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?

I'm not sure if h and m sell a 30- do you have any big dept stores?

Unfortunately, I think you'll find that H&M start at a 32" back, as do most High street shops. It's infuriating.

Oh my god, Statistically and Sorrel, you both deserve a knighthood for services to womankind. I read this thread, went to m&s today in a 36A and came out with FIVE 32Ds. And they FIT!!!!!! Properly. No gaping, no holes - I feel like a miracle has happened. How can I have been wearing the wrong size bras for 20 effing years???? I feel like someone owes my compensation for psychological, not to mention sartorial, harm. My bust looks amazing. It thanks you from the botto
of its (newly perky) cups. Thank Christ for mumsnet.

30FF, my goodness! I wouldn't even say I was particularly big busted. I've never been able to find a bra that I really, really like though so maybe that's why.

I think I'll be having a shop this weekend! Thank you so much

Glad to hear you had a successful trip FloozieToozie!

BTW Scatter, I would agree with Sorrel re a 30FF BUT you may well need a bigger back size in a sports bra as they tend to have odd sizing. I couldn't even do up the Freya underwired in my normal size. So don't try the sports bra first and decide you aren't a 30!

Hmmm, Dame Sorrel? It has a certain ring to it...

So good to hear about your successful shopping trip. Enjoy your new bras!

Ah, yes, forgot about the Freya sports bras coming up small in the band.

I need to order one myself. SC - I'm usually a 30G in my Freya underwired sports bra. Should I try a 32G or a 32FF?

This is the first one I have had, but I'd say a 32FF. Mine is a 32GG and I am normally between a 30H and HH in Freya. I could possibly have worn an H, I think a 32GG.5 would be perfect! Probably depends on your shape - if you are full on top I would go for the G

The backs are nuts though - my 32 is on its loosest setting!

Thank you, I'll bear that in mind. I'm quite excited now thinking about it!

Please can someone help. No boobs to mention been a 32A and found that hard to fill. After DC2 put on weight & started wearing 34B but not convinced.
Just measured naked leaning forward 31 band & 34 bust. So still nothing there. My 34B ride up but is a lightly padded so gives me tiny bumps under a top. I hate my chest so much.

Fleebee, I would suggest you try a 30c, 30d and 32c. Mostpeople who measure 31 seem to get on best with a 30. So I would suggest you start there. go to a decent department store like john Lewis who will have a good selection of small back sizes.

Fleebee you might be a C cup (if you pick a tight enough band).
I'm small-boobed and used to live in A and B cups that rode up and made lifting my arms and life in general inconvenient. Tight band + D cup = A revelation! My small but beautiful breasts are beautifully defined and contained.

I cannot understand how so many shops get it so wrong. Women who should be proud about their exquisite physique are made to feel ashamed and inadequate.

Dame Sorrel and Dame Statistically really do deserve medals and honors!

Nullius be a bit careful with H&M! They may have good bras, but they also may not - many high street shops don't do the small band+big cup combination, and if you are unlucky, you may not even find a 70 cm back (or a D cup) there. So by limiting the choices they force you to pick an ill-fitting bra! I also have found that the cheapest bras do no favors to a small bust and are a complete waste of my time and money (and bruising to my ego - they sometimes try to make up for poor fit with layers of unwanted padding). If at all possible, try to find a place with a bit more variety in sizes and styles!

Sorry to confuse anyone, but this here is a semi-intelligent article on bra sizing.

It says that women don't get correctly fitting bras because bra sizing is not sufficiently standardized, there are between-country and between-manufacturer differences, and sometimes vanity sizing. Unfortunately, different bra fitters may also fit the same woman differently. And if you read the standards, Euro and UK sizes really seem completely incompatible.

I bought an American bra in Europe following UK fitting advice...

Sorry doesn't load well on phone! In the UK the biggest problem is the outdated size chart/ method. The whole adding 4 inches bit just doesn't work here anymore but so many fitters are slavishly devoted to it and ignore the physical evidence- i.e. Bands climbing up peoples back! Most of the bras I buy are UK made (it's something we seem to do well especially for bigger sizes) but whilst it is harder to tell someone overseas what actual size I think the fitting advice still holds true. Does your bra feel right?

Yes it does, because you were wise enough to give advice what a good bra is actually supposed to feel like (quite firm band, no overspill, etc)!

