Boob or bust - strange results?

[Jellykittens]

Are there some body types that the Boob or Bust bra measurement system doesn't work for? I'm 5'4, size 12/14 and small-framed (but with quite a bit of fat!) I normally wear a 34C but I've never been measured. My bras seem to fit fine, so far as I can tell.

I just tried the BoB method and it came out as 30HH - this can't be right?? I've never even heard of HH size, and I don't think I've ever seen anything more than a E cup in M&S.

Is it being skewed because I gain weight onto my boobs? There's a lot of fat there as well as breast tissue and I imagine that "hangs" differently for the leaning-forward measurement. It's a bit of a wake-up call to lose the weight, but I'm still stunned that there's so much there to lose!

Did anyone else find BoB gave them strange results?

Try Bravissimo, they do 30HH. M&S bra sizing is notoriously awful. 34C definitely doesn't sound right for your body type, I wear a 28E or 30DD which would be roughly the same cup volume I think, and I have relatively small boobs. I'm not sure why you're worrying about weight loss or how much fat is in the cup, it doesn't really matter. All that matters is getting the bra that fits you best.

Perfectly normal size. M&S are just shit at bras!

M&S told me I was 36DD aged 21.

Turns out I was a 30G. Bravissimo is your friend!

To add to the above, what you are describing as fat is probably part of your breast tissue and should be scooped into your bra cup too.

Hard to tell, but if the cup of a 34C fits you well, then I don’t think you will fit into a 30HH cup as that has so much more volume.
I would go into Bravissimo if you can, and try on a lot of bras, that will give you a rough idea of your size, and then you can adapt that for different brands, as like shoes, brands vary in size.

Honestly it’s shocking - I went from a 38B to a 34F/G and they fit. It’s hard to imagine how it works but the cups are supposed to go further under your arms. That’s not a strange result at all, it’s what they’re supposed to be like.

Give it a try - if in doubt, I got some stretchy lace bras first as I was concerned about giant rigid cups. Was amazed when a 34F was a bit too small in the cups

Well it depends really. I’m a 30GG according to boob or bust / Bravissimo but I don’t find them comfortable. Any of them. I have asthma and lupus and I hate the feel of anything remotely tight around my rib cage so despite knowing they fit me as they “should” do and give me tits of the gods I just don’t like it. For me life is all about comfort and so I prefer to wear a 34F in a non wired style or a Molke bra in a large cosmic (even though their own size guide puts me as a small super). I think it’s important to use the guides everywhere as a starting point. There’s no point spending £30-40 on a torture instrument you can’t wait to take off.

It is a bit mad. I used to wear a 34A and decided to try boob or bust measurements when I needed new bras after finishing breastfeeding. I came out as a 30D! I never thought they would but they fit perfectly and when you look at the cup it's not actually that different to my old bras but fits so much better. I think we're conditioned to assuming a D cup means Marilyn Monroe style figure when probably most women who consider themselves to have small boobs (like me) are actually that size

Totally normal. I knew a 6ft size 16 who was a 30H.

I swear by boob or bust but I also think that some women don’t get on with it as the change is too much. I would suggest meeting in the middle of your old and new measurement if the 30 feels too tight, so a 32 , cup size maybe f or something around there

I was shocked at my Boob or Bust size, went from a 32B to a 30E. Seemed wrong. But went to an independent fitter and that's the same size she fitted me as.

Boob or bust is a starting point. Its what you measure as. It doesnt mean that youll find that size easily, or that every bra in that size will fit you. Bra companies are as inconsistent with sizes as any other clothes company, and you also often have wires and boning that changes how it fits and feels, so a lot of it is trial and error
Im also someone that cant deal with tightness around my ribs too much and its a massive faff trying to find a bra that fits properly. I quite often do sister sizing to my BoB size

There’s a super helpful Facebook group you could join. There’s always loads of posts with people disbelieving their results. But (in general) it does work! There’s a before and after photo album where you can see tonnes of examples. For me I was previously wearing 38C but it didn’t feel quite right and I got loads of problems with mastitis and boob sweat. Boob or bust gave me 34GG which just seemed so far out. But I gave it a go and was amazed when the bras fit! Several months on my previously displaced boob tissue has all migrated back to where it should be and I now wear a 32HH. Just remember the calculator result is a starting size and you might need to try different makes/styles to find ones that suit. The important thing is to get the band fit right first then adjust the cup sizes if needed. Loads of information on all of this in the Facebook group. Happy bra hunting!

You are not alone in your reaction to being correctly sized! Honestly just buy a bra online from somewhere that does free returns - ASOS carry your size, as do figleaves (via Simply Be) and theres also brands like Pour Moi, Curvy Kate, Boux Avenue, Bravissimo etc that do the bigger sizes (check their returns policy though!) If you fancy trying it out!
I got someone i know who was wearing a 38C into their correct size of 34G via this sizing method and she had two different people ask if she'd had a tummy tuck because the new bra actually lifted her boobs up and off her stomach.

My boobs have got bigger since wearing the correct size bra, something to do with the breast tissue being properly supported I think.

I spent my life thinking I was a 38B, I’m now wearing a 34DD/E.

Size differences like this are hugely common when you first do your BOB size.

We’re all ingrained in the mindset of wrong sizes.

It’ll take you a while you get used to the tighter band when you try it.

Not unbelievable - m&s fitted me in a 36F when I was a 30HH in reality