Do You Reckon You Wear The Correct Size Bra?

[BunnyLover7]

Apparently something like 70% of women wear the wrong size (not sure if that’s UK women). I’ve been for 2 fittings at M & S in the last month or so & hoping the lady I saw today has got it right! Her colleague that I saw before ended up selling me a bra that was actually smaller than the one I’d arrived in ( I didn’t question it until later on as I presumed it was because it was a different style) but it gradually got tighter as the day went on. She’d said that if it turned out that I needed to wear my extender with that bra, which I did, I could then try the next band size up with the same cup size. I ordered 2, meaning I’d spent just over £50 altogether,but unfortunately the same thing happened even with the extender on.
Today, the assistant reckoned I was another band size up & that I fell between 2 cup sizes. I bought 2 different styles of non wired bra in a 42C & so far so good, although obviously I’m allowing for a certain snugness as it’s brand new. Fingers crossed! I was in pain & it even affected my eating so more often than not I went bra less after a certain time of day to get comfortable. Do any of you struggle with bras?

M&S are bad.

They measured me as a 42G. I couldn't do it up! I am actually a 38 K (at a size 20-22). But they don't do that size in their own brand....

They measured my DD as a 32D. Nothing fitted anywhere. She's a 28F/FF but they only do first bras in a 28" which go up to D in their own brand....

Thank you everyone - interesting thread! Hopefully I am now sorted. Someone on here mentioned M & S Flexifit & I just got fitted for a 40C. The assistant asked who measured me as a 42 & I had to tell her it was her colleague! The bras are super soft, non wired & move through 360 degrees. I bought 3 in different colours plus matching briefs for the magenta one. Spent a small fortune over the last few weeks so hopefully I can sell the bras I have hardly worn.

I bet you're a 36 or 38 DD/E/EE. M&S do the plus 4 method.

Did you do this? What size did it say?

So as the M&S bra she's just got fits her and is comfortable, would she have to have a 36 or 38 if she bought a bra elsewhere?

It's a confusing question but here's what I mean, M&S add 4 inches to your underbust measurement. So, I wear a 36GG, in M&S they'd measure my underbust (area just under breasts) and it would be 36 inches, they would add 4 inches therefore putting me in a 40 inch bra size, they would then NOT be able to put me a GG as it would be huge, so they'd then drop me down about 2 cups sizes to counteract the 4 inches in underbust. So they would probably fit me as FF or thereabouts. But if I went into M&S to buy a bra following the 'A bra that fits' measuring guide I'd be buying a 36GG from my own measurements. I know M&S skip certain double cup sizes, so I'd try on a few different cup sizes and buy the one that fits me best. Probably a H.

So basically M&S fit you in completely the wrong size bra for your size. Always huge in the band and smaller in the cup to counteract the band size. It's always best to measure yourself or to get measured in a shop that has good reviews for their measuring.

Yes I go to a bra shop in town. Perfect sizes.

I'm a size 12 to 14 in clothes. I'm not overweight. But I'm wearing 38C or 40C bras and the band always feels too tight, especially under the breasts, so I use extenders. I can't imagine how tight a 34 band would be!

I'd bet £100 that you are wearing the wrong cup size so your breasts are pushing at the bra, your breasts are trying to find more room and making the band stretch therfore making it feel too tight for you. If you put your bra on upside down, cups hanging down towards the floor it wouldn't be too tight at all. Also bands are suppose to be tight. That's where most of the support comes from, not the shoulder straps.

Obviously it's up to you want bra size you wear, but it would be Interesting to see what results you get from a bra calculator.

https://www.abrathatfits.org/calculator.php

I bet you'd come up as a 34EE or 36E

@BusterGonad Thanks! I understand the explanation (why does bra sizing have to be so complicated?!) What I don't understand is that she said she'd been fitted with a 40 something at ,M&S and it was fine - the bra fitted and was comfortable. But you're saying by your method she's a 36 or 38. So are M&S bras labelled differently to everyone else's? In other words, is an M&S 40A bra the same as everyone else's 36C?

Maybe it depends if the extra size for the band is round the back or the front, I have a large prominent rib cage but not much back fat, others may have a smaller rib cage but a fatter back.

It feels fine because it's comfortable. A 40 will be the same 40 as any other brand. The op hasn't tried a bra that fits correctly and she's happy in the M&S bra. It's not until you've actually put on a correct fitting bra do you notice how ill fitting your previous one was.

This sounds patronising, I don't mean to sound patronising but wearing a correct fitting bra is so great. You just look so much better, your breasts are where they be, supported etc and clothes look so much better.

Bra or bust have been spot on for me the last 10 plus years. I remember first time I measured, I was shocked and thought absolutely no way could it be correct. Ordered bras, more out of curiosity than anything else, and they fitted. Really well!

OK thanks I'll give this a try, and the calculator! I just hate the feeling of the bra pressing and cutting into my ribcage.

I do not want to wear the size that I was fitted at (an independent bra fitter) because they made me look too wide and the bras cut up under my armpits. What I have done is gone down a back size and bought bra strap extenders. Now my bras fit well! I am wearing a 32 GG. Bra fitter wanted me in a 34H.

That's a good solution, some of us have bigger things called Tail of Spence and some bras can dig in there I've had that issue too and rubbed me raw.

Wear what your happy with, but a well fitting bra will really help your overall look. At home I wear a M&S non wired flexifit bra as it's comfy and feels like I'm not wearing a bra, but I do look a bit like a sack of potatoes as it gives no lift or separation and I have a saggy mono boob, but I'm comfortable and there's a lot to be said for that. My Panache bras are wired and are snug so it is nice to just have the freedom of a wireless. When I tried out HRT (early menopause) I could only tolerate the Flexifits as my boobs were so sore and swollen. Thank goodness I gave up on that.

Wow feeling so good! Got measured at a highly recommended shop in a local town & I am 36F, not 40C or D as told by M & S! Actually got a bit teary at one point because I’ve spent so much money over the years & never really got the right fit. Their bras were expensive but I treated myself to a couple & now I know my size, I can buy more from elsewhere.

Actually the fitter reckoned I’m probably a 34F but to get used to the snug fit before I drop down.

No. I used to ( lemonade dolls) but then they changed the sizing and now nothing fits. I can't go back to underwired bras.