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Original poster

Time for a new bra thread

999 replies

SorrelForbes · 21/02/2013 14:36

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 Shock Confused

OP posts:
StatisticallyChallenged · 03/03/2013 11:14

Justanothertenminutes - what are your measurements and what size are you trying? If the scooping is escaping very quickly it suggests the fit isn't perfect. It could just be the bra or you may need a wee size tweak.

Kopparberggate - I would agree that 6" is too much to take out the back, and Bravissimo make a 36L anyway I think. I haven't tried the Ewa feeding bras but I am a fan of her normal bras. Is this your first baby - just wondering if you know how your norks behave post birth? Personally, when my milk came in I did gain a cup or two but I didn't breast feed so that may not have been the case.

At your measurements I would say a 36M doesn't actually sounds big enough but I haven't used the EM calculator. An M is around a 19" difference between under and overbust.

Kopparbergkate · 03/03/2013 11:28

Shit, not even bigger than M - there's no hope of getting these norks fitted :( ! Thanks for the response tho'. This is DC2 but DD was 6 years ago and I can't really remember what happened to nork size - I was wearing dramatically the wrong size anyway (40k) and was 1.5 stone heavier so a little bit more or less overflow would've made no odds :(

Bravissimo does go up to a 36L but only in their Alana, which is underwired and not feeding-clipped. I tried the 38L and 40L on the basis of taking them in and adding clips myself but the cups didn't feel right and its a lot to take out of the back!

NorthernNumpty · 03/03/2013 11:32

What am I doing wrong??!! I have had to take both new bras off after a few hours! They are TIGHT! And they rub at the front near where cup joins strap when I bring my arms forward. How much 'wearing in' is to be expected and is it just cos I have been wearing one that is way too big for years?!

StatisticallyChallenged · 03/03/2013 11:33

I'm sorry Kopparberg. Sadly there still just isn't the range of sizes there needs to be. Things are improving slowly, but because so many retailers are still using the old methods leaving so many women in too small a cup people just aren't realising the need exists.

StatisticallyChallenged · 03/03/2013 11:34

The rubbing where cup joins strap is a very common place to "feel" it when you change size I think, because the straps in an M&S type fitting bra are in a totally different place. What do you measure again Northern and which bras/sizes are you trying? It could just be a getting used to it issue especially if your old size was quite different.

NorthernNumpty · 03/03/2013 11:39

30/31 under 40 over when 'hanging'

I have gorgeous 32G and a Gossard 30G, couldn't get all breast tissue in a FF which was the size I expected to be.

The Gossard was a bad choice I fear (but is was less than £9) as the fastening at back is very delicate for the size of bra and doesn't have enough fabric behind it, was so pretty and cheap, I thought it would be ok once worn in.
New bras currently in washing machine in a pillow case to try to 'soften' them a bit!

justanothertenminutes · 03/03/2013 11:39

I think my measurements were 33/36 and you recommended a 32 C/D, this is a 32C that I'm wearing

mzdemeanour · 03/03/2013 11:40

Can any of the resident bra experts recommend me some bras to try .... As per the advice here I think I'm a 32dd or 30e ... Moulded bras don't work for me at all. Am fairly floppy sadly (twins, bfing and gravity ....) tried a few on the other day and the one that worked best was the non padded underwired although a fantasie also wasn't bad. Can't afford really expensive atm so cheap/mid range if possible. Do I just order loads and hope for the best or is there a specific style(s) I should focus on?

StatisticallyChallenged · 03/03/2013 11:42

Justanothertenminutes, I suspect the C cup is a little too small. If there isn't enough space then the scooping doesn't last very well.

NorthernNumpty, I think I have owned the Gossard bra and know what you mean about insufficient support as the back is very flimsy. It's more of an occasional use bra.

mzdemeanour · 03/03/2013 11:50

Sorry ... Previous message got rid of triumph amourette ...

Kopparbergkate · 03/03/2013 12:14

No need to apologise - it's kind of the result I expected tbh. At least you've confirmed I've knocked out most options so I'm not floundering to make a decision between loads of choices (focus on the positive :))

I think I'm going to order a 36M and a 36N from ewa and even if they don't fit, I can mix them with 38k or 40k soft cup, which don't fit in a different way, and hopefully avoid too many problems.

Unless somebody else knows somewhere I can get nursing bras made to measure....

Also thinking the idea to get back to running ASAP after birth may go by the board - a sports bra in a 36M/N -ha, ha, ha :(

SpottyTeacakes · 03/03/2013 12:54

Argh no actual shops sell my size nursing bras. Had a bit of a strop at the lady in m&s because she wanted to measure me and I said 'no I don't like the way you add 4'. She reckoned that their bras might fit differently Hmm I can't afford to buy loads online to try it's a nightmare!

StatisticallyChallenged · 03/03/2013 12:55

What size are you after Spotty?

StatisticallyChallenged · 03/03/2013 12:56

And yeah right, M&S bras fit differently. No, they don't. Based on what I say yesterday their 30 back is about the same as everybody elses!

Original poster
SorrelForbes · 03/03/2013 13:02

SpottyTeacakes Could you tweet that to M&S?

OP posts:
StatisticallyChallenged · 03/03/2013 13:13

SF, M&S replied, they are "concerned by this and have passed it to their lingerie team"...is that code for "shut up you silly girls" do you think?! ;)

Original poster
SorrelForbes · 03/03/2013 13:16

I expect so! In the end how can they keep justifying their 'add 4/5' policy? I'm still reeling over the fact that both fitters saw us in our great fitting bras and yet thought that the sizes they recommended were suitable? Either they're just really, really bad at fitting or they're working under strict instructions to fit everyone into an 34- 38 A-DD range!

OP posts:
FierceBadIggi · 03/03/2013 13:18

Halfway through the day, getting used to the tight grip around my torso! Think it's going to leave a lot of lines though. I too was disappointed with small cup sizes of nursing bras (in this case Debenhams) didn't go near my 34J. Will need to look online. Loved the blog btw.

StatisticallyChallenged · 03/03/2013 13:26

Thanks Fierce, definitely still a work in progress! what you will probably find is that you will have a line but it will be one neat outline, where as when the back is too big you get marks all over the place as it moves around.

SF, I despair with them I really do. Campaigns have got to them before though (remember the who charging more for big bras debacle?) so it's worth a shot. I just don't know enoug about social media really!

SpottyTeacakes · 03/03/2013 13:51

I need to try a 30DD and 28F and you suggested a couple of others up thread. Our HoF don't even stick nursing bras Hmm Debenhams also don't go down to a 30 back. I nearly started crying and shouted 'are slim people not allowed to breastfeed?!'

StatisticallyChallenged · 03/03/2013 13:53

That's awful spotty. Our Debenhams do stock the 30 backs I think but no, apparently if you breastfeed you must be at least a 34 back according to most places.

SpottyTeacakes · 03/03/2013 13:56

Oh SC I looked online as my nearest Debenhams is 40 minutes away. I'm getting very angry!

NorthernNumpty · 03/03/2013 14:07

SC perhaps just blanket tweet a number of female high profile tweeters (alsopp, Moran, laverne, grace dent etc) and see if you can get them to retweet.

Why has MN not picked up on this in the wider sense, we all know how much power MN towers wields when it wants to, am I right in thinking M&S is one of MN's buddies?

ceeveebee · 03/03/2013 14:13

Should we report this thread to MNHQ and suggest they do a campaign? Looking at how many posts there have been in the last week it's definitely a very hot topic!

SpottyTeacakes · 03/03/2013 14:19

I'm just going to order a few from Figleaves I think. My poor credit card