Bra fitters at major High Street stores like Marks and Spencer, La Senza and Debenhams are failing to provide the correct fit and advice. In 75 mystery shopping fittings carried out by Which? across the UK, just six chain-store bra fitters recommended a bra that fitted really well. An appalling 59 of them recommended poorly fitting bras – A third of the bras recommended weren’t even comfortable.

Which?, the consumer’s champion says it can’t recommend a single one of the services it tried.

Tessa Russell, assistant editor, Which?, says:

“We’ve been hearing for years that most women wear the wrong sized bra, with the advice usually being to get professionally fitted. Yet the services we tried are no use at all – they’re sending women away with bras that don’t fit properly and could be uncomfortable.”

One of my customers recently came in, having been fitted for a bra at M&S – she said it was very uncomfortable and we noticed straight away it was doing nothing for her shape. The lady in question was an E cup, but had been put into a bra that was far too big in the back. We gave her advice on how to check for herself whether a bra fits correctly:

• If the breasts are forced towards to the sides or bulging over the top of the cups, then the cup size is too small.
• If the cup of the bra wrinkles all over, it shows that the cup size is too big and a smaller cup size is needed.
• If the band of the bra does not sit straight around the body and rides upwards at the back, then the band size is too big.
• The band of the bra should be firm but not too tight.
• The shoulder straps should be properly adjusted to provide the correct support.

Sources: Which? www.which.co.uk, how to check the bra fits courtesy of Shock Absorber.

Exciting times in Harwayes, I have just placed the order for the fabulous Spring/Summer Fantasie and Freya swimwear collections.

Big this year are one piece swimsuits with tummy control, which as ever, feature excellent support in true cup sizes. Don’t be confused by cheap alternatives! Fantasie really know their market when it comes to cup sized swimwear – the styles are not just in stunning colours but also cleverly cut to flatter older/curvier and shapelier figures. So alongside the tummy control there are tankinis which really skim the tummy and don’t flash unwanted flesh, there are swim-skirts, up-to-the-minute halterneck tops and fold down bikini briefs. Best of all, all the briefs are made to flatter ladies who have a feminine shape – not cut to fit androgynous 18 year olds!

The swimwear catalogue will be published in February, but you can order ahead if you have seen something you particularly wish me to hold for you.

I just watched a bit of the Jordan/Katie Price biog, following her split from her husband – doesn’t like the term ‘single’ but goes for ‘independent working woman’ – here’s to celebrating freedom.

Programme title is ‘…;What Katie Did Next’ so subject close to my heart, also (advert?) for how to wear styles that shall we say, enhance the fuller figure – and why not?

The hot news this summer is bras for larger cup sizes, with new brand ‘Curvy Kate’ getting a rave review in ‘Lingerie Buyer’ magazine’s August 09 issue. I wish I’d been a bit quicker with my camera as the model turned cartwheels to prove that everything stayed in place! I’d like to add these to the site soon. (Seen at the annual show for the trade, the Lingerie and Swimwear Show at Harrogate this week.)