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!

RainbowBob Mind blowing isn't it?! Try 28G, 28FF, 30FF, and 30F for starters.

Bear in mind that M&S don't do a FF, they jump straight to G (yet another thing they do that annoys me!)

I want to get my tape measure out and double check my size. Although I am going on the size that I was measured for at Bravissimo so I'm hoping it's correct.

Might do it anyway when I get home, just to see

sorrel After reading this thread, I've just measured myself. Like the pp, I'm 29" underneath but I am 37" over. Currently wear 34C which I know is completely the wrong size for me. Which sizes should I try? Thanks.

Don't know if the experts will agree with i find all brands are different which makes buying online tricky.

I have tried on some Elle McPherson and find the backs tiny. I'd need a 34 in some styles, whereas in J Lewis own brand a 32 is ample and even a 30 is possible.

A pal of mine was saying last night that some shops add 3 or 4 on to the number of inches, so if you measure 29 you would buy a 32 bra and if you measure 30 you would buy 34. Maybe John Lewis don't add the extra on? I don't know why anyone would anyway, seems stupid to me.

I'm different sizes depending on the type of cup.

Elle mc bras run particularly small. After a bit of practice I can generally guess my back size accurately but will often order a couple of cup sizes to try

SorrelForbes - thank you! I will try those sizes and see how I go. Although I will almost certainly NOT be going to M&S after reading this thread.

I have just had a crazy flashback to getting a fitting in John Lewis before my wedding (many moons ago) and the bra fitter told me I was a 32DD. Clearly she was wrong, but much closer to the mark than M&S have ever been.

I now feel uncomfortable and indecent wearing this terrible ill-fitting bra. Going shopping has never seemed so urgent...!

Hello, I always read these threads but never join in so today I'm being brave.

I have always thought of myself as flat chested and used to wear a 36A cup (as most of my boobage is round the sides rather than sticking out the front) until I went into R&P some 13 years ago who put me in a 34 C and it was like a miracle.

Since then I have put on about a stone and a half and had two bf babies so even less volume in my boobs these days. Anyway, I am currently wearing a fairly cheap 36C which seems OK but having just measured myself as 34" round ribs and 39" around boobs that can't be right? Can you tell me, when measuring around the boobs, do you measure tight again or looser?

The boob measurement is looser. Based on those measurements try a 34DD.

Thanks StatisticallyChallenged, next question would be the best place to try? Because I've always felt bras don't do anything for me I've been unwilling to spend a reasonable amount and end up shopping in the cheap sections.

Try a good department store - somewhere like debenhams or john lewis who will stock a wide variety of brands and shapes. M&S are pretty grim and generally only have about 2 cuts in a bunch of different fabrics.

Do you know, I love R&P but sometimes I don't think they get the band fitting quite snugly enough.

DisneyDiva87. Nearly all high street shops add 4/5" to your under bust measurement. It's infuriating. Some fitters at Debenhams, JL and HoF have seen the light and now fit bras properly. Top Shop, M&S, New Look etc persist in adding inches. This is why they never stock anything below a 32" band!

Thank you, I never buy in M&S because absolutely nothing fits in there. I have a HoF nearby so will try there - but I'm still sceptical until I find one that fits at that size ...

Ok I've measured with an iPad charger cable and tape measure and I am 36 inches underneath and 48 inches round my norks. What does that make me? Just placed an order for brastop so want to change it if I'm wearing the wrong size! currently in a 40H

AWitch. Try a HH. How is the cup on your 40Hs if you scoop?

Try 36HH AWitch, and sizes around that, so 34J, 36HH, and possibly 34JJ and 36J. You may find the 34's fit better, if so you'll need the larger cup size.

To the PP who said she can't wear balconette styles as the straps fall off - I am sure this will be resolved with a better fitting bra - I have tiny shoulders, all my bras are balconette style and my straps aren't going anywhere !

The cups not bad but I'm wearing a non wired nursing bra so it's a bit hard to tell!

Would I be ok in a 38H for now? Brastop have said its the equivalent to a 36HH as they don't have the bra I want in that size.

I've been struggling with uncomfy bras since I got pregnant (DD now 2.5) I find that they all make my ribs really ache after wearing them for more than a couple of hours even those JML pull on types

The one that is least uncomfy is a 40D non wired one from M&S

I've just done the bending over measurement and got 36 under and 47 1/2 over! Help please anyone

I wouldn't go for the 38, it''s unlikely to give you the support you need. It's the closest size, but when your boobs are relatively big and heavy you need the back to be well fitting.

youremyorange - try a 36H/HH

I've just ordered a 36H from amazon and will report back when it arrives

Hi, couldn't find the link to figure out my size - am 33 under boob and 41 over. Tia (great thread btw, missed the first one)

MrsRadicchio Try a 32G, 32FF, 34FF, 34F. The 32s will probably be better and give more support. Make sure you try a new bra on back to front first so that the cup size doesn't skew the fit.

Bra Guru Blog

I did this thought I was a 32 b am a 30 d