15 yr old dd - bra nightmare!!

[pepperpot99]

If anyone can help I'd be forever grateful. DD1 is nearly 15 and I'm having a mare getting bras to fit her. She is 5 foot 4, average weight, around 36 across her back but her cup size is AA in the M&S Angel bras, which she hates. She won't wear anything padded or underwired. In the summer holidays she tried on a massive pile of AA M&S bras from their normal adult range but the cups were massive on her. I also tried loads of triumph, Playtex etc but her breasts are basically not big enough to fit an AA . But they aren't that small. IFKWIM ? the only thing I can get for her is the pull over your head stretchy sports bra type things but she does a lot of sport so needs something more supportive.
Any advice please xxxxx

[bluebiro]

It sounds as if 36" is too big for her. If she's average weight as you described then it is very unlikely she's a 36. (For example, I'm a size 16 but wear a 32.) The cups are never going to work very well if the bra is just too loose. An AA cup would mean that there is no difference between her underbust and overbust measurement, which sounds very unlikely from your description.

Can you measure her again to check that measurement (pulling the measuring tape pretty firmly)? Ideally, can you also measure around the fullest part of her bust while leaning forward? These two measurements will give you a good starting point for her proper bra size, following this method: thebetterbracampaign.blogspot.co.uk/p/fitting-advice.html

Or if she doesn't mind, you can post the measurements here for help.

[Assam]

It sounds like shes been measured wrongly, M&S are a nightmare for that.
They measured me after breastfeeding as a 38 D, turns out I'm a 36F

[LozzaChops]

Have you tried the Little Women website?

[burnishedsilver]

What is average weight?
I'm 5'4 and size 12 - I'm 30 accross the back. 36 doesn't sound right.
An expert will be along shortly but if I was a betting woman I'd be saying she's more like a 26C than a 36AA.

[NerrSnerr]

If she's average weight then 36 sounds like it might be too big around the back. I'm 5ft1 and a size 10-12 and am a 32. She might need a smaller back and bigger cup size?

[pepperpot99]

thanks for the suggestions. I think she will have to be measured properly (we haven't actually done that). I will try that website thanks.

[bluebiro]

M&S (and several other shops) do this (ridiculous) old-fashioned method of adding 4" to the underbust measurement which means they put people in bras which are too big around the band and too small in the cups. If they've put measured your daughter as a 36AA, then something like a 32 B or C is more likely - but it's worth measuring again to get a good starting point.

[reallyanotherone]

I also hate padded and underwired, i stick to shock absorber sports bras.

M&s used to do a really good sports bra which was supportive, but not squash everything down that i used to love as a teen.

[MrsJayy]

Did she get measured at M&S they are not very accirate 36 AA doesnt sound right get her measured again either at a proper Bra shop or Debenhams they are good i was wearing a 34 b for years and im a 32C. Dd wears slazengers sports bras for her various activities and she wears them for work

[coldofhands]

M&S are rubbish, they say I'm a 36D whereas I wear a 32G - the add 4" method dates back to pre elastane/ Lycra. I would say if they've put her in a 36 they're just picking numbers out of the air! Try a 30 - 32 back, if not smaller and have s play around with cup sizes.

[pepperpot99]

thanks for the suggestions. I think she will have to be measured properly (we haven't actually done that). I will try that website thanks.

[ChristianGreysAnatomy]

Try the little women website. You can chat online to them and they'll advise on measuring.

[turtlesallthewaydown]

I would echo recommendations for Little Women! I buy all my bras from them. They have a great range.

[pepperpot99]

They look good and I see they even do an AAA range! thanks everyone

[StatisticallyChallenged]

Just to point out that when measured properly a AAA basically means there is no difference between the underbust and overbust measurements - an A is a 1" difference, a AA is less than 1" and so a AAA is basically nothing.

I would bet she is not a 36 at all - you said yourself her breasts aren't that small. Cup size is proportional to band size, so (roughly) a 28D, 30C, 32B, 34A and 36AA would all have the same breast tissue volume but the shapes of those cups will be very different with the 28s being narrower and deeper. If she's average weight for a 15 year old of her height she's almost certainly not even close to a 36.

[nocampinghere]

M&S is a JOKE.

if you are near a decent lingerie shop, go there. Different brands come up very differently. eg chantelle are good for unfull cups. I learned that the cup size is basically the shape of your boob, not the fullness - you can be a D cup and not be that big, but then you need to choose the brand/cup shape to suit so it is not all baggy. going down a size just cuts into the boob around the side (if that makes any sense).

Adidas sports crop tops are good, or lululemon (pricey though)

for non sport if she doesn't need much supoprt could she just get eg calvin klein sets?

[nocampinghere]

ps if you're ever in London, Rigby & Peller near Knightsbridge are worth a trip. i went once before my wedding. went from a 36A to a 34D.
most 34Ds don't fit (def not M&S ones!) but i know the brands that do and i know what to look out for - eg the bra must sit flat against your skin between your boobs, if it gapes it does not fit.

[Balletgirlmum]

Just as a guide - my dd is a slim but curvy 14 almost 15 year old (size 6/8 clothes) & wears 28D/DD or 30C/D

I'm 5 ft 4 and between size 12/14 & wear a 32 DD (m & s had me in a 36B)

[Clayhead]

My dd is also slim and curvy and just 15, she's a 28E at the moment. She likes the Cleo by Panache bras.

I spent my teens in badly fitting bras and finally got fitted properly when I was twenty, it changed my life! M&S had put me in a 36C and I was a 30F...

[TheOracleAtSelfie]

Please please please take a look at "boob or bust", they are brilliant and have been campaigning for better sizing. They have a very accurate self-measuring tool on their site. www.booborbust.com/calculator/

[pepperpot99]

Thankyou Oracle I will definitely do that .

I'm learning a lot here. I thought cup size remained the same whatever measurement around the back you are. Seems I was wrong.

[poppym12]

I'm fat and wear a 32f or ff. M and s 'measured' me at 38a

I found debenhams and house of fraser to be better with fitting too but it helps if you have a pretty good idea from measuring yourself beforehand so that you're not fobbed off with the usual massive band but tiny cup things that never really fit anyway.

[WitchSharkadder]

I agree that, from your description, your DD most certainly isn't a 36 AA. I was a bra fitter for years and the vast majority of women need to go 2 back sizes down and 2 cup sizes up to be anywhere near their actual size. Most high street stores aren't great at measuring, TBH.

Take your DD bra shopping and try on loads of sizes. The correct size should fit snug on the back (always buy one that fits on the loosest clasp as they lose elasticity with wear) and should sit completely flat between the breasts, if it's coming away from the breast bone at all then then the cup size is too small. All the 'fat' (not that I'm saying your DD is fat at all, it's just the best way I can think of to put it) under the armpits is breast tissue and should be scooped into the cup. No breast should be poking out from under, over or the sides of the cups. Good luck, OP.

[motherinferior]

Yep, my size 8 DD1 is a 28DD.

[agapanthii]

And for non wired, non padded, Sloggi has some good options, that my teen likes. Or sports bras, which she prefers, but they tend to be very colourful so not so great under a white school shirt.