Can anyone who understands bra fittings come and tell me where I'm going wrong.

[VivaLeBeaver]

Quite a few of my bras are past their best. I've also put on a few pounds and think my boobs have got bigger and with some of my bras was getting a bit of a four boob effect which I presume is caused by a too small cup size.

So I went to m&s yesterday, tried some on was told I now needed a 38d rather than usual 38c. Tried some on, they felt fine and looked ok.

But today I've been moving some furniture nd when I bend down my boobs fall out the top. So does that mean the cup size is too big. I tucked them back in and tightened the shoulder straps a bit but then seemed to get a bit of a four boob effect again.

They are a plunge style type bra and the inner, middle sides of my boobs isn't covered up by the cup. So I don't know if I need a bigger cup size or a smaller one. Can your boobs fall out if the cup size is too small? Or might it just be the plunge style which doesn't suit.

I think we should send this thread to M&S, as this seems to be the place where most people go for fittings..and come out with totally wrong sizes.

I agree - I actually can't believe that the shops are measuring differently to this. All my catalogues still say to add 4 inches to your band too. Is there anything we can do to get this addressed?

Ooooh just measured am 32" band size and 38 over, that makes me a 32F?

Not the 36C, I have been wearing for years then.

Funny, I have done my normal bra up on the tightest hook and even that feels/looks better, though I can see I clearly need a little more cup room.

Will be bra shopping in the next couple of days.

WTWTW, I would make that a 32E if the manufacturer includes a DD in their sizes.

You are so right, I only posted in the hope that someone would spot if I had made a mistake.

Forgot the double d when counting through the alphabet.

Thank you.

You're welcome WTWTW.
Hope, I've been doing the same thing! You should change your name to HopeForTheBreast!!

Quick question, I've ordered a 30dd bra as per my new measurements which arrived today. It fits fine round the back (very comfy actually) but the cups wrinkle a bit at the top. It's an underwire full cup soft type bra, and if I stretch the fabric a bit it covers my boobs nicely but when I move it wrinkles again. This makes me think the cups are too big but when they wrinkle theres a bit of boob flesh showing over the top so I'm not sure. Can anyone help? I've measured again and I'm actually slightly under 30 inches round the band, and 35 over. I usually wear plunge but know they can be hard to fit so thought I'd go for full cup. Would a balcony be better? Thanks for any help.

Right I need more help, spent a long time trying bras on today, dd was sick of it by the end, 'why don't you just buy a pink one mummy?'

I measure 32E, it turns out these are not too easy to find, a couple I found fitted beautifully but were too hideous to contemplate buying. However generally I found this

32E was the best fit on my boobs but man was it tight on the band, it did squidgy unattractive things to bits of me that I didn't even realise were fat and the seams looked a little strainey, but like I said the cup fit was brilliant.

34DD was far more comfy in the band, but there was slight extra boobage above the cup.

34E cup was too big

30F I didn't find and I wouldn't have been able to breathe.

Anything else I should try, or do I just need to keep trying different makes until I find one that works?

I think I'd stick with the 32E if it fits nicely even though the band feels tight. With a few wears it'll start to stretch a bit anyway. I've worn my tightest bra three times now and it's already stretched a little bit so I don't have much back fat being squidged now.
There are quite a few to choose from at Debenhams including lots from La Senza so I'd look in both those shops I think.

I should have said, check each bra individually-you may need to go to a 30F or 34DD if the sizing is a bit off.

imo it's all in the style - i can't wear bras that don't have a bit on my breastbone between the cups. anything that plunges and goes down to a narrow join between cups just results in my boobs falling out the middle even if the size is right. i need about 2cm of verticle join between the cups - like this: <a class="break-all" href="http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=img.dailymail.co.uk/img/pix2/bravissimo290802_236x450.jpg&imgrefurl=www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-107070/Making-best-bust.html&usg=__5C6Urgr1ecnsicrJAPpF46OJMqk=&h=450&w=236&sz=17&hl=en&start=11&zoom=1&tbnid=VDWRagHiKz7ugM:&tbnh=127&tbnw=67&ei=W7gUTtRAyJjxA53H-fsH&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dbravissimo%26hl%3Den%26biw%3D1280%26bih%3D640%26gbv%3D2%26tbm%3Disch&itbs=1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">this and not <a class="break-all" href="http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=www.catwalkqueen.tv/Masquerade%2520at%2520Bravissimo.jpg&imgrefurl=www.catwalkqueen.tv/2009/01/galleries/valentines_day.php%3Fpic%3D11&usg=__TZXcQEB_26DQywJ7bqYmCc3RVPg=&h=694&w=480&sz=158&hl=en&start=1&zoom=1&tbnid=ZGtI0lauPahGvM:&tbnh=139&tbnw=96&ei=W7gUTtRAyJjxA53H-fsH&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dbravissimo%26hl%3Den%26biw%3D1280%26bih%3D640%26gbv%3D2%26tbm%3Disch&itbs=1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">this

