To be so emotionally invested in other women’s bras?

[BuffaloCauliflower]

Just that really. (This is lighthearted before I get any ‘haven’t you got any bigger problems’ comments)

I’m just about constantly worried about whether other women are wearing the right size bra. None of them seem to be. In a group I’m in on FB a women was getting annoyed by suggestions she wasn’t a 38D. There was a picture of her whole body, she was a size 8/10 and her boobs were quite clearly bigger than than mine (32FF/G). She just wouldn’t have it despite everyone being quite kind and just wanting to help.

My size 8/10 SIL insists she’s been measured and she’s a 36C. I can see from looking at her that it’s clearly wrong. I asked her how she can be a 36 at size 8/10 and I’m a 32 at 12/14 but she won’t accept she needs to measure differently. Every time bras are mentioned anywhere I feel compelled to leap in with a booborbust link like some crazed bra pixie.

The ridiculous old school add 4 inches or whatever they’re still doing in M&S and Debenhams needs to stop, it’s doing women no favours. How many women must be uncomfortable and bra hating because they’re nowhere near the right size? I feel like there needs to be some mass PR campaign to teach women and the shops that only stock 32A to 44DD how sizes actually work.

I feel the same OP, especially when someone is out running without a sports bra - ouch!

@Huntawaymama where did you get measured? Try Bravissimo, all on fit no tape measures.

I've heard all these things before and tried the recommended 'snug' band/bigger cups, and while it might look good it's far too uncomfortable for me to have a band that tight.

Much rather have a comfortable band, thanks.

Just tried the booborbust calculator out of curiosity, and it's thrown an error and telling me my measurements are wrong . Guess they don't get many small busted women bothering.

I’ve worn a 34D for years, but did the ‘MN bra intervention’, which put me at a 32E.

But I’ve tried so many different styles of bra in 32E and they’re just toooo tight. I can hardly breathe.

34D feels more comfy, even if it doesn’t give me amazing shape.

@Creatureofthenight I don’t know how anyone actually does that!

It does take a bit of wear to get bras to fit just right, and if you’re not wearing the right size in cup as well as band it’ll be too tight. Boob or bust is also just a starting point, it’s not spot on for me but it’s a good place to start. Also the shape of the bra can make a lot of difference, depending on your shape. There’s a lot of variables.

If it's too tight use the next set of hooks and eyes. The bra should fit on the middle one when you first try it on.

Moaningsickness
Just tried the booborbust calculator out of curiosity, and it's thrown an error and telling me my measurements are wrong . Guess they don't get many small busted women bothering.

Exactly the same problem I had using their calculator too!

So if you have the ‘4 boobs’ effect does this mean you just need a bigger cup size?

I occasionally look at women and think, you're wearing the wrong size
when I can see mono boob, underarm boob, or overflowing cups, but I wouldn't say anything unless asked. I did become a bit over invested when my huge breasted SIL lost a load of weight, much slimmer than me and while we were in M&S was looking at 40DDs when I was a 38HH.

It took a bit of convincing for her to try their biggest cup 36H and then to tell her 36 was right but it wasnt sitting right because she had underarm boob to pull forward and the cups were overflowing.

She eventually listened and ordered some cup size ranges in a 36 from figleaves and wore out her new perfectly fitting 36J bra at a wedding. I wasn't thinking about the bra trip weeks previously, but on seeing her the change was immediately apparent, even in her posture. My first words to her were "check out your boobs!!!"

The ‘right’ size doesn’t always give you what you want.

I have very saggy breasts and back fat. Going one cup size smaller and one band size bigger gives me a much nicer shape than my actual size. Lifts and shapes my tits nicely without highlighting the back fat situation. My actual size (and yes I’m sure, and yes I’ve been fitted and fitted myself many times) doesn’t exacerbate the sagginess, but it sure doesn’t help much either, and because of the back fat the right size band just makes me look extra lumpy.

If you had huge thigh saddlebags and were looking for jeans, you wouldn’t get hung up on finding something in your correct waist size, you’d just be looking for whatever works with your saddlebags. If you have a bit of a quirky shape you have to go with whatever actually works, and often that won’t be the ‘right’ size.

Also, I can get that dreaded four boob look in any size bra. If your tits are big and saggy and floppy enough, they’ll find a way to start migrating out of anything you stuff them into, even if they have loads of room. Sometimes people just aren’t shaped right for any bra.

It means you are wearing a bra that doesn't fit you, and that the cup is probably too small.
If you are in the correct size, the band will be snug but not tight and the cup will be full but not overspilling. If the band is loose, your boobs might be trying to escape underneath it.

If you get aches in your neck or shoulder, it could be due to an ill-fitting bra. The straps should not be doing all the work.

modern bras stretch out after the first couple of wears unless they are pure silk or pure cotton.

I've always bought ones that are comfortable with the band on the loosest hook so I can tighten the hooks if the bra stretches. It has never happened, and certainly not several inches! Do people really believe this nonsense?

There’s a lot of variables.

And yet the variable that some people might be comfortable in a bra you consider 'wrong' is beyond you.

Some people like wearing lots of tight clothes, I would hate it. As for running without being constricted into a sports bra - I'd run naked if it weren't for decency laws!

I rather a bra that fit spot on straight away.

I started wearing stretchy bralettes when I had DS for breastfeeding. I am still breastfeeding 13 months later but have decided I'm never going back. Fuck bras, I've never found a truly comfortable one.

I desperately need to get measured as all my bras hurt! Where is best to go?

Possibly people like a bigger band size because they hate the fat bulgy back look.

When makers of bras pay attention to this, there might be more success with 'correct' sizing.

I’m a 32E and buy mine in primark. Normally about £8/10 a bra. 34 is too loose on me by miles.

@GreenEggsHamandChips and often they do - I bought a new bra at the weekend, it’s fits great straight away.

I did the bra intervention thing..30G....tied those on in shops , useless for me so tend to wear 32 E.

@twoundertwo54321 Bravissimo. Best bet would be to measure yourself using the Boob or Bust calculator first, and then use what it thinks as a starting point and try on bras around that size (it suggests 32G for me, but 32FF is a better fit for me in most styles due to the shape of my boobs)

booborbust.com

@CharlyAngelic in what way were they useless? Have you tried a Bravissimo? If you’re measuring at 30G a 32E will be way off, even if you feel that’s comfortable.

Trying them on you put it in the loosest setting first at the back so you can tighten it more when the elastic loosens.
If my bra gets too tight my husband says I look like a piece of pork in a butchers shop window!

Brilliant thank you!! I'm guessing my size at the moment but they are either too baggy or too tight round the bottom and the latest one I'm wearing is digging into my sides and making me miserable today! Will try that website first.

It was debenhams and a mix of makes. Thanks @BuffaloCauliflower . I will try again.
I bought the 32 E in a lingerie shop...lady assistants who seemed to know what they were doing.