I had an appointment near La Petite Coquette on Wednesday, so I decided to see how this famous store’s fitters would approach my search for the Prima Donna Madison. After being told on Monday that 34 is too tight on me, I also had a new burning question: Is it better to wear a tight band that may show back flab in order to get the best support, or is it better to wear a band that’s slightly loose for a smooth back? When I asked my fitter Jeanine (not her real name), she said, “Neither. You should be able to find a bra that gives you support and a smooth back.” I liked that answer.
I also liked Jeanine’s approach to the process–at the beginning. She suspected that I was a 36G, so she put me in the Prima Donna Satin, a bra I’m used to, to confirm. It fit great–great support and no back flab. Since they didn’t have the Madison in a 36G, she brought the Prima Donna Menton, the Empreinte Melody, and a handful of Chantelles to my dressing room. I felt that Jeanine respected my bra knowledge and I appreciated the way she left me on my own–until she disappeared to the other side of the store. I couldn’t find her even when I put my tee shirt back on to go looking for her!
Thankfully, another bra fitter, Mary (also not her real name) was nearby to answer my questions. I thought the $175 Melody fit perfectly and felt great, but I needed someone to confirm. Mary agreed that it fit perfectly, but she wanted to make sure that I liked the more rounded look of a seamless bra. She explained that even though they’re pointier from the side, some women prefer seamed bras because they push you up and to the center and make you look slimmer from the front. OH! I never understood this before, despite all my past bra fitters who have insisted that seamed bras give a better lift. So I tried the Menton.
The pictures after the jump convinced me that Mary was right.
That’s the Melody on the left and the Menton on the right. If it doesn’t look persuasive on this page, I promise it looked persuasive on my camera screen in the store!
However, something about the Menton didn’t seem right. Mary agreed. She pointed out that, as a plunge bra, she didn’t think it gave enough support. I managed to catch Jeanine when she passed my dressing room. She thought the Menton was great, until I pointed out that there was a slight puffiness above the left breast. She decided the cup was actually too small and brought a Madison in 36H for me to try before disappearing again.
I loved the Madison in 36H. I hunted Jeanine down once more to get her confirmation, although after her immediate buy-in of the Menton, I was no longer sure I could trust her. Also, after looking at the pictures below, it seems like the Menton (on the left) is more slimming than the Madison. So even though it’s killing me to continue to wear my stretched-out bras, I’m not going to wear my Madison until I’ve had a chance to try it in 36G or to get yet another bra fitter’s opinion. I can’t afford to make a $127 (with tax) mistake on this.
However, I did trust one point that Jeanine made about the Madison. She said that it really didn’t look as pointy as I felt it did. Here’s the proof.
I’m also going to test it under a few more knits at home to see if I can live with the seams.
So it really does take a village to buy a bra. It took me three fitters to get to the 36H Madison, and it’ll take one more for me to be sure. Plus, if it weren’t for Iris, I wouldn’t have known that Chantelles are too shallow for me (I confirmed this again in the La Petite Coquette dressing room). Jeanine was very young and had only been working at the store for a month, so she’ll need a lot more experience to gain the wisdom of an Iris or a Linda.
I heard the “village effect”–and more–happening in another dressing room on Wednesday afternoon as well. A customer was looking for a supportive strapless bra, and Mary sized her as a 34K. La Petite Coquette doesn’t carry strapless bras in a K, so she told the customer to call Orchard Corset on her cell phone “and ask them if they have anything that big.” Sigh. It’s great that Mary could point her to another resource (and Orchard Corset told her they did have a strapless in a 34K), but really, Mary, “anything that big”? Really? It’s probably hard when you work with so many women’s bodies in a given day to remember to treat each woman with respect and sensitivity, but a refresher course on polite language may be in order here. (I wanted to suggest Bra Tenders to the customer, but I’ve learned to bite my tongue in these situations.)
