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Bikini help

17 replies

summerlovingliz · 12/08/2014 17:19

Hi all, just wondering if anyone has recently purchased a lovely bikini or knows of anywhere good to buy from.. I am size 12 36d bust.. I am braving it for family hols to Majorca, 1st time bikini since 2ds! Thanks Smile

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ilovepowerhoop · 12/08/2014 17:26

are you sure you are a 36 band at size 12 as i am a 36 back at a size 20?

Have you measured yourself according to this blog?

I got bikinis from Debenhams but you may find it difficult to find stuff now we are into Auguat and the winter stuff has started coming out!!

hollycomputer · 12/08/2014 17:28

I just bought two from Figleaves. I loathe buying bikinis and was filled with dread at the prospect of trying them on, finding they didn't fit properly and having to send them back.

But they were utterly fabulous, near-perfect fit (had to exchange bra on one as cup size was too big) but otherwise they are amazing. So lovely to have swimwear which I don't bulge out of, doesn't cut into me or look awful. They have some gorgeous designs too.

summerlovingliz · 12/08/2014 18:39

Ok thank you both for replying... Will definitely check out the bra size, M&S measured tho so should be right.. Figleaves sounds good, will look now Smile

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ilovepowerhoop · 12/08/2014 19:07

M&S are crap at bra sizing so chances are you have the wrong size (they add 4/5 inches to the back size and you end up with a bra too big in the back and too small in the cup). They had me in a 40DD but I am a 36GG

hollycomputer · 12/08/2014 19:10

I was measured by M&S the other day specifically for bikini buying adventure. The back was actually bang on though I suspect they were slightly out on the cup size. Difficult as all bra styles seem to be sized differently! Both my bikinis were different sizes but the one I had to exchange was padded so perhaps that made it slightly bigger.

beccajoh · 12/08/2014 19:11

If M&S measured then it'll definitely be WRONG! Guessing you're probably a 32 band rather than 36. Marks unnecessarily add on inches.

StatisticallyChallenged · 12/08/2014 19:16

Yup, if it involved m&s it will be wrong. Being a 36 at a size 12 (when fitted properly) is actually pretty unusual. To give you an idea of how bad M&S is, a couple of us tested their fitting service. I'm a 30HH in reality - they stuck me in a 36F. The other tester is a 30G,and they stuck her in a 36D and a 38D!

summerlovingliz · 12/08/2014 19:17

So would I go up in cup size if down in inches? Is that how it works? So 36d =34e?

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StatisticallyChallenged · 12/08/2014 19:20

Yes, kind of. If you are just moving 1 band size (what's known as sister sizing and normally done to tweak fit) then you go down one band, up one cup to maintain the same volume.

However, because the M&S fitting method is so bad that doesn't really work. They're generally out by 2-3 band sizes, and more like 4-6 cup sizes.

ilovepowerhoop · 12/08/2014 19:20

36D=34DD=32E=30F

clary · 12/08/2014 19:24

I am tricky bra size (30G) and bought a super bikini from Belle Lingerie, good range at reasonable prices (tho it still cost £26!). Figleaves and Brastop are good too.

Order loads so you can get the best one and send the rest back.

Agree re M&S crapness. Most of us are a much smaller back size and bigger cup size than they would have us believe. I have lost weight lately and gone from a size 14 to a size 10-12; my bra size was 32g/GG and is now 30G, which is hard to find of course but worth it. I too would be surprised if you wore a 36 band and were size 12.

hollycomputer · 12/08/2014 19:35

Oh, interesting about M&S. I've been measured by Rigby & Peller the last few years but I didn't have time to go to their shop this time.

I was a little surprised by my measurement with M&S as I've also lost weight but the bikini I tried actually fitted fine in the back so I assumed it was correct.

StatisticallyChallenged · 12/08/2014 19:37

their quality control is somewhat lacking too...

summerlovingliz · 13/08/2014 08:12

Where is best highstreet place to get measured? Thanks everyone, shocking re M&S!

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StatisticallyChallenged · 13/08/2014 08:24

If you can't get to a bravissimo then probably john Lewis

Madaboutthrows · 13/08/2014 08:39

www.mycurvesandme.com/swimwear/bikinis.html has some on sale

summerlovingliz · 21/08/2014 07:01

Thankyou . Got measured at weekend at 32F or 34e. 2 lovely new bikinis from boux Smile

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