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?

Tape measure broke! (old one made of paper from DIY shop). Now have new proper one.

OK, remeasured with old non-padded bra that was lurking in back of drawer, sadly neglected for many a year.

Under: tight is 79 cm (31.1 inches apparently)
Over: loose is 86 cm (33.86 inches)

Scatter. I'd try a 30FF. I like the Freya Underwired sports bra.

Nope, Scatter, doesn't sound right! I'd start at a 30FF with that measurement and work from there, depending on fit/style/comfort. (See, Statistically, I remembered the DD and FF this time....hope I didn't bugger it up again! )

I don't do sports, and thus have no sports bra; I'll leave that for someone else...

Statistically - Really? Now my head hurts.... so measuring doesn't work for continental sizes? because the 30inches around I am is 76cm... So confusing! I may have to go bra shopping next time I visit my family just on principle, to see what continental sizing's like. (Might try and get my mum into a well fitting bra while I'm at it, assuming I can get my head around continental sizes)

Hmm, yes I can breathe but it feels like it's digging in. Like I'd have red marks if I wore it all day.

Do you guys get red marks?

I'm not especially fat btw. 5'5" and around 9 stone. Size 12 usually.

I get some marks, but no more than I get from my socks or the band of my jeans, if you see what I mean - you can tell that something's been close to my skin, but they're not sore red marks. I used to get far more, and far more uncomfortable, marks with my old 34DD bras.

Nullius I'd say try the tightest band width you can take without hurting yourself (it is either 75 or 80, you will need to be able to fit two fingers under but no more) and a C cup. If the cups are too empty, go down to B; if you bulge over, go up to D cup.

I'm 76cm/87cm (iirc) and 75D is very good!

But am by no means an expert, and euro sizes are very confusing.

I agree with all the advice that's given here plus a few more things. When you get a new bra you need to start on the outside clasp and when the band starts to feel a bit loose you can tighten (after washing the material will stretch), certain shapes of boob won't look good in certain types of bra. I look crap in balcony bras (the afforementioned "baloney" :) ) but I don't look so bad in plunge style, different brands will have different fits and styles. Where I'm a 32dd in triumph and Freya I'm a 34d in M&S. if they don't fit and you can do it, take them back.

Any good lingerie shop/salesperson can "sight size" although on an Internet forum I don't know how that can help. As offered before, if any of you are east Londoners I'd be happy to help.

That's the thing, the measuring does not work in euro sizes any more.

If you measure 80 cm then you'd think you should buy a bra labelled EUR80/UK36 - that's how they're converted. Which would obviously be wrong, as you only measure 31 inches and would rather need a size 30-32 bra.

Just measure yourself in inches and buy bras based on the UK sizing.

I have ordered some 28D & 28DD

But only as Brastop had free delivery over £50 and free returns as I somehow can't quite get my head round being a D/DD cup, even though I believe everything the wise ladies are saying

Will report back when they get here.

In the meantime I've taken off my uncomfy M&S 32B for evening tv-viewing :)

OK, so that would mean a 70B might be the one to try out. Will try several different models on at the weekend and report...

I can't measure myself in inches as it were because I don't have an inch measuring tape - all I can do is measure cm and convert electronically.

Soooo funny that nearly 40 years after we were being taught metric measurements in school (1970s) everyone in the UK is still talking about inches and pints!

Nullius converting works just as well, no problem.
(oh and by EUR size I mean German etc size, French is different)

Nullius an euro site that sells Freya suggest 75 cm as a starting point for your cm underbust measurement (but also try 70).

I mostly wear Freya and if you measure 79cm/31 inches, I'd try 70, Freya is relatively generous. I think B would be too small though, try C or D.

EURO SIZING!!

Sorry all, missed a flurry of posts! OK, as far as as I can determine the Euro Sizing does not work in the same "wear your measurement" fashion as the uk. I think that when the UK went for the "add 4 inches to get your band size" approach, Euro sizes were instead upsized so you still wore a bra where the number matched your measurement, but it no longer tallied if you converted the size in cm to inches. Hence a 65, (65cm = 26") is actually a UK 30.

So, where does that leave the europeans?

Easiest approach - measure in inches, work out your UK size, then use the chart on the freya website. Essentially, a 60 is a 28, and every +5cm = +2inches. so a 65 is a 30 and so on. Now this does assume they follow the same sizing approach but I believe, for e.g.. Ewa Michelak does and I think a lot of British made bras are sold on the continent.

So....
Nulliusinblurba - UK 30D would be my best bet. This is a EU 65D. I would also try a 70C, but most people who are 31 seem to fit a 30 rather than a 32.
Donaana - in the UK you would be a 30D too, or thereabouts.

AH

France has different band sizes - look at the Freya conversion chart. So france and Continental sizes are NOT the same, apparently. The comparative french size appears to be 15cm larger than the continental. So, a 28(uk) = 60 (continental) =75 (French)

Insane. Utterly insane. They do this to confuse us, don't they...

Aye! The Freya chart is quite helpful. I'm more inclined to trust them than most places TBH!

the trouble is that like they keep telling in UK to add 4 inches, they still tell women in Europe that what you measure, is your size. So that's millions and millions of women in a wrong bra..

I know ....I think the thought of millions more ill fitting bras may make my head explode!

Hazle I think the cup sizes are even more strange in euro sizing. According to different euro tables I looked up I could be AA, A and B...
I'm not surprised anymore that many women end up in wrong sizes.

It's infuriating isn't it DonaAna.

Yep. I guess US/UK differences throw in another wrench. Maidenform is American, their size chart says 29in measured underbust requires 34in band which is 75cm in their chart. I did fit into a 70 band as a teenager but never after, and I'm fairly skinny and birdboned. 75 feels right, 80
is clearly too big.

If you are not UK based, perhaps it would be wise to get fitted at a local specialist shop.

TBH I probably wouldn't actually trust a size chart, any size chart! I reckon the Freya comparison chart is probably OK as they sell bras to different markets, but I am yet to find an actual "what size should I wear" type chart which is accurate.

Never tried maidenform though although I think UK and US back sizes are the same - although they go a bit mad on the cup sizes.

"UK 30D would be my best bet"

A D cup! good grief.

Have GOT to try that out on Saturday!

I'm going to grab as many bras as H+M will allow in one fitting - I think it's 7 - and go for it.