Is my bra too small?

[Photinia]

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!

@Photinia

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?

The back strap

Ok, so I've got some saying I could get away with a 30, and some saying I need a tighter band so my scooping stays in place .

I chose this bra for the photos because it's moulded and so it's not indecent, but I've got other non-moulded ones that are all pretty similar in terms of fit - the band's in the same place, I get the same flab at the top. I've given up on cleavage being an option, which is fine - I don't wear the sort of clothes where you'd notice, mostly T-shirts of varying levels of smartness.

And also, anything that squishes my boobs together to create cleavage looks really out of balance with my sticky out shoulders. Everything ends up being right in the middle and hen there's a gaping nothingness until you get to my shoulders.

I'm not an expert by any means (I'm on my own quest for a bra that fits) but I am similar shape to you and i have to wear a bra that has quite thick sides to keep my scoopage in. Otherwise I get the underarm overspill too.
Currently wearing a 30d that is too loose but sort of keeps the boobs in their cups. I can't wear plunge bras either because then my right boob spills out the middle 😬

The band needs to be firm so I think you're right sticking with the size, you might need a cup size up
I wear a 34 band at a solid 16/18, if I drop to a 14/16 I wear a 32

I don't think you need to go up in the band, that looks ok to me. If you have a relatively small/light bust you can get away with a bit looser than heavy busts but it looks right.

I have a feeling the cups on this aren't a good shape for you though. Moulded are always a tougher fit at the best of times, but I think you maybe need something with taller sides which will help your scooping to stay in place. It's normal when you are first doing it to have to do a wee adjustment during the day - it's like the tissue needs trained to stay in the damn cup - but a higher wing will assist with that.

I feel like these cups are sitting on you, rather than supporting.

I am pro the bravissimo way of measuring - going down in the back and up in the cup, but it does look like you aren't filling the cup, so I too think you should go up a back and down a cup.

After a day...

First and last photos are self-explanatory. Middle one is harder to work out what it is! It's between my boobs - you can just about see the line of where the wire was.

Is this what one should expect after taking off a bra?

Now, will the photos turn up?!

In case this works.

Oh look, it did!

I get marks too especially if I've been sitting down.

Those look fairly standard to me - a bra that fits will leave marks, just like the elastic on socks. The marks are only a problem if they're very red/deep/angry. Those look ok, I think

That’s way too tight. You shouldn’t be left with such deep marks. I have some Boux Avenue bras and they do the same to me even though they ostensibly fit. I don’t find there is enough give in the band.

You might find a deeper band is more comfortable? There’s a brand called Marie-Jo, it’s French and it’s very good for small boobs. It’s quite £ but may be worth a try. Marie-Jo Avero range is nice and I find super comfortable.

@Photinia

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

When you breath out your chest is smaller. When you breath in your chest expands, meaning it'll be bigger than 28.5. I think you need a larger band size?

I would be comfortable with something that tight that it left marks that pronounced.
Do you need a bra? Honest question, those girls don’t look saggy or baggy.

I think maybe you’re wearing it too low on your torso- could you try shortening the straps and then see if that helps the scooping stay in?

That bra really does not look like a good fit on you. The back strap looks too low down on your body & the cups look too big.
I think down a cup-size & up a backside for def, maybe a bra with a slightly wider back strap & side support. I quite like Freya as a brand.

It’s not unexpected that you have received a number of different views here.

Congrats on showing us what is actually happening here, it does help make feedback constructive.

The bras should not cut into you as shown in the pictures, so something is clearly not right. Most bras will leave a mark immediately after you take it off, (this is why models often don’t wear any underwear at all prior to a shoot) but not to this extent. The straps need adjusting to raise each cup higher.

I also think you need to go up a band size. It looks as if you have a lot of strain on the last fastening. Try a larger band size snd a wider one as well. When trying on, it should fit comfortably on the centre clasp. The narrowness of the band is also not helping in terms of the cutting in.

Your current cup size, could be right, but you need to sort the band first.

Yes I agree with others I would definitely go up to a 30 band size.

I'm also on the perfectly fitting bra following weight loss quest. It's not easy or cheap as you almost have to wear them for a couple of days to really check the fit. Could a balconette style just be too shallow for you and you might find a better fit in a fuller cup style?

I also measured as a 28 band, with a C cup. I bought from Boux Avenue as they seem to have a good choice in 28 bands.
My bras fit exactly like yours and I am left with the same type of marks.
I only wear these bras for work and choose not to wear them at weekend as they are not really comfortable enough for me. Ie they are comfortable to wear when sat at a desk, but not so comfortable mucking out a stable and throwing hay bales around!
I am due to buy some new ones and am going to go up a band size and down a cup size. However, I did find that last time I had a 30 band, when I lifted my arms up, the band lifted up over the bottom of my bust, so that bra (different make) obviously wasn’t a good fit.

I would not be able to wear a bra that was so tight it left marks like you have OP.

I am also small of boob so I think I can get away with wearing what is comfortable rather than what is really supportive.

I agree that you shouldn’t have marks that deep and would definitely be trying a different size and potentially different Male of bra, ideally by a proper bra manufacturer like Fantasie, Panache, Gossard etc. because I think Boux Avenue is really more of a fashion brand. However, I’m a 30GG and it may matter more for me!

I honk it looks like you could go up a back size and down a cup size, but to me that means going from 28DD to 30D, which would also mean you should fine plenty of options at Bravissimo. How are people getting to 30C? Am I being an idiot...?

*make of bra