You’re looking through your top drawer, taking stock of all your options, when you decide that it’s time to refresh your lingerie wardrobe. You’re finally ready to replace that stretched-out elastic with lace and elegance.
But then it hits you—it’s possible your everyday bra size has changed since the last time you bought lingerie. You start wondering if you need to get a professional bra fitting.
The short answer is no, you don’t.
The long answer is that, depending on your situation, a professional bra fitting might have benefits beyond finding your correct bra size. Let’s walk through it together.
If You Feel Confident About Lingerie
If you feel confident about lingerie in general but are just unsure of your current size, a professional bra fitting is not necessary. Simply follow our guide to a proper at-home bra fitting, and you’ll be ready to shop for sexy new numbers in no time.
And if you’re looking to experiment with all the different brastyles? Still no worries.
As long as you’re confident in the way that a bra should look and feel on your body, you can absolutely try new styles of a bra with an at-home bra fitting as long as you know How to Measure for Bra Size at Home . Most online boutiques have a return policy, so you can always send it back and size up or down if you find that your size is a little different in a triangle bra than it has been in your go-to balcony bra.
If You’re Totally New to Lingerie
Maybe you grew up buying bras off the clearance rack at the department store, and you’re ready to look into grown-up lingerie. Or, maybe you’ve just enhanced your breasts and want to see how they look in a lacy number.
Either way, you could get your bra size with a home bra fitting, but there could be benefits beyond bra size to getting a professional bra fitting.
Along with helping you to find the correct bra size, a professional bra fitter can help you understand exactly how different styles of bras should fit on your body. Once you’re comfortable with the basics, it’ll be easier to find the confidence to strike out on your own in the wide world of intimate lingerie and find your style.1
If You Feel Bold And Capable of Doing Things Yourself
If you’re into sewing or crafting—or if you’re just somebody who likes to pick up new skills—getting the perfect lingerie measurements at home might be right up your alley. Why?
- You can follow the formulas and find exactly what you need, and then adjust accordingly for each style of bra.
- Doing the measurements yourself can leave you feeling confident and ready to re-measure any time your body changes to keep your lingerie wardrobe absolutely current.
If the Thought of Finding a Soft Measuring Tape Stresses You Out
On the other hand, if you’re envisioning yourself tangled up in the measuring tape, hopelessly trying to decide which part of your breast is the fullest, then you may want to call in the professionals.
After all, lingerie is meant to empower you and make you feel like the gorgeous and confident woman you are—and the process of finding your bra size should be no different.
If Your Body Changes A Lot With Your Cycle
Our bodies are responsive to hormones, and for some women, in particular, this might mean wearing a larger bra size during certain times of the menstrual cycle and a smaller bra size at other times.2
If this sounds like you, then measuring your bra size at home is a great option because it allows you to measure during different parts of your cycle. This means you can:
- Have lingerie on hand in the sexiest size for each part of your cycle.
- Know exactly when to wear which pieces, without having to do a lot of guesswork.
The at-home bra fitting may be a particularly valuable tool for women who are pregnant, going through puberty, or taking artificial hormones, since these situations can cause variations in breast size.
If Your Cycle Doesn’t Affect Your Breasts Much
While all bodies go through hormonal changes, some bodies don’t express these shifts in the breasts. If your breast size and shape remains more or less constant throughout the month, then one professional bra fitting every year may be enough to keep your lingerie appropriately fitted to your body.
If Going to a Store Or Making an Appointment Feels Like a Chore
Sometimes, life can get pretty busy. You’ve got the dentist, the OBGYN, and you promised a friend that you would go see them during open mic night at the local pub. When your schedule is packed, adding one more item to your list can feel like drudgery, even if fitting your lingerie is something that you want to do.
A bra fitting should never feel like a chore, so if making appointments and running errands has you feeling overwhelmed, go for an at-home bra fitting and check this one off your list from the comfort of your home.
If Going to a Store Or Making an Appointment Feels Like an Adventure
On the other hand, some people like to get out of the house, whatever the occasion. If this sounds like you, then a professional bra fitting may just be the excuse you’ve been looking for.
You could even bring a girlfriend, get brunch, and make a day of it. This way, you can help your friends find the lingerie size that best fits their bodies, too. After all, empowered women empower women.
If the Idea of a Stranger Seeing You Shirtless Makes You Want to Hide Under a Blanket
There’s no shame in being a private person or in wanting to keep your lingerie between yourself and your partner.
But in the case that a stranger seeing you in a bra would cause you a lot of anxiety or discomfort, it’s probably best to fit yourself for the right bra at home. That way, you can get your bra size absolutely accurate without having to bare your chest to anyone you don’t know.
If You’re Comfortable With a Stranger Seeing Your Body
There’s also no shame in being comfortable with your body and with other people seeing it—particularly trained professionals who are going to help you find the perfect fit for your lingerie.
If you’re comfortable taking your shirt off for a professional bra fitting, then that might be a good option for you.
Making The Right Choice
Now that you have all the information, it’s time to weigh the factors. Maybe you’re comfortable with a stranger seeing your body, but it’s your first time buying lingerie. In that case, go with the professional fitting.
Or, maybe you’ve bought lingerie plenty of times in the past, and you don’t want to add another errand to your list. Fortunately, by measuring your size at-home and ordering your lingerie online, you don’t have to.
Whichever you decide, learning your measurements will help you find the bras that best suit your style and your body.
Where to Get a Professional Bra Fitting
If you’ve decided that a professional bra fitting is right for you, you may be wondering where you can go to get one.
You can get a professional bra fitting free of charge at:
- Most lingerie boutiques
- Big box mall stores, like Macy’s or Nordstrom
However, some stores do charge for bra fittings, and others may require an appointment, so it’s always best to check your store’s website or give them a call before you head over.
What to Wear to Your Bra Fitting
Most bra fitters will have you take off your shirt but keep your bra on for the proper fitting. If you’re uncomfortable removing your shirt, a bra fitter can measure you with your shirt on, but you may lose some amount of accuracy in your measurements.
That being the case, it’s best to wear an everyday bra to the proper fitting, so that the bra fitter can get a good sense of what you usually wear and how it fits your body. Some other tips for your professional bra fitting include:
- Resist the temptation to wear a sports bra, as these bras can compress your breasts and lead to an inaccurate measurement.
- Avoid wearing a dress if wearing just your bra and panties for the fitting would be uncomfortable for you.
If you don’t have an appropriate bra for the fitting, don’t stress! Since most bra fittings take place in stores that sell bras, the fitter can usually grab a few options for you to wear.
Once You Know Your Size, Find Your Style at Gooseberry
Whether you decide to go with a professional or an at-home bra fitting, be sure to check out the bra selection at Gooseberry once you know your size.
Our lingerie is handcrafted to order with delicate and feminine Indonesian lace and inspired by the island rhythms of Bali. We’re sure to have more than a few styles you’ll want to add to your collection.
Plus, with our generous return policy, you can rest easy knowing that you’ll get each piece in exactly the right size for you.
Consider it a gift to yourself and your style. Shop Gooseberry.
Sources:
- Vogue Scandinavia. The Empowering Force of Lingerie. https://www.voguescandinavia.com/articles/the-empowering-force-of-lingerie
- Health. The 5 Ways Your Boobs Change Throughout The Month. https://www.health.com/condition/menstruation/breast-changes-during-menstrual-cycle?scrlybrkr=b5768bd2