Help me oh bra gurus - I am seriously doubting myself...

[ItsAllGoingToBeFine]

A while ago there was a thread on here sensationally revealing that bra sizing had changed and that your band size was now your actual band size - none of this adding on four or five inches malarky.

I'm wanting to order a Shock Absorber sports bra online: one of the websites selling the bra says to add the 4/5", the manufacturers website says to add the inches, the figleaves website says to add the inches.

I'm a 31" underbust, 35/36" over. What size(s) do I order? - I really cant be arsed ordering wildly the wrong size and then faffing with returns etc.

You will be something like a 30 DD/E or a 32 D/DD approximately assuming the manufactures stick to standard sizing. Most decent companies do, Panache are the biggest off size IMHO.
Good luck, maybe link to the bra, you may get more helpful advise.

definitely no adding 5 inches, but i find Shock Absorber quite tight, so I'd say go for 32.

I don't get this new sizing thing.
I went into M&S and brought a load of bras in with me. My usual size (which was worked out the traditional way adding 4"), my band size measurement without the 4" added, and lots of sizes in between. The one that fitted me best was - sensationally - my usual size. I couldn't get the band size only one on.
Unless my tape measure is wrong.

I have found the info given on bra sizes bloody life changing so a big thank you to whoever it was that started giving this info- I also went into M&S-used to wearing a 34B and tried that and a 32C (with a 31 under measure). While both fitted, and I would have normally been happy enough in the 34B, I realised that the smaller band size/bigger cup size made things look MUCH better.

Realise this doesn't help a bit with shock absorber question-sorry!

I am still confused by bra sizing. I am 29.5 inches under boobs and 33.5 around boobs. Nothing fits very well, what size should I try????

Chickydoo have you tried a 30B?

I haven't, but my cup size in a 32 c seems a bit small. flowing over so to speak.
I guess I'll have to keep trying. thanks though

Itsall try the anita sports bra from figleaves. Soooo much better than shock absorber!

That makes no sense to me.I am 26-27" under my bust and I wear a 30G or sometimes 32FF bra and they aren't loose.I would have thought someone with a measurement of 31" would find the bras I wear horribly tight.

Have to agree on new sizes

Went to local independent shop and was measured.

Previously a 38b and measured as a 34d/dd depending in bra. Things look much better. Clothes look better.

Try the without adding inches method. But lady in shop dud say it all depends on bra as they are all different and that the adding inches was before new technology made bras more stretchy than before

helly, bras are rarely actually loose, they have elastic after all. But they have to be tight, especially if you have bigger breasts. And if you measure 26 then yes it is highly likely that 32 is really not tight enough.

panzee, same with you - if you are used to wearing a bra 4 inches too big then yes, the right size will feel way too tight at first. Some bra fitters would recommend starting with a size between and work your way up. Also bras are different, so measure does not always translate exactly to bra size.

chikydoo you want to try 30DD - based on your measurements I would say D, but if 32C is too small then DD, as 30D and 32C have the same size cup.

Well I have been the same ribcage size,(26 when thin,27 when fatter)pretty much,all my adult life and I have generally worn a 30 or in some styles a 32 and it has never been too big.( I am very clear on how a bra should look when properly fitted - fashion is my field of expertise).I haven't found that I have suddenly needed to drop two bra band sizes or anything.I don't think the measuring system has changed at all,I just think that many women thought they were a bigger back size than they actually needed.

OP I'm 31 underbust and 37 over. I recently bought a few bras from bravissimo including a shock absorber which was 32FF and it is quite, but not too, tight on the ribcage and seems to do the job for running etc. This one:

www.bravissimo.com/products/lingerie/sports-bras/max-sports-bra-top/black-white/be53bw/?show=16&sort=1

The other bras I bought in other styles were 32E and 32F but the 32F in the sports bra was too small in the cup. The Bravissimo fitter looked at me and said I would be a 28 or 30 back size but I said I didn't think so as they would be far too tight. She agreed that the 32s were probably OK but the ones she suggested tended to be on the small side. A lot of my colleagues also go to bravissimo, but are larger in the back than me and I would say their bras are too tight (show up the most horrendous back fat) that I simply would not have as it looks awful and would rather wear a slightly looser bra

Anyway, to answer your question I would suggest 32E or F - ifvthey do free returns could you order both?

I measure 31 inches underbust and after reading a previous thread I tried on lots of 32 inch bras - all were way too tight and very uncomfortable. I have small breasts (A/B) and going up a cup size didn't help at all; it just left loads of sagging excess material in the cup whilst I was still constricted round the chest. So I think maybe the new 'rule' only works if you have medium/large breasts, which would give more flexibility to go up cup size and down bandsize.

I'm very confused too.
A little while ago, I went into M&S and was measured. I was at the time wearing a 38DD but was measured as a 40C.
I bought 2 new bras, and after a few days it was clear they were far too big.
I took them back and asked to be re-measured and was then told I was a 36C, so exchanged the bras and a week later, my boobs were killing me and my back ached, so again I went back and complained, was measured for a 3rd time at 38E/36F.
I went to laSenza (the closest place to buy a bra) and they measured 36E and I am finally happy with it.
I get very confused.

M&S are rubbish for measuring.

Agree, M&S are completely rubbish for measuring.

Go in to Bravissimo (good) or if you can get to one, Rigby & Peller (bestest)

Sorry OP I mean't 32D/DD, ie in agreement with scaredycat

Thanks HeavyHeidi, Will try 30DD.

I find shock absorber come up small. I am very comfy in a panache, freya or fantasie 30E but find my shock absorber in a 30E too tight in the back and too small in the cup. I would try a 32E and a 32F if I were going to replace it. I would order all the sizes from a website that does free returns, pay on credit card so that by the time you get credited for the returns nothing comes out of your current account!

thank you oh wise ones! I have ordered 32C/D/DD to try. we shall see if any fit!

waaaah im confused

has to be remembered that any band sizes, 32, 34 etc can be tighter in some makes than in others. Exactly the same way a size 12 pair of jeans can be tighter in one brand to another!!

Measuring your rib cage is the best 'guide'. Get that right, get a load of bras in differing cup sizes ( same style tho) and just try them.

I am very confused after reading this thread. I had no idea the bra size system had changed - when was this?

I got measured at M and S yesterday. I was wearing a 34 D which seems to fit ok. She said I was a 36 D. I certainly do not think that my rib measurement is 36!! I think it is 31 from memory so they added 5 inches to get 36. They didn;t have any I liked in my size but they did seem to fit. Very confused indeed.

My sports bras are 34C and they also seem to fit.