bra fitting for big boobs

[LadyB49]

I have always thought that I wore properly fitted bras and that the problem was me being a difficult shape.

Couldn't understand why the M & S 'bra fitter' with the store contents at her fingertips could not find something to fit me and gave up on them a long time ago

Recently I've put on weight and I'm now wearing Fantasie FL6500WHE 36G. This bra style is very full cup and plain, clean lines, good for under smooth clothing. It is definitely not pretty but it holds in the boobs and is not expensive at around £23.

However, wearing the 36G on the tightest hook it still tries to go up the back a little. It does come in to the breast bone. It appears to encase the whole boob. The right strap always wants to fall off my shoulder. I so have it in 38G which doesn't fit any better, can't remember why I bought it ??

I have measured myself without bra and bending forward - 38" under the boobs, and 50" (yikes) when bent over and doing the dangling bit.

I need boobs well enclosed, without underarm flesh and straps that stay in place.
Fantasie did for a time do an unpadded Esme which had angled back straps that stayed in place but it doesn't seem to be available any more. Though there was a little bit of underarm flesh on show.

Can you help me please. I would love a bra that fitted me, was comfortable. I'm willing to forego lace and pretty.

But hope I'm not ready yet for the Triumph Doreen !!!

Should have mentioned, I've tried GG and even the occasional H, they were too big in the cup but the fitting was likely appalling, i.e. M & S, BHS when desperate.

OP I would really recommend Bravissimo for a proper fitting. Hopefully one of the bra interventionists will be along in a minute to offer advice on measuring etc but I think as a starting point it's good to go to a RL shop and get a fitting so you know exactly what it looks like when you've got the right size on?

If no Bravissimo near you then John Lewis is usually pretty good too.

Did you try 34 GG or H- you tend to go up a cup size when going down a back size, if that makes sense.I have never been able to wear M & S bras - they just dont fit in the right places.
This is my go to bra that fits - from Bravissimo , but you can get most places
Bit more expensive, though at least with Bravissimo, you can order lots of sizes around were you think you should be, and send them back
www.bravissimo.com/products/lingerie/sensational-sets/belle-bra/nude/fa60nu/?brand=fantasie

First thing to do is to measure yourself. Take everything off, and measure tightly round your chest underneath your norks. Then bend over at right angles, then measure round the largest point.

Then report back!

I bet your under nork measurement is possibly 32

X posted! Also are you letting out the straps to the right length- that may be causing the back to ride up?

34 GG or 32 H even I would guess.

You also need to scoop any flesh from your underarm into the front of the bra. That is boobage! So once the bra is on, reach through and scoop to usher it in.

Was that 38" measure taken with the tape tight and bra off?

Triumph Doreen I'm the same statistics as you and I've been avoiding those for years!

Best thing I ever did was have a fitting at Rigby and Peller - she knew my measurements just by looking at me, no tape measure involved, and she brought out a selection of bras for me to try. Not all off the scale pricey either (although there were some absolute beauties!). Unexpectedly she put me in a back size smaller than I had been wearing, because the weight at the front needed a bit more support from the strap at the back, like you I had gone up a back size and it just made it worse.

FWIW I had previously been told by someone at M&S that "you're a weird shape" (I'm not), and for years I thought that was true and that bras were always going to be uncomfortable . So if you can get a fitting from someone who knows what they are doing - R&P or a good lingerie shop - it will make all the difference.

If your budget will run to it have a look at Prima Donna bras - www.primadonna.eu/en - they are stunning to look at but most crucially comfortable and supportive. They also give you a great figure by lifting the bust, I felt like I'd lost pounds .

I second going to Rigby and Peller if there is one near you. They are amazing. I have also tried fitting at M and S and they are absolutely useless. I would never go there again.

I wear a lot of Fantasie bras by the way, they are great . I buy them from www.leialingerie.com - there is a shop at Bluewater but I order mine online and they fit brilliantly using the R&P size I was given.

