually ends with me in tears because I hate shopping, it gives me anxiety, and I hate my boobs ;) BUT, you will walk out of there with a good, high quality bra that FITS!! ... and if you don't want to spend the money there, at least you'll have a better idea of what to look for in another store :)

Good luck!

2 moms found this helpful
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M.L.

answers from San Antonio on

You go into the changing room and they look at your current bra. She measured me with and without the bra on, but that was optional. She told me I was in a size too small and a cup too small and explained why. I told her what type of bra I liked(smooth, no wires, no adjustable straps) and she brought all them in. She showed me a few others. I got a great deal as she told me about a sale in 2 days. It is very discreet and not pervy at all.

2 moms found this helpful
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M.B.

answers from Austin on

My daughter has had bras professionally fit... she doesn't fit into standard department store bras... she usually wears a 32 or 34 F... you can't usually find those cheaply. She usually has to pay $60 or more for her bras....

Anyway, I don't remember all of it... but they do measure you with a current bra on, I think..... they bring in several bras, have you try them on, and inspect the fit.

A few tips... if you are bulging over the top, the cup is too small. The band should fit evenly, with no gaps below the breasts. If it is, the band size is too big.

Does it matter if they see you naked? They see this all the time... they are professionals, and strive to do a good, personal service. They aren't going to be laughing or tittering at you.

Very few people are wearing the correct size...I see that all the time, just by the way the lines are in shirts people wear. I used to work in the lingerie department at a big box store, and assisted people with fittings, also.....

A few tips... if you are bulging over the top, the cup is too small. The band should fit evenly, with no gaps below the breasts. If it is, the band size is too big.

A properly fitting bra does wonders for your posture, and self-esteem.

2 moms found this helpful
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K.M.

answers from Norfolk on

I go to a boutique and they measure you with no top on, just your bra. Then they bring you bras to see what works. You will be AMAZED at how good it feels to wear a bra that actually fits properly!!!!! OMG! I had no idea and I was only 1 band size off before I was measured. The bra band should be very snug against your rib cage and it's the band that should be doing most of the work in holding up your girls. The straps should be loose enough not to dig into your shoulders but instead rest lightly and comfortably. You're gonna be so happy when you get your new bras!!! :)

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M.C.

answers from Chicago on

Totally worth going to a professional bra fitter - it makes all the difference in the world! I was wearing the wrong size before and looked droopy till I got my girls professionally fitted. You owe it to yourself!

1 mom found this helpful

T.F.

answers from Dallas on

I've been measured both bra on and bra off. It is not that big of a deal... these women measure women all the time. Don't be shy.

It is done very professionallly. If you are that modest, they will do it with your shirt on, but just realize they can't get a true measurement that way and must make a couple adjustments to get a great fit for you. If you can handle it, at least get measured with your bra on for a better measurement. NOTE: These ladies are very professional and there is nothing to worry about.

You give a description of what types of bras you like and they bring in bras for your to try on. They will help with adjusting bras until you find one you like. No big deal and a great fitting bra is WONDERFUL.

I don't go to VS because th bras they carry are not enough support for me. I am a perky 34DD, very petite 5'5" and 116#. The best fittings I got were at Nordstrom and Neimans. Dilliards sometimes has some good professionials come in.

I currently wear Wacoal and LOVE these bras. I don't like any type of padding, lines, or designs on the cups and it is hard to find what I like. I prefer something that looks natural and Wacoal has what I love plus it sia great bra.

1 mom found this helpful

A.R.

answers from Houston on

I have gone to two places to get fitted - Victoria's Secret and a department store. At Victoria's Secret they measured me over my clothes and then handed me a bunch of bras to try on. I felt rushed and pushed the whole time. I explained what type of bra I wanted and didn't want since they never asked and were handing me things I didn’t like. I personally will not go back there because I don't think the sales staff knew what they were doing nor did they care if I got the right bra. Ultimately I don’t even wear the bra I wore from there because it fits so poorly. A bad store probably but not the first terrible experience I've had at any Victoria's Secret. At the department store they measured me without my top on but with my bra in place. The sales lady and I discussed my current bra - size, fit, comfort, etc. She then asked me what type of bra I was looking for in terms of style, colour, fit, etc. I tried on several different brands of a similar style. We found a brand I liked and then we tried several styles on from that brand. The sales lady had lots of good tips about how the bra should feel and she never rushed me to buy at all. Overall the fitting at the department store was far more professional and thorough. Both experiences were during weeknights which I would highly recommend. The stores get way too busy on the weekends so you would have to adjust your expectations accordingly.

1 mom found this helpful
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D.B.

answers from Charlotte on

They look at the bra you have and then go get several choices. They have you try it on and tell you why it does and doesn't work.

I didn't care one bit for the lady who did mine. She kept trying to make me wear too tight a bra. Basically, she was only interested in cup size. I told her that too tight a bra shows bra lines in the back of my shirts and under my arms (a little fat sticking out). Plus, I don't want to feel so restricted when I sing.

She was a bit haughty to me, and didn't like that I turned down all but her last choice. I ended up with a Spanx bra, which is fine, but not pretty and lacy. I really wanted pretty and lacy. This lady was at Nordstrom's. No more bra fittings for me. I can pick out my own bras just fine, thank you very much!

Hope someone else had a better experience to tell you about!

Dawn

1 mom found this helpful
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H.S.

answers from Chicago on

I was measured in just my bra and there is a fabulous place in downtown Lisle called Tina's Closet. It's well worth the drive, especially if you have big girls. :) She really knows her stuff. I went there for the first time when my DD was 5 days old and I was suffering cramming them into a too small sports bra. She got me through 2 yrs of nursing and losing weight and all the different bras I changed to by measuring me each time. She is a genius in the bra department!

1 mom found this helpful
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W.P.

answers from Chicago on

Whoever said they look at you and then show you other options-that is not a bra fitting. That is somebody who doesn't know what they are doing! No wonder you had a bad experience. The fitting involves measuring your body and finding the accurate size for both back and cup size and the appropriate style for you. Too tight a bra is as bad as too loose, they both look awful. Frankly though, the Victoria Secret bras are pretty awful, unless you crave that super pushed up look, (sometimes fine, but not really for everyday...) I would find a fine lingerie store or boutique to do my fitting-not VS or a dept store. (I used to work in one, that is what they're trained to do.)
And good luck. Hey it's a piece a cake compared to say a mammogram....
(Can you tell I used to work in a fine lingerie boutique?)

1 mom found this helpful
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J.R.

answers from Chicago on

I have been going to {intimacy} for a few years now, I love them! They don't measure and they do everything by site. Every bra fits different so it depends on what you like and what you need. I am a 38G so there are harder to find and more expensive, but I just brought a bra back to be fixed that was a year old and it was free, so it is well worth the money and the fit is so much different from a VS bra!

1 mom found this helpful
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J.G.

answers from Rockford on

I really had bad experiences with places like Victoria's Secret. When I was a teenager I had a woman take my measurements in the middle of the store, over my clothes and told me I needed to wear a "42B" I will never forget that, because upon trying one on and seeing how NOTHING about it fit, and trying on just about every different size with my mother, we found that I actually wore a 36DDD (yes yes busty teenager, it wasn't pleasant) I may just be a little bias, but when someone tries to take the measurements over your clothing and over the bra you are currently wearing it's really hard to see how things are fitting or how they should be fitting, not saying that it can't be done over the bra, but they should at least see if it is actually fitting you.

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