Bra for well-endowed teen

[ClaraMaugham]

Hi there - hoping someone can help. My dd is only 14 but already has a very impressive pair. She's coping well under the circumstances but hates the fact that all the bras in her size are basically women's bras, while all her friends get to prance about in little M&S cotton numbers. She seems to have 2 options - big, sensible grown up bras which look too big for her body, or slinky lacey things which she can't bear. I really feel for her. Does anyone know where I can find something a bit more teen friendly, but over a D cup? She's a really awkward size too - probably needs a 30 but you just can't get that combination except in specialist places which again are far too adult.

Very grateful for any ideas...

fridgepants, I don't think I ever got measured as a teen either and wore 36B for years. Sadly I am a 34A

My teen loves Victorias Secret in New Bond Street. A really fun place to shop with a young vibe.

Victorias secret are dreadful at fitting, absolutely awful.

Victorias secret are dreadful at fitting, absolutely awful.

Completely agree. I went once and would never go again. The manager decided to measure me by eye and said she thought i 'looked' like a 34A. I'm a 30DD. They then tried to push me into buying a 32D because they don't do 30 backs. Never again.

You were lucky, they have a habit of measuring people around the top of their boobs!

I really doubt VS has anything that'll fit the OP's dd.

Thank you all for your fabulous feedback. It's amazing how many people (me included for sure) went around for years in completely random bra sizes. I don't know when Bravissimo opened, but I still think of it as the 'new way' of measuring. I didn't discover it until about ten years ago. Pre-DC, when I was quite a lot thinner, I was wearing a 38B (measured by either M&S or John Lewis). Now I'm a 32H!

Anyway, haven't had a chance to take DD in yet, but I think showing her the Cleos has really turned things around. Very relieved to have found them. It's bad enough being the biggest in the class without having to hide your giant support garments too.

I can't say I'm too upset about Victoria's Secret though!

Hi Clara
Glad you have some very good ideas. I hadn't realised that Triumph didn't do lower sizes than 30/32.
I might actually have a look at some of the brands that have been suggested to you.
I really think that the likes of Gilly Hicks, Victoria's Secrets should not be allowed to sell bras. It upsets my daughter terribly that she is just too big for them
Good luck

My daughter is a 30E. She gets all her bras from Beaux Avenue. Pricey but they have a good selection.

It's also nice to know DD is not alone TBH. And cheering to hear that it all worked out fine for so many of you.

Its quite true that the fitting at VS is useless and they really do measure above the boobs!!!
But the shop is fab and fun and the staff are lovely. They do stock bigger cup sizes and my dd thinks Bravissimo is too old for her at 15. She is a 34 dd. I now fit my dd myself so we dont use their fitters.

Snog do you fit her using the intervention method?

What is the intervention method?

It is fairly obvious to me just looking at DD that she must be at least 2 back sizes smaller than me and loads of cup sizes larger!

Just had quick look at VS website - they don't seem to go lower than a 32 or higher than a DDD, whatever that is. Also lots of emphasis on Sexy, which happily is not what my daughter is after (yet!).

Measure as described on this page linky

Basically, loads of shops are still using an old fashioned method which doesn't properly take account of the way bras are actually made now and the fact the fabrics are very stretchy. Marks and Spencer are a particularly bad example - what most do is add 4/5" to your underbust measurement to get the band size which results in a bra which is too big in the band and too small in the cup. It doesn't give proper support, rides up at the back, shoulder straps fall down, and especially in women with bigger boobs can actually have nasty health consequences as it causes back and neck problems.

VS is rubbish
A US DDD is an E cup I think.
I have a wacoal bra which is 30 DDD and I usually wear 30F

John lewis should up their game as my local one (v large shopping centre in Kent) don't stock any range below 32 back.
Triumph proudly tell you yes we have 30 back.... But never ever in stock (same centre!)
Boux Avenue are good, but overly sexy, overly priced for the quality. They fall apart v quickly.
House of Fraser.... Don't bother
Debenhams - only a very large store will have any range of stock in small back sizes.
I use Bravissimo, fig leaves and bra stop. I tend to buy 20 in one go online on my credit card, buying 30F / 30FF etc and return what doesn't suit.
It frustrates the life out of me that I live in Greater London and I can count on one hand shops that sell affordable small back sizes. And no one believes me that they are wearing the wrong size!

Ah, OK, that's what I thought, although I have never done the measuring leaning over - I dread to think how that would look given my age

LL0015, yes, it is very hard to find a small back size and I live in London too. DD was fitted and we bought in Manchester JL - they seemed to have enough 30E's for her to have a decent choice.

Yup, best not done whilst looking in a mirror! basically no measurement approach is perfect especially for overbust, but it's the one that gets closest for most people. Doing it standing without a bra tends to seriously underestimate (especially for people who have lost fullness) and measuring with a bra is distorted by the bra itself. My overbust measurement can vary by about 3" depending on whether I am wearing a bra which has a lot of protection, or one which is more minimising and makes my boobs sort of taller and therefore reduces their circumference. And that's before you factor in that most people are wearing the wrong bra size anyway...