I only have one bra. It doesn't fit, please help.

[messydesk]

I had 3 but binned the other two as they have scarred my rib cage under my bust and my armpit area quite badly and I could only wear them with cotton wool cleansing pad sticking out from under all the really painful areas. So. I used the better bra guide that is suggested on here and my under bust was 30 and round my boobs was 40 so I figured I was a 30gg? Well no bra answering to that name seemed to agree with me and I tried looooads. So. Helpful girl in Debenhams came into the cubicle measured me and gave me all the wrong information, said I was a 34 or 36 band, did me up on the tightest row of hooks yanked straps tight to try and get rid of the gaps at the top of the cups and then just started bringing in random sizes. I got hotter and sweater and more frustrated and did what I always do, left with one that felt and looked 'ok'. It was a 32f. I have tried it on at home and it's not the right size. I know it. The back rides up and it doesn't feel right. The one I am wearing causes me untold discomforts and I'm sure is contributing to the horrendous headaches I have. What to do?????

[StatisticallyChallenged]

OK, so the girl in Debenhams was doing the old fashioned way of measuring. If your 32 is riding up, then you almost certainly do need a 30. What brand were the 30s you tried, and what was wrong with them?

[FlatOnTheHill]

Go to M&S and get measured. Then go to an M&S outlet if you have one near you. I get all my bras from there but only in an outlet as much cheaper.

[messydesk]

They were all different brands and styles. Only thing i learned today is that I need a full cup. I have heard nothing but bad things about M&S fittings though?

[snowypenguin]

Marks staff can't measure for toffee. Go to bravissimo.

[messydesk]

Also the 30 seemed to give me two fat pouches spilling over the top of the bra under my armpits?

[Truckingalong]

Do NOT go to m & s to be measured, is the only bit of constructive advice I can offer here.

[FlatOnTheHill]

My measurements at m&s seem fine. Are they renowned for being crap?
Will bare it in mind in future if my shape changes

[heritagewarrior]

Absolutely don't go to M&S! Go to Bravissimo - their bras will be correctly fitted, but try a few bra styles (plunge, balconette, half cup etc) as well as brands to get maximum comfort. I favour Panache plunges myself, having had the wires digging in mid cleavage and having deployed the cotton wool technique you described with balconettes esp from Freya......

[StatisticallyChallenged]

Do not go to M&S. I mystery shopped them for the bra guru blog - 30HH shoved in to a 36F. I could have tied a knot in the damn thing.

Fat pouches - were you scooping? You need to put the bra on then put your right hand in to your left cup and scoop all the soft tissue forward and in to the bra. Repeat on other sides. It's also possible that you needed a slightly bigger cup (insufficient cup volume can result in underarm spillage) or that the shape of the wires wasn't right and that you either need higher cups (try panache) or wider (freya or curvy kate, generally)

[Fluffycloudland77]

Do go to bravissimo.

One thing I learnt is that it's not always the wrong size but just the wrong shape, turns out I need wires that sit quite far back under my arms. Narrower styles are very sore.

I still had to twist the fabric round on the wire to make it fit when I got it home but the fitter was going similar.

[Fluffycloudland77]

Eg

This is ouchy

This fits perfectly

Same brand & size but different style.

[FinallyHere]

Rigby & Peller

[messydesk]

Bravissimo it is then. I've been wearing bras for 30 years and never had one that fit. My poor boobs

[notnowbernadette]

Another recommendation for Bravissimo. M&S are useless for bras, particularly larger cup sizes

[messydesk]

Jeez. It's a minefield!! I'm going to check out bravissimo next weekend then. I've been wearing bras for 30 years and I haven't had one that fits yet. My poor boobs

[Wolfiefan]

Oh yes. I'd love to go to Rigby and Peller!

[BorisJohnsonsHair]

I was measured at M and S as a 36E (completely hopeless), then Bravissimo (by and ex M and S employee) who sold me a 32 G. I wore it for a day and was in agony and still had "spillage" over the cups and sides. So I took it back. They were brilliant about it, got someone else to measure me and it turned out I was a 32J. Freya bras fit me better than most, but sometimes you need to know how a bra should fit, rather than just picking the right size. For example, the bit between the breasts should lie flat, the band should fit tightly (but not painfully) around the ribcage and hence support the breasts without much need for the straps.

Another piece of advice I received was to hold the outside of the wired bit with (eg) your left hand for your left breast, put your hand inside the cup and pull all the breast tissue upwards and inwards iyswim to fill the cup, and get rid of the overspill under the armpit.

My local department store is also very good (John Lewis and the like).
Hope this helps rather than hinders!

[Lweji]

Once you master the art of fitting a bra you can order them online at lower prices.
But definitely get a good fitting first at Bravissimo or Rigby and Peller.

[messydesk]

My concern is this. There are many different brands styles and shapes. If I go to Bravussimo, will I have to be measured again if I go to say John Lewis as it would seem no two 32f's for example, are the same? Or would I just be better of sticking to bravissimo for all my bras in future?

[Lweji]

They will stock similar brands. You can stick to the brands and shapes you prefer.
But for each one it's always good to try cups up and down to make sure which is best.
Also always try first.
Don't just grab one off the shelf and assume it will fit. Breasts change a bit with time and as our weight goes up and down. Even along the month. I need a bigger cup just before my period.

[Equiem89]

After much trial and error I know that I'm a 30FF and Freya bras seem to fit the best, I love their deco bras.
I do not get along with the soft cup, netting type of bras, they just look hideous on me

[StatisticallyChallenged]

What you will find is that a good Bravissimo fitter will teach you what "good" looks like. Bravissimo carries a wide range of bras and it's perfectly possible that you might actually come out of bravissimo with a couple of bras in different sizes. They're like jeans in that they vary a lot between brands and they're a pain in the ass to get right. But the fitter will show you all the signs of good fit so when you go in to, say, John Lewis, you can pick up a bra in your most common size, try it, and you'll know if it fits and if not, whether you need to go up a cup, down a cup, etc.

[KP86]

Bravissimo, bravissimo, bravissimo!

Make an appointment and go. You will not regret it.

[CottonSock]

Bravissimo gets my vote. It's still taken me years to find a bra that's comfortable. I'm hoping they will all still fit after I have baby! Panache porcelain I found my miracle, Freya fit tight and dig in for me. I often tell the fitter to go up a size on the back. I think they get a bit carried away on my smallish frame. I'm a similar size to you

[CottonSock]

Oh, and it it rides up at the back, shoulder straps may be adjusted too tight. Back strap designed to take most of the weight. Good luck!