My boobs are in the right place!

[longcoffee]

I know there has been loads of threads on this, but I wanted to share my joy. The dogs don't quite get the level of excitement...!

I 'Boob or Busted' this weekend, and shot from a 36E to a 34HH (quite the shock, but post pregnancy so maybe not that surprising).

I was sceptical, but went with it and ordered a Freya Daisy Lace bra. It arrived today, perfect fit. Boobs are actually where they should be - I nearly took the postman's eye out. Poor bugger.

Total convert. Totally comfortable. Amazing.

(Sorry, just wanted to share my excitement!)

I'm a 12 and wear a 30 back. I was nearly in the right size (generally buying 32FF/G) but checked with BoB and it suggested a 30HH. I bought one and it is spot on. More comfortable and, by relying on the band more, the shoulder straps dig in less. I don't rate M&S for sizing although their fabrics are often very nice. I don't rate Bravissimo either. Curvy Kate and Freya have been the best.

M&S are notorious for still doing that weird "add 4 inches to your back size" thing that was somehow part of fitting bras in 1950 but has been completely superseded by modern bra making methods and fabrics. They've never caught up despite being told a million times it's wrong wrong wrong.

I went from a 36 M&S bra to a 32 and omg my boobs moved from my bowels up to where they belong. It literally made me look a clothes size smaller.

I don't get it, I've been wearing a 36C and that site says I'm a 30E. I have a lot of fat under my arms and on my back, and I'm thinking I'm going to look like I have 6 boobs if I wear a smaller bra size. Does anyone else have my problem? What size do you think I should go for?

What do you measure Barbra? Tight underbust, and overbust leaning over?

The band size is smaller, but the cup isn't. I have backfat sadly - it's actually worse in a too big band. And the armpit hamsters go in (and stay in) the cup when the band fits

I am wearing a 38C (clothes size 12-14 and 5’4)
I came out as 32GG
I’m a bit 😮 but will order one bra to give it a go.

@StatisticallyChallenged

What do you measure Barbra? Tight underbust, and overbust leaning over?

The band size is smaller, but the cup isn't. I have backfat sadly - it's actually worse in a too big band. And the armpit hamsters go in (and stay in) the cup when the band fits

I am 30 inches tight under and 36 inches leaning over bust.. Could I really have been wearing the super-wrong size for so long? I just don't know what to do...

I came out as a 30E which just seems insane... tbh I only did it because I needed a new sports bra, so I got a 34C instead (Shock Absorber so the sizing is a bit tricky IME) and that seems fine.

I can’t see myself ever getting into a 30E though, that’s just crazy talk

Yes, you absolutely could have - that sort of change isn't uncommon at all.

30 under, 36 over is bang on for a 30E as a starting point

Spudlet - a 30E is designed for someone who measures 36 overbust. A 34C is actually deisgned roughly for a 37" overbust. It's not crazy at all - cup size is proportionate to band side so a 30E is not the same size as say a 36E. Shock absorbers, as a rule, run tiny in the band so I would not assess your size based on them. Sports bras in general aren't a good thing to judge size by.

If you've been wearing a bra fitted old style it is totally normal to go down 2-3 band sizes, and up several cups to compensate.

38C to 32GG isn't completely crazy either @Bejazzled. What is the fit like on your current bras? a 38C is designed for someone measuring about 41" overbust, a 32GG is about 42" so the overbust measurements are very close. It's just that with the smaller band your boobs will be properly supported and lifted, the weight will be on the band rather than your shoulders, the bra won't shift about, and your boobs will be properly encased in the cups. Something which might be a shock is how much of your front the cup actually covers - the wire should be running round the outside of your breast tissue entirely, and you'll probably find the cup seems higher under the arms too.

@StatisticallyChallenged
I would describe my 38Cs as comfortable if not particularly supportive. I’m interested to see how the 32GG bra fits.

I wear a 34B which is almost certainly wrong by all these standards, but even moving to a 32 band is so tight it's painful.

My (small) boobs are in the right place though!

The right band absolutely shouldn't be painful - firm yes, but not painful. Often when people find the right band too small it's because they haven't gone up enough in the cup. If the cups are too small they effectively steal fabric from the back making it feel too tight.

Totally share your excitement OP . As a treat to myself for losing weight I went to Rigby and Peller in Mayfair a couple of years ago.

I went in wearing 36C and came out 34G looking a dress size smaller amazingly and 10 years younger up front .

Oh, the sizing on Shock Absorbers is insane - I only got one because I had a voucher tbh, and no money to spend on another brand. They’re good bras but I can’t stand the faff of trying to find one that fits.

I’m still not convinced by being a 30 anything though, I just don’t think I’ll be able to breathe...! I wish I could just go to some shops and try some on, but there we go 🤷‍♀️

I've ordered one bra to see what happens...

I did mine a while back, but need to recheck. 8 thought as I'd put on weight that I'd be bigger but was actually smaller than I thought I was.

Interestingly I had a spate of all of my bras getting the wire poking through in quick succession, apparently this is a sign of a too big band as that allows too much movement and friction

According to this I'm a 28H I currently wear a 30GG so it's not miles off though

28H and 30GG are sister sizes so very close. You could well be in between. How is the band on your current bras?

I use the tightest hook but I always have done - I've been measured at places such as Bravissimo and they've always put me in a 30

A new bra should be started on the loosest hook ( so you can tighten as they stretch with age). If you are finding you go straight to the tightest hook then it would be worth trying a 28H. The difference between a loosest 28H and a tightest 30GG will be relatively subtle, but you might find you get a better lifespan from them.

I used to wear a 36B and often wore bra extenders as the band cut in.
B&B put me at a 32FF.

I dismissed this as being ridiculous. There was no way I was going to be able to do up a 32 and I proved this to myself by trying on a 34D and I couldn't breathe. But I could see that the cups were a better fit than the B. So I relented and tried the 32FF.
When the cups are the right size, the band fits.
I then went home, threw away all of my old bras and bought a draw full of 32FF.

If you don't think it will work - try it!

BOB has me at a 30G. I'm a 32FF so I'm not surprised.
The only thing they don't seem to factor is rib shape, it makes a big difference to how breasts sit and what will be comfortable.

My mother used to say she had a broad back which I didn't think had any relevance. But if you imagine a slice of your body across the point where your bra sits, our family shape is far more oval/lozenge than round. Consequently our breasts sit farther apart meaning that bra wires sometimes dig on the outer edge or bras give a pointy shape. Freya is the only brand that works consistently for me and if I try on the average 36DD bra, the front of it is all in the right place!

Wow I thought I was a 34b and I’ve come
out at 30E so tempted to purchase a new one in this crazy size!

@nancybotwinbloom I've got implants and went onto boob or bust.
I was wearing a 34E and I'm actually a 30G!

@Bejazzled

I am wearing a 38C (clothes size 12-14 and 5’4) I came out as 32GG I’m a bit 😮 but will order one bra to give it a go.

An update. 32GG arrived today. The band was a struggle to get fastened on its loosest hooks, just a tad uncomfortably tight once on. At first sight the Cups looked massive. Once on and everything ‘scooped’ I filled the bottom of them, the wire was comfortable around the shape of the boob - but no way could I fill the top part of the cup 0 it was kind of empty lace. So it’s going back. Any ideas experts? 34 FF?

Can you link to the bra? May be a shape issue rather than size