This article was written for Annabel & Grace, which is now part of Rest Less.
My uninspiring size 38D boobs have recently been recategorised as a much more wonderful sounding 36E. Who knew? Those breasts I’d always yearned for were actually what I had all along and didn’t realise. Why? Because they were squashed. Now, they sigh with relief every morning as they are loaded into the correct size cups and stand proud ready to greet the day.
All this came about because I had a proper bra fitting. Lots of places offer this essential service, sadly not all know what they are doing. Apparently our bazookas change a number of times during our lives – due to fluctuating weight, pregnancy and so on. 80% of women are wearing the wrong size bra and like me, most of them wear one that is too small in the cup and too big in the back. Definitely worth going to have a professional fitting done but who to choose?
Regretfully, Rigby and Peller wasn’t a good experience for me because I struck unlucky with the sales assistant; she was very young and had 30AA bee stings that did not require any support whatsoever, unlike my somewhat more ample chest. I just wish I could have worn one of the transparent delicate lacy gorgeousnesses that were in the display cabinets, but Bee Stings just frowned at me and muttered something about going to the stockroom to find something more substantial. I finally purchased two very average looking bras at an eye-watering £70 each, only to discard them both a few weeks later when I finally got up the courage to chuck the ill fitting things into the bin.
For many years I have been, like zillions of other women, to Marks & Spennies where I guess my size. They do have fitters there, but I don’t like the fitting room mirrors (has anyone else found that M&S mirrors are the most unflattering on the High Street or is it just me?). Anyhow it has definitely been a case of luck that I found a style that is comfortable and seems to hold the old boulders in a reasonably acceptable place.
I eventually found my guru by accident when in House of Fraser. Initially, her appearance was off putting – she was about 70 and had a front tooth missing (I promise that is true) but boy did she know her stuff. Perhaps the lesson here is to go for the oldest sales assistant you can find – they don’t judge and they instinctively seem to know which lingerie will fit your Eartha Kitts. Mind you, whichever of my bras I wear, I am always itching to undo the damned thing by the end of the day – not the best look, but I’ve been married for quarter of a century and as Husband barely looks at my old melons, I think I get away with it!