I was in need of a new bra. Not a bra for the boudoir, but one to give me support throughout the day without shouting 'Look I'm wearing a shove 'em up and thrust 'em out number'. A bra that would make me forget that I was wearing a bra, but would give me a great shape and a visible waistline beneath.

Coincidentally, a colleague in the office had just returned having, it has to be said, spent a fortune on a new bra from bra-makers to the Queen, Rigby and Peller. She assured me that being properly fitted for a bra had made her realise how long she had been wearing completely the wrong bra for her shape and was now, for the first time in her life, wearing one that fitted like a glove. Not only could she now run for the bus without bouncing wildly like an out of control space-hopper, but looking at her chest, she had turned overnight into something akin to a 1950's sweater girl. Convinced, I took a detour from my usual lunchtime route around the block at Oxford Circus to the Conduit Street branch of Rigby and Peller to see what they could do for me.

Rigby and Peller is definitely a grown-up place for grown-up women. Featured in the shopping scene in 'Bridget Jones' Diary – The Edge of Reason', the glam interior is as silky as the knickers daintily hanging from their equally silky hangers. This could all have added up to an intimidating experience – posh shop interior, highly expensive merchandise and having to expose yourself to the beady eye of a complete stranger all in the name of buying a bra. And of course if you're prepared to spend twice your normal budget (M&S being my usual source of undies) you do want it to be special – even for everyday wear – without letting the assistant know that this is not part of your regular shopping routine.

First off there was a queue. I wasn't expecting this and having to take a ticket and wait my turn provided me with ample opportunity to turn tail and head for the door. But the friendliness of the assistants put me at my ease and within a few short minutes I found myself heading for a dressing cubicle where I was asked to remove my top. Now this is where the truly clever bit comes in. I was fitted for a bra without the use of a tape measure. Purely by sight and experience my fitter seemed to take one look at my slightly saggy and definitely ill fitting bra, before silently disappearing to reappear seconds later with a selection of fine silk and lacy numbers for me to try on.

Then I was asked to turn my back, remove my offending piece of underwear and lean forward while she deftly slipped my arms into the armholes of the first bra. 'This allows your breasts to naturally fall into place in the cups – you should always put a bra on this way so that it fits perfectly' I was informed.

The first bra gaped slightly at the front, the second had me bulging a bit at the sides but the third was a perfect fit. A dream fit in fact – and so light to wear I almost couldn't feel it. 'Would you like the knickers to go with that?' she asked. Casually glancing down at the £70 price tag I decided to forgo having a matching-set (£20 for a thong really was pushing it a bit I felt) before my chosen Rigby and Peller own label purchase was whisked away again for packaging up.

And the size? Incredibly I had been wearing a 34D – this perfect fit one was a 34E – a whole two cup-sizes out! And the really strange thing was, although I had gone up two sizes I actually felt smaller (though looked unashamedly fifties starlet shaped), purely because everything was being correctly held in place rather than squashed and squeezed into something just too small. My new purchase makes all my clothes fit better too – especially under clingy tops, and I will be treating myself again. You never know, next time I may even go mad and get the matching knickers…

Check out the latest range of lingerie at your nearest Rigby and Peller store: alternatively the following stores also offer bra fitting services - call customer services for your nearest location.

Debenhams 08445 61 61 61
Marks & Spencer 0845 302 1234
LA Senza 0800 783 2968
John Lewis 08456 049 049
House of Fraser 0870 608 3531

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