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

Thanks SC. Cups fit fine although I have a plunge type bra, out of which I fall occasionally unless I'm taped in! I'll order some 34G's and see how I get on.

babyice I'd start with a 36J. What size are you wearing now?

J

This is a G and it is the biggest BHS stocked, tried M&S and they suggested a 42DD

Thank you

I am not remotely "busty" even in a D cup, so I don't understand the manufacturers insistence on pushing women into cup sizes that are too small for them

Is it just the idea of being in a bigger cup that they think will put women off?

In that case, maybe a D should be reset as 0 and count from there, with anything smaller being minus

Or is that potentially upsetting the tiny boobed ones ?

Sorrel, can you give me some advice on the fit of Ewa Michelak? Annoyingly my bigbrabar order has all been cancelled (raging!!) so I think I am going to try a proper order. But my size will be custom so want to try and get it right!

I need to buy some new bras - my boobs are decimated after having twins, nearly a year of breastfeeding followed by 3 months of dieting!

I'm 31 back, 34 if I measure them bra-less stood up, 36 if I lean over as suggested above. I'm currently in a 34b which I guess is wrong but sometimes feels tight. What should I be??

HeyHo, I would try a 28FF, a 28F, a 30E and a 30F.

I managed to pick up some really nice bras in M&S today I had to get a 30C but the cups were the best I've ever worn and the back was actually fine on the tightest hook so my plan is to order one of those Roxie Clip thingies to tighten the back. Hurrah! In fact, I took in 8 to try and didn't like two, wanted 6, but could only justify 2. First time ever that's happened to me, I usually have a choice of about 3 and none are perfect even in 28D.

They were up to their usual terrible fitting tricks again though, I saw some horrors! I wish I had the courage to say something.

On another note other than ebay is there anywhere that I can sell assorted bras, sets and lingerie as have a load left from when I sold Bluebella and there is nothing there that will fit. Hve tried both Facebook and Ebay with no luck.

I am a recent convert thanks to the help from Sorrel, where did the add 4 inches thing come from? For the first time in my 20+ bra wearing years my underwire bits sit flat against me! I was n pain at first and thought I may have wasted my money and in panic bought bra extenders! Today is much better, I don't think my bra back straps have ever been where they are now.

I am wondering if MN could do a survey of sizes to encourage people to see themselves up, surely someone like figleaves, bravissimo etc would leap at the chance to be involved, I have spent more in the last few days on bras because they fit and I still need to replace my bikinis, online retailers should be jumping at the chance!

Oh I also used some of my clubcard vouchers to change into figleaves vouchers, £20 in Tesco vouchers became £40 to spend at figleaves.

hippocritt, nobody is entirely sure whre +4 came from. One explanation, which makes sense, is that it goes back to years and years ago when women wore corsetted garments where they measured over the bust rather than under (which is a wider measurement). When garments fitted under the bust became common, in order to standardise the called a 32 underbust a 36.

Other theories are that it predates modern elastic, and that it was done to make women think they were closer to the "ideal" of 36-24-36

Babyicebean, there is a listings page on bratabase which I was thinking of trying out

I was wearing a 36B, got measured a few weeks ago and found out I was a 34D. Glad I eventually got measured, my bra was not comfy one bit!

Ceevee I'd start with a 30D or 30DD. 34B will feel tight because the cups are too small and all the 'extra' is pulling the band.

I can report back...

went to m&s. and a 34E was needed! which they didn't have but I found one style where a 34DD fitted. I am slightly at wearing the wrong size for so long!

but I now know why. I was with my mum who kept trying to get me into a B cup. I'll have to teach her

Gin I'm quite surprised that you ended up with a 34DD. Did you scoop with vigour to check for quadraboob?

SC. Funnily enough I have emailed EM today to ask about the fit of their CHP style as that seems to be replacing the CH on their web site. I have the CH Karmelki in a 32G and the fit is perfect both in the band and the cups. No overspill at all. I tried a CH Biszkopty in the same size and the cups were too big. The 30G in both bras was too tight in the band. I'll let you know what they say and feed back. I've never tried the PL shape which seems popular on the be blogs.

Going on what you've said about other bras I think you'll be fine with a 30 band. How annoying about your order.

Thanks Celtic, will see if I can find those sizes and report back!

Thanks SF. I'm debating whether a 30 or a 32 - I am normally a 30 but I'm a little chunkier than normal just now. My new Alana(black 30HH) is tight but OK, but I had to buy the Bravissimo betsy in a 32HH. Hmph.

I'm eying up the HP Koktajl, the CH Lilia, the PL Violet and the CHP Milady. I really like the HM Gold but there are a lot of comments suggesting it is cut quite low at the armpit which would be very bad for me!

OK, just tried on some new arrivals:
Curvy Kate Entice in an 28j. Love the shape but too tight in the back and a bit small in the cup, so would prob fit in a 30J
Freya Lauren in a 30HH. Fractionally loose in the cup but not a full size. OK in back. But utterly shit - seems to push my breasts outwards!
Freya Piper - 30H. Fits, but see comments re Lauren. Just rubbish! WHat has happened to Freya this season, they used to be great and certainly didn't make my boobs turn outwards from their normal place!
Debehnams gorgeous longline in a 32H - lovely, defo couldn't go down a band in this but I have always found them small.
Fantasie Florence 30H - ok, not an outstanding uplift or anything but quite a comfortable day to day bra.

Should there be any marks when you take off your bra at the moment you walk in the door the end of the day?

I've finally found bras that fit and are relatively comfy, but I still look like I've been got at with a cheesewire?! Maybe they are only comfy cos I've killed all the nerves at the pressure points?

I'm afraid red marks are kind of normal for a good bra - I get red marks from tight jeans, or the top of tights, or elastic from socks too. The difference with good bra red marks is that they tend to be quite narrow/in one place - they're more of a single outline where are a bad bra gives a much wider mark because it moves around and irritates lots of skiN!

I am finding my new bras are leaving red indentations around the sides of the cup and the back of the band

But a 34 is too loose, and if I go up a cup size it just gapes at the top where I don't have much breast tissue

Going to keep persevering

To put it in perspective regarding slim women convinced they're a 34 or 36 back, I'm a seriously dumpy size 14 and wear a 34 back - could wear a 32 in some styles.

Anyhow, I often have serious problems with heat rashes in the summer, so I've been looking for an armoury of cotton bras, since I currently have none. My most usual size is a 34F and I have the dreaded spaniel ears, which doesn't help matters at all.

A lot of the cotton styles stop at DD cup, which is understandable but annoying.

I've tried this one, which is supportive, well structured and such a lovely shape, and sits beautifully on my back - no blubber at all. The cups on the 34F were massive and the 34E was just all wrong, though - I had the pooling in the bottom problem and no amount of scooping would make my boobs sit in the right place and stay there.

I've settled for some of these which actually fit quite nicely, apart from having a minimising shape which I'm not entirely fond of. With 20% off they were a bargain at £17.60, so I've kept them. I'm not convinced they'll last me long, though.

So bra gurus, any suggestions of what else to look for would be gratefully welcomed.

I don't think ANY everyday garment should irritate your skin, leave marks, or be itchy.

If we can put a man on the moon, we should be able to design underwear that's supportive, soft, healthy and comfortable.

Nylon-encased plastic, wires, and hooks are NOT a good starting point.