Not so great bra fitting experience - YouLookFab Forum

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Not so great bra fitting experience

Preppy Pear

Veteran

I had a bra fitting at Nordstrom and bought new bras back in December. In the last few weeks, my bras have been feeling a little loose in the band and the cup. I figured it could be somewhat from wear, but I wanted to make sure my size was as still the same before I replaced them. I went back last week for another fitting.

It was fairly quiet when I went but I think they were busy with NAS. The person who was helping me didn’t measure me at all, just brought out bras in the same size, and I felt like the bands were way too loose - they were loose already on the tightest hook. The fitter said that any tighter would be uncomfortable. I felt that this person didn’t know what they were doing, but I figured that she might be new, and I walked in during NAS without an appointment, so I thanked her and left.

So, then I called another Nordstrom nearby to make an appointment and explained that I was having problems with my size, and requested appointment with a fitter. At this new appointment at a neighboring store, I had almost the same experience- no measuring, no assessment of the fit, also seemed surprised that I wanted the bra to fit on the loosest hook. I left that fitting with two bras that don’t seem like they fit right.

I’m really frustrated- I have had great experiences with Nordstrom’s fitting before. Today I am going to a specialty shop to see if I can’t get this figured out.

TLDR:

What has been your experience with bra fitting at Nordstrom?

New bras should fit snugly on the loosest hook, right?

General

27 replies

Latest reply was from Gigi

RobinF

Veteran

I haven't had great experiences in general with bra fittings although I have only done it a few times.
I feel like I am better off just trying on various sizes on my own. Bras are so expensive that it's a shame you left with some you aren't sure about.

Yes, I think they should fit well on the loosest hook because they usually stretch out with wear.

Kathie

Veteran

I have had great fittings, 5+ years ago, at store #1, when I lived in Seattle, and the Bellevue store, which an SA tipped me off, had better stock of smaller sizes. However, either my local store now (East coast, urban area) does the fittings differently (they have a standard sample bra, which they always insist on fitting me in first, before they pull an assortment of bras), or they’ve simply lost their top notch service in bra fitting. It’s an OK experience, but not great, as you seem to have experienced as well.

April

Veteran

When I lived in Pennsylvania, my nearest Nordstrom had a wonderful fitter who told me always to ask for her by name, because she had access to notes on my size, shape, and preferences. She said, "I'll be your bra gal."

So the trick might be always to work with one person who can track what does and doesn't work for you because you're right - the same size in a different brand will be maddeningly different.

Barbara Diane

Veteran

I sort of had the opposite problem with the same result. My first fitting they insisted on putting me in bras that were too tight/uncomfortable for me. My front might have look good but my back was bad. After loosing a chunk of weight I pulled them out and wore them. Same SA who wanted me in more fitted, not skimming sizes, I later found out. Next time I went to try on a bra in what I’d figured out was my size but was not on the rack. Different SA asked if I wanted a fitting. I thought why not. She refused to start with the size I thought I was, left me in the fitting room so long that just when I was ready to leave she’d show up again. We finally arrived at the size I thought I was in the beginning. I did learn something useful about my breast shape and why a certain style doesn’t work for me.

Barbara Diane

Veteran

Good luck with your next fitting.

Theodora

For over 20 years, Nordstrom’s was the only place I went to for bras, because of their excellent fitters. Also with daughters, as large cup size runs in the family. Even though we moved many times, the nearest Nordstrom was the only place that carried these sizes, and had the experienced women to measure.

That said, somewhere around 5-6 years ago, things seemed to change. The older fitters are no longer there, and new personnel were nowhere near as good, even pushing us to buy the wrong size.

Now, we go only to local “specialty” bra shops, especially when we are in NY City, but they can be found almost anywhere, usually quite small places,. The bras are ridiculous $ for my 36H daughter, but super great and we need to keep these shops around, IMO!

We also used to order from Great Britain for the small band, large cups, but now available here in USA. Prima Donna for one , Chantalle for the other. For me, after mastectomy, no more expensive French or British bras needed!

VintageDawn

I've had mixed experiences at Nordstrom with fittings. One wonderful fitting a couple years ago and then another experience where the sales clerk didn't seem to know what she was doing. I also had a wonderful spontaneous lingerie fitting, lol, a bit out of my comfort zone, but the store was quiet and saleswoman really knew what she was doing in terms of matching style to body type and gave me good tips. Our local but not terribly close speciality store does a great job but between kids and work I'm rarely in their neighborhood.

I had an underwire pop out (from my successful fitting a few years ago) when traveling this month and since i was going to be gone for a month tried to replace it by ordering a whole bunch of bras online (before the NAS started ) I ended up keeping one from Third Love, which claims to be able to match your fit after you take a survey. An algorithm for a fitter! It's my first one from them so I can't speak to quality/other styles yet but so far I've been pleased.

Glory

Veteran

I have had a few fittings done from specialty stores here in Ottawa. To date none of them have been ideal. I now just try many brands styles and sizes on my own see what is most comfortable. I do this once per year around my birthday. It probably should be more but it find it difficult so not keen to go more than that.

kkards

Veteran

I've had awesome experiences at Nordies and not so good ones....FYI I've had the same experience at the cosmetic counter...do you have a specialty bra store in your area? i wear a size that's not really common, and earlier this year i ended up going there, it was nice to have a dozen or so styles to try on and really get to choose what worked and what did not.

Kari

Veteran

Yuck, that’s no good.

I have had terrific experiences at Nordstrom but I go to the same person, who is extremely experienced and is also trained in more challenging fit issues like prostheses, so she’s really particular about fit and support.

Kari

Veteran

It sounds to me like the people fitting you did not know what they were doing.

