bra size. nothing fits. Help! !

[mouselittle]

ok so I found out I've been wearing the wrong bra size after reading a few threads on here.

I'd been wearing a 34B and spilling out everywhere and had tried a 34/36C but didn't fill the cups.
After measuring myself with directions from the better bra campaign I came out as a 30DD.

tried on lots of bras today and 30 back size was way too tight. 32 was comfortable.
tried a D cup but it was flattening my breasts.
The DD looked and felt fine when I was standing up straight but if I slouched there was extra room in the cups and a slight puckering of the material in the (non existent)clevage area. is this normal and 32DD will be my size?
according to all the advice everything else is ok. can fit 2 fingers under band, cups flat against body, etc. My breast skin is saggy since having DD but I wouldn't say the breasts themselves are saggy. Is this just the inevitable after having DC? I don't remember having any trouble before.

also those little pouches of fatty flesh under the arms, are they still meant to be there? I tried tucking them in but when I stretched they came out again.

Sorry this is so long but I have been struggling to find something that fits right for the past 4 years!

I went to Bravissimo for a fitting- she looked at me and handed me the right size .

Worth every penny !

It sounds like you didn't find the right bra for you.

What are your measurements - is it 30/35? Which bras and sizes did you try?

Don't know where you live, but Bentalls/House of Fraser very good at offering you the correct cup size without measuring. They'll fit it too.

30 felt way too tight for me, now I'm in a 28 and its fine.

It's a bit like wearing a bra for the first time.

statistically I measured 30/35.
I have tried 30 C D DD
32 C D DD
all were M&S bras.

I've heard so much about shops not fitting properly that it's put me off.
I also can afford to pay £30-40 per bra.

most m&s bras give crap shape.

try Fantasie at Debenhams, 32dd.

saggy under arm/side of boob skin can be contained in a better than M& S bra, it's finding the right shape. ie higher at the sides.

OK, M&S bras are indeed utterly shit, and notorious for running small in the back. A C/D cup will also be too small on a 30

I'm going to slightly contradict pirate purely based on the fact that most folk I know take a size smaller in the band in Fantasie than they need in M&S as their recent sizing is all to pot! So I would still start with a 30DD

You might also want to try Freya (slightly younger vibe, sister brand to Fantasie) and possibly Curvy Kate as they have quite wide wires so will be better for side boob.

You can find these brands reasonably online - I'd second going to Debenhams for a try on, but watch out for the Gorgeous range as it's another one that runs tight

Thanks! I will try Debenhams.

now I just have to return a whole load of bras that i bought today to M&S hope they take them back!

yes agree with M&S being tiny in the back.

Fantasie are true to back size, tho a black colour will sometimes feel a little tighter than white/cream cos of dyeing process.

good luck.

bought 3 bras all supposed to be 32 back and they all feel different. One of them almost cut me in half!
you'd think they'd at least be the same when buying from the same shop. cup size differing I get because of style etc but not the back size. so annoying.

The world of bra buying can be as frustrating as shopping for jeans!

Are you trying all new bras on back to front first to check the band fit before introducing the cup issue (which can skew the it)?

No, trying them on properly, adjusting straps etc.

When I finally find a good one I'm going to buy about 10 to save going through all this again.

Trying them on back to front is a hood way to identify the right band size as the cups don't interfere. Then it's a case of working up through the cups.

If the cups are too small then even if you have what should be the right band size it will feel too tight

Go and have a fitting!
Its free and will save you all the time trying on and returning.
Also they can tell you what makes suit you or whether to size up/down in a particular brand.

Have a proper fitting. Different makes and styles (and sometimes even colour due to the dying process!) can make all the difference. If you can afford it, would try Rigby & Peller (extortionate, but then again you wear them every day) - or even use them to find a bra you like then source online to save a bit of money. Otherwise Bravissimo can also be good.

okay so have spent this afternoon in debenhams and came away empty handed. same issue with the DD cup, slight overspill but E cup too big, D cup too small 30 back size too small, 34 back too big.
seriously I feel like crying.
tried on a couple of wonderbras and 32DD was too big round the back but the cup size seemed good. Unfortunately they had nothing in a 30 back size.
heard the woman in the next cubicle being fitted and it put me off being fitted as they were just using trial and error with different bras except the assistant was in the cubicle watching her change!

I think you need to persevere with the 30 back size unless its Debenhams own range which is very small. I find Freya and Curvy Kate 'generous' 30's and with a 30 measurement I now wear a 28 in those.
It will feel very tight at first (especially as you have been wearing a 34) and I know its hard not to become disillusioned with your 'new' size. I spent a fortune ordering and returning bras online but it really is worse than jeans shopping. If you are prepared to take the initial hit on the credit card order from brastop as they do free delivery and returns. They refund so quickly you never end up paying IYSWIM.
As others have said Bravissimo are worth the trek if you have one even vaguely near you.

At first I didn't want to pay too much but now I don't bloody care I just want something that fits!! i don't think there's a bravissimo near me but I'm going to check out the nearest one as it keeps getting mentioned on these threads.
I found most of Debenhams range old fashioned or non moulded cups but it was a small store so perhaps they're just catering to demand.

It really is worse than jeans shopping!

Have you scooped enough? :)

I also tend to slouch, which causes some gaping, particularly as I have heavy breasts. Not saggy, heavy, due to being too fibrous (as shown on scans).

One of the best so far has been a strapless, which gives very good and high support around the rib cage, thus minimising gaping. It has three clasps and you can wear it with straps anyway.

Moulded cups could actually be a big part of the problem. Are your breasts bottom heavy

Have you tried different styles and makes? I find that I'm a perfect 32HH in Freya, but a different size in Panache. I have now found a really good style and shape for me and just buy the same ones again and again.

M&S bras are a horrible shape and don't do anything for you if you need a bit of help. Debenhams own brand are ok, but I always need a bigger size and they're not as supportive.

If you find an expensive brand that you like it's worth checking on Ebay; there are often lots of (new) last year's stock that are much cheaper.

And remember the band does the support not the straps.
So yes a 30 will feel damn tight when you put it on. But after a while you will get used to it.

statistically I'm not sure if they are bottom heavy or not. they're not saggy as such but have a bit of loose skin which I think is what's causing the overspill.

I like moulded cups because there's no need to worry about embarrassment in the nipple area!

It's not necessarily sagging (although that contribute to the issue) but if you have a lack of breast volume in the top half compared to the bottom half. Moulded bras are really difficult because they have a totally inflexible shape, and for most people who are even slightly bottom heavy or have lost volume a bit (thanks babies!) the cups are generally too tall which means that they gape. So you go from quad boob to gaping.

There are some options which are a bit more suitable like the Cleo Juna, Panache Idina, Freya Deco half cup, freya patsy - something with light padding rather than moulding which is a bit more flexible, and which is more of a balconette or half cup shape is probably more what you need.

I like moulded/slightly padded cups despite a lack of top fullness but is is trial and error what works. I get on with the curvy Kate plunge range and their daily boost, Freya deco and just bought the Cleo maddie which is fab. The bravissimo Satine is also great.