Mumsnet Talk

Nope, I'm a size 12 and measure 30.5 underneath my bust. I wear a 30G. However, If I tried to wear a 30E it would be excruiating. I would best my next bar of chocolate that you need to be in a smaller back and a much much bigger cup.

To steal a very good post from a fellow bra enthusiast, HazelNutt:

There are thousands of women who should be wearing 32 back or smaller.

But
-they went to M&S for fitting
- they,haven't seen anything smaller in shops
- have read that [insert a really slim bog-boobed celebrity] wears a 36DD and therefore cannot imagine they could need a smaller back/bigger cup. (the celebrity in question is of course in a wildly wrong size as well).

So yes, next time a tiny woman claims to be a 34 bra, you know what to do..

If you are a size 12-14 there is no way you are a 38back
What od you actually measure?

Debenhams liquid filled bras are amazing - they do black or white, they're very plain and simple and manage to boost my 34A post-bf deflated balloons into a respectable cleavage.
www.debenhams.com/images/product/FreeDelivery2_PDP_banner.jpg

Gilly Hicks. Might not be your usual destination but they definitely cater for the smaller chested ladies. Don't go above a D cup in there.

I honestly do recommend that everyone posting about as a 34A etc, do the measuring thing before shelling out on new bras. My niece with her tiny little bumps is a 28DD, just saying...

I went to be measured at an independent shop a few months ago. M&S had measured me several times over the years as a 36A but my shoulders and back ached at the end of the day and I never felt my bras fitted quite right. Turns out I'm a 32DD. My new bras are enormously comfy!
My advice is to get measured.

I agree with mushroom.

Check a good shop for a proper fit.

I am a 32C/D, depending on shape. But was measured once as an A over the clothes! FFS!

There are some great independent retailers out there. Well worth a vist for a fitting session.

M&S measure me at a 36C. I am a 30G. Says it all really.

You should go to "what katie did". Their website has beautiful underwear. They had a modernised version of the bullet bra too that us not as pointy.

Listen to SorrelForbes she is a wise lady. Im a convert of hers; 34B to a 30E no surgery required!

Ineedthatfork I'm another one who will bet you anything there's no way in the world you're a 38 band. What's your underboob measurement?

Does 'wise lady' still mean 'witch'

<waves to the perky, larger of bosom mirai>

I really hate the 'push boobs up and hard together to create a sharp line cleavage' look. It's so unnatural on a small body and I hope it goes out of fashion very soon.

A good bra can give uplift without that squeezed together appearance.

Totally agree Sally. Those plunge/uplift type bras do me no favours at all. I stick to lightly padded balconette styles.

SorrelForbes

I am tall, but thin with big shoulders, chest, back and hips. Tiny boobs, barely worth warming a bra except bras make them look bigger!

I am 36A, sometimes 34 if the back is generous

B cup bra and I have empty cups :-(
Smaller than 36 and I can barely get the clasp done up.

So I must be the exception that proves your rule.

Hmm, not necessarily (I never give up, me!). What are your under bust and across bust measurements? Usually a smaller band that matches your under bust measurment feels too tight because the cup is much too small.

It's not impossible whois, it's just that the vast majority who think they are that size have either had m&s style fittings, used on online calculator or similar

So some of us always question as a lot of a cup ladies are actually not.

whois you are not the exception - you won't be able to do the 34 up because the cups are too small, I bet! What are your measurements?

argh - don't go anywhere bra experts....I can't measure myself as Im at work right now but I will have questions for you later!!

okay I have one right now! when you do the over boob bit of the measurement should you do it while wearing a bra? I mean if you have post DC saggers (remember everyone, its the pregnancy not the BF that does it) then do you measure over them in their natural flatter but longer configuration or once you have hoisted them back up to where boobs are traditionally found?

whois you could be describing me! I've given up on bras alltogether, I hate them hate them hate them. I can feel every last bit digging in everywhere and I've tried dozens.

Yes ICB, take the overbust measurement with your best fitting bra on.

SorrelForbes hmmm I need a tape measure.. Must have an idea paper one kicking around somewhere.

When going around the boobs, how tight do you have it? Barely touching the flesh?

I don't really have much breast tissue (or bak and armpit fat!) to squish but I tried that with my 34 A I put on this morning and I barely fill the cup.

Barely touching for over. The cup size is harder to get right by measurement so always try a few. If your bras are awful then an alternative to measuring with a bra is to measure braless but bent forward so that they hang down - so your boobs are almost at 90 degrees to your body. This is actually very accurate for me and gives the same measurement as my best bra.

hahahaha

well I will try the bra approach and the leaning over 90 degrees approach but this is going to be spectacular! <can't wait to get home and find tape measure>

Yep SC, the lean forward works well for me too for measuring! Best to so this whilst on your own I've found. DH was very amused

Basically there are two different sizing systems, but no-one tells you this - the way people used to measure for bras was completely different. I think the one M&S use is 'measure under your boobs (in inches) and add 4 inches' to get the bra size, then siome faffery to get the cup size.
So in M&S I am 34E. In, say, Bravissimo, I am 30G or something.