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Bra intervention advice please..

170 replies

MsQueenie · 06/01/2014 10:03

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 Smile
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 Hmm ?
Thanks in advance ladies

OP posts:
Gileswithachainsaw · 07/01/2014 16:20

Does anyone rate la senza bras? I've always got them from there but no one here seems to mention them and are buying from rather expensive web sites? :o

Have I really got it so wrong all these years?

Petrified I'm going to come out with something really majorly different Blush

ilovepowerhoop · 07/01/2014 16:32

Teta, you should be trying bras with back sizes 32 and 34 and cup sizes like F, FF and G e.g. 32FF, 32G and 34F, 34FF. I never know how to judge it when the back is in between 2 sizes so you should try all the sizes and see what's best

ilovepowerhoop · 07/01/2014 16:33

Giles, their measuring might be suspect but don't know what their bras are like

ilovepowerhoop · 07/01/2014 16:37

Having looked at the la senza bra fitting guide online they do add extra inches to the back size and therefore make the back size too big and the cup size too small

Gileswithachainsaw · 07/01/2014 16:40

That actually explains a lot now.

StatisticallyChallenged · 07/01/2014 17:29

If you are in between we normally suggest trying four sizes eg. 31 and 41 would try:
Band below and difference between measurements so 30gg
Band below and over bust minus band so 30h
Band above and over minus band so 32g
Band above and difference between measures so 32gg

ButterflySandwich · 07/01/2014 18:09

Genie bras. Oh so comfortable but oh so unsexy!!!

teta · 08/01/2014 13:22

I know Butterfly.But I really hate wearing a bra and the alternative is no bra at all.Ilovepowerhoop thank you.I'm in shock at the prospective size(and maybe denial).Can you suggest any really soft,comfortable non lacy bras?

ilovepowerhoop · 08/01/2014 13:45

Sorrel and Statistically are probably the best to ask for suggestions on styles

StatisticallyChallenged · 08/01/2014 13:50

Teta apart from not lacy, what sort of bras do you like? If you look objectively, what shape do you think your boobs are (see below)?

Looking at where they "meet" in the middle, do you have a small gap, big gap....
Looking at each boob, would you say the base of them (where the actually join your body) is quite narrow (mostly on the front) or quite wide (hello armpits!)
Where is the fullness - on the top, bottom or balanced?

On your measurements (33/41) I'd try 32FF, 32G, 34F, 34FF.

StatisticallyChallenged · 08/01/2014 13:51

Ha, cross posted with ilovepowerhoop

teta · 08/01/2014 14:05

I like smooth bras as I have sensitive skin and tags,metal bits and those 'asbestos' liners they put on bras make me really itch( my kids also make me cut the tags off everything).In terms of the shape I have a wide gap at the front and boobs are definitely wide and fuller at the bottom.

StatisticallyChallenged · 08/01/2014 14:17

Hmmm. Ok, your boobs are pretty much the exact opposite of mine so I'm about to suggest all the bras that don't suit me (close set, fuller on top, and seem to have become narrower rooted to!)

Curvy kate - as a rule, this brand is wide wired. Their lightly padded/moulded bras are very soft inside - the smoothie, tease me, thrill me and sister styles might work well for you. They have a sort of cottony lining that makes them very nice to wear. They tend to run slightly looser in the band, and a wee bit small in the cup.

Bravissimo own brand - anything half cup style should work well eg mademoiselle, fanciful.....

Freya and Fantasie (sister companies) - as a rule, freya wires are also pretty wide. Fantasie are a little more mature, but can be very soft (I find the shapes on freya and fantasie are a wee bit matronly on me as they push my boobs further to the side than they sit naturally so these might work for you). Something like the Freya Totally Tartan or Hello DOlly should be quite soft, their non-lacey bras generally are.

Tutti rouge is also reputed to be very wide although I haven't tried it myself.

I suspect unpadded cleo bras will be too narrow for you however you might want to consider the cleo maddie and juna. These were awful on my shape wise however both were nice and soft and juna especially is well loved on here.

Have a look on the Bravissimo and brastop website for starters (they stock a good range, you can always hunt em down cheaper elsewhere if necessary!) and post up any you aren't sure of. I think between us Sorrel and I have tried almost every bra going (or maybe it just feels like that!)

ButterflySandwich · 08/01/2014 14:17

I've just been to New Look and the only way I could get their 32E (see my posts above) to fit was to pull the bra down below the ribs, and even then the right cup was too big. The style though was those Kelly Brooks ones.

StatisticallyChallenged · 08/01/2014 14:19

OK..did you scoop ButterflySandwich?

ButterflySandwich · 08/01/2014 15:38

Yes I did scoop but I think Sorrel was right, the padded t shirt style bras just don't mould to my shape. I can't wait for my order from figleaves (all non padded lacey ones) Grin

teta · 09/01/2014 13:56

OK,I've now remeasured myself (was using Dh's thick metal tape measure before) and am 34 under and 39 over which I guess makes me a 34dd.I kept on googling boobs that were ee,ff and g,not believing I was that bountiful.Its turns out I'm notGrin.
In terms of comfort I like the look of the Bali smooth bras and the Triumph comfort bra followed by the Juna. Has anyone tried these before?

SorrelForbes · 09/01/2014 15:12

The Juna is a great bra which especially suits those with shallow and/or wide set breasts.

StatisticallyChallenged · 09/01/2014 15:39

Teta the only website worth looking at for real boobs is the bra band project. Most bra size pictures online are nonsense

teta · 09/01/2014 16:01

Have now viewed the Bra band project and I am definitely bigger than a d but no bigger than a dd - but then some bras come up small on the cup I guess.I can order the Bali from eBay - its relatively inexpensive or pay a bit more from an online shop.The Juna I can order from anywhere luckily.Thank you so much for your help.I'll report back on the most suitable ones.

StatisticallyChallenged · 09/01/2014 17:23

It's a useful site-so often bra sizes given in papers are utter nonsense. ...daily mail I am looking at you. Katie Price is not a 36dd. I saw the sun describe Nicole sherzinger as a 36b...no. just. No.

intheround · 09/01/2014 19:09

Great deals at brastop at the moment but the website s running really slow as a result.

intheround · 09/01/2014 19:14

Can I ask about the swimwear on brastop?
Swimsuits are sized by bras size, so how does that relate to hips? I'm a classic pear shape so would I be better with a tankini?

StatisticallyChallenged · 09/01/2014 19:45

Possibly intheround. I have this issue - I'm a 30 back attached to size 14ish hips. No 30 swimsuit will go over me!

I need to buy a new swimsuit for hols soon, think I will probably end up buying a 32 or even 34 which fits hips and cups wise, and altering the band for support.

If you can get away with a bikini or tankini you will probably find it easier to get a match to both body parts!

SorrelForbes · 09/01/2014 21:04

I've given up on swimsuits as they just never seem to fit right. I'm an hourglass with a short body and they either fit my boobs and hips and are baggy in the middle or they fit in the bum and length but don't cover my boobs!

I'm sticking to bikinis. On the hunt for a halter neck, underwired shape with 50s style pants.

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