Bra intervention needed over here!

[JimmyCorkhill]

I got helped before by you lovely mumsnetters and all of a sudden this flat chested girl had boobs to be proud of! However, I have lost a lot of weight since then and my bras no longer fit. In fact they are really uncomfortable. I have measured myself according to the Bra Guru's website but I've come up with stupid half inches and odd numbers so I can't figure out my bra size on my own.

I am 28.5" under my bust and 33" around my actual boobs. Does this make me a 28DD? I have quite bony ribs now so will a 28" band be really uncomfortable? If I size up to a 30" band what cup size should I choose?

Any help gratefully received!

I'd suggest trying 28D/DD and 30C/DD . A 28 won't necessarily be uncomfortable and if it does feel very tight, then bear in mind that sizing up again in the cup might help with that. Don't be scared to try a 28E or a 30DD.

Thank you

I will write all those sizes down for my next shopping trip.

Hey Jimmy! Trained bra fitter here from La Senza :) Sorrel is totally right on sizing to try :) we always used to do a 4 point bra test to ensure the best fit...

1. Make sure the central bow (bit between your boobies) sits completely flat on your chest.
2. Ensure the back of the bra is sitting flat on your back on the Middle hook, and runs horizontal all the way round to the front.
3. Obvious but a goodie! Make sure the cups aren't gaping or there's no overflow! Gaping = down a cup size, overflow = up a cup!
4. Are the straps sitting flat? Make sure they're roughly tightened to the middle of your shoulder blade and not digging in to your skin. As long as the band size is correct, you won't have all the support sitting on your shoulders. :)

Hope this helps! We always used to say, if it feels like your boobs don't weigh anything, you're all good and fitted correctly! :)

Wow, have La Senza finally stopped adding inches?!

BTW, it's generally recommended that a new bra should be fitted on the loosest hook so you have more room to tighten up as the band stretches with wear.

Lol, no need for snarkyness. Going by my experience, that's all!

I was serious - we've tested quite a few La Senza branches and every damn one did +4. one person who is a 30G/GG got fitted in a 38D!

Can I jump in and ask what size I would be? I wear a 34B, but it's not very comfy, just measured my myself and I'm 32/37, would I be 32C?

32DD as a start point.

Thank you! I'll try that tomorrow

I can back Stats up on that. I was fitted as a 38D in the Plymouth branch and the SA, whilst she realised the bra didn't fit, couldn't work out why!

Statistically Challenged- can I ask about full cups or balcony cups?
I'm currently wearing a 38H which I knew was getting small, so I measured and got a 38J, but now I am trying to decide what style to order to try! I have big (obviously) round boobs that are close together. I have more of a tendency to get a 4 boob overspill. Any pointers?
Thank you

I can back up Stats too - La Senza measured me as a 34A when I'm really a 28DD too. It still rankles! To be fair, M&S and Debenhams have done the same too.

Close set generally works well with plunge styles. It depends just how close set you are IYSWIM? I'm guessing by obviously round boobs you have a decent amount of upper fullness. Bravissimo Kiss Kiss, Wild at Heart and Starry Eyed (all the same basic bra) is a good upper fullness friendly plunge. Cups which are very open at the top actually tend to be good if you have upper fullness simply because - as you know - it's very easy to end up with quad boob! I'm close set and upper full, and my favourite bras are the Bra plunges above, the Cleo Marcie, Ewa Michalak S and SM cuts and I also get on OK with the Cleo Lily and sister cuts, but one cup up from Marcie size for most people. Panache Floris and Bravissimo Bloomsbury have been other relatively recent purchases which didn't cut in at the top. Ewa Michalak are a Polish brand who make absolutely fabulous bras which are exceptionally good for close set boobs as the gore is very narrow.

I never would have thought of a plunge, I worry about escaping and/or a sweaty cleavage!
I can't get to a bravissimo in the near future, so I will have a look at ordering a few online to try.
Thank you for your help SC, I really do appreciate your time and expertise

That can be an issue - as I say it depends just how close you are. Some people barely have a gap between their boobs at all and can find having wires in between uncomfortable. I used to be like this but I've gradually trained myself to get used to it!

Could someone tell me how you measure yourself please. I'm pretty sure I'm wearing the wrong size.

Follow this guide and post the results on here and we'll try to help.

Thanks sorrel I measured and I'm 34 - 42. I'm wearing a 36DD at the moment. I know round the chest my bra is too loose so going down a size makes sense. But the cup size seems fine, I'm not overflowing or hanging out the sides. I worked out I need a 34 G that seems massive.
Does this method work for everyone?.

34=42 would be around a 34FF. When you go down a band size, you need to go up at least 1, sometimes 2, cup size just to keep the same volume. So in a 34 band you'd need at least an E, possibly an F, to have the same tit capacity as your 36DD. When the bands a bit big it's also easy to have a little breast tissue escaping at the back and sides. One cup too small is remarkably subtle. But, the cup measurement is also only ever approximate as it depends on breast shape, elasticity etc.

Basically, if you're going in to a shop then start with the 34FF and make sure you scoop thoroughly to ensure everything is in the cup. If the cup is too loose then work down to the F, and E if necessary. It's actually easier to spot too big than too small sometimes.

When I say scooping btw - stand side in to a mirror, put your left hand inside the right cup, reach round under your armpit and towards your back and pull all the soft tissue you find forward in to the cups. Repeat on the other side.

It's making me smile that all the DD bras are advertised for the 'larger' busts or 'curvy' busts. My sad little post breastfeeding boobs don't fit that description! Any advice for non rounded boobs? Mine are like a golf ball in a sock when I bend over and just settle into the bottom of padded bra cups leaving a big empty space above handy for phone and tissues I suppose!

Half cups or proper balconettes - ones which basically don't have much of a top half to the bra. No top half=no gaping :)

Cleo Juna, Curvy Kate Tease Me, Bravissimo demi diva, Bravissimo mademoiselle, Freya Patsy Half Cup are just a few examples

Thank you

My evening plans are now shelved so I can bra shop online!

Any tips for brands or styles for me?
I am a 32D (possibly a 30D/DD depending on brand) - measure 29 under and 35 over. I have quite high reasonably pert boobs and like a plunge /uplift style with half padded cups.

BUT I have narrow shoulders and so many bra straps end up slipping of my shoulders because the straps are set wide- especially balcony styles.

I have to admit I get on ok with M&S - usually their Limited Collection range- and John lewis own brand.

M&S can run a bit snug in the band, but I suspect in most brands you will need a 30. That's probably part of the reason the straps are slipping - if the band is a little loose then the straps are more widely placed and very prone to sliding off.

Half cups will generally have straps which are widely placed, whereas in a full cup or plunge they tend to be slightly further in.