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Original poster

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

160 replies

makemepretty17 · 24/02/2018 17:04

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?

OP posts:
RockinRobinTweets · 27/02/2018 21:02

I think a balcony bra is better If they’re fuller at the bottom.

donajimena · 27/02/2018 21:05

I went into the playtex shop with 34 b boobage and came out a 32dd. Amazing! Grin

chipsandgin · 27/02/2018 21:16

Ha! Just did all the measuring and it is telling me I need a 34k! Is that even a thing!? My 34F bras fit perfectly and apparently I need a to go up 4 cup sizes!? I'm not convinced. Also I think I'd need a specialist shop surely. Any other (theoretical) K cups out there? I'm going to tell my currently wearing a 38H sister about this - on this basis she would need an M cup..!?

LemonysSnicket · 27/02/2018 22:02

I’m a 28DD and fairly average breasted and slim ... they got better than anything W ever tried before.

curcur · 27/02/2018 22:09

Sounds like you need a balcony and a half cup style. Freya is good for those. I don’t fill any full cup bras, only half cups fit

JaceLancs · 27/02/2018 22:20

I’ve tried bravissimo twice now and been disappointed with the fit - I’ve just bought a bra which I don’t think I’ll wear until I lose some weight as it feels too tight
I was wearing a 38DD and tried measuring myself following bra intervention advice at 35 underboob I could try 34 or 36 and cup size was G or GG
Bravissimo had me in a 36E or a 34F I bought the 34F but now feel it’s too tight
As I have a very short torso can only wear plunge style or the wires dig in half way up my cleavage

bananafish81 · 27/02/2018 22:23

That lingerie outlet link is really interesting - the styles seem very much for women with larger boobs, but just sized down. For example, wide straps and full cups - a 28D is a pretty small bust (same volume boobage as a 34A) but most of the bras available in that size are structured for someone much curvier - or at least, curvier than me! I've tried on tonnes of Freya styles, and I've not found one that flattered - the straps make them look quite industrial on my small frame, and even the plunge bras are still pretty full cups and tend to flap around cos I don't have enough volume at the top to fill them out.

For example - Freya t shirt bra in 28D
lingerieoutletstore.co.uk/idol-t-shirt-bra-black-white-nude/

Vs a Calvin Klein t shirt bra (I have in both black and nude) that isn't available in a 28, so I wear a 30C

www.figleaves.com/uk/calvin-klein-push-positive-non-wired-push-up-bra/CNK-F3495E.html

The latter is a larger back size, but is much more in proportion to a small frame with small boobs. There are some gorgeous bras on that link, but my 28D boobs wouldn't stand a chance at filling most of those cups out. I've tried so many Freya styles, but either have a gaping moulded cup (as with Deco) or the others have a load of baggy lace at the top. I can imagine those styles working really well for a larger cup size, but I've never managed to make them work for my small norks...

littlebillie · 28/02/2018 06:42

I went from a 38c to a 34gg

Slightlygreyhair · 28/02/2018 06:56

I am similar, and the woman in Bravissimo was horrible to me. Hope you have better luck.
I find the Fantasie brand good.
Debenhams stock a widerange of sizes - you can get lucky or John Lewis online or Figleaves online. You’ll possibly struggle to buy in shops.

Lweji · 28/02/2018 07:36

I was wearing a 38DD and tried measuring myself following bra intervention advice at 35 underboob I could try 34 or 36 and cup size was G or GG
Bravissimo had me in a 36E or a 34F I bought the 34F but now feel it’s too tight

It's possible that the cup is too small and it's pulling the band. You can try the bra backwards and see how the band feels. Then put it back on and scoop all the breast tissue into the cup and see if there's no spillage.
I'd go back and try larger cup sizes just in case.
I believe Bravissimo exchange if they've done the fitting.

I think they ended up having too many shops and some staff may be less good fitters than others.

Lweji · 28/02/2018 07:42

*bananafish81

I don't know if that's your case, but my very bottom heavy boobs do pull most cups forward. Balconettes don't look quite right until I wear some fitted tops and then everything looks smoother.

I've found that strapless bras support best because they have a wider band. And then wear with the straps to improve fitting. I also like the removable straps as we can adjust them to the best positions.

