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?

Sorrel, how's the sizing of Empreinte or prima Donna compared to Freya?

Agggh, uncomfortably even

I haven't tried any Empriente bras unfortunately. My Prima Donna Wonderland is a 32G and I usually wear a 30G. I think I would get a 30 next time though as it does appear to 'give' a little once on. So, I'd say they run true to size.

My Thrill Me is a 30g and whilst it doesn't give me quadra boob (and the GG was too big) it doesn't give a lot of coverage. It make your boobs stand up and proud if you get my meaning

Gosh interesting thread. I struggle with tight bra straps, but still don't get the adding/minusing 4 inches thing tbh.

I measure 32 under, 37 over, so should be a 32 D/E? I have tried 32 D/E bras before on this basis, but they were excruciating and there is no way I would have spent money on them. I have tried lots of styles and makes.

Out of interest, have just measured the strap length of three of my more comfortable bras:

Gossard 34D (full cup moulded)
Strap length unstretched: 28 inches
Strap length stretched (to the length I wear it at): 32 inches
The strap feels about right on this one, but the cup comes up a little too high at the front and under arms.

Gossard 36B (same style as above)
Strap length unstretched: 30 inches
Strap length stretched (to the length I wear it at): 32 inches
This one feels a little loose on the strap. The B cup fits better than the D cup on the 34D though.

M&S 36D (plunge style, moulded)
Strap length unstretched: 28 inches
Strap length stretched (to the length I wear it at): 32 inches
This one isn't really great for comfort tbh, the underwire scoops down at the bottom and digs into my rib cage. The strap feels ok though.

So from my (admittedly very unscientific and elderly bra sample) it seems like these strap sizes are already 'compensated' for in the adding 4 inches thing? ie:

• if you measure 32 under the bust, according to the eg M&S charts you are a 36

• the strap itself on a M&S 36 measures 28, but allows 4 inches for stretching to right size (32) when worn

Is this right? Or should they be stretching 8 inches?

Oh gosh, my head's aching now! TBH I have no idea but what I do know is that I can never find a Gossard or M&S bra that fits properly!

I would say to start with a 32DD and take it front there. However, you say that 32D or E is too tight? Have you got one to hand that you can put on back to front (don't put your arms through the straps)? If, back to front, a 32 feels ok (and it should be tight, probably tighter than you're used to) then that is your right band size. You then need to keep going up through the cup sizes until you find one that is right for you. It might be that you do need a 34D for instance if you really can't stand the tightness of the 32 but I'd be surprised.

Are your boobs fuller at the top or the bottom? If the former then a plunge style might be a good fit and if the latter then try a balconette

The measurements of your bras just shows the massive differences between manufacturers. No wonder we all struggle!

Ok, equally unscientific

Brand new freya 30GG (plunge style so fits differently) 26 unstretched, with effort will stretch to 35"!

Bravissimo Satine 30HH - quite new - 26" stretches to 32"

Suggests a massive difference between brands. IME M&S do have some interesting (and very inconsistent even with itself!) sizing, but even taking that out they don't know what a well fitting bra looks like. I dont care what the numbers are, I have quite a mix of sizes, but the bras they have tried to put me in were far too big in the back, and had quad boob.

How do M&S get away with measuring so badly? Why do they do it?

No wonder people are all walking round in the wrong size, because for lots of them M&S is the first place they go. They measured me as 36C. Twenty years later and I'm about to get married so go to Rigby & Peller and lo, I'm a 34D. Way more comfortable.

Can we i.e. Mumsnet have a word in M&S' ear? It's a health issue as well as a style one. They (M&S) should not be doing this.

Thanks Sorrel . I don't have a 32, but have tried on loads and they all felt very scratchy and sore (I've got ridiculously sensitive skin). I suppose if I could find one with a very wide soft strap it would be worth another go.

Boobage is fairly 'bottom heavy' , so I think you are right, balconettes would probably suit me better.

It is strange. I just measured myself and was 32 under bust and 39 (!) round the bust which makes me a 36E according to the M&S sizing, but current (Sainsbury's £5) bras fit very nicely, uplifting, not too tight, no spilling over and I'm in a 36C.

An E cup would drown me. It makes me laugh even to think about it!

(p.s. when I say a health issue I just mean general strain and posture etc.)

