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Original poster

Is my bra too small?

87 replies

Photinia · 13/08/2021 08:18

Would appreciate some pointers.

I used to wear 34B ish. Bra interventions blah blah and now I'm mostly buying 28DD. Under bust is 28.5".

Took me a while to get used to it, but now I am. The selection of bras in 28 band is woeful and it would be much easier to buy 30. When I've tried a 30 on, it's felt really loose. But would I get used to that? I don't have big boobs so I don't need loads of support. I'm getting red marks on my rib cage that are still there (albeit faintly) the next morning. I don't think of myself as unusually tiny (I'm a 10-12 bottom half, 8-10 top half).

So, knowledgeable ones: am I wearing too small a band? Photos are of me in a new Boux Avenue 28DD on the loosest hook. It looks like the cup is gaping in one photo but that's because I'm in a weird position!

OP posts:
Original poster
Photinia · 13/08/2021 08:18

Two more photos...

OP posts:
SomethingToldTheWildGeese · 13/08/2021 08:25

Is 28 your under measurement when breathed in or out?

I think that one looks okay though I do also wonder if you could go up a band size and down a cup size? So, like a 30C?

mustlovegin · 13/08/2021 08:31

So, like a 30C?

Yes, I think so too, although the sizing doesn't look too wrong

OwlBasket · 13/08/2021 08:37

The sizing looks good but if you’re suffering with marking while you don’t need that level of support Then a 30C is probably fine.

AnUnlikelyCombination · 13/08/2021 08:37

Hmm, have you scooped? Your slim, so the small amount of back fat looks like it could be scooped in to the bra if you had more room in the cup.

Can you do an online fitting with Bravissimo and see what they say? They sell a lot of 28 backs (I wear them), so you’ll get a lot of choice and they’re great about returns if you can’t get to a shop to try lots on.

MarshmallowsOnToast · 13/08/2021 08:54

@AnUnlikelyCombination

Hmm, have you scooped? Your slim, so the small amount of back fat looks like it could be scooped in to the bra if you had more room in the cup.

Can you do an online fitting with Bravissimo and see what they say? They sell a lot of 28 backs (I wear them), so you’ll get a lot of choice and they’re great about returns if you can’t get to a shop to try lots on.

Bravissimo start a a D cup though.
MarshmallowsOnToast · 13/08/2021 08:56

Ignore me. I completely forgot OP had said she was buying a DD.

I just remembered 30C. Had a sleepless night. Apologies.....

RuthTopp · 13/08/2021 09:01

In the first photo , that's boob hanging out the side, you need to put it in your bra. Also it looks like the straps need pulling up by quite a lot.
In another photo ( I think your arms are raised in it ) your breasts are not filling the cup, as you can see a gap at the top.

Original poster
Photinia · 13/08/2021 09:39

Re scooping, no I haven't - I just chucked this on. When I've tried, it's always settled back to what you see here within a few hours (even when I've had plenty of spare space in the cup so I stopped bothering.

Re boobs not filling cup, that's because I'm in such a weird position with one arm up and one down. If I'm in a more normal pose there's no gaping.

Re Bravissimo last time I looked at their website I was unimpressed with the choice. But I was looking for a specific thing (white balcony) so maybe that has overly influenced my impression.

Re straps need pulling up - what do you mean?

Thanks for all this!

OP posts:
Original poster
Photinia · 13/08/2021 09:40

Oh and 28.5" is underbust in relaxed pose - breathing out.

OP posts:
KidneyBeans · 13/08/2021 09:44

The straps are too long and half your boob is hanging out of the side of the bra.
Apart from that it looks fine

Original poster
Photinia · 13/08/2021 09:46

What do you mean by straps too long? How long should they be?

And if that's boob hanging out, how do I keep it in?

OP posts:
RuthTopp · 13/08/2021 10:24

You need to adjust the strap to make them shorter.

Original poster
Photinia · 13/08/2021 10:59

How do I know when they are the right length? They're not slipping off (but I have broad sticky out shoulders which are keeping them on!).

OP posts:
NotMyCat · 13/08/2021 11:03

If you can fit two fingers under the straps then that's about right
I wouldn't go up a back size

KidneyBeans · 13/08/2021 12:27

@Photinia

What do you mean by straps too long? How long should they be?

And if that's boob hanging out, how do I keep it in?

Scoop it into the bra as PP have said
dementedpixie · 13/08/2021 12:33

I think it looks ok and not too tight. Needs a bit of scooping under the arms.

WhatTheFrock · 13/08/2021 12:42

You see, I don't get this scooping malarkey. Yes it looks great for the 5 mins you are in the fitting room, everything fitting snugly in the cup, fooling you into thinking there is actually a bra that fits you. And then as soon as you walk out and move around, it slowly slides back out again.
How do you get everything to stay put?

dementedpixie · 13/08/2021 12:45

If you're in the correct sized bra it should mostly stay in the cup. More tendency to escape if the back is too big and the cup is too small

AnUnlikelyCombination · 13/08/2021 12:53

If the band is tight enough (snug, but not suffocating) it will all stay scooped. I suspect you need a 28E in a different style (you mention broad shoulders, so you may well want a wider style). Bravissimo should be able to give you some options and brands that work for you, even if you end up buying mostly from elsewhere.

Branleuse · 13/08/2021 12:59

i dont think it looks like a brilliant fit. Not terrible, but if its hurting and your boobs are falling out of it, then id try another style or brand

Anordinarymum · 13/08/2021 13:05

Tbh it all looks a bit odd. Your bust looks too low at the front in that bra, it looks awfully low at the back and the middle strap looks awfully tight.

The bra does nothing for you at all. You need uplifting not strapping down OP

Original poster
Photinia · 13/08/2021 13:22

If I scoop, then stretch my arms up to the ceiling and wiggle a bit, then back to natural pose, the flab has come back over the top of the band under my arms. That's true even with a bra where the cup is far too big. Is that not supposed to happen?

It seems to be coming up over the band when I reach up and then staying there rather than coming from further forward. I've lost several stone recently so I do have loose skin in a lot of places.

OP posts:
Branleuse · 13/08/2021 13:25

imo when youre a small band size, its much less important that the band is very tight, as it will be pressing on your actual ribs, rather than chub. You could easy get away with a 30c, and the smaller cup might give you a bit of cleavage

Original poster
Photinia · 13/08/2021 13:35

Branleuse it's not hurting, I just want it to be right! And maybe to increase my choice if I can go up to a 30". But you all seem to be telling me my band is too small because scooping isn't working.

The bra is definitely there when I put it on, but it's not a massive relief when I take it off. It's certainly more comfortable than a 34" band, which just slipped around all over the place!

Anordinarymum I think my boobs are quite low down? And/or my shoulders are quite high and pointy. The band is parallel to the floor all the way round. What do you mean by the middle strap being tight?

OP posts: