In M&S having bra fitting now...

[Acunningruse]

I'm a size 10/12 and she's measuring me as a 36, that can't be right can it?!

Run away now. M and S notorious for dreadful innacurate bra fitting. I wore 36 C for two years when I should have been 32DD. Go to somewhere decent like Rigby and Peller and get fitted properly. It was a revelation to me.

@KrampusTime - yes! Get measured properly- it’s life changing.

Oh I don't think that's true @SinglePringle with the increase in boob jobs I've found their selection of bras in 32E/F have increased hugely over the last 5 years. They do a fab range of DD+ which has 32 back, it's not what it was 10+ years ago.

32D in bravissimo and the lady was so lovely I cried unlike M&S lady who told me I have lost all the fullness in my breasts
I am now the proud owner of a beautiful grey lace Gossard bra and matching shorts. Am now poor but was worth it!

I am a size 20/22 and wear a 36 back. M&S had me in 40C but I'm really a 36GG. They add extra inches to the back giving a bra too big in the back and too small in the cup

Not in my large branch Orange. A shocking small selection of bras in a 32F. I’ve had staff look with me on so many occasions, in case I’m being blind. Nope.

And do they try and put me in a 36DD

Bravissimo have always been great at fitting me & know what bra style works best for different types boobs so saves some time trying on. They do a loyalty scheme on bras & clothing sales so get a bit back.

Once you know what brand/style suits can always get few more cheaper in past seasons colours from outlets like Brastop.

M&S do some nice underwear but like many places seem to think if you've a big cup =big back so very few are in 30 that I need.

I also thinks it does depend on your frame size not your dress size necessarily. You can have a very small frame and small back but massive boobs and therefore be a 12/14 up top but actually have a v small back, or be larger framed and the same dress size but have a larger back and therefore larger band size. Agree with others that M&S do not measure well.

@IsolaPribby me too! I’m a 14 on top, 12 on bottom, and an apple shape with tiny boobs. My boob or bust came out as 34d. Could not get it around me. I now wear non wired sports bras from Gap and couldn’t be happier/more comfortable. I think we are the rare exception to the boob or bust algorithm

@Acunningruse aww that's lovely. Enjoy!

@thenorthernluce I'm a bit of a barrel shape! When I measure my underbust it comes out as 38 inches so I just go with that! I'm not even sure if that's the same as the boob or bust method?

Yes the underbust measurement is the back size without adding extra inches. Measuring around the fullest part of the bust gives the cup size. Each inch difference is a 1 size bigger cup e.g 1 inch = A, 2 inch = B, etc

@SinglePringle admittedly I order online! I always struggle to find 32E/F in store (not just M&S) so I tend to buy online. But they do make them.

It really pisses me off when shops who claim to specialise in underwear don't cover my size, I was in Victoria's Secret the other day and not a thing I could find in my bra size.

Last got measured in M&S and they measured me a 36 to 38 back - I was 32 measured in bravissimo, which was a far better fit.

I don't understand why supermarket bras only seem to go down to a 32 or even 34 when so many women are smaller. I'm a 30B and find it hard to find basic bras on a budget that aren't teen bras.

I don’t understand the boob or bust method. Currently wearing a size 8 top and a 34B bra. I’ve tried 32in band sizes and they are far too tight - think it’s far too dependent on boob shape and frame shape to make generalisations.

Have you tried a bigger cup size with the smaller back size? No point in going down in the back without going up in the cup as that will just make it feel too tight

I don't understand why supermarket bras only seem to go down to a 32 or even 34 when so many women are smaller

and even then they only do the 32 in small cup sizes which is so frustrating.

The sizes are so outdated. Is everyone still meant to be a 34b?

Phew, relieved to read that you turned it around OP! Bravissimo all the way If M&S go out of business it will be sad in some ways but OTOH they bloody well deserve it for consistently putting the female population of the UK in horrendously fitting bras.

PS Congrats on your weight loss and enjoy your new bra! I would like to be a 32D as it would be easy to find bras and clothes to fit (GG here which is a pain!)

I'm a 32D too, OP. I was also measured by Bravissimo. I find Curvy Kate bras fit well, and they are inexpensive on eBay.

@MoltoAgitato
The 32 band felt tight because the cup size was too small. If you're a size 8, you are categorically not a 34 band size, you are more likely to be a 28/30. Try the backwards band test (put bra on back to front and see how band feels) to get the band size right. Then you find the cup that fits.

I agree their measurements are way out. However I did recently buy a shapewear body with incorporated bra and had to buy the 38C despite being a 34E and a size 12/14. (It is actually a good fit) I am not sure if they sized the clothing part having assumed the added inches.

Always buy a bra that fits properly on its loosest hooks. As it naturally loosens over time (and many many washes), you can bring it in a hook.