BRAS - do you still add 4 nowadays or is that old?

[genuineidiot]

I was speaking to my mother today, have been wearing a 34A bra for years... I had heard that you no longer add 4 when measuring bra sizes. But I was speaking to my mum and she said that you still add 4? Is that old or do you still do it?

I've never even heard of it. What would be the point of a system where everyone added four?

It depends on the shop. In M&S you still definitely add 4 (my DM is a bra fitter there) but in John Lewis/Debenhams you don't. They're the only shops I buy bras from so not sure about others!

Nope, never add inches to your under bust measurment. It's not required in these days of modern elastic fabrics. Fitters at places like M&S persist on fitting like this which is why so many people are wearing the wrong size.

No, don't add four. You need an intervention! Look here

Never add 4. This is the old way of bra measuring. It d Ives me mad that m & s still do it along with a lot of retailers. Then you get "standard" bra sizes that assume if you are bigger than a C cup then your back measurement must be at least a 36.

M&S add 4 and end up selling you a bra that is too big in the back and too small in the cup. Don't add 4 to the back size, what you measure is the back size you should choose.

M&S add 4 because they cannot measure bras!

They spent years telling me I was a 32 and me telling them it just didn't sit or feel right, got measured by a company that knew what they were doing and I'm a 28.

I used to wear a 40C (M&S measured) but am actually a 36GG!

What Dubious linked to - do it. I wore a 36DD for years and years. Turns out I'm a 34H/32J depending on style/brand.

It's total tosh!

Better Bra Campaign - here are instructions on how to measure.

I used to be a 36D and am now a 30F

I've tried measuring myself using various techniques. The trouble is every shop is different!
I wear what I think fits.

I think it depends on the bra and how elastic the underband is. If it's stretchy don't add 4. I need to add a little for most sports bras. Don't really think there's a substitute for trying on a bra first though.

Wow thank you everyone. Will deffo do the intervention thing😊😊😊

Oh yeah this. Grr.

I thought I was size X and could never figure out why the back always seemed to go way up in the middle and only recently I found out that that I needed to go down in number by 2 to 4 so that the back bit lies straight and because of that need to go much bigger cup size.

However, this now makes it more difficult to shop because not all places do larger cup sizes.

Even more confusing that different places do different sizing sytems.

Even more confusing that if you go on the web and google bra size calculator and put in your measurements, I did about 5 of them a week ago and got a different answer every time.

Grrr

I would bet money on you not being a 34a op; not unless you're a size 14 and completely flat chested. Check out the boob or bust Facebook page or website.

I don't think you'll be 34A either. My 13 year old is a 30D!

My money is on OP being a 30/32D.

I did the bra intervention and was a totally different size to what M&S had told me. I bought new bras in the intervention size and they're perfect! So comfortable and make my shape better. I'll be doing that from now on when I need new bras, deffo.

I hate the bra intervention as I like loose fitting bras , a bit hippy I guess, I like to have my bra so loose, I almost can't tell I am wearing one. Don't care about my boobs bouncing a bit.

If you want proper support, don't add 4

But I add 4, and love it

Im a size 8/10 so 34 unlikely I guess.

You're likely to be a 28/30 back then OP. Look for the FairyBoobmother group on facebook, she is a bra genius and she will be able to tell you your size or get you in the ballpark just by sight. The difference the right fitting bra makes is huge!

m.facebook.com/groups/1398379236859632?view=info Have added link now!

Why was adding four ever done though?

This has been really eye opening. It's amazing that someone can go from a 34A to a 30D. Wow.

fluffy I believe to was to give a little leeway when the material used to make bras wasn't elasticated.