AIBU to think that any bra measuring services are utterly inaccurate.

[microfight]

There is always talk of so many women wearing the wrong bra size but I have been measured differently in three different shops! From a C to an F and 34-36!

Shouldn't they all measure me the same?

I have never been measured in a shop. I just use the formula I was taught years ago and it works for me. This has to be done in inches, don't know how to make it work in centimetres.

Measure just below your breast. If you get an even number add 4, if you get an odd nunber add 5. that gives you the "numbers" bit.

Then measure over the fullest part. If the measurement there is the same as the calculated "numbers" you are an "A", an inch bigger you are a "B", another inch a "C" and so on.

For example if you measure 32" under the breast and 37" round the fullest bit you would be a 36B.

Nooooooo that is the M&S way of doing things. If you measure 32 under the breast and 37 round you would be a 32 back and a G cup. It sounds wrong, but the fit is so much better.

"If you measure 32 under the breast and 37 round you would be a 32 back and a G cup" No Way!!!!! I am 32 under the breast and there is no way in the world I could fit in to a 32 anything!

No no no 5Foot5. That's the old way of measuring. If you add inches to the back measurement you end up with a bra that is about 2 sizes too big around your body and 2 cup sizes too small.

That's why everyone who gets properly fitted (as opposed to measured) ends up going down back sizes and up cup sizes.

If you measure 32 around the back, you probably need a 32 something bra.

Please try bravissimo. They are amazing and worth travelling to if you don't have one locally.

And all the people who work there seem to have big boobs so they are very understanding.

M&S are dreadful - they tried to persuade me I was a AA and sold me the worst bras I've ever had. I struggled on with a 34A until a lovely forthright fitter in John Lewis Oxford Street found me some great 32Bs - it's transformed my appearance.

5foot5, I also agree that the measurement method you've quoted is wrong. I used that method to work out size when pregnant the first time (11 years ago), and the size came out at 46E.

Having suffered with backaches, I happened across Bravisimo's website and followed their method, and ended up a 40G (or GG depending on bra style). Result, no more backache, and I look much better in my clothing.

YY Bravissimo. Good fitting and nice styles. The staff are really helpful and they do swimwear and clothes too.

Bravissimo all the way I say. I have never felt so comfortable in a bra and my boobs looked good but not huge pointy things and I'm a 32FF!! If I could afford to buy from there all the time I would.

Another Bravissimo fan here. They absolutely don't manhandle you. The fitter who helped me just looked at me and how the bra I'd come in wearing fitted. I arrived wearing a 36DD and left wearing a 32GG! I was able to wear a smaller size of clothes up top after getting a properly fitted bra.

The bras aren't that expensive but you could just buy a black one and a flesh coloured one to start off with. That's what I did. And they've started a clothing range for us ladies blessed with larger than average norks.

Here's the link to the Bravissimo fitting guide 5ft5 in case you, or anyone else (going to draw curtains and do it myself!) wants to give it a go. There's not a local store for miles from where I live, but if I do an online order I can send it back if it's no good at least :)
www.bravissimo.com/perfectfit/

Here is the Figleaves web page on common bra issues:
www.figleaves.com/us/fitting_room.asp?cat=187&txt=5683&cookied=09/07/2011%20210639

and what it indicates (wrong band, cup and so on). It's worth reading this and keeping it in mind when you try on bras so you can see what adjustments you need to make to get the right one. I find it really useful because often when I try on a bra I can see it doesn't work but I'm not exactly sure why and what to change. If you look to the left of the page there are a list of other articles on how a bra looks when it's the right fit, clues it's not quite right and so on.

Thing is, M&S seem to fit a bra according to the measurements of your free-range norks. But if I were happy for them to be flapping around my waist giving me backache I wouldn't bother buying a bloody bra, would I?!?! Balancing a 36d on top of the boobs did NOTHING for me.

Bravissimo are brilliant at getting you hoicked up in a nice shape that is comfy and supportive. Now a 34E and god it's an improvement. Clothes fit better, boobs look nicer, straps don't dig into shoulders. Brilliant.

Rigby and Peller, they just look at your nellies (no bra) and tell you what size you are!!

I've been several times and every bra they brought fitted perfectly! Not cheap though and limited shops, so might not be one in your area??

MummytoWillow...how not cheap are R&P?

I'd like to 7th Bravissimo. All you need is to understand what does and doesn't fit and you're good forever. It's a faff having to try on a load of bras but it really is worth the effort (or it certainly is for me and has been since I went past an F cup).

M&S fitting was utterly pointless for me. I was wearing a 36F, they measured me and said I was a 40D, that was awful, they then guessed at a 38DD, that was also awful and they gave up and brought me bras in my current size. Maybe it works for small cup sizes but the numbers approach has never worked for me.

Bravissimo definitely. They don't measure, they just find bras that fit you.

I have bras in different sizes, all the same make, because different styles fit differently. You can't just measure and say for definite a bra in that size will fit you. You need to try it on.

I went from a 38E to a 32H size bra and the difference in the way I looked was astounding, I looked like I had lost loads of weight.

luna I get all my bras from r and p. Completely depends on what you get as to how pricey - i've gone out with a 35 squid and 75 squid bra . they are great at fitting though - i'm bfing and currently a 36h - was mismeasured somewhere else as 40f and you can really tell the defference. wouldnt go anywhere else now

I went into marks and spencers, and mothercare. None of them got it right. I ended up leaving with nothing. Its really fustrating not knowing what size I am and I cant seem to get it right myself arghhh.

Thanks to a thread on here I'm finally wearing the right size bra, thank you, thank you, thank you whoever it was that posted the info on correct fitting.
The woman in M&S made me feel like I was one of those people who try to squeeze into clothes that are too small so they can convince themselves they're thinner than they are, when I suggested I might need a different size bra. I've gone from a 34D to a 32E thanks to the advice on that other thread and I am comfy at last, no more riding up at the back for me!

Will have to start experimenting again when I finish bfing though...

Rigby and Peller are expensive, but amazing. They do just look at you and know your size.

Bravissimo are also very good, and cheaper!

From anecdotal information, it seems like most women wear 2 cup sizes too small and 2 band sizes too big.

Bravissimo are good, I always use them. Although I am different sizes in different styles so can't buy online.

Thank you for all the posts
I put all my bras in the bin yesterday after trying them on they all went up my back and didn't sit flush on my ribs (well fat over ribs!). And I had spillage under the arm pit.

I am going to bravissimo and expect to be at least a size smaller round the back and up a size in the cup.

Very informative;-)

- look forward to hearing how you get on (if that doesn't sound a bit creepy .

Reading back this thread, I reckon it's clear that those who have found the right fitting bra (eg R&P, Bravissimo etc) are all practically evangelical about it. It really does make such a huge (no pun intended) difference - to how you feel, how your clothes fit etc and because of those even to your self-confidence. It pains me how much M&S seem to still have the market sewn up with their tape measures and formulae even though they seem to be getting it so wrong, so often.

Even my mum who has gone through life for at least 30 odd years adamant she was a 34B was amazed after I'd told her to try Bravissimo - she's now happy in a 32D fitting and at age 64 has fabulous perky boobs under her clothes.

Now if only Bravissimo could sort out their Swimwear Range...but that was another thread...