Just done bra intervention- this can't be right, can it?

[makemepretty17]

Pretty small of bust, I generally wear 32B. I've tried bras of this size in the past and breast tissue hasn't filled the cup, so it's a bit hit or miss whether I even think I'm this size, rather than an A.

I've just done the Bra or Bust intervention thing. Apparently I'm a 28 E. Whaaaat? This can't be right can it, especially as I don't have enough breast tissue to even fill a B cup most of the time...

Does the intervention not work for those small of nork?

I agree with both of these:

Bra1 looks too small in the cup.
I would say bra2 is the 28E and I think it looks more supportive and gives a better shape

The first one will spill more easily, giving you double boobs, and possibly wardrobe malfunctions. It barely covers your nipples. The straps are also more likely to slip.

The other thing to consider is that we don't have a great deal of reference as to how a properly fitting bra should look. Most of us just see models in catalogues/on websites and assume that's how they are meant to look.
There are some great websites that give comprehensive details of what to look for when trying on bras and once you "get it" you can't unsee the horrors that are on most lingerie sites, even DH does it now, he'll look over my shoulder at the screen and say "bloody hell,that gore is standing a good inch away from her chest" (I did kind of train him up on what to look for so he could help me when I was going through my buying a million bras online to find size/style that worked phase)

BTW OP, not dissimilar body shape and norkage to you looking at pics, my current go-tos are Freya Deco and Fanatsie Rebecca (the moulded full cup version)

Bra 1 looks way too small in the cup. It's flattening your breasts - strapping then down rather than lifting and supporting -
and I can't imagine it gives a good shape under your clothes. I would say this is the 34b.

Bra 2 looks good in terms of cup fit and support, and would give a good shape under clothes, but it's not the right style for you.

I think the best thing is to go to an independent lingerie shop - best service and fit I've had has always been in small specialist stores. The staff generally have an excellent eye for size before they even measure you, but even more importantly, they know what styles work best for your shape. Prices tend to be quite competitive in my experience, but you can always go once and buy one bra, and then use the knowledge about size, fit and style online or in high street stores.

I think it does work. I tried 34C D DD, 36B and 36C. Nothing was comfortable. Now depending on the make I wear 32DD or 30E. And I feel secure and supported. I do have to try bras on, but when I find one that fits I buy 4 the same.
I am a standard size 8 or 6 in some stores like Next of Wallis.

Thanks all. The second bra is the 28e. it certainly fits better around the band, but the cup is too big. It's 'flush' against my skin when I'm standing nice and straight, but as soon as I move my arms (say to put on a top), it gapes wide open. It's a Freya Deco, for reference.

The first bra is the 32B M&S t-shirt bra I've had for yonks. It does give me slight quad boob.

I ordered that one online, but think I'll have to steel myself for a real-life trip to the shops. Nothing I hate more....

I'll try to update once I've been to the shops. I'm still reeling that I'm anything bigger than an A or B cup. Playground taunts of fried eggs and pancakes have obviously done me more damage than I thought!

Deco is a moulded plunge and it often gapes if you have lost some volume on the top of boobs. Try to find some balconette or half-cup styles to try, and maybe rather slightly padded instead of moulded. This style:
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Freya-Summer-Haze-Half-Cup-Bra-3993-Underwired-Padded-Balconette-Aquamarine/352253631045?epid=21013224650&hash=item5203f3da45:m:mVN6U-vDZzQTS09j9rglYrQ

I have tried them on and they are massive. There is no way of bending, jiggling or anythng can make my stretched out excuse for boobs fit into anything above a C/D cup. But then I end up in the same as I have.

So frustrating. I haven't the patience to stand in a hot changing room for hours on loads. And I need to be able to buy cheapish (supermarket/matalan) as we are skint.

Yy to trying loads of styles, bravissimo must have had me in 15 different bras till I found the right one.

If you're in doubt about the 28E (or around that size), try it with a snug T-shirt on. Does it show quad boob? Does it look too big?

IME, how it fits also depends on posture. A bra that may look too loose on the cup can fit well with good posture.

I couldn't get on with the Freya Deco at all - I needed something properly plunge and slightly padded

I've found Calvin Klein push positive non wired bra in a 30C insanely comfortable, and a much better fit than anything I could find in a 28D

I also have a beautiful Chanelle Irresistible t-shirt bra, also in 30C

Anything I tried on in 28D just looked atrocious on me - but hopefully you will have better luck!

The other thing to consider is that we don't have a great deal of reference as to how a properly fitting bra should look. Most of us just see models in catalogues/on websites and assume that's how they are meant to look.

