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 went out today and bought three bras that fit and many thanks to you Hetty. DD2 came with me and is now no longer the 4 boobed monster.

Glad to be of some use!

Gingers - measure with (non-stretchy) string and then measure the string...

I was about to start converting my normal bra into a nursing bra but the straps are too wide for the nursing clips. At least it gives me an excuse to buy a new bra. I used to be obsessed with into underwear when I could easily find ones that fitted me, so I'm excited to get some new sets.

I followed the Bravissmo (sp.)website guide 6 months ago and for the first time ever have fitting bra. I can only wear balconette style due to the shape of my breasts and can only wear bras from either New Look or Asda (I know!). In New Look I am a 32C and in Asda I'm a 34B.

Please can you help me with my size. Underneath is 40" , bust is 48". Im wearing 46C at the moment. Boobs are a bit flat at the top sadly.

Leela2 - if you are a 40 under, you need to be wearing a 40 band. I would start with a 40G if you go off the rule of 1inch for every cup size (allowing for DD)

Thank you very much, I will have a trying on session asap. Bit scary going from a C to a G eeek!!

C to G does seem like a big jump but when you adjust for the reduction in band size you're actually only going up to cup sizes. PMT does that for me some months

You'll be amazed what a good bra will do for your figure. Bet you look at least 1/2 a stone lighter. Is always shocking to see the difference.

to = two

Must pay more attention when typing

I have to admit, my D cup boobs are looking fab - I can't help but admire myself whenever I look in a mirror

Excellent! Such a confidence boost hey?

I decided to wear my non-nursing bra today just to see if I got on better feeding in it and it wasn't too bad. Perhaps my boobs are slightly smaller than they were when I last wore it. My sister told me she thought something funny was going on because my boobs didn't look like breastfeeding boobs today. I think my boobs look small in it despite the fact that they're a H cup! It feels weird wearing underwire but I'm sure I could get used to it again.
I was just looking up bra size calculators on Google and they're so ridiculous. I'm a 32/42 so a 32GG although I find 32/34H more suitable depending on the shop. These calculators have told me 36F or 36E mostly but one did say 34H. It's hardly surprising people aren't wearing the right sized bra when these calcultors can't even get it right.

I thought the same thing aswellasyou, I was using a catalogue fitting guide to measure myself before and it says you should add 4 inches to the back measurement before working out cup size

Well, y' see there is logic in the misinformation. It did used to be necessary to add 4 inches to the band measurement, a 34 band used to measure 30. But, the industry standard was changed years ago to 'simplify' fitting. It would have done if it'd been publicised in any way .

It really was yonks ago that it was changed, but the news just doesn't seem to have spread most many fitters still use the old method as do a lot of calculators and instructions of all sorts.

It's damn stupid.

Very glad to hear so many tales of happy, well clad breasts

That explains a lot for me, actually. I was fitted as 34D after years of sagging 36Cs - and the 34Ds definitely fitted and gave me that lovely boost from a new bra.

There came a point, however, when I just couldn't find anything that fit, and I've spent several years in 34DD/32E/32FF, never quite right, until John Lewis recently 'diagnosed' me as 30G, which feels supportive and well-fitting again.

I've actually been allowed to walk out of the shop (House of Fraser/Debenhams/several independents) on several occasions when the 'fitters' couldn't find anything to fit me!

Oh I didn't realise that Hetty. I remember around 7 or 8 years ago when I was about a 34D, I checked an online bra sizer and it said I was a 38A. I couldn't believe it so decided to just get what fitted me instead!
Thanks for your advise Hetty. Does it make you feel good that you've supplied the world with a whole load more uplifted, supported and attractive breasts?

Just a question, and maybe it was covered before, but what is DD, and what would be the indications for wearing a DD cup as opposed to a D or E?

Dunno about your q. Math but here wehad a little indie unidies shop... Thewoman who worked there could tell your size by copping a feel! She was brill .... I went from a 34 a to a 32 b in a day..... She was a legend! I'm now a 34 c and I fit myself using her advice as sadly she no longer works

I have a terrible habit of mentally bra-sizing women. I itch to tell them what they should be wearing...its like when you see someone's label sticking out and just need to tuck it in

Well I finally had the gumption to tell DD2 she was wearing a bra that was way too small, so after itching for about 18 months I tackled her with my measuring tape, and proved I was right, armed with Hetty's advice. She is very pleased with her purchases and looks so much better in the right size.

mathanxiety - DD is just a quirk of the system. The indication for having a DD is difference of 5 inches between the the under bust measurement and the over bust measurement . For a D it's a 4 inch difference and for an E a 6 inch difference. It's just a normal size oddly named.

Some manufacturers have other odd quirks / deviations, no DD in the range or a DDD as well as a D & DD. An EE as well as an E and F or a GG as well F & H, or indeed a combination of the above. It's just oddness, the double lettered size is always bigger than the single, with the exception of AA. That is a 'special' size, in as much it's smaller than an A - for over and under bust measurement the smae.

Do check the cup sizes on offer when you try bras by a manufacturer you've not used before, the 1 inch = 1 cup size rule always applies, starting from A even if the range starts at, say, a D, regardless of what the sizes are called.

Well done for tackling DD, you're a brave woman

BoF - I know that itch too well. Hard to resist.

How do I get my Mum to listen? I've been telling her for years she's wearing the wrong size. She usually wears a 38C/D but her boobs are about the same size as mine with a bigger back. I've tried to persuade her to try one of my 36G/GG bras from when I was pregnant but she insists her bras are the write size. They're definitely not seen as her nipples fell out of her bra (thankfully not her top) in front of her step Dad a couple of weeks ago.

Hmmmm, tricky one. If she's so convinced she's right about the size she might like a chance to prove you've been wrong all these years. Possibly?

If you can make a jokey bet with her next time your in town together, along the lines of 'go on, get fitted, just for a laugh. If I'm wrong and you're right I'll buy you lunch and if I'm right and you're wrong you buy a new bra', or some such?

Goodness only knows. It's her prerogative when it comes down to it.

It's difficuly to resist telling other people what size they should be wearing once you have "seen the light" yourself, isn't it? It's painful to see all those four-boobs, bands climbing up and all weight on shoulder straps (been there, done that, so i know).

And don't get me started on sports bras - those sports tops with inner support or those stretchy mictofibre "sports bras" only work for yoga. Especially if you're D+ and want to do some running or Bodycombat, you need something that looks like it would protect against anti-tank missiles. www.boobydoo.co.uk is a good place to start.