Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Style and beauty

Looking for style advice? Chat all about it here. For the latest discounts on fashion and beauty, sign up for Mumsnet Moneysaver emails.

Original poster

Another former "A-cup" has been converted!

628 replies

KatyTheCleaningLady · 18/07/2013 02:08

I finally clicked on one of the bra threads and was shocked to hear that there's only ever been one true A-cup on here.

I have always thought of myself as a 36A. But, I tried the measuring thing and got 35" X 38".

Could I really be a 34C??

Well, I tried one on at Asda, and it fit much better than I would have ever imagined. It was a little tighter than I'd like, but the cups were perfect. A 36C wasn't as smooth a fit. I didn't have time to try on other styles. But, when I get the chance, I am going to find a bra that is suitable in a 36C.

OP posts:
Sizzlesthedog · 30/07/2013 07:29

Had to share my m&s shopping trip yesterday. Thanks to the bra intervention I know my size now and have got several new comfy bras.

Got a couple in m&s ( I know!) and they fit well. Went to get more of the same yesterday.

Followed bra fitter lady to the cubical and couldn't help noticing her bra was so badly fitting, the band was so high up on her shoulder blades. Hmm I thought, she needs to read these threads.

Anyway the bra I wanted was shop soiled and I was asking if there were any others in the same size. She got all funny about the shop soiled one, she said if my size wasn't on the shelf why didn't I try a different size!!

Told her I know my size and a bigger back band wouldn't work. She insisted I try a different size. I ended up walking away.

While I was in the fitting room I heard someone ask for another 40B as this one doesnt fit! and I thought, I bet you aren't really that size!

Anyone else find themselves looking at other people's badly fitting bras and wanting to help them after reading these threads?!

Bunbaker · 30/07/2013 07:34

Scooping doesn't work for me. There is nothing to scoop. I am so small that the meagre half inch I can scoop just goes back into place when I stand up straight (I literally have no back fat and can see my ribs)

StatisticallyChallenged · 30/07/2013 07:41

Scooping generally doesn't work for people who are very slender - but it does work for most people

HazleNutt · 30/07/2013 08:44

Suggesting you should just get a different size if they don't have yours is just so odd. I can't imagine buying anything else like that - oh, no size 5 shoe, no worries, I'll just get a size 7 then? Confused

Sizzlesthedog · 30/07/2013 09:16

She was very insistent I tried another size. I felt like saying " in the 2 mins we've been arguing the point my boobs might have changed shape and size!" Bizarre.

Sad fact is that other customers probably take her advice and wonder why their bras are so uncomfortable.

Bellybadge · 30/07/2013 13:14

Hi everyone, can one of you help size me up? I'm a 33 under bust and 41.5in bending over, sad saggy boobs due weight loss abd 2 kids , lost all the fullness at the top.

SorrelForbes · 30/07/2013 13:52

Bellybadge Try a 32GG/G and a 32G/FF. I suspect that the 32 will be better for you though. You may find that balconette/half cup styles work well.

changeforthebetter · 30/07/2013 14:43

I got a Panache tankini from Amazon in 30J in the post onto day, which fits really nicely. Am going to that there London soon so plan a few Bravissimo visits Smile

changeforthebetter · 30/07/2013 14:43

Blush Forgot to say thank you for replying Thanks

mumtosp · 30/07/2013 14:58

Hi all,

I got myself fitted yesterday at MnS and was told that I'm a 34G. But that felt too tight... so was told that my next best option would be 36F. Have been wearing a 36F underwire plunge bra since yesterday and I have to say that even though it looks great, it doesn't feel comfortable at all :(
Is it because I was fitted incorrectly or because I'm not used to wearing underwired bras anymore ? (Stopped wearing them when I was pregnant)

I need help !! Need proper bras by end of this week as I'm due back at work next week and don't want to wear my feeding bras anymore (which are 40 DD btw Confused)

sparkle12mar08 · 30/07/2013 15:20

Noooooooo! Step away from M&S!!!! Grab a tape measure and measure yourself tightly under the bust and loosely over the bust when bending over. Given that M&S put you at 34 G I'm guessing you're closer to a 30HH/or so. Post your measurements and we'll help.

