Confused about bra sizes

[dollybird]

My DD has just turned 14, and I noticed her bras were looking a little on the snug side, so measured her to see if her size had changed. She's currently wearing a 34b and I've now measured her as a 36a which is the same size as me. I consider myself to be fairly small in the boob department, but DD appears to me to be bigger than me and has a pretty impressive cleavage (which I think she tends to be embarrassed about as she's not really a girly girl). Just a bit confused at how we can apparently be the same size but look totally different. I got her to try on one of my new bras which looked a pretty good fit except she didn't like the underwires.

Do NOT add inches! If you think about it logically, it's ridiculous. Why would you want a band 4 inches bigger than your actual back size? You wouldn't do that buying trousers so why do it with a bra which needs to be much more supported? I'm nursing but have gone from 34C to 30GG using Boob or Bust. I've never had such a well fitting bra and I am certainly not blessed of nork.

Avoid bra measurer generally measure underneath the boobs then guesses the cup by eye, gradually building up/down the cup until it's perfect. Mine started at a D and we ended up putting me in a F.

I mean a good not avoid!

Why can't she just wear a thin tshirt to get measured? If she's wearing a bra that's obviously the wrong size while she's getting measured then you'll come up with another wrong size despite using the correct method.

Avoid M&S like the plague, take her to bravissimo. In my experience, they train people to measure correctly.

No way is she a 36 as I'm a 36 back at 15 stone and size 20/22 on top. Don't add inches to the back measurement and that gives your underbust size. You work out the cup size in the usual way by the difference in inches between the under and over bust measurements.

Have they changed the sizes on bras, or was the old way of measuring just wrong, so years ago no-one wore the right size? I don't have a Bravissimo local to me, but I have found an independent shop quite near that is highly recommended. I don't usually spend much on bras though, could be an expensive trip as sounds like myself and DD will both be needing new!

I think bras in the "olden days" didn't have as much elastic as they have in them now. I've recently been converted to using boob or bust sizing and it's honestly a revelation. My boobs are so much more supported and look better under clothes. I got a pack of two bras in my BorB size for £20 at Debenhams.

Just because you get measured there doesn't mean you have to buy bras from there. It will give a better idea of size and then you can buy elsewhere. I used to wear 40C but once i measured properly i now wear 36GG

booborbust.com/

Just because you get measured there doesn't mean you have to buy bras from there. It will give a better idea of size and then you can buy elsewhere

And then the small good independent will go out of business and you'll be left with the chains who do cups ABCD and back sizes 32, 34, 36. We need to support good businesses. Bras are like glasses, you wear them everyday so £30 on a decent bra is the best cost per wear you'll ever get. Two nude bras, alternate each day and wash by hand and you're sorted.

If you can't afford the bras they are selling then why not go somewhere else? I have to buy more expensive ones due to my size not being freely available in the cheaper shops

Just don't he boob or bust method but with a thin tshirt over the top (but no bra) if your daughter won't be topless while you do it. It's important to be braless so it doesn't restrict the breasts for the second measurement but a loose tshirt would be fine. I am a size 14 and a 32 back - you will be either a 28 or 30 at a size 8.

And you would be surprised at how small supposedly large cup sizes are when you're a small back size. My very small busted friend is a 28DD and her bras fit her perfectly. It's all about the back/boob ratio.

This is a good pic to demonstrate what Hairq says.

As a bravissimo wearer (and so glad they exsist) measure just under the bust then measure over centre of a bra .
The first mesurement will give the bra size and the second the cup size. I can't remember what the difference in the figures are for various cup sizes.
Also to confuse things different styles and makes will tend to be diffrent sizes.
As someone who has a very small back and large cup size I tend to prefer Freya or Fantasie .
Personally I have found Marks and Spencer the worst for fitting and Bravissimo the best by far. You can get measured and not buy and then look online in sales once you know the size.

If you look online for "Boob Or Bust" they have a bra size calculator. I laughed when they first gave me my new size (went from a DD to G) but it is honestly the BEST fitting bra I have ever ever owned. Give it a go to give you a good starting point for trying on various sizes and styles for your next shopping trip (I am in no way affiliated with Boob or Bust - Just a woman who has finally found a bra that fits!)

Disagree with the comments above. I still add 4/5" as per the old way and come out at 34B (5'6, 10st). I did try wearing a 30D and the underband nearly killed me!

As a bravissimo wearer (and so glad they exsist) measure just under the bust then measure over centre of a bra

Bravissimo do not measure any part of you when fitting bras.

Maybe the D cup wasn't large enough and that's what made the band feel tight. It's a guide to your size so trying different bra sizes around the size you measure is advised

I also don't understand this although I do see that so many people like the 'new way' of measuring. I've always felt comfy in M&S bras and when I try on a tighter band find it so uncomfortable.

Sometimes a bra can feel tight because there's not enough cup volume so the breast tissue 'steals' fabric from the band. A lot of people wear a bra too big in the back and too small in the cup due to adding extra inches when measuring

And how does the adding extra inches work if you for example measure 30 under and 32 over. You add 4 to 30 to get 34 and that is now more than the over bust measurement so how on earth did you get a cup size?? In reality they would be around a 30B

The trouble with the new way of measuring is that tops aren't cut for it. Sleeveless/strappy tops always show my bra under my arms, fecking always. I am short, though - maybe someone tall wouldn't have this problem!

Yes I had that when I was younger Extra. Used to just end up in an AA cup. Am in a B cup these days.

So currently I am in a 32 back. I was a size 8 and have put on a bit of weight so am now nearer to a 10 and bra is feeling uncomfortably tight round the back. Had been thinking I need to get remeasured and was expecting to go bigger in band size (sadly don't think boobs themselves are any bigger), now I am wondering if I need to go smaller. Will need to measure!

Sorry meant to bold demented, not Extra