TheConcord.org.uk

Having tried various stores for bras, I found the ideal place for rather larger TS girls, a store called Bravisimo upstairs in the triangle Manchester, (by the wheel) like many of us I was worried that I would be refused but I spent two wonderful hours having a fitting by the manageress. I asked if i could pass on the name of the place and she said it was ok as long as the girls were TS (sorry girls that is her head office instruction) a word of warning though they START at a D cup !
I found I was wearing the wrong size bra and was duly fitted with a much more comfortable one AND had quite a cleavage, and I as you may know am pre op <smile>. Any interested girls might like to phone on 0161 8397050

I was in town yesterday and called into Debenhams, and then to the La Senza concession on the 2nd floor. The 2 assistants were really great and gave me the full bra fitting and we tried several style options and fillers. Got my own boobs now!

I'd recommend the girls anytime!

Unfortunately due to personal reasons I have not been getting out and about as much as I would have liked and in particular to The Rembrandt but that has not stopped me from still going shopping (when possible) for Mica. Around a week or so ago I took back a dressing gown set to La Senza in the Manchester Arndale Center due to it being the wrong size and whilst there I noticed a sign advertising bra fittings. Having read previous positive comments on this site I was going to enquire for myself but the shop was busy so I chickened out. However, when I arrived home I telephoned the store, explaining my position and was assured that there would be absoloutly no problem and to ask for a certain person when I called in, although I was told that really any of the girls could help me. When I did go in to the store the person I wanted wasn't available and when the other girls asked me if they could help they seemed to find it rather amusing that a man would want to buy a bra and advised that I call back again tomorrow.

Unperturbed by this I went into La Senza in Debenhams where the sales approach could not have been any more different. The assistant here was extremely helpful but did admit that she was fairly new and did not have a lot of expierience in this situation and advised that I go to the lingerie department in Debenhams itself. She very kindly took me over to the counter, introduced me to a most wonderful girl called Claire who showed me various styles and then took me into the changing rooms to get an exact bra fitting. Claire was so kind and understanding that I wholeheartedly would recommend any girls who may be a bit apprehensive about this to go to Debenhams and ask for her help. Needless to say I bought two.

Whilst on the subject I am also glad to say that I have recently had another positive expierience at the Mac counter in Selfridges in the Trafford Centre. Wanting to buy foundation but being unsure about my exact colouring the makeup assistant tried a couple of colours on my cheeck (all in the midst of a busy store mid day) and again achieved a sale. Is it wishful thinking on my part to think the world may becoming a little bit more tollerant after all??

Hello Mica,

It is good to see you here again and also in person in Chorlton last weekend. I think what your shopping experiences seem to show is that there is indeed lot of tolerance and assistance to be had, but it probably helps to pick one's shops with care.

I don't know those two different La Senza stores directly but I could imagine the one in the Arndale Centre possibly does most of its business with customers who largely self-serve themselves, and most of the staff do little but keep the shelves stocked and take payments from customers. As such their staff is perhaps less oriented towards personal customer service than somewhere such as a Debenhams store, or John Lewis or similar. In these, staff are expected to help customers towards finding what they need and of course there is often a slightly higher price tag for otherwise similar goods. I'd also endorse your comment about MAC. All their staff I have ever encountered, whether in either of their London branches or in the USA stores I have used, have taken great trouble to assist and were just as helpful some time ago when I used to shop in male mode.

I'm glad you are having positive shopping experiences and wish you many more too! I've had my share of condemnation on ocassion, but for most of the time, the world in general really does accept us just as we are.


Mel.