hi, just joined mumsnet and found this thread. i measured myself as 29 band and 40 round the bust. a shop fitted me as a 34e but it goes right up my back and gives me the 4 bob effect.. could anyone advise what i should be attempting to wear?

chissy28 - 29 round back - you could go up or down depending on what is most comfortable, so say 30 round your back and H cup - thats allowing for a brand that has a DD and a GG in the range, otherwise you may need a HH or a J

brighthair, thanks for replying. what are the better makes of bras for these sort of sizes? is it any wonder a 34e didnt fit :/

lol! Curvy Kate, also Panache and Freya. You will need to try on, my boobs are 32J but more across than in front - Panache fits me, not Freya

Check the wire in the middle is flat in between and not bulging out. Make sure the band is on the loosest hook to start and doesn't ride up it should sit firm. I went to Bravissimo and tried on, I don't always buy from there I use Ebay and search for the make I want

check figleaves.com. Freya, Fantasie, Pour Moi, Panache, Lepel all have 30H

well tried a 30h in a freya and it was loose round the ribs and too small a cup :(

try 28J then, or even JJ if the brand doesn't have HH - good news is that figleaves currently stocks 75 models in that size. and yes, no wonder 34e wouldn't fit What shop was it that fitted you with this?

thanks will order some of the different sizes and see hoe they fit. and try them on. it was M&S measured me :/

chissy - if you can get to Rigby and Peller at all then they'll sort you out i a jiffy.

Agree about 28J / 28JJ in theory but, as I've said before, the size you measure is just a starting point. It's not always what technically fits best in the end. Some women do inexplicably need a band size significantly smaller than they measure. I do and someone down thread (madamechollet or something, maybe) does too. I fear you might hearing you say a 30 felt lose.

Really a visit to R&P is in order, even if it's just a one off.

madammecholet. not bad from memory for a dyslexic

M&S again..
there is another similar thread on AIBU and someone actually sent the link to M&S, as everybody had had horrible fittings there. Unfortunately the reply was thanks for email, blah, high standards blah, customer satisfaction important blah blah - just your usual thanks,bye letter. I'm sure there will be no change whatsoever.

another thing I just thought about, bra size conversions. European sizes are in cm and whatever you measure is supposed to be your bra size. Say, measure 80 cm under bust, you have bra 80. All bra manufacturers I have seen convert 80 eur - 36 UK, check any converter.

And we have also agreed, that if you measure 36, you should try 36 bra.

Now the problem is that 80 cm is not 36 inches. It's 31,4. So eur 80 bra should rather be UK 32.. That's kind of ..well, wrong, no? All european women must be wearing 10 cm too big bras if they follow the guidelines.

mine says 70E, doesn't give a UK size. 70cm is +/- 28 inches, I'd usually need a 75 = 30 uk (although I measure 90 = +/- 36 ) but his came up big.

Euro bras go 70 - 75 - 80 - 85 etc. 5 cm = 2 inches.

Will see if ny other of my bras give a UK size.

Many are unreadable, as always. Pre-baby bikini (european bought) says "EU75 FR90 34 F".

75F = 30F
90F = 38F
34F = 85F

There are few sizes it doesn't claim to be. It fitted perfectly when I generally needed a 32F, one size it does claim not to be.

Ancient but still unworn (UK bought) M&S bra that has never fitted but I always hope it will one of these days, says "75DD 34DD".

75DD = 30DD
34DD = 85DD

Utterly

Oh, and by fit I'd say it was more like a 36DD. Panic bought in sale after looking at size and not trying. Was a generally 32E at the time. It should have been fine for the odd night out.

Have said it before and will again. Don't trust fitters, don't trust labels. Learn to fit yourself properly. It's the only way. Well, unless you can be nipping into R&P all the time.