"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.

The cups were too small.

I'm just confused how a size 8-10 can wear a 36 band and have it not ride up. A 34 band rides up on me and I can fit in a fist in the back. So (not aimed at poster above, I'm genuinely puzzled) how someone who is a 8-10 can't do a 32 band up, when I'm a 14/16 and comfortable in one

I'm just confused how a size 8-10 can wear a 36 band and have it not ride up.

Like a pp said before, only if you're really flat chested. Like my sister.
Her ribcage really is wide. Boobs, not so much.

I'm a size 10 and a 34B at Debenhams. I'm not flat chested and 32 anything is uncomfortable.

Have you looked at Triumph, I bought 3 different styles and found them very comfy.

Everything 'tucked' in nicely (38d) and they wash really well with some pretty as well as practical designs.

I’m a bit confused as well at PPs saying at size 10-12 you should be around a 32” a 34”. I’m a 10-12 and I measure up at 38”.

How?

It's pretty unusual to be a 38" underbust measurement in a size 10. Most people's underbust measurement is within about 3" of their waist measurement and a size 10 waist shouldn't be 35" in any sensible shop. Asos size chart puts a 10 at 28" waist and 37" bust - and that's overbust

When properly fitted a 38 is rarely the right size for a size 10. There are rare exceptions, mainly women who have done lots of back developing exercise so have a very triangular upper torso shape.

Why on earth would you even need a 36" band as a size 10, unless you are very flat chested? I'm a 14 and currently in a 32" band

I'm a size 14 and and 32" band wouldn't go anywhere near me. I find a 38" band the best fit, or a 36 with an extender.

One thing to note with band sizes is that if you are trying the bra on the right way round - so fastening at the back - then it might seem too small in the band when it's actually too small in the cup.

Try on back to front first to see how the band is. It should be firm and on my be able to come an inch or two away when pulled.

Once you've got that then work up through the cups - or guess high and work down. Even when you think you've found one that's big enough try the cup above to be sure

I would like to clarify that my actual under bust measurement is 30" but this equates to a 34B bra from Debenhams, M&S and anything else I've tried to date.

OP have you tried the MN way of measuring? Not sure where it's from but I did it and bras have never been a better fit.

1. Measure firmly under the bust.
2. Bend forward 90 degrees with boobs hanging(Oh yes , I know it's weird!) and measure around back to tip of nipple.
3. The first measurement is strap size. Then every inc increase in second measurement is a cup size.

e.g I measured 32 under bust and 37 in the weird position. So 5 inches = a 32 DD. I was wearing a 34c. I'm a 10/12 and never thought i was a DD but they fit beautifully.

If you are a size 10-12 you should never be a 36 back.
Basic rule to follow 10=30, 12=32, 14=34 and so on. Start with that and try them on.
A well fitting bra will feel snug. You need to take the weight around your back and not through the shoulders. You shouldn’t be able to get any more than 2 fingers behind and shouldn’t be able to pull the back of a bra back.
Once you get used to it you’ll look and feel so much better.
The reason you didn’t have any bulges before was because your bra was far to big.
I suspect your 36 back the straps would slip down occasionally.

NB The chest band is supposed to be firm fitting as it's supposed to provide the main support, not the shoulder straps! I think we've all got used to ill fitting, loose bras.

Well, a 30in underbust measurement should equate to a 34 bra. If women are now being told to wear a bra 32 bra because that is the measurement of their underbust, I'm surprised they can breathe properly in it, although suspect it may be because bras are going the way of clothes sizing, as women get inexorably more obese. When I was younger, a size 10 used to be something like a 24in waist with 34 in bust and 35in hips. It's way more than that, now, because women like to be flattered. Same with bras - who wouldn't rather be told they have a petite back and large breasts than that they are far fatter than their grandparents were at their age?

thebetterbracampaign.blogspot.co.uk/p/fitting-advice.html

I actually measured 31.5 under bust but 32 is perfect.

A 30 in under bust would be a 30 or 32 band size. The difference in size in relation to the band size denotes the cup size. I have a small back/rib cage but have a definite bust, hence the 32dd but I wear size 10 tops or very occasionally a 12 depending on the fit of it.

I’m talking back sizes not inches. If you have to use a measuring tape you’re not a great bra fitter.
A bra fitter should be able to measure by eye as not everyone fits a rule. If they trust a measuring tape and not a fit then I wouldn’t trust them.

I'm talking about measuring yourself at home. I definitely need a tape measure.

Well, a 30in underbust measurement should equate to a 34 bra. If women are now being told to wear a bra 32 bra because that is the measurement of their underbust,

No. I measure 28 inches. I wear size 28 and 30 as they DO fit best. The variation depends on brand and model.
When I wore larger band sizes they really didn't fit properly.

I breath just fine.

I breathe just fine too. grin

Roundabout, I used to wear bras with +4’’ back, and had the cup underwire sitting (and pressing) on my soft breast tissue. Needless to say it was excruciatingly uncomfortable. The bra intervention transformed my life. My boobs look better now under my clothes after three children than they did when I was nineteen. Because I was wearing the wrong size bra. Smaller back, bigger cup is how it should be. Obviously, should still be able to breathe, but shouldn’t be able to get more than two fingers under your band on its loosest setting. Your boobs and back will be well supported, the underwires will sit on the outside of your breast tissue (this includes underarm fat), therefore be comfortable. The problem is of course, the vast majority of women are DD+ (more often FF-HH using proper measurement). And the high street and supermarkets don’t often stock bras in the bigger cup sizes, so you have to pay over the odds for a right size bra.

I think we are all brainwashed into thinking a D+ is massive when it's really not especially when combined with a smaller band size.

Ferrier, I am a size 16 and wear 34G. I used to wear 38DD when I was size 14 and it was really really uncomfortable. Bigger bands ride up and provide no support. As well as underwires in the smaller cup digging into your breast tissue under your arm.

That does not sound like a well fitting bra to me, I am overweight with mummy boobs and I have a bra that fits perfectly with no armpit fat at all. I use an online measuring guide, work out what my size is myself then go in the shop and try on every bra until I find one that fits and that looks great under a sleevless top.
It's quite an ordeal finding your size. You could try the Rigby and Peller experience, they would find you a well fitting bra, just tell them what price range you are looking for.

It's also a problem that modern clothes don't accommodate larger breasts.
You end up buying a larger size that doesn't really fit you just to fit the boobs.

If M&S fit you as 34B you're likely to be a 30D or even DD. But they won't have it in stock.

It's not vanity sizing, as many MNetters and myself have tried the different bands.

Mind you, MNetters used to say and IME, black bras tend to be tighter.