To despair at EVER finding a bra that fits?!

[Silverstar2]

So, I have read every website on the subject, been measured at Bravissimo, and STILL find every single bra uncomfortable - even the ones that Bravissimo said were the right size. I just want to rip the thing off as soon as I get in from work. They seem fine for about an hour, then start to dig in.

I find that they just 'curl up' at the back, and I get horrible back fat, or dig in at the side/arm pit, but mainly on just one side! The band never seems to sit flush to my side iyswim. I have tried going up a band and down a cup, down a band and up a cup etc, have tried every style going..........

I found when I wore my saggy old too big bras they gave me no shape or support, but my god they were comfy!

I think I am about a 36/38 E/F. I have ordered and sent back about ten bras this last month as they just all HURT.

So, AIBU to just let 'em all hang out and be pain-free??!!!!

42C?!!

Ummm, rockybambi I don't wish to offend, but I think you need to read the thread (and other recent bra threads). The method you describe is completely out of date and inaccurate and is a major reason why M&S has such a shocking reputation for bra fitting.

It is now accepted in the bra expert world that you shouldn't add any inches to the under bust measurement.

No, sorry rockybambi, I know that is how M&S train their fitters but it is utterly utterly wrong for how modern bras work.

Please, take a trip to Bravissimo. You will be shocked at the difference. According to M&S I would be a 36FF. I actually wear, on average, a 30HH. A 36FF would cause massive backpain. My friend has had a breast reduction (on the NHS) and they confirmed that the bra she was wearing before (Bravissimo style fitting) offered the best support she could have had.

Silverstar, not a 42C. Promise :)

Think of how supported those new bras are making you feel. Now make the back around 6 inches looser...boobies, meet naval!

Don't worry SC, I was not about to go back to the dark side........ I am happy and perky in my new 36FF today - although there was a bit of digging under the arm, I found with a little bit of strap adjusting that has now gone.

My boobs need no help to meet my naval!!!

SS2

I quite often get underarm rubbing with brand new bras - they take a little time to soften. Plus if you have been wearing bras that weren't fitting right before then they generally don't come so far round/up at the underarm so the skin just isn't used to the bra being there!

Argh - rockibambi your method is precisely the one that has had us all in uncomfortable bras with drooping chests for all these years.

You would have me in a 42 back, which were it not for shoulder straps would descend directly to my hips!

Post your measurements and we will fit you

Thanks SC, I am sure you are right about the underarm thing.

Come on rockibambi, let one of these wonderful ladies help you - you won't regret it!

I'm really pleased I asked for help - this is the most comfortable bra I have ever worn

My previous 36A's were measured by M&S

IcaMorgan I love it when someone reports back with a bra sucess story .

M&S, M&S, why?

Rockybambi your method means I can get a whole fist inbetween my bra and me and still have some stretch left, how is that supportive? Sorry you have been taught an incorrect method but please take note of those that know what they are talking about. If you are still at M&S then try measuring your next person in the current method and see the difference.

Does anyone else get sore marks from your bra at the front?
Mine always rub my ribs painfully, doesn't matter what make/size/shape of bra, if I wear one for longer than a couple of hours it will start hurting, although I might not notice it until I'm home and relaxed.
The tissue on the underside of my right breast comes down lower on my chest than my left one, but my left boob is bigger than my right one, which means that the bra is always a bit wonky.
The bra always feels very comfortable over my shoulders and back, nice and tight, doesn't move but doesn't restrict me either.

Do I just have an awkward shape to my ribs?

I've just gone down from 30G to 28GG (I'm breastfeeding so don't see my boobs deflating for a while yet).

I think pregnancy also shifted some of my bellyfat higher up so I get a "sausage" type effect where my bra ends and my ribs begin, I think I'll have to do a lot of exercise to get rid of that (if it's even possible).

29-30 under bust

34-35 over.

That makes me a 30DD as a start point? Imam cringing at going down to a 28.....

Highlander I would try a 28E, 28F, 30D and 30DD. Most in betweeners seem to find the lower back size is actually the better one

, but a 28 is for wee girls!!

Will try though. I'm very impressed by this thread.

An M&S 32D gives me much, much spillage.

a 32D is the same cup size as a 30DD, roughly. Which suggests maybe you actually need a bigger cup (the cup is the harder but to measure)

If a 32D is giving you much spillage that actually suggests going up two cups. So, I would also look at trying 30F, 28FF, 28G.

