Small boobs...

[1950sHousewife]

AIBU to think that I could find a bra that is uplifting, but not wodged full of foam, which will be flattering on those of us who are not overendowed on the boobicular area?
At the moment it either looks like I'm completely flat chested, or have two bean bags shoved down there.

I am struggling to find a bra that's pretty and supportive. Any recommendations?

Can I just make it clear that I'm not in the habit of swivelling my bras around for fun! I just wanted to see if I could get a 30 done up.

I couldn't do it very easily as it was far too tight, so I tried doing it up with the clasps at the front so I could see what I was doing JUST to see if it would fit around my chest! It still wouldn't do up.

My point was-irrelevent of which cup size am-the BAND size didn't fit.

Sorry if that wasn't clear.

Sorry lets - my mother used to put her bras on back to front then swivel them and I have seen a lot of people do this. When I frogmarched her for a fitting one of the first comments was "but I can't turn it round" :)

What you are doing is the right way to check a band size. I do remember (when I was a slightly smaller cup size) buying some Debenhams brand bras and coming out with a 30F, a 30GG and a 32GG in the same bra, just in different colours/patterns. I think my proper size was a 30G at the time. They have issues!!

It is possible that your current bra fits well - but I suspect that in most brands a 34 isn't your correct size. How do they feel - that is what matters most. If you look at the wee checklist I posted further up it gives some pointers as to what a good bra is like.

Fab fab thread

I wore a 34A for years, 3 DC + lots of BF mean I have a veritable lingerie shop upstairs & I never really know what size to wear.

I have some very comfortable Sloggi 32Bs but today's M&S 32B I now know is entirely wrong.

I think I measure 29 under and 33 over (did it late last night so may need to redo) so think that means possibly a 28D

Won't get a chance to go shopping anytime soon but will as soon as I can. Safe to say in my stock of bras upstairs I don't have any band smaller than 32 as Have always added the 4 inches & couldn't believe I could wear a 28.

I really think the self-image thing should be talked about more, not only the boost of possibly being a D cup instead of an A (or AA I was told in various places) but also, I've lost nearly all the baby weight and should feel good about myself but I don't when it comes to bras as it bulges out and makes me feel fat, when i'm really not. (size 8/10)

Jks you are so right- I don't think it is so much about being a certain size, I think it is that when lingerie fits well you feel better. I'm quite busty and I remember a few years ago going into john Lewis (they have improved!) and despite them having a range of sizes they couldn't find anything to actually fit me. I felt like I was a freak and that no bra existed which matched my weird shape. In fact they were trying totally the wrong styles and sizes for me.

P.s. On a 28 back I would suggest you also try a dd. Brastop will have cheap ones and their delivery is pretty prompt

JKSLtd I went from a B cup to D cup and the difference is absolutely incredible. The smaller band + bigger cup size combo just fits so much better. No riding up, I don't need to try to stretch the bra anymore, and I get firm support and definition I didn't expect and didn't even know I needed.

My breasts are firm and small, I could easily go braless, but a right-fitting bra is a revelation! I always thought a bra is a slight hindrance for someone who isn't very busty - turns out that was just because the bra didn't fit right.

SC - a DD, eek! I may have a browse and see later. Would prefer to try something on but that can't happen until next Tues at the earliest & I'm impatient for my boob job

Dona - I have thought the same, why bother with a bra, but it feels wrong not to wear one. Hopefully a well-fitted one will change that.

Also, dramatically, I may be able to give away all the other bras I have upstairs Even if we do go for DC4 at some point, the various underwired sizes I've got are unlikely to ever fit as all are 34/36/or even 38!

When pg I've been measured loads, I went from 34A, to 36A, to 38A and even once told 38AA. Madness.

My question is though: why? Why did the measuring system start the old way, with adding 4 inches and why did it change?

I believe this is from times when bras didn't have elastic, so you had to leave some room for breathing. With elastic, you don't need to leave that extra room and can still get a better support, but someone forgot to update the fitters..

Same with EUR sizes, we are told that what you measure in centimeters, is your bra size, so a person measuring 70 cm (27,5 inches) would go and buy a 70 bra. If you now check the labels on your bras, you can see that EUR70 bra is an UK32. So this size 70EU/28UK woman believing the measuring system would end up in size 32 bra..

There are various theories about what happened- an American vanity sizing theory, a previous non stretchy fabric theory.....it's a bit hard to tell. No way you were ever a 38 anything though- I had just gone down to a 28 when I fell pregnant, got fitted at about 8 weeks and brav put me in a 30 on the tightest hook (preg is the only time you should buy this way) and I stated a 30 until about 35 weeks when I bought a lonely 32 to tide me over. And that was a 4 stone weight gain pregnancy.

That thing about EU sizes is so true hazle! When I moved to the uk, aged just 18, I was wearing a 70c and I think it was probably more or less right for me then; it took me few more years to develop my current norms. However, after a few months I needed a new bra, so bought the one the label said was equivalent. I never actually did the math and only just realised, as you said that, that 60cm and 32 in aren't actually the sane thing . That's probably actually the root of my sizing problems....

I've been inspired by this thread, although I dont come under the smaller boobs category. So I'm off to John Lewis at the weekend to replace my old bras. So if anyone has time please can they suggest a size for me (and hopefully noone irl will read this, I'm pretending I'm invisible!)

I'm 28 under, 35 on top of boobs in my best bra. I'm wearing a 34dd which I guess from what I've read isnt quite right! I tried using the JL bra size chart and it came up with a 32d?

FFS, bloody phone. Norks, not norms, and 70cm, not 60.

Try a 28f kitten. If the cup feels about right on your current bra you may want to try an ff too as a start point.

I'd say you should start at a 28G kitten, which may be a little tricky to find on the hs. Try surrounding sizes too, but 32 will be way too big!

Oh Statistically probably knows better shall be quiet now.

Naoko don't forgot the dd and ff when you count. Why we couldn't use a proper alphabet I will never know!

Yeah, I realised that a bit too late. Not all brands seem to do ff either, just to complicate matters further...

Will try them, thank you both! The cup does feel about right, but my bra moves around a lot on me and now that I'm conscious about it, its really annoying. Perhaps I wont get so sore too round that time of month if they are fitting better.

Do they really make them in that size though!? sounds like such an odd combination!

so you dont get ee then? never thought about that!

They only have 3 in my size online and I dont want balcony or multiconfusingway bras. Just want a normal underwired bra. Perhaps they will have more in store?

They certainly do, you probably won't be able to get them in a supermarket but a decent bra shop will have them, and lots of choice online too once you know what size you need. Try Debenhams, I hear John Lewis are good too but I don't have one locally shoo I've never been - and bravissimo of course.

They do, 28s aren't that easy to get on the highstreet. Bravissimo is the best choice if you have one, otherwise try john Lewis or debenhams. Not every brand is the same but I think pretty much everyone that makes those sizes -freya, panache, curvy Kate, bravissimo etc go a,b,c,d,dd,e,f,ff,g,gg,h,hh,j,jj,k,kk. M and s used to miss ff but that's no surprise!

Xpost - if you're happy to shop online and return what doesn't fit, try Brastop, they will definitely have your size.

Where are you looking online kitten? For interweb try bravissimo, brastop and leia for a wide choice.

Lol x post again naoko, I'm on my phone and typing takes ages!

this bra doesnt fit the model properly does it?