To think it's near on impossible to find a well fitting bra?

[OverTheHammer]

Last time I got measured they said I was a 32FF. However when I use the guides and measure myself it comes out at 32DD.

I've lost weight recently and my 32FFs are getting too big so I measured myself and got 32DD so went and bought some at that size - well the image of me stood there looking like Michelin man stuffed into a bikini was hilarious - I had huge puffs of fat falling out of each arm pit!! Plus my boobs looked like badly baked muffins that had over grown their casings.

So clearly I'm not a 32DD - what's the next size down from a 32FF??! You'd think it would be a 32F or 32EE but apparently not?! None of it makes sense and I can't be arsed to go and get measured again so can anyone tell me how to measure properly?

If you can find a comfortable bra I can only assume you practice witchcraft. Bras are the bane of my existence. I have had fitting, bought every brand imaginable, and I hate them all. The only ones I like are the pull over soft ones that barely have any support, so I can only wear them whilst at home. Bras are hideous.

Is your back size right? What's your dress size? I'm a 12/14 and a size 32 back so if you're thinner than that then you might need smaller. This has some good advice on how to measure yourself better bra campaign

Give us your measurements OP

I sympathise OP. It's an ordeal trying to find a comfortable, supportive bra.

The best bra fitting I ever had was in an independent lingerie shop while on holiday - and the fitter didn't put a tape measure anywhere near me. She said that nearly everyone wears bras that are too big in the band and too small in the cup.

If you actually measure 32 inches round your ribcage (this would make you about a dress size 10-12?), maybe start by trying a selection of 32 bras of different cup sizes. However different brands and styles all vary in size and fit - it's a nightmare! So it's best to use the labelled sizes as a very rough guide only.

I hear ya.

I have lost weight so my 38d bras are now too big.

I went to M&S yesterday. A bewildering amount of choice but Intried on loads and none fitted.

Also, why do M&S have lots of bras in big sizes that are padded - who needs that extra padding, which is weird sweat inducing stuff.

Are darts really big enough for FF with a size 12 shirt?

Try on lots of different sizes, don't rely on what size you think you are. And don't assume that you only need to change cup size, not back size. I honestly don't find it that hard to find comfortable bras. I range from a 34E to a 36F, depending on the style and brand. I have mostly bought mine from Bravissimo, but also have some brilliant ones from Primark which were as cheap as chips. I haven't had an actual bra fitting for over a decade (and it wasn't that helpful when I did!).

In my experience swimwear seems to come up smaller

really OP I'd make the effort to go somewhere and get properly measured. Not M&S they are shit. John Lewis, or a proper lingerie shop.

Last time I got measured in JL (I was breastfeeding so massive tits) she was able to tell me that I'd be X size in this brand but probably Y size in another brand, and also what kind of style would suit my boob shape. So helpful.

Do you have a bravissimo? I've lost 3.5 stone, was wearing a 38G, am now a 34 H. Solely on my own experience, likely the 38G was wrong anyway.

Bravissimo fitters train at the lingerie equivalent of hogwarts. They just look at you then return with an armful of perfectly fitting bras.

Go to Bravissimo, it's well worth the extra cost over M&S etc. I tried on dozens of bras in M&S, Debenhams etc that I thought were the right size, but just didn't feel 'right' so I went to Bravissimo and the assistant took one look at me, brought some bras and they fit and were comfortable. Amazing.

I bought 2 there and then and two more of one of them shortly after as they were slightly cheaper online, so I have 3 well fitting 'everyday' bras that are all the same and a nicer one for special occasions.

I once asked an assistant in M&S why they put padding into larger sized bras. She didn't know, but I think it's silly as well. There's absolutely no need for that foam stuff and many of the prettier bras have it.

Lots of peopleches. like Bravissimo, but if you are near one and can splash the cash, my best ever bras have come from Rigby and Peller. They're mostly in London, but there are other branches. I bought a couple from there some years ago and am still wearing one of them. I get cheaper ones for every day and have found Sainsbury's to be far better than M&S.

