Is your bra size different for each bra style? Am bit baffled (and frustrated)

[PopsiMaxine]

Have lost a lot of weight and a lot of breast tissue.

I went to M&S for a bra fitting and said I wanted just basic bras for under tshirts etc.

She fitted me as a 34DD and had me try on a few sizes around that, even trying me in a 36 inch back (Im 8 and a half stone)

So in a full cup underwire the 34DD fit nicely. No double boob. Not great lift but heyho.

So she told me I was that size.

Bought 3 of the bra I tried on in different colours and then looked for some non underwire sleep bras and a fancier balcony bra for more special days.

Get home and wear the ones i bought for a few days then go to put a sleep bra on. SO baggy. The 34DD cup is practically empty, does not fit at all.

So I try the 34DD balcony, doesn't fit. Boobs spilling out over the top, can barely fit my breast in the cup.

Wtf?!

I have lost 8 stone and my boobs are very saggy and tubular, is that the reason?

Im just so fucking fed up of my boobs being an issue now :(

Also unrelated but when she was telling me I had no breast muscle or fat in the top part of my chest I explained I had lost 8 stone and she said she was very sorry to hear that and asked me did I want to do that?! I said yes and she countered that some people don't do it purposely? And now I'm wondering if I look ill or something?!

I very much doubt youre a 34 back at 8½ stone
Im a 36 back at 15 ½ stone!
Do you have a measuring tape to measure yourself? Try the boob or bust site to get an idea of your size

Each bra is different. You really need to try them on. Sometimes different styles like balcony don’t work for certain breast shapes.

And there’s not a chance that’s the correct back size for you at 8 1/2 stone. I’m a 32 inch and I’m around 12 stone.

Yes, it will differ. You aren't going to be a 34 anything if you're 8.5 stone. What dress size are you now? Generally, you can add 20 to your dress size and that will be your back size (although there are variations).

DD3 was, coincidentally, at M&S today for bras. She really is a 28 back but she also has a FF cup and hates underwires and lace, so it gets really tricky.

She tried on a 32 E in a full cup style (she couldn't get a non-wired, non lacy bra in her correct size), and it fitted ok. She had to go down to a 32 D in a plunge style because the E cup was way to big. Same with DD1 who is a different shape - completely different sizes in different styles.

Im a dress size 10.

It took a lot of build up to go for a fitting as I am very self conscious of my chest.

Please don't go to M&S for a bra fitting they are beyond awful and carry limited sizes and have historically made women 'fit' into the bras they carry rather than actually fitting the correct size. As others have said if you're 8.5 stone you won't be 34 back size.

I would go to Bravissimo for a fitting. They are really lovely there are will guide you through different styles and find out your size. I guarantee if you're 8.5 stone and you're filling a 'M&S 34DD' bra then you're a vastly different size than that.

I'd start there, they know their stuff.

Before that though, I know it's divisive but have you tried the booborbust calculator? It's always been accurate for me

Bras are not made to standardised sizing, they are not like shoes.

each manufacturer and even style, as you have found, will fit differently. You don’t have a set bra size,you just have to try on.

There was a feature about this on the radio a little while ago, interesting listening.

Yet another way I’m which women’s things are not thoughtfully designed.

We are left feeling as if our bodies are ‘wrong’ for not fitting a garment which ostensibly should be the right size; but the sizes have zero consistency.

I wouldn't be surprised if you're actually a 30G or H. It's wild when you first use proper sizing. We always think that an H cup is huge, but it adjusts with the band size.

Found the programme I mentioned above, it’s quite old as a lot about Covid stats. The section about bra sizing is towards the end
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m000wsf0

I agree. I was shocked when I found out my actual size, I'd been wearing 34B for decades. I'm 30G.

In M&S I was given a 36C. Boob or bust has me at a 30F! How does that compute!

I would guess that in M&S they measured you kind of loosely and got 31 inches. 31 inches is an odd number, so they added 5, giving a back size of 36. Your over bust measurement was 39 inches, so 39-36 is 3, which equates to a C cup.

Boob or bust uses a combination of your tight and snug measurements, plus your standing and leaning measurements to get your size.

M&S are famously terrible at measuring bra sizes

I've heard bravissimo are good for measuring. Also try and look up independent lingerie shops. Excellent one in Botley, Hampshire.

This Instagram is great for showing different sizes of real people

I find M&S bra sizing terrible - I would rather get measured in Bravissimo and pay for one decent bra that fits even if they are pricey.

I sometimes need a bigger cup size in balcony bras, so yes different styles can result in different sizes.

You can pick up really good bras in Vinted cheaply btw, generally brand new - I must have bought about 100 over the years myself that were not quite right and ended up chucking most out so it’s obviously common given how many are on sale!

Definitely a trial and error purchase unfortunately.

My DD is 8.5 stone. She’s a 30F. I appreciate we all carry our weight differently but it’s possible you’ll be a 30 or 32.

Agree with the above, do the boob or bust measurements at home. I'm guessing a 30 h but a 32gg may be a comfier sister size to start with.

After weight loss and with minimal tissue on top/tubular shape can I suggest you try some Polish bras? Polish lingerie manufacturers make cups with much better projection and narrower wires which suit this breast shape. You'll find you have a whole new shape in your clothes! Brands include Gorsenia, AVA, Comexim, Gaia, or for serious money Ewa Michelak.

Brastop website is excellent for ordering lots to try on and doing free returns. Gaia brand from there is a personal favourite.