Bra gurus - buying first bra for DD

[amazonianwoman]

Do the same "rules" apply for first bras?

Just measured DD - 28" below and 32" at fullest bending over (31" when standing straight up). She's not very full yet though. Should I try 28C or 28D?

And where to order them from?! Typically, M&S have a rubbish selection in those sizes (whoever is in charge of stock control ought to be sacked, can never get hold of the right size for anything I order from M&S these days). John Lewis are quite pricey. Any suggestions please? They need to be pale to go under school shirts, non-wired and lightly padded/moulded.

Thanks!

[mimiasovitch]

I was just reading this thread and about to recommend those very bras. My youngest dd measures a 28dd and loves them. She's not quite ready for the more adult looking underwired ones, and these look lovely. Keep an eye out as I've had some greatly reduced before now.

[StatisticallyChallenged]

Result. You will actually find things will get a bit easier if she goes up another cup size as quite often the larger cup size ranges start at dd rather than d- but they're more likely to do a 28 than the standard a-d ones.

[balletgirlmum]

Glad she's sorted.

[amazonianwoman]

Two Megans size 28D and one Lucy 30C. Not as traumatic as expected, John Lewis ladies lovely. Job done. Thanks for all your advice!

[amazonianwoman]

Brilliant. Megan and Lucy look perfect. Excellent range of sizes too. Will report back

[balletgirlmum]

www.johnlewis.com/browse/women/lingerie/bras/size=28d/_/N-fl5Z1z13xkn

Oops here is the link.

[balletgirlmum]

Also try these.

Dd has had the Lucy in grey & mint green & the Megan in white & pink. The pink is very subtle & fine for under a school blouse (White was out of stock last time she went)

[amazonianwoman]

slug they look perfect, we're going tomorrow night Bribery may have to be involved...

[hollinhurst84]

Get her fitted in bravissimo and buy elsewhere
Curvy Kate, cleo might have more choice
Brastop has some nice stuff

[slug]

Another vote for John Lewis. I took DD (aged 14) there over the weekend after she's changed size yet again. Our first visit was to BHS who had nothing in the 30D range that was not underwired. All their non-wired started at 32 B M&S looked confused. I don't think they compute 30 D, much less no wires.

John Lewis, on the other hand, showed us to a wall of suitable bras. She walked out with 3 30Ds, 1 32 C and one underwired 30 DD. It was painless for everyone bar my debit card.

[KatharinaRosalie]

I don't remember where any more, but there was an article about a Victoria's Secret ex-employee somewere recently. She talked about men shopping and how they don't know the sizes, and how she then asked them to compare it to their mannequins, who are size 34B.

As if.

[StatisticallyChallenged]

Unfortunately there's lots. Some branches of debenhams and house of fraser still do, bhs, boux avenue, mothercare...and don't get me started on the craziness of Victoria's secret

[amazonianwoman]

Thanks. Bit of a trek to Bravissimo but will see if I can persuade DD. She is adamant she won't go to be fitted! Looked at Bravissimo online but there's nothing remotely appealing in 28D for an 11 year old.

[Clayhead]

I got my dd fitted at Bravissimo (measured 28 when I measured her, was fitted a 28D in Bravissimo) and we have bought some of the same style on line. The Bravissimo bra was a bit expensive but we learnt loads about her fit and the lady who served her was ace.

Her bra was Cleo by Panache.

[poorbuthappy]

I am now worried that there is another chain of underwear shops apart from M&S which add inches?!!

[amazonianwoman]

Yup, I'm 36" under bust and wear a 36F or 36FF. I used to wear 38D or 40C and the wires never sat right and boobs looked a saggy mess.

Bravissimo agreed with my "new" size, as do John Lewis.

[StatisticallyChallenged]

There is no need to add inches in the majority of cases. As a 37 you absolutely would be able to close most 38s but you would need to increase the cup size to compensate

Whilst bravissimo don't use a tape measure you will find this is essentially how they fit - a 32 inch underbust will on average wear a 32 band.

[balletgirlmum]

You are using theold method that most of us in the bra interventionist threads are complaining about. It's why we don't go to places like m & s, la sends etc any more.

Bravissimo measure correctly. Sorry crafty but you have been wrongly trained it's the reason why must women arecwestingca bra far too big in the band but not big enough in the cup

I measure 31 inches & do go up to a 32 DD rather than down to 30 Ebut when I used to wear 34 or 36 band I was so unsupported.

[KatharinaRosalie]

You are not supposed to add 4 or 5 inches any more. Fabrics stretch and with most brands yes you can wear the size you measure. If I added 4, this would put me in a 36 back and I'm very comfortable in a 30. If you can't fasten the bra in the size you measure, it's probably because the cups are too small - you can check this if you try a bra back to front. I have some size 36s that I wore when pregnant and if I tried them now, they would just flap around my body, offering no support whatsoever.

[CraftyMissus]

You're supposed to add the four inches but the tape must be firm before they're added. I mean pulled to the point where you feel like you're maybe about to saw someone in half with a measuring tape.

+4 if its an even number +5 if its odd.

I've been measured at M&S before and they don't usually pull the tape tight enough... Then if you're anything over a E at the nearest branch here they either give up measuring and guess (which led them to guess once that I was an L cup) or try and stuff you into anything with the nearest letter on the cup... Too bad if its a DD and you're a G.

[CraftyMissus]

Ballet, you add the inches because if the fabrics used, hence the firm measurement underneath. The fabrics are designed to stretch but the construction and sizing of lingerie hasn't actually changed since off the peg designs began.

I'm 37 inches under the bust, a size which doesn't exist if you didn't need to add inches on, a 38 wouldn't fasten if I tried. With the added inches I'm a 42 on the back, and it fits perfectly.

[amazonianwoman]

M&S do those sizes, they're just rarely in stock

[amazonianwoman]

Yes that's what I'm not happy about - the "add 4 inches" method (or whatever it is). I put up with ill fitting bras (measured by M&S) riding up my back for 35 years before I listened to wise MNers.

Will try to persuade her to go to John Lewis with me!

[Mabelface]

M&S angel range do 28c and d

[balletgirlmum]

Crafty - there is no need with modern stretchy fabrics to add inches.