Bra ladies, I need your help!

[Contraryish]

I've never really paid much attention to the bra intervention threads, but was kind of vaguely aware of them in the background. Anyway, I've lost a bit of weight and wanted to re-measure so I can get a bra or two that actually fits as they're all a bit big at the moment.

So, I looked up the new method and have just measured myself. Under bust measurement of 32 inches, bent over 44 inches! According to the website (here), and my basic calculations, that makes me a 32JJ (not the 38F I've been happily sporting for years!). Is that even possible? I'm five foot nothing and 11.5 stone, but do, admittedly, have rather large bosums!

I was hoping to get myself a cheap bra or two to see myself through until I've finished losing weight, but I'm guessing that kind of size doesn't come cheap! Any ideas on where I can get one to try without breaking the bank, or is there anywhere in real life that measures this way?

Thanking you!

You have missed out some double letters, try 32HH. Indeed, they don't come cheap - try ebay and amazon.

Ah, OK! Why they don't just number them sensibly, I will never know! Thanks!

I wasp the simply be website earlier and they had a wide selection of larger sized bras and you can usual get a discount code for 10-20%off

Thanks Peppermint, will take a look!

Can you get to a Bravissimo for measuring and trying? Once you know your size and have an idea of styles that suit/fit you, you can buy from ebay etc.

As pp states try and get to a bravissimo to play around with sizes and then after that try brastop for good deals. Or if you can afford it as you are looking at paying £10-£15 possibly order a few sizes to try on and send the ones that don't fit back.

Debenhams usually have a sale rack with various 'odd' sizes (by odd I mean a handful of sizes in one design, a couple in another design, etc.) often at 50% or 70% off if you can get to a store easily. I find Bravissimo better for actually fitting the bras.

Great, thanks! Have ordered on from Amazon to see if I'm in the right ball park. Also have a Debenhams outlet in town so could give that a go too!

Yeah probably best to go to a dept store and try on the brands as the sizes can vary widely - panache is very small fitting, and I always find the underwiring in Freya bras never quite long enough. Once you know your sizes in the different brands you can hunt out the internet bargains.

Thanks Peppermint. I'm currently sporting this fellow in a 32HH.

I'm actually quite surprised as it's not far off. It's certainly wearable ... but it feels slightly saggy around the bottom of the cups and the underwiring under the cups seem to extend to under my armpits. Is that normal because of extra squooging of boob matter into the cups? Or does it mean I need to go down a cup size?

Thinking about it, the cups are definitely too big as they are saggy at the top and don't sit nearly as low on the boob as they do in the pictures. But, that may be because I am short and therefore have a smaller torso ...

Have you scooped?

Do you scoop? Put left hand into right cup, under your armpit and try to pull as much of the breast tissue into the cup as possible. You might fill out more of the cup. But Panache cups and wires are narrow, so your boobs might just be a wrong shape - try Freya, Fantasie and Curvy Kate. (you will probably need to go down a backside in CK, it is v stretchy and runs big).

I've scooped everything I can find!

I have to wear Freya or Fantasie because the wires in everything else dig in under my armpit (don't know whether it's because I'm short or fat ). I'm similar sizing to you; 5ft, 14/16, 34G (or 32GG if the elastic in the band is stretchier).

As an in between, Cleo are narrower wired than Freya etc, but not as armpit stabbing as normal panache.

Thanks for the tips, the search continues!

So, today, I went to Bravissimo and got myself measured. The lady there guessed by sight and what I was currently wearing and brought me out a 32GG. That didn't fit right so I'm now in a 32H ... kind of back where we started but it feels right.

The strange thing is comparing the new bras I've bought against the old ones. Although the back length is clearly different, the old cups (38F) are larger than the new ones. In fact, the new one sits quite nicely inside the old one.

Anyway, bought a couple of bras and a top and am feeling like a new woman (and the wine at lunchtime had nothing to do with that!)!