Going for a bra fitting as a man

This is the story of summoning the courage and facing the fear to go for my first bra fitting.
If you’re new to my blog, I should probably make clear at the start of this that I am male (no denying that) although I feel female, so that’s the perspective I’m writing from.
Therefore, if you are an actual girl, wondering what it will feel to get measured for a training bra, or an actual cisgender woman who has never been properly fitted and is thinking of booking an appointment, I doubt my experience is entirely relevant to you. For what it’s worth, my dearest wish would be to experience your real experience of which I can only imagine. But such is the life of the wannabe trans woman. If you are a real girl though, and you’re nervous about your first bra fitting appointment then let me reassure you that it really isn’t scary. I mean, I’m an actual man and the ladies in the lingerie department were really kind and supportive to me so for you real girls, there is less to worry about.

Why is getting measured for a bra so scary?

OK, so trying on a dress in a ladieswear shop was a big deal, and hugely scary. But I managed it.
This had given me an idea even more scary, but one that wouldn’t go away: could I really go and get a bra fitting?  That is next-level scary. For one thing, lingerie is by its nature, intimate. But the really huge thing is that someone else is going to be there, going to see me “being me”. I can’t just hide in the changing room by myself.   I’ve never let anyone see me, Maiden-me that is, before.

Asking for a bra fitting for the first time

I had done a little research online in preparation, there are online fit guides, such as the www.marksandspencer.com bra fit guide but they all recommend going in person. You can book online apparently, or just ask at the counter. Right. So how’s that going to go?  “Boy-me” walks up to the till in a lingerie department looking conspicuously Not A Woman and says “hi, I’d like to get measured for a bra please”? Cue laughter and everyone staring and pointing?
I can’t see that working somehow.

And yet, that’s kind of what I did!

Yes, really.

In the lingerie department at Marks and Spencer

It took a while to summon the courage to go into Marks and Spencer, which is of course where everyone gets their underwear, it’s the law or something.
Then it takes me a while to get brave enough to enter the lingerie section.
There’s a kind of line between the main thoroughfare bit of the shop and Entering The Lingerie Section, and it feels like crossing a threshold. I know that sounds silly but it does feel that way.
Once in the lingerie zone, things are different. There are no other males for one thing. And everything is a bit intimidating.
Having wasted a lot of time even getting in there, now the real procrastination could begin!  I did a lot of browsing of different styles of bra (we don’t generally use the full word brassiere in the UK). I wondered which type I would end up with. I assumed maybe a beginner training bra, such as young girls wear, given that I don’t actually have any actual breasts so am kind of in the same boat.

I should perhaps say at this point that this would not be my first bra purchase. I’ve bought a few over the years but always just picked one, gone to the till, lied about shopping for a girlfriend and left. I think that’s probably how a lot of transgender people and cross dressers buy their underwear. So I have familiarity with the product but have never gone so far as asking to try one on.

Where was I? Ah yes, dithering and trying to be braver.

Asking the assistant for a bra fitting 

Looking around, there are staff at the till but quite a few customers. There’s a lady coming in and out of the fitting rooms and one or two putting stock out and arranging things. None of them are particularly giving off an “I’m kind and open-minded” sort of vibe.
I wander around a bit more and then decide to go for it...
...literally all of the staff have gone. They were there a minute ago. Now gone.
One reappears so I go for it.
“Excuse me,” I say, “I wonder if you could help me?”
I’m very polite when I’m nervous!
“I’m sorry,” she replies “I’m in the middle of a bra fitting and I’ve just nipped our to get a different size”.
“Funnily enough, that’s what I was wanting,” slight pause: “a bra fitting.”
She looks surprised, but frankly not as surprised as I am that I actually said that. Out loud. To a person.
“For..?”
“Yes, for myself.”

Heart rate going well by then!  But she went and found a nice lady to help me, who said she’d done a few for men, 

She asked my name, 

I said “[myboyname]...or Nicola” 

She called me Nicola. 

Significant Life Event: I have never introduced myself to another person with my Maiden name before. 

And, probably obvious given that last point, no one has ever addressed me as Nicola until now. Quite a big thing. I liked it. I really liked someone using my name.  I feel happy just writing this now. 

Sorry, I digress. 

She measured me, which felt a bit awkward, and went off to get a few styles. I tried them on. All well padded and with push up pads (not that there’s anything to push up) and the effect is astounding. I suddenly had breasts! And in quite a big way. This is new. And it’s nice. The bra lady could see my reaction and I think she was enjoying her role in helping me to feel this way. 

She went and got a little top to wear over so I could see how it looked under clothes. This actually really helps. If you’re going to go and try this, I’d recommend having an outfit so you can see the effect. 

I asked if I could put on a skirt to see the whole look.  I’d got a black pencil skirt earlier so put that on. 

I was relaxed by now and felt safe with her so was happy to just try and be me. 

I tried half a dozen different styles but settled on the first as it had the best shape. It’s the M&S Collection Perfect Fit push up bra, black, size 40B. The shape and size are just right, and it is pretty too, having lace trimming on the sides and back (I think it’s called the wings?) and a bit of decoration on the cups. 

I did try one called two sizes bigger which gave me massive boobs! But I thought a bit too far. 

Bra fit lady was really nice. She went and got some other clothes for me to try and left me to it. I only bought the bra but it was interesting trying different styles of top. She said I looked great in the skirt. No one has ever said that to Boy-me in trousers. 

But actually more importantly, I felt that I looked great. Something I never do in my boy-life. I liked my figure. The skirt shows my waist and hips. The bra gives me full round breasts, shown off by the clingy top. I look like a proper feminine woman. And sexy too. I feel feminine and attractive. 

And that is a very nice feeling. 

So, fellow Maidens, be brave, and give it a try. The way it can make you feel is more than worth facing the fear.