Bra fitting help!

[horseygeorgie]

I've been sent here to talk to you experts from the lovely people on chat. I posted the following there....

I have no idea what size I am. Was fitted at M&S years ago as a 44D and have been mainly wearing 42DD for years as nowhere seems to do bigger back sizes. Yet again I have to buy a new bra and am just so down about it. Mine always seem to ride up, the straps seem to fall down and if I tighten them any further the whole thing bloody lifts away from my body. The wire is always digging in under my arms and poking me and I'm just so sick of it!

ANY help and advice?! I'm thinking of duct tape.

[gunting]

What clothes size do you wear in tops? I used to fit bras by eye and I can guess someone's size by looking at them

[horseygeorgie]

I'm a 16-18

[horseygeorgie]

or was! Probably more an 18 - 20 now lol! Very rarely buy clothes but 18 seems to be good.

[Talisin]

Measure yourself like this then come back & post your measurements.

[horseygeorgie]

hang about I'll grab a tape measure.

[gunting]

In that case a 42 is probably much much too big for you. Do you have a bravissimo or good independent lingerie shop near by?

M&S are useless at bra fitting. The last time I went they measured me as a 40C (I'm a 34F)

If the DD cup fits then perhaps try a 36F or 34G and see which fits best.

(This site explains how bra sizes are relative too each other sorry if this reply is confusing! m.brasize.com/m/bra-sister-size/)

[horseygeorgie]

I'm 40" underbust and 52" on fullest part. But that puts me in some mahoosive boob size if I go by the guide?!

[dementedpixie]

Was the underbust pulled fairly tight? 40HH is what those measurements would give

[dementedpixie]

Op said when pulled tight the bra sits away from the body suggesting the cup size is far too small

[dementedpixie]

I am a size 20/22 and wear a 36GG

[horseygeorgie]

Yep that was tight. A double HH!? But I don't have enough boob to fill that surely. I'm a bit saggy too, won't I be left with some serious gaps on the top?

[Talisin]

That puts you at around 40 HH assuming you pulled the tape tight for the band width.

[horseygeorgie]

Well I always wanted bigger boobs! Are M&S not a good place to get measured then? My Mum has always sworn by them.

[dementedpixie]

But not all HHs are the same as it is relative to back size e.g. A 32HH has a much smaller cup than 36HH

You also need to scoop breast tissue from the sides into the cup

[horseygeorgie]

Oh I see. Never knew that but it is logical when you think about it! Why does it vary so much from the other add 5 inches method? Less depressing though!

[Talisin]

A lot depends on the style of the bra. I'm a bottom heavy 32H and with many bras the top half of the bra is empty but if I try smaller cups then I'm oozing out the back which isn't a good look! It's a case of trial and error really. If you have a bravissmo anywhere near you then I'd really recommend a visit, you can get an idea of what suits and then go home and check ebay for the styles that worked.

[Talisin]

M&S are uttlerly shit for measuring, they haven't changed from the 70s techniques basically and bra sizing has.

[horseygeorgie]

Thanks everyone. Would be nice to have one that actually stays in place all day! Do Bravissmo do up to my size?

[gunting]

I think bravissimo will go up to an L cup in some ranges

[Talisin]

Yep. Bravissimo don't do below a D cup and go up to much larger sizes than you. And they don't just sell their own range. I know it's a bit of a shock to find you are nothing like the size you thought but it's still pefectly possible to find your size in the high street - Debenhams, etc all stock 40HH.

[horseygeorgie]

It is a bit of a shock! How on earth could i have got it so wrong for most of my life!?!

[Talisin]

The majority of women in this country are wearing the wrong bra size so you are far from alone. Probably because everyone trusts M&S and they have been wrong wrong wrong for so many years now. My mother went from a 34/36 DD in M&S to a 30FF when she went to Bravissimo (I'd been telling her for years but she wouldn't listen until a friend of hers went there).

[Borninthe60s]

It's riding up and straps falling down then I'd say go from 42 to 38 and DD to G and see how that fits.

[horseygeorgie]

Thank you again for your help everyone. One more thing, I never know this, but is it ok to try bras on in the shop?!? I never do but have bought a fair few badly fitting ones.

[gunting]

Horsey yes it's fine. In the lingerie boutique I worked at we didn't have a single tape measure and let women try bras on to get the right size and style. Try on as many as you need even if you don't buy any