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Original poster

Bra Intervention

84 replies

ToffeeOwnsTheSausage · 15/02/2014 16:02

Last year I was lucky enough to have help on the Bra Intervention threads and bought 4 lovely new bras. Unfortunately I now need help again. Since then I have lost at least a stone and my bras do not feel comfortable at the moment. This isn't helped by muscle pain I am having but I would like to check what size you clever people think I should be wearing.

I have measured. Underneath I am 30 1/2 and leaning forward and across the breasts I am a 39.

TIA Cake.

OP posts:
Original poster
ToffeeOwnsTheSausage · 20/02/2014 11:11

No 32GG in while shop. Suggests I try 34G

OP posts:
HazleNutt · 20/02/2014 11:12

try 34G in tightest hook to see if the cup fits better than the 32G. You probably need 32 back though.

Original poster
ToffeeOwnsTheSausage · 20/02/2014 11:14

32g too small. 34g too big.

I give up

OP posts:
StatisticallyChallenged · 20/02/2014 11:14

No do not let them fit you or even look

Original poster
ToffeeOwnsTheSausage · 20/02/2014 11:15

Duh. Didn't think about tightest as used to loosest. Thank you.

Got 34g in diff brand and not too bad

Need someone here. Virtual bra fitting!!

OP posts:
StatisticallyChallenged · 20/02/2014 11:16

It's probably been useful in that it roughly confirms the estimate. Marks bras are small in the back so you probably do need a 30 elsewhere. If you are somewhere in between the 32 and 34g cup wise then that suggests that a 30g or gg in a decent brand might be perfect

Original poster
ToffeeOwnsTheSausage · 20/02/2014 11:17

34g in tightest is better

Choices are
32f and g or 34f??

OP posts:
HazleNutt · 20/02/2014 11:19

M&S sizing is all over the place and I would not buy a bra that's just so-so, just because it's all they have. I would rather go online order a bunch of different sizes (about 30-32 G/GG) online to try - just pick a place with free delivery and returns.

Original poster
ToffeeOwnsTheSausage · 20/02/2014 11:21

Just heard staff say - that's not too bad. And someone else if it's comfortable it's fine.

OP posts:
StatisticallyChallenged · 20/02/2014 11:22

Dont buy them. Seriously. Order something online

Original poster
ToffeeOwnsTheSausage · 20/02/2014 11:24

I'm giving up.
Thanks all.

OP posts:
Original poster
ToffeeOwnsTheSausage · 20/02/2014 11:27

Not happy I didn't buy when I took in 12 and said no they don't fit as none are size I am And I'm not making do. Lady next to me is.

OP posts:
Dillydollydaydream · 20/02/2014 12:25

Hopefully you find some online. This is very eye opening. I've always believed the add 4/5 inches method. No wonder half my bras give me a 4 boob effect Blush

StatisticallyChallenged · 20/02/2014 13:00

Good on you toffee. They need to learn that women want things that fit rather than just making do with theirlimited range

Original poster
ToffeeOwnsTheSausage · 20/02/2014 13:26

Okay, home.

SO cross at waste of time as PIL having kids for a few hours and it would have been worth it if I had got even one bra.

One gave me back fat. Never had that before!

She said they can't stock all the sizes as they don't have the room Hmm. I told her not everyone is 34C and being made to feel a freak for having bigger breasts is not nice. Trouble is M&S think they are so amazing because they go up to DD in some bras and F in about 4. I was amazed to find some bras that weren't padded t shirt ones as that is what happened last time I went in and I emailed to be told that is what everyone wants! Why are you selling others now then? Still NOTHING in a 30GG or 32GG though and apparently 34G is the same as a 32GG.

The fitting room was full and I listened in and the advice was just shit. "That will do," "That's not too bad" when another lady said she didn't want the size she was already in as she knew she wasn't that anymore she was told it would be fine as hers had probably stretched. Not a single assistant was actually listening to what the customers were saying and would try and push them into buying what they said was fine.

MNHQ need to get M&S bra fitting trainers on for a web chat where they will actually listen and acknowledge that they are using the wrong method to fit, pressuring customers into the wrong bras and just not stocking a good enough range.

I will try Debenhams once kids are back at school as they actually stock all the sizes but in the mean time can any one recommend on line places I could try and confirm if is still 32GG I need as still confused as that is what I am wearing and they aren't comfy any more plus I have lost about a stone since getting them.

I have never been able to tolerate a 30 back.

Thanks very much.

OP posts:
StatisticallyChallenged · 20/02/2014 13:40

Try amazon and brastop as both do free returns. Order the same bra in 30g,30gg,32g and 32gg. You can often only tell by comparison. Cleo, panache, Freya etc. Get a decent brand to test.

If you could get an m and s 32 on ok then in those brands a 30 is very realistic as marks bands are notoriously small just now

HazleNutt · 20/02/2014 13:43

if your 32GGs aren't comfy and you have lost weight since getting them then no, I would say that's not what you need.
I'm wondering if the 30 back has been too small because too small cups? Have you tried 30's back to front, to see if it's really the band that you can't tolerate?

Original poster
ToffeeOwnsTheSausage · 20/02/2014 13:44

The M&S 32 was okay band wise I think but the cup (G) was not big enough.

I have to go out now but will look on line later, thank you.

OP posts:
StatisticallyChallenged · 20/02/2014 13:47

Remember that the 32g would be a 32ff in another brand as they skip a size.

Original poster
ToffeeOwnsTheSausage · 20/02/2014 16:09

So if they don't do 32G I get 32FF? I am even more confused now, how would it work 32EE, 32FF, 32GG as they wouldn't do 32E, 32F, 32G?

OP posts:
StatisticallyChallenged · 20/02/2014 16:52

Sorry!

Most bra companies in the UK go as follows: A,B,C,D,DD,E,F,FF,G,GG,H,HH....... so if you have a 10" difference, you'd be around a GG, a 9" would be a G

M&S miss out the FF. So in their bra-alphabet, a 10" difference means an H cup. So the 32G you tried on in M&S is only for an 8" difference rather than 9" and is equal to everyone else's 32FF.

In terms of cup volume, cup sizes are not equivalent between bands. What actually happens is that to maintain the same volume of breast space, as you go down a band you go up a cup. So, a 30G, 32FF and 34F would all be able to hold the same volume of tittage.

Add to this the fact that M&S bras tend to run small in the band (loads of reports of this in the last 6 months), and the 32G you tried on was probably more like a 30F in one of the decent brands like Cleo, Freya, Bravissimo, Panache etc.

Does that make more sense?

Original poster
ToffeeOwnsTheSausage · 20/02/2014 16:55

It explains why I should be a 30 but aren't in M&S so it does help, thank you.

I think my best bet is to go to the shop I bought my last ones from as they start at 30 and go up to HH and to completely give up on M&S for bras. Only thing I can get there now is socks for us all and the odd pair of knickers. They are just rubbish for clothes now.

OP posts:
StatisticallyChallenged · 20/02/2014 16:59

If you have somewhere locally with that range it's probably a good option. I'm also sized out of M&S and I can't remember the last time I saw anything I'd want to wear in there!

Swannykazoo · 20/02/2014 17:21

If the placardy bit whatever you call where the cups meet at the front doesn't sit flat does that mean bigger cup size required?

SorrelForbes · 20/02/2014 17:25

puggle01 Yep, almost certainly. If that bit (central gore) doesn't sit flat, then a bigger cup (probably a few sizes bigger!) is needed.