Sorry, I couldn’t resist the title! I’ve been doing my “essentials” shopping online today and stocked up on some new basic colour bras and pants for work, y’know, socks and such like for Mr Tramp and I and as usual I wandered off on to the beautiful Rigby & Peller website (lustful sigh). I have a few items from them but always have room for more, more more!
Recently, Newcastle’s Bravissimo branch left town and turned in to a Mexican restaurant, with such a sad departure of a ‘specialist’ bra shop, I wondered how many women would bother to continue getting their boobs measured and reassessed?
Rigby and Peller (My lusty bra gods, if you hadn’t noticed) have carried out research recently about bra fitting and sizing….
WOMEN COMPROMISE HEALTH AND POSTURE FOR ILL FITTING UNDERWEAR
- 43% of UK women have never had their bra fitted
- 30% of women are not happy with their bust
- 71% of women in the UK have been up to 5 different bra sizes in their lifetime
- Men and women agree that the buxom hourglass silhouette of the 50s is most admired (31%) over super-skinny look of the 90s
Research* commissioned by luxury lingerie specialist Rigby & Peller to mark its 50th anniversary, today lifts the lid on the women’s attitudes to their most debated feature – their bust. With 80% of the UKs women wearing the wrong sized bra, it’s no surprise that the research shows just under half (43%) have never been professionally fitted for a bra. But what makes that revelation even more interesting is the fact that over two thirds (71%) of women have been up to FIVE bra sizes in their lifetime** – with puberty, yo-yo dieting and pregnancy all part of the cause.
After five decades of helping women achieve a perfectly fitted bra to improve their health and well being, results showing that a third of all women (30%) are unhappy with the appearance of their breasts don’t come as a surprise to Rigby & Peller. This coupled with the fact that a third of women clearly avoid the purchase of new bras (34% have not purchased a new bra in the past 12 months) goes a long way to explain the love-hate relationship many women have with this part of their anatomy.
Encouragingly however, it seems that the fuller figure is still top of the wish list where both men and women are concerned. With both sexes opting for the hourglass 50’s pin up look (50%) over the super-skinny look of the 90’s (3%) it will come as no surprise that Marylin Monroe (31%) and Kelly Brook (30%) topped the charts as most admired celebrity silhouette.
Having been in the business for over 50 years, fitting women from sight alone and without the use of a tape measure, Rigby & Peller Owner Mrs June Kenton comments: “Breast sizes have increased significantly over the past 50 years with an increase in demand for smaller back sizes, however there is a common misconception that only large breasted ladies need to be concerned about a well fitted bra. No matter their size or shape we want women to understand how dramatically they can improve their quality of life and general well being by having a bra that is properly fitted and well made – it is staggering how many women stick to one size throughout their lifetime.”
Rigby & Peller caters for sizes from 30A to 48N, with the average Rigby & Peller bra containing 38+ components compared to just 16 in an average bra. In addition to lingerie Rigby & Peller also offers swimwear, sports bras and nightwear in addition to a mastectomy range and made-to-measure service. Visit http://www.rigbyandpeller.com/ for more information and store locations.
* Research carried out by Atomik Research 1,001 women and 435 men
** From the age of 18 (the average age a woman’s body stops developing)
Ladies, we’ve all seen the dreaded 4 boobs, back boobs, no boobs and busting out the bottom boobs… I urge you to go and get a fitting the next time you buy your over the shoulder boulder holders!
Do you get fitted regularly?
Hi, Bravissimo is upstairs in Eldon Gardens now, next to Gary Hedley hairdresser. I wasn’t aware the other one had closed so thanks for that. x
I go all the time! The worst thing is Marks and spencer, La Senza, Bravissimo and Debenhams all tell me I’m different sizes! grr! xo
Bravissimo have only moved not gone for good! Bigger better store now in Eldon Gardens.
And I have just noticed that Emsilly has already told you this…oops!
I never go to Eldon Gardens as I always forget about it.. probably why they moved up there from Grey Street.. then again, not much footfall.
Plenty of empty shops in normal Eldon at the minute like!
Thank you for the tip though ladies!