Anyone used Boob or Bust? This can't be right surely???

[peaceanddove]

Just measured my boobs using the Boob or Bust calculator and it tells me I am a 32H!!! How is this even possible? I'm currently wearing a 36F bra and it's a bit too snug under my boobs so how can I possibly be a 32H?

I have ordered a Freya bra in a 32H and a 34G and am excited to try them. Even when wearing a 34 I often find the shoulder straps don't adjust small enough for me, so is this another indication that really I need a 32?

I have an extra added issue at the moment because I have one boob that is roughly 3-4 cup sizes smaller than the other, plus it's considerably perkier and sits about 4 inches higher up my torso (had a therapeutic reduction and lift on my right boob following a breast cancer dx in January). So I have one perfect boob that looks like it belongs on an 18 year old lingerie model and the other is most definitely saggy and nearly fifty! I will be getting surgery on my saggy boob in a few months so that I'm symmetrical again but until then I'm rather lob sided

It might be worth trying a 32GG and 34GG
FYI these are sister sizes ie cups are same size (volume):
32H = 34GG
32GG = 34G

It is definitely worth trying different brands and styles too, especially if you have uneven breasts... in your case I would usually say don't even bother shopping online and just book a bravissimo fitting, but that's not possible atm

I wonder if the boob or bust fb group or the bratabase could help you narrow down what you need for the best fit.

Bras are made out of stretch material, but a tape measure is not stretchy, so a 32 band should go around if you measure 32 around...

Unlike most clothes bras are now made so that the stretched out bra should measure what it says. If you have a waist that measures 29 inches would you buy 34 inch waist jeans? Equally would you expect every pair of 30 inch jeans to fit perfectly?

I can try on 10 pairs of jeans in the same shop, same size, some allegedly the same style but in different colours and not all will fit, same goes for bras! Balcony, Full Cup, Plunge is similar to bootcut, straight, boyfriend or skinny - some will work, some won't.

Wires are definitely different shapes, Curvy Kate are generally wide but a bit inconsistent in back/cup size. Elomi are about the narrowest UK sold brand (but start at a 32). Boux avenue notoriously come up tight in the band.

Random patterns I've seen - smaller back bras are much less stretchy as there's less material to stretch.

And for sports bras all the rules are different - basically if its comfortable and you don't bounce too much when you jump all is good, unless you're planning to wear it all day!

@peaceanddove with what you said about the shoulder strap not going tight, it's likely that you are 32. I worked for Ann Summers for years, it's really common to find people are actually a couple of sizes smaller on the back than they think, but if the smaller size is right it will be supportive and make you look good. Good luck!

I tried this yesterday after wearing a 34A or 32b for years...and it came out 30e! I've bought a few from Marks around that size to try. I'm really flat chested though so seems very odd size! I always wear the really padded ones from Primark as you can't get nice ultra padded ones elsewhere so if I am 30e I won't be able to those in that size.

@Hairydogmummy

If all the breast tissue is in the cup rather than sneaking into the band you may find you need less padding

30E is definitely not flat chested and with a bra that fits properly you wouldn't need padding.

That would be amazing! I am honestly flat if no bra and wearing a vest or something. Any time I've worn a non padded bra, clothes look ridiculous. I've never worn any swimsuit other than a bikini with a padded top. Friends are shocked if they see me without ultra padded bra. This could be a revelation. I'm quite broad shouldered though so slightly concerned that the increased measurement around the full part is just my rib cage being wider there. Oh well...we'll see when they arrive!

Boob or Bust was a revelation for me. I'd been wearing a 32C since more or less my first bra and then moved to a 30C but even then I found the bra was still moving when I lifted up my arms. Turns out I'm a 28E/F depending on style and brand. Braless I look almost flat chested but in a properly fitting bra I suddenly have some

A 30e is actually a relatively small cup size.

People see the E and think Jordan-esque. But it's different cup size depending on the band.

I was wearing a 38c as measured by M&S ( I know!)
Boob or bust I came out as a 34DD. I couldn't believe it but went and tried some bras in that size. So much better. And so much better looking for clothes etc.
Just go and try some different styles etc and see what you think.

@anotheremna
Thank you for all the information - my baby is only 6 weeks but premature. Will be internet shopping during my next feeding session. Thanks.

It worked for me. I came out between a 32DD and a 34D. It felt wrong as I've never worn higher than a B cup before.

I ordered two 34D bras and they fit really well, no problem filling them. I measure 33 and I think I would have been fine with the 32DD, will try that size next time.

Sent a very sceptical 'but I've always been a 38B' friend to BoB a few days ago. She still can't believe how comfortable her new 34F is.

So, Freya bras arrived today 32H and 34G. To my amazement the band on the 32H was fine, tiny bit snug but fine on the loosest fitting. I think the cups are slightly too big as there's slight wrinkling of the fabric under my boob. But it wasn't underwrited or moulded, so my newly surgically reduced and pert boob was much too small and wasn't supported.

I think I need to get a moulded cup style bra while my boobs are lob sided to disguise the difference in size, and I think it will have to be underwrited? Haven't yet come across a moulded/padded bra with no underwiring. It's a mine field!

But at least I know I am a 32 band now and it was lovely that the straps stayed on my shoulders without dropping down.

Freya Deco has a non-wired moulded version
www.freyalingerie.com/row/en/lingerie/bras/moulded-bras/deco-moulded-soft-cup-bra/p/aa4231nue/

@peaceanddove
In your case I think you really need an experienced fitter's advice. I think Bravissimo does web chat. There's also the Boob or Bust Facebook group which has very helpful admins.
I would have thought that to even out your boobs, you'd need a "chicken fillet" type filler (sorry I don't know what they're actually called!) or a moulded cup bra.
Do you find underwired bras comfy or would you prefer non-wired or flexiwire?

What about one of those 'chicken fillet' pad things for under the smaller, pert boob?

Belle Lingerie is good for larger cup sizes at sensible prices. I'm a 32 FF and have had lots of bras from them. I'm also a size 12 but was in M&S 36 DD for years until I discovered Bravissimo.

Hilarious cross post with Another Emma. We both called it a chicken fillet!

That must be the name then

I have always preferred an underwrited bra and I think that as I'm about 10 weeks post surgery I should be okay to wear them again? I have ordered 3 more Freya bras that are moulded but under wired this time, all in 32GG. And just added that Deco moulded soft bra to my order to see if that might be comfier although it only goes up to a 32G so hoping the cups are big enough.

If these are no good I might have to get myself some chicken fillets

I tried BoB sizing and I found it poor. The guide suggested I was a 34E, so I bought a few bras to try my 'new' size, and they were massive. I went down to a D instead, and now I'm happy. they fit perfectly. Like some other posters have suggested, a lot of it is down to the shape of your breast as well as your size.

If an internet calculator manages to suggest a size that's just one cup different, I would consider this an excellent result. Especially as 'trained' bra fitters at M&S are usually about 4 sizes off even after measuring you in person.

Oh don't get me started on how useless the supposed trained fitters are at M&S. They once told me I was a 38D, when I was a size 10 and weighed 9 stone (but did have quite large boobs).

I was wearing a 36C and newly measured myself at 32E. When I tried that size in a couple of places, it felt as though I was being cut in half, but I conceded that, yes, I was a better shape in the new size. So I experimented a bit and went up to a 34E, which felt miles better, but a bit empty! So the magic size for me seemed to be 34DD and that has very much been the case. I look and feel ten times better than I ever did in my old size.