I don't understand my own body!

[Ooopsadaisy]

I am fit and slim. I wear a size 8 trousers and a 10 on top. I am 5 foot 4.

I am very toned and my under bust measurement is 30.

Reasonably priced bras in a 30 inch are quite rare and I am always on a budget, so I shop carefully.

Therefore, I get myself measured in a few shops, try different stores, styles, take on board lots of advice etc ...

I am an E fitting. Even more difficult when only a 30 inch back. This is correct though, as my bras are well fitting.

I am always so frazzled by the purchasing process, that I always forget to ask the things I really want to know.

If I am a 30E and otherwise slim - shouldn't I look busty? I don't think I do. I certainly have boobs but no-one could describe them as honking norks.

When discussing bra sizes, people are always amazed when I say "E". They look askance and say "are you sure?".

One friend who I think looks very busty is a 36D. Why does she look more busty than me?

Also, if I am an E - why am I still a size 10?

I've used the system suwoo describes when trying to convince me obstinate mother that she was wearing the wrong size and it's accurate-ish, but you need to try on the sizes around it to get it bang on. so you could be a 30f, or a 28ff, maybe a 28f.... - it's not set in stone because a lot does depend on your shape and on the bra. I tend to find ones with a stretchy back fit very differently to those which are satin type fabrics.

I also find that bigger boobs need the band tighter for support - you just can't get away with as much flex in it!

Thanks ClaireDeLoon - that's my size 10 question answered now as well! I'm otherwise a small, toned person so I now understand why I'm that size.

It's all soooooo confusing when there is so much difference in shapes of boobage as well as bra styles.

Exactly Claire. It just gives you a ballpark, eg Ooops isn't in a 36B for arguments sake.

Thanks everyone!

Every day is a school day on MN!

I now understand at least one part of my body!

The rest is definitely a mystery and all part of what makes me special!

I have some 32E bras from M&S but it's hard to find in most of their ranges and getting a non see-through bra is a pain.

I only look busty if I wear round neck/polo neck tops. Your friend looks busty-er because hers are bigger in proportion due to the bigger back size, I went from a 36DD to a 32 E when I lost weight, my boobs are smaller now even though the cup size is bigger.

If you are on a budget La Senza go down to 28 back size with a larger cup (G maybe?) and they're ok for everyday.

Debenhams usually have loads of Freya/Panache and they have 10% off everything at the moment. Also remember the band should be in the same position all the way round your body, if it rides up at the back then it is too big (it drives me mad when you can see this on other people, I am dying to tell them they need a diferent size )

Yeap nothing worse than seeing "boob escaping out the side of bra's".

Since I started swimming harder and training for swim events my cup size has gone up, I think even though I have lost weight and back is more toned etc so I think it must be something to do with turning it to muscle/pecks ish.

I now never get measured by a tape as they are so wrong - tape would measure me as a 40 back but I'm a 34 fact!

Best fit for my peck like boobs is Fantasie because the cup comes round the side abit more.

How can a tape measure, measure you as 40 inches if you are 34 inches .

I'm 32" under bust 39" at the fullest part - currently I usually wear 34DD but that felt a bit tight so I actually bought a 36D last week what size should I be wearing??

FauxFox I would try on a few styles/makes around 32F/32FF/32G see what fits best. So no spillage/loose fabric, band doesn't ride up at the back and no bulges under a tight fitting top etc They do feel tight if they're fitted properly, that's where the support comes from.

Oh thanks claire i'm popping to the shops tomorrow so i'll try a few!

I have no idea suwoo but i think it's the way that some people measure me under the bust and add " to in I think but defo 34 by R&P and Brav so good enough for me!

To answer your op , if you are a 36 bust and wearing size 10 tops I guess you usually wear casual things like t shirts and jersey tops. Or you buy from shops whose sizes are big. Because most tailored styles won't fit a 36 bust in a 10, shift dresses and shirts without stretch would gape as they are usually sized for 34 or 35". This is a good choice for you as I suspect you have narrow shoulders and a slim frame, if you are 30" under bust. So a 12 would be too big elsewhere on you

You don't look busty because you are not. F cup is not big. As others have said , your friend is probably wearing the wrong size of bra. I suspect you are heavier than most people would guess too. My bet is 8 and 1/2 stone

If you want to boost your assets you need a different style of bra. I suspect your bra fits you on the cup but isn't giving you much support as the back is too loose. Try a plunge bra like the Freya Deco

You need to stop trying to save a few quid and get a decent bra. £19 or £20 is not a lot for something you will wear every day for 6 months

But I think the answer to part of the OP's question why doesn't she look busty? is that cup sizes are also proportional to band sizes. So a 36 DD has a much bigger cup than a 30 DD. The actual boobage is bigger.

Good call catlady. These days a 30DD (if one is wearing it correctly) isnt at all big.

1. Go to Bravissimo, get measured
2. try different bras on, see what brands fit you and how their sizing is - I need bigger size in Panache than in Freya, for example
3. go and search ebay - you can get the same bras a lot cheper

And stay away from M&S bra fitting services, and I use "fitting" in the loosest possible sense. :o

so what size should i be wearing? am 32" underbust, and 37" at widest part. normally wear a 34c but suspecting i should be in a d as they are popping out. am a size 12.

KristinaM - you are very right about people under-estimating my weight. You guessed 8 and a half stone! Try again. I am actually 9 stone 10. (Or I was at last weighing about 3 weeks ago at the gym).

I am all muscle. My body fat is 20-21 % which is very low for my age (42).

You are also correct about my clothing!

I am a t-shirts/long & loose shirts sort of girl. I don't do tailored clothing at all. Skinny jeans and leggings down below.

I do have a problem with coats though. I confess to a 12 there for the very reasons you say. (However, as I am a casual dresser, l rarely wear it! - usually in a walking waterproof - and that is a small man's one!)

You people understand my body better than I do!

Have any of you secret bra-fitters got any advice for CherryMonster?

Cherry, you're probably a 32 rather than a 34. Again, go to Bravissimo if there is one anywhere near - they start at a d. I'd guess you are probably a 32dd/e

Should have explained that better - when you go down a back size, you go up a cup to keep the same volume. So, a 32d would have the same volume as your 34c does. As you say that you're popping out, you probably need to go up at least 1 cup size and quite possibly two.

For Cherrymonster, I estimate 32E. Bravissimo and independant shops are great for measuring, then make a note of the manufacturer and get thee on Ebay. I pay no more than £13 for brand new bra's. I have as many colours as possible, because when I was a 28HH growing up, I only had 2 grey yucky ones

I'm not skinny any more,I am a skinny run to chub...But I have small ribs (and big norks).

i cant be a 32, the back of my bra fits nicely- i can fit 2 fingers under it on the loosest clip, but it doesnt gape.

what brand is it cherry? Some are a lot smaller than others. I'm normally a 30 at the moment, but it's not cast in stone and I have both 28s and 32s that I can wear and fit fine.

Bras are just as erratic as jeans when it comes to sizing

i find it very strange you lot all saying i should try 32D/DD/E, i dont think i have ever gone that big. my boobs are at their biggest (non pg and bf) state now, and even when pg and bf i was never bigger than a 32DD. (have put on weight mind you, when pg and bf i was a size 8, am now a 12)

scots- most of mine are from primark (terrible i know, but am skint)