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.

Sorry its me again....just one more question...have just re measured my self amd make mu under measurement 33 inches and above 38.5 am stuggling to even do up my 32g and when I do it really is very tight....what do you think I should do-stick with the tight one or keep with my comfortable 34'e ??!!! I suppose really my question is just how tight a band is acceptable??

Fayeso, just to say that I've gone from a 34D to a 30G via a 32F. The 32F seemed tight but when I went recently to John Lewis the lady insisted I should be wearing a 30 band. It does seem tight, especially before the bra's been washed, and there is a spill-over even though I wouldn't be described as overweight.

I went to Debenhams the other day for a wasted fitting, and the woman there was adamant I shouldn't be wearing a 30 as the straps were digging in too much. I walked out as the bra she tried was gaping in the cups, and she kept bringing me seamed lacy numbers when I'd asked for a t-shirt bra.

Sorry this has turned into a saga, but my point is, you could wear the looser bra but it won't look as good as the tighter one - you do get used to the tightness and it starts to feel like firm support rather than a strait-jacket.

Someone upthread wanted to vote hetty in for PM - I'd like to second that!

I am another correct-bra-fitting ambassador and often find myself wanting to go up to strangers and point out the error of their ways, yet my knowledge pales into insignificance when it comes to hetty's!

To add my twopence worth, here are some of my tips:

For you ladies struggling with the tight band thing - it does get better as you get used to it and it's never as uncomfortable as a pair of poor fitting shoes and makes you look 100 times better. Also, for those of you slightly aghast at spending more on a bra than you might normally, think about the cost per wear - it comes down to almost nothing and it's an investment, not a cost, particularly when it makes you look and feel great. Get shopping!

I also find that some makes absolutely don't work for me e.g. Berlei, whereas Freya (available John Lewis, House of Fraser and Bravissimo) is brilliant, but that's for me. Even then when you think you have found a correct fitting style, sometimes the fabrics make a difference to the fit so even if you're say a 32F one time, don't be surprised if you need a 34E or even a 32FF in apparently exactly the same style the next time, if it's a different fabric e.g. stretchy soft cotton vs nylon.

Don't be afraid to take in loads of different ones into the fitting rooms, both styles and sizes within one or two differences. Oh, and colours too - even if you hate the colour and the fit is good, you can probably order a preferred colour on-line somewhere - at least you'll have the correct size and style.

Back fat can be an issue but it's one that looks far better in a well fitted bra than a poorly fitted one.

Hope this helps and for those of you who are discovering the joys of proper bra-fitting - hurrah!

AS many have said, M&S bra fittings are wrong, wrong WRONG! Go to Bravissimo or John Lewis and ignore anything an M&S fitter says to you!

I'd also recommend getting fitted every time; no one ever minds, and it's far better to have a trained eye rifling through the racks for you than standing scratching your head, plus the nightmare of having to get dressed to get more sizes.

my new 34 (down from 36) size rocks! got some asda cheapies, and unfortunately the cup size fits one side really well, but is a bit gapey on t'other side. However, under clothes you can't tell, and cleavage looks LOADS better. Will try more brands (and try them on in the shop this time!). Even wearing my usual 36s on the tightest fitting rather than loosest is a vast improvement (36C/34D). thanks hetty!

So I went to John Lewis yesterday and tried on a 30J which fits perfectly. I found three of them in the clearance for £5 each with matching knickers for £3! Now I just need to attempt to turn them into nursing bras. I'm disappointed though that I couldn't find anything that doesn't seem to cover all my chest. I'd like to be able to wear tops that don't go all the way to my neck without showing 3 inches of bra. If anyone knows where I can find something like this, I'd be a very happy bunny.

This has been a really informative thread, but I'm still confused!!

I'm breastfeeding a 16 month old and have gone from practically zero boobage (32B) to mega norks (34E) during this time. Now that my jugs have settled again I recently went for a fitting for an underwired bra (not M&S) and was sized at 32DD.

