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Original poster

Bra intervention help! Measured, tried and still nothing...

63 replies

ResistanceIsNecessary · 29/07/2018 14:29

Plea for help from anyone knowledgeable about bra interventions!

I've measured at 38.5 band and 48 cup. However I am a size 16 and find a 38 band has too much give so I sized down to a 36. Cup size I've tried FF and G.

Went to Debenhams and did a mammoth trying on session. Can't get on with Freya at all. Panache had a couple of nice ones but they were plain fabric and I like a moulded cup as I have prominent nipples. When I tracked down some t-shirt style Panache ones in HoF they gapped at the top of the cup - I am full at the sides rather than the top, but having done the "shoving" it felt like it should be the right size but that the cut was wrong.

So, I am going to have to throw myself on the mercy of online retailers. All advice on what style and which retailers I should try, would be gratefully received (along with any other pointers)!!

OP posts:
imsorryiasked · 29/07/2018 14:33

Much smaller boobs than you but i finally realised my issue was that they are too far apart to fit comfortably with underwire. I've changed to non-wired soft cups from m&s and theyre so much better

fitflopqueen · 29/07/2018 14:33

if you are on Facebook there is a brilliant group called Boob or Bust, explains how to measure yourself properly. Everyone seems to go down several band sizes and up cup size. Also gives advice on which style bra's are likely to suit your shape.

Timeisslippingaway · 29/07/2018 14:37

Every bra I try on (apart from 1 type I got ages ago and bought in bulk because I love them, but they have now been discontinued Sad) make my book look pointy!
I need padded underwrite bras with removable padding or gel inserts as I have one side significantly bigger than the other and need to pad it out.
Anyone with a good recommendation for that please lead me know, I don't know what to do now they don't sell the ones I'm currently wearing any longer.

imsorryiasked · 29/07/2018 14:55

@Timeisslippingaway have a look at the post- surgery bras as these always have removable inserts

Timeisslippingaway · 29/07/2018 16:59

I've never thought of that, thanks imsorryiasked.

JaceLancs · 29/07/2018 19:12

I have a fab playtex bra style contour perfection
It has extra padding at top of cup which is where I’m lacking
Depending on your size they can be found on eBay or amazon

Original poster
ResistanceIsNecessary · 29/07/2018 22:47

Thanks all. I have measured using the bra intervention advice - I was in a 38E and should be a 36FF/G!!

The Playtex bra looks lovely but only goes as far as an F so not suitable for me unfortunately.

OP posts:
Original poster
ResistanceIsNecessary · 30/07/2018 09:01

Bumping for the morning crowd!

OP posts:
goose1964 · 30/07/2018 13:53

This may help
www.shape.com/blogs/shape-your-life/best-bra-your-breast-type

Original poster
ResistanceIsNecessary · 30/07/2018 20:55

Thanks Goose. I think style-wise I'm looking for a balconette.

TBH am feeling a bit demoralised by it all. Went back to Debenhams again today and came away with two promising ones in a 36G. Got home, tried them on and they're too small. Fine if I don't 'gather', but the moment I push everything into the cup the gore comes away and I have a four boob look. So I guess it's on to the H cups but there were none out on the shop floor so I'm going to have to go online.

OP posts:
Original poster
ResistanceIsNecessary · 30/07/2018 20:56

Oh and went into Bravissimo on Sunday but next to no stock and no H cups out at all!

OP posts:
StatisticallyChallenged · 31/07/2018 07:35

Ok, so...

At a 38/48 your start point would actually have been a 38GG cup. You've identified that you need to go down to a 36 band which is quite common - but going down often creates the need to budge up in the cups as cup size is relative to band. So in a 36 band you'd be wanting to try an h/hh as a start point.

From your description freya and curvy kate should work well as they have quite wide wires. I know you tried freya on the original trip but i think the size might have been too far off for you to assess the shape properly.

JaceLancs · 31/07/2018 08:19

Bravissimo have lots of stock that may not be out on display - at least at the branches I’ve visited
So worth asking and asking for fitting help

Si1ver · 31/07/2018 08:21

Try brastop for online shopping, I think the Curvy Kate range might be what you're looking for.

StatisticallyChallenged · 31/07/2018 09:57

Good point JaceLancs - I was thinking Bravissimo having no Hs was odd but if you're not a regular you might not know that you need to ask for sizes!

Original poster
ResistanceIsNecessary · 31/07/2018 10:54

Thanks all.

