Most of us have been there, you pull a bra out of the drawer, put it on, and then spend the rest of the day quietly adjusting it, tugging a strap here, shifting the band there. You assume that’s just what bras do, but it isn’t. A bra that fits properly is the one you forget you’re wearing, and after ten years of fitting women here in Exeter, I can tell you that the moment someone finds that fit, their whole posture changes.
After owning De Bora of Exeter for a decade the single biggest thing I’ve learned is that the right bra isn’t about a number on a label, it’s about how you actually live in it.
How do you know your bra doesn’t fit?
There are a few tell-tale signs, and once you know them you’ll spot them on yourself straight away. The band rides up at the back instead of sitting level, the straps dig in and leave red grooves by the end of the day or the wire sits on breast tissue rather than against your ribs. You might have the opposite problem, a cup that gapes, or a band so loose you could slide a fist underneath.
Here’s the thing most people don’t realise: your size isn’t fixed. It shifts with the time of the month, with the season, with weight that comes and goes over the years. The 34C that fit beautifully in spring might not be your size by the autumn, that’s not you doing anything wrong it’s just bodies being bodies.
Why a high street fitting often isn’t enough
I see two problems again and again with measurements done in the big chains. The first is position, most high street fitters measure you standing up, arms by your sides, and that’s that. But you don’t spend your day standing to attention. You sit at a desk, you lounge on the sofa, you lie down to sleep and your shape changes in every one of those positions. A bra measured only while you’re upright can look fine in the mirror and then dig in the second you sit down. When I fit someone, I take those positions into account, because comfort that only works when you’re standing isn’t really comfort at all.
The second is the straps and the cup, shoulder straps that aren’t set properly throw the whole fit off, and cups get miscalculated all the time when the fitter doesn’t allow for that natural fluctuation. Small things, but they’re the difference between a bra you tolerate and one you genuinely forget about.
What a fitting with me is actually like
This is where a personal fitting really earns its place, at De Bora, your fitting happens in the privacy of the shop, just the two of us, one to one, no queue, no curtain that won’t quite close. I run the shop and I do every fitting myself, so you’re never passed between staff or hurried along. It’s an unhurried conversation as much as a measurement.
And it doesn’t end when you walk out the door, we offer a complimentary re-shaping service, so if something settles differently after a few wears, you bring it back and we put it right. A good fit should last.
The right bra for where you are in life
Your needs change, and so should your lingerie. Maybe you want a sports bra that actually holds you steady, or a maternity bra that moves with you through pregnancy and feeding. Perhaps it’s a first bra for a daughter, a strapless style for an occasion, or swimwear that fits as well as your everyday underwear does. Whether you’re fuller-busted and tired of straps that won’t stay put, or smaller and struggling to find anything that doesn’t gape, there’s a style made for you — and brands like Empreinte, Anita, Chantelle and Wacoal give us a lovely range to fit from.
Fitting after a mastectomy
This part of what I do means a great deal to me, I’ve trained on specialist courses to fit women after a mastectomy, and I keep up-to-date stock so there’s real choice. I understand the discomfort that can follow, and the knock to your confidence too. My aim is always the same: a bra that’s comfortable, that fits properly, and that helps you feel like yourself again. That matters every bit as much as the fit itself.
Ready for a fitting that’s actually about you?
If you’ve been putting up with a bra that doesn’t quite work, come and see me. A proper fitting takes the guesswork away, and you’ll leave knowing exactly what suits you. To book your personal bra fitting service in Exeter, call 01392 210142 or request an appointment. I’d love to help you find your perfect fit.