Anonymous

I had a good experience at Nordstrom with a bra fitting several years ago. The SA really knew fits and inventory. She also knew what women need in a bra capsule and fit me into comfortable strapless bras in nude and black, tee shirt bras, and even managed to find a couple of pretty bras with lace in a 30D not easy to do. She found sale items when she could, recommended certain brands as best fit for me, and advised watching for sales and The Rack. Her advice and sizing were right on, even though she put me in a much smaller band size and bigger cup size. These have been comfortable, as comfortable as no bra.

DonnaF

Veteran

Another one who didn't have a very good bra fitting experience at Nordstrom. Maybe it was because she wasn't a long time veteran? At any rate, I measure myself as needing a 28" band, and that is not a size that Nordstrom carries in its stores and only very rarely online. I have become accustomed to tight bands btw since 30s and 32s ride up on me in back and wrinkle at the side seam which demonstrates they aren't providing full support.

Gail

Veteran

I had a not so great fitting experience there recently, the bra I purchased already seems pretty loose and the cup size isn't quite right.It's very frustrating as bras aren't cheap . I need to find a speciality shop or perhaps I'll try Third Love.

njw

I also have had good and not as good experiences with bra fittings at Nordstroms. I am hard to fit and the last woman who helped me (and was very good) is no longer there. I called the dept. mgr. and asked her who she would recommend based on their knowledge and experience with hard to fit women...was happy with her recommendation. Good luck. I know it can be a very frustrating and pricey experience.

lisaflex

Veteran

used to be great fittings at nordies - not anymore.
very dissapoointing.

Preppy Pear

Veteran

Thanks for the responses - it’s validating to know that I am not the only one with this experience - but I am sorry that others have had bad fittings, too.

I had a fitting at a specialty shop today. I learned that my size hasn’t entirely changed but certain styles are harder for me to fill out than they used to be, and in some styles I need a smaller cup, and other styles just aren’t a good match for my shape. I purchased a couple of bras to replace some stretched out ones and I’ll go from there.

I suppose I could have figured this out on my own, but I wanted an expert opinion. It. makes such a difference to have the right bras. And I can return the bras I bought at Nordstrom, so that’s no big deal.

Anonymous

I haven't been fitted at Nordstrom, just VS (I know Angie says they're not great). Its very true that bras in the same size don't fit same. Sometimes trying sister sizes -like 32 D instead of 34 C will help, but sometimes it's just the design like any other sort of clothes. One way or the other-bra shopping is The Worst!

Jessikams

(website)

Veteran

I’ve had bra fittings a few times at DC-area lingerie shops, and always found it somewhat uncomfortable (hot, sweaty, very time consuming) and not that helpful. Never really “got” why everybody recommends it so highly. Especially since my shape and weight seem to be constantly evolving, it doesn’t seem worth it to seek perfect fit, as it won’t be perfect for long!

LAR101

I don’t think the problem with finding small band sizes with larger cups is solely stores not stocking them but also manufacturers not producing them. When you shop online at specialty bra fitters, your selection is still pretty limited. It’s a chicken and egg problem.

If you have a source for a 28-ish band size with a large cup, please share.
It’s been 3 or 4 years since I shopped for my now 21 year old.

I wish I had been more committed to finding the correct size for her and more accepting of the need for a seamstress.

A couple of weeks ago my younger teen discovered none of her bathing suits fit... right before the big beach vacation. She does fit the smallest band size that they sell off the rack in bra sized swim tops at Athleta, but she needs a larger cup. Sizing up a band size to get the bigger cup leaves the band too loose. However having our seamstress take in the band gave her a perfect fit.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

This makes me angry, and YES, I can believe it. I'm sorry

Nordstrom brings in extra SAs because the permanent staff are NAS-ing. Happens during the holidays too. AND THEY AREN'T TRAINED TO FIT BRAS.

*blood boiling*

I handpick a very experienced bra fitter for my clients at the Nordies flagship and that is who they use - unless they buy online or go to Soma, or a speciality lingerie store. No one else is as good, and the new staff are inexperienced and useless bra fitters.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I have had the best fitting experience at a local specialized boutique. I end up buying a bra from them every year but when something works out well, I look for duplicates online to get a good price.

DonnaF

Veteran

LAR101: Freya makes 28 band bras and swimsuit tops and advertises that they go up to K cups. I know I've seen at least G cups in a 28.

Ewa Michalak, a Polish company, has made 26 band bras for years. and a search of 26 band bra indicates that a few more companies have jumped in the fray.

bratabase.com will likely tell you which ones are the best ones to give a proper fit in a particular size.

LAR101

DonnaF: THANK YOU!

Tammyb

I’m with Suntiger. I have had fittings at VS with great success. I wish they didn’t have so much padding in their bras though.

April

Veteran

If the craziness of bra sizing is new to you, it might help to know that one reason the same size might fit differently is because breast shape (not just size) matters.

Cup size seems to be about volume, but your volume might occur in more of a saucer shape than a cone shape, if that makes sense.

An experienced fitter will know this and will steer you accordingly.

Gigi

Veteran

Wow, that sounds like a horrible experience. Maybe it was mercenary SAs, as Angie suggested.

I had my bras fitted at Nordy's a couple of years ago, and the SA was amazing. She measured me and brought out a few styles that she thought would work. About three-quarters of the bras she brought me worked. Both the fit and style were spot-on. They have held up well, and I'm still wearing them.

The SA told me that you want the bra to be snug on the loosest setting so that you can use the tighter settings when the elastic has stretched out. So you were right to want to start on the loosest setting. I thought that was fairly common knowledge. It would be really frustrating to have an SA who doesn't know that!

April has some good advice. When I went for my bra fitting, I was able to tell the SA that my breasts are teardrop shaped (more volume at bottom, not much at top), which helped her pick suitable styles for me. Breast shape makes a big difference.