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.

If the band is too large, then what happens is that is sits over a bit of breast tissue rather than under it. This is why a too large band can feel too tight. This then means that the cup will look as if it needs to be smaller as it will not in fact be encasing all the breast as some of it is under the band. If the cup is too small, it will also not be at the right place at the sides- a cup should finish at the side roughly underneath a point where the middle of your armpit is, if you drew a line down. There will be no extra flesh under the arms poking over or under the bra - it should all be completely encased by the cup. The centre gore will not lie neat and flat against your chest as the whole line will be pushed away by the breast tissue under the band. The breasts will angle and point downwards rather than forwards as they are not supported properly.

This is how thousands of women wear their bras, as measured by M&S.

If you put your hands under your breasts and raise them up, then that is how they should look and feel in a good bra!

These threads always make me sad. I'm a size 14 (was a 16 but losing weight slowly) and my underboob measurement is 38 inches. I would post a picture to prove it, but that would be weird .

Every time there's a bra thread, so many people say to posters "you can't be that size" but it is actually possible! Even worse, due to chronic pain issues, a 38 is so tight it's agony, however big a cup I try , so I end up needing a 40. I've got a 10 inch difference (bent over) and I need a JCB to scoop!

I just want a well fitting, underwired, lightly padded bra that doesn't hurt!!

I'll admit I'm one of those who can't understand how someone who is size 14 measures 38 inches below the bust, because clothes measurement charts nearly always state that a size 14 measures around 38 inches in total. That's the bit I don't understand. So when someone says they are eg a size 10 but measure 36 around the ribs, then they are saying that their rib measurement is bigger than their bust measurement. That's what I don't understand.

I couldn't do my 28s up at first so I turned it around to do up at the back. I put up with years of slipping bra straps because my band was too big & back ache.

M&S measured me at 34AA.

WomblingThree I also don't see how you can fit in a size 14? Your measurements if correct would mean that a size 22 top would be the correct size for you.

If you want a really good, well-fitting bra then go to Bravissimo or to an independent bra shop. Or John Lewis at a pinch. Do it - it may well really help your pain.

Dementedpixie her noob or bust measurement said 30E or F so that sounds about right. I'll sort myself out at a later date

*boob

M&S are fine if you measure the old way. Debenhams also come up similar.
The new way of measuring is just confusing because the number is so far away from what the actual boob measurement is.

The new way of measuring is just confusing because the number is so far away from what the actual boob measurement is.

Not quite sure why it's confusing, you measure under your boob and that is your back measurement and then your cup size is based on the size of boobs. Surely that's less confusing than having a size that's different to any actual measurement on your body.

Get thee to Bravissimo-they are amazing. I used to wear a 36DD but now wear a 34FF and my boobs stay put!

The new way of measuring is just confusing because the number is so far away from what the actual boob measurement is.

How?!

Wombling- have you tried Brastop for curvy Kate and flirtelle? Both do padded

I'm 35 underbust but wear a 32, size 16 top as my overbust is about 45

Thanks Ollivander. I've ordered about 15 different ones online and I'm going to have a try on session.

I went to Bravissimo last week and I was really disappointed with their fitting service. I am currently wearing a 36d nursing bra which I think is far too big for me and the lady in Bravissimo agreed. So she recommended I try a 36e?? Which was obviously massive on me, then she recommended I go back to 36d but they didn't have any in stock so I left feeling very disappointed!

I'm 8 weeks post partum and boobs have settled down in size. I bought a couple of cheap Asda bras just to tide me over until they settled- I bought 38D as I thought they fit. I was wearing 36C before pregnancy. Have just looked at this thread and done the boob or bust method:
Tight- 30.5
Snug- 32
Standing- 39.5
Leaning- 40.5

It says my starting size is 30GG or H. Does that sound right? Looking at the charts the sister sizes would be 30GG=32G, 30H=32GG. 30 back really does sound like it would fee tight though!

What I was wondering was if I would have to buy from somewhere like Bravissimo, Freya etc or would Debenhams or M&S ones in these sizes be ok? I don't really want to spend more than £20 for a bra you see!

silverandcold I ordered about 15 bras in different sizes from a lingerie outlet store online. They are all good brands (I assume) and I paid between £6-£10 for them. I think they are just last years colours or styles. I will only end up keeping one or two, but it's just so much easier to try them on at home, and use Paypal free returns.

Treaclesoda, my bust measurement is 40 inches standing up wearing a bra (fitted by the new way! 30HH). I can wear most Topshop size 12 tops and dresses, some size 10s (and some are too tight and I'd need a 14, but genuinely not many). This is because I'm short (5'2") and the amount of material works to cover me. I don't think I'd get away with it if I was taller!

I'd rather look in an actual shop- i prefer black with quite minimal detail which isn't often in outlets/sales anyway. I also hate faffig about with returning online things to be honest!

Are Debenhams and M&S not the same sizing as Bravissimo etc?

Also- have I worked out the sizing right with those measurements? It sounds so big in the cup!

TooExtra I'd never thought of height coming into it, that makes sense.

M+S don't follow the standard sizing convention. Not sure about Debenhams.

TittyGolightly - how don't they follow standard sizing? I don't buy their bras myself, but I thought the problem was solely with their fitters. The bras themselves are perfectly fine?

The only thing i know about them is that they miss out the FF so their G is really FF. It's the measuring that's bad, not necessarily the bras themselves

I last time I checked they miss out all of the doubles apart from DD.

So

DD = DD
E = E
F = EE
G = F
H = FF

Etc. Ends up being miles out If you want a J cup.

I thought it was just FF they missed

EE isn't a size anyway