What to Expect From Your New Bra

'Wearing in' and looking after your new bra

Once you have been fitted for your bra we send you away with some 'wearing in' information which will maximise the wear from your bra, and ensure it stays as good as the day you bought it, for as long as possible.

Looking after your bra:  First and foremost, hand wash your new bra as this will loosen up the new materials.  You should always hand wash your bras and never put them in the washing machine, as this will extend the life of them.  Wires get bent, and materials get ripped, during the washing machine cycle, and the bra will not give you the support you ne­ed.  Never put them in the tumble drier.  Sometimes a bra will have a fault, should the bra have been put in the washine machine or drier, this will invalidate your right to return it and we cannot replace them.  We cannot be held responsible for your damaging your bra, so please be mindful of this.  All your bra needs is a rinse in under the shower or in the bathroom sink with a bit of body wash, and then hung to dry by BOTH straps so it dries evenly.  You can buy specific lingerie detergent if you prefer, but whatever you use, always wash your bras by hand - we see thousands of bras a year and can definitely tell if it's been in the machine

Putting your bra on:  If you can, put it on by placing your arms through the straps then lean forward so your breasts fall into the bra.  Place the wires under the breast and do the bra up at the back.  If you twist the bra from the front the wires will bend out of shape, the materials will stretch out quicker and you will wear the casing so the wire will poke through.  If you have mobility problems and do need to twist it, place something silky under the bra to help the bra slide round and keep the wires facing upright.

What will my new bra feel like:  Honestly...  it's going to feel really tight and dig into places you weren’t expecting, but the materials are new, and it has never been worn before – you should be able to get 2 fingers under the band.  Bras are like shoes and both need 'wearing in' before they feel comfortable.  This is an important part of getting a new bra.  If the bra is for a special occasion wear it as often as you can beforehand so it feels comfortable on the day.

If you are finding it hard to wear your new bra do not wear it all day.  Wear it for as long as you can and then take it off and put it on again later or the next day.  Don't be tempted to cast it aside as not fitting and never try again, one day you will realise you have been wearing it all day and it is comfortable.  Some people are more sensitive to the material or fit than others and it can take a few weeks to get used to it, but the materials will soon loosen up and it will be comfortable.  The more you wear it, the quicker it will wear in.

If your ribs are hurting ensure that the bra is sitting under the root of the breast and not on your ribcage. Lift the bra up and ensure the wires sit right under the breast, so the base of the cup and the wire is supporting you.

'I have marks on my skin': You will find that when you take the bra off you are left with marks on your skin.  This is entirely normal, more so if you have a larger bust, as the bra will have been fitted secure against your skin and is holding you up all day.  These marks will slowly fade once the bra is removed.

Deep, red marks that are sore are not normal - please come back and see us to check the bra for you.

What hooks should I use?  Always wear your bra on the loosest (first) set of hooks.  You might think that wearing the bra on the middle hook allows for gain weight or if you need something looser but the life span of a bra is 6 – 8 months if worn constantly (longer if worn less), and within the first month of wearing your new bra it will start to loosen and you may find you need to move on to the middle hook anyway.  If you start wearing the bra on the tightest hook, you are not leaving much room for the adjustment and, as the bra becomes looser and less supportive, you will not be able to tighten it so you have reduced the life of the bra by 50% or more.

Can I get a refund? If something is bothering you, please drop us a message or call us to talk about it.  The leading cause for bra discomfort is because the breast tissue is trapped under the band of the bra, meaning it feels too tight.  We can advise on this.  If you really hate the bra, I will exchange it as a goodwill gesture as long as: the bra was held in stock, it has a tag and it can be sold to someone else. If the bra has no tags and cannot be resold, then I cannot exchange or refund the bra.  As an Independent bra fitter, I will personally lose money if the bra cannot be sold on.  I cannot run a business making losses and so this is why I ensure that any bra you leave here with, fits you properly.

We have been providing our specialist bra fitting service since 2003, we stock the UK’s top recognised brands, most of which have won awards for their fit.  All the bras that we keep in stock to sell to you, are worn and tested by our staff to ensure we are happy with the standard of materials and that we are happy with the standard of the fit, this way you are guaranteed of a good fit and quality, no matter what bra you choose.  We specialise in sourcing hard to find bra sizes in band sizes 28"-58” and in cup sizes AA-LL, at any given time we have over 200 bra sizes in stock.

The important bits to know about us before booking:
We do not offer a free 'pop in' measuring service. We are professional bra fitters and finding the right bra for you takes time and expertise, and our staff need to be paid for their time at work. We are self-employed bra fitters and love our work, but we cannot feed our families if we are not earning a wage. We do not earn commission from the brands and choose the bras we stock, but we have to sell these to enable to us to keep offering our clients amazing service and perfectly fitting bras.
Unless you have been referred to us by the breast clinic, there will be a charge of £20 for a consultation fee if you choose NOT to buy a bra at the time of your fitting. This pays for all of the above, and gets added to a gift card for use within 3 months against a future purchase.  You can find more information on this service using this link: www.thefittingroomstevenage.co.uk/vouchers-fittings/fitting-consultation
If you purchase a bra at the time of your fitting, there is no fitting charge as it is part of the service we offer.  As an independent business, we cannot survive if people come to us for free fittings and then buy their bras elsewhere.  It also takes time away from those that want to shop with us.
Due to space constraints, 'clearance and sale bras' are NOT kept at our address for fitting, these need to be purchased and you can arrange to come and see us to try them on.

Please Note:
Like most small businesses offering a service, we have had to implement a no show policy for those who do not turn up to their appointments. No-shows cost us time and money as we could have spent time with other people who are waiting for an appointment so please cancel you appointment when you receive your reminder if you can no longer attend.

Gift vouchers & wish lists?
We keep a record of all of our clients purchases so we know what bras you like, have bought in the past, and what style suits you best.  Bra buying has never been easier.  We also make it easy for a partner or relative to choose the right bra for you as a gift.  We sell gift vouchers starting from £5, which make the ideal solution when you don't know what size to get, you can find these by clicking the links in the main menu.