There are some great websites that give comprehensive details of what to look for when trying on bras and once you "get it" you can't unsee the horrors that are on most lingerie sites

I think this is a really big issue. Until you've had a properly fitting bra, generally you don't know what one should look like because of all the abysmally bad fitting ones we see pictures of every where.

See if there's no gapping in the cup (and note that cups too small can gape because the breast can't fit properly inside)

I think this causes massive confusion. Gapping makes people think too big and generally not realise that it could actually be too small, so they go even smaller cup and end up squashing them flatter and it looking ok compared to the images we usually see - but it's actually a terrible fit. - that is exactly what I ended up doing. So much better in my E cup - but I still feel so silly buying an E as the cups of the bra look massive on the hanger compared to my breasts (or rather what I think my breast size looks like). I think that a true A or B cup must be really rare.

Do have a look at the knickerbox and Ann summers bras. Loads start at 28 and they do the bigger cup sizes right from 28. Surprisingly nice bras!

Debenhams bras are a good range of sizes also, and some fitters are quite good, but it's pot luck on who you get.

I think it's a scandal that bras are still being fitted as if they are still made with no lycra. They must think we are stupid or something. Once you know how a bra should fit you can spot a mile off a poorly fitting one. And so many girls and women are size 8, so they should be in a 28 band bra. They shouldn't be like hens teeth to find!

Plus how your breasts sit is quite individual, how high up, close together, bottom heavy etc. So different bra styles makes a huge difference. I can only wear plunge, balconette never sits right in the middle of my chest. A properly fitting bra can look like an entire dress size smaller imo.

Good luck to everyone on your bra quests!
My bra quest is to find supportive for 32E with no wires! Now that is tricky

I've just received my second online 28e order. A 'Playful Promises' Imogen. The band felt incredibly tight when I fist put it on, and I'm still aware of it a few hours later, but it's not uncomfortable, just tight & red marks appearing below. I must admit, though, I'm feeling all the support coming from underneath, no pull at all on the straps, which I assume to be a good thing. I've got some 30D types on order too.
I will also check out knickerbox.
Is there such a thing as a better bra campaign, and I'm slow on the uptake? I think most people must be in totally the wrong size, either due to measuring incorrectly or just not bothering to look into it unless there are massive changes in shape.

thebetterbracampaign.blogspot.com

30DD is the sister size of 28E. 30D is a smaller cup than a 28E

Those straps still seem very wide set

The fact a moulded deco gapes doesn’t mean you aren’t a 28e. Moulded styles aren’t the best to determine true fit. Order a 28dd and 28e in a non moulded style.

Most women are wearing the wrong size bra, and most of them are doing so because the band is too big. You should be able to slide two fingers between your back and the band, not easily and definitely no slack to pull back. The bra should be fastened on its loosest setting so when you wash it and it grows, you can pull it back in.

Once the back is right and goes done, as you’ve discovered, the cup goes right up. A 28e has the same cup volume as a 32c - ish - so if you’re 32b gives you a slight quadraboob, you’re on the right tracks. Try 28DDs too.

Yes yes most the support in a bra should come from the back band.

Am I the only one who finds that Bravissimo now does fittings with the band size ridiculously tight? I know the support comes from the band and many women wear bands that are too loose - but fuck me Bravissimo do fit some corset tight bras. And, no, they don’t loosen up

lingerieoutletstore.co.uk/lingerie/bras/?_bc_fsnf=1&Chest%20Size=28&Cup%20Size=E&sort=priceasc

A few 28s here, I find this site cheaper

aridane I measure at 30” but wear a 32”- it’s just too tight and it digs in on the side underneath which gives a horrible silhouette under clothes

I measure at 34 (sometimes even 32) on bra intervention but i find a 36 in most styles which suit me is plenty tight (the two fingers/no slack test) and is tight enough to leave me sore by this time of day.

The bra intervention is a guide only. Every company is different and within each company every bra style will fit differently.

I used to work as a bra fitter and even when a customer had a good rough idea of their size it was common for them to end up purchasing 2 or 3 different bras which were all slightly different sizes and yet all fitted equally as well.

You wouldn't expect to do a 'find my shoe size' intervention, discover you are a size 6 (for example) and then suddenly you can walk into any shoe shop and buy anything in a size 6 and it'll fit. It's no different for bras.

It's a PITA but trial and error in the fitting room (or bedroom) is the only way to go about it. And then hope they don't discontinue your perfect bra once you find it! looking at you Freya

Right, that bra is going to be returned too, the straps do feel to wide set as you said dementedpixie and cup is too big. I think I'm gonna struggle coz I have slight 'ski slope' boobs, all breast tissue on the bottom and side rather than above the nipple. I'm going to try 30d, and 28DD on my next attempts as you recommend up thread.
What an adventure this is turning out to be!