Can you help with a bra intervention for DD15?

[Sarsaparillajones]

Hi ladies

Can you help? DD 15 (nearly 16) is really struggling to find a comfortable bra. She has been measured (m&s sorry I know) and we've tried just by trying on but we have found it hard to get the size right and comfy.

She is currently measuring 68cms / 80cms. M&S have veered between 28d (too tight, really too tight around the chest) and 30dd (full cup chafes underarms). She wants a t shirt bra - any suggestions of size and brand / shop ?

Plus she doesn't believe me when I say that mumsnet will be right where the shop assistants are wrong so please prove her wrong!

What's that in inches?

Around 27 / 32?

28DD/26E I think. The experts will be along soon

Take her to a bra shop (John Lewis, local specialist retailer or Rigby and Peller) and buy one, then buy a couple more online

she measures 28DD, I think. I was around that size and had a 28d from m&s. The band felt too tight because the cups were too small. I also wonder if m&s's cup sizes run small wrong.

Anyway, I found a few 28dd's in bravissimo which are perfect. I would take her to bravissimo for a proper fitting.

Yup, try the 28DD. If the cups are too tight, then they pull the band and make them feel too tight. I'd also try Bravissimo or John Lewis as recommended upthread as they will have a range of different brands - I suspect she needs something with narrower wires/sides than the M&S 30DD has.

And yes, M&S sizing is generally all to fucking cock a bit erratic

I go to bravissimo (so feel her pain as a larger cupped lady!) but have found them quite tight fitted, and she was really complaining about 28 being too tight. So I was avoiding them! Interesting that you all think m&s sizes are wonky / too tight.

We've had a lot of reports on the bra threads of ladies who are measuring as 26s wearing M&S 28s - and finding them snug. I think they behave a bit better in the sizes they actually make an effort to sell!

I'd try a 28DD and thereabouts from one of the better brands - maybe freya or curvy kate as their bands are quite soft. If the cups seem ok but she really can't stand the band then she could sister size up to a 30D. Some slender women need to do this for comfort - those of us with more padding can get away with snugger bands!

Ask her to try her 28 on upside down and back to front (so boobs not in cups), to see if the band really is too tight, or if as Queenmartha says, it feel too tight because the cups are too small.

I am exactly those measurements and love Debenhams' own brand 30D t-shirt bras - they are the only ones I've found which don't dig in, and last time I bought some they were £8 - £10 each. Of course your DD might be a different shape, but maybe worth checking out as they tend to stock the smaller band sizes.

I measure about 27 but wear a 30. I am very bony and really do find a 28 uncomfortable. I think as an additional problem a 28 is nearly all cups and fastener so there's not much stretchy band. I would try a 30 but not from m and s - I think debenhams do quite a few 30s

I've read plenty of times from excellent posts here that those with 28-band measurements probably will find the 30s are a more suitable fit, especially if you don't have much flesh on your ribs.

Ok ladies just to report back after a trip to Debenhams and an afternoon spent trying on more bras than I care to count. DD now has a v nice Freya 28D and a Debenham own brand 30DD t shirt bra.

More importantly she has been forced to admit that mumsnet is always correct.

Thanks everyone would never have gone to debenhams without the suggestion.

That's an odd combo - normally as you go up a band you go down a cup! Mind you, Debenhams own brand sizing is all to pot to...

Glad you got something, and at least now you have a rough idea of her size Bravissimo etc might not seem too much for her.