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.

Rigby and Peller are awesome. Their shop in the Westfield Centre is really easy to get to - and I kinda love the mall. I as it turned out was wearing a C-cup when I needed to go down a backsize and up several cups - from 36 C to 34 E. The bras are not cheap but they are worth it for the fitting.

Well, for a start, no, you shouldn't be measuring anywhere near the shoulder blades, but across your back level with under the breasts.

An AA is flat chested. Same measurement over breasts as under. An A is 1 inch bigger over breasts than under, a B 2 inches bigger, a c 3 inches bigger, a D 4 inches bigger, a DD 5 inches bigger, and so on. There are indeed relatively few true AAs, As, Bs Cs out there.

It;s not a new way of measuring it's that bra manufactures changed the industry standard and didn't publicise it properly. A 34 band used to measure 30, now it measures 34. If you add 4 to your band measurement you have a band that is 4 inches too big, it's as simple as that.

I mean when you measure the cup size - my nipples are at the same level as the bottom bit of my shoulder blades. Maybe I'm just odd!!

anyone in hampshire or wilts or dorset

DM me for the best local fitter and good range.

i am a VETERAN

Look cattleprod, just measure and fit, or don't, whatever makes you happy. The technicalities of the thing haven't changed. Just the number on the label that refers to the band size. Establishing cup size is as it ever was. Someone measuring 30 under and 32 over used to have to buy a 34A, for years now they have needed a 30A, because the labeling changed.

what about those of is with back fat? My bras that fit across the band have bulges over and under at the back. Which is not nice when the DDs point it out loudly and ask if my straps are all twisted "as they seem to be digging a lot". Do I just need to lose a lot of weight? Or tone up more?

Yes, back fat. Great isn't it. We either have to live with the bulges or lose weight and tone up. There's nothing else for it!! Well, a full on corset would help but that's not for most

I'm still working on my Mum but yesterday I got my sister to measure herself after nearly seeing her nipple in public . It turns out she's not a 32C/D but a 28E. We found quite a few places that sell them and we're going to Bravissimo tomorrow to try out properly fitting bras. I then measured myself and discovered that I'm an idiot who can't measure and I'm not 32/42 as I thought but 31/43! So I'll try a 32HH to start seen as it'd be a shock to the system to go down to a 30 band.

cattle- I don't "get your posts.

I am pretty small breast wise. I measure my rib cage /back at the same place that the lower part of the bra sits. I use the red line that my bra makes on my skin to see where! it measures 30 inches. Moving the tape up about 2-3 inches and I measure across my nipples. This comes to 34-35.

I buy a 32 C/D depending on style of bra. Many bras with graduated padding come up smaller IME which is why I have got a couple of D cups eventhough I never think of myself as being a D.

I spent years in 34As until I had a re- think and realised they were far too loose.

I think Hetty should be made Prime Minister.
Off bra shopping now. Will report my findings :)

I measure 34 underneath and 40.5 round my bust (with a bra on)

What should I be wearing? I currently wear a 38C and can't imagine wearing a 34 - even a 36 feels tightish when I've tried that size.

Also need to admit that I don't spend (or have) a lot of money on bras and tend to buy in Asda.

nbee, the guide would suggest a 34E. Do you wear your bras on the loosest setting when you first buy them? I think that's where I've been going wrong-I automatically put them on the tightest setting without considering that it will stretch over time.

Yes, on the loosest setting. I will pop to Asda in a bit, but just cannot imagine a 34 fitting me. From what I've read on here I will expect it to feel a bit tight - I will report back!

WoW! Hetty, thank you!

Sorry Hetty, didn't mean to annoy you.

I have PMT. No worries. Even DP bringing me tea and cake is annoying me today

Take a leap of faith and give it a try, if you don't like the fit you don't have to buy anything

so if I measure 37/38 under and 40 across I should be a 38B ? Just the M & S woman who measured/fitted me this week said 40A/B ... Bought a strapless/convertible one which is ok with straps but there is a little room in cup without. Not worn padded in a while, how snug a fit should the cup be?

yy nbee84, aswell is right. 34E. If you really can't tolerate the 34 try a 36DD, as someone said earlier, the band really should be corset tight.

aswell - glad to hear your getting the women of your family sorted bra wise. Good work!

LIZS yes, 38B / 36C. M&S are fools

The guide from bravissimo I linked to down thread (in the massive essay post at the beginning) will explain more concisely than I can about the fit of the cup and how to see what's wrong with it. Applies equally to all sizes.

LIZS they even fitted you wrong for their own wrong rules. FFS. Their rules should have made you a 42D.

well after measuring, i'm not actually that far off (35 and 42 which makes me 36E, and I'm uncomfortably wearing a 38D). The Bravissimo guide was incredibly helpful though about my straps falling down issue (might need to go down another band size ), and i think i need to try a different style, possibly non-underwired, as like someone further downthread, I'm the wrong shape for underwires, i'm more spread outsideways, than sticky-out the front. S as well as back bulges, i have underarm bulges too. Nice . Might that work better, do you think?

I'm back - not successful.

The 34E - tried 2 different styles, normal unmoulded cup and 2 different tshirt bras (my usual preference) all underwired. The first one was really uncomfortable, felt like the material was going to make my skin really sore along the edges of the band. The 2nd 2 were not as tight as I was expecting and on one of them the cups sat proud of my boobs - so a little big I think. The major problem was under my arms - I'm not thin (about a 14/16) and the excess flab was all squeezed under there and made me look like I had a spare pair of boobs

I also took in a 36D (didn't see Hetty's 36DD before I went) and I still had the boob issue and again on one the cups felt a little big.

It actually felt a relief to put back on my 38C, though when I looked I did have a slight bulge under my armpits - hadn't noticed that before!

I popped into New Look but really didn't feel like any more bra trying. So I bought a dress instead

When I go into town next I will try a fitting in John Lewis and maybe a more expensive but decently made bra will be better. I might only be able to afford 1 though!

Meant to ask - all guides I've read on bra fitting before say for an even under cup measurement add 4" and for an odd add 5" - hence my 38. Why do they say this?

Just a quick note- asda sell j cup bras but anyone who is hopeful, the size is nowhere near a j. I always wear a 32J and the asda ones were more a H cup size, I think that's why there is hundreds on eBay!!

Hetty, I'm trying my best! I might start carrying around a tape measure for any impromptu bra fitting situations that may arise.
bright, I just had a look at Asda's website to see what they had in my size. They don't do most double sizes (they do A B C D DD E F G H J) so I assume G=FF, H=G, J=GG in normal sizes. That still means I can't fit into their bras. I thought I might be able to get something cheap there.
My sister bought a couple of 30DD bras in La Senza today for £5 each. She seemed quite amazed at the difference it made but she's also got a 28E on the way via eBay to see how that fits too. I can't wait to get something tomorrow!