Bra advice. Large band, small cups.

[User3637262737283]

Anyone else?

size 18-20 carry a lot of weight in mid area. Been the same weight for a while but need to lose some. 40-42 inch band but only an A or B cup and even that is too big around the cups. Not helped that my breasts are quite wide set, no fullness or roundness. I have a gap in the middle due to being wide set apart. I don’t like bras that come up too far between my breast as it digs in. Prefer bras with a lower bit in the middle.

I have read about sister sizes but not had much luck with it. I know that cup sizes will look different per band.

I put my measurements into boob and bust and it come up with a 40G. I just don’t think that’s possible 😂

I tried on a 38A last night. The cups fit perfectly and I actually filled up the bra and the band felt okay but I could tell it would rise up when moving.

not heard good things about m and s measuring. There’s a bra shop near me who measure but when I looked in the shop their biggest sizes were 36 or 38 so don’t feel relaxed going there.

I like an underwire. Despite not having much I’ve had two kids and feel I need it. I prefer padding too.

I don’t like sports bras as find they rise up.

I can’t wear full cup as its swamping and not subtle with vest stops etc in the summer

I have been buying the same bra for years from m and s but they have stopped selling them 😭 my underwire has just snapped on to favourite Bra.

so I need to find something else.

I like a very soft material rather than lace etc.

any bra suggestions? 😂

I would just keep playing around with sizes! I tried Boob or Bust and it suggested I was a 30E. Went to M&S and they sold me a 34C which isn't particularly comfortable and the lady was convinced that the t-shirt bra style ones wouldn't fit me right. I went back to M&S and tried on loads myself, including lots of different styles and settled on a 32D in the t-shirt bra light padding range. I tried 30E but the back size was far too small, I could barely breath!

If you tried on a 38 back and felt it would rise when moving then I would suggest going smaller again in the back. If the band fits well it won't move, and getting a bigger band is not going to help.

I should add, i always thought I had small boobs and would never have picked up a D cup without having the boob or bust measurement as a starting point! I've worn an A or B with a larger back size all my life!

Do you have a bravissimo near you? Definitely suggest going for a fitting, they do it completely differently to M&S etc and it's a revelation. You'll probably find you need a much tighter band and a much larger cup. The boob or bust measurement is probably quite accurate but going into a store also helps with cup styles etc which need to be different for different shapes boobs.

Agree with pp, if the band is rising up it's too big

I never thought of it this way thank you. I just felt the 38 was too small around my sides as I have some fat there - probably boob tissue in the wrong place 😂 I also like a bra with wide banding to cover my lumpy bits. This one was quite narrow on the banding which wouldn’t have helped.

I think I will go for a browse. Do shops allow try ons?

the one I tried on mil give me as she bought it reduced for a £1 from m and s. I loved how it made my breasts feel as I filled it up and it was low in the centre but the banding wasn’t right!

I think I need to try one on. But I think I must of made a mistake with boob and banding. I tried on a 38A last night and it was perfect on the cups. I can’t imagine 40G will be right 😂 I will have another go, maybe buy a new tape as this one could have stretched perhaps!

@Whentwobecomesthree sadly not as there’s not much around here at all. There’s an independent one nearby but as in OP they don’t seem to have a great deal of sizes.

If you go to Bravissimo for a fitting you will try on loads of bras.

I find it hard to believe you can be your size and an A cup so a fitting would be a better idea.

I'm similar shaped to you and I find M&S t-shirt bras comfortable. Good luck finding the right size!

placemarking so I can read this later.

Cup size changes with band size. So an A cup in a 40 back is a bigger cup size than in a 30 back. And some styles just won’t work for you. Try a few at all sorts of sizes and you’ll begin to get a feel of what suits you.

I would still go to the independent store if you feel comfortable doing so, they will be able to advise you of where you need to increase/decrease sizes etc and might be able to order things in for you to try.

Unfortunately it's very rare that people are the same size in different bras but once you have a rough idea you can go to M&S etc and try on and you'll have a better idea of what (cup or band) you need to increase/decrease.

The revelation for me came when I discovered that the band is supposed to be tight. Very tight. This is where all the support comes from.

