Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Style and beauty

Looking for style advice? Chat all about it here. For the latest discounts on fashion and beauty, sign up for Mumsnet Moneysaver emails.

Original poster

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:
Tempernillo · 13/09/2012 13:24

Can anyone assess me? 32" around ribs, 37.5" over boobs. Currently wearing a 36c which is probably correct according to the old method, but what do you think I should actually be wearing? Finding it increasingly difficult to get a bra that's right since dd, my boobs have changed, and I am bigger than I used to be too. Sad P.s. I am wide of boob too.

StatisticallyChallenged · 13/09/2012 13:29

Start with a 32dd/e and work from there.

Tempernillo · 13/09/2012 13:32

Holy shit! I'm really not that busty though! Will give it a go, but not convinced! Do definitely feel current bras ride up at the back though, so definitely will try a smaller back! Grin

HauntedLittleLunatic · 13/09/2012 13:44

32DD has teh same cup size as a 36C tho :)

StatisticallyChallenged · 13/09/2012 14:03

Haunted you are such a convert :)

As haunted says, in terms of volume the 36c is roughly equal to 32 dd, it's just fitting in a very different way. If you stayed st a c but tried a 32 you would have massive overspill.

HauntedLittleLunatic · 13/09/2012 14:18

polishes halo :)

Ephiny · 13/09/2012 14:30

I was converted by previous MN threads on this subject too. Though I knew M&S were wrong, no way was I a AA cup Confused, not since I was 11 years old anyway!

SorrelForbes · 13/09/2012 16:14
StatisticallyChallenged · 13/09/2012 18:04

Now Haunted, you do know that badge comes with responsibilities? You are now expected to stalk S&B in search of women who are likely to be wearing the wrong size. You are also obliged to gradually indoctrinate all female friends and family in to the Church of the Well Fitting Bra.

HazleNutt · 13/09/2012 18:47

And you'll get the next lever, Supreme Bra Monitor badge once you start stopping strangers on the street to tell them they are wearing the wrong size. Because you will..

ComeAlongPond · 13/09/2012 19:13

Can I just say, thank you so much to everyone who's given such great advice on here? You've helped loads of us, and I for one have noticed a massive difference just from such a small thing - my posture has improved dramatically, my boobs look great, I'm not in pain, I feel good about myself... I'm honestly really grateful, especially you've spent a lot of time repeating the same thing to all of us who didn't believe we could be whatever size - you have the patience of saints. Thank you very much, all of you Smile

HauntedLittleLunatic · 13/09/2012 20:05

Well there is a slim poster ons thread I regularly frequent that has just admitted she's wearing a 36 something....I haven't plucked up the courage to tell her she's more than likely wrong...

TickledOnion · 13/09/2012 20:38

Loving this thread. I noticed in M&S today that even the mannequins were wearing the wrong size! Band riding up and underwire not sitting flat.

I know it's not the most urgent issue but can't we harness the power of MN to influence M&S's measuring policy?

StatisticallyChallenged · 13/09/2012 20:43

Ah go on Haunted, pop your bra fit challenging cherry! Wink

M&S are satin's bra fitting department. Maybe we could do a fitting flashmob where we descend on their busiest shop! (joke!)

PippiL · 13/09/2012 20:54

Can you do me? Lost loads of weight recently and can't afford to visit bravissimo just yet.

30 underneath. 36 round boobs.

That's with my current bra on, is that right?

StatisticallyChallenged · 13/09/2012 20:58

As long as your current bra doesn't have at least 4 boobs it will give you a good start point. I would normally measure the underbust without it though for obv reasons!

Based on those measurements, start at a 30E (Assuming the range has a DD which most do) but I would also try an F and work from there according to how it feels.

Remember to scoop!

PippiL · 13/09/2012 21:09

I was a 32ff.

Lost weight and now wearing a 32e from m&s. But I just bought 2bras as a stop gap. They are cotton moulded, and really comfy but not the most supportive. I feel like there is room in the cup.

Am thinking I need to get myself a "proper" bra when I can afford one and have stopped losing weight. I think you are right, I should start at a 30e or possibly 30dd depending on the brand.

Also really want a wondebra strapless, but tried one briefly once and didn't have the foggiest what size I should try. It felt weird, but it looks to me like there are a couple of different style versions.

StatisticallyChallenged · 13/09/2012 21:19

The room in the cup may be an illusion due to the slightly loose back as the cups can kind of fall forward. Also, are you scooping everything in? I'd try putting the 32E on their tightest hook (since they are probably too big) and scooping like crazy to see how that feels. It might help to make them serviceable in the very short term.

The wonderbra ultimate strapless is fricking AWESOME however I personally found the sizing a bit whacky. I'm a 30H/HH normally, and I have it in a 32G. I'd have gone for a GG if they had it possibly, but the G is ok.

I'd figure out your proper size (when I could still fit in them I found M&S sizes totally different to other places) and then go for trial and error with the Wonderbra. It is totally worth the effort. But it does feel very different to a bra with wires. The first time I tried it I kept thinking that it had fallen down because I couldn't feel the usual wire-under-boob sensation. It didn't move. at all. I took my dress off after dancing all night, and I still had cleavage.

PippiL · 13/09/2012 21:25

Where does the wondebra strapless sit on your ribs? The one I tried felt like it was meant to be much lower than my normal bra band...and all the models wearing them seem to have them low.

shattereddreams · 13/09/2012 21:26

I went to fenicks today and tried on some wacoal (as recommended by the her room website). No good for me, straps were great but cups would not lie flat on breast bone. Was fed up as the price was good £35 ish.

Moved to Chantelle (also recommended) and they were mixed. The bra I identified from a picture would suit me was a dream fit! But Fenicks only sell it in white. For £54 I would prefer nude. So I ordered a diff Chantelle called icone in nude and will report back on fit later when it arrives.

But success at last. At least I can now order online and feel vaguely confident it will fit.

Chantelle are generous in the cup by the way! I ordered a 32E but the Wacoal was a 32G

CrunchyFrog · 13/09/2012 21:27

I'm in a 32J in Panache, but a 36F in the Wonderbra strapless, and it fits. Or it did, must check with the addition of my fabulous new scooping skills!

PerryCombover · 13/09/2012 21:29

I have been to a bra emporium

I am now a 30 hh. I bought 2 bras (still feeling there must be some mistake)

The fitter was utterly gobsmacked by my previous bras.
She said NO ONE my size was a 36/38

I felt a dick as I thought I was very up on these things

StatisticallyChallenged · 13/09/2012 21:30

The Wonderbra does sit surprisingly low down - it's quite a tall bra so the top of it is in a sensible place, it's just the bottom!

(Glad I'm not the only one who finds the sizing on it a bit odd CrunchyFrog!) Won't complain about the strange sizing though, as if it was accurate it wouldn't fit me.

StatisticallyChallenged · 13/09/2012 21:34

Ha ha Perry, sounds like you got a good fitter who knew her stuff

And whilst few people of your dress size may actually be a 36/38, plenty of them are wearing one! I mentioned my niece upthread - went from a 36D to a 28G/GG!

CrunchyFrog · 13/09/2012 21:47

Oh, a success story for today - I've been telling SIL for ages she is NOT a 38D (fitted in Debenhams!), gave her my old 34F to try, and demonstrated scooping - she's the most comfortable she's ever been, but spilling out the top! Digging out the 34Gs now.