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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Bra shopping. Large band size but small boobs.

224 replies

Charsy01 · 21/04/2021 13:27

Sorry wrong place but posting here for traffic.

Where I can find some places that cater for a lady (me) with a large chest measurement (42) and only just filling a B cup!

A lot of places don’t go up to a 42 and when they do it starts at a C - I need a B cup.

Marks and Spencer’s for a few but selection not great.

I like something slightly padded and I also really like plunge style bras as the wiring doesn’t come quite so far up between my boobs - that are also set quite far apart 😂 cannot go for anything to full looking on the cups as it just feels too big and often can be seen peering above t shirts and blouses etc that are lower cut!

I don’t want a sports bra as I do need some support and I do like underwiring to give me a bit of a push up!

Any ideas? Anyone else in the same boat? I feel shops feel curvier ladies will always have bigger boobs but my boobs don’t seem to increase or decrease with weight gain or loss!

It was much easier when I was slimmer and smaller band!

I am working on losing weight so don’t want to spend too much either as may need another soon!

OP posts:
Thread gallery
5
Franklyfrost · 21/04/2021 15:27

I’m a 36AA and I’m a size 10. It depends on your build- I’m slim but tall with a big rib cage and broad shoulders hence the 36. You can’t match cup size, band size and dress size.

Even if there’s not much there wearing a bra does change your silhouette so it would be nice if someone catered to the kitten tits of the world.

QueenPaw · 21/04/2021 15:31

@simonbunny ewa Michalak, eBay, elomi, brastop mostly

QueenPaw · 21/04/2021 15:33

It's really unlikely to be a 36 band and a size 10 though
That means your underbust goes from a 36 to what, a 29 waist so you've got a 7 inch difference between your underbust then the smallest part of you

dancemom · 21/04/2021 15:33

Op you definitely need to scoop and your bra should be fitted enough to keep all your scooped breast tissue in the cup

Pedalpushers · 21/04/2021 15:34

I hate these threads. I've tried the boob or bust and I'm sorry but it doesn't work for me. It tells me my band size is 4 sizes smaller than what I'm comfortably wearing, lo and behold my supposed correct size doesn't even come close to doing up. I have a proportionally big back and I'm tired of being told I don't by strangers on the Internet.

BadgerWatch · 21/04/2021 15:35

Some of us are just odd shapes. The women in my family all seem to have huge rib cages, my mum is less than 10st and Boob or Bust measures her at a 38B. DD1 is 14 an average size teen and currently a 40C.

OpusAnglicanum · 21/04/2021 15:54

@Pedalpushers

I hate these threads. I've tried the boob or bust and I'm sorry but it doesn't work for me. It tells me my band size is 4 sizes smaller than what I'm comfortably wearing, lo and behold my supposed correct size doesn't even come close to doing up. I have a proportionally big back and I'm tired of being told I don't by strangers on the Internet.
This is also my experience!
BabbleBee · 21/04/2021 16:25

Another boob or bust advocate! I went from 34B to a 28/30DD. M&S measured me as a 36B when I was breastfeeding... I was a 32G!

ssd · 21/04/2021 16:28

Op, im guessing your nearer a 38c

ssd · 21/04/2021 16:29

M&s measure for m&s bra's only

And they usually do it wrong anyway

Cottagepieandpeas · 21/04/2021 16:49

Isn't one of the problems that different styles / brands fit differently? It makes bra shopping online very difficult.

I think I am a 42c but may not be and will try Boob or Bust to see what the outcome is.

But a problem I also have is that the side panel (under the armpit) is often too high and digs in to my armpit - or am I wearing the bra too high?

I had a terrible experience getting measured in John Lewis a few years ago where the selection for 42c was virtually non existent and the sales woman persuaded me to buy 2 x 38ds. They are too tight.
I am not very confident and find the whole measuring thing a terrible ordeal and so I bought them knowing they weren't right. (She even said that the may feel a little tight but they would loosen). I feel such an idiot writing this. Blush

LettyLoman · 21/04/2021 16:51

Simply Be is your friend. Often the big brands don't do big sizes on their own websites BUT do for simply be. Or Evans if they've not closed their stores.

LettyLoman · 21/04/2021 16:52

I'll add that boob or bust don't seem to work for large backed or larger women.

bridgetreilly · 21/04/2021 16:56

42C here and I find it incredibly difficult to find bras for me, but I’m sure 42B is even harder. Cup sizes do increase with band width so 42B will have bigger cups than, say, 34B. The problem for those of us with large bands is that they often only come in D or DD cups or larger.