If a bra fits really well overall but the band is too tight then a bra extender solves that problem.
If the band moves a lot though, and rides up, then it sounds too big rather than too small. If you carry extra weight around your ribs and back then it is a bit of a toss up between a band that fits well and doesn’t ride up, and one that leaves a roll of podge above and below as it is quite snug. I didn’t have this issue when I was thin but I still have my lockdown fat layer and now have bulges around my bra band.
In your place I would try a 36/38/40 in various brands, styles and cup sizes, until I got a really good fit in the cup, then use an extender if the band felt a bit too tight at first, taking it off when the bra softens and stretches after wearing for a few months. I would take an extender with me to use while trying bras on in case it was needed.

Nearest one is 4 hours away sadly!

I think it’s genetic. My mum is large band with small breasts too.

also, cup sizes change with banding sizes so an a would look totally different on a smaller band than me. My current favourite Bra is a 40A and I don’t even fill the cups, which isn’t helped I have a large gap in the middle. I used to wear a B after having my children but back to A.

Thank you. I’ve never really tried t shirt bras so I will have a browse! I nearly always go for plunge bras just because I like the low bit in the middle as I find higher dig in bad! I used to but the scrumptiously soft plunge bras from m and s but can’t find them on their website!

Yes absolutely!

I think I need to be brave and just go and look at a few. We don’t have much around but we do have an m&s nearby as as well as next, Sainsbury’s and Asda - never had much luck with supermarket bras though . I find they dig in.

Thanks all. Not had chance to reply to all!

I agree that if you fit the cup of a 38A then you won’t fit a 40G as it is seven cup sizes larger.
Also a pp mentions that a band should be very tight, I actually disagree with this. Tight enough to stay level but not very tight. Too tight can be really uncomfortable and also give you headaches, neck pain etc. Very tight bands hurt if you are skinny, and leave red marks. They are also really unflattering under clothes on anyone not thin, as they cause bulging under the band and above the central scoop at the back.
If you are a bit more padded then wider bands are best, at least three hooks, and a supportive snug fit but able to get two fingers under the band easily.

Boob or bust has changed my life. Firstly I spent it thinking I was a 34B. I'm not at all.

When it came up 30E I thought it was taking the piss. But having got past the 'wow this is tighter than I'm used to' part (they do give fairly quickly hence you needing to start on the tighter clasps), I'm now in supported, comfy boob heaven.

Who knew I was actually quite full of bust?

I went to Boux Avenue and actually had an excellent fitting experience having taken along my size from boob or bust. For example balconette don't sit well on me.

Yes have a sister size chart to hand too, that's helped me.

You need you lift and plonk the boob into the cup so don't be surprised if you're a smaller band and larger cup than you think, especially if you've got wide set boobs

thank you, I’ve tried scooping the fat into the bra but not had much luck 😂

I was a 40A, and M&S is about the only place that does bras that size, and not all ranges even then. I've since lost weight, so I'm currently about 38A, and that's still challenging to find bras, but there are more than 40A.

I mostly don't wear a bra, because bra shopping is so bloody annoying when you have a broad back and small cups. But I do have some tops and dresses where it's needed.

I've never tried Bravissimo, mostly because they appear to be aimed at the better endowed end of the market. As is all of the Netherlands, going by recent shopping experiences here. <sigh>

I have ranted more than once over the years about bra manufacturers failing to cater for those of us who are outside what they seem to consider to be standard sizes. I do understand it from an economic viewpoint, but it still leaves me braless. At least I have the option of going bra-free - if you're at the other end of the scale, you really do need a good bra.

@EBearhug thank you, yes I’ve only really bought m and s bras for a few years as not many cater for larger bands and smaller cups or if they do they are poorly fitting! It is really frustrating isn’t it! I find I can get away without a bra this time of year under jumpers and coats but not so much in summer!

It sounds as though I have a very similar shape to you - wide rib cage, flattish chested. I can never find bras that don’t gape in the cups without being horrendously tight around my chest.

I bought this one the other day and it’s really comfortable and doesn’t gape. Not under wired, but might be worth trying.

www.marksandspencer.com/ameli-non-wired-bralette/p/clp60535912?extid=ps_ps-gpla_ggl_lg_ch__-UK-_-_baussc&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIgv2JkKWI_QIVibbtCh1SlQI8EAQYASABEgJdn_D_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

There’s not much out there for larger band sizes, getting an A or even a B cup is nigh on impossible if you need more than a 36.