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

How tight should the bra band be on a new bra?

52 replies

shopalot · 26/07/2013 18:26

I have been converted by mumsnet bra intervention....!!! Have got some bras in 30 e which is what I measured. But they are tight around the band as in firmly holding me at all times when fastened on the loosest hooks. Is that right? It is bearable but a little tight but then i have been wearing a 34 which moves up and down when I move!!!!!

The bras I have are cotton t-shirt bras from M&S and I tried a 32 dd but the fit wasn't good. The only size I haven't tried is 32e as there were none in the shop. But I am worried the bra is going to stretch so should maybe stick with the 30e..........

TIA

OP posts:
trinity0097 · 26/07/2013 18:44

It will feel tight initially until you get used to it. Bras also give a bit over time too.

Original poster
shopalot · 26/07/2013 19:16

That is what I was thinking but I am a little worried about how tight is too tight!!!!!

OP posts:
trinity0097 · 26/07/2013 19:22

It took me a week to get used to mine, especially the perkiness of my boobs!

lljkk · 26/07/2013 19:23

If I wear the band the Interventionists say I should have I get backache & indigestion. Red marks too, of course.
I think as long as you're not as bad as me, it's not too tight.

valiumredhead · 26/07/2013 19:26

Wash them and let them soak in fabric conditioner and keep wearing them takes a while to break them in.

Original poster
shopalot · 26/07/2013 19:38

Ok, will go for it. As I say it is bearable and the fit of the cup is good. I am struggling to find a good strapless bra that will not get too hot in a 30e though. I have tried loads on with no success at all. Any recommendations?

OP posts:
Branleuse · 26/07/2013 19:50

it should feel tight but not uncomfortable

Original poster
shopalot · 26/07/2013 19:52

Oh-I fear it is in the uncomfortable bracket... May be I need to try the 32e to see.

OP posts:
Original poster
shopalot · 26/07/2013 19:53

maybe

OP posts:
ouryve · 26/07/2013 19:59

Bear in mind that the fit of bras is really variable. I'm a 32FF (former 36D!) but I have a curvy kate bra in a 30GG and a Triumph in a 34E. I tried on a Freya bra, the other day, in a 32FF that was enormous on me - it was loose on the tightest hooks, and I'm someone who likes my bands slightly on the loose side because I have joint problems and need to be able to fasten at the front and twist. I can't actually fasten a triumph with a 32 band, though.

MollyBerry · 26/07/2013 20:13

No, mine (30C) was very uncomfrotable for the first 4 days I wore it but it has slowly loosened over time. If you don't wear it it won't loosen, unless you find a stretcher...

StatisticallyChallenged · 26/07/2013 20:31

lljkk we've never told you you should have backache and indigestion, you know that full well. Could you maybe stop having a pop at us please? The size you measure is a starting point, nothing more, nothing less.

Shopalot - there have been some issues this season with M&S bras running a bit small in the back. I'm wondering if you maybe have the right size - but just not in those bras.

The band should feel firm, and especially when you go down from 2 sizes bigger you will be aware it's there, but it should not be painful, causing indigestion, backacke etc. Some red marks however are, IMO, normal. Just like you get from the elastic at the top of socks, or from jeans for example or the waistband of tights, that kind of thing. But it should be a single set of quite neat marks rather than big wide red patches that indicate the bra is moving around.

Original poster
shopalot · 26/07/2013 20:38

Statistically challenged.......I hope you didn't think I was having a "pop" at you. Quite the opposite, I am really grateful that you and others are taking the time to help so many of us. I have just tried the bra on again and it is not a good fit so will go back. I am on brastop as we speak and the johnlewis bra that arrived in a 30 seems great around the band but it is a moulded style and my boobs just don't fill it so it concaves!!!! Not a great look under a dress lol.

I do feel informed enough to not make another mistake. The problem with me is that my boobs are like empty socks with tennis balls at the end after three breastfed children!!!!!!! It is just going to take some time to find a great couple of bras.

