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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

238 replies

microfight · 09/07/2011 15:42

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?

OP posts:
ThumbsNoseAtSnapewitch · 10/07/2011 13:32

M&S measuring "service" was absolutely shite in my case. I knew I wasn't really a 34B but it was the best fit I could get (all my measurements were odd numbers but 35 AB isn't really a common bra size). Anyway, I decided to try M&S and she measured me up as 36AA. Then got me some bras to try. Well I barely fit into the flipping cup! Hanging out both sides of it, stupid thing! More like a micro bikini than a supportive bra Hmm. OBVIOUSLY I didn't buy it, but I did go for a 36A - which still wasn't right.

I tried recently (several years, 1 baby and 2y bf'ing later) an online measurement thingy - came out as 38D. Went into a shop here in Australia called Bras'n'things, which is supposed to be good for fitting bras and they gave me a 38D - no chance! Baggy and unsupportive and the band was too loose - so I am in a 36C. And it's still not right! Fed up with the whole situation and I doubt there is a Bravissimo over here.

I also can't wear underwired bras because the wire never seems to match the shape of my boob (I'm really not that odd, I'm sure!) and ends up digging in somewhere or other. I hate bra shopping - it's worse than anything else.

HeavyHeidi · 10/07/2011 13:40

Thumbs, go measure yourself with your best fitting bra on and post your under breast and over the fullest part measurements, we'll try to figure out what you should be :)

Original poster
microfight · 10/07/2011 13:45

I have just measured (I normally wear 36D) My measurements are 33.5 back and 39 bust?
What do you think?

OP posts:
SnoozleDoozle · 10/07/2011 14:06

I want to add my voice to those proclaiming the magnificence of Bravissimo.

I've never been to a Bravissimo shop, as the nearest one is a flight and a couple of hundred miles away from me Sad but the range available from their catalogue is second to none. I knew how to fit myself anyway, due to a fanastic lady in a local shop. But I spent my teenage years as a 32GG and at that stage there was only one bra available on the UK market in this size. It came in white only, and it covered from about two inches below the neck, and it was horrendous, but the alternative was backache and discomfort. Needless to say, my teenage years were traumatic (school PE changing rooms anyone?) and it is Bravissimo's tireless campaigning on behalf of ladies with (gasp) breasts that has changed the UK market beyond recognition in the space of 15 years. I had breast reduction surgery in my early 20s which changed my life - in fact, my confidence as a teenager was so eroded by the size of my boobs that I feel my life only started after my surgery. However, at the age of 35, I am now actually back to the same size as pre-surgery (not due to weight gain either, just general change in shape, as happens to everyone) but I no longer feel the despair that drove me to the surgery in the first place, and I could almost entirely credit this to Bravissimo, and the feeling that they have given me, and many others, that to be larger than a 34B is not some kind of circus freakshow, but actually a perfectly normal variation in human size, just as it is perfectly normal to have size 3 feet, or to have size 8 feet.

ThumbsNoseAtSnapewitch · 10/07/2011 14:12

Cheers HeavyHeidi - will do it in the morning, tis gone 11pm here just now and my tape measure is in the bedroom with DH (sleeping).

brighthair · 10/07/2011 14:12

Microfight - would look at 34 back and DD cup

PeggyCarter · 10/07/2011 14:29

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

cantreachmytoes · 10/07/2011 14:43

It's been said a million times already, but I find M&S bra fittings terrible too. I have a friend who swears by them (talks about them as though they are the bra-gods), but in all honesty, she doesn't need to wear one at all - ever. I'm not in that category!

Acekicker · 10/07/2011 14:53

Going back to the person who asked about the swimwear - it's fab if you want bikinis, and used to be ok if you wanted swimsuits. This year's swimsuits are decidedy 'meh' and they cannot seem to get their head around the fact that people buy tankinis precisely to cover up the bit of your lower stomach that sits above your knicker line. They're fine if you're average height I suspect but at 5'9 I've never yet found one in there where the top meets the bottom, instead they all leave a fetching little gap right where I don't want attention drawing.

I dream of the day Long Tall Sally and Bravissimo get together and do a cross over range of long tops that fit around my boobs...

brighthair · 10/07/2011 14:59

Acekicker - I so wish pepperberry would make longer length tops. Their boyfriend cardigan is fab, everything else far too short

Orbinator · 10/07/2011 15:38

Thanks TheJoyful - love your name btw Wink I shall have a look.

