I know this is a month old but wanted to recommend Rosie at Bella Rosie who also does online fittings and stocks gorgeous Polish bras. Since my cup size keeps working it's way up the alphabet, Bravissimo just doesn't work as well and Polish bras seem to be the only ones that are comfortable, fit well, give a good shape and look nice.
As a fat, shy, desperately self-conscious teenager, I ended up in Hans Crescent with my bored, mildly disgusted mother. I was barked at and manhandled by an incredibly rude bulldozer of an assistant, who bellowed at my mother ‘IS SHE PREGNANT?’ (I wasn’t.) I was absolutely traumatised by this experience. I came away with some sort of beige orthopaedic-looking harness, just right for someone in their mid-teens.
Decades later, I went into the newish branch in Westfield Shepherd’s Bush (now closed, hurrah). I wanted something special and LOVELY and was prepared to pay for it. Still possessed of a mighty bosom, I asked if they had anything that might fit. Astonishingly, once again I was offered something resembling a piece of hospital kit. Did they not have something a little more… appealing? A balconette, perhaps? No. But I have one at home at fits! She suggested that I go back to the shop where I’d found that one. Absolutely bloody finito. Never again.
I remember when Bravissimo first opened. I read about it and thought it sounded wonderful. The catch was going to be that it was bound to be somewhere absolutely ungetattable - Lindisfarne or Orkney, probably. In fact, it was a short bus ride from my house! A revelation! Everyone in there was LOVELY, as were the bras. And it’s only got better with time.
The original Ealing branch is long gone, but they are now happily ensconced in… Shepherd’s Bush Westfield. (Sadly, not the same unit.) Everyone is still lovely. Justice has been served.
I too have finally lost a considerable amount of weight over the past year (ribcage has gone down by at least six inches, god only knows what’s happened cup-wise) and am having a serious bra crisis. I have literally no idea what size I am (in bras or anything else). At some point I’ll make my way to Bravissimo and see what we come up with.
I'm sorry to hear about your experience with R&P but totally recognise it, but some people have had really good experiences. Not me! Hope you can go and get measured soo although as I said the virtual fitting is really good and much less hassle!
I just don’t understand why R&P is so horrible. It *could* be delightful, but something just doesn’t chime for me. Or - clearly - you!
Westlife (as I insist on calling it) W12 is gruesome, but highly convenient. When there’s a little financial liquidity I’ll head on down for a Brassiere Bonanza. (And some jeans - no more flappy fabric elephant bum!)
Ah good to know. I grew up down the road in Queensway. I'm not a fan of 'Westilfe' but can imagine it's madly convenient. I tend to turn left out of Queensway and head to Oxford Street!
It’s very easy not to be a Westlife fan - but Oxford Street also brings me out in boils! I LOVE shopping but find a great many shopping thoroughfares horrendous!
I was saying how cool the option of a virtual appointment is. And that I am a big fan of Bravissimo, have been using them since the time when you had to find out about them in the small ads in women's magazines, and phone them up for a catalogue!
I wrote into you (utterly overwrote) at that column! The ABraThatFits subreddit is also pretty great not just on cup sizes but also breast shape and which designs work for which breasts.
I know this is a month old but wanted to recommend Rosie at Bella Rosie who also does online fittings and stocks gorgeous Polish bras. Since my cup size keeps working it's way up the alphabet, Bravissimo just doesn't work as well and Polish bras seem to be the only ones that are comfortable, fit well, give a good shape and look nice.
Thank you Lynsey, never too late for recommendations!
Did you!? I hope I was helpful...That's for that.
Rigby & Peller are AWFUL.
As a fat, shy, desperately self-conscious teenager, I ended up in Hans Crescent with my bored, mildly disgusted mother. I was barked at and manhandled by an incredibly rude bulldozer of an assistant, who bellowed at my mother ‘IS SHE PREGNANT?’ (I wasn’t.) I was absolutely traumatised by this experience. I came away with some sort of beige orthopaedic-looking harness, just right for someone in their mid-teens.
Decades later, I went into the newish branch in Westfield Shepherd’s Bush (now closed, hurrah). I wanted something special and LOVELY and was prepared to pay for it. Still possessed of a mighty bosom, I asked if they had anything that might fit. Astonishingly, once again I was offered something resembling a piece of hospital kit. Did they not have something a little more… appealing? A balconette, perhaps? No. But I have one at home at fits! She suggested that I go back to the shop where I’d found that one. Absolutely bloody finito. Never again.
I remember when Bravissimo first opened. I read about it and thought it sounded wonderful. The catch was going to be that it was bound to be somewhere absolutely ungetattable - Lindisfarne or Orkney, probably. In fact, it was a short bus ride from my house! A revelation! Everyone in there was LOVELY, as were the bras. And it’s only got better with time.
The original Ealing branch is long gone, but they are now happily ensconced in… Shepherd’s Bush Westfield. (Sadly, not the same unit.) Everyone is still lovely. Justice has been served.
I too have finally lost a considerable amount of weight over the past year (ribcage has gone down by at least six inches, god only knows what’s happened cup-wise) and am having a serious bra crisis. I have literally no idea what size I am (in bras or anything else). At some point I’ll make my way to Bravissimo and see what we come up with.
I'm sorry to hear about your experience with R&P but totally recognise it, but some people have had really good experiences. Not me! Hope you can go and get measured soo although as I said the virtual fitting is really good and much less hassle!
I just don’t understand why R&P is so horrible. It *could* be delightful, but something just doesn’t chime for me. Or - clearly - you!
Westlife (as I insist on calling it) W12 is gruesome, but highly convenient. When there’s a little financial liquidity I’ll head on down for a Brassiere Bonanza. (And some jeans - no more flappy fabric elephant bum!)
Ah good to know. I grew up down the road in Queensway. I'm not a fan of 'Westilfe' but can imagine it's madly convenient. I tend to turn left out of Queensway and head to Oxford Street!
It’s very easy not to be a Westlife fan - but Oxford Street also brings me out in boils! I LOVE shopping but find a great many shopping thoroughfares horrendous!
Weird, I posted a reply, did you see it?
No? Only this one...
I was saying how cool the option of a virtual appointment is. And that I am a big fan of Bravissimo, have been using them since the time when you had to find out about them in the small ads in women's magazines, and phone them up for a catalogue!
Yes it's really useful. I hesitated at first but it really worked and I got the bra the next day! (And it fits..)
I wrote into you (utterly overwrote) at that column! The ABraThatFits subreddit is also pretty great not just on cup sizes but also breast shape and which designs work for which breasts.