AIBU to think I'm not a 40A bra??

[HollyLondoner]

Just been measured in M&S and they said 40A and they do seem to fit. I've measured myself at home and I'm a 37 around the ribs and 41 chest which would be a 38D?

That's what I'm currently wearing but there's too much room in the cup. Now my boobs have shrunk and sagged since my baby is no longer a little baby I am really struggling to find a bra that fits.

I'm broad and bigger on the top. I'm a size 14 bottom 16 top.

AIBU - just buy the 40A

YANBU - go somewhere else!

Also any recommendations on where to try and get measured somewhere else would be greatly appreciated!!

Bravissimo will measure you correctly. I'm guessing you are about a 36 C. My 36Bs in M&S became a much better fitting 32D in Bravissimo.

Thanks! I have a Bravissimo in town so could try there. I thought they only did bigger cups though? Do they do all sizes?

Try a 38D or even 36E.

Do you have a Rigby & Peller?

Boob or bust is great for measuring yourself: https://www.booborbust.com/

M+S measured my 13 year old as 25" round her ribs and produced 30" bras for her to try. Needless to say they were miles too big.... They seem to be still working on a very outdated sizing method.

Thank you! They've said 36B but I tried that today and was way too small around the back eek!

Maybe I'm just an odd shape. I do have a lot of space between my breasts and find cups aren't wide enough unless I go for a really big back size.

I would try a 38D/36DD, but I would look at what style you're buying.
What style have you bought, and where is the space in the cups? Is it a t shirt bra and they look like they're empty at the top/ middle?
I have wide set boobs, and if I wear my size t-shirt or push up bra, I look like they're gaping. But if I wear a balconette bra, they're a much better fit because I've got bottom heavy boobs.

Different bra types come up differently. Go to bravissimo, start from a 38D and get advice, they have a standard fit one to get your basic measurement but then some styles deviate so you need to go up or down (if back goes down then cup goes up, and vice versa). That is the right size for you, so it might be the bra style that's the issue rather than the size... or you might have measured yourself incorrectly and should be 38C or 36D.

Try a 36E balcony bra, and a balcony bra in a 36D, 36DD, 38D and 38DD. It should give you a range of the right back to cup ratios to see which works best for your shape. Brastop site accepts returns so that's where I go for trying a range of sizes when I've lost or gained weight.

Curvy Kate is a great brand for balcony bras. I find their lightly padded ones lift and look much fuller than a full cup or plunge style, for boobs which have lost the volume at the top. A tighter band and bigger cup can often be what's needed but it can feel counterintuitive until you try it. Good luck! I love a bra transformation haha, M&S fitters should be banned!

Balconette work better for me too.

There's is too much space in the end of the cup so my boobs aren't filling the cup enough. I struggling to find cups that are wide enough but not empty at the end of the cup.

Also - agree on balconette bra, I love the shape from the Millie.

Do you have boob's, or boooooooobs? ( and I say this as someone who's at the latter end of the alphabet for cup size lol).

There's alot off boobage difference between an A and a D, so that should give an easier starting point?

Okay, then it's probably not just that you need a balconette bra, but one that's quite wide set too- when you look at it, some of them have quite a wide bit in the middle, that's what you need to look for, and maybe one that says side support too.
I think it's now been discontinued, but this is my go to bra- it has a wider piece in the middle, the straps are set back closer to my armpits than most bras, as my boobs are fuller at the bottom on the outside, and it's almost a straight across cut, which is the best fit for me. It might be worth seeing if you can find something a similar shape to try.

Remember that if the cup is too small, it will feel like the band is too small, and if you've been wearing too big a bra you will feel like a properly fitted one is too small. You should only be able to pull it an inch away from your back when it's fastened.

There's really not a lot of boobs needed for a D cup at all, but someone who is in an A cup has literally an inch difference in measurements between their under breast measurement and breast measurement. This lady has measured a 4 inch difference, so she's not an A cup. M&S are just shite and outdated.

If the bras you have from M& S fit that's all that matters, not what size they are surely?

This will sound crackers but look up Brasense - a woman called Sara who does remote bra fittings (having worked in the industry for ages). I'm not her / affiliated with her / on commission - but she is very good at finding the size, shape, brand you need. I think it's £50 for a consultation and she sends you a bunch of bras to try, then has a follow up call.

They don’t fit though
they measured me into a 40H, the back band pulled out about 6 inches and I had double boob everywhere
you can think they fit because they might look ok but they’re not giving any support or encasing all the boob

I’m not sure why you don’t agree with the 40A size. When you tried on a 40A did you not like the fit or do by ou just think that you couldn’t possibly be an A cup? What is the actual issue?

I'd say a 36DD and to scoop the breast into the cups

Like this - before and after

Thank you!!

Ha! I definitely do have boobs and don't look flat chested that's why I'm surprised it's an A!

If you measure 37 around your ribs then you're obviously not a 40 back. You're either a 36 or a 38, depending on the bra and your own body shape. 36 will probably feel very tight if you're used to something much looser, but it will be more supportive.

Bravissimo will fit anyone - I would highly recommend them. I've been going to them for 20+ years, since they only had a store in Covent Garden. M&S are shite at bra fitting, I don't know why they even bother.

Have a little search on the site at M&S bra fittings. The issue is that a 40 inch back when the lady is measuring 37 inches in the back is an outdated method of measurement, and the bras won't give the support needed or a good look in the bra.

I think it's just that I don't seem to have A cup boobs and my back measurement isn't near a 40. I don't really care about the size but just questioning if that's right for me as I imagined a 40 back would be for someone size 20+