angelinajelly · 30/07/2013 18:15

Hello ladies, new convert needing some help here. Having always worn a 34A (and having to be picky about styles as I only half filled most of them) I measured myself according to your method. Got underboob- 31.5, overboob-standing-straight 36, overboob-leaning 37. Which I think makes me a 32DD? So I went into M&S today and tried on a whole heap of bras in back sizes 30 and 32, cup sizes C-DD. Ignored the M&S assistants, which wasn't hard as they ignored me :)
Anyway, this style- tinyurl.com/pnsdfma- looked good and fitted well in both 30DD and 32D, but the 32D was slightly more comfortable so I bought that. This one- tinyurl.com/pd3h2rh- I thought was great when I first tried it on, but after wearing it for a bit I decided it rode up too high around the armpit, and actually managed to both dig and gape at the top edge of the cup, so it's going back.
But I tried on loads of strapless bras in various styles, and all of the sizes above, and they were all wrong. The 32s were really tight and uncomfortable, and I couldn't even fasten the 30s. And all of the cups- and I tried on Cs, Ds and DDs- were incredibly unflattering and made my boobs look like little squashed shelf things. Are the rules different for strapless bras? Or were these just bad examples?

Thanks in advance....

sparkle12mar08 · 30/07/2013 18:22

In a 30 you should probably try an E cup as well - you need to size up in the cup when you size down in the back. It would help explain why the 30's felt tight as well. However there have been a number of reports from fellow MNer's that M&S are coming up a bit small this new season, so you might want to try 32E's as well. What are the fits like when you scoop, scoop, scoop? And ignore the fit in the pictures - they're dire, and look about three cups sizes too small!

StatisticallyChallenged · 30/07/2013 18:37

Strapless - try the wonderbra ultimate strapless. I'd probably try the 32 back as it is on the tight side

angelinajelly · 30/07/2013 19:19

Scooping works a bit, but it all seems to kind of disappear again when I stand up straight.

QueenMaeve · 30/07/2013 19:20

Please somebody do me! 32 around the ribs. Then I bend forward and measure the bust and its 38. Do I need a standing up measurement too?

Sizzlesthedog · 30/07/2013 20:15

queen someone else will probably be more clued up, but I'd say 32E/F
No need for standing measurements, lean into the cup and scoop before standing.

QueenMaeve · 30/07/2013 21:46

Sweet lord! Really? I'm wearing a 36 c. I can't wait to get into shops tomorrow to try new sizes

QueenMaeve · 30/07/2013 21:47

sizzle thank you! I'm astounded at how shops get this so wrong

knickernicker · 31/07/2013 10:50

I've never had an accurate m and s fitting. They put me at 34a when I'm actually a 32d.

gaggiagirl · 31/07/2013 12:17

I have been sporting 34DD bras for a year or so and thanks to bra intervention I'm now in 30G and I must say my back fat is none existant and under a tight vest everything looks smoother and perkier.

sherbetpips · 31/07/2013 12:24

seriously how did any off you fit in the 'a' cup if you are actually a 'd' you must have been spilling out?

I got measured at JL and at M&S who both tried to tell me I was either 38 DD or an E. Both bras were huge and bloody uncomfortable. Backin a 36 D now, fits beautifully.

StatisticallyChallenged · 31/07/2013 12:45

Because not all A cups are the same - a 36A has the same volume as a 30D. And generally the fit is so wrong that the cups just sort of sit there rather than lifting enough to actually create quad boob. M&S fit me at a 36F when I'm a 30HH and the 36F just sat on my boobs. They were no higher in the bra than out of it!

GlaikitFizzog · 31/07/2013 14:06

my fitter in bravissimo refered to the swoop and scoop as hoik and shoogle!

Wink
Raia · 31/07/2013 14:20

I just want to say THANK YOU to the bra interventionists Thanks

Thanks to the info on these threads I measured myself and have gone from an ill-fitting 34C to a 32DD. So much more comfortable now and not dealing with straps falling down all the time.