This thread has spurred me on to go through my bra drawer today and chuck all of the trial and error bras I've foolishly bought whilst pg. I have a friend who went recently from a B to a D through slight weight gain (just on her norks, dammit lucky girl!) so I gave her all of my 34D's when I apparently went up to a 36D...then I was told I had jumped to a 34F!?! Tbh the bras in 34F look quite ridiculous at the top as they come up really high and bag - I think I either have what they call a hollow chest or am actually a 34E instead. Anyway, point is my friend is now coming over on Tuesday to have a rummage as she is still growing! I'm going to stick to the 3 I have which are comfy and when I've got my BFing boobs on try to make a trip to Maidstone for Bravissimo fitting :)

Out of interest, I just measured myself as 33.5inches under boob and 38.5 inches over main nip area (is that how you are meant to do it?) anyone got any guesses?

brighthair · 10/07/2011 15:52

Orbinator rounding up that gives you a 34 back and DD cup

HeavyHeidi · 10/07/2011 15:58

yes, the band size is the size you measure and every inch gives you a cup size - note that some brands have DD, which is not half size, but a full size bigger than D and some go straight from D to E.

Also when buying a new bra, you should always hook it on the last hook - it will stretch and you can then tighten it.

Orbinator · 10/07/2011 16:06

Oooh thank you! That sounds about right. I never did get to try a DD as they whisked me straight up to F. Think they were possibly thinking ahead to me filling with milk and added some...but the bras I bought weren't nursing ones so goodness knows why! The fact some go straight to E from D makes sense as the one I am wearing is 34E and quite comfy.
Now just need to do something about my armpit bags :( Wink

Original poster
microfight · 10/07/2011 16:19

Right bravissimo fitting was 32 or 34 f depending on make! Bought 2 lovely bras with no under arm fat or double boobs!
Just took a peek in John Lewis and am shocked that they have next to nothing in that size! Lots of b c and d in all manner of back widths but no wonder we all wear the wrong size.
Thank you everyone and all those not converted get down to bravissimo Grin

OP posts:
joric · 10/07/2011 16:29

I was told about the going down two and up two after a 'fitting' in m+s years ago- I was measured 46A(!) and was told that they didn't sell bras in that size.. After leaving feeling like a freak, a friend took me to bravissimo- I am a 40DD apparently!!

joric · 10/07/2011 16:33

Ps I do think they have their own sizes in bravissimo - does anyone buy bras in the same size as their bravissimo ones from other shops?

HeavyHeidi · 10/07/2011 16:38

congrats micro, feels great, right?

Joric, I have never tried their own brand, I stick to Freya and Fantasie, which are of course the same size no matter where you buy them. Good deals on ebay and check out brastop as well.

Original poster
microfight · 10/07/2011 16:48

Thanks Heidi
Feels kind of liberating to finally have them constrained!

OP posts:
joric · 10/07/2011 18:14

Thanks Heidi :)

TheProvincialLady · 11/07/2011 10:21

I'm surprised to hear that your JL doesn't have a good selection of sizes. My local one seems to stock every size available. I was able to choose from several 28/30GG nursing bras, which was a revelation! And can now choose from loads of 28F ordinary underwired. Their fitters are excellent too, and when I needed an even more outlandish nursing bra size (think it was 30H) with super support they got the bravissimo catalogue out and told me what style and size to order from them. I can't rate them more highly.

Glitterknickaz · 11/07/2011 10:26

I go to Bravissimo every single time.
Too many times I've had M&S try to shoehorn my over generous norkage into something they have on their shelves just to make a sale.
I won't be four tits for anyone!

BramblyHedge · 11/07/2011 10:29

I also found House of Fraser good where I live (only alt to M&S in my town). They do the 'fitting by looking at you' method and I went from a 40D to a 34G and feel so much better. Still trying to convince my mum and aunt to try it but they are wedded to M&S.

FreudianSlipper · 11/07/2011 10:32

i would not get measured in m&s, there bra differ in sizes drastically as they are made by different makes

a large department with trained staff is better, they will be able to advise which make is best for you and the size according to that make. i wear freya bras they fit me really well where most m&s bras always give me a double set of boobs

LeQueen · 11/07/2011 10:36

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

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