Boob or bust help

[TeddyisMydog]

Hope this is allowed here, I notice the Facebook page for BoB is so busy

So I've finally had enough of the ratty maternity bras I got 5 years ago 😳 and decided to measure myself about a month ago. It said 36 E and bloody heck that was an absolute squeeze.

However my ratty maternity bra is starting to leave me very sore under bust so decided to measure again, it's now 36 DD 🤨 I don't understand and don't want to waste money because bras are always non returnable

I only have m&s to do a fit check and have always been told to steer clear, there is nowhere else that does fitting here

It also says that my tight size shouldn't be that large but it bloody is! I've checked it 3 times now, What am I doing wrong? I don't believe this is my size at all

Try the curvy Kate online bra fitting guide, they let you return items too so I tend to order a few different sizes to find what's best! Hope this helps. I'm around a 40H so feel your pain 😅

Does that say you're a size 14 dress size?
I'm a 20/22 and wear a 36 back bra.

What size are your maternity bras?

And of course you can return bras if they don't fit

I'm pretty sure you can return bras bought online.

Have you looked for an independant bra shop locally?
I go to them when I need a mass wardrobe replacement, buy a couple, then look online for the same brand/style/size and buy more at a better price.

I'm a 14/16 dress size, and wear a 34. Do you need to up the cup size to get a bit more breathing space?

Yes 14 dress size, my maternity bras are 38 C
I never knew you could return them 😮 I swore they are always non returnable as they'll have been tried on? I've been binning them how annoying! X

Maybe you are getting confused about pants as they often can't be returned. I have bought and tried on countless bras and returned those that don't fit.

I dont see how you can be a 14 but measure 36 inches under bust. Your 38C will feel tight as the cup size is too small (sister size of 36DD is 38D)

Thank you for that, I could be a 16 I don't know I haven't got myself any clothes for years and everything I own is in a Medium
It's not tight, it's like chaffing. I think with the warm weather Scotland has been having, it's sweat 🥲😳
I tried again and I definitely can't get the tape measure any lower than 36
So are you saying if 36 DD doesn't fit I should try a 38 D?

The first time I did the calculations about a month ago it came out as 36 E, I tried 4 bras and cried myself into them, was ridiculously tight and very sore. Someone suggested curvy Kate and the online calculator said 34 FF.

There is no independent boutiques around here, just m&s

Just realised I'd put 35 in to the calculations, that's going proper tight with the tape measure

I've found my old calculations I did, it was in March. It says 36 C so I wonder where I got E from. It could be me not doing it correctly I suppose, I just don't want to waste more money

I really recommend doing a fitting with Bravissimo, you can actually do it over the phone or on zoom if you prefer them to see. I've used both services and got really good fitting bras, they definitely know what they're doing.

Just so you know as well bras are returnable, sale items are almost always included in that too - it's pants/knickers that are not refundable 🙌🏻 if you do an online or phone order with bravissimo but you want to exchange the size etc, if you call them up or use their live chat you can request an exchange and they will pay the cost of the new postage to you. Highly recommend bravissimo!

Also would like to add that I've found these online size calculators to be quite inaccurate, for example I put my measurements in and it came up with a size completely different to the bras that fit me well 🤷🏼‍♀️

When you tried the bra on did you do the backwards band test?
Cups at the back pointing towards your bum and clasp at the front, do it up at the same level the band would be under your boobs. If I remember correctly if you can pull out an inch the band is fine, if more than that the band is too big and you need to size down on the band.
But then the issue is some of your boobs could have been sitting in the band area that makes it feel tight as not enough room in the cup.
I would order a panache or Freya bra as they are true to size and see where you go from there. Next and Very etc are good for free returns.
Also moulded cups are hard to fit as you need the boobs to be the same shape as the cup!
I did my BOB last year and have since gone down a band size and up 3 cups sizes from swooping and scooping! Be prepared for a change a few months down the line 😀

Fantasie bras are very reliable for sizes. On e you know the style that suits (or a few) just buy them.

I’m a 34H, I order everything online because I’m in aus and our bras cost double.
Ive found M&S bras really tight. I need to go up a back and often cup size.

Get an idea of the size, and then go into a shop and just try on a range of similar sizes to see what feels best? I was in John Lewis yesterday for some nursing bras and I didn't need to be measured but there was a very helpful woman working there who looked at the fit of them for me.

Boob or bust seems totally out for me - I'm post partum so boobs are bigger but it said I am a 39ff when usually I'm a 34C. I bought a couple of bras from ASOS - 1 in the b&b size and one where I thought I might be. The 30ff did not fit at all, the closest was a 34d but that was a little too small.

The best bra measuring I've had was at Rigby and Peller for my wedding bra but it's an effort to go to London now (and expensive!)

I'm a 34G and usually buy Fantasie bras.

I measure around my chest below my breasts and around the fullest part of my breast. The difference between the two measurements gives the cup size and obviously the measurement around the chest gives the band size.

So, a 2 inch difference is a B cup, a 3 inch a C cup, a 4 inch D, a 5 inch DD and so on.

You can order bras online and return them if they don't fit.

I agree with going into Bravissimo if you can, my BorB measurement turned out to be way too big (BorB 36J vs Bravissimo 36G). Previously wore 38E but they were way too small in the cup although v comfy. The Bravissimo isn't perfect, the band digs in when driving for longer distances and I can't do housework or gardening in it but it is very flattering under clothes and perfect for work(office)/nights out. I wear crop tops for housework and gardening.

Thank you everyone,
The only place that measures here is m&s
Bravissimo is 4 hours away

I don't believe I'm anywhere close to a DD, although I know its not necessarily about the size of the cup but to me that's huge! Mine are tiny, somebody above said about scooping but I have nothing to scoop 😂

I did look at the fantasie bras but they look quite expensive, I just want a cheap bra 😅 especially if it's just going to be returned

But a DD cup differs in size depending on what back size its associated with. A 28DD is much smaller than a 36DD. It only equates to 5 inches difference between under and over bust measurements which isn't that much.

My last bras were from brastop online (36GG or H)

I'm just in primark and I've tried on a 38 D t shirt bra I can't fill it how embarrassing
Think I'll just stick to my ratty maternity one lol

How did the back feel on the bra you tried on? Once you get the back right it's a matter of finding the right cup size. Different brands and styles will fit differently. T shirt bras can be hard to get a good fit.

Just take two measurements. One around your chest below your breasts and the other around the fullest part of your breast. The first measurement will give you the band size and the difference between the two measurements will give you the cup size. See my post above for info on cup sizes.