Big breasts, bra sizes and just fed up really!

[Fontella]

I am very top heavy. Size 10 jeans but above the waist is a different story. I have very big breasts on a narrow frame and it is the bane of my life. I am probably an 18 on the top - I don't really know because I live in baggy tops and generally try to hide the upper part of my body.

Wearing a bra is so uncomfortable, I can only usually last a couple of hours. As soon as I get in the house, it's the first thing I take off, and then put on some voluminous garment - oversized man's shirt or similar and am then comfortable. As I work from home it is very easy to spend all day like that.

But when it comes to going out I am always having to find outfits that work around my boobs. Despite being narrow - long legs, short body - I do have a large rib cage (if that makes any sense), which makes my huge boobs appear even bigger than they actually are.

So last night I decided to measure myself properly and get some decent bras that fit and start accepting the fact that I am a big boobed woman and be proud of it rather than hiding it. I went on two separate websites, which suggested different methods of measuring - and both came out the same - 40D. I checked and double checked I was doing it right and both sites agreed that was my size.

So I ordered four bras online last night and today I was out shopping and picked up another one. I got home, put it on and it was miles too big and I mean miles. The cups were actually sticking out with a great big gap between the garment itself and my boobs. I was better off guessing my size because this was so far out it was ridiculous, even though I'd followed the instructions to the letter.

So the chances are the four bras that are on their way to me won't fit either and the whole thing has been a waste of time.

Does anyone else here have this problem? I'm sure some of the responses will say 'go and get properly measured' - but I am the kind of person who wouldn't feel comfortable with all that and apart from that, I'm not well off (single mum blah blah) and can't afford to be spending 50 or 60 quid on a bra.

I know I'm big breasted and I measured myself exactly as I should have done and didn't lie or tweak the measurements (why would I)?

If you are big breasted and have had similar problems to me and have resolved them ... how, without throwing loads of money at it?

M and s had me in a 34 c for years.
Looked awful

Bravissimo put me in 32 g and I look amazing and have so much confidence

They also give you privacy and don't expect you to be naked at all. Very discreet and professional

Don't be scared by the sound of the cup sizes, I have a D cup and I swear I'm almost flat chested, I can easily go without a bra and sometimes even wear crop tops!

Fontella - how did you get on?

Partly inspired by this thread I just had a fitting at Bravissimo. I've been fitted many times over the years and read this thread smugly thinking I knew how do it myself. Turns out not, as Bravissimo chucked out my 34DD and put me in a 32E.

The shop was a bit shabby and the women were very busy but they were really helpful and knew their stuff. The Bras much cheaper than R&P (my fave was just £24). Please treat yourself to a proper fitting, it really is a great feeling when your boobs are in the right cup!

I went to bravismo today. They are very good and you are under no obligation to buy anything. I went to John Lewis 4 months ago and they said I was a 36D. I felt pressured into buying a bra after they measured me so I bought it.

At the time it didn't feel quite right, but I thought maybe I was wearing my bra wrong. Turns out they were wrong I'm actually a 36F! How they were so far off the mark I'll never know.

I discovered that I'm 34 DD after following the bra intervention advice on here. Clothes look so much better now that I'm wearing the right bra. I put on weight and went from size 10 to 14, but was convinced my bra size was still a B cup

You would be better off and way more comfortable getting one more expensive bra rather than two or three that don't fit.

I totally agree that you are nowhere near a 40 back size - I'm a 14/16 and in a 34H. Like you I've always been big chested.

I would also recommend Bravissimo. You only need to be measured once (they'll bring you a selection to try and leave you to it, they won't try and manhandle you) and then you will have a good idea of how to do it yourself if you need another bra in the future.