Following on from all the bra threads...AIBU in thinking the media skews our image of bra sizes?

[ScarletLady02]

I'm a recent convert to a properly fitting bra. I was wearing a 38C, but was measured and found out I'm actually a 34DD/E.

At first I thought there is no way that's right, but it is...I'm so much more comfortable now.

I was reading that story yesterday about the woman who had a boob job on the NHS (easy to find a link) and apparently she has 36DD boobs. I look at that now and think NO WAY ON EARTH are they 36DD. She's much slimmer than me so haw can she have a bigger back size? Plus the volume of boob is about twice that of mine!

AIBU in thinking no wonder so many women are surprised at their correct size, and will put up with bras that fit so badly because they think "How can I possibly be an E cup?? Look at Jordan, Pammy etc"?

Oh and thanks again to all the lovely bra women on here...the campaign is great

[StuntNun]

I went into Tesco yesterday to get a cheap sports bra to keep me going post-pregnancy, tried on my now accustomed 32 and it wouldn't even do up. Same for a 34" bra. I had to get a 36" band so in Tesco you really do have to add four inches.

[StatisticallyChallenged]

StuntNun - that's more likely sports bra syndrome. They are all ridiculously small in the back. Don't know why - maybe down to the bands not being very stretchy compared to normal bras. But I have to go up at least one back size in every single sports bra I have ever tried.

[StuntNun]

D'oh this bra business gets more complicated all the time.

[Champagnecharleyismyname]

Am loving my 32DD after wearing a 34B for 20 years. When I look down I see boob not belly.

Yay for the bra ladies!!

[Shattereddreams]

Well I have been wearing 32 back for 15 years, since pretty much the last time I bought a bra on the high street. My two pregnancies were a nightmare as no one made 32H 7 years ago in a soft cup.

This is not a new fangled system. It is the correct system and I have been successfully buying bras from rigby and peller and John Lewis and figleaves in all that time.

The UK's identikit high street is an abomination if you ask me.

[ToothGah]

I've gone from wearing a 38B to a 34E after learning how to measure myself properly. I can also no longer see my belly feet and I don't consider myself to have big boobs at all.

The +4 inches method is a load of arse, just measure yourself properly and you'll see Duckworth :)

[StatisticallyChallenged]

I've not been as long as you Shattereddreams - I discovered Bravissimo about 7 years ago although John Lewis for about a year before that weren't a million miles off with a 32 back rather than the 30 I actually wear. But it's certainly not new - it's just more people are becoming aware of it. Unfortunately some shops are particularly slow on the uptake. Ok, that was giving them too much credit - some shops are just carrying on with a nonsensical method.

Those with faith in M&S - please look at this size chart. Actually look at/analyse it.

In a 28A, we have someone measuring 23.5 underbust and 30 overbust. So in an 28 back, according to M&S, an A cup has a 6.5" difference between their measurements. Think about how big 6 inches actually is and imagine how much the breasts on someone measuring only 23.5" underbust would protrude. That's no A cup!

In a 34A , it's 29.5/33 - so we now have a 3.5" difference.

In a 38A , it's 33.5/35, so we are down to 1.5" difference

Or maybe we should consider the 46C. This lady, according to M&S, measures 41.5"/41". No, I have not got that the wrong way round. According to M&S, the lady who wears a 46C, that's a C-cup, has inverted breasts. A 46D has a half inch positive difference.

It is utter nonsense.

[Silverstar2]

Go Go Go StatistcallyChallenged !!!

[ScarletLady02]

Thanks for backing me up ladies...I was hoping you'd show up

[IAmSheWhoMustBeObeyed]

M&S size chart may be bollocks but yes finding a bra that fits is a minefield!

When you say John Lewis are good does that mean their own brand?

[StatisticallyChallenged]

Their fitting service is OK - not super and a bit hit and miss but probably about the best of the department stores. I'm afraid I haven't fitted in their own brand bras for many moons though!

Do you want some help? There is a bra intervention thread over on S&B or you are welcome to ask here (Sorry scarlet, thread hijack!)

[ScarletLady02]

No, I'm glad it may have alerted more people to your campaign. Luckily for me I was converted before I saw it, but I'm still amazed how many posts those threads get, so it's still a long way to go.

My Mum is a recent convert and as a breast cancer sufferer (for want of a better word) with a mastectomy she hasn't felt good in a bra for years...she actually cried when she got properly fitted.

[StatisticallyChallenged]

Aww Scarlet that's lovely, I am so pleased for her.

[Prawntoast]

M & S do not measure for their bras properly. A few months go they kitted me out in a 38e, I gradually realised what an awful fit it was, 4 boob syndrome and the band riding up at the back. Having gleaned a lot of info off the MN threads I went in and fitted myself, 34GG, most comfortable I have been in years and completely altered my shape. The only problem is my branch doesn't have much choice in this size!

[GinOnTwoWheels]

OP YANBU

I saw a link on FB about the woman who has had a boob job on the NHS. The article stated she had gone from a 32C to a 36DD - did they also expand her ribcage while they were at it?

I have seen Victoria Beckham reported as being a 34DD, Katie Price as a 36DD. Slim but busty celebs, who are probably 28F+ are constantly reported as being 34/36D or DD. This really annoys me .

Current gripe is Kelly Brook branded bras in New Look available in 34/36C-DD only, when again she is probably more like 28/30H.

[ScarletLady02]

That's a fair point about expanding her ribcage, I hadn't thought of that....rather impressive surgery!!

[sherazade]

Please can someone tell me what bra size i should be wearing? My underbust measures 26 inches , bust is 29.5 inches. I currently wear a 30b

[Lueji]

Try a 26D and a 28C and thereabouts?

It's interesting that after being on 32s mostly, initially the 30s felt really tight, but either they have gone a bit loose or I've got used to them.
If I put on a 32 now it feels really loose.

[Binkyridesagain]

Sherazade, i think (complete novice) you should be wearing a 26D, but 26 are like hens teeth so I would be looking for a 28C. Make sure you follow the fitting advice that I am sure is posted somewhere on this thread.

(I apologise to all the experts on here if I have this wrong, its my first go)

[badbride]

Going back to the question in the OP: I think a lot of women are surprised by their bra size, because the sizing system is as arse-backwards as hell.

Can anyone explain why some of the cup sizes have random double letters, while others do not? AA, A, B, C, D, DD, E...WTF???? Why not just go for sequential single letters? There are 26 of them in the alphabet, FGS, you're not likely to run out.

To me, DD sounds huge, because it sounds like Dx2 (twice the size of D), therefore GG must be well into eye-poking Zepplin territory.

[MooMooSkit]

My underbust measures 27-28 inches though, I find it REALLY hard to find shops that don't start stocking at 30 underbust so I do usually make do with them or spend a fortune online for a 28 underbust :(

[ineedclothes]

I just read that article in the sun earlier and it said she went from a 32A to a 36DD did she get a back enlargement as well then

[Lueji]

I'm on DD and it's definitely NOT 2xD. :o

Maybe there were single letters initially and then people noticed they needed intermediate sizes?

[Lueji]

And at 30 DD, it's definitely NOT huge. :)

[StatisticallyChallenged]

Sherazade if they were available you would be around a 26D. Unfortunately, there are no manufacturers doing off the shelf 26s at the moment.. There is one company (Ewa Michalak) which will custom make them (not pricey, just under £30 a bra)

Normally the option I would suggest would be ordering a back size up, cup size down and taking the back in but unfortunately 28Cs have been described as the "unicorn shit of the bra world" and are pretty hard to find. Ebay and M&S are about the only places so far that do them.

Have a look at Ewa - here. The 26d won't appear on the dropdown but look at the bras that are available in a 30B as it will have the same size wires so these are the bras they should be able to custom for you in a 26d.