Mumsnet Talk

Sorry that was for haunted
To answer OP I wear them tight tight tight otherwise by poor saggy boobs would be too far south

As the Leia lady orders

I wear mine tight but the correct size for my boobs.

I've even educated my daughter on how to tell when a bra fits correctly. Band fits snugly and you can fit 2 fingers underneath it, boobs are fully encased by the cups, no spillage over the top or sides and the wires in the middle sit flat against the skin not poking forwards.

Haunted, the M and S chart is bollox - it would put DD in a 32C (she is a 28D, but would be 26D if they made them!) and me in a 34C (I am a 34 A)

Sorry for hijack

So. With my measurements of 33" and 37" and an online survey...

M & S say 38C
John Lewis say 38AA
Next say 38AA
Tesco say 38B
Debenhams won't even tell me but 33" and 38" would be a 38A
Dorothy Perkins is a 38AA
Bravissimo and Rigby and Peller a) won't advise based on measurements (fair enough) and b) won't make a bra small enough,.

I get what you are saying about cup size changing. But if all these sites are advising a 38" back size and that is what find comfortable (and a 36 too tight) I just don't get how I am even going to get a 32 or 34 done up

<I am currently wearing a 36A cos thats the closest to what I can find to what I self measure.>

I have been professionally measured in teh past and (whisphers M&S and mothercare) for nusring bras - came out at 38D and I know that I am way way way smaller in cup than I was then.

I cannot understand how that can be so. With an under bust measurement of 33 inches you should be in a 34 or maybe evens 32. Not not not a 38!

Haunted when you get your head around the the fact that 38C is the same size as 36D and 34DD and 32E then you start to see how having a tighter band but bigger cup size can still be a comfortable bra.

I see women all the time with boobs around their waistband because they are wearing such badly fitted bras. It must be hurting their shoulders and back with all that weight dragging on them.

Trust me you will . I can't fit into a 30C/D/DD etc but fit perfectly into a 30G (30FF in a few brands). Bras are funny things and the wrong cup size can really affect the fit of the band.

Please ignore all those online guides, they are rubbish and out of date. My local Debenhams however are quite good at fitting so obviously take no notice of their on-line chart!

Have a look at these links for more info:

www.thinandcurvy.com/2010/10/how-to-measure-your-bra-size-correct.html

www.investinyourchest.co.uk/diy-measure-yourself-at-home

Don't even start me on mothercare

Haunted M&S are notorious in putting people in wrong sizes - too big back and too small cup. There is no way you are A or AA with 4 inches between under and overbust measurements. Bravissimo sells D, go get measured there, they will of course tell you if you would really need a C.

Haunted - I measure 37 under bust and I wear a 36, a 38 is too loose on me.

M&S would have me in a 42E I wear a 36GG/H depending on the make.

Believe it or not, all those sites are wrong!

Measure underbust, this is your band measurement. If you are an odd number try the band sizes either side.

Measure overbust. Each 1" of difference equals one cup size.

So your starting point should be
32DD/E and
34C

(I think)

there is absolutely NO WAY you should be wearing a 38band size though, of that I am certain!

Next time I am in the city I shall head off to JL to get measured and report back, althought could be a few weeks.

<Keeps whittering, I just don't get how if the band on a 36, on the loosest setting feels too tight around the ribs and is visibly stretched after a couple of months a smaller band will fit...and I don't get how a bigger cup can make a band looser....although do get how a bigger band changes the cup sizes...and now I am terribly confused....wanders off after seriously hijacking thread for last hour>

I wear a 30" and have just measured myself at 31" under bust. It's nice and tight, but can still do the two finger thing.

Am off to bravissimo next week for some proper fitting advice, am somewhere around a 30GG or H I think (41" over bust).

I don't get the adding 4 inches thing??

HLL - it might surprise you how tight a properly fitted bra feels at first

I have just had a look at that m&s link That would have me in a 36!! Even an m&s 32" (smallest they do in a lot of styles ) is too big on me!

I wear Triumph Amourette. Have been wearing the same style for 10 years or more. Can't find anything else that fits like it. Originally fitted at John Lewis. When I'm a bit porky I wear a 36D when I am a better weight I wear a 34DD.

But my 36" is currently hurting me (physcological from this thread maybe - kind o like itching the head on a headlice thread???) and gives me red marks.

And I don't wear it on its tightest clip cos it is uncomfortable and digs in to my ribs even more.

And I am wearing a 36" (and would be a 38") cos that is what I find comfortable not cos of what a tape measure says. I measured myself for the first time in 11 years tonight for this thread (i.e. I didn't buy this size cos of measurements, but because I felt that a 38B was too big (and I couldn't get a 38A).

I will be back after I have been to JL.

<And I am not disputing that the M&S chart is bollocks...just that me wearing a 32" band sounds ludicrous>

HLL - it's hurting because your cup is much much too small. Your flesh is being squeezed into the wrong places and not being properly supported.

Enjoy your fitting

Looks down T-shirt

But with the bra that I am currently wearing (moulded cup) I currently have a gap of 0.5cm at the breastbone between breast and edge of cup and a gap of 1.5-2cm between breast and cup near my armpit....

OK, I am slouching...and not sitting properly but I promise my cup gapes even when standing with a good posture (which is why I went down a size from 38B).

Honestly I don't have boobs. They are non existent. I lay down and I am as flat as a pancake.

You must have some, otherwise why the 4 inch difference in measurement? Have you got your shoulder straps really short or long?

Definitely go and get fitted - and then report back!

Remember that the cup on a 36B is the same volume as a 34C and a 32D. If you wear a smaller back size your flesh will be held and supported in the right place and will fill the cup properly. The links I gave you up thread should give info about 'scooping' your flesh into the cup when putting your bra on.

My skinny size 6/8 niece with hardly any lumpy bits to speak of has been fitted as a 28D.

I went to m and s and la senza and got measured at a 38C a few months ago. Forked out a fortune on bras to there size.

Got fed up of wearing there bras so went to bravissimo and they measured me at a 34F!! Best day of my life, much more supported and comfortable now!

When I first started wearing bravissimo ones they did feel too tight but that was because I was so used to wearing too loose and they feel brill now I am used to it! X