For years you’ve heard me talk about the importance of an in-person bra fitting, so today I wanted to dedicate today’s post on what to expect. If you’ve never had a proper bra fitting before, it can be a little intimidating and overwhelming. When placed with the right fitter, it can truly change your life! My hope is that with my encouragement and a little more knowledge in your pocket, you are able to go get fitted with confidence and ease.

Where is a good place to go for a bra fitting?

Be sure to visit this post on how to find safely find a properly fitting bra in 2021, in case you missed it. I strongly encourage you to get properly fitted in person at a Nordstrom (NOT Nordstrom Rack) or local specialty shop. You can find fit focused store locators to locate a specialty shop here, here and here. What does fit focused mean? Be sure to check out this post here.

BRA (I WEAR 34G UK), MORE COLORS HERE FOR MORE OF MY FAVORITE BRAS, CLICK HERE — **BRA** **(I WEAR 34G UK), MORE COLORS** **HERE**
**FOR MORE OF MY FAVORITE BRAS,** **CLICK HERE**

i found a place to get fitted, what can i expect?

As my friend / bra fitter Emily of Lace & Day always says, “bra fitting is an art, not a science.” You’ll see different techniques in different stores and even sometimes in the same store with different fitters. Some fitters use a measuring tape, some do not. Some like to use a measuring tape as a baseline/starting point but whether they use it or not should not alarm you.

It is completely normal for the bra fitter to be in the room with you but it should always be a professional and respectful environment. Some fitters like to take a “hands on” approach so they can reposition breast tissue in the cup to help determine the best fit. Some stores have taken a “contactless” approach due to the pandemic and offer verbal coaching on best placement. This helps the fitter determine what works and what doesn’t as quickly as possible to help you find the best fit for your shape.

What should I wear?

Wear your best fitting bra (if you have one) and maybe wear / bring a few different silhouettes that you wear often (t-shirt, blouse, low-cut/ strapless dress) to keep in mind when selecting different options. You want these garments to work for you and what you have! Keep in mind, you may be a different size than what you came in with and that is okay! I used to wear a 38DDD/40D before being properly sized at a 34I/36H US. You are not alone if your size has changed, keep in mind that different brands run on different sizing charts too and sometimes within brands.

Should I feel pressured to buy?

Absolutely not. You should never feel like you have to buy something, this goes for ALL shopping experiences!

What else should I know?

It’s best to approach your next bra fitting with an open mind. Bra fitters are not magicians, they are match makers. It’s their job to know all of the bras they keep in stock and help you try a few styles and sizes to best determine your best fit! Try on things you may not have normally gone for, you may end up with something that you love!

How often should I go for a fitting?

I like to recommend getting a bra fitting at least once a year, some bra fitters I’ve spoken to recommend every 6-8 months, depending on life changes. We are constantly growing and changing, sometimes our bra sizes do too - and that’s okay! If you’ve had any significant change in weight or hormonal changes, it’s time to get re-fitted. In case you missed my maternity and nursing guide, be sure to check that out here! If you are thinking about your bras during the day (they’re uncomfortable, stretched out, poking, etc.), it’s time to get re-fitted.

What happens if I GOT fitted and it did not go well?

Occasionally I’ll receive feedback that people went to a store found on one of my store locators and did not have a good experience. Unfortunately, there will always be room for human error. If you didn’t have a good experience, know that you deserve to and I’m confident there is the right place / fitter out there for you. Whatever you do, don’t give up. Even if that means going back to square one. You can also use the Properly Fitting Bra Club Facebook group as a resource to troubleshoot fit.

What about virtual fittings?

Since the pandemic, virtual fittings have become an option. I have done two of them, just to see what they’re like and I think they can be effective. I will forever recommend you to get an in-person fitting as a first choice if you can, but this is a good second option. In some instances, you may be required to use a soft tape measure to provide a starting point for the virtual fitting. You may set up a video call to chat with the fitter on to determine your current fit as well as your wants / needs in a bra. From there, they may make recommendations on what styles and sizes to try. This may require some trial and error to purchase / return a few styles to try out. If so, be sure to refer to the scoop and swoop method when trying on bras at home. If you’ve had a virtual fitting, I’d love to hear your experience (good or bad) in the comments below.
SCHEDULE A VIRTUAL FITTING: BRAVISSIMO (HIGHLY recommended) | NORDSTROM | WACOAL | LOCAL SPECIALTY SHOPS (each store may vary, refer to the store finders here and here to call and determine their abilities)

I hope this was helpful! Be sure to leave any questions below and give some love to my IGTV. Would love to hear more about what you’d like to hear and see next week for my Fit Tip Tuesday!cThanks for reading. xx CMK