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!

[Marmaladecat1]

I would just like to say that thanks to the intervention I know wear the correct size bra and it's so much better! I definitely look much better.
Was wearing 34D sometimes 34DD now 30D.
Brilliant for maternity bra measuring too.
Thank you all

[StatisticallyChallenged]

When you've tried smaller bands, have you also tried a bigger cup size? Cup size isn't absolute - a 30D is a far far smaller cup than a 38D so when you try a size down in the band you have to go up 1-2 cup sizes just to maintain the same cup volume. If you don't, the cups steal fabric from the band and give the illusion of the band being tight.

In a good bra, the band should do 70-80% of the support - the straps only do a little lifting and hold the cups in place.

[Marmaladecat1]

I now*

[Furball]

Wipsglitter - if the cup size is too small it steals the fabric from the band, making the band feel tight.

Believe in the tape measure - you really have nothing to loose

[ilovepowerhoop]

e.g. sister sizes of 38C would be 36D, 34DD, etc

[StatisticallyChallenged]

That said (re sister sizes), based on knowing how M&S measure I'd take a guess that your base measurements are probably somewhere around 34 under, 41 over. Which would be a 34F or thereabouts when fitted correctly. That's just a rough guess, but that's how far off they tend to be

[SunshineAndShadows]

*wips that's because the cup size is too small and so your boobs are stealing material from the band . What you need is a smaller band and larger cups so that your boobs are properly ham mocked and supported.
The band should be snug (not tight) to your chest and the wires in an underwired bra should sit flat to your chest.

I'm guessing that at the front your cup wires pull away from your chest? This is because the band is too big and cups too small

[StatisticallyChallenged]

They don't always pull away when M&S fit funnily enough, it depends on your breast shape. Sometimes they just sit on your boobs and don't really do much!

[Flibbertyjibbet]

I am a recovering m&s-er and still, 18 months on from intervention I still peek down my front several times a day to admire the two separate lifted and sup ported domes instead of the m&s monoblob which I thought was normal before.

[WipsGlitter]

Are their bras crap or just their sizing? It's just I have vouchers for there!!

[StatisticallyChallenged]

Their bras aren't great - they're ok at smaller sizes but they basically don't scale them up very well! They're worth trying in different sizes though

[NoArmaniNoPunani]

I'm very thankful for the bra intervention threads. M&S measured me as 36C. I'm now wearing 32DD and it feels so much better

[Staywithme]

Thank you StatisticallyChallenged. She measures 30 - 38 so am I right in thinking 30 FF?

I'm 32 1/2 - 36 so I think I'm extremely embarassed actually I've no idea what I am!

[Bunbaker]

"Are their bras crap or just their sizing?"

Just their sizing. I am a 32B and find that I have loads of choice in M & S. I suspect that they aren't great for the more well endowed, but I can't comment as I have never had to look for larger sizes.

[Passthecake30]

I only wear padded/molded as otherwise I look like I have teeny tiny boobs (30ff but 6ft)

stay with me- sounds about right, I'm a 29/38, my fave comfy bra is a cleo maddie.

[StatisticallyChallenged]

Staywithme, that puts her firmly in Bravissimo territory, starting point of a 30FF indeed. For you, 32D as a start point.

Bun, they don't work very well for bigger sizes. They basically just make the same bra in a bigger size and don't seem to get proportions or support right IYSWIM.

[ChippyMinton]

I took some advice from the ladies here, and went to M&S today to try it out. I was amazed! Went in wearing a 36A, came out with a 32E. Will be wearing it tomorrow and see how I get on. It's quite extraordinary.

[Staywithme]

For you, 32D as a start point

[gasp] I've been wearing a 34 A since I was in my late teens. That explains the sore back, bra riding over my boobs, strap slipping until I really tighten them then sore shoulders, etc.

[Staywithme]

Erm can't even get the smiley right. That was supposed to be NOT [gasp]

[StatisticallyChallenged]

Yup, explains all of the above. If your band is too big the straps will be too wide apart and fall down. Your back is sore because your shoulders are taking the weight so you end up hunching. They're riding up over your boobs because the band isn't firm enough...How tight was that underbust measurement btw? It should be taken firmly with the bra off.

[goodasitgets]

Size 16 here and 34K. I love padding but I like a decent cleavage
Me in a t shirt - a big cup on a small band isn't as big as you think
instagram.com/p/q1aSputdxg/

oh and m&s put me in a 40H I think (I nearly died laughing in the changing room)

[marriednotdead]

Can't rely on me today cos my iPad charger was shit and I had to find another one but fortunately the cavalry arrived

To chuck in a couple of answers to queries up thread and bore the pants off of some of you.

Wearing an ill fitting bra constantly can cause breast tissue to reshape in the same way that badly fitting shoes affect the shape of your feet. It's especially common amongst middle aged/older women, and those from overseas, in both cases due to lack of previous size availability. The UK is now regarded as the best place to come to for good bras, which considering how many people have had poor fittings on these threads, is quite worrying!

Additionally, if your breasts are naturally wide or wide spaced, it's less obvious that your bra is too small as you're not always falling out of the centre of the bra. Constant squashing into a too small cup can create a pouch of breast tissue under the arms, which remains obviously 'separated' even once the bra is taken off. Since starting the interventions, we've heard many anecdotes of being able to massage the tissue back into the main breast by regular scooping.

The other issue that creates bulges in a correct size is that the bra cup is not wide enough for the individual breast. This can cause the armpit overflow described above, and scooping won't fix it- a different bra style is the answer.

Ive noted over many years of bra fitting, that rib shape can majorly affect the fit and comfort of a bra. My own ribs are quite flat and wide, so although I only measure a 30 band these days, a bra with the wrong shape wire will still feel too tight in a 32 or even a 34.

I've taken to likening wire shapes to smiles If you have breasts sited lower on you ribs and closer together, then your breasts are more likely to project forward and brands like Panache may feel right, as their wires are in quite a deep U shape.

Higher rooted, more spread across breasts tend to need a wider 'smile'- the wire will wrap more around the back rather than pointing up into the armpit.
Freya half cups are a particularly good example of this.

Of course there are many variants, even within those two brands and what is great for one woman, will be agony for another.

All I can honestly say is don't rush when choosing a bra, you may have to try on dozens to find the right one for you, but when you realise that you have forgotten you're wearing it apart from the compliments you're getting from your friends about your figure, it's so worth it

[Staywithme]

How tight was that underbust measurement btw? It should be taken firmly with the bra off.

Pulled the tape snugly. Thank you. Still in a state of shock but hoping that after tomorrow I'll have lovely fitting bras for me and my niece. She always has a fit of giggles when we talk about bra buying as I'm so much smaller her.

[SorrelForbes]

How did I miss this? Sterling work as ever MND and SC

[HowsTheSerenity]

I'm biting the bullet and joining the intervention.
I've been wearing a AUS 12G which is a UK 34H.
Due to putting on weight my bras now cut into me. I've done the 'let your boobs hang free' measurements and I get 34 and 46 inches.
How can I be a 34 if I am now and my bras are too tight?
What cup size am I? I'm confused by this inches thing .