I would expect a 32F to be more like your size Marysbeard.

M&S size chart is just plain crackers, and if you are wearing a 36 then it would make sense that you would wear a C cup, as there would be 3" between the band size, and your overbust. However, you should probably be wearing a significantly smaller back, and therefore bigger cup.

Hmm - went to a lingerie shop where she kept insisting I should wear a 32' band. Every GG she put me in was too small (think Z-Lister spilling out of nightclub ) So I've cancelled the 28GG order. The woman kept wittering on about different sizes.It was incredibly confusing. I wish I had the money to go to R&P and get a proper fitting and bras made for me. There wasn't a single bra in the whole naffing shop that fitted me - yes, in a lingerie shop

OK, so after their not-terribly-great recent results M&S has had a management shake-up. From September 1 there's a new head of style called Belinda Earl (formerly at Debenhams, Jaeger and Aquascutum). I wonder if she'd be receptive to some "welcome, can you do something about the terrible bra sizing?" emails...

www.retail-week.com/a-z/m/marks-and-spencer/profiles-marks-and-spencers-new-management-team/5038485.article

Marys yes 36E would most likely be too big. But the E cup of a 32 band bra is significantly smaller than an E of a 36 size.

Vesela, this topic comes up every now and then and people always have horrible stories to tell about M&S fitting. Once someone actually sent the thread to M&S and suggested that they need to review their advice and train fitters. Unfortunately the reply was something in the lines of "Thanks for comments, we are offering a good service, now please go away".

Been there Changeforthebetter. We have an independent round the corner from us, who advertise as doing big cup sizes -but unfortunately they are more desperate to sell than anything else. So they kept trying to jam me in to a 32F when i was a fricking 28HH at the time. Was very annoying, she got all offended that I wouldn't try it on. It was the nearest thing to my size that she had.

Have you tried Bravissimo if R&P are too pricey?

I don't think I could get a 32 round me! I wore a 34C Wonderbra when I measured 29 round my back ans 32s didn't fit then... In some shops a 36 has been too tight. As I said, the Sainsbury's 36C bras fit really nicely and I was really just posting to illustrate the sizing daftness!

HazelNutt - it apparently came up as complaint at this year's AGM, so hopefully it will be near the top of Belinda Earl's to-do list!

"Shareholders and customers also complain of "utterly confused" shop layouts, mountains of poor quality clothes "piled up like a bring-and-buy sale", lack of staff, poor bra-fitting services and the company's apparent failure to understand its customers and the clothes they want."

Shareholders also complained of "utterly confused" shop layouts, a lack of staff, poor bra-fitting services and a lack of demure dresses with sleeves."

Changeforthebetter Bra Stop do some good offers on bras and do stock a good range of bigger cup sizes in some (but not all) styles. Try ordering some GG and HHs etc, be brave.

MarysBeard Yes, I agree with others on here, start with a 32F. An F cup in a 32 back really isn't that big volume wise. If you measure 32 underbust then try a 32 on back to front. If it does up without cutting off circulation and breathing (!) then it's the right size and you just need to work up through the cups until you find one that is comfy and covers everything. I found this stage quite scary as I went from a DD to a G in one fitting! You might even need a 32FF. Give it a go, I think you'll be surprised at how better it will look than the 36C (or I might be totally wrong of course! ).

Vesela Thanks for the link. Got to be worth an email or two hundred

Vesela I'm definitely going to email Ms Earl

Yes, she put me in a Curvy Kate and the shape was horrible plus I felt completely unsupported

I just want a decent sodding bra that doesn't cost a king's ransom. I have tried brastop.com before but had a few duff ones. Aaargh

Anyway, I luffs you ladies for talking norky sense Perhaps we should have our own Topic!!

Can I recommend fuller figure fuller bust? She has a Facebook page, and a blog, will point you in the right direction with any bra problem and also can do skype fittings (plus she's a lovely person)

fullerfigurefullerbust.com/2012/05/09/one-year-on-most-frequently-asked-questions/

Thanks to you lovely ladies on here I have just had a most enlightening shopping trip.
I can now confirm my previous 32A bras are rediculously badly fitting, however a 34D feels snug and supportive and perfect.
It has also really changed my body shape.
Thanks guys!