I’ve just started making my own and it is such a relief to think that I’ll never have to go bra shopping again.

Cottagepieandpeas · 21/04/2021 17:02

@bridgetreilly
Wow - making your own? I'm impressed.
A cottage industry for other 42cs maybe? Grin

LesserBother · 21/04/2021 17:03

My bra size is 30E. I have small breasts (ie don’t need to wear a bra).

This is what I don't understand, I'm a 30f, can only wear shirts from somewhere like bravissimo, size has always been commented on ever since I was a teenager. 30e isn't massive but I'm struggling to understand how it can be small

PickAChew · 21/04/2021 17:15

OK. These cups are a similar height. If they were boobs, the one on the left wouldn't project out much more from a 36" rib cage than the one on the right would from a 30" ribcage. The one on the left holds almost twice as much coffee. They would be a similar cup size on different sized bands.

Bra shopping. Large band size but small boobs.
PickAChew · 21/04/2021 17:18

These cups contain about the same volume of coffee. The grey one is shorter and wider than the stripy one, though and would protrude less from a 40" ribcage (numbers made up for comparison, BTW) so would be a smaller cup size on a bigger band - though the two would be the sister sizes mentioned earlier.

Bra shopping. Large band size but small boobs.
Boph · 21/04/2021 17:23

@Iwantacookie

I feel your pain op. I need 38a in m&s measurements but in boob or bust it was something like a 32d Absolutely bewildered how that can be right as I literally have no boobs. Cant quite bring myself to by a 32d either as it just seems ridiculous. When we can try things on again I'm getting every size possible in the shop and trying them all on. Tbf I dont think there is anywhere that measures up for bras anymore. They all want to do fitting too which I dont want.
Same here. I wore a 38a for years but when I got measured they toldme something ridiculous like 32C. I couldn't fasten it. I am slim and have very small breasts. Even when breast feeding I couldn't find a small enough bra. I also hate wires due to long standing breast pain.

Contrary to what some posters say they do still need support. I had surgery for breast cancer and was advised by the surgeon to wear a supportive bra at all times.
I started a thread on here and as a result of that I am thrilled with my sloggi zero feel bras.
No wires and no fastening yet padded and supportive, almost a cleavage which I've never had. I can't recommend them enough.

Mamamamasaurus · 21/04/2021 17:27

@OneRingToRuleThemAll

Definitely try boob or bust. Unless you are massively obese with no boobs there's no way you are a 42b.
I AM obese and have small boobs. A B cup, C at a push. I've lost weight and gained weight and my cup size ONLY ever changed when I was BF.

Maybe think before you post?

bridgetreilly · 21/04/2021 17:34

@Cottagepieandpeas I make these. I have tried more complicated ones with underwires and proper cups and things, but never had success. These, however, are quick, easy, and incredibly comfortable to wear.

Original poster
Charsy01 · 21/04/2021 17:35

Thanks all. I have used 3 different measuring sites today including the boob and bust.

Been given 3 different..

42d - definitely won’t work as my boobs don’t fill a 42b let alone d!

40gg - yeah okay 😂😂

And a 46a!

I give up!

I carry a lot of weight on my midriff! rather than elsewhere on my body but small boobs..: I must be so out of proportion 😒

There is a local independent bra shop near me who are highly rated I may try - giving me anxiety thinking about it mind. I just worry they won’t go up to my band size or they will be overly expensive - there website is very expensive 😒

OP posts:
QueenPaw · 21/04/2021 17:36

Ok what do you measure under your bust, don't add anything on? And over bust

Cottagepieandpeas · 21/04/2021 17:37

[quote bridgetreilly]@Cottagepieandpeas I make these. I have tried more complicated ones with underwires and proper cups and things, but never had success. These, however, are quick, easy, and incredibly comfortable to wear.[/quote]
Brilliant - thanks for the link @bridgetreilly Really interesting.

Franklyfrost · 21/04/2021 18:13

@QueenPaw
It's really unlikely to be a 36 band and a size 10 though
That means your underbust goes from a 36 to what, a 29 waist so you've got a 7 inch difference between your underbust then the smallest part of you

26 inch waist. Yeah I’m a freak.