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?

Bravissimo fitted 34G here, but I lurve the pretty slutty for a middleaged woman style bra and pants sets in LaSenza. And they've had a damned good sale on recently. DH doesn't know what's hit him.

I was mildly excited when the supermarkets stated doing bras beyond a d cup. Short lived however when I discovered they rarely do large cup sizes in less than a 34 back :(

Just to second both John Lewis and Bravissimo not only for the fitting, but also being lovely and helping me try on bras (it takes up to 10 min for me to get a bra on, so trying on lots isn't usually an option) and holding ds while I did so.

Of course now I wear pertness-producing bras, I need the Bravissimo clothes to fit over said pert breasts...

But where do you go if you have no boobs? I have a 31 measurement around my ribs so wear M and S 36AA. The band does sit against my body and I don't have four boobs. But I can hardly walk into Bravissimo, for those with big boobs, now can I?

Came on here to post exactly the same question as Amaretti. Where can you go to be fitted if you have smaller boobs?

Amaretti if you have a 31 band measurement there is no way you should be in a 36, I would say a 32 possibly (if very small) a 34 back size.

Consequently you would need to go up on the cup size so 32 B or 34A (Correct me if I'm wrong ladies). Please take a look at the bravissimo perfect fit links up the thread, even if you are smaller the 'fit' rules still apply.

As for proper fitting look up independent bra shops near you if youo tell people where you are geopgraphically there may even be a few suggestions...

Was measured in Rigby & Pellar about 6 years ago. Just looked at my boobs and declared 30 D I felt 30 was too tight (I measure 29-30 under boobs, 33 around boobs) one of the bras I got was a 30 D, and still feels good. The other, worn twice as it feels hideous. Have been buying 32 c bras ever since.
Was measured in a Triamph store last week, tried on 4 bras. and they measured me as a 30/32 c/D The variation in size depends on the style of bra, make, fullness of cup. Only sure way to get the right size is to try it on.
Number of bras that fit 12.

Try somewhere like house of Fraser or john Lewis where they don't do tape measures. you may find you are more of a 32b or something.

I'm thinking about a Bravissimo trip soon. I'm a tad overweight and pregnant and have a variety of ill fitting bras.

It's a bit of a trek to Oxford so I really need a "Big fat pregnant person" bra and a nursing bra - can I expect to get them in the same trip and when should I go (as in how many months preggers do they suggest to fit for nursing bra).

How many is a bare minimum do you reckon? A black and a nude bra?

i have always been very careful with my bossom as they have always been ample and i didnt want them to sag so i went for my first fitting when i was about 15. i have been going regularly since then to various places until i found the wonderful bravisimo that beautiful place took me from a 38 dd to a 38 gg.
then for some reason i went to debenhams and got measured and the woman told me i was a 40 b. i looked at her like she was an idoit and told her to trot along and if she could find a 40 b to fit me i would give her a 1000 pounds. idiots.

I had to hold mine up when I was in M&S - they MASSIVE!! and they're all my own - bet you're all jealous - I weigh in at 38DD.

Ameretti and bitzer
I also think you would get a bra to fit a Bravissimo.
I used to be in a C (M&S) but now an F Bravissimo so the smaller bravissimos should definitely fit.

Bravissimo are bloody good, I've been going there for a few years now. Before that I went to John Lewis who are not too bad.

M&S are shocking, they tried to put me in a 36B when I was wearing a 30E. The damn thing was so uncomfortable and clearly didn't fit but the cat-bum-faced woman that fitted me was so adamant that it was a perfect fit because that's what the tape measure had said. I thought it might ping off and hit her in the eye which would have been a nice way to prove my point.

If you've been wearing the wrong size for ages then wearing the right size feels 'wrong' like the back band is too tight. You get used to it though and soon it feels way more comfortable.

You're right fluffles. My friend runs a small maternity adn baby business and she fitted me for my nursing bras without measuring me at all. My bras fit perfectly.

The majority of people wearing ill-fitting bras have back-sizes too big and cup-sizes too small.

What if you get fitted in Bravissimo but the band is so tight that you have a lovely fat roll both above and below the band? I'm not really that fat

I've had ridiculous fittings at a variety of reputable bra purveyors. I do it myself following the usual advice which is to go as snug as you can below the norks so down to 32" rather than the 34" i'd always assumed therefore bringing me up to a D cup rather than the loose 34C I'd been before. Playtex are always well fitting and comfy. I'm still 34C in Bikinis though.

This thread is making me more determined to open my own shop ... I am an awesome fitter and I miss helping women feel better about themselves ... if only it didn't cost so much damn cash !!! Good luck to you all looking for proper fitting bras - Bravissimo are pretty good - maybe I should set up a Virtual Bra Fitting site [grins]

Too imature - just go up a back size and down a cupsize - you'll feel more comfortable - and that is massively important too

Ok, thanks Pingu!

The calculator puts me at a 38C. I'm sitting here in a perfectly fitting 34E. Weird.

So do you all think we need some decent independent lingerie shops then, because the two I used to work in (and set up) both closed down, first one as a direct result of me leaving but second one because of the recession. Are you prepared to pay for decent bras ? Because 60 grand is a lot of cash to have sitting in stock if there aint the customers ....

Absolutely LeQueen - Swoop and Scoop !

Bravissimo

Pingu - yes. I just paid £50 for 2 bras at bravissimo (and 1 of those was reduced) but I was more than willing to because

A) the measuring service was FAB. Last time I got measured in m&s they put me in a crap size - after making me come back 2 hours later than I originally went in because "it's appointment only now". I'd have understood if there was a queue or something, but the entire department was empty!

B) the bras were pretty. All of the nursing bras I've seen on the high street were awful things that my Nan wouldn't consider wearing. I don't want to feel frumpy.

C) they look like they'll last.

I love the Freya bras, and I'm now a bravissimo's own convert. 11 hours on and I'm still overjoyed that for the first time in 18 years I feel like I'm supported, have a nice shape and that they're in an attractive package. I'll happily pay for that.