I’m 37 and have never had a decent for a well fitting bra…

[PurpleReigns]

Where can I get one? How should I measure? I’ve done M&S and another high street underwear shop, got measured and bought recommended but they were never right. Ever since I’ve guessed at the size and bought from the supermarket but I’m sick of being uncomfortable and having visible bulges (front and back!)

Adding inches came from when bras had less stretch in them I think.

I spent decades wearing a 34B until I came across this site:
www.reddit.com/r/ABraThatFits/wiki/beginners_guide
The shape of your breasts also matters for fit, and that’s where the expert fitters and self education help. My best fitting bras are now 30E!

I spent years of my adult life having no idea that cup size has little to do with breast size, it is about the ratio of chest (band) size to breast size, so the cup size on a 32B is smaller than the cup size on a 34B. So I can buy from Bravissimo even though I have small breasts because it’s my rib cage that’s small which puts my cup size up. Growing up in an era of page 3 and DD being shorthand for big breasts didn’t help.
The reason for the guff about fitting and add 5 inches etc in places like M&S is that it is not profitable for them to hold all the sizes women really need so they come up with a formula to ‘fudge’ a fit.
If like me you have an unusually small band size (I am a size 8 on top), very few manufacturers cater for smaller sizes - technically I should be wearing a 28 band but nearly no-one makes such a size. Bravissimo are good for size and shape range and fitting advice, another smaller chain (and cheaper than Bravissimo) if you are in the right area of the country is Boux Avenue. Not point trying mail order in my experience, you have to try them on.
That said, I still can’t get a really good fit and I have loved the lockdown freedom of not wearing a bra most of the time!

Whatevergetsyouthroughthenight there are some 28F option available nowadays: www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_sacat=0&_nkw=28f+bra&_blrs=spell_check

@KatharinaRosalie - thanks!

Victoria secret measure

I thought Rigby & Peller were crap - fitted me really badly for a very expensive bra for my wedding. I couldn’t wear it.

@DistrictCommissioner

I thought Rigby & Peller were crap - fitted me really badly for a very expensive bra for my wedding. I couldn’t wear it.

They used to be amazing. About 10 years ago, I had the best fitting bras I’ve ever had in my life from them. But the last two times I went, they’ve been really poor and the choice of bras has been terrible.

They asked me to look round the shop and pick out stuff I liked, but literally everything I suggested wasn’t in stock. In the end, I just said, ‘why don’t you show me what you do have in my size and I’ll decide if I like it’.

The fitter kept disappearing and leaving me waiting in the changing room then finally told me they didn’t have enough staff in the shop.