A mini rant about bras

[WipsGlitter]

Went to M&S today and was perusing the bras. There were loads and loads of padded ones. Why?? Do most people want enhancement - I'm a 38c and there's no way I want extra padding!! Plus they look so stiff.

Also what is the point of a 'balcony' bra?

I tried on one same size as my current M&S bra and it was awful. Squeezed my boobs right together with a huge cleavage.

Gave up and went home!

I heard a klaxon...

bestiswest try a 36H as a starting point and work from there. Have you tried scooping in your 38G? I'd guess it's feeling big in the cup because it's falling forward and not all breast tissue is in the cup IYSWIM

I like a layer of padding to protect my nipples from cold / getting brushed by things which is uncomfortable. Also like not having them visible. Balcony bras are a nice shape, they hold your boobs up without chopping them in half.

Thanks stat. I'll try scooping. Left nork is a lot bigger than the right. It falls out of a 38F. I am in John Lewis tomorrow so I will try a few on there.

Brilliant thread. I'm taking my wee niece bra shopping tomorrow as she moved in three recently and I need to get her new clothes. Her bra is horrible and digs into her shoulders. Any suggestions, oh wise Mumnetters, as to what stores give a 'true' sized bra? I find the shops seem to differ in fitting, just as some do with clothes.

Have a look at the blog page linked upthread, there's an article on managing asymmetry which has some useful tricks. Generally, if you can't manage it through adjustments like those described then you buy to fit the bigger breast as you can pad the smaller.

Is John Lewis any good and are they ridiculously expensive?

How old is she?

She's 19 @ 5'2 and a size 10-12. She has SN so I'll be with her. She wants a "comfiest" bra.

Thanks. I've no tape measure to hand but will try and find one. My boobs are not massive and are rounded - I would pass the pencil test, in that it would roll off!! I can see why of you'd a smaller bust you'd want padded but there were rows and rows of them and the non padded were impossible to find!

I think the 38c fits me - no underarm boobage, no back boobs, could do with more lift but I i have long torso so need the straps long. I got them after being measured in M&S and nine of the ones they suggested fit so I just tried on a whole load il until I liked the fit.

WipsGlitter, do you mind me asking what dress size you are? To give you an idea of why we have an issue with M&S, I'm a 30HH, fitted properly in Bravissimo. I did a test shop at my local M&S. They fitted me in a 36F. Similarly, someone else tested their local - a 30GG put in a 38D. They're really bad

Staywithme, John Lewis are relatively good and might be a good starting place if you don't know her size at all. However, if they put her at a D cup or above then take her to Bravissimo as she will have a better selection and they are far better fitters. Normally I'd recommend going straight to Bravissimo as not that many people are actually under a D cup when fitted properly but I'm conscious that id she has SN it might upset her to go to Bravissimo and then find she's too small. If you think she's got a 4" difference or greater between underbust and overbust then that puts her at a D+ and in Bravissimo territory.

Staywithme, I bought some bras from debenhams today and was thinking they would be good for teenagers who want comfort. (I'm a 32A and value comfort above all else.) They are non wired and they had a wide range of sizes. The ones I bought were padded, but they had a number of non-padded ones too. www.debenhams.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/prod_10701_10001_152010874363_-1

I just took a loads into the changing rooms with me and tried lots of different sizes to get the right fit.

I'm a 16.

OK, whilst it is possible that you're a true 38, you're probably not when fitted properly. As a wee test in the absence of a tape measure, pop one of your bras on back to front (I've not lost my marbles, I promise!) with it fastened on the loosest hook. Now, see how far away from your body you can pull the band

Do I put my arms through the armholes?

I am a 36 back bra and am a size 20/22 on top so think unlikely that you are a 38 at size 16

no you are just testing the band for extra space

As above, just testing how far the band comes away from you. In a good bra the straps don't take much of the weight, it's all about the band

I'm a size 16/18 and have a 44 inch bra, somewhere something is wrong with those measurements. How can they be so inconsistent with other posters?

I'm a size 14 and 30 inch back so betting you are not a 38!

Ok, well DP thinks I've lost the plot but, I can get it about 20cm away from me.

Have you measured according to the guide linked upthread TheFourthLobster? I'd put money on you not being a true 44.

In that case, you most definitely are not a 38. In a well fitting bra, you should only be able to pull it away by a couple of inches. M&S really are bad, but the problem is that because they put people in bras that are too big in the band it's not immediately obvious unless you've worn a bra which fits properly IYSWIM?

TheFourthLobster, I imagine you are wearing the wrong sized bra if you wear a 44 at a size 16/18

But I hate them feeling too tight! Smaller ones just feel too tight.

you will need a bigger cup size along with the smaller back size so they dont feel too tight