They are expensive, but cost per wear has been very good.

Try this calculator, which is brilliant, and then go to Bravissimo. Changed my life, I know have great fitting, comfortable bras and my boobs look great as well!

booborbust.com/#info_tab

Also I have bigger boobs and I like the foam padding stuff, it's in all my bras. No nipples showing, and I prefer the smoother look in clothes.

My everyday bras mentioned above are Panache Porcelain elan I think which are a t-shirt bra with a very light padding, mainly for a smooth line under clothes and nipple coverage rather than size enhancement.

I'm also around a 32F and I'm not that big really, on a small frame an F cup is more like medium rather than especially big.

There is a whole lot more to bra sizes than just the numbers! And the idea that you can get a comfy bra just using a measuring tape is ludicrous.

To answer your question... well it depends where you lost the weight. I lost 3 stone and not one ounce came off my breasts. They're 100% breast tissue and 0% fat unfortunately. I did loose fat around my rib cage and I went from 36 to 32. That meant that my 36E turned into a 32G (down a chest size up a cup).

You should consider how your current bras fit. Can you pull the back of the bra more than 2 inches away from your back? If yes, then you need a smaller back band. Unfortunately 30 is as low as you can go as 28 bands with large cups are as rare as rocking horse poo. If the back band is nice and snug, then its probably the cup that needs adjusting. Down a cup if you have creasing and loose fabric, up a cup if you are spilling out. The gore of an underwire (the bit between your boobs) should lie flat on your breastbone, if not - bigger cups are required and probably smaller chest band too.

You would be best to go to a shop with a wide range of large cup sizes to try on different sizes, Debenhams & Boux Avenue are ok and Bravissimo are best. Start with a 30G and 30H and see how they feel and look.

Construction of a bra is also important. It helps to understand if you are top heavy (weight of breast tissue sits high), or soft and bottom heavy (tend toward drooping). If you have close set or wide set breasts. These variables all factor on bra comfort. I am bottom heavy and can't wear a low gore or plunge style bra. Full cups work best for me with style that have structured support to the bottom of the cup (more than one seam) . I am wide set also and find that a high underwire under the arm pit works best and extra structure to the band under the arm helps also. It's worth trying different styles and noting what ones work for you and why so you can buy bras that suit your body shape and breast style.

I great tip I find also is to bend the wire to curve around the body. If you imagine a bra lying flat on the worktop the wires will lie flat. Except your body isn't flat, your ribcage is rounded, so a little curve in the wire to follow the chest band around your ribcage I find helps comfort, especially under the arms. IFSWIM!

Hope that helps!

This blogs helped me loads to understand what would work best and why:
brasihate.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/clarifying-breast-shape-full-on-top-vs.html

This also explains things very clearly:
www.curvykate.com/blog/what-type-of-boobs-do-you-have/

Curvy Kate are really comfy.

I'm a 30 back but still in a 14/16 top to fity boobs in bit it looks ridiculous everywhere else.

I look bigger than I am because I have to wear clothes two sizes too big to fit chest in, despite having a narrow back.

The style of bra will make a difference too. Even if a 34H balconette bra should fit me in the same way as a 34H full cup, it doesn't and due to my bust shape I still get quad booh with balconette bras.

Curvy Kate go down to a 28 band and bigger cups. For a while I was a 28E in them.
Due to weight fluctuations I'm a 30D which is hard to find as well.

Having a small back size with a D/E cup or above is really hard to find in the shops.
Bravissimo stock them but cost ££'s.
I've bought my last few bras on amazon for £5/£6. as they are previous season designs. Masquerade and cleo bras. Have a look on there OP.

No standards as usual in female clothing. Because we all just love hours in smelly hot noisy shops trying on clothes...

I am also finding it near impossible to get anything with wide straps, no sweaty padding, no ghastly colours and no ugly itchy lace. Choice is an illusion.