Boob or bust

[carolinesbaby]

So I'm a fairly standard size 14-16 top. Been wearing a 36DD. Seems ok.
Just on impulse measured myself with the boob or bust method. Their calculator says.....
32HH.
What?!
That can't be right, can it?!

Well I'm a size 20/22 and wear a 36GG

I gather you measure 32" under bust which is why it is suggesting a bra with a 32 back size.

I’m a size 24 top and I wear a 38 band. My teenager is a size 10 and wears a 32DD but because she hates a tight band. She should wear a 28 F.

Try the sister sizes round it too, 34H or 36GG.

M&S don't even sell a HH. How can I have been getting so wrong for so long?

I was previously wearing a 36D, moved to 32H using Boob or Bust so sounds about right.

I tried this method of measuring a few weeks ago, bought the bra size suggested and it was miles out. They did not fit at all and were painfully uncomfortable. I tried a couple of sister sizes too.

I’ve tried this. It works ... but has me at a 30g which is uncomfortable.
I’ve stuck with 34DD as l can’t stand the cutting in on my armpits!

When l say it works - l guess maybe it doesn’t? 😂

It works for some people.
The more wide/oval your body shape is, the more likely that you will need to band up at least once to the sister size to be comfortable because of the spacing of the wires.
A 36DD looks like a reasonable fit on me at first glance and the wires are in the right place. I'm a 32FF.

It's not an exact science - get the back right and then try different cups until you get the best fit

@withlotsoflove do you not get overspill with your current bra as if you measure 30G then sister sizes would be 32FF and 34F. A 34DD would therefore have a cup that's too small.

It is probably right.I always wore a 34 dd but in fact I'm a 32f.Bras fit much better now.

I think a lot of people who are used to wearing a far too big band size initially find it difficult to adjust to a much smaller (and better fitting) band size. The reality is you need the band very close fitting to provide you with proper support. Also department stores will deliberately fit you into sister sizings depending on the sizes they sell as most stores won't sell small band size/DD+ cup size combinations. Bravissimo is amazing for bras and they provide a great advice and fitting service.

I'm a big boob or bust supporter. The Facebook group is great for advice.

I'm a size 12. I was wearing a 36D, I thought it was ok but when I look back, half my boob wasn't in the cup. I now wear a 32FF (suggested size was 30FF but it was too tight on my back), I feel much more supported now and my boobs look much better! Harder to find decent bras though, I can recommend Bravissimo.

32hh sounds more likely for your size. I'm a 12 and wear 30ff.

@dementedpixie

It's not an exact science - get the back right and then try different cups until you get the best fit

@withlotsoflove do you not get overspill with your current bra as if you measure 30G then sister sizes would be 32FF and 34F. A 34DD would therefore have a cup that's too small.

Yes... l do. I measure 30 under & 37.5 bent over. Maybe l have that all wrong. The cup fits in the 30g

Also - l am only a size 8 / 10 on top... so l can see l am being ridiculous choosing the 34 band.
@dementedpixie :)
My boobs aren’t big at all. More like a Barbara Windsor shape l suppose. They poke out / but l think it’s because my frame is small! :)

Look, the point about the boob or bust measuring is that IT'S A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT SYSTEM.

You haven't been "getting it so wrong", you've been using the old system.

It would be like saying "I always thought I was a size 6 shoe, but I used the European measurements and it turns out I'm a 39! How could I have been so wrong?"

Merryhouse, I don't understand. If two different measuring systems give two totally different sizes, one of them must be wrong?

The old system adds extra inches to the back size and dates back to when bras had less stretch and were more rigid. We don't need to add extra inches with modern bras so the under bust measurement is your back size with no extra inches added on. Using the add 4/5 inches method gives a bra too bug in the back and too small in the cup

Fat fingers again- too big not bug!

The old system also doesn't work if you have only 3 inches between the back measurement and over bust measurement as it adds 4 inches on and make a negative figure to work out the cup size
E.g. measure 30 under bust + 4 = 34
Measure 33 over bust
Take over bust away from under bust to get the cup: 33 - 34 = -1 which doesn't match a cup size

New method would give 30C

@Reachersloveinterest I'm exactly the same as you. I measured a few days ago and got 32HH. I was gobsmacked! I haven't been brave enough to buy any new bras yet. I'll probably order some this weekend and keep everything crossed.

BoB works for me. I wasn't far out anyway but I thought I'd give it a go. I'm a size 12 but I do have a small frame up top and a 30H feels much more supportive than the 32FF/G I had been wearing.

@dementedpixie

The old system adds extra inches to the back size and dates back to when bras had less stretch and were more rigid. We don't need to add extra inches with modern bras so the under bust measurement is your back size with no extra inches added on. Using the add 4/5 inches method gives a bra too bug in the back and too small in the cup

Now it makes sense!!

Those were my measurements dementedpixie. M&S kept trying to squeeze me into completely unsuitable AAs only because they don’t stock minus alpha or whatever the logic suggests. It’s ridiculous. A difference of 3 inches is small but it’s not completely flat chested.

Never ever trust measurements. My entire life I’ve been constantly told I’m a certain size every time I’ve been measured, every time it’s complete crap! I’ve been measured in dozens of places across the globe. The only time anyone has ever been right was when I was sent to a specialist lady by the breast clinic in New Zealand, she worked with ladies who had breast cancer. She took one look at me and said right 16H maybe HH, she was right, she never measured me, she grabbed some bras and I tried them on for her to see what was the best fitting.

I’ve always gone by what fits me, I can range from G to HH depending on the time of the month and make of bra. If you can jiggle your boobs without them popping out and the back strap goes in a straight line across your back, dose not ride up at all even if you bend over to touch your toes (something I can only dream of) then you have a good fitting bra.