Went to Bravissimo on Sunday to get fitted....

[Birdly]

... and thought they were great! The fitter was really helpful, and from my vague descriptions of what I wanted she somehow managed to find bras I loved. She was very thorough - even suggesting that I try on the different colours I wanted in the same style, just in case there were any tiny differences in fit. She also stressed that quite often you need different sizes in different makes/styles, and I did indeed come out with bras in two different sizes. She didn't rush me at all, and kept bringing different styles and sizes until we were both happy.
I thoroughly recommend them! So much better than my last long and unproductive session in John Lewis

soya go fine a tape measure (neighbours/shops) I'll be pondering all night!

M&S are useless at measuring and shouldn't you check fit every 6 months or so?

I generally need 14 for tops.

you should check as often as you think your bra doesnt fit anymore.
Manufacturers guidelines are that a bra should last 3 months (if you wear it everyday)!!!!! so also, when you are wearing your old bras on the tightest notch and the elastic is going, you know its time to get new bras. Comfy does NOT EQUAL good fit.

OK I think I am very embarrassed. Measuring under my boobs its 32"!

Yup the 36 rides up too. The 34's seemed VERY tight though

Then you will be a 34 or a 36 back. 38" tends to be a large size 16 - 18.
Get a piece of string and pop that round under your bust, then measure the string with a ruler?...so cargirl can get some sleep!

I may get the chance to visit shops tomorrow, first time in ages, tho I dont know if there is a Bravissimo in High St Ken where I will be? Anyone?

If the back of your bra rides up, your back size is too big - often much too big. And your bra won't be supporting your norks at all. the straps do NOT support your norks. The body of the bra does that. So it needs to fit quite tightly. I am 5'8" and size 12/14 yet I have a 30 back size. Nearly all women wear a back size too big and cup size too small.

SOYA!!! get thee to a bra shop now!
38 c = 32 E
HAH!

There is one in covent garden, and one off Regent St, behind Top Shop.
Or one in Ealing.
Or come down to Brighton on Saturday and I will sort you out myself!

Bras are supposed to be tight.
They are support garments.
You will get red lines, like you do from socks and pants.
Think of your great great grannies. They wore corsets. They may not have been comfy, but their tits were in the correct places!

Wow, 32E - I vaguely remember those days at soya huge norks.

You will look a million dollars in a fitting bra - go shopping girl!

Plus, you get used to the tightness.
It also aids your posture, making you stand better, making you look thinner..allowing you to eat more chocolate.
job done.

Soya, you will be a 32 or max 34 back. Bravissimo has branches in Covent Garden and near Oxford Street - the website is www.bravissimo.com
Katepol, the right size does seem tight at first because you are used to useless saggy bras that aren't actually doing anything at all! If it rides up it is pointless wearing it.

Lizzombie you are clearly an expert, I am very grateful. I will do it asap!

Aloha hi! We nearly met a year or two ago. And we seem to be the same size, except I am clearly much droopier than you! But that will soon be rectified.

Thansk all, your speedy advice is appreciated!

There is one in Covnet Garden

Any post baby flab around the tummy will vanish with properly support (large) norks people will think you've had a boob job and tummy tuck

I'm for the opposite reason!
I was a 32 E years and years ago.....now I am about a 34 GG or a 32 H or HH. When I was BF I went up to a K cup!!!! Jordan has tinytits compared to me! I am NORKGIRL!

So your back measurement is exactly the same as the measurement round your chest under your boobs?

I vaguely remember reading somewhere about adding inches for odd and even measurements...

Hi Soya, where did we nearly meet??
Honestly I went in a horribly saggy 34DD and walked out a perky 30E!
It has made a HUGE different to how I look in clothes. I just felt middleaged and waistless in everything before and felt embarrassed by my wibbly chest. Now it's all in the right place (high!) and nicely supported.
I sound like a blooming saleswoman, don't I!

yay - my job here is done...I am off to continue ironing. x
let me know what size you end up!

I want a boob job now I miss my 34H bf boobs

when I went back to wearing my underwired bras after getting fed up of feeding bras (still bf but norks have gone down a lot) everyone said I'd lost weight

Ceolas - that equation thing is a load of tosh. Have no idea where its from, but it totally doesnt make sense.

Thanks, yes the Covent Garden one was the one I'd thought of but I won't get there tomorrow (8 yo ds2 in tow as well as 12 yo dd). Maybe I will go on Saturday. Can't wait to be following shapely boobs around, may need whole new wardrobe of course.