Does anyone else now wince after reading the bra threads on here...

[showtunesgirl]

...when encountering people who go: Oh I'm a 34A when they really are most probably not?

I am finding it hard to convince people out of believing their M & S sizes and refer them to the bra gurus fitting guide. But it's so deeply ingrained into common thinking that anything over a D is massive and that they MUST be a 34/36 frame even when they are blatantly smaller than me and I measure as a 32!

Bra update:
My Bravissimo 34DD bra arrived today and incredibly it does fit BUT didn't look great at all and still looked very slightly 4 boobed with straps short. Longer straps meant no lift though. Think I may have to actually leave the house and try on lots of different styles to find something perfect.

Thank you ladies.

isthattrue if you are on the tightest setting on 34s and shrinking it may be worth ordering 32s and using an extender for a few weeks. The extenders are only a couple of £ but you might get a bit more life out of them that way. Personally when I lose weight my back shrinks before my actual boobs normally!

thesmallprint which bra did you order out of interest - if you can link we can probably suggest what the issue is.

Thanks statistically I think I'll keep 1 as I'm bfing I want to have at least 1 good fitting bra, even if it is only for now. The second one I've tried is definitely a lot better than the first with regards to pinching. So I'll keep this one. Send the rest back.
I've gone from thinking I was a 38D to a 34GG!!!

I am wearing a 34A. 30DD is a big change. I'll give it a go though.

if it's any comfort 34s to 30dd is a very common resize that you will see on these threads. because of the old plus 4/5 method places like m&s put someone measuring 30/35 in a 34s where a good shop like bravissimo or John Lewis would make that more like a 30dd-although they fit by eye

that should be 34a not 34s oops

The 'Bra Intervention' cured my chronic back pain. It was so bad that I'd given up ever being pain-free as had tried everything.
Apart from changing my bras from 36B to 34E!
Hallelujah!
Within a week my back pain was gone.
Bless the Bra Interventors!!!!

BrandAlley - quick, Curvy Kate bras v cheap, have just seen them for about £12

Also panache tango plunge on there for £8

Onetwo your measurements are the same as mine and I've been wearing a 34a / 34b depending on brand. I'm off to try some 30dd bras today. I'm still not convinced, but willing to try some on to see after all the endorsements on here!

Unbelievably, well probably not for you guys, I am now the proud owner of two 32D bras that fit beautifully.

I was in a 34b before and am small of boob.

This is revelatory.

I was also earwigging in the changing rooms at a woman who was bemoaning the lack of 40a bras, and I wanted to run out and tell her. But unfortunately I was a bit topless at the time so didn't.

Skintorama, you might find that you eventually end up going down to a 30. It's quite common for people to get to their "true" size in stages. You might be fine with the 32 of course but just worth mentioning. I know a lot of people who have gone through an intermediate back size!

I actually tried on loads of different sizes, 30dd, 30d, 32Dd etc and it was the two (same brand) 32d ones that fitted the best.

So from now on I will do the same again, try dozens in that size range.

I can't thank you enough for this thread.

Blimey - don't sizes vary?!

Went to Ann Summers today (sale) and tried various sizes on.

My first "post intervention" bra was from Tesco. Beautiful fit at 34F.

Tried same size in AS. Tiny cups!

Went up to 34G. Cups STILL too small except for in one bra.

I used to squeeze into 36DD in there!

They do indeed - I have a "base size" which is always the first I try on but I have about 3 cup sizes variance in my bra-drobe

Can I ask for some more advice please? I've just bought an Elomi Caitlyn in a 42K. The back is fine, tight but not uncomfortable, but the cups are all wrong. Fastened on the loosest hooks the wires are right round my back, I can get my fists in the tops of the cups, and the gore is way too high and won't sit back where it should against the skin. Do I need a smaller cup in a different style?

I would say probably down two cups to start which should give you a bigger range of styles too

With a stretchy band I could go down a back size too, I think. The Caitlyn is lovely but not the right shape for me - the wires are too wide. Luckily I didn't pay full price for it and can return it to Leia. They have the Fantasie Salsa in a 40JJ - do you think that might fit better?

Statistically bra is here It's described as balconette but it doesn't sit like one, it's more full.

Yeah I wouldn't call Rebecca balconette either. It could be a shape issue - because it is quite high if your breast fullness is at the top it can cause problems. Moulded cups are very inflexible when it comes to getting the right fit. If anything fantasie tends to run big in the cup so you might want to try Es and possibly even fs if you are doing a try on session

It sounds like the Fantasie might be worth a shot MissRenata

I really struggle with Fantasie bras, they just don't sit right on my body (Rebecca was especially bad!) and always look a bit 'matronly'.

Ah, that was a reply to your post about the Rebecca, Stats!

"Matronly" would be about right for me! If Fantasie bras run a bit big in the cup do they run true to size on the band? Brastop have the Curvy Kate Emily in a 40JJ - I believe they have quite stretchy bands?

I find the CK bands run a bit bigger than the norm.