And 28s really aren't wee girls anymore - I'm a 30 now (and a bit fat :) ) but have been a 28 too, at times when I was on average a 12-14.

Should say - easiest thing to do is to get the back right first. So get a 28 and a 30, and try putting them on back to front (this means the cups won't skew your impression. Once you have the back sussed out, then work your way up through the cups. Be VERY brave - grab say a 28E,F,FF,G,GG and the equivalents in a 30 so you can really experiment.

here are a few things to look for in a well fitting bra:

Firstly, when you but the bra on, lean forward then take your right hand and put it inside your left cup. Reach right round under your armpit/towards your back and hoik all the backfat/escapage forward in to the cup of the bra. Repeat at the other side.

If your bra is a good fit after doing this it should:

• Be worn on the loosest hook (when new). If you can fasten it on the tightest hook then try a back size lower.
• The band should be completely horizontal
• You should only be able to fit a couple of fingers under the front of the bra. If you can get more than that, or you can pull it more than an inch or so away from your body at the back, it is TOO BIG!
• If you raise your arms, the back should not really move - no riding up
• The wires should be entirely encasing your breast tissue - breast tissue goes suprisingly far back and a lot of people don't realise this. If you feel where the wire is sitting under your arm then it should be sitting on a fairly firm surface.
• The central gore (where the wires meet) should sit flat between your boobs. if it is being pushed away, then the cup is probably too small (and the back possibly too big as well)
• There should be absolutely no lumps over the top of the cup. Take a fitted t shirt with you to put over the top of the bra and stand side on to a mirror and watch as you breathe in. If you have a bit of a bulge only when you breathe in, you probably need to go up 1 cup. If it is visible when breathing out then IME it's probably more like two cups or more.
• The cup shouldn't gape. If it does, it may be too big or it may be the wrong shape of bra for you. Moulded cups are particularly bad for this as they don't adapt to your shape.
• The shoulder straps shouldn't be painful and digging in. Most of the support should come from the back. If you find that you can't get enough support without the straps being so short they hurt the bra isn't for you. Most likely it's too big in the back but it may also just be a bra that doesn't suit you.
• and on that note; not every brand works for every person. There are quite distinct differences in shape between brands which mean a particular brand may just not suit the shape of your breasts. I can't wear Panache, for example.

I'll be brave, I promise. I feel light at the end of the tunnel

Hi, [puts hand up and waits turn] was hoping that one of you experts would be able to offer yet another online bra fitting I measure 31 under bust and 34.5 around. I have recently been measured as 38a (by the not so wonderful M&S) but the band keeps riding up (even on the tightest setting), the 36a however was too tight. Since having 2 kids my boobs are a little like empty beanbags and I can't think that I'd be bigger than an a cup but would welcome some advice as my underwear drawer desperately needs an overhaul! Thanks in advance for any help you can offer

The reason the 36a felt too tight is that the cups were too small. I wear a 30HH (ish!). If i tried to put in say a 30G, I would struggle to do it up and would find the back very tight. The reason for this is that the breast tissue pushes the bra out and makes the back "feel" too tight. Even though it isn't if it was attached to a big enough cup.

I would say the best bet would be a 30D or 30DD, but I would also try a 32C.

Mmm, maybe a 30D(D) or a 32C ish? I'm guessing that the 36A was too tight because the cup size was too small, not because the band was too tight.

And it's quite likely that you were never an A to start with, your measurements certainly don't indicate that you were ever an A. When I started reading up on correct bra sizing I soon learnt that there really are only a small amount of women that are true A cups!

X post with StatisticallyChallenged.

I feel brave enough to have a go Cj1981 - I would say either a 30 or 32 band (try both) and the cup either D/DD.......start at that and see how you get on! It does seem that most people between bands find it best to go down, so 30 is worth a try.

Hope that gives you an idea, good luck!

Meant to ask, are you sure of that top measurement? The not so reliable M&S method would reckon someone with a 38a measures 39" across. Did you measure with either a well fitting bra, or no bra but leaning forward so your breasts are effectively hanging at 90 degrees to your body? The loaning forward method is quite effective if you are quite soft. The tape measure should not be tight for the top measurement.

Even by M&S standards they must have been reading the tape measure backwards :)