Those with ample bosom...help!

[Stuffragette]

My gorgeous dd is 14 and is a size (from the rough measuring she let me do) 30E bra size. She will only wear jersey crop tops because she thinks it makes her boobs look smaller.

She has been complaining of back ache and although that's prob down to heavy school rucksack, I'm worried about the lack of support on her chest and wondered if no bra was making it worse. She's rounding her shoulders and she just told me she hates her boobs so much

Oh bless her, I know how she feels. I was a G cup by her age
She really needs to get fitted for some proper support. Debenhams, Boux Avenue and Bravissimo are great and their bigger bras are pretty :)

It sounds like she doesn’t want the sticking out rounded shape that a proper underwired bra would give her. I totally get that as it feels much more exposed. I second the M&S non wired sports bra and the flexi fit one. They both give good support but give you a flatter less defined shape which could work for her. Molke are also good but I find them not as supportive.

Oh bless her, I was a g cup by the time I left school it’s awful.
I would say supportive sports bras after getting her measured.
I still want a breast reduction (34HH) and I always feel big and judged even though I just wear t shirt and jeans. Best of luck

I went from a B cup in year 7 to starting year 8 with an E cup so your daughter has my sympathies, it can be horrible to develop so quickly so young.

I too wanted to minimise my boobs and a full cup that wasn't moulded really helped, as did good bralettes like the ones from tutti rouge.

She could also wear her crop top on top of a fitted bra to flatten it down a bit. It’s crap but she does have lots of bright, modern bras to choose from now. Those of us with massive boobs back in the day may remember when ‘Doreen’ was the only option!

Bravissimo every time they are so lovely and brilliant at what they do. The right size bra will make her look smaller and make her more comfortable.

Bravissimo are excellent, I love their no tape measure policy and dressing gown for when you want to ask for assistance.

I'm not an expert but rounding her shoulders all the time would surely be the cause her a backache?
(i'm 30GG and still feel like a walking pair of boobs sometimes, a good cut of clothing seems to be the key)

Can u find a local independent bra fit/store.
its a total gamechanger.
no tape measure.
and the relief - discomfort\ache is instantly noticeable.total confidence boosting too cos actual fit =support=better physical definition i think

I would also say, OP, that my DD wouldn’t let me attempt to measure her at all, but she was fine at Bravissimo. The fitters are amazing - down to earth and reassuring, there’s a great choice of bras and they know what looks good. I was worried DD would be too small for their size range - she’s not big boobed at all - and was astonished when they fitted her at 28E. And the bras are perfect on her.

If you possibly can, get her fitted. Otherwise trying stuff on at home could be a bit of a lottery.

@Stuffragette
If she's a size 6 there's no way she has a 30 inch chest - that's about size 10-12.
She likely needs a much smaller band

I know she's self conscious but a proper fitting sports bra will make her chest appear much smaller and stop the jiggling that's likely feeding into her self-consciousness.

Also whilst I appreciate you want to be sensitive, a properly fitting bra really is a health issue for larger boobs and she does need firm guidance on this.

Thank you all so so much. I've ordered some online but I think I will take her to our nearest Bravissimo branch and get her measured. It take a bit of bribery with a trip to Primark afterwards and a big coffee for me. I'll let you know how I get on.

Good luck OP - you sound like a lovely mum, and she’ll thank you later. I wish I’d had good bras as a teenager.

I have a few of these:

www.bravissimo.com/products/porcelain-elan-balconette-bra-pn125/

They are 'padded' but really very thinly and I feel less exposed somehow.

They're plain and comfy.

Bravissimo are great - they don't usually measure, they guess by eye and are usually spot on. If you explain what you're looking for (colour, style etc) they will bring a selection to the changing room (and if you want them to help assess the fit they come in and check).

I hated having big boobs as a teenager, too much attention from creepy old men. I used to wear layers and baggy tops to cover up.

Also I avoided sports as there didn't seem to be awareness of the need for sports bras back then!

Just wanted to say (as a young women aged 20) that actually (as uncomfortable/embarrassing for her as it may seem) wearing the correctly fitted bra is much more comfortable and will result in better posture/less back pain.
I didnt grow boobs until about 16, and used to look like a boy with no curves and flatchested. My mum took me to Bravissimo (who were brilliant, and like another poster mentioned, very discrete and you could keep your bra on or off, whichever you preferred, as i was abt15/16 and a bit embarrassed about getting my boobs out infront of a stranger!). I went from a 34dd, really illfitting, with the dreaded quad boob thing going on, to a 32FF. I remember being surprised my boobs were so big. Much more flattering. Actually, in a funny way, doesnt make them seem as big, because everything is contained and fits correctly.Less likely to have back pain etc.
The bra's i tend to wear are standard tshirt bra's, not push up or anything. Clothes just hang better. You can get minimising bra's too if she is super self conscious about her figure. I learnt to embrace my figure! Hope it helps.