Personally I prefer bravissimo over rigby and peller, I think they're better at larger cup sizes and they have a different range

Thank you all for such speedy responses.
I live in N. Ireland and we don't have a Rigby & Peller or a Bravissimo or a John Lewis.
I was measured 'properly' in a local specialist lingerie shop which is what took me to the 36G.

Agoodbook - your recommended Fantasie Belle is one that I have used many times and I have an oldish one that I use when I need something a little lower cut. Local stores are limited on the larger cup sizes and some guidance on sizing would help me to order a few on line. Yes, I do have the straps tight because they keep falling off my shoulder.

I have tried a 34" band some time ago but the band was too small, but probably wasn't up at an H cup (it was in M & S)

CMOTDibbler - my measurements are 38" below the boobs and a massive 50" over the fullness - at right angles, naked. A 34" band was tight before I put on a stone, can't imagine a 32" :)

Statistically challenged - yes the 38" was taken with the tape fully tight and bra off.

It is difficult to get properly fitted locally and I do go to what is considered the best fitters available here in N. Ireland.
Last time I went to Debenhams the sales person had nothing available to show me.
If the bra interventionists could give me a starting point for sizes I could order on line from Bravissimo or Leialingerie.

I'm so tired of making do.

Thank you.

Your base measurement would suggest a start point of 38hh however if your 36 is lifting that's clearly not the answer.

Can I ask you to try a very firm scoop in your current bra to help me narrow things down? Pop your bra on, then stand side on to a mirror. Put left hand in right cup, reach round under your armpit and pull everything soft forward and into the bra. Repeat on other side. Now, how does the cup fit? Any overspill?

I'd try a 34HH and a 36GG - if the 36g is riding up, then that says you need a smaller band. If the cup isn't big enough, then it will 'steal' from the band, so your 34 before would have been suffering from that

Oh, bum, I was distracted, and got that wrong. Sorry need to recount

When my bra straps fell down it was because the band was too loose. I went down a back size and it stopped happening.

LadyB49 there's a Bravissimo/Pepperberry store now open across the road from Castlecourt near the Schuh store, I got fitted there recently.
There's also a fitting service in House of Fraser.

Royal Avenue to be exact, I couldn't remember the name of the street there!

Statistically - I am now well scooped and definitely all into the cup, not exactly overspill, however the centre wires are now not in at my breastbone.

This Fantasie 36G is in the tightest fastening and don't think I could wear any tighter. The band is straight across my back and the right strap is wanting to fall off my shoulder even though it (the strap) is pulled as tight as possible. Maybe the back band could benefit from sitting an inch lower but that would mean loosening the shoulder strap and then strap would definitely fall off.

Stormyskies - I am so excited to hear there is a Bravissimo in Belfast, I've looked it up and will be on their doorstep immediately following Christmas. Don't even have to worry about parking, I can get a bus that stops at Bravissimo door.

My joy knows no bounds !!
This will be very interesting

to everyone.

Let us know LadyB :)

Bravissimo will see you right

but meanwhile - put your bra on back to front and see how that is size wise, as it sounds like your boobs are stealing the room from the band. If you put it on back to front they won't be able to.

I never thought of it that way, bra on back to front means the boobs aren't interfering with the band...

Thanks again.

I suspect you might need to move down to a 34 - it's not uncommon for those of us with, erm, squishier torsos, to need 1-2 sizes down from the measurement. Straps falling off the shoulder are, as others have mentioned, a classic sign the band is too big.

It also sounds like you need at least one cup size up, possibly two. I'd suggest a 34H and 34HH will probably be your starting points in Fantasie - they run a little loose so don't be surprised if you get 36s in Bravissimo own brand for example.

Also worth bearing in mind that 36 on the tightest fastening is roughly similar to 34 on the loosest. I think it sounds like you need a bigger cup and smaller back. Have fun at Bravissimo!

I will make sure that 34H/HH is among the sizes I try on.

As an aside - I remember many years ago actually taking in the back of a bra to reduce band size. In the days before proper fitting and larger cups.

I am excited at the thought of having multiple try-ons.
Thanks folks.