Time for a new bra thread

[SorrelForbes]

I am officially a mad bra lady. I staged an intervention today in M&S in an attempt to stop a young lady buying a 36B. She was with her mum who told me her daughter was a size 12 and that's why they'd picked up a 36. I advised her to try a 30! I am now feeling a mixture of shame and pride.

They were like this

NorthernNumpty I think it's the fact that shops tend to just stock mostly 32 - 38 A-D (the smaller the range, the smaller the cost) and therefore people think that they must be one of those sizes. It's made worse by celebs (aided by the press) being less than truthful about their size!

Christina Hendricks

surprisingly debenhams are on of the better places northernnumpty. Check out the range in likes of H&M for example...but it is mad, I'm far from slim (my hips are as wide as my boobs lol) and I often can't get bras narrow enough. I'm on average a 14, verging to 16

Another problem is that because of the above reasons, many people cannot imagine being bigger than a D. Therefore they try a bra in a 34D (probably the biggest cup and smallest band combination in the shop) which, in many cases, is going to feel much too tight because the cup is much too small. They then come to the conclusion that the back is too tight and move up to a 36 and so on...

Just remeasured myself. 32 underbust and bra off and leaning forward 39/40. I think it's more like 39 as TMI alert, my nipples are a bit erect after a long weekend at home with BF DD!

I'm currently wearing a 34F nursing bra and know that my ribcage has gone down as I need it on the tightest fitting but it looks as though I now need a 32G? I used to wear a 32DD.

DD is now down to about 2 feeds a day during the weekdays and then 3 or 4 during the weekend. Should I now invest in new underwire bras or stick to nursing ones?

So true - I did it myself for years. Then discovered F/FF in La Senza but still didn't quite get it so frequently bought a 38E if they didn't do that style in an F...which wasn't the right size anyway as I was "fat" so wore a 34 or 36

Interesting link Sorrell

It is bizarre given all the publicity about women wearing the incorrect bra size.

According to the online calculators I should be a 36DD!

I had a debate with a friend about bra sizes, she is a size 8 with small boobs, she is wearing a 34A I told her (even before this thread educated me) that this could not be right, surprise surprise she had been measured in M&S!

She is probably a 26D going off what you lot have said, I might send her the link to this thread.

Please help bra gurus!
I've measured myself at 32" under the bust and 39" using the 'dangling' method.
Not sure if the second measurement is right though.. How tight should the tape measure be?
My last fitting was at M&S two years ago after I stopped BFing DS2. I measured at 34D, but following your scoop it all in instructions I bulge over the cups quite a bit.
This thread is great, I've already sent it on to several friends!

Showtunesgirl, a 32F/FF would be a good place to start size wise

If DD is down to a couple of feeds a day are these primarily at home? If so it might be worth considering going back to "proper" bras. It is actually perfectly safe to wear underwires when feeding anyway (despite the noises midwives make about it!) so long as the cup is big enough that the wires fully encases the breast tissue. As far as I understand it (not a BF expert!) the risk is when women wear bras that are too small in the cup so the wires are actually on breast tissue.

My midwife tried to tell me to go wireless at around 6 months. I laughed at her!

TurnipSoup, start at a 32F, which would be roughly 2 cup sizes bigger than the cups on your 34D. The overbust measurement shouldn't be particularly tight. I would suggest, as a rule, trying at least 1 cup below and 2 cups above your "measured" size when you are first working out what fits. Sometimes it's not obvious that a cup is too small until you try the bigger one!

While I am on my soapbox, why do these slebs bring out lingerie ranges when the sizes are all wrong?? I think Kelly Brook is one of those always quoted as being a 32 or 34 back. I suppose, giving them the benefit of the doubt they may wear what looks best for pics on photo shoots then some stylist tells a journo what size they wore and the myth continues!

Yes, that is correct about the underwire issue. The thing is though, for those not in the know, how many women are going back to underwire IN THE WRONG SIZE and giving themselves mastitis because of ill fitting bras?

Yes feeds are mostly at home and rarely out and about now as she doesn't really ask for it.

Thing is, it's been so long that I've worn a wire now that I'm wondering if this might be a happy medium?

Turnipsoup Try a 32F/FF. The tape should be held fairly loosely for the around bust measurement and tight for the under bust.

The cup volume of a 34D is roughly equivalent to the cup volume of a 32E so it's no wonder you're bulging out .

I haven't tried the Deco softcup but it gets quite good reviews. You could maybe try a mixture - tbh I think at an F/FF you probably are better with wires from a support/lift perspective.

Thank you.. Off to start shopping!

Loving the thread.

Am a 32F.

These things are bothering me.

I bought a longline bra but find that the bottom section rolls up. So too annoying to wear. Do you know if this is common?
I was finding my tried and tested Fantasie bras lacked lift and so changed to Panache's plunge t-shirt bras. Seemed good but I now find that the wires seem to naturally sit low and are a bit big and uncomfortable. The underboob moulding has also got a bit mishapen so I'm thinking that it's perhaps not the best style for me. Any ideas on what's going on there?
Any recommendations for everyday brass that give great lift? I'm wondering whether to try the Juna but it's Panache again. And I'm flung to try the Masquerade one mentioned earlier also.

I have to say though that my Royce Lauren bras have done me proud and been super comfy. They come in a good range of sizes too.

NorthernNumpty God only knows! Have you seen this range? The bras start at a 30 band. Now, I'm a size 12 (maybe a big 10 on a veyr good day) and I wear a 30. Some of the pics are terrible. She's obviously wearing a band that's too big for her. I bet it's clipped at the back for the photos!

Back riding up

Back riding up and done up on tightest hooks

Aggghhh

Only just bought my first longline so not sure on that one yet..will report back!

I find Fantasie comfortable (very!) but they are very much a comfy day to day bra for me, they give a good shape but not massively uplifted. For lift (but not cleavage) my favourites are the Bravissimo Betsy, Bravissimo Alana and Kris Line (Sheryl I think). I also like the Curvy Kate Tease Me. For cleavage, the Bravissimo Satine and the Curvy Kate Tempt Me.

IfYoureHappyAndYouKnowIt I haven't found any Panache bras that fit/suit me but for some reason their Cleo Juna is great.

Mumsnet campaign?!

I need your help ladies - currently measure 36.5 round back and 43/44 round boobs when leaning forward - what size am I? Im currently wearing 36DD and 36E nursing bras (am 40 weeks pregnant) They rub under my breasts but that may just be because Im so bloody hot all the time!

GreenOlives, I would start at a 36F/FF on those measurements although that may go upa couple of sizes once baby and milk appear. The rubbing may be due to the cups being too small, although I always found my boobs god especially sweaty in nursing bras because they didn't get lifted far enough!

Thanks for the advice. Interesting, completely agree on Fantasie. Always fitted me well but then I realised I could get more lift. Fairly tall so I need lift to stop me looking low boob.
I think I will try Curvy Kate. Are they pretty true to size?

Curvy Kate plunges run small - I wear a 30H in Fantasie and need a 30J in the Tempt Me. I think my Tease me is a 30H, it's borderline but the 30HH didn't give me quite enough lift (bit of a trade of with my boob shape) - I would maybe try one cup up in the tease me.
I generally get the best lift from unpadded bras like the Bravissimo or Kris Line so wear them under anything with a high enough neckline. The tease me is great under a wide/scoop neck though

Thanks statistically! YY to sweaty unlifted boobs in nursing bras! Will wait until baby arrives/milk in then go on the hunt for something new. Thanks again