"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.

My bra straps slip down constantly and it really annoys me. I just can't afford an expensive bra so rely on cheal supermarket ones in a range of sizes from 36-38 D,DD...
Am size 16.

purple you are amazing doing that! And though I'm very sorry you didn't find anything either it's nice to not be alone! Some of the ones she told me fitted had a LOT worse fat than that, one even gave it it's own cleavage.
I even tried on some in Asda today as we were there. The 34DD was tiny, they didn't have any 34E and 34F was huge. Only found one style in each size.

Purple, you still need a bigger cup, try F or FF. Go down a band size if needs be. You are trying to squeeze into a way too small a cup for you. The fact it is getting comfier is a sign you are getting closer to your correct size. But you are not there yet judging from the pics!

If youre a size 10/12 in tops then you are not a 36 band, as that would be normally associated with a size 16

Chances are you need a smaller band size and a larger cup size.
Wrong size bra gives you a far worse outline than having a tiny bit of armpit fat, i can almost guarantee

I hadn’t appreciated that cup size changed in direct relation to back size. I always thought a C cup was the same size whether you were a 32 or a 44. Which was why I laughed when I came up as DD - I’ve always looked at 38DD which are like hats for twin babies!

Demented get yourself on eBay, you’ll get some cheapos on there.

Just remeasured my under bust. 34, and this is a 32 band. Mega comfy and minimal squidge! I get some under the band because of the way my body/ribs are but size 14 on top, have to wear a 16 to get boobs in

Purple the last one is the best of the bunch but the straps look like they're too far in towards your neck which is making me think you need a bit more width in the cup (plus another cup size)

How did the band feel on the 32 you tried (and what brand was it?) Similarly, where is the 34E from? if you can tell me what you've tried then I might be able to suggest some options you could order online to try

Same for you OP, can you identify any of the bras you tried in Bravissimo on the website and tell me how they fitted? Might help me to suggest a few options for you too

Stats that’s what I thought re the straps. You don’t get many but I have to buy bras that the straps extend the full way. Ie not ones that include half fancy material with half extender if that makes sense.

Their idea of sizing people is useless and they suggest bras that are way too tight

You might prefer something looser, and it's very much your right to do so. But looking at it objectively, their sizing method is correct, as it has the objective of taking the weight from people's necks and shoulders, where it often causes pain, and spreading the weight around the band.

If you are comfortable in a larger size then crack on, that's great. But their method of measurement is often life changing for women who have suffered years of pain from ill fitting bras.

I know not everyone can get there but if you can, go to Rigby and Peller. They're genuinely the best fitters I've ever been to and revolutionised the way I use/look at/treat my undercrackers. I've not had armpit fat since going to them and although they're expensive, they last forever if you treat them properly.

Thanks Stats. I really didn’t pay attention to the makes. I just grabbed a whole bunch of slightly different sizes in a range to styles. The first two were tried on in Debenhams but don’t know the makes. The last one though is M&S cotton rich padded full cup t shirt bra. 2 pack for £20! Bargainous!

I’d lost the will to live after bra No. 18

Purple, is your armpit fat boob pushed back or back fat pushed out? If you're not sure give it a tug and see where it's attached to!

I'd agree that you need to try an F cup, but the armpit issue depends on where it is coming from. Boob should be in your cup. If it's under your arm then try a bigger cup and/ or a wider fitting bra such as the Panache Tango II. If it's back fat then I'm afraid it's a fact of life! Bras with a wider back will help, and there are smoothing bras that will help, but short of lipo it's just one of those things

The first two look like they might be Debenhams own brand.
Generally, M&S seem to run a little small in the band (it's worse in the smaller sizes) but their sizing can be erratic.

I'm thinking you probably need to try 32F and more 34E from different brands. I'd probably suggest trying something like the Cleo Marcie, a Freya balconette style, and something from Curvy Kate. Given that plunge seemed good I'd also try the Bravissimo Satine (you might even need another cup up in this as it runs a tad small but is a lovely bra). No guarantee that one of them will work but because they're big brands with fairly standard sizing then if you can try them out then we can use that as a base line to work out what will work IYSWIM?

I just grabbed a whole bunch of slightly different sizes in a range to styles.

When you say styles, do you mean actually different styles, or the same style, but with different fabrics and colours?

Different styles, that may fit different would be full cup, balconette, demi cup, plunge, wired, non-wired, etc.

And if you haven't figured out what size you are yet, then it's probably best to pick, say, a full cup and a balconette in a wide range of sizes up to way too big in the cup. You will get a feel for the style that fits you the best. Then you can try slightly different sizes around the styles that suit you better, and variations in wire widths, cup depth, etc.

Bomb - I think it’s back fat 😕 Its quite far back.

Lweji - by styles I meant underwired padded, uw non-padded, balconette, moulded, full cup and something else.

I stopped at the 34e because I needed to regroup (and sit down!) and revisit this thread and figure out if it was cup or strap that was the issue.

And my poor boobs were needing a rest

You are female and must accept badly designed clothes.

If you find that statement as offensive as I do,shop elsewhere!

That does not sound like any Bravissimo fitting I've ever had, but I always go to the big one near Oxford Circus - maybe its something in the training going wrong?

As well as the back and cup sizes, I would also look at the shape of the underwire: I cannot wear very U shaped ones, I have to have a more gentle curve or everything hurts and it doesn't fit properly.

Give yourself a break, book a fitting here and don't look back, enjoy.

I used to hate the whole business, until i read an article by June Kenton (founded R&R) and saved up to try them. I now just buy more of the same online, and only go back for a fitting if i have lost/gained a lot of weight. To say that they have transformed my life is an understatement.

Well done purple , it's exhausting isn't it? Each bra style affects the fit. My perfect 32DD is my fave but I also bought a 32D on the same day(I think I didn't really believe I could be a double D gapes at the top of the cup so I never wear it.Mine looks huge when it's hanging to dry but on it fully covers me, the underwire goes around to my side under my armpit so all flesh is secured. It did feel different on first wear but I just got used to it and now can't feel it at all.Good luck.

purple I calculate a 32 G or 34E on your measurements, depending on whether you round 33 up or down.

On measurements alone, which are only a starting point, 33/39 would be either
32F
32E
34E
34DD

Each cup size in an inch, most uk bras go A,B,C,D,DD,E,F,FF,G,GG,H,GG,J,JJ,K,KK,L (AA is out of order and means a less than one inch difference)

Is there a Rigby & Peller in Scotland?