OP posts:
StatisticallyChallenged · 26/07/2013 20:46

No shopalot not at you at all - llkjj has popped up on quite a few bra threads having a go because it didn't work out right for her.

It's good that the JL one fits in terms of the back. That confirms my feeling about it being an M&D issue. If it's just that you don't fill the JL one at the top, then you will probably get on well with something balconette style like cleo juna or curvy kate tease me (both on brastop) or something half cup (freya and fauve ones also on brastop)

Original poster
shopalot · 26/07/2013 20:50

Sometimes on balconette bras the wires hurt in the centre of my boobs as I'm quite bony there but I am just going to order all the bras you mention and have a massive try on a home rather than a sweaty horrible changing room!!!!!!

OP posts:
StatisticallyChallenged · 26/07/2013 20:54

It does take a bit of trial and error I'm afraid! You could also try some balcony styles that are not padded/moulded which might be a sort of half way house as they don't tend to gape as much as moulded ones

VelvetSpoon · 26/07/2013 21:03

This is interesting - I haven't read any of the bra threads (sorry!) So smug was I that I am wearing the correct bra (38f) but I was watching some nonsense on daytime tv today and they said if you can get a finger inside the back of your bra its too loose...I could fit my whole hand in!

I do have 36f bras but am too fat for them, if I wear them, I get bulges at the back. And they feel tight and uncomfortable!

Presumably, leaving aside the discomfort issue, if its causing fat bulges it's too tight?

StatisticallyChallenged · 26/07/2013 21:09

Not necessarily. The fat bulges need to be scooped in to the bra. WHich you won't be able to do it the cup is too small and as the cup on a 36f is smaller than on a 38f, it may well be.

Can you measure yourself please?

instructions here

I get worse back fat in a 36 than I do in a 30.

VelvetSpoon · 26/07/2013 21:36

Blimey Shock

The underbust measurement was 37.4. The 'round' one was 12 inches greater.

So this means I'm a 36H? Am shocked, I honestly thought I knew what size I was!

And I guess that's the end of me buying my bras in Primark then... :)

StatisticallyChallenged · 27/07/2013 06:38

12" difference is a base cup size of a HH but you will probably want to try 36HH, 36J, 38HH, 38H to start. I suspect the 36s are more likely though given what you said above.

And I am afraid not a hope in Primark :)

FamiliesShareGerms · 27/07/2013 07:20

OP, you should be comfortable wearing a new bra with it on the middle hook. If you have to have it on the last hook it's probably too small

StatisticallyChallenged · 27/07/2013 07:22

New bras should always be worn on the loosest hook to start with

Branleuse · 27/07/2013 07:31

its worth tryng going up a cup size instead of immediately trying the next back size.
see how that feels. Or perhaps just a different bra. Not all of them suit everyone

FamiliesShareGerms · 27/07/2013 07:48

Sorry SC, I disagree with this idea of needing to stretch the band and having red marks from a bra. All bras need "breaking in" to some degree while they shape to your boobs, but any red marks on your body surely means you're doing something unhealthy there. Indentations like knicker elastic fine, red marks? Nooo!

If the bras are so stretched that you can go from the last hooks to the middle ones, they have lost their elastic and should be heading for the bin rather than just starting out, IMHO

StatisticallyChallenged · 27/07/2013 07:55

Personally my bras go from loosest hook to middle hook after a single wear, then bounce back after a wash. They sometimes need moved to the middle hook during the day. I've never said you need to stretch the bra, I've said that the bra stretches. Big difference. And they do - some by huge amounts. I think it was sparkle who tried a particular curvy kate bra, measured it at the start of the day and the end of the day and it had grown by about 6"

If I couldn't move my bras from one hook to another they would be getting binned almost immediately.

When I say red marks, I don't mean big deep welts. But then, I am very pale skinned so the marks I get from the elastic on socks, for example, are actually a pretty dark pinkish colour rather than just an indent. On someone with a different skin tone that may not be the case. Or do I need to seek out special fat girl socks....

The loosest hook isn't something we made up - Bravissimo recommend it as do all other proper fitters