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??!!!!

I had a dream last night that I was in the changing room in a big department store. There was a young girl getting measured and I decided it was being done wrong so took over. Afterwards I explained to her how to do it and told her to spread the word

Hmmm.

I'd be inclined against the 40KK for one reason - I think it would need too much back adjustment. Given that you are probably a 36 in an Alana (if the cup was big enough!) I think the adjustments required to a 40 might be too much. As I understand it, you can get away with taking a bra down about a back size, but if you do much more than it starts to distort the shape.

The panache bra is a very different shape, and far more suited to someone who has quite full on top boobs than the Alana, which is a bugger for cutting in. I would actually say that, unusually for a Panache, the shape is quite Freya like - their larger cup balconies have that same quite steep V-shape to them.

I would maybe consider trying these in a 38K, as these are ones I know are bigger than an Alana, and although I don't "get on" with Panache, I find their sizing relatively similar to Alana, albeit different shapes.

boudoir beau currently oos in your size but comes up very big in cup, I had this an a GG and an Alana in an HH on the same trip

Fantasie again, bought a Fantasie just the other day 2 sizes smaller than an Alana...go figure

Elomi this is the same company as Freya and Fantasie

I really feel so sorry for you. Getting a bra shouldn't be this hard. I went through similar when I was a bit younger and there was literally no bra which fitted me properly. I left Bravissimo in tears.

Can I say a massive thanks for this thread? I have overhauled my bra collection...guilty of post dd wearing old bras that didn't fit new shape. I now own some lovely Stella McCartney balconettes, Elle McPherson ones and princess tam tam. 32d in some 34c in others... Find the bands can vary massively, which is odd considering it is a metric measurement. Also for someone not very full on top balconettes are wonderful- I had no idea!

Sorrel, you're a genius.

I am back from Croydon and my strapless bra search

Went to Debenhams to try the Wonderbra Ultimate strapless, took in a black one and skin one both in a 32D, the black one was very tight across the back and crushed my boobs in half and the skin one wouldnt even go round my back

The assistant went off to find 32DD and 34D to try, she could only find a 34D which fitted perfectly

While I was trying on she was in the next cubicle measuring someone and they were saying the bras she gave them to try didnt feel right so when she came back to me I asked how they measure and was told they measure round the back and then add 4 or 5 inches but they dont measure round the breast so guess at cup size from the one they came in wearing, I ended up feeling quite sorry for the woman she was giving a fitting to

Then I went to La Senza to have a look. I tried 3 on all 32D, one was too small in the cup, one was okish and one wouldnt even go round me. She went off for a 32DD in one and a 34DD in another. The 32DD did fit nicely but the 34DD was perfect - she said she'd never seen a bra fit someone so well - so I bought one in black and one in skin.

I was talking to her about sizing and she said the balconette ones do come up small (the 34DD) and she would never recommend buying a bra without trying loads on first as they all vary so much. I said about M&S wanting to put me in a 36A and she said theres no way she would have said anything but a 32 (other than the balconette which does come up small on everyone)

I know have all the bras I need (thank god as I have spent a fortune lol)

Thanks so much to all that helped and I'm sure my mate will say thanks next week as I have agreed to measure her for her (she was going to get a fitting in Debenhams but I managed to stop her)

I hope those of you that are still searching find what you need soon

I feel like we should have a twitter campaign or something. Saving women from badly fitting bras #don'tadd4 :o

Ive now ordered and am eagerly awaiting my bras to arrive in 30DD im currently wearing 34D. I definatly agree that if the way of measuring is wrong then some sort of campaign needs to be had, ive a few friends and family who get measured in m&s and are obviously in the wrong sizes.

One thing that confuses me though is my bra is 34D clearly too big in that it rides way way up at the back the tops of the cups are empty and i fall out of it a bit if i bend over YET at the end of a day my bra feels too tight i feel like i cant breath like its digging in and restrictive but it cant possible be

I have just got my bravissimo Daisy Chain in a 36G, and I have had a wonderful comfy-yet-supported day!

Could I have found the size for me?!

Off to look at Brastop for bargains now...........

How do you know if a bra fits? Everyone keeps saying the models on figleaves are in the wrong sizes but they look perfectly fine to me?

Had a curvy kate bra delivered today. It will have to go back because it doesn't fit at all, the back is too loose even though it's a 28 and the cups are far away from my body even if I scoop

Sorry hotair, what I meant was the 38kk panache sounds quite good, but if you want a choice of more than one that fits, you could try these too ;-)

Come along pond, search the thread for my posts, there is one where I described a good bra. It's quite long! Curvy Kate are, as a rule, big backed and small cupped

Have a google, there are a few different ways to take them in depending on what would work best. If, for example, your breasts are closer together than the bra you can take a small tuck out of the central gore, otherwise you can do it from the back. You could even just order some extra bra fastenings and stitch them on!

JeffFaFa, if the bra is too big in the back then what happens over the day is that it sags forwards. This means that rather than being supported by your back, the weight of your breasts goes on to your shoulders, and then on to the front of your body as the bones start to dig in (because they aren't held upright properly). The back of the bra then shifts angle (so rather than being straight it is slightly diagonal, which is a bigger measurement obviously) and suddenly you have red marks everywhere. Plus it moves more so there is more friction.

Silverstar2, YIPPEE!!!!

I hope so SC!!!

FIGLEAVES FITTING CRIMES!

Back shot. The back is riding up massively, it should be horizontal!
and another bad back. Cups also not good
ARGH I would say the cup on this one is several sizes too small. All the soft tissue you can see between the side of the bra and her armpit...that's breast. It belongs in the bra :) Back also fastened on tightest hook
back again
I know it's a push up but she must have insane quad boob
No, Just...No
Central Gore not flat

I won't continue or my head may explode

Thank you SC That's helpful. I don't know why I'm struggling so much to find something. We have limited shops in my town so it's all online and it's so hard not being able to try it on with an assistant to help!

Ohh, I see. Yes, I can see that they're all very badly fitted now! Thank you.

help me, me, me! pretty pls :D

what would a 30 under bust, 37 over bust be? the calculators online tell me i'm 34C, a lot of shops tend to measure me at 32D-DD :S Neither fit (actually give me a lot of pain)

Bluesbaby, I would start with a 30F at those measurements.

Statistically - those Caprice bras look dreadful - she is clearly larger than a D, yet the range appears to only go up to D cup.

SC

there there, (takes her gently by the arm and leads her to sit on the sofa, with a cold compress on the forehead and a cup of tea for when her brain stops hurting)

God SC, after looking at those pics I'm now quite depressed and a little angry too invested

I had quadra boob for years and what's more embarrassing is that I knew I needed a bigger cup, I just couldn't admit it!!