Marks bra fitting

[Coconut80]

Haven't had my bra size measured for a good five years. I am 5 ft 8 and twelve stone normally a size 14 ontop. I had been wearing a marks 34c thinking it was ok, I like nice underwear and have lots of nice bras. I was measured last weekend and I am a 36E, I'm shocked I never thought of myself as having big boobs apart from pregnancy I have been a B or C. I'm 50 and likely perimenopausal is this going to get bigger I've read about menopause making your boobs grow.
I'much comfier in the right sized bra and the fitting lady was lovely x

I think most of us underestimate our cup size, but it also depends on the style of the bra.
I know it’s not always popular on here,but I also had a really good experience with bra fitting in M&S a couple of months ago

Bravissimo is the place to get measured. M&S put me as 34c, I’m actually 30f/28g, and no, I don’t have big boobs, just a small ribcage

I've had the best experience at Victoria's Secret. They made the whole thing very relaxed and really helped to get me just the right thing. They do great comfy everyday underwear. Their marketing goes heavy on the raunchy stuff which I couldn't care less about!

Next: bra fitting service
We don't actually measure as it isn't accurate
What is she wearing currently?
What colour/style would she like?
What cup size do you think she is?

😂

Bravissimo all the way. Victoria's Secret said I'm 36DD. I'm a 30FF or G. They don't even stock that size. the 36 band was just lying there doing nothing, but she said it was a good fit.

Marks bra fitting is shite and puts people in way too big bands.

If you were doing up a 34, the chances that you actually needed a 36 were tiny. They sold you a size they had, not a size that fitted you. Try a 34F, or even a 32FF. Measure yourself at home.

M&S uses the old way of measuring that is to add 4 inches to your under bust measurement (band size.) Hence my bras were 34 back when really I can get into a 30 with a bigger cup.

There are lots of guides online on how to measure yourself.

Most women are wearing a band that's too big and cups too small.

M&S bra fitting is awful and outdated in technique, I’ll bet any money you’re not a 36E. Can you go to a Bravissimo?

An E is also a pretty small cup size

You've probably never had B or C cup sizes if you're a size 14, I'm a similar height, weight and age to you and my (medium sized) boobs fit into a 32F.

On a bra thread, one Mumsnetter measured her DH and he was a C cup. Almost no adult women will be a B or C cup size unless they're very slim, slightly built and low body fat.

(None of the celebrities who are reported to wear 34DDs fit that size either). If they're slim and busty, they're likely to be something more like 28F.

But strangely, there's many shops that sell bras that don't actually fit their customers particularly well. It's almost as if they've not bothered to look at or measure any women before making their bras

I'm similar in height and weight and M&S put me in 36D. I went to an independent lingerie shop and was measured as 32E. There is a definite difference in how the bra sits and supports me, not to mention giving a much better silhouette under clothes.

Now I understand why all MNers are so desperate to get their bra’s off the instant they are home. Painfully tight fitting.
“Ooh can’t wait to get my bra off when I get home.”
See it regularly posted.

The adding 4 inches to your under bust measurement is from old fashioned corsetry I believe. The invention of stretch fabrics makes that irrelevant, plus most bras stretch out after a few wears. I had been measured as a 36f in M&S but was actually a 34g/32h depending on style, a 36 was very loose in back. I would recommend Bravissimo too. Wearing a band size that is too loose will cause discomfort as all the weight will be taken by your shoulders this is going to be a lot worse with a large bust

Not always. Mine are a 34 band and I'm a size 16 and they're perfectly comfy, I can sleep in them
It's the style as well, I only wear elomi plunge bras. Panache feel like the centre part is stabbing me!

I couldn't wait to get my bra off when I was in too large backside. Wires stabbing, back climbing up, boobs falling out and red welts in shoulders from straps, as back offered no support.

All really interesting,sadly I live really rurally with no shops andy nearest city Inverness doesn't have bravissimo or any other measuring places other than marks. I measure myself as 34" under boob and 38" over boob. The 34" band is comfy and I'm on the middle fastening.

When I was a smaller cup I was 2 stone lighter and a size 10. I'm a 14 ontop now in blouses etc.

That would put you at a 34D

M&S bra sizes and their measuring service is always vastly different from everywhere else, I find.

I like John Lewis myself and I buy Freya bras which can be purchased online, and they do a good sale.

I'm 5ft, size 6/8 and a 28F.

Most people underestimate their size by quite a lot.

Are there no independent places you could try near you?

Bravissimo will do a bra fit online, not as weird as it’s sounds it’s asking questions and also on video. I’ve found this very helpful myself as don’t have a Bravissimo or a small independent lingerie shop near me either.

I have such a struggle with bra fitting. Rigby & Peller fitted me at 34F some years ago but I always though it was a tad tight. In between lockdowns I went to M&S who measured me at 38C. I recently went to our local independent posh bra shop who said there was no way I was a 38C and fitted me as a 36E. I've now got bras in a raft of sizes and just wear whatever I feel comfortable in.

I very much doubt you need a 36 back at a size 14 when I wear a 36 back at a size 20/22.

What is your measurement under your bust as that is your back size? M&S often add extra inches to the back measurement giving a bra too big in the back and too small in the cup.