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!

I think the cream one looks good

I started out with what I thought was lightly on my shoulders . They've never fallen off.

But everyone was saying they looked too loose and I have absolutely no idea how you can judge that other than by whether they are falling off. Which they aren't. So I'm confused. . And uncomfortable in a bra which was comfortable before (even if it did give me red marks on my ribcage at the end of the day).

How much am I pulling? Not much. I mean, a bit? How much am I supposed to be pulling? I can certain shove my whole hand and another one (and I could do a third if I had one) under the straps as easily as I can two fingers. It just drags all the soft tissue up so it sort of slides over my ribs and shoulders. The bones stay still and all the soft tissue goes up, and then if I keep pulling the wires pop over my boobs.

Oh good. I like the cream one. It's actually sort of light pink.

I came up as 28 something or other when I did boob or bust but I find even a 32 bra too uncomfortable?! I’m a size 8 (but not a dainty one if that makes sense). I have no boobs but like wearing a bra for many of the reasons you stated so now choose non-wired Bralettes - I get them from Sainsbury’s in a size 10. Much easier!

In my opinion yours looks too tight.

Jesus, op - it sounds like torture. A bra should be comfortable, you describe a clearly ill fitting garment that leaves long lasting marks on your skin. it doesn’t matter what a bunch of women on the internet think, just buy what is more comfortable to you.
I will save my opinion on the feasibility of scooping the back fat into the cup of the bra to myself.

Marks on skin such as sock/ jean marks are fine
I mean you don't want painful severe indents but red/pink marks like jeans cause is fine
That's why models never wear underwear before shoots because it leaves marks, think of the ones that skinny jeans leave on your legs and waist

Like this
https://www.instagram.com/reel/CShqa7RCiVt/?utmmedium=copylink

Going by the photos I'm underestimating my own size! I would have thought you're a B cup going by them! I spill over the top of and sides of Bs and Cs but get red marks similar to yours around back and sides. Ds leave a gap in cup if I tilt forwards slightly. Making me think I need to figure out measuring properly!

I have a similar bust/upper body to you.

I’ve got a variety of bras but a 30C/30D in a standard plunge or full cup looks best on me even though I would measure a 28D. I fasten the back on the tightest fitting and the straps so that they rest on my shoulders with some support but not leaving marks. I also have a couple of bralette type things that I like.

@Photinia

Under bust, fine: 28.5" breathing out.

"Fullest" part of bust I could give you any number you wanted, pretty much. Biggest number is with the tape measure in my armpits, but assuming you want somewhere nearer my nipples it depends hugely on whether arms are up or down and which way I'm leaning. And that's only ever a start, right? When I did it, I think it came out at 28D rounded down or 30C rounded up, but I'm generally overspilling those so my normal starting point is now up one - 28DD or 30D.

I’m not sure why you’re leaning to do the measurements.

Put the tape measure around the fullest part of your bust with bra on standing upright with arms down.

If you don’t have an accurate set of measurements you’ll be unlikely to find a good fit.

I do think some people perhaps just mark much more easily than others though. I noticed this morning that I had fairly deep red marks from my nightie - it’s one of those jersey ones with a soft shelf bra inside and definitely isn’t anywhere close to being tight. If anything. I’d say it’s too baggy.

Squills there's the boob or bust technique that has you leaning forward. It makes a big difference how far I lean forwards.

I disagree that you need precise measurements anyway. They don't take account of your shape or of the variation between brands. Measurements are just a starting point.

Notmycat I'm in 12-14 jeans. You all know my top half measurements. Pear is an understatement. Skinny jeans are not really my thing . But I'll take your point and apply it to my 90s style boot cut and straight legs (which I am led to believe are all the rage again).

I need a new black bra and on the back of this thread I think it's going to be a 30D ish bralette. Thanks!