sometimes you need a professional...

during the Jan basics edit and review i noted that i had only 3 bra's that really worked during the winter months (side note, the 3 bra's were the exact same style in the exact same beige color)....i knew i needed more, but just about the only thing i don't like shopping for is bra's....i'm a fan of ThirdLove, by which i mean i like their mission and way of doing business, so i thought it was time to actually order something...they were the among the worst fitting bra's I've tried in a long time...since i ordered what the bra finder recommened and what i thought was the right size, i know i needed real life help....i was lucky that a google search turned up a local bra boutique. i wear a fringe size and this store actually had about a dozen different bra's that i could try., and the fitter helped me to understand which styles did not work for my shape even thought they are my size....long story short, i ended up with the same band size i had been wearing, but a cup larger than what i measured...

moral of the story, when you don't know what you are doing, it helps to get a professional opinion. anything that you've found where a professional opinion has helped you to get either get the right size, right item or cut thru the fustration of knowing that you don't know what you are doing?

6 years ago

nemosmom

Veteran

Another bra fit seeker here! Also, certain shoes like trainers and hiking boots. My tailor is my go-to for pant and skirt fit questions. He used to make custom suits and gowns so his expertise is invaluable.

Anonymous

Yep-unfun but necessary! I have found though that even within the same bra size, they fit differently. Some lay flat but others have gape

Carla

Totally agree with a proper bra fitting. My best swim suit (bikini) came from working with a SA at Bikini Village. Interestingly, my best bra fitting experience was with a Nordstroms lingerie SA who had worked at Bikini Village before coming to Nordstroms!

Shout out for the SA's at the Running Room. In the 80's the shoe/insert combo suggested by the SA resolved a bout of plantar fasciitis and by sticking with his recommendation I went problem free for 30+ years. (I did have a PF problem in 2016, but got some treatment/help and it resolved.)

Cee

Am I the only one who thought the next word after your thread title was going to be " hitman " ?

Sonce

Active Member

If you wear band size 36 or higher, lane bryant is a great source for professional help with bras. From what I've seen they put a lot of effort into training their staff on bra fitting. And they carry a lot of different styles (plunge, t-shirt, balconette, full coverage, etc) so there's a lot to try on. I learned from an excellent fitter there that plunges and balconettes are probably never going to be comfortable for me, while unmolded full coverages and molded t-shirt bras tend to work very well for my shape.

kkards

Runclara, yes, I've had a good experience with a Nordie's fitter as well. actually the only reason i didn't go there is that based on what i thought my possible sizes were, a quick pre shop on line only showed 5 or 6 options..one of which was what i was currently wearing, and 1 of which i know from previous experience was more bra than i wanted....
Sonce...thanks for the recommendation, i didn't know that Lane Bryant carried bra's. i'm actually on the other end of the size spectrum. i also learned that most plunges aren't going to work for me, and that full coverage is generally going to be my best best.

Barbara Diane

Nordstrom SA put me in the right bra, and another SA explained why certain bra styles didn’t work. However, they always want me in a band size smaller than is comfortable. I didn’t wear my first bra from them for years. I started wearing it after I lost weight, and continue to buy that bra but in a band size I prefer. (The same SA also wants my clothing more form fitting than I like.)

Suz

(website)

Sounds like a good basics update. I suspect we should all get fitted every few years and introduced to styles that might work for us. (Not that I have followed this advice.)

UmmLila (Lisa)

Cracking up at the hitman thing from Cee.

And yes, I just got re-fitted after sooo many years and was a band size smaller and a cup size larger. So excited to hit a b cup for the first time in my life It was at an underwear store called Rigby & Peller, and it was clear to me that the saleswoman had a lot of training and experience.

Angie

Fashion Stylist

YAY

*HAPPY DANCE*

Good job following through with a professional, kkards. A great bra is VERY important. I'm thrilled you're sorted.

To answer your question, seeing a dermie regularly made all the difference with skincare.

Gigi

Yes, a proper bra fitting is invaluable! I was wearing a band size that was much too large and a cup size that was much too small. I went from a 36A to a 30C. I got fitted at my local Nordstrom. I was amazed at the SA's ability to pick out bras that would flatter me.

I also have found consultations with estheticians and makeup artists helpful. There is a local spa near me, and I was able to get a free makeup lesson with the purchase of some makeup. The lesson was quite detailed, and it taught me a lot (I had never had a makeup lesson before).

Esthetician consults have been helpful for pintpointing good products for my skin. Most of them will schedule a simple consultation with you for free, the understanding being that you will probably buy products from their spa that they recommend. They know what the different products and ingredients do and how they likely will work on different skin types, which has saved me a lot of time and hassle.

Jessikams

This is how I feel about my financial advisor! Thank god she’s young and easy to talk to, on top of being knowledgeable. She is much too nice to ever make feel like an idiot. These qualities are desirable in lingerie professionals too I imagine!

You were right to seek professional help. I wish I had done so many years ago. A Nordstrom fitter discovered I was wearing a much larger band and smaller cup than I should. With the right bra, for the first time I felt that my body was "normal". The new bras( which she found on sale ) were amazing yet comfortable. More comfortable than the old ones that moved around and chaffed.

Staysfit

I read what Runcarla wrote and found myself nodding. My bra fit changed after a professional fitting, and then again recently probably because of increased weight lifting. I bought my shoes at a Fleet Feet store and it also ended my problem with PF. I have stuck with the same running sneaker (Aasics Nimbus) for the past almost 15 years despite slight functional changes made to the design every few years because I haven’t found a model I like better. With both specialized items I learned about my unique fit issues and what I should watch for in the future by working with a sales associate who could explain how and why they made their fit selections. Now it is easier for me to go into non-specialty stores and find everyday shoes, and additional bras that fit well.

Category