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How do you wear your bras?

759 replies

BedHeadTigi · 25/08/2012 18:44

Do you like to wear them super tight so you know they are there and leave bra marks when you take them off, or have them at a looser more comfortable setting? Im asking this because i have realised all of my old bras are pretty super tight on me, but my new ones are so comfortable and no way as tight but i wonder if they will still support my bust the same?

OP posts:
PacificDogwood · 01/09/2012 15:02

You are probably right re her band size - as soon as I had pressed 'post' I though if I am a 34 band size, SH must be a 28 Blush.

Yy re D+ denial Grin.
Maybe we should offer therapy - there is an untapped market...

ChazsBrilliantAttitude · 01/09/2012 15:14

Salma Hayek as a 36C
Hahahahahaha

She is small 5.1-5.2 in height. I am around 4 ins taller than her and several stone heavier and I wear a 36 band (admittedly a 36FF) but her back size must be a 28 or 30. I wouldn't be surprised if she was a 30H.

Halle Berry is close to my height but a lot lighter and apparently she is a 36C too (although one site did suggest 34C). Clearly this is utter rubbish too.

StatisticallyChallenged · 01/09/2012 15:22

Therapy and an online fitting service! You give us your measurements and describe your shape/needs, we tell you what bras to order, and the you have a Skype session once they arrive where you get ordered to scoop, grab, smooth, adjust straps etc

:)

D+ denial is rife! Mind, when I told my niece what size I thought she was today, she came out with " a 28, but do they even make that size" - which wouldn't have been so funny if she hadn't been standing there WEARING a 28!

HazleNutt · 01/09/2012 16:37

It's the "But my mum has always been ...so I can't be.."

Well, your mum has aways worn the wrong size too!

PacificDogwood · 01/09/2012 17:07

Or the 'but I've always been a 40AA' - Me. Well not quite.
It's either always been wrong (likely) or you are no longer that size, what with all the 4 boobs and the backfat Grin

HmmThinkingAboutIt · 01/09/2012 17:08

If you've not come across Mimi Holiday they are another brand that are worth looking at if you have a small back and are D+. They are definitely in the 'something special' market rather than perhaps everyday wear. They are silk though. Naturally they are on the more expensive side and I can only afford to get in sales but they are worth it.

They also do shoulder bras which are slightly different in style to any that I've seen the likes of panache, Curvy Kate, Freya do. So perhaps if do have issues with cup shape they might be an alternative to try. They do 28A to 28GG all the way up to 40A to 40E so quite a range.

John Lewis occasionally stock, House of Fraser do, Asos do though fairly limited range, Selfridges do and also have just started stocking their own exclusive ranges and they are available direct from their own website who I have used and they have been very good (well packaged and delivered promptly).

This season's range

ItsMyLastOne · 01/09/2012 20:15

I've seen Mimi Holiday in TK Maxx too.

aliportico · 01/09/2012 21:11

This thread has been quite an education! So when did the add 4 thing stop being useful? Or has it always been just some brands do it and some don't? Will have to go and investigate with a tape measure, and pass on this wisdom to my daughters.

tipp2chicago · 01/09/2012 21:42

Went shopping today for a new bra as I will be my sister's bridesmaid in a few weeks and am currently breastfeeding. I love my local fitter, she's rather excellent. Grin 36H at the moment, and got a fab skin-colour Fantasie with knickers on order, and ordered in a purple Fantasie with both types of knickers, but not the thong. Wink have to have fabulous underwear, regardless of the situation, and there's no way in wearing a BF bra under my fancy frock.

Happy Days.

aliportico · 01/09/2012 22:10

Oh.

I've been wearing mostly 36C. My current ones feel tight round the band, but I can fit both hands under it as well, let alone two fingers! Just measured and I'm 34" underneath and 40" across. So I guess should try something else?!? There's a Bravissimo in town ...

HazleNutt · 01/09/2012 22:12

yes absolutely go to Bravissimo. You sound more like a 34E!