Sainsburys, only £9, looks like a crop top but has fastening at the back, it's double cotton with stretchy underband in grey (sorry not technical enough to post link) although looks like a crop top, and feels like one, it is surprisingly supportive and minimises my E size boobs.

I was 5 foot and size 6 with massive boobs and hated them . Don't think my mum helped me but I love my figure now . I k ow that won't help her but she will probably fill out a bit everywhere else and grow into them . That green bra linked above looks fab ! M and s do minimiser bras so maybe look at those .

@DorotheaDiamond

These are good too..

www.marksandspencer.com/flexifit-non-wired-full-cup-bra/p/clp60438189?color=WHITE#intid=prodColourId-60438187

I wouldn't do sports in them but for every day they are OK!

@DorotheaDiamond

Completely but coincidence I ordered that bra but in the minimiser version and it turned up yesterday and fits really well (I’m an M&S hater).

Very supporting and a lovely smooth line. Less gape on the top I wore yesterday. Would be very good under a school shirt. Didn’t look or feel like a wired bra at all. www.marksandspencer.com/flexifit-full-cup-minimiser-bra-c-g/p/clp60437844?color=WHITE&prevPage=srp#intid=prodColourId-60437843

When my daughter was 12 I had her measured at Bravissimo and bought the Panache underwired sports bra in 30 E. She had previously been wearing 32 DD from M&S. Bravissimo were excellent and I have since bought the same bra online from other shops for less.

What works for me is wearing a black tight fitting Lycra type vest under clothes in addition to a bravissimo bra. This covers my cleavage but allows me to wear deeper v necks or shirts unbuttoned further. This can be worn under gossamer black tops for nightclubs so slimming but decent. In summer I almost always wear navy blue tops and in winter almost always black. This slims down and minimises. I find white, light or bright coloured tops highlight my boobs. I would tend to wear longer sleeveless tops to elongate particularly in summer and wear jackets or cardigans for warmth. Short sleeved dresses or tops tend to add width where you don’t want width. Bikinis are almost always black as it minimises. Deodorant under and between boobs is important for preventing rashes. Skimming silky type fabrics in tops work well as they don’t add bulk.

You guys are the best. All these are such great suggestions. I tentatively broached the subject this morning saying I'd ordered her a sports bra for her trampolining class. You can imagine the discomfort she must be suffering there!

As a teenager, I was a similar shape and hated it, the discomfort, attention. Yuck

Breast reduction surgery seemed the only solution until I read an article (probably in Cosmopolitan ) about June Kenton, claiming the transformational power of the right bra.

https://www.rigbyandpeller.com/UK

It worked for me, the no tape measure fitting was so easy, complete absence of embarrassment and, wonder of wonders, a whole range of different bras that would work so I finally (sic) had a choice.

While some of their things are very expensive, their prices for the bras I buy are not significantly higher than on line full price.

The experience is just so worth it. For a shy teenagers, I'd book a fitting and make an outing of it. Have fun.

P.s. I have tried Bravissimo, and find it a bit hit and miss. R&P totally dependable and consistently worth it

M&S do a range of larger breast bras.

A 30E is actually quite large (I should know) - she's just like me (and lots of other women) and has a narrow back.

Tutti Rouge at ASOS do a nice range of lacey bralettes.

I would get her a few pretty/practical proper bras though as she will appreciate the support (in the bust area) later on.

@Izzidigne

What works for me is wearing a black tight fitting Lycra type vest under clothes in addition to a bravissimo bra. This covers my cleavage but allows me to wear deeper v necks or shirts unbuttoned further. This can be worn under gossamer black tops for nightclubs so slimming but decent. In summer I almost always wear navy blue tops and in winter almost always black. This slims down and minimises. I find white, light or bright coloured tops highlight my boobs. I would tend to wear longer sleeveless tops to elongate particularly in summer and wear jackets or cardigans for warmth. Short sleeved dresses or tops tend to add width where you don’t want width. Bikinis are almost always black as it minimises. Deodorant under and between boobs is important for preventing rashes. Skimming silky type fabrics in tops work well as they don’t add bulk.

Good ideas - thanks!

Also OP - if you have local lingerie boutiques check what they sell re sizes - I know at least 2 local ones who stock larger sizes and the service in both is second to none.