"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've never heard of Bravissimo refusing to refund or exchange a bra that one of their staff has fitted. That is most unusual indeed and something their head office would be keen to know about.

speakout - if you're 9st then it's very unlikely that you need a 36 band. You almost certainly needed a bigger cup and/or a different style.

I get it and I'm a size 10 and measure as a 30E. Shapes of bras make a difference and it's not about the cup size, more about how the bra is shaped under the arms. I have a few Freya ones that are good and I've found Boux Avenue do some bras that fit me perfectly.

Laiste Sounds like you need a style where the wires are more of a U shape than a half circle shape, if that makes sense. So basically, a narrower bra where the wires don't come back so far on your body. I

I'm a size 14 and I don't have armpit fat. I think it depends how low cut the cups are. I have a particularly unsexy 36E on at the moment from M & S, but there's no lumps and bumps.

Pig what's the over bust measurement? Lean forward and measure around lowest hanging parts (often nipples but not always). That'll give an idea of cup size.

Also do you have a lot of space between your boobs? Mine are wide apart so plunge style, even in the right size, do nothing for me because the boob tries to escape under the armpit - it does not want to be squeezed towards the middle. Balcony works a lot better because I can scoop it in and it stays there.

M&S and Ann Summers always fit me with underarm fat. I got properly fitted and I’m a 28DD and no under arm fat.

I'm a 36C and have wide-spaced boobs. I find most bras try to 'shove' me inwards. I now wear pull-on comfort bras, and have no trouble.

Pigflewpast - what do you actually mean by being just under 34 around the bra strap? What is the actual measurement?

Which shops sell Freya? A few OP have mentioned those.
I tried the method in the links a few months ago but found a lump in the process so ended up having investigations for ages, which were luckily clear, and never got round to going, then put on weight, so really would like to feel good about my boobs again, rather than feel bad about the weight. I know I'm not very overweight, but these bras really made me feel like I was.

It’s because Bravissimo is all about the cleavage and is really for women with larger cup size. Same thing happened to me

I'm a size 14/16 top yet measure a 30GG. I need the bigger size to fit over my boobs. I used to swear by Bravissimo and was getting the fat you describe. I then moved to Debenhams DD+ and now am 100% happy with the Curvy Kate range stocked in Debenhams and measure up as a 32GG there.

I've also noticed that Debenhams have stopped measuring and also do it by getting you to try on bras.

Debenhams also stock Freya

Different styles/size/shops are the way to go I have a rough idea of ‘my size’ and I try to work from there and try varying degrees of sizes until I get a good fit

I don’t think that there is any standard measurement which is really the problem - I am roughly a 30G (size 10) and I like my back to be on the tighter side as it gives me more support - I have been measured once and the woman tried to put me in a 36D based on the measuring tape and it felt like another person could have fitted in the bra with me and me knowing that was far too big to then go to another store straight after to be measured at 30GG

Boux Avenue which another poster has suggested is one of my favourite store - maybe try there?

John Lewis and Debenhams both sell Freya- it's where I bought my bras during pregnancy as they sell some really comfy unwired but padded ones in DD+.

Really interested in reading this thread as I've had a very similar experience- went to Bravissimo for a bra fitting a few weeks ago as I've just given birth so needed well-fitting nursing bras. I'm also a 10-12 and was measured as a 36DD (previous fitting elsewhere had put me as a 32F and while I know the ribcage expands during pregnancy I was surprised it had apparently increased by so much yet my cup size had gone down and I was still a size 10 in maternity clothes so doesn't seem to fit with a 36 back). I also noticed the armpit fat OP and I mentioned this to the fitter who told me that everyone gets this, it's completely normal and apparently we think it's not due to all the airbrushed images in magazines. I do get that to an extent... but then like you I don't think I'd ever had that before with bras?! Went to Debenhams and bought a 36DD nursing bra and have to say that doesn't give me the armpit fat so maybe the bravissimo fitter was misinformed ??

It’s because Bravissimo is all about the cleavage and is really for women with larger cup size.

Really not true! They stock bras from a D cup upwards. Pretty much everyone know needs at least a D. It's only a 4" difference between band and cup measurement which really isn't big at all/

Just measured as in the links, leaning forward for the cup measurement. 33.6 under breasts and 39 at fullest.
The 34s she put me in didn't give back fat which surprised me as a couple of my old 36 ones do

There is also a difference between armpit fat (which usually indicates the need for a bigger cup and/or different style) and the Tail of Spence which is the little bit of flesh in that area.

mummabubs If you're a size 10 then there is no way you need a 36 band. A lot of Debenhams fitters still use the old +4/5" method which dates back to the days before elastic and stretchy bands!

Sorry for late reply OP. Yes, I think a 34E might be a good place to try so that you don't get overspill.

You can buy Freya in debenhams or better still, go and try it on there and buy online on ebay (it's brand new obvs- not used) for half the price. Brastop is also good for discount bras.

I really like the deco bras- moulded but not padded, t-shirt style bras that give a nice and smooth outline.

I'm wearing a 34 gg. I'm heavier than I should be, but even when umm at my fighting weight I have big boobs.
I found bravissimo poor. I went away with nothing. The lady at m and s told me the bras didn't fit because my boobs were a weird shape. I told her my boobs were a bloody amazing shape and it was the bra that was a weird shape. To give her credit she stepped backward looked at the boobs and said I was absolutely right my boobs were brilliant! They couldn't sell me a bra.
Debenhams lady told me I was a 44c.
I told her I wasn't. She said what was I basing that on. I said walking in wearing a 38 f that was too small in the cup and would have fit us both inside the band. She laughed and we tried down a can and up a cup til we found the right size. I left with 4 bras.
I think its trial and error. You have to try on and stick to your guns. If it didn't look right or wasn't right. If it didn't feel right it wasn't right. A good fitter believes you not the tape measure.

Those measurements do suggest a 34DD but do try the E as well. It takes some getting used to a tighter band, but it's better for the boobs and shoulders and back.

Pigflewpast Those measurements indicate a starting point of 34DD but it sounds like you need to try an E and an F too. A too big band and a too small cup can cause back fat. I get it in a 36 band but have none in a 30.

No back fat in a 34 band but armpit flesh suggests you need a bigger cup and a different style. Can you go back?

I know I've recently tried a bra which was meant to be for shorter torsos to stop the under arm dig. It felt ok at first but then began to dig me in between the breasts. sigh. That was a Freya i think. Can't remember the name but it had a sort of chain decoration along the top of the cups. I eye it, laying in the drawer, i know it looks nice on but it bloomin hurts.

Freya Arabella used to fit me beautifully.

They're expensive mistakes to make, big bras :(

dangerous I think I need you to come with me! Or at least I need to channel some of your attitude!

It is odd that this happened in Bravissimo.
Perhaps you could try a different shop?

How much do you measure around the boobs if you bend over?

A 34 back if you measure just under is not too tight.

It may also depend on the style of the bra. Did you try balconette bras? The straps sit more to the side and give more side support.

And, no, Bravissimo is not at all about the cleavage. If anything you get less obvious cleavage.