Bra sizing mystery!

[Maghribia]

Can someone explain to me how bras are sized these days, because I am really mystified.

I was measured today (Debenhams) and apparently I'm 34DD. I find that impossible to believe as I just don't have big boobs and to me DD sounds quite large. My sister, for example, wears a 38B and she is bigger than me. I also don't think that 34 is right as I now have red marks from wearing the bra so tight, although admittedly it does squish things together. It just doesn't seem right, all gapey on the cup and tight at the back.

I've measured myself before, not using the old way of adding inches which never made sense to me anyway but just with the measurements as they are which is 35 under the bust if I pull the tape really tight and 37 over.

What feels right to me is 36C but they insisted I couldn't be 36C and size 12.
Am totally mystified. 34D feels okay but a bit tight. It seems that they want to measure everyone as a small back size and big cup.

Are they right and I just have to get used to the feel of the bra? It's padded so makes me look bigger than I am, not sure if this has any bearing.

It never works for me either, but the theory is that the largest measurement is you+boob, the smallest measurement is under-bust so is you without boob, so the difference is the cup size.
In theory a 38B would have a smaller under-bust measurement than the 38D and it would have a smaller under-bust still with a 38E
Don't know if that helps you, but I tend to find that the theory is grand but the manufacturers haven't necessarily read it! (only the expensive ones :) )

no that's not quite how it works. Underbust measurement is the same for 38B, 38C or 38D. The largest measurement changes.

Maghribia, if the current bra is uncomfortable then it is uncomfortable and might be just the bra, not the size.Try different brands/models.

If the 36C was more comfortable than the 34DD then that was the size you were in that particular style.

My size changes from style to style and I always use my usual size as a rough guide and then make changes depending on how it looks and feels. The most comfortable bra is one you almost don't know you are wearing but they must all be a bit tight round the back at the beginning as they stretch so much during wear.

The back size is the back size no matter what the cup size, so a 36B is the same backside as a 36E. The cup size does change though, a 34DD is roughly the same cup size as a 38C.

They do tend to measure most people as a smaller back size and larger cup size than you might think. Mainly because most people buy bras thinking the straps should support the weight of the breasts. In reality most of the support should come from the back band, the straps should just hold top of the cups up and offer a little more security. A classic sign of a too large back size is having to shorten the straps so much that the back of the bra sits higher than the front. If you turn sideways and look in a mirror the back band should be at the same height all the way round. Another good test is to loosen off/remove the straps. What happens to the bra? Does it stay in place but just feel a little less secure? Or does the whole thing drop a few inches and offer very little support/end up round your waist? If its the latter then you definitely need a smaller back size!

The gaping cups doesn't sound right though. A well fitting bra should have gaping or wrinkling in the cups, but if it's a moulded cup it can be a little more difficult with regards to gaping as breasts come in such widely differing shapes. I'd suggest looking at the bravissimo guide to bra fitting, it explains in plain english and pictures what to look for in a well fitting bra. www.bravissimo.com/perfectfit/getting-the-perfect-fit/guide#/1 It's also worth looking through their "Wearing the wrong size bra?" section as it helps diagnose problems and offers solutions.

A well fitting bra shouldn't* have gaping or wrinkling

with those measurements, youre a 36c, as you thought

I agree with mrspnut, bras should be a bit tight to start with in the back as they give after a few wears/washes.

I took DD, aged 13, to Rigby and Pellier at the weekend as I had bought 6 bras in M&S and none of them fitted properly. It was an insight into bra sizing.

The lady was great, no tape measure just a selection of what she thought. They should be tight at first to allow give with wear and the wires must not dig into the breast tissue at the side.

DD turned out to be a 28/30 DD or E, and I paid £150 for two bras that fit perfectly and a whole lesson on how to fit a bra. Money well spent.

I also noticed that the wires on cheap bras are like steel whereas on a more expensive bra they are flexible

I have what I think are fairly small boobs and frequently end up wearing a 30DD or 32D. I think people are just used to wearing a huge back size and a small cup size.

Incidentally I'm not happy with a few of my bras at the moment - I've just measured myself and am 31 underbust, 35 over - what size do you think I should try next?

i reckon a 32D, but tbh, nobody will be the same size in every bra they try.
Im 29 underbust and 36 over, which makes me either a 30E or a 30F (not as big as it sounds) and i have bras in 32dd, 32E, 30E, 30F, 30FF and 32FF, that all fit pretty well