Bra Geek Approved Shops

A real bra shop employs professional fitters who can tell your size at a glance; if they employ a tape measure at all, it should be purely for alterations, not to determine your size. They should also have an encyclopedic knowledge of the variations between brands and be able to give you an option you might not have thought of which happens to have great style and support. These are the best The Bra Geek has managed to find so far -- and please feel free to submit your finds as well.

The Best

UK
Rigby & Peller, London, other locations
A fitting at Rigby & Peller is like a day out at a great spa; there's a very posh waiting room and the service is phenomenal. They have more than earned their Royal Warrant. I've never had a bad fitting there.
What to buy: Rigby & Peller (off-the-rack and bespoke), Prima Donna

Bravissimo, London, other locations
The only place to shop if you are a D+ cup -- even if you have a small back. Yes, a 30F does exist, and yes, they can fit you with something that is both fun and supportive - even fitted shirts! (And yes, they ship to the US).
What to buy: Freya, Fantasie, Bravissimo clothes, swimsuits

USA
Town Shop, NYC
The queen mother of American bra fitters, The Town Shop has been in the same family since 1888. Owner Selma Koch worked there until her late 90s and could tell your size at a glance; the staff continues on in the same tradition. It's not as fancy as Rigby & Peller, but they carry many of the same brands.
What to buy: Chantelle, Prima Donna, Freya

Intimacy, NYC, other locations
Now a crosstown rival to The Town Shop, Intimacy is based in Atlanta and has a great team of fitters at their Upper East Side store. It's a quieter, more perfumed atmosphere but the selection is largely similar. Warning: Intimacy's website lists their 'network' of fitters at stores in other cities; I've tried at least 3 of them and found them not at all up to scratch. I'm sure some are quite good, I just have not been lucky enough to find them.
What to buy: Felina, Chantelle, Freya

Canada
Bra Bar & Panterie, Winnipeg
A wonderfully friendly store with expert fitters and a great selection. It's a little more laid-back than the New York and London stores mentioned above but carries as much if not more - they also have great sports bras. Every city should have a bra salon like this.
What to buy: Chantelle, Anita, Shock Absorber, Fantasie

Not Awful

USA
Nordstrom, various locations
For a department store, they don't have a terrible selection, although many of their fitters don't seem to be quite on the level of those at a real bra shop. They do finally carry Freya and Wacoal, but you would be hard-pressed to find much (although there are some options) below a 34 band or above a D cup.

Avoid

USA
Touchables, Philadelphia
This has been touted in the local press as 'the place' to have a fitting and it fails on almost every level - they use tape measures, they don't carry much below a 34 and they have no concept of how cup sizes work in different brands. Good luck finding anything here if you are busty.

Victoria's Secret, Anywhere
Really, did you have to ask? Almost nothing is true to size and the fitters are chained to their tape measures. They used to be at least average, but now are really quite poor indeed. Don't be fooled by their line of Shock Absorber sports bras either - they are not the real thing.