Original poster
makemepretty17 · 28/02/2018 08:22

bananafish81
Sounds like we are pretty similar, I've always had trouble with padded bras gaping and non-padded being fine around the bottom, but with extra, loose fabric up top.
I've got some Wonderbra models coming shortly, which are half cup. We'll see how we get on.

OP posts:
treaclesoda · 28/02/2018 08:29

When people are disbelieving at the tighter back and bigger cups thing, try thinking of it this way. It's taking the inches form the 'straight' bit of fabric round the back of your body, where you don't need it, and putting it into the 'rounded' bit at the front of the bra where you do. That's why a bra that is eg 32D would be far too tight to fasten on someone who is actually a 32G. So someone who is wearing a 38D measures, they are 32, they can't believe that they would be a G cup because the media have (wrongly) convinced everyone that that size is hilarious circus show freak territory Hmm so they pick up a 32D, it doesn't fasten on them and they think 'thats ridiculous, it doesn't work'.

LTS2018 · 28/02/2018 09:32

treacle has nailed it

rightknockered · 28/02/2018 10:04

Can I ask a question? Which bras come up with a comparatively small band size. I'm a 27FF, but have to buy a 28F/FF, because of no bras available in my size. I put them on the tightest fastening, but find they loosen, and often feel uncomfortable after a few hours wear.

Lweji · 28/02/2018 11:02

You can tighten the band on the bra. Either by removing and sowing back on the hook bit, or fitting a second set of hooks (you can buy them). IME it doesn't work so well if you have to transform, say, a 32 into a 28, but it should be ok for 28 into 27.

Some people report that black bras are tighter. I don't have any, but it was true for a bikini top. Way tighter than all the others in colours.

Strapless also stay put better, and they often have a silicon strap to keep them in place, so they don't ride up so easily either. It might be possible to fit one of those onto a regular bra, but I have no idea how.

Sorry, no help on the brand size.

blc33 · 12/03/2018 22:17

I’ve been wearing a 34d for years. Tried bra guru and it said I’m a 32ff. I’ve been wearing a bra this size and it’s left red marks everywhere. However boob or bust website has me at a 30GG! Please help!

Lweji · 13/03/2018 02:26

What do you measure?

You can expect from a bra similar marks to what you'd get from socks but mostly around the ribcage. Not from the cup or straps.

How is the fit? How many fingers can you pull the band? Does the entire breast tissue fill the cup? No spillages? Did you scoop all the breast tissue into the cup?

blc33 · 13/03/2018 07:53

I measure 30 underband and 37 over. The bra seemed to fit lovely until I wore it all day. I can fit 2 fingers under the band just about.
Yes I scooped all the breast tissue in the cup.

ferrier · 13/03/2018 07:59

The calculator doesn't work for me either. I'm a 34B, it gave me 30E so think. I tried on a bra of that size and the band size was ridiculously tight. Even the 32 band was uncomfortable. I'm back in 34B, usually from Debenhams and look good and feel comfortable and well supported.

blc33 · 13/03/2018 08:28

Maybe I just need some new bras as my 34d may have lost there stretch and that’s why I haven’t felt they supported enough and needed to check I’ve been wearing the right size. Thanks for the help

TheKitchenWitch · 13/03/2018 16:45

But it doesn't work like that imo - my back measures what my back measures, and getting more fabric on the cups makes no difference to how tight it is UNDER my boobs.

madeyemoodysmum · 13/03/2018 16:48

I've gone from a 36e to a 32 hh

😩

Ordered some on amazon on free returns to try as up can't even get that size in m&s.

I sure I'm going to be cut in half!

Lweji · 13/03/2018 17:32

and getting more fabric on the cups makes no difference to how tight it is UNDER my boobs.

It can make a difference, actually. If the cups aren't big enough, it can make the band feel too tight.

Try the bra backwards first to see how the band fits. This is for blc33 as well.
The bra should be on the last hooks at first, so the loosest possible.

ScienceIsTruth · 13/03/2018 17:46

According to the calculator, I've gone from a 38F to a 34HH. Can't see how that's right as after breastfeeding there's not much left and definitely NOT perky anymore, iykwim.