"Armpit fat" isn't normal over bra?

[Pigflewpast]

Just been to Bravissimo for a long overdue bra fitting and buying session. They don't measure you, just bring out bras to try based on whatever you went in wearing ( in my case a long past its best 36B from Debenhams). She decided I was a 34dd.
Every bra brought to me gave me varying degrees of fat, including double fat with its own cleavage, above the sides, in front of my arm pits. The fitter just said "yeah, some people get that, you just have to choose the best".
So I left with nothing, except embarrassment, and annoyance that I'll have to find somewhere else to put myself through it again.
I'm a size 10-12, and whilst not skinny not so large that I should be accepting armpit boobs above my bra surely??
Any advice anybody? Please? Dreading going anywhere else now.

I disagree. If it rides up it's too big in the band especially if you have it in the tightest hooks

No riding up is too big in the band, the strap should be horizontal but needs to be tight to stay there otherwise breast weight pulls it up

On me a bra only rides up if it's too big in the back.

Yes if it's riding up on the tightest, drop a band size. Don't forget you need to go UP a cup size to compensate

Riding up means it’s too big.
Always by a bra on the slackest hook and tighten as its loosens
Never machine wash a bra.
A bra is likely to increase by about 4 inches of stretch in its life span and far more of you machine wash.
That’s why older bras are always comfier!

This is amazing! By the better bra measurement technique I'm in totally the wrong size, which makes sense as I also have back fat and straps falling down. Most recently the underwire is digging in the side of my boob! Going bra shopping tomorrow as I can't put up with it any more! Will let you know how it goes...

I could have written your thread except it was in debenhams.
I refused to buy one with armpit fat and basically fitted myself. I'm very happy with the results.

At least too big bras are comfy. I have lost weight so my bra size has probably changed, but I think first I'll try a new bra in my current size to make sure it isn't just that the old bra had stretched. Technically I ought to be a 34D by the better bra measurement system but 36Cs were more comfortable when I last tried.

The thing is that the measurement from the better bra campaign is only the starting size. That's kind of the point - it gives you a sensible baseline but you are meant to tweak and adjust from there to get the perfect fit which is why there's lots of content about how a bra should fit.

Oh so I have that wrong then.

I had that exact thing happen at Bravissimo! Bulging out horribly and they said it was normal. And then I went along the road to John Lewis, got measured again and bought bras that were perfectly supportive without any of that problem.

Didn't get on very well 😟. Better bra measurement said I should be 30F but was way too tight on the band. I was trying 32 E-F but still getting back fat and underarm fat!! The lady in M&S measured me the old fashioned way and got me to try on a 34E. It was more comfortable as 32 felt like the underwire would dig in and no underarm fat but still some back fat. Lady said that was just the shape I am (am size 10-12) and would always happen especially when I put one arm in front of my chest to see. Totally confused now. Do I need a bigger cup size or go to a 36 band?? Help!!

M&S will always try to put you in a bigger band.

It's not just the size on the label that matters. I have a triumph 34 that's barely longer than my curvy kate 32s and much less stretchy. Like feet, boobs come in al different shapes, some all at the front, some all the way round under the armpits - and that's before you even consider sagginess, pointiness, odd boobs and so on. As a result, you may find a plunge better than a balconette, or vice versa, you may need wires that are more U-shaped or more smile shaped, you may need longer or shorter straps and so on.

So stick close to the size you measure at, but try out different brands and styles.

I went to get measured a few years ago and the genius in the shop decided I was a 28E, despite me wearing 34D for years. I bought the bloody thing and wore it to a wedding. When I came home, my entire under-carriage was red and bleeding in places. I now happily wear 36D. I don't like torturing myself for vanity!

Red marks like sock or jean marks are normal but no, bleeding is not!

Poppyred85 - one way to test the band size is try it on back to front

I know that sounds odd, but the cups have a great way of stealing from the band if they are not big enough. So to try it back to front takes the cups out of the equation.

The band should be firm around you, it does most of the support, not the straps.

For info I am a size 14-16 and wear a 34, so as a size 10-12 it is unlikely you will be a 36

and tell 'the lady' to fuck off about the 'shape you are'. - how rude

Poppyred85 I was going to say similar to Furball. It can feel “too tight in the band” when actually you need to go up another cup size (or two) - I would definitely try it! You’ll have a better idea if that’s likely to work by doing the back to front thing. If the better bra measurements indicated 30F I can’t see a 36 band being a good fit- even if you do end up trying out a few before you find the right one.

I agree, the why wear a bra if it's not supporting you, might swell wear a stretchy vest if it's just underwear you want. The band needs to be the size or thereabouts of your ribcage under the bust. If that's 32 then no way should you be wearing a 36!

sticky keyboard strikes again!

poppy what are your measurements using the bra intervention method?

Poppy, have you tried FF or G cups with a 30 band? It makes sense to try larger cups to rule them out. It still sounds to me like your cup is too small. Agree re fastening the band back to front to gauge the size. And then go up cups until you get to the one which is obviously too roomy. If you measure 30 around your rib cage, 32 is the absolute biggest you can go to in a band size (and in most bra brands it will be too big).

To give you an idea, I am a small 16 or a big 14 size and I wear 34 band. 36 is too big even on a tightest hook. My boobs look pretty average, not big at all, but it is a G cup. The bras feel comfortable, do not dig in anywhere etc.

Personally I could never find a good fitting bra in a M&S, their shapes/underwires do not suit my shape. Neither does Curvy Kate. I have found Ewa Michalak balconnette bras to be absolutely perfect.

You just need to find the right style and brand. Don’t think M&S is the best place to look though IMO.

With the right size band, it is possible to get back fat (if you have got enough fat on your back), but you definitely should not be getting armpit fat.

This might not be a popular opinion but back fat is back fat. It's not caused by the bra, it's caused by the...erm...fat on the back!

Not necessarily but even where it is just backfat the size of bra you wear can have a huge impact on the appearance. Just like wearing the wrong size of any other garment can make lumpy bits look worse-it might be your belly fat that's coming over the jeans but it doesn't mean you should wear the wrong size.

However backfat is often related to breast tissue and their support. If I support my breasts with my hands - not hoiking them, just lifting to where a bra would make them sit iyswim- then my backfat is drastically reduced.

Statistically, a well-fitted bra will never fill like you are holding your boobs up with your hands, because the support points won’t be where you hands are. The support would (and should be!) around your rib cage, I.e. a snug band which you should be aware of when the bra is on. You should feel the band, but you shouldn’t feel the cup underwires digging in or shoulder straps cutting into your shoulders.