ItsMyLastOne · 01/09/2012 22:55

aliportico IIRC the 4" thing stopped when elastic was added to bras, so a really really long time ago, but so many places still do it.
You'll probably find a properly fitting bra is uncomfortably tight at first, but it's because you're not used to it. It'd be the same if you were a size 12 but had been wearing size 16 knickers for years, a 12 would then feel weird, but you get used to it, honest!

Iamgiulietta · 01/09/2012 22:57

Hmmm, have just put on weight n binned all my bras. Bought a bra at m&s measured as a 34b/c well the c was massive so I got the b which fits well on the cup but I would prefer it tighter around ribs. Just measured self as 31 round ribs and 36/ 37 over boobs. My bras I slung were 32 cs they were really tight....I guess I should be a 32 / e??? Can't afford fancy shops so could I just buy those sizes from m&s or asda??

Iamgiulietta · 01/09/2012 23:03

Am a size 12 in clothes if that helps

brighthair · 01/09/2012 23:04

Yep 32DD or 32E

Iamgiulietta · 01/09/2012 23:11

Ye gods! No wonder the 32cs were struggling

brighthair · 01/09/2012 23:14

Ha! M&S tried to get me in a G. I'm a J Grin wasn't a pretty sight
Should be able to pick that size up at Asda or any high street shop

Iamgiulietta · 01/09/2012 23:39

Off for a tramp down t'asda when kids back to school!! Am quite excited by the thoughtGrin

StatisticallyChallenged · 01/09/2012 23:48

Ah, M&S with their "this is the biggest size we do so it WILL fit...."

well, yes, it covers my nipples - until I actually put my boobs in it rather than it just sitting on top, at which point I appear to acquire about 6 extra boobs (the ones escaping under the cup, the ones in the cup, the ones over the top, and the back hamsters!)

StatisticallyChallenged · 02/09/2012 00:01

Iamgiulietta, I found before that the sizing in M&S/supermarkets can be a little less predictable. You will almost certainly be able to get something - I think Asda do a range by the woman who created Ultimo which is in that kind of size, and M&S go up to a GG in a 32 back. But, it might be worth taking a look at a few videos (e.g. bravissimo website) on bra fitting so you know what to look for. You've prob seen things like this upthread but it's a big thread so....

Basically:

Back should be horizontal, firm and only be able to run a couple of fingers inside it. Personally, I buy bras so they fit on the loosest hook, as they give a little when washed so this gives me room to tighten them up.

Wires should be completely encasing your breast tissue - you need to scoop everything in from the sides, and then feel whether the wire is lying on or outside your softer tissue.

The wires should sit flush against your chest in the centre - if they sit proud then the cup is too small.

If there is spare fabric, don't immediately assume it's too big (almost did this myself earlier)- whilst the bulk of the support shouldn't come from the shoulders, the straps are often set to be stupidly long and just tightening them can suddenly pull a lot of spare fabric up and away.

and the obvious - there should be two boobs, not 4 :)

P.s. I'd also try a 30 back, in an E/F roughly

brighthair · 02/09/2012 00:24

Yeah I struggled with asda - they do a J cup but it's not a true one, I think they don't do HH so it's smaller if that makes sense but if you're an E, it's ok as you can always go up a size or two

mirai · 02/09/2012 03:31

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

mirai · 02/09/2012 04:23

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

madwomanintheattic · 02/09/2012 05:21

Well, that's fecking depressing.

I read all 13 pages and levered myself off the sofa to rummage for a tape measure.

Apparently I am the only 5'2" woman in the land wearing 36C who is wearing the correct bra size.

Hey ho.

Perchance I need to get off the sofa more often.

rockinastocking · 02/09/2012 07:43

Right, I've been measured at a 38A.

Tits not flat, but not huge. Shoulder straps always fall down.

Just measured myself, and I'm about 32 under boobs (pulled tight) and 37 across boobs (quite loose).

Have I done it right?

What size should I be, please, Wise Boob Ladies?