Why is it so hard to get bras in a smaller back size?

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Out bra shopping for teen daughter. She'd be best in a 28F, can wear a 30E in some designs but definitely not a 32" or bigger, it's just far too loose. I'm a 30E or F. Even less able to go up a back size because I'm old enough to actually need some support.

I usually shop at Rigby & Peller for myself, love it. But it's blooming expensive for a teenager when what she really wants is something cheap and fashionable and doesn't need anything particularly sturdy.

But I've been traipsing around high street shops and there's literally nothing less than a 32" back that goes above a D cup, and nothing at all in a 28" back. It's 30 A - 30D, 32 A - DD and then loads of choice from 34" upwards, right up to 40". This includes specialist lingerie shops like Victoria Secret, and general women's clothes shops.

The thing is, I'm a former teacher and now a youth worker and I also coach a youth sport. I see dozens of teenage girls every day. Obviously I don't stare at their breasts or ask them what size they are, but my daughter doesn't at all stand out as being an odd shape and size compared to the average. In fact, she's got a naturally larger frame than quite a lot of girls her age, she is in no way petite. And the same for me as an adult. I just look normal, size 8-10 in clothes, can shop pretty much anywhere.

I don't understand how we can be such regular sizes but not be catered for in bras.

I know that reportedly a large proportion of women are in the 'wrong' size bra, but I've honestly tried 32" and 34" bras before, and so has my daughter, and they're just no good at all. So what's going on? Are we actually freakishly uncommon sizes? Do a large number of women walk around with a really loose bra and not care? Are there some market forces that make smaller back sizes not profitable?

AIBU in thinking that 30E is not a really unusual bra size to be, and to be baffled that retailers seem to think it is?

28 F and 30 E are not common sizes.

Boux Avenue do these sizes. Up to 28G. But in general, I don't know why it's so hard to find them. Most women wearing the wrong size? Most women being larger back sizes?

M&S do small backs, large cups. I have quite a few 28F from there which are under £30

M&S do a 28F and a 30E - I've had good in-store bra fitting appointments too.

I think they are pretty common. It's just most women wear what's available rather than what fits best. I am size 8 and I don't have giant boobs but the smaller your under chest area, the bigger the cup needs to be for proper support and no overspill. I can about get away with 32DD but it's not always a brilliant fit. My actual chest circumference (over the boob area) is only 33.5 inches so not what most people imagine F cup to look like.
My step daughter wears the same size. She used to buy 32DD bras until I measured her properly. She is nowhere near 32inch chest at 14!

I have this issue, too. I don't have a big cup size so I go up to a 32D, when it should be 30E, and I get away with that. People hear D or E and think that means big boobs but it's really not.

eBay! I used to be a 30F and got a bundle from eBay for about £20 for 5 different bras! All in lovely condition!

Exactly - most women wear too large a back and therefore too small a cup and they end up in them cos of having been measured badly initially and nothing smaller being available.

I am a FF and whilst I don't look small, everyone who finds out is completely shocked that such a "massive" cup looks like my boobs. I am a 30 so that's why - people have no concept of what sizes actually look like so can't ever comprehend they might be bigger than a B cup

Bra sizes are all over the place, you would be better to get her to choose some styles she likes and try them on. If her breasts are filling E/F cups she will need decent bras that are comfortable and supportive.

Dd buys hers at Boux Avenue. They seem to have a good range of 28 and 30 inch backs.

Good tips, thanks. I didn't think of M&S because their measuring service was so far out. Notoriously so, I believe, but definitely backed up by my own experience. I'll check them out.

I don't know where there's a Boux Avenue near me, but I'll look it up.

They're online. Brastop also does cheap of these kinds of sizes

Bravissimo - I also measure 28 and have always bought bras from there

Boux avenue is online
Brastop is good but also online

So true. I'm a 30D and am small really. OP I use online shop called brastop. They cater for smaller back sizes with larger cup sizes

You'd only say that if you had no idea what those sizes look like, ie fairly average and neither particularly small backed or large breasted.

YANBU OP, it's like there's hardly any bras available for most women below a size 10/12.

Most women a) don't really understand how bra sizes actually work and b) wear the wrong size. Most often the wrong back size. I think this is maybe why it's tricky to get bras in 28 and 30, especially with larger cup sizes. I'm 32GG/H and 32 is often the smallest back size available in that cup size.

I would try Bravissimo, as they cater for D+ cup sizes and I suspect would stock some brands that come in a 28 back. They're also good at knowing which brands come up bigger/smaller than others, so they may have bras in a 30 that come up small and would fit your daughter.

As someone who, as a teenager, regularly had to a wear a 36D because that was basically all that was available, I sympathise greatly and I'm glad you're making sure she's in the right size.

Lots of women need these sizes, especially teenage girls.

I agree part of the issue is women wearing bras with the wrong back size. I now wear a 32E. I always used to wear 34, occasionally 36. I am a size 12 and tall, definitely not petite, so if I am wearing 32, then there must be lots of people needing smaller sizes. Plus if you go down back sizes, you go up cup sizes.

Companies are getting better, but by and large still cater for the old style (incorrect) measuring of adding four inches the under bust measurement. I think a study last year estimated that over 90% of women in the UK are wearing the wrong bra size.

Bra manufacturing is expensive.
Only the more expensive brands do a range of sizes.
Same with clothing sizes in high street stores.
Fit, cut & size range are generally limited.

Totally understand her plight. I was a large chested teen, and when I lost weight as adult I settled at a 30FF (before having kids and gaining weight, I'm now a 34). It's definitely right, I have been measured in person many times including as a teenager.

It's as if they don't think smaller girls/ladies can have large bust sizes, which is ridiculous. I also despair at the lack of nice looking designs and my endless choice of beige, black or nude...

Boud Avenue does a great range for small band and big bust. Haven't found many other place tbh!

Quite a few places do 28, M&S or boux avenue and asos for a cool/younger selection.

Apologies for the amazing amount of typos, I'm nap trapped and one handed 🫠

I've been known to sew tucks in across the back to make them fit if I'm happy with the cups fit at the front.