Are the majority of women still wearing the wrong bra band size?

[BruhWhy]

Weirdly had lots of conversations about this lately because I've lost quite a bit of weight in the last 18 or so months. It's meant I've gone down bra sizes, I've gone from a 36J to a 32F. My tits (and arse) took the hit on this hard. RIP.

Anyway, anyone I've mentioned this to has looked quite shocked. I don't think my ribcage is particularly small for my frame, but I am most definitely a 32 band - my 34 band bras put me at risk of my boobs slipping out the bottom of their cups on the tightest setting. My friend who is visibly much slimmer than me is wearing a 34 band. My other friend literally said she doesn't believe my bra size and I must be mistaken, because she's in a 36 band and a similar shape and size to me.

I thought we all had bra interventions a few years ago?! What happened? Is it time for another revolution?

I know I must be. When I bend forwards, the measurement just below my breasts is 31.5. but all 32 bras are much too small. Cups are a nightmare too. I should be either a b or c but B too small, C too big?!

People are still adding 4 to their band size because the likes of m&s still do that

if you’be got a 32 inch band on and it’s comfortable it fucking fits! What is your friend thinking telling you it doesn’t??

Most people are still wearing the wrong size. I make my own bead so I would laugh in the face of anyone who told me I must be wearing the wrong size!

I think there's just a lot of size disparity between different brands and styles, unless you are by fluke all wearing the same brand and style of bra?

The way to tell of course is to all measure yourselves and compare actual measurements.

What size clothes do you wear? Band size is usually close to your dress size +20. So if you wear a size 12 you’re likely to be a 32 underband.

in order to find the right size underband fasten the bra at the front but still in the place you would wear it (but back to front) on the loosest hook. If it fits and is reasonably comfortable then that’s your band size. If b is too small and c too big this is likely a style issue and the style of bra doesn’t work for your breast shape. Breasts really do come in all shapes and sizes! 😂

A friend of mine gets measured every couple
of years , when I said I had never been measured she was very shocked (I’m 47). So I booked an appointment with M&S who offer a free bra fitting service . I’ve been wearing a 32A for years when actually I’m a 34B ! My posture and occasional back ache has definitely improved .

@redshoes2017 you are more likely to be a 30D.

check out boob or bust online or anywhere other than M&S who +4.

I always make sure I'm wearing the right bra size. There are loads of guides on the internet and no reason all to be wearing the wrong band size. I doon't look at anyone else just my own boobs. I've lost 5 stone and I gone from 36E to 34D and all the sizes inbetween with no problems.

Meh, a lot of the "interventionists" give out shit advice like having the band as tight as you can bear (not as tight as is comfortable) and insist that back fat is "displaced breast tissue." It's not surprising if the message gets lost in the nonsense.

It's not helpful to be told you are wearing the 'wrong' size.

I am apparently a 30G, I can wear that but I have permanent dents in the flesh at both my shoulders and my ribs from trying to support my boobs. I'm told it's my own fault - shoulder dents from too large a band, rib dents from too small a band. Wtf am I supposed to do?

I never used to find bras uncomfortable but do now. I change between sizes and wired/wireless to try to get some comfort.

I tried the boob or bust thing a few years ago when everyone kept going on about it on here and ended up with bras too tight to wear with cups too big and they all had to go back. Turned out M&S 36D as measured years ago was exactly the right size for me all along.

That boob or bust thing can do 1. Sure they tell me I’m a 30F but with that size I can’t breathe, I’m extremely uncomfortable and have marks on my skin which ever way I rearrange my boobs. Back to my old 34C and I’m comfortable and supported. All a load of rubbish

Measuring yourself is pretty easy. A tape measure, a mirror, and some instructions. It isn't difficult. I'm a runner, a size 10 and wear a 34B.

Comfortable, supportive, good posture, no aches and pains.

Gawd I think I'm deformed. I'm like a small 8. But I have very wide shoulders and narrow hips, short torso, skinny legs...

Judging from the number of women who have an extra boob under each armpit at the back, a lot of them are wearing too tight a band size.

I've seen posts from people who have bras so uncomfortable that they are desperate to take them off as soon as they get home. I've also seen people saying that they have a red mark where the band goes. Both of these suggest the wrong band size to me.

I agree with PP about Boob or Bust. It tells me I'm a 32C, which won't even reach to fasten. I'm most comfortable in a 36A - snug fit, no movement, boobs held securely but not digging in, certainly don't think about taking it off before bed - but they can be hard to get so I sometimes make do with a 34B, which is normally OK on the loosest fastening after a few washes have softened it. I have very little fat over my ribs, so that might make a difference.

I hate a tight band so I definitely wear the "wrong" size according to boob or bust, but I'd rather be comfy.

I think maybe this depends on breast size. If you have smaller breasts like me (34C in M&S) you are now supposed to be wearing 30E or something. But only if you are not fond of breathing.
If you are small/medium breasted like this you don't actually need the support; your breasts may look 'nicer' when pushed up, but they could flop around braless all day and you'd never get backache or anything.
So with a tight band you are basically adding support you don't need in return for having your chest sliced in half. No thanks.
I can imagine if you are larger of breast it might offer more support and be worth it. Also if you have a higher BMI then band will be squashing into fat rather than bare ribs, and fat moves a bit to accommodate squeezing. Ribs don't!

I'm size 12-14 and wear 36c, I have a big bony ribcage though

Exactly this.

I should be a 30E as well, but they are uncomfortable expensive and hard to find. I have some but I no longer wear them because they are awful. Yes I can try more but who cares really, my boobs aren’t big and there are more interesting things to do than stuff myself into underwear.

32DD/34C or usually bralets do the job.

If you have big boobs then maybe it’s worth doing but otherwise who can be arsed.

None of the different retailers or websites I’ve looked at seem to take the following into account: wide back and narrow shoulders or vice versa = straps sit in the wrong place, sometimes boobs are very droopy or tubular and this can throw everything off, sometimes you have excess skin or wobbly bits from weight gain/ loss and it can be harder to measure properly or get the bra to stay in position, you can have a bra that fits perfectly when you’re standing up but threatens to kill you once you sit down. I had this in Debenhams. She took one look and said you much smaller in the band, much bigger in the cup (than what I was wearing). She got me a 36F. It looked amazing. I actually couldn’t believe the difference. For the first time in my adult life I actually had a waist. But I couldn’t sit down in it. Literally couldn’t.
From the time I was teenager until I was about halfway through my breastfeeding “journey”, I always had this notion that if I didn’t wear a “decent” bra in the elusive exact correct size, my breasts would sag (the horrors), I’d be the wrong shape and have back problems etc. Then I suddenly realised if anything breasts are supposed to sag, to be different shapes and that actually bras are uncomfortable because they’re fucking uncomfortable. They’re forcing my breasts to conform to some standard/ modest/ unnatural shape and position they don’t want to be in. So I stopped wearing them.

I’m more supported using the boob or bust size. Wear my bra all day and would not dream of being braless. I even have sleep bras.
Interestingly, in comparison with some op’s, I find my b or b size of 34gg more comfortable on the band than the sister size of 36e.

That isn’t accurate for pear shaped people, might be for apple shaped as I have friends that are 32 inch bras but are in size 20 uk clothes, tiny top half’s to their waist then big hips and legs.

Another one here who finds the boob or bust ‘correct’ bra size unbearably tight. Apparantly I’m 30DD, which makes me feel in danger of being sliced in half after half an hours’ wear. I’ve gone back to my normal size, which is much comfier. And I still look perfectly normally-boobed. To be honest, I think bras are overrated in general and don’t wear one when I think I can get away with it.