Bra fitting advice needed!

[SandyAndy]

Hi. I am desperately in need of your wisdom and advice about bra fittings!
My current bras are sooooo uncomfortable I cannot wait to get them off in the evening. I have marks where they dig in to me and I've had enough! Might have to burn em if things carry on like this!
Current bras were fitted by M&S which I gather from reading through a few old threads is a big no no. I am wearing a 38 DD. I usually wear underwired bras although to be honest I am considering non wired bras as I am desperate to feel comfortable.
I'm a size 14-16 so the extra fat doesn't help either.
Any pointers about measuring, fitting, types of bra, shops to get fitted, all very gratefully received.
Thank you

[StatisticallyChallenged]

thebetterbracampaign.blogspot.co.uk/p/fitting-advice.html

start there :)

[gunting]

If you're a size 14 and in a 38 then firstly the back size is probably way too big.

The back should feel firm and you should be able to get little more than a couple of fingers between your back and the bra. 95% of the support should come from the back band and not the straps.

M&S are dreadful. They fitted me as a 40C and asked if I lifted weights (I don't ) I'm actually a 34F.

Bravissimo are very good, I've heard that HoF and debenhams are getting better too but I personally wouldn't get fitted anywhere that relied on a tape measure.

[SandyAndy]

Thank you

[SandyAndy]

So a little update, I followed the measuring advice on the link from StatisticallyChallenged and it turns out I am not a 38DD at all, I am a 34G! Actually measured a 32G but found that band size too tight to be comfortable.
Trawled through M&S's rather dismal offering, loads in smaller cup sizes but not much in larger, managed to find 2 bras which fit like a dream. Am wearing one under a t shirt right now and it gives me a much better shape, and also is so comfy!
So thanks for the advice. Will go for a more extensive shop elsewhere when I have a chance.

[StatisticallyChallenged]

M and s bands are often snug so you may well be a 32 in other brands, possibly with a gg cup.

[NicknameUsed]

"I personally wouldn't get fitted anywhere that relied on a tape measure."

Surely you would need a tape measure as a starting point? Even if to measure under the bust?

[StatisticallyChallenged]

A decent shop like bravissimo will go by the bra you're wearing and see how it fits and judge from there

[NicknameUsed]

I'm too small for Bravissimo

[KatharinaRosalie]

are you sure? D cup is not really that large

[SandyAndy]

OK that's interesting Statisticallychallenged thank you. I cannot believe the difference, I also cannot believe how big a cup size I need! My old bras literally had the wire digging in to the side of my boob, I have marks from it. And that was M&S fitted bra!
Thanks again for the advice.

[StatisticallyChallenged]

M&S cannot fit bras to save themselves, they really don't seem to know what they're looking at/for. I mystery shopped them once, walked in wearing a very well fitting 30HH. They tried to put me in a 36F, which was so far up my back it was practically a necklace.

Nickname can you measure yourself as per the guide? A lot of people who think they're too wee for bravissimo really aren't as especially if you're actually a small band then a D cup really isn't that big.

[NicknameUsed]

"are you sure? D cup is not really that large"

I'm a B, after being intervened on here. I was an A.

[FutureGadgetsLab]

Statististically could you give me a hand with fitting? I'm decent at bra fitting but you are the expert! I seem to fit in both a 30E and 30F, with very little difference. How do I know which one to buy?!

[StatisticallyChallenged]

Fair enough Nickname - the reason we say that isn't to be rude it's just that magazines/newspaper/M&S do such a good job of skewing the perception of cup size that most people who say "I'm too small for Bravissimo" actually aren't - they've just been mis-fitted or have seen so many reports claiming that "Jordan is a D cup" (pre reduction!) that we're fighting a perception battle! Plus even people who've been fitted in to an A by M&S are often a D because of the whole +4 thing

John Lewis are normally a good option for fitting for those who aren't in Bravissimo territory

FutureGadgetsLab it kind of depends. My breast size fluctuates a fair bit during my cycle so depending on when I shop I'll sometimes wind up with a bra which is too big at other times, and sometimes with one that I can only wear 2 weeks out of 4! Are you scooping fully?

[FutureGadgetsLab]

Statistically I didn't think if I was scooping enough, I'll try that tomorrow. Thanks.

[VikingLady]

Has anyone seen that M&S have a bra fitting event on? I sniggered.

[StatisticallyChallenged]

If both were seeming to fit but you weren't scooping then I'd hazard a guess you actually need the bigger one and you'd probably find that once you wore the smaller one for a wee while it would move and you'd get bulges somewhere. I generally err on the side of bigger, unless it's a plunge bra bought specifically for mega cleavage purposes...

[FutureGadgetsLab]

Definitely not for mega cleavage haha, I like to downplay my boobs. Thank you for your advice!

[gunting]

You don't need a tape measure even as a starting point. I did bra fitting training at rigby and peller and I've never used a tape measure! I wouldn't even know where to start with one.

[NicknameUsed]

"You don't need a tape measure even as a starting point. I did bra fitting training at rigby and peller and I've never used a tape measure! I wouldn't even know where to start with one."

I used the excellent services of MN to get my correct size. I found a tape measure very helpful. As a 32B I don't need Rigby and Peller or Bravissimo (I was a 34A before my intervention). I find perfectly good bras for my size in M and S and Debenhams.

[StatisticallyChallenged]

Agree gunting - you need it for the online intervention approach (which basically gets close to an R&P/Bravissimo style fit, verified by a couple of fitters) as we can't see you or pull on the band to see how loose it is, so a measurement gives somewhere to start. But it is just that, a starting point - the guide talks a lot about what a good fit should look and feel like because a tape measure alone won't get you to the perfect size. In most cases it will get you close, but breasts come in all different shapes.

For some people there just isn't anywhere local which does good fittings though - or there's only Bravissimo which loads of people won't go in to because they think they are too small for it.

[MrsKipling16]

I realise this thread is a few months old, but didn't think my question warranted a new post!

Like the original OP, I have read the guidance on the old threads, was previously fitted by M & S and am currently wearing a stretched and greying 34B (from M & S) but think this is wrong; however, would like some reassurance as the difference seems vast.

Having used the measuring guide, I am 31" under my boobs and 39" at the fullest part when bending over at 90 degrees - this would appear to make me either a 30 or 32 and indicate that I should try 30G and 32FF as a starting point?

I am a size 10 top, and size 10 or 12 bottom (depending on store) if that helps to put the above into context.

I can get to Bravissimo at the weekend for some "professional advice" but just wanted to make sure I was thinking along the right lines first so that there are no shocks when I go .

Have I worked this out this out correctly? Thank you.

[marriednotdead]

That sounds about right MrsKipling, you're definitely in Bravissimo territory!

Depending on what shapes/brands suit you, there may be slight size variations. Above all, be led by how the bra feels, if it suits your ribs and boob shape then it should be instantly comfortable. Bras should not generally need 'breaking in'.

[StatisticallyChallenged]

Got to admit mine to tend to, but I think it's because I need a pretty firm band so if I buy the "ooh comfy" option it's too big within 1 wear, so I prefer to buy snug. I find bras like shoes, I can tell the ones which are firm but will be great once they soften!

[MrsKipling16]

Thanks for the replies - sounds like it will be a bit of trial & error at first. I still can't believe the difference!