I probably should have gone back again on a different day. The shop was very busy, it was hotter than the sun in there and it was on the Sunday which started out cold and rainy, and then ended up warm, sunny and humid, which meant I was pretty much melting in my jeans, boots and coat so I really didn't feel up to going and doing more trying on!

TBF to Bravissimo I have used their stores before (although not this one) and they are always very nice and helpful - and although there wasn't a lot of stock out, I felt so rubbish and fed up I called it a day!!

I went on the Bravissimo site last night and ordered 4 to try in a 36H - a couple of Panache bras and a couple of Bravissimo's own. All slightly different shapes, so I know I will probably end up sending some back but I thought it would be helpful to try some different styles and hopefully one will work. I will update and let you know how I get on Smile

OP posts:
Original poster
ResistanceIsNecessary · 31/07/2018 10:58

Oh and thanks for the tip about the GG and the Freya. I'd missed the fact there was a GG option between G and H!! The shape felt completely wrong on me but an incorrect size won't be helping that, so next time I'm in Debenhams I'll go in and try one in a 38GG or 36H and see how I get on.

Silly question - how do you identify the shape of your norks? I was reading Goose's link last night to help me choose some styles of bra to order and I don't know what shape mine are. Is there an easy way to tell - like an idiot's guide? Grin

OP posts:
StatisticallyChallenged · 31/07/2018 14:29

Shape isn't that easy to identify as there's a few things to think about but here's a few things:
-breast width; how far round towards your armpit does your breast tissue go? Sometimes you need to lean forward to feel where it's pulling from
-Wide or narrow set; how big is the gap in the middle?
-Top or bottom heavy; lean forward as close to 90 degrees as possible and look in the mirror sideways. Where your nipples point is often a good indicator. Even fullness points straight down to the ground, bottom heavy points sort of diagnoally away from your feet, top heavy points towards your knees/legs! If you find bras tend to gape at the top but fit elsewhere it's also often an indicator of bottom heaviness.
-soft or firm; just a question of how, erm, pliable the tissue is!
-high or low set; how high up your torso are they?

Original poster
ResistanceIsNecessary · 31/07/2018 22:16

Quite full under the arms/at the sides.
Not much gap between them.
Nipples go straight down - I don't have a ski slope when I stand to the side and look in the mirror, but it's fair to say they aren't as firm as they were 20 years ago!! However I do sometimes get some bra gape so probably heavier on the bottom than the top.
Reasonably firm and position is probably average - they were a bit higher up but age and gravity is starting to take its toll Grin

OP posts:
StatisticallyChallenged · 31/07/2018 22:53

Sounds like you're probably balanced fullness - so neither top nor bottom heavy if that makes sense. If you were bottom heavy you'd get gaping in taller, full cupped bras and top heavy tends to quad boob very easily.

For relatively close set I would veer towards Freya over Curvy Kate as CK tend to be quite shallow in the middle so they can push close set breasts apart (or cause overspill in the middle which is fun!)

You might also get on with some Cleo bras - the Marcie in particular is good for me and I think our shapes are quite similar.

Let's see how the ones you've ordered fit; once they turn up if you can post links and a wee bit of detail on how each fits then that will help to narrow it down hopefully. If you're near a Debenhams trying a couple of Freya in the different sizes is worth doing too as they're normally a good indicator and quite consistent, unlike debenhams own brand which are a bit erratic

Original poster
ResistanceIsNecessary · 01/08/2018 06:38

Great, thank you so much for your help Smile

I did try and few of the Debenhams own range but the elastic in the bands was far too stretchy which was a bit off putting - even in the 36 band I could comfortably pull it out from my rib cage.

OP posts:
SpanielsAreNuts · 01/08/2018 09:57

Bravissimo - I travelled 1hr30 each way and it was definitely worth it. Best bra ever - perfect fit, shape etc (I also have boobs that can make cups on some bras gape at the top and had been unable to find a well fitting bra anywhere).

Original poster
ResistanceIsNecessary · 01/08/2018 19:25

Had an email from Bravissimo today confirming my order has been dispatched - hoping it will be here by Friday!

OP posts:
BirdsAndBlips · 01/08/2018 20:18

Look at this: https://www.instagram.com/p/BhEep5rB8DX/?utmsource=iggsharesheet&igshid=ds6ytfvqh4hq

You need to figure out your size (36gg as a start yes) but it sounds like you also need wide underwires and it all depends on the model.

Bratabase will tell you whether a specific model has wide or narrow cups

Curvy Kate tends to have wide cups (but not all).

dementedma · 01/08/2018 21:01

That calculator cannot be right! It suggests a 34 GG. I am currently wearing a 38 DD......