Do you know your bra size?
Do you know your bra size? You might think so, but a recent study of 10,000 women by Triumph found that 76% per cent of women are wearing the wrong bra size.
Local Triumph tailoress Jane Prescott, who works at the Exeter store, is on a mission to help women living locally find their correct bra size and to provide advice on lingerie and personal fittings.
Jane, 46, has been living in Exeter for almost 10 years and has been working at the Triumph lingerie store for three years. With her vast amount of retail experience as well as access to 129 years of lingerie insight, Jane knows all the tips and secrets to find the ‘perfect fit’.
Having done more than 15,000 fittings at Triumph, Jane knows the importance of getting a professional fitting, over 70% of her ladies leave the store wearing a different size bra to the one they came in with.
Jane said: “No one likes a bad fitting bra, the discomfort, redness and constant fiddling, not to mention the bulges, overspill, sideboob or back fat they can also cause. It’s about providing the best style solutions for every woman and offering a stress-free fitting experience.”
The average woman spends £88 a year on lingerie, with 29 per cent making a purchase knowing it is not the right fit.
Jane knows the importance of getting a good fitting bra right: “More often than not we hear from customers how badly fitting lingerie affects their confidence, negatively impacts their working day and can even affect their performance in everyday situations.”
Jane’s top tips to remember when going for a bra fitting include:
· Every woman is different, so is the fit of every bra, you need to match the right style and size to the right shape
· Don’t stop at the first bra you try on, there is so much choice, try on lots, even different sizes and t styles can vary in size
· Besides creating a lovely cleavage, a good fitting bra also means better posture, relief for the back and comfort with no pinching or pain
· Fit and comfort are the most important factors, it’s important your bra feels like a second skin
· For maintenance it’s always best to hand wash your bra, but if you do pop it in the washing machine put in a pillow or mesh bag to protect it and never, never, put in the dryer
“We’re also seeing an increasing number of women visiting us who have either had surgery or are recovering from a mastectomy. It’s a really special experience being able to fit these women and we receive special training on ensuring we get them the right fit.”
“It’s a real highlight of my job when you make a woman feel special and they leave the store smiling, it’s great knowing I’ve made a difference to how they feel.”
Women aren’t Jane’s only customers, men come in to pick out nice lingerie for wives or partners, some of them know what they are doing but most need guidance when it comes to thoughts on style, shape and size.
“Christmas and Valentine’s Day is when we see the biggest influx of men shopping for gifts, I would recommend a little rummage in their partners underwear drawer to get an idea of the size and colour and type of product they buy….an unwanted colour or style will just sit unworn!”
Jane also counts her mum and neighbours as regular customers and actively encourages her friends and family to spread the word about the importance of wearing the right bra.
“The first step to your perfect fit is to receive advice from experts who can offer correct measurement with advice on cuts to flatter your natural body shape.
“My advice to the women of Exeter is to pop in for a personal fitting, you’ll find out how much the perfect lingerie can dramatically improve the way you look and boost your confidence.”
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