Where can I get DD measured for a proper bra?

[GCWorkNightmare]

DD is 12, nearly 13. I’m a J cup so she was always likely to have big boobs. She’s been wearing quite heavy duty sports bras till now (since she was about 9) but she’s started complaining that they aren’t comfortable anymore. It wouldn’t surprise me if she’s a DD cup by now.

My mum took me to M+S but I’ve been boycotting them for years. I get my bras online from Bravissimo and they feel a bit grown up for a teen who would rather hide them than go for lacy whatevers.

I really don’t want to be exposing her to anywhere where it may be a biologically male assistant helping/measuring her, nor do I want her in unisex changing rooms.

so, where do we go?

Bravissimo. They are brilliant with well endowed teens. Not all the bras are lacy.
buy one nude beautifully fitted classic then tags the tag code and buy last years colours on eBay ( did this for years for my dds. Panache tango 2 was the best bra. Assuming your dad is like mine - a tiny back size - they turn up on eBay really often as brand new
Mira an investment in a bit of body confidence if nothing else.

I'd go to Boux Avenue for her age group

Would she want to try alternative types of bra? My niece wears Molke. She wore bras early and is an FF cup and prefers the style of these. Easy to measure at home and quick returns. I've worn them in the past. They are comfortable but don't give you as nice a shape as an underwire

I'm a 28f. Cleo by Panache and Freya do styles that are more teen friendly.

I also wear a Panache sports bra day-to-day, and in that, am a 28e.

I’m wearing that sports bra now as on my way to the
gym. I don’t think she needs anything quite so heavy duty just yet.

She may as well stay in the sports bras she’s currently wearing as to do that.

I’m 28-30 E, depending on brand. M&S measured me as 34C 🙄

I know you said London is tricky, OP, but I highly recommend Rigby & Peller.

I do this for my 34J panaches! 😂

Rigby and Peller couldn’t do anything for me when I went looking for wedding underwear years ago. :-/

It’s a lovely idea but she is 12. And their bras are ££££!

Bravissimo are expensive but I’m my experience last so much longer than any others that it works out better in the long term, plus you’ll be able to have them fitted properly which will support her growing tissue much better than anything online. I’ve worn their bras since I was around her age and when I’ve occasionally deviated due to cost I’ve always regretted it. They’re one of the few brands I’m loyal to.

I’ve looked and there’s 77 styles in 28F and I’d say at least a 1/3 of them are perfectly suitable for her age so I’m not really sure what the problem is.

It was the moderators allowing by reviews by men about how wonderfully M+S knickers “contained their junk” that did it for me. (Still happening - see attached. The final pic is a female review. Look at the thumbs up/down compared to the 2 male reviews.) 🤮🤮🤮

Then M+S’s expectation that NMW shop workers (mostly female) should deal with any altercations caused by men being allowed in the lingerie changing room.

Then discovering that some if those men have a special fetish for wearing pants from the shelves while they pleasure themselves in the women’s changing rooms and then putting them back for sale. Some of them stay to see how many women/touch or pick them up.

So no, I won’t be supporting them by buying DD or anyone else bras from there. They didn’t do a good job of measuring years ago when I was a customer either.

I’m not aware of any shops that do 28f in teen bras. If that really is your daughter’s size then i think she’ll need just just wear a regular wired bra. I’m similar to this size and i’ve struggled to find non-wired bras with padding in this size.

It only showed me about 30 and they were almost all underwired, push up, plunge or very lacy. She just wants a moulded t-shirt bra at this stage (and I’d rather not pay £40 for it if I don’t have to!)

I’ll have another look.

My DD had her first Bravissimo bra and bikini at 13-14. Look at Niya, which worked brilliantly under the horribly see-through school shirts, and it comes in a 28 back. It's also got thinner straps than the equivalent cup on the high street, and so more subtle. Faith is also good.
DD also appreciated having a supportive bikini: it meant that she could enjoy water slides again. She's also had Zara and (I think) Alexa, which has a fancy back.
They definitely have styles that appeal to teens and that are suitable.

That wasn’t the case when I worked there but it was a while ago. Might be best if OP rings her local store to ask what their policy is with the lingerie fitting rooms.

Measuring should only be used as a start-off guide, not gospel. Women and girls are likely to be different sizes in different styles and materials of bra, so it’s always best to get properly fitted with actual bras, not just be measured and sent on your way.

It's worth trying on the Niya under a school shirt. We were a bit spooked by the "plunge" label, but it's fine, and they lasted well.
Better a 28F plunge style than a 30C high street bra, which stands out a lot more. That's what we found. DD is 28E

I appreciate you may not have seen it but I won’t be taking DD anywhere near M+S. It isn’t an option.

Thanks. She has a modibodi period swimsuit that has foam cups that she feels secure in.

102 bras on Bravissimo in that size. 3 non-wired ones. Only one I would say she would consider and it’s £££s.

Already spend hundreds at Bravissimo every year for me. 😭

I understand the £40 thing totally but sometimes needs must (I still baulk at it though)!

Something like this would be pretty perfect, I think:

https://www.bravissimo.com/products/signature-moulded-bra-fy508/#blush-pink-fy508blp

@GCWorkNightmare she was a bit scared off by the catalogue and shop at first, but once I had coaxed her in, the fitters were great with her, and once she saw that the Niya did what she wanted it to do - be comfy, and not draw attention to her under her shirt - she was sold.

My orders from Bravissimo make my boobs now look like a serial yo-yo. 28F one week; 32G the next.

Or this? https://www.bravissimo.com/products/aura-moulded-bra-fa316/

I think some of the plain plunge styles would be fine too under t-shirts etc. They’ll look totally different on a child than the model.

There’s a quote on the Niya saying it’s a push up bra?

DD has another year in polo tops before the hideous school shirt comes in.