Bra intervention advice please..

[MsQueenie]

Hello wise ones, I hope you can help.
After wearing a 34B for the last 20 odd years, I have followed the advice on this forum and remeasured. It turns out I'm a 30D
I have been happily wearing a couple of Sainsbury's
32D's for a few months (on mat leave, so I've been a bit skint)
So, my problem is, my Dh bought me FIVE bras for Christmas in my new size,.. But they are from M and S (I know..) and they are all massive. I'm wondering how their sizes come up ? should I swap for a smaller cup or should I just get him to get his money back and go elsewhere ?
Thanks in advance ladies

a 30D would be equivalent to a 32C as when you go up in the back you go down in the cup and vice versa (i.e. if you were a 32C but went down a back size you would go up in the cup size and end up 30D). It does also vary between styles as I also got bras for christmas but have different sizes depending on the make and the style. I like M&S bras btw, its ust their fitting advice that is shoddy. What size did he buy i.e. was it the 30D or 32D?

You might be best going to M&S and trying on a selection of sizes and styles around the size you have measured and see which ones fit best.

Thanks for that.
He bought me 32D's as the Sainsbury's ones fit like a glove (and I don't think they do a 30 back)
Mmm, I suspected I'd have to go to an actual shop! (Dh bought online and I have a hatred of shopping!)
Thanks again!

OK, M&S sizing can be very odd indeed and very inconsistent. I suspect the Sainsbury's ones are also a bit 'mean' on material too (cheaper bras tend to be IME!).

You'll struggle to find much in a 30 band in M&S so if I were you I'd take the bras back and head to Debenhams, HoF or JL or ideally, Bravissimo.

What style of bras are the M&S ones?

Ah..
Ok, nothing exciting, just practical!
Pack of 2 t shirt bras, pack of 2 white full cup and a navy embroidered full cup...

Were they the moulded variety? That type can be very difficult to fit as they don't mould to your own shape.

No, not moulded. T shirt bras are padded, the others are just underwired full, soft cup..

Hmmm, I think this is probably a style (and rubbish quality control) issue from M&S! Have you tried a balconette shape?

MsQueenie, I moved from a 34A to a 30D a few months ago after reading a bra intervention thread- so it sounds as though we're a similar size. I don't know what shape you are, but my boobs are shallow and wide-rooted, and I have found that Debenhams are consistently really good for me. In fact, I bought two bras without padding the other week- something I would never have dreamed of doing before, but they are really flattering and I don't look flat-chested in them.

In fact, SorrelForbes, I've been meaning to post and say thank you for your help- it has made so much difference to my confidence that I no longer think of myself as a no-boobed loser!

You're very welcome indeed

Thanks for the input ladies..
I'm kind of struggling to work out how to describe my shape!!
I guess a bit like protruding fried eggs
- I feel like a balconette might make me feel a bit, y'know trying too hard to be a bit "Carry On Camping"

Balconettes are great and many of them give more coverage than you'd think, especially in the right size. Half cups give slightly less coverage. I always wear balconettes, usually from Cleo.

This is one of my favourites

So where would you recommend for re measuring if not m&s?

Bravissimo is the best place but if there isn't one near you, some Debenhams, HoF and JL are OK. Beware anywhere that adds inches to your under bust measurement!

Measure yourself following this guide to get an idea of what size you should start with.

Do bravissimo do bras smaller than D cups?

Can get to HOF and debenhams. Thank you :)

Another fan of Debenhams here, and also Matalan who have a larger cup sizes range, and are good if you are on a budget. They have a nice wide underwire, and don't cut in under the armpits. They seen to wash well too.

Oh and remember to vigorously scoop- I'm now on an E cup having graduated up from a D. I'm sure it's down to the boob "retraining".

Bravissimo start at a D cup which really isn't very big at all. What size do you think you are?

I'm a B certainly no bigger than a C possibly even an A I have no idea hence going to get measured at weekend :o

Can you measure yourself following the guidance here and post the results on here? Over the last couple of years of bra interventions I think there have only been a couple of true B cup ladies and 1 A cup (IIRC).

an A cup means only 1" difference between the under boob and over boob measurement so I very much doubt you are an A (my 10 year old has a bigger difference between her measurements than that and she is just starting to develop).

If you have a measuring tape then measure as per this guide thebetterbracampaign.blogspot.co.uk/p/fitting-advice.html and post your measurements and we will give you an idea of what sizes to try

I shall give it a go and report back in a bit. Thank you :)

Ok no idea if right but under is 36

Over 41

If that makes any sense?

Right, you should be trying a 36DD as a starting point. What size are you currently wearing? Does it ride up at the back and have you got overspill?

A DD? I must have measured wrong I usually wear a B. Some fit some don't depending on style I either spill over slightly. Some the cups seem a bit far apart and I have nipple escapade out the side
All the Cs I have worn have been pretty big. Again though it depends on the style. All my bras are really old apart from the one I am wearing now which is a 36b but feels comfy. Maybe a tiny bit tight. I thought I'd be at least a 38

Over spill and nipple slippage is a good indication that the cups are too big (could be a style issue too). Can you 'scoop' in the 36B and see how much overspill you get?

If you put the 36 on back to front, how loose/tight does the band feel?