15 yr old dd - bra nightmare!!

[pepperpot99]

If anyone can help I'd be forever grateful. DD1 is nearly 15 and I'm having a mare getting bras to fit her. She is 5 foot 4, average weight, around 36 across her back but her cup size is AA in the M&S Angel bras, which she hates. She won't wear anything padded or underwired. In the summer holidays she tried on a massive pile of AA M&S bras from their normal adult range but the cups were massive on her. I also tried loads of triumph, Playtex etc but her breasts are basically not big enough to fit an AA . But they aren't that small. IFKWIM ? the only thing I can get for her is the pull over your head stretchy sports bra type things but she does a lot of sport so needs something more supportive.
Any advice please xxxxx

[Nicnak2223]

As someone else who only got a correctly fitting bra this to year can I suggest that you get re measured too.

I, like you, had no idea about the way bras actually work but it makes so much more sense now.

Glad your daughter has a good start and understanding of bras.

[DropZoneOne]

Glad you've found something suitable for her.

A 36A has the same cup volume as 32C, but the support comes from the band so the 32C will fit better and stop the breast tissue 'escaping'. I went from 34a to 30c, the cup size is the same but the effect on how I look is huge as all the tissue is scooped into the cup and stays there!

Sizes vary across shops and styles too, so don't be afraid to try up/down if the bra isn't comfy. Just like you can be a 10 in Next jeans but a 14 in New Look.

[pepperpot99]

UPDATE....
I finally got around to getting dd measured properly at John Lewis and to my complete shock they said she is a 32 C/D. I was really taken aback as I thought she was a 36 or even 38. I had no idea that the cup size bears a direct relation to the back measurement and assumed (wrongly) that the cup size was a fixed measurement regardless of back size. . So I'd been ordering 36 A and even AA and the cups were hanging off her massively!

Anyway thanks for all the help. I bought dd 5 bras from the very helpful ladies at JL and she feels much better now. They are non-wired ones and were not a bad price, £16 each.

Wish I'd got her measured earlier!

[pepperpot99]

UPDATE....
I finally got around to getting dd measured properly at John Lewis and to my complete shock they said she is a 32 C/D. I was really taken aback as I thought she was a 36 or even 38. I had no idea that the cup size bears a direct relation to the back measurement and assumed (wrongly) that the cup size was a fixed measurement regardless of back size. . So I'd been ordering 36 A and even AA and the cups were hanging off her massively!

Anyway thanks for all the help. I bought dd 5 bras from the very helpful ladies at JL and she feels much better now. They are non-wired ones and were not a bad price, £16 each.

Wish I'd got her measured earlier!

[donkir]

I would highly recommend the Boob or bust private Facebook page. The admin's are fabulous and will be able to guide you on shops and bras that will be best suited to your dd.
www.facebook.com/groups/BoobOrBust/

[Paperkins]

Lots of replies already, but wanted to chip in :) I would be a 36 AA by M&S measurements.....in fact most people's. However, M&S 34A fit me perfectly - as long as the style is right. Learning the style is just as vital and can be much harder to find ones that suit smaller busts than the others that are more on show in the store. Wiring does help - though not really that comfy and the tshirt bras (not padded, but just thicker) can prevent the cup 'giving' which can happen when you are small and moving around.

Trying different shops can help too - annoying and hard work but just trying, trying, trying and having time to assess each one.

Hope she finds something.

[Balletgirlmum]

She's got that exact same bra from a recent trip to London. I can't remember whether she bought the 30 C or D (they didn't have 28DD in stock.

I'm going to have to be strict with myself & try ordering online (I'm just rubbish at sending stuff back )

[motherinferior]

this

[Laniakea]

Yeah my 5"7, size 12 dd is a 32F.

36 underbust sounds very unlikely!

[Balletgirlmum]

It's John Lewis she normally has. Will look at Freya but the nearest JL store is 45 miles away so it's always a soecial trip.

[motherinferior]

John Lewis teen range has some, and otherwise I've bought her the Freya moulded but not wired one whose name I can't remember. To be honest I'm going to opt for a wired one next from Figleaves or Bravissimo...not cheap!

