How do you wear your bras?

[BedHeadTigi]

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?

Haunted, if you read this before you go: I'd wear any simple bra you are comfortable in (I wore a non-grey one ).
IME all the big stores measure with bra on. Bravissimo does the eyeballing thing. My Bravissimo fitter asked me whether I minded if she stayed in the (rather large) chaning cubicle with me. I didn't - but I have no shame .

I'd got and let them do their thing. Then you do yours: scoop. And if you end up with 4 boobs/backfat/underarm fat, then you just ask for the next cupsize up. Or 2!

Hope you have fun and success today!

In addition to what Pacificdogwood said, take/wear a stretchy vest top so you can see what shape the new bra gives you.

You were wondering which store to go to. I'd suggest trying all of them if you can. The size that's smallest in the back and biggest in the cup is likely to be the most accurate. Good luck!

Ok...I had avoided a vest because I didn't think I would get a true representation around the neckline...I shall go and get changed...

Oh and if they try to convince you that you need to hook your bra on the tightest or middle hook for "even balance" like M&S has been known to recommend, tell them to go away. Bras stretch and you want to be able to tighten them later, so you should always buy the one that fits when at loosest setting.

Right, I'm off for a proper fitting, with the power of mn behind me. I could be some time :)

Just walked out of house of fraser. Don't have anything bigger than a D in 32 band so suspect they would do a +4 measuring to find one.that 'fits'.

Off to Debs.

Am I allowed to buy from la senza after fitting. Just walked past and they have nice cheap flirty bras which would add quantity. Yay or nay?

Guide me around town oh wise ones.

nay to La Senza and besides, knowing your size does not help you in their shop anyway, they are half the size as other brands labelled the same.

Right I am not a member of the D denial club :o

I have gone from 36A to 34C, which is about where I measure (33.5 and 37). She seemed to know what she was doing. Strap is looser than I was expecting based on chat on this thread but comparable to what I have seen on the various links on here so I think ok.

Balconette half cups do not suit me. I have 4 t shirt bras. Could do with a padded and/or plunge and brastop is now out with those measurements although I wonder wether it would still be worth trying the tempt me in a 32D?

you can try 34D as well, I often go up a cup in plunge styles.

I would defo try a tempt me plunge in the d, I found it came up very small in the cup.

Right my Brastop ones were a disappointment.

36H Panache Superbra was a really huge cup - the wire fitted but the cup was really high, as were the wires between my breasts so that is a no go.
Curvy Kate 36HH was better, but the band felt really loose - I could get a whole hand in there.

I went into town to Debenhams, and tried a 34H and J in their Gorgeous range. The H is only a teeny tiny bit small, but gave me a really smooth back and no underarm boobs and a Amazing cleavage, so I have bought that to wear with posh frocks this weekend.

That will do for now, but I need to get myself to R&P I think. The salesgirl in Debenhams laughed when I asked for a 34J

I've been wearing my new 34C since rea time.

I'm not convinced any more. It is chatting around the front bit of my underarm.

It isn't bringing my splayed breasts to the centre if anything it has accentuated the splaying.

It is gaping a bit with normal posture but ok if I rescoop.

Not sure where I'm at.

Bad predictive text! My bra isn't chatting to anyone it is chaffing!

I think you need a smaller band. There was a post upthread somewhere about how a bra that is too wide will chafe your arm/armpit.

I would try a 32D/DD and see what you think.

I have just bought a 34 today - and I actually measure 36 under my bust.

I've been wearing a 36GG Fantasie today, and it fits really well in the cup but isn't tight enough in the band. So would a 34H or an HH be the way to go?

I found a Fauve in my drawer - 38FF :( Very happy to send it on if anyone would wear it!

(it was me that was complaining about the chafing from balcony styles).

But this has supposed to have been fitted :(

The American website mentioned up thread, www.herroom.com is absolutely amazing for the fitting guide. Thanks so much whoever posted that, sorry I cant find it.
I thought I knew it all due to a very good local shop owned by an ex Rigby and Pellier fitter and occasional trips into Bravissimo but still had problems with comfort on a lot of bras. I now know I have a prominent breast bone, need a particular shape along the band of the bra due to being under 5'3 and also which brands are the most suitable for discomfort under the arm.
Wow, go there, you will be amazed. There are plenty of brands available in the UK inc Fantasie, Chantelle etc. If you are like me you will also have a right laugh rushing to the mirror to whip up your top before dashing back to the keyboard to tap in your answers

I posted about her room.
Loved the advice it gave me. But can't find the ranges suggested on sale in UK. Also they suggested ranges that don't come in a 32 back!

I tried as many Chantelle as I could find and they seem to suit me, but they are very irregular in sizing between styles. So I'm loathe to order online now. Because HofF and JL didn't have full stock and couldn't order. (both were miserable bitches, reminded me of doctor receptionists).

I revisited panache and they are a reasonable fit on me, far better than Fantasie and Freya which don't fit me at all. But still not right.
I went to R&P and she said narrow shoulders were indeed the hardest to find a good fit for.

This thread is great..... Until you slump back in to pits of despair that there is really very little choice for 32F in a supportive bra.I am bra researching worn out!

I actually had an appalling fitting at debenhans. They told me I was a 40a or something and insisted a bra which my boobs spilled out of fitted. I then went to m&s and mother care (was pg at the time), who both told me I was a 38d, and the bra did fit so fair play to them.

I also had quite a good fitting from m&s recently, I had an old Scottish woman recently who clearly knew what she was doing and went more on instinct and eye. I think it is down to the individual fitter, not the shop.

In answer to your op, I hate the feel of tight bras and would wear both the straps and the band loose if I could. I use to have pert little wasp stings so could get away with it, but alas not now post dd. I am always shocked but how tight they Strauss you up on a fitting!

I remember reading that you have to make sure the band is tight enough, because you are supposed to wear the straps tight enough, but if the band is too loose the back if the band rides up and you then sag at the front...

Strauss? Truss!

Ah, Shatteredreams thanks!

Funnily enough a Chantelle bra that I paid a lot for and the knickers as well was the one that caused me to actually doubt the really good fitter. It was so painful. I now know that it was too high under the arms for me. On MyRoom they give the measurements of the side height. Brilliant. There is a Chantelle one that they recommend on Figleaves so will buy one and report back.

I also discovered that my favourite bra ever - Empreinte Melody - comes in a low cup style which would make it perfect. I cant find it on a UK site though. I might have to get one from France.

This is a brilliant thread. I am telling my friends to come and read who arent even on MN.

Sounds like the band is fine. Did you bend over and scoop to make sure it fitted as well as it could? Might be the shape of the bra- try a different style? Plunge bras always give me four boobs no matter what the size. Is there anywhere you can go to be fitted in person?

Bugger. That explains the delivery costs, what a pain.

Well the advice is that it should fit on the loosest hook because it will give with washing, and it feels so tight because your old bra was too loose. But having said that I wear a 34 and measure as a 32. Some are too big but some are ok. As long as the support comes from the band rather than the straps it's ok I think. But it all comes down to trial and error unfortunately.

Could you order a selection to save on postage? Maybe it wouldn't cost much more to send half a dozen back than one?

OK so if I'm 31 inch under bust and 35 over, what is a good starting point???