Best quality clothing/shoe item you've ever bought?

[WestcoastWonder]

Originally Posted by WCsweet<3

Agree to the above. Northface is a life saver in the PNW. Love Sperrys. Seriously on the liquorm, nothing like bottom level gin or whiskey compared to mid level. This is also true with wine and beer for the most part.

I have had much better luck with jeans when I spend a bit more. Hudsons fit me well and last much longer than Gap or other jeans.

Shoes are a great place to spend a touch more money. There is often a big difference with the amount of support and how long they last. Franco Sarto, Michael by Michael Kors, and Chinese Laundry are all brands that are great.

Bras from anywhere other than VS. Also get a real fitting. There is nothing quite like wearing the wrong size bra to make an outfit look awful. I never remember the stats, but there are a lot of women who wear the wrong size. Personally I don't like VS because they size me wrong, the push up is annoying and their bras wear out super quickly compared to bras I've bought at Nordstrom. Granted, I'm busty so I often go to boutiques that cater to bustier women. However with VS, they up my band size and take my cup size down and the bras never fit right. Having cleavage is one thing, having overflow is another.

If you still live in the PNW, there may be a Nordstrom rack near by. I swear by that store. Now that I'm graduated (aka have to buy my clothes) I love going there and buying brands that I love for less. Sometimes it is hit and miss and not all the brands there are wonderful (don't buy BP brand shoes, they are made from cardboard). There are four locations around Portland and each has a little bit of a different style so you might want to try visiting a couple if you don't like one.

1. YES! I love VS, but they suck! Every time I go there, they give me a new, random bra size.

2. They do bra fittings at Nordstrom rack?? How did I not know this!

[WCsweet<3]

Originally Posted by WestcoastWonder

2. They do bra fittings at Nordstrom rack?? How did I not know this!

No the rack doesn't, but the regular Nordstroms do, so you could get a fitting there and then head over to a rack. Also if you are over a DD, the inventory is very very limited. Betsy Johnson is amazing if you are busty though.

[WestcoastWonder]

Originally Posted by WCsweet<3

No the rack doesn't, but the regular Nordstroms do, so you could get a fitting there and then head over to a rack. Also if you are over a DD, the inventory is very very limited. Betsy Johnson is amazing if you are busty though.

Oh ok, and really? I didn't know that! Now I really need to go shopping!

[lovespink88]

Originally Posted by WestcoastWonder

1. YES! I love VS, but they suck! Every time I go there, they give me a new, random bra size.

2. They do bra fittings at Nordstrom rack?? How did I not know this!

Originally Posted by WCsweet<3

No the rack doesn't, but the regular Nordstroms do, so you could get a fitting there and then head over to a rack. Also if you are over a DD, the inventory is very very limited. Betsy Johnson is amazing if you are busty though.

I used to get defensive about VS since I worked there and I thought I did a damn good job at measuring, but I've come to realize that a lot of the problems come from the bras themselves and what the mainstream market has caused consumers to believe about bra sizes. When VS can't get that right, no wonder it's impossible to get a consistent size there!

If there are any redditors out there, I HIGHLY recommend /r/abrathatfits (http://www.reddit.com/r/ABraThatFits/) especially their "starter guide": http://www.reddit.com/r/ABraThatFits/wiki/quick

The problem is there are quite a few misconceptions about bra sizes--for example, so women believe that if they are "smaller" they are automatically a A or B when that's absolutely not true.

I followed the instructions on the link above to find my fit--I came up with 30G!!!!!!!! I had been wearing a 34D!!!!! I was in disbelief because of those misconceptions led me to believe that someone like me who didn't look "busty" could no way be that size. So a week later I went to Dillards (one of the recommended stores for true bra sizing) and she came up with 30DDD, which is what I told was comparable to 30G and OMG it fit WONDERFULLY. One big mistake I was making was I was worried about "back fat". Yes, my 30 band is snug, but is correct and with my shirt on, everything looks SO much better than the 34 band I was wearing.

So basically, stores like VS are extremely limited to "traditional" bra sizes when in reality, 34A-38DD sizing misses out on a LOT of women.

I highly recommend going to Nordstrom or Dillards to get a real fitting. Try the self fit guide that's linked in those links above too--you'll be surprised, but trust me, it's correct (and if it's not, it will be SO much closed than what VS is telling you).

/brarant

[WCsweet<3]

Originally Posted by lovespink88

I used to get defensive about VS since I worked there and I thought I did a damn good job at measuring, but I've come to realize that a lot of the problems come from the bras themselves and what the mainstream market has caused consumers to believe about bra sizes. When VS can't get that right, no wonder it's impossible to get a consistent size there!

If there are any redditors out there, I HIGHLY recommend /r/abrathatfits (http://www.reddit.com/r/ABraThatFits/) especially their "starter guide": http://www.reddit.com/r/ABraThatFits/wiki/quick

The problem is there are quite a few misconceptions about bra sizes--for example, so women believe that if they are "smaller" they are automatically a A or B when that's absolutely not true.

I followed the instructions on the link above to find my fit--I came up with 30G!!!!!!!! I had been wearing a 34D!!!!! I was in disbelief because of those misconceptions led me to believe that someone like me who didn't look "busty" could no way be that size. So a week later I went to Dillards (one of the recommended stores for true bra sizing) and she came up with 30DDD, which is what I told was comparable to 30G and OMG it fit WONDERFULLY. One big mistake I was making was I was worried about "back fat". Yes, my 30 band is snug, but is correct and with my shirt on, everything looks SO much better than the 34 band I was wearing.

So basically, stores like VS are extremely limited to "traditional" bra sizes when in reality, 34A-38DD sizing misses out on a LOT of women.

I highly recommend going to Nordstrom or Dillards to get a real fitting. Try the self fit guide that's linked in those links above too--you'll be surprised, but trust me, it's correct (and if it's not, it will be SO much closed than what VS is telling you).

/brarant

No I agree with you. I had two best friends who worked at VS through college and they were wonderful. Their coworkers... not so much. I am a 32 DDD/E (depends on brand) and almost all the VS workers try to put me in a 34 DD every single time. I don't look that busy when you look at me most of the time, but in bikinis they definitely show. My absolute favorite store for bras is called the Pencil Test. The owner posts her stats from time to time and her most popular size for August was 34F. I love seeing her posts!

Also as far as breasts go, there are different shapes. So while one brand might fit someone the same size, that brand may not be the best shape cup for your boobs even if the size is right.