But trying to apply UK measurement advice to Euro or US manufactured bras may not work because their manufacturers use a different sizing system (band sizes are different and actual cup sizes can also differ: DD is E in Europe, etc.) and conversions are not straightforward. On some charts, my band measurement 76cm/30in results in EUR75 and UK/US34 - so with some manufacturers I'm supposed to pick an 30 inch bra - with others, a 34 inch bra. Without having detailed insider knowledge and fittings, it is just confusing! I guess for example H&M bras are made following the euro system, but the consumer buying them in UK really has no way knowing how the size conversion has been made for imported bras.

Yup, it's a bit of a mess. I have a suspicion that the big international brands might align better because they sell in all markets so will know how they equate their own sizes- so if you could find a freya bra on the continent and follow their equivalence chart for eg. But once you get in to the country specific or into the clothes stores also making a few bras then all bets are very much off!

How would I know if my bra was riding up?

I am 32 under bust when I breathe out, 34 under bust when I fully inhale (sedentary full inhale that is, I imagine the underbust gets bigger if I'm breathing hard while exercising).
37 max bust.
I know from experience that 36C feels nice.
In shops I know they always try to sell me 34D which hurts (back ache & indigestion).
Are you lot saying I should start with a 34E? Pretty sure that would cause back ache & indigestion.

LLJKK

Your bra should be completely horizontal around your body, and when you lift your arms up over your head, the back should stay in place. At the front (in the middle) you shouldn't be able to get more than a couple of fingers under the band - if you can pull it away from you it is too big.

Without checking, I am fairly sure that my bra size matches my exhaled measurement - the stretch of the bra allows for inhaling. So I would expect you to actually be more like a 32E. I have to admit I have never suffered from either backache or indigestion from a well fitting bra though - if anything my back hurts if I wear one which is too big in the back as it contorts my posture by putting too much strain on my shoulders.

I can get both hands under even if I wore a 24 band I could get 2 hands under and pull away. Might rip the band, but I could still get them under and pull a bit (elastic content). I'm not an Amazon, quite dinky arms.

Doesn't move when I lift arms or do vigorous sport.

From experience,

Ok, that should maybe have said "without doing damage to you or the bra!"

A good bra is pretty firm - based on your measurements a 36 seems likely to be too big and a 34 probably too big. Out of interest - do you (or at least can you) put your bra on back to front (i.e. fasten it at the front) then swivel it round your body. Without some pretty major effort I couldn't do that with most of mine.

However - I won't pretend that a bra that fits doesn't leave any red marks, because it does. In the same way as the elastic at the top of my socks does. A bra which left no marks anywhere would (on me at least) have to be far too big.

Another one here who has seen the light Gone from a 36b to a 32dd !!!

Can anyone help my DD though? She has recently finished breastfeeding and feels her boobs are 'emptier' rather than 'smaller'.
She wants padding/cleavage enhancing but can't find it in most of the small back/ larger cup bras.

Does a bigger cup size always mean no padding?

I can swivel with small effort (obviously the straps off shoulders).

At what point does stretching turn into micro damage threatening to tear?

Er, don't you find the red marks hurt? I do. Don't think I could tolerate socks that left red marks, either. Just checked my tight skinny jeans, suppose they sometimes leave a few red marks. Like if I've eaten too much :-).

Do you know her size (or better still her measurements) Finallygotaroundtoit and I will post you some links.

There are padded bras out there for bigger boobs however it isn't always the best solution. Sometimes something like a moulded plunge will give you cleavage when you first put it on but if you are empty you can kind of collapse in to the cups. It depends how bad it is.

LLjkk....hmm. On me, if I try to just slide my fingers under the front of my bra I can get a couple under ok, but much more than that and there isn't really space for them so I am pressing in to my flesh with my fingers/hands (I'm a big tubby ) in order to do so. If I wanted to I could probably yank my bra away from me, but to do so it would be pretty contorted and digging in to my back in the process. I would say the bra turning round relatively easily does suggest it's too big - a few of us discussed this the other day and none of the bra obsessives could do it.

Red marks - don't generally bother me. I do tend to alternate bras - I occasionally find I can be a little sore if I have worn the same one for a few days (like the time I went on a business trip and forgot to take any extra bras!) or if I have been sitting down for a loooooong time. Don't get me wrong, I still like to come home and take my bra off but it's not painful. Very much like tight skinny jeans actually!

Ok you geniuses, what would I be? Have no boobs since finished bf, loathe them and don't think I've ever really worn the right size. I've just measured myself (thank god no one walked into the living room) and measuring 31.5 around and 33.5 around my (non) boobs. Thanks muchly!