[Balletgirlmum]

Mother where do you buy that size as I think dd still needs 28 band myself but st the moment she finds 30 better as there were no 28DD IN stock.

[agapanthii]

And for non wired, non padded, Sloggi has some good options, that my teen likes. Or sports bras, which she prefers, but they tend to be very colourful so not so great under a white school shirt.

[motherinferior]

Yep, my size 8 DD1 is a 28DD.

[WitchSharkadder]

I agree that, from your description, your DD most certainly isn't a 36 AA. I was a bra fitter for years and the vast majority of women need to go 2 back sizes down and 2 cup sizes up to be anywhere near their actual size. Most high street stores aren't great at measuring, TBH.

Take your DD bra shopping and try on loads of sizes. The correct size should fit snug on the back (always buy one that fits on the loosest clasp as they lose elasticity with wear) and should sit completely flat between the breasts, if it's coming away from the breast bone at all then then the cup size is too small. All the 'fat' (not that I'm saying your DD is fat at all, it's just the best way I can think of to put it) under the armpits is breast tissue and should be scooped into the cup. No breast should be poking out from under, over or the sides of the cups. Good luck, OP.

[poppym12]

I'm fat and wear a 32f or ff. M and s 'measured' me at 38a

I found debenhams and house of fraser to be better with fitting too but it helps if you have a pretty good idea from measuring yourself beforehand so that you're not fobbed off with the usual massive band but tiny cup things that never really fit anyway.

[pepperpot99]

Thankyou Oracle I will definitely do that .

I'm learning a lot here. I thought cup size remained the same whatever measurement around the back you are. Seems I was wrong.

[TheOracleAtSelfie]

Please please please take a look at "boob or bust", they are brilliant and have been campaigning for better sizing. They have a very accurate self-measuring tool on their site. www.booborbust.com/calculator/

[Clayhead]

My dd is also slim and curvy and just 15, she's a 28E at the moment. She likes the Cleo by Panache bras.

I spent my teens in badly fitting bras and finally got fitted properly when I was twenty, it changed my life! M&S had put me in a 36C and I was a 30F...

[Balletgirlmum]

Just as a guide - my dd is a slim but curvy 14 almost 15 year old (size 6/8 clothes) & wears 28D/DD or 30C/D

I'm 5 ft 4 and between size 12/14 & wear a 32 DD (m & s had me in a 36B)

[nocampinghere]

ps if you're ever in London, Rigby & Peller near Knightsbridge are worth a trip. i went once before my wedding. went from a 36A to a 34D.
most 34Ds don't fit (def not M&S ones!) but i know the brands that do and i know what to look out for - eg the bra must sit flat against your skin between your boobs, if it gapes it does not fit.

[nocampinghere]

M&S is a JOKE.

if you are near a decent lingerie shop, go there. Different brands come up very differently. eg chantelle are good for unfull cups. I learned that the cup size is basically the shape of your boob, not the fullness - you can be a D cup and not be that big, but then you need to choose the brand/cup shape to suit so it is not all baggy. going down a size just cuts into the boob around the side (if that makes any sense).

Adidas sports crop tops are good, or lululemon (pricey though)

for non sport if she doesn't need much supoprt could she just get eg calvin klein sets?

[StatisticallyChallenged]

Just to point out that when measured properly a AAA basically means there is no difference between the underbust and overbust measurements - an A is a 1" difference, a AA is less than 1" and so a AAA is basically nothing.

I would bet she is not a 36 at all - you said yourself her breasts aren't that small. Cup size is proportional to band size, so (roughly) a 28D, 30C, 32B, 34A and 36AA would all have the same breast tissue volume but the shapes of those cups will be very different with the 28s being narrower and deeper. If she's average weight for a 15 year old of her height she's almost certainly not even close to a 36.

[pepperpot99]

They look good and I see they even do an AAA range! thanks everyone

[turtlesallthewaydown]

I would echo recommendations for Little Women! I buy all my bras from them. They have a great range.