Bra Fitting
This month Chantele has been doing a spot of mystery shopping for underwear - gentlemen will now turn the page – real men will look at the pictures. There really is no excuse for not having fabulous underwear on every day; it’s available on the High Street or in specialist shops with prices to suit all budgets.
Getting fitted for a bra is essential, ask anyone in the know and they will tell you how important it is to get fitted properly. Our grandmothers knew the importance of good foundation garments – now I’m not suggesting we go in for breath constricting corsetry but an ill fitting bra will simply spoil the line of a dress. Remember how Trinny and Susannah banged on about the need for well fitting underwear on their show! It’s said that around 90% of UK women are wearing the wrong size bra – how often have you seen women with their boobs bursting out over the top, over the sides and out the back of their too small bras? Not a good look!
All good quality underwear retailers will offer a fitting service, as will most department stores. It is advisable to get fitted for a bra every time you purchase a new one as your size can fluctuate due to weight loss or gain or even what time of the month it is within your cycle.
As I’ve never been for a fitting before I thought I should actually bite the bullet - for research purposes – and I was pleasantly surprised. Firstly I went to M&S as I had heard good things about them. I popped in without an appointment and asked one of the sales assistants if it was possible to have a fitting. She showed me to a fitting room and told me I could keep my top on if I wanted (it was just a thin t-shirt) or remove it, which I chose to do. She made me feel very relaxed and comfortable and simply measured me and looked at how my current bra fitted. She then left the changing room and came back with a few bras for me to try on. She left the room each time I tried a different bra and then came back in to check on the fit. It was all so simple and completely painless! I left with a beautiful new, properly fitted bra. At the moment if you have a fitting you get a £5 voucher to redeem if you spend over £35 on underwear. M&S produce their own range and stock sizes 28AA to 44H. 
Another great place on the High Street is La Senza. They also offer a free walk in fitting service in their plush changing rooms. La Senza say they are the one-stop fashion destination for indulging in all things glamorous, stocking a wide selection of lingerie, nightwear and beachwear to make real women feel fabulous. Sizes range from 30A to 40G and 8 to 18 and at La Senza, “One Price Fits All”, with prices remaining the same across all sizes.
If you wish to shop at an independent retailer why not try Maxine de Paris on Brynymor Road. This intimate and luxurious store offers a huge selection of brands, stocking the likes of Rigby and Peller, Lise Charmel and Wacoal. They carry sizes from 30A to 48JJ and offer a great personal measuring and fitting service. They also have a handy registration system where your details and measurements are kept on file – so if your man wants to treat you to something special he can be sure that he gets the size right – and they will also be able to guide him in the right direction as to your personal style – no more nasty black and red nylon!
So ladies I think the moral of this story is that we should all go out and get ourselves measured for some pretty new underwear, because you never know when you’re going to be run over by a bus!
