To want to shout about my new bras from the rooftops?!

[RedPandaMama]

THANK YOU to whoever it was who told me about the boob or bust method on here a few months ago. For YEARS I've been wearing a 38G as I was told that's what I was in M&S. I knew it wasn't right, my back isn't 38 inches and if I bent over I'd get the hideous double boob

Measured myself using boob or bust and came out as a 32J or 34JJ. Went for 34JJ and ordered a load of Curvy Kate and Flirtelle bras in the brastop sale. They arrived about an hour ago and I've just been prancing around with the mum tum flying in all directions in my new bras. I feel AMAZING. They're comfortable, they manage to lift up my (huge) boobs and not make them look saggy, they look GOOD.

So it turns out I'm two back sizes and FIVE cup sizes (GG, H, I, J, JJ) bigger than I was previously wearing! No wonder I always had bloody back pain.

Just wanted to shout about it for all the women in the back who haven't tried it yet, or still trust in the outdated method M&S and a few other places use.

I AM SO HAPPY

M and S bras are fine, it's just their fitting is crap. So I used the Bra Guru for sizing, once I had the right size I could then buy in M and S.

I'm really disappointed - got my 36j bra and initially I thought it was ok but not the huge revelation I was expecting, just okay. The back strap is definitely better and so far the straps haven't fallen down (which they always do) but I now have a bad case of 4 boob going on - where have I gone wrong, thought I'd measured quite accurately?

Thank you so much for posting this op! Really helpful!

Also, agree that you have to try on and try on and try on again!

houseofrabbits the boob or bust method didn't work for you because you didn't use it! If you measure at a 28FF then that is your starting size. By starting with a 30D you wasted your time in measuring.
If a tape measure fits round you at 28 inches, then there is no way that 34B is the right size. M&S don't have a good range in the sizes you need to be trying.
I wasted so much money doing exactly what you have done because I wouldn't believe that I could possibly be an F cup.

houseofrabbits - I'm a size 14-16 and a 34, if the tape measure said 28 for you then a 34 is way to big,

Someone I think upthread said you are approx your dress size plus 20 to give a rough estimate.

I would be inclined to give things another try, though not with M & S

I did this a month or so ago. I had to order twice from Brastop, and tried 16 bras in 4 different sizes around my 'new' size before finding one I was happy with. Worth it though! I went from a 32/34 D to a 32 FF.

Been following with the intention of trying this but haven't found my tape measure yet!

I'm just curious if anyone knows, why do some letters get used individually and twice (eg D) but some only once (eg B)?

Can I ask experienced bra fitters a question? Many of the bras I sent back were rejected because the wire sat a little bit below the boob - just 0.5-1cm - and there was a little loose material which scrunched up between the boob and cup. If anyone else has had this problem - do you know if there is a particular style that I should be looking at?

I seem to fit a 30/32 band (actual measurement was 31.5), depending on the bra. Cup seems ok at FF/G (I did scoop and swoop!). It's just the bottom bit that has been a problem.

Not that experienced, but it looks like you're talking about non-padded bras. Is that right?
Without photos I'd think the wire on those bras was too narrow for your boobs, or that you should allow some settling (wiggle a bit) after scooping to see if it's still a problem or not.
Other possibilities are that the cup was actually too small or you set the cup too low when putting the bra on. Or, that the bra was designed for bottom heavy boobs, and yours are higher up.

Yes non-padded. I've tried padded but just don't get on with them. I have tried several cup sizes. I'm guessing it's just the fit/style not being quite right for my boob shape/position. I've tried balconnette and full cup styles so I might order a couple of plunge bras to see if they fit better. If not I guess I'll just live with it for now - they definitely fit much better than my old ones and it's not uncomfortable - just not quite 'right'.

28DD!

@sorrelforbes but the D cups were massive so I don't understand how F or FF would work (with the same band size)?!

@redpandamama I did try some Tesco bras a few weeks ago, but only 32B's when I used a different measuring method.

I will try some HandM ones!

This seems to be about right for me but I can't bear the tightness under boob all day so that you are desperate to rip it off at the end of the day, why the hell cant somebody design a comfy cheap bra?

Because the shape and size of a cup changes depending on the band size. Get the band sorted first, then work out the cup. If all the cups are too big at the top then you will need another style.

HandM was no better! Comfiest band is a 34! And I was borderline B/C.

Well I've ordered some 34GGs 😱 From Brastop.... they're coming Tuesday. Can't wait to see if they fit !

My measurements came out as a 30H from a 34DD.

Tried a 30H and the cups were way too big. Spent an hour in M&S playing about with different sizes - nothing fits me in there.
Debenhams was a lot better and I came away with a 30FF.

I didn't have time to try Bravissimo but I will, and now I have a range of sizes and styles on my hit list.

I took in my usual size that I have been wearing (quite happily) to compare to the new size and the difference in fit is astonishing. Once you get over the "I can't be an e/f/g/h" and actually assess the fit of the bra it's crazy to see the difference.

M&S size would be 36E/F ish. I've been wearing an old 34E but cups were a bit tight and band too loose. Did the BoB measurement and got 32H. Just been to Bravissimo and got 2x 32Hs. :) Came up as GG in a full cup and H in plunge style which I went for as the full cup felt too high at the sides. I was also told not to wash my bras in the washing machine!

I'm very confused. I just followed the bob guide and it said band 28. I currently wear a 34.

So I thought how on earth am I wearing a band size 6 inches too big?! So I measured a couple of bras and they are a little under 28 inches.

So how on earth is this supposed to work if we order bras with a band size that we actually measure if bras are made much smaller than this?

BessMarvin Beacuse of elastic. You need to measure the fully stretched length of your 34 band bra.

Ah OK. Right I've tried that and I can manage to get it to stretch that far. Not sure if that would be comfortable, but I will give the new suggested sizing a go and see how I get on.

Thank you!

@BessMarvin like SorrelForbes just said, you need to fully stretch the band out.

Sooo...34 fits... been wearing a 38. The GG from brastop are H-U-G-E. one fits ok but the others I could fit on my head 😩 Back to drawing board !

Holy Moly I've gone from M&S 34C to 30F.

It's astonishing!

Hmmm. Not quite sure this is working for me. BoB gave me the same band size that I'd been wearing but increased the cup size from DD to HH. I ordered three from brastop and was so excited when they arrived this morning but they all seem to have too much space in the cup and look baggy, one fits better than the other two but the wires are digging in painfully under my arm, much further back than the wires had been previously. Not really sure where to go from here.