Can someone help me determine dd bra size please?

[Jazzcafecoffee]

She’s nearly 14 and at that typical self conscious stage. I have offered to take her to M&S to get measure but she says absolutely not!
So I’ve measured her bust and band area and looked on various calculators and so far have a variety of sizes ranging from 30AA to 26C!!
Her bust area measures 76cm and band area 68cm.
Any idea what size she is?

M&S were still doing "measure your own" when I last took DD so maybe it's worth booking a fitting appointment and ask them about sizing?

I’d go for a 26C or 28B with those measurements but you have a lot more wiggle room for soft bralette type things in the smaller sizes, if she’s not been used to a bra perhaps get the bigger band size so it’s not too tight initially and she has room to grow.

I just used an online guide and bought the size up and down different bands etc from Next and took back what didn't fit. Some shops are slightly different cup fit etc so it eas easier to try a few and in comfort of home

www.booborbust.com/

Use boob or bust calculator. They'll give you a more accurate size than M&S would anyhow.

Well, it all depends on which system you follow...

The original system adds 3 or 4 (depending on whether you're odd or even) to the inch measurement of the underbust; then cup size started at that as A (or possibly AA... it's a long time since I was there )

We don't have long before the adherents of Boob or Bust come along and trumpet the Absolute Truth that M&S are evilly lying to you because in this new system the band size is the actual underbust measurement.

No doubt there are some very decent bras on sale using that system but it's probably worth noting that the last time I tried on M&S bras I couldn't do up the band size that the BoB people insisted would be the right one.

68cm is 26.7 inches, so that's where 30 comes from; 76cm is 30 inches, so that gives you AA (probably - see my earlier caveat). Start with 30AA if you're buying from M&S.

In the BoB system you'd get 26, with cup size correspondingly larger.

Different bras sit differently, so try on a few in neighbouring sizes.

(crosspost, damn )

Lol 😂 boob or bust beat you!

I converted into inches, and using the method I was taught, it's coming out at a 28 and either c/d cup.

She can measure herself in inches, around her ribcage below her bust, then leaning forward slightly, measuring the fullest part of her bust.

And the inch difference is the cup size, so the cm measurements you've given in inches are roughly:

27" around
30" bust

Now she could try a 26" band but it might be too tight, which is why I said 28c or d, as it was probably a straight measure rather than leant forward.

Doing this helped me so much, I went from wearing a 44B to a 38E, and I'm so much more comfortable, and my boobs no longer look like spaniel ears lol.

@merryhouse

Well, it all depends on which system you follow...

The original system adds 3 or 4 (depending on whether you're odd or even) to the inch measurement of the underbust; then cup size started at that as A (or possibly AA... it's a long time since I was there )

We don't have long before the adherents of Boob or Bust come along and trumpet the Absolute Truth that M&S are evilly lying to you because in this new system the band size is the actual underbust measurement.

No doubt there are some very decent bras on sale using that system but it's probably worth noting that the last time I tried on M&S bras I couldn't do up the band size that the BoB people insisted would be the right one.

68cm is 26.7 inches, so that's where 30 comes from; 76cm is 30 inches, so that gives you AA (probably - see my earlier caveat). Start with 30AA if you're buying from M&S.

In the BoB system you'd get 26, with cup size correspondingly larger.

Different bras sit differently, so try on a few in neighbouring sizes.

🤦🏽

Please don't set her up for a lifetime of awful fitting bras by taking her to M&S and teaching her that is what you do. 26C/28B is correct, but at that size I would looking at a bralette rather than an actual bra.

OP, she is a very similar size to my 11 year old DD who is 27.5” / 30”. She’s been wearing size 28, soft bralette type bras from the Angel range at M&S or from Next.

I might get rinsed for this but, because you're trying to find the right size, you also need to try and find the right kind of bra, honestly I'd go to primary, and let her choose a few different styles and sizes to get a sense of what fits and what doesn't.

Dd is incredibly self conscious too. She wouldn’t let me measure under her clothes and she wouldn’t let me check her fit. She did let me take her to a specialty boutique where all they sell is bras. They also don’t use tape measures there, they just try something close, look, and know what to suggest. No one saw her topless and no one touched her without explicitly asking and then never more than to adjust a strap. They were amazing. The bra we bought cost a small fortune, but they told me exactly what to look for in terms of what would fit her best even within her size for when we went to buy cheaper ones. They said we should probably come back once a year for a fitting for her and we will. (I’m in the US so I can’t refer to the shop, just say, find a small boutique place that specializes in stocking lots of bra sizes because those women are amazing).

I knew to do this because my mom actually used to work in one of these shops long ago. When I was a kid I didn’t have to deal with this measuring trauma because my own mom was the expert bra lady who could just look at you and know.

I just had some soft options delivered from. M&S and she tried them on at home and I sent the others back.

@CliveThighs

www.booborbust.com/

Use boob or bust calculator. They'll give you a more accurate size than M&S would anyhow.

it might work for some people but the sizing is ridiculous on me. An F cup on me simple wrong even E is too big

When I used boob or bust it gave me a band size that was so tight it was hard to breath!

An F cup on me simple wrong even E is too big

But this is a meaningless statement as there is no one “F cup.” The volume varies depending on the back size. A 30F is actually rather small!

@wizzend

An F cup on me simple wrong even E is too big

But this is a meaningless statement as there is no one “F cup.” The volume varies depending on the back size. A 30F is actually rather small!

It's not meaningless. The cup size on that web site is too big, when I was bigger they were telling me a HH. It's complete nonsense

@FloBot7

When I used boob or bust it gave me a band size that was so tight it was hard to breath!

Same - I thought my rib cage was being crushed. BorB gave me measurements of something like 32G.

I ordered a tape measure from Nudea and I'm a 36E which fits fab. I also used it to measure my two teenage daughters.

@CamdenLurker glad I'm not the only one! Everyone said it was 100% accurate. The band size I got was a 28. The reality is that a 32 fits tightly but would expand to a comfortable size after a few wears. I could have worn the 28 a hundred times and still want to rip my bra off as soon as I was home.

Thanks everyone, it’s all so confusing with different sites stating different sizes. This is why I’ve personally never worn bras, I’m quite flared chested so have always worn comfy, pull on bra tops. Dd is going to be bigger busted than me. I don’t want her to always feel uncomfortable. I’ll use the calculator and then pop to somewhere like M&S and get her to try a few different sizes.

She sounds on the petite side, whilst you'll find 30AA in the M&S teen range, she might be just as comfortable in a bralette.

My daughter likes these:

www2.next.co.uk/style/st313437/618098#618098

And then she's got padded similar styles from H&M and Primark.