Now, here's the thing...I have what I would onsider to be quite small breasts!!

I had always assumed that D, DD and higher are cup sizes for big boobs. I keep thinking that they must have got it wrong and that really I'm a B or maybe at a push a C.

How is this so??

Does you bra fit well in a 34DD? ie does the middle sit against your chest, the band fit snug/tight around your back on the loosest setting, the cups lie just against your boobs (no digging, '4 boobs' or gaping)? If so, I'd guess it is the right size. The cup size is relative to the band size. So a 38DD would have cups 3 sizes bigger than yours. It makes my face look like this that I'm a J cup but the cup is still the same size as my usual 34Hs, it just sounds even moreridiculous.

A yes to all of those, thanks aswellasyou

I've been wearing non wired bras in a 34 back for a while now and the more structured underwired 32 feels very tight, but I know it'll take some getting used to after all those baggy maternity bras!

A DD though??

Madness

It is confusing. hetty come shopping with me!!

lol. OK, as long as you pay for my flights

It sounds as if JL can be trusted, if in doubt just go to a small independent shop.

What a revelation ! Veragood I have DM'd you. Am so fed up wearing the wrong size and have been meaning to get this sorted for ages and ages.

replied

Have just measured myself and I seem to be 32 under and nearly 35 on. Does that make me a 32B? I always wear 34A which feel just right, even a bit baggy on my teeny weeny boobies!

It would be a 32C. Why don't you try one on and see what it's like? It might be a revelation in how bras should fit! There are plenty of us on here who have been surprised at what size they are.

bigtilleymint

I was exactly the same measurements. I look so much bigger in my 32C than I did in my 36A

Well, I do have to do some school uniform shopping next week, so maybe I'll give it a go. Maybe I just don't like the tight bra straps thing - uncomfortable. And there's not much to hold up anyway!

Try a nice balconette. I have the Gossard ones and they make a nice shape and don't feel too tight. Tried some plunge bras and I am about to bin them

I accidentally bought a 2-size bigger bra from M&S. DD's eyes nearly popped out when I first wore it!

It made me realise how happy I am with my fried eggs, though I do wear it occasionally

the reason they used to add numbers to the band sizing ( and obv still seem to in m+S), was because doing that would produce a bra with a bigger band and there fore a bigger cup. There wasn't the range of sizes, ie cups in each band 10-15 yrs ago. Ok your boobs will fit into the cups of say a 38B ( if you are a 34dd) but the band is still a 38 around your little 34 inch chest, and will end up around your neck!

Also, look out for bras that have a thicker strap on the shoulder for best supprt.

what pisses me off is you can look at a range of bras and the d cup will have a flimsier shoulder strap than the dd. It's fair enough a b cup having a narrower shoulder strap than a dd, but i think it's crap that many styles don't have more support for the cup.

i used to work for Rigby and Peller, and they had the monopoply on this sizing malarky, but i am so please it's more well known now, as they cost a bomb, and they do rather love themselves!! :)

oh, will aslo recommend Fantasie bras. they are great.

tip--buy on ebay.

Thanks to all that have come back to me....have been wearing my 32g instead of my 34e today and I have just had to undo it as I have deep red marks where it has been tight and cannot wait to take it off.....
pls pls pls tell me this is not how tight it should be at first........it is sqeezing my back fat to the point where I have got 2 boobs on my back aswell as my front...........................................shall i stick with my 34e's????!!!

fayeso, where is your new bra from? I think La Senza bras are a little bit smaller around the back than most. If your measurements are 33/38.5 it should feel ok around the ribs but I'm not convinced a G should be the right cup size. Does the cup feel right? I'd guess you'd be a 32E/F but I suppose it depends on the manufacturer. I've gone for a band size 1 inch too small too and it feels tight but not painfully tight.
Basically, I'm no help at all!