After I got home on Wednesday, I saw a tweet from La Petite Coquette that Jennifer Connelly had been shopping there that afternoon. I wonder if I saw her? They also sent out a tweet that they’re hiring. Based on my experience with the busy Jeanine, I hope they find someone to help out soon!
as a long time bra fitter, and a g cup myself, you should ALWAYS wear the smallest back that is comfortable for you. Always. Always. Always. A bra that is too big rides up and will show the 'back fat' you are concerned about in the worst way, much worse than what you are concerned about in the tighter back. The tighter back sits around a smaller area of your body with less flesh to spill over, and as you wear it and stretch it out a touch (or 'soften' it as I like to say) your back will appear smooth. If you wear the larger size it rides up into the fleshy parts under your armpits and it's a much much more visible back fat situation. Trust me! Always wear the tightest back on a bra you can stand.
Thank you for this, Jacquie! I've always heard to go as tight as you can stand it, but I wondered if the rules changed when you were dealing with back flab. This means I should try on the 34 again as well when I go to a different fitter. (Are you in or close to NYC by any chance? :)) I'm realizing that it's probably like jeans with stretch in them. You go for the smaller size even though it looks a little tight because if you go for the size that looks fine, it's going to be too big by the end of your first day of wearing them.
Also, regarding hooks, I'd always heard to go w/ the tightest, but two fitters now have put me on the middle hook. What's up with that, I wonder?
You should (in my opinion:) always buy a bra so it fits as snug as you can stand it on the loosest hook, NEVER the tightest. A bra will stretch permanently over time, even if cared for the right way.
The concept of the design of the three hooks is that as the bra stretches out from wear over the months, you will eventually stretch it to the point that it is too loose. You can then tighten the bra by moving it to the middle hook, and then the inner or tightest hook.
This way your bra will last as long as possible and you will get the most for your investment. If a fitter is fitting you on the tightest hook, they are selling you a bra that will need to be replaced much sooner.
I am in the Toronto area – if you are ever in Canada try us out http://www.secretsfromyoursister.com – I actually don't do fittings often but did them for years…now just part time – I write their blog and tweet for them etc…and am an advocate, loyal fan, devotee, expert…etc. Am happy to have my brain picked and we Secrets gals are pretty confident that our way is the only way! 🙂
I can tell you with a feeling of certainty that you shouldn't ever be in a 36. I mean I know I'm looking at pictures so I could be way off…but I really feel that you aren't nearly as broad as a 36. IF you occasionally fit a 34 you should always insist on trying it. Since the cups are scaled then something like a 34H is the same cup as a 36G in Prima Donna – if you fit the 36G ALWAYS try the 34H and if it fits too get that one, it will be more comfortable after a few wears, more supportive and will fit you for a longer period of time.
So many stores, even ones who carry what they claim is "all" the sizes don't carry enough 34/32/30/28 backs and the larger cups (G-L) that they need to offer these tighter backs and as a result fit much too large/loose.
Also keep in mind that british bras have a different cup range than french – ie not all g cups are equal. I'm fairly new to the blog, have read back a bit but I think you have mostly talked about Prima Donna…have you ever tried Fantasie or Freya? They have great shape and support and variety – they are british – and are my preferred brand.
Jacquie, I love your tweets! Especially the ones with pictures showing pretty bra straps and colors peeking out (and sometimes glaring out) from under clothing.
So after tearing off the price tag on my 36H and wearing it for the weekend, it did indeed feel a little looser. I could easily move it to the tightest hook, although I soon moved it back to the middle because that was most comfortable. It looks like I'll be buying a replacement sooner than I'd like. Of course, since I love buying bras, I'll actually enjoy it. I just won't like the subsequent bank balance.
I have tried Fantasie and Freya and like them as well. I only just replaced my Fantasie with the Satin last Thursday, and I probably should have replaced it w/ the Fantasie again at half the price. But I really like the wider straps on the Satin. I've only tried the pretty Freyas, nothing seamless. I focused on the Prima Donna Madison this time because I've been told over and over I should wear seams but I can't stand the way seams show up under knits. I feel like I can live with the Madison's seams–at least under sweaters and darker tees.
I really appreciate your comments!