A well fitting, smart/sexy and preferably push-up bra size 38A... impossible???

[justkeeponsmiling]

I am sooo fed up with trying to find a well fitting bra, preferably nice looking and adding a bit of "volume" in my size...
I'm starting to feel like a freak!
Am i really the only person in the world with really small breasts and a slightly larger ribcage?
Every bra I find is either too tight around my chest or has gaping cups. I need a wired one as any others leave me looking completely flat-chested.
Any suggestions of shops or online retailers would be greatly appreciated!

Did you take a tight under bust measurement? If you scoop whilst wearing your 38B have you got overspill or quad boob? Are you wearing moulded cups?

Your measurements suggest something around a 36DD/E which in cup volume is equal to a 38D/DD.

I so scoop a little bit, still doesn't fill up, tried an a cup that's way too tight, visually it looks like my bra cup is big! I measured how you told me again just to make sure and it is 36" and 41" i wear the standard t shirt bras that are padded if that helps, thankyou

The gaping could be style related-are your boobs quite bottom heavy by any chance?

Yes!

Was at a friends house last night and she was changing her top and paused to show me her bra. A new one that I helped her measure for last week and she was delighted. Bet boobs have never looked so good and no gaping on the cups. She told me she remembered to scoop
She could never understand how a friend was a 32f. Turns out your way is how her elderly Indian mother taught her girls how to measure.

OK, I think you will find it easier if you establish your size in unpadded bras. The moulded/padded t-shirt style are difficult to get a good fit with as they don't mould to your shape IYSWIM?

Ok, so what you are suggesting is I go out and purchase the said size in un padded bras?

No, go to somewhere decent ie not marks and Spencer, and try on a variety of bras in and around those sizes but in unpadded and ideally balconettes

Ok will do, this is going to be fun, thankyou so much for your help, hope to be back with good results!

Apologies for short cryptic posts - school run and sports day!

Can I join in? I'm a 32 1/2 under bust and 45 over. In currently wearing an old saggy Anita underwired nursing bra in 36J ( but think Anita sizes miss out the doubles so more like a 36 g).
I'm not actually breastfeeding any more but 19 weeks pregnant, all my maternity bras from last time are really unflattering this time around so was thinking about treating myself but just can't face the squashed together sweaty uniboob that everything unwired seems to give.

Start with a 32 j. You can wear wires so long as they fit well

Looks like a trip to bravissimo is in order!

I wear 38 C.
I went to Rigby and Peller - the sales lady told me I was 34 DD or 34 E.
House Of Fraser lady confirmed this.
I've tried that size on but I hate the way it feels so continue to wear my 38 C.

Holly if you go from a 38 to a 34 it is going to feel odd to begin with -imagine you'd been wearing baggy trousers for years then suddenly put on a pair of perfectly fitting skinnies. They'd feel tight and weird! It will take some getting user to.

Ok, I thought I knew my size, but have just measured myself at 33 under and a loose 46 over. I am wearing a 34gg, but thought I was a 34h/hh - only wearing the gg because it fits ok and was a bargain in the m&s sale. What should I try?

on those measurements I'd normally suggest 32jj, 32j, 34j and 34hh. Do you not get overspill in the 34GG? m&s miss ff so their GG is a G

I have slight double- boob in the gg, but I can shove it back in and it doesn't creep out too badly. M&S now seem to do a ff, and a limited range in H cup, so this is a proper gg - I wouldn't fit a g at the moment. They are so much cheaper than Panache, Freya, Bravissimo etc I can put up with a slightly bad fit - am about to embark on a diet so don't want to spend loads on bras at the moment. Might try a 32j out of interest next time I see one!

They must have started doing the FF really recently, bout time too!

However, as a rule their bras are quite crap. You can get really good deals on much better bras online - brastop, leia (outlet), my curves and me, amazon...

Good point Statistically

Is it just me or does anyone else have Alison Moyet singing in their heads every time one of these threads pops up? All together ..
"We all neeeed a bra intervention ..."

Well it was just you...

After 3 seperate outings of bra hunting, I've finally cracked it! From years of wearing an ill fitting 38b measured up your way and now am a 34dd! How I got there beats me, but who's complaining, thankyou for your help that has ended my years of painfull bras

OK, please advise me. I'm finally getting around to buying new underwear after being really tight with money on myself!

31" around under bust, 37" full bust. So should I go for a 32DD? I'm currently wearing a 34D but it gapes in the cups.

Also, where are good places to go? M&S is definitely out.

Are Sainsburys bras any good?

I'd try a 30E/F and a 32DD/E. I suspect the 30F will be the closest.

Sainsbury's et al don't do 30 bands I'm afraid. Bravissimo is the best high street choice, followed by JL, HoF and Debenhams (fitting at these three can be a bit hit or miss but is improving).

If you scoop whilst wearing your 34D, have you still got gaping? Is it a moulded bra?