Fit To Bust

I’d walked past this lingerie shop a few times and been amused by their shop window. Today, the chafing and bad fit of my current bra led me to crossing the threshold. Inside this cosy «bodouir» styled shop, live two very competent ladies.
I was warmly welcomed and quickly assessed by eye. Within 5 minutes, the girls were out and I was being fitted into the most comfortable bra I’ve ever worn. My girls are winched up beyond belief and the nagging ache in my lower back is already starting to ease. Bearing in mind I’m not a regular size, they actually had a bra in my size! Quite impressed by how matter of fact the fitting was, no embarrassment at all being topless in the fitting area.
They have 15% off when you buy 4 and I did straight away. At no time did I feel pushed or pressured to buy, and the advice given was sound, bra’s will need refitting every 6 months or so. So do your bust a favour and give the ladies a try. I promise you won’t regret it.

This, ladies, is no ordinary lingerie shop. It is, in fact, run by professional corsetiers (fancy word for corset makers). They are expensive (£60−95 at the least) but you certainly get what you pay for in terms of quality, fit and service. So many women are wearing the wrong bra size so if you’re blessed in the chest department it seems even more important to get it right. I went in on behalf of a friend (honestly) who has a tiny tiny rib cage but enormous breasts and finds shopping for bras a) stressful and b) impossible. The lady working there explained she has to see each customer to fit them properly. Their sizes from small to bigger-​than-​you-​want. She said that if they didn’t have one to fit the back and cup size they can send them to be professionally altered. A far cry from waiting in a changing room in M and S for a lady with a tape measure. And their ranges are a lot sexier!

I did spend a while reading through the cup size categories on the window ranging from the two mentioned by Rowena, to F = Fake, G= Get a reduction, H= help I’ve fallen and can’t get up… L = you’re having a LAUGH! So it wasn’t for the easily offended, but was clearly tongue in cheek and removed any air of upmarket snootiness from what does appear a rather posh shop. It’s true the service here is great — the staff seem very relaxed and pleasant and I was greeted warmly but left to browse happily without being made to feel as though I was intruding — which is the atmosphere some small boutiquey shops can create.
This is definitely a shop for people with cash to splash; the nightwear and loungewear section had no prices but was clearly aimed at women who go for quality and luxury. For someone who lounges around the house in second hand over-​sized jogging bottoms and a t-​shirt I was given free working on a bar at Glastonbury this demographic is slightly alien to me but I do have a respect for the desire to pay for quality and service just as I shudder at the fast fashion throwaway insanity of shops like Primark.
When I was leafing through the rails a lady came in to discuss her bra alteration with the staff… bra alteration? I didn’t even know this happened anywhere on earth! I now feel rather ignorant! So yes they offer a bra alteration service! Brilliant! The absolute antithesis of a throwaway £1 Primark bra that will lose its elastic in a matter of months! And it shows their in-​depth knowledge of their products that they can take them apart and alter them to fit. Brands sold include Felina, Lejaby, Fantasie, Freya, Mey, Lise Charmel, Marie-​Jo and Prima Donna. Bras cover sizes A to JJ! They also sell mastectomy, maternity and nursing bras.
So in conclusion this is clearly not a shop for those who are strapped for cash, but if you’re looking for high quality and great customer service, or maybe a bra alteration (!) then you are unlikely to be disappointed!

Chapel Allerton has a bit of a reputation for being a sort of high-​end town amongst a few people that I know and in some respects it’s easy to see why. There’s a posh health food store, there’s a high end cake shop, there’s umpteen posh gift stores and there’s this place — Fit to Bust. Now, as far as I’m concerned, all of the above can stay. There is absolutely nothing wrong with paying that little bit extra for quality, and I mean quality not branding! In here, that is exactly what you’d be paying for — quality.
I nipped in here to have a nosy having been amused by their window signage — there is a list of bra sizes with some funny little phrases to accompany them, such as ‘A — almost boobs’ and ‘B — barely there’ etc. I went in and was greeted by a lovely lady who asked me if I wanted anything in particular. I said I just wanted to have a look, and that was fine. She told me a little bit about the place and said that they were professional, specialist fitters (with a specific phrase that has escaped me) and I asked her what that meant exactly. She said, «You know, like the royal specialist fitters, for the queen and such.» I still had a blank face and she went on to explain that meant that they could tell your size simply by sight and there was no need for any touching — pretty impressive if you ask me!
Inside there are hoards of beautiful lingerie items to choose from, all displayed exquisitely in vintage style wardrobes lit by a delightful chandelier style light fixture. I think I went up 20% in class simply by entering the shop, that’s how beautifully detailed and wonderfully arranged it is! As well as lingerie they had some gorgeous hosiery, nightwear and even men’s pyjamas were on the sale rack.
The prices ranged quite high, I imagine that you’d need at least £100 to get you started, but then it’s the quality that you are paying for. More than anything else, however, it is the service that I’d go back for — you are unlikely to find better advice and a more professional fit anywhere else.