Why are 28 band bras so rare?

[magicalkitty]

I don't think I have a particularly narrow rib cage, but I require a 28 band bra. I can't be that rare, but it's very hard to find bras this size without spending £££.

M&S and the like don't carry many styles under a 30 band. I'm sure a lot of women actually require a 28 but settle for 30 or maybe even larger because they have to.

It's easier to find things in very large sizes than it is in smaller, even though 28 isn't particularly tiny anyway.

I find the M&S Angel bras fit a lot smaller and tighter than the main range bras. So the 30" is really more like 28". That's where I get DD's bras.

I'm a 28F - rely on the Freya brand of bra from bravissimo which are a perfect fit for me. A bit expensive but the only good fit I can get

The 4 inch thing makes sense. I bought at 32 GG from Tu, and it measured 28" - so of course didn't fit.
But At Bravissimo ( wonderful selection of all sizes) the 32" was indeed 32".
Why can't they all agree!!

@Yuja have you checked John Lewis sale? They had loads of Freya bras in small sizes (I think including some 28") on sale for about £15 in Jan. You can also get Freya new with tags cheaply on eBay.

Oh no I didn't know that - thank you!

I tried a 30 in those on her today, but it's too big really. There was a lot of give. I know she doesn't really need the support yet though.

Ive never heard of this 4 inches thing, when was this a thing?

I'm a 28f and have been getting them from Boux avenue for years. They fit me personally fast better than bravissimo which tend to be so frumpy and chunk y for my frame. I just got some really nice sets in the sale for crazy cheap prices which were a great fit.
Its like getting lots of things in small sizes, it's hard. Much easier to get an 18 than an 8 it seems.

+4 was always the method in the 80's & 90's (and probably before), in the UK. It was given in as advice in mail order & home shopping catalogues, pre internet shopping. It was standard practice in shops too. It probably swapped over at some point in the mid 2000's but I couldn't tell you exactly when.

Sorry, that was to @soupfiend

I dont remember that at all, I bought my first bra in about 82ish.

I just remember measuring the back size and then the bust size and working out the cup size by adding on the difference.

Freya would be a good brand for you as they start at 28” band and cater for up to very large cup sizes.
I’ve never bought M and S style bras so £35-£50 seems the norm for me and there are certainly a lot more expensive brands than that. Always worth getting the underwear right in my book especially if you’re busty.

I found similar. I think I got something like 28D or C using boob or bust which I found impossible to find anyway. I mostly wear 32A/34A and I’m pretty comfy so I think it probably matters less with smaller boobs.

@DietrichandDiMaggio agree, I'm at that size where I'm borderline between a cute dainty bra and something that looks like a skydiving safety harness.

Like PP, I'm still trying to figure out where people who are actually skinny get their bras from! I'm about 5'8" and usually a solid 10, only ever an 8 in brands that do vanity sizing. With regular clothing, there are many sizes below mine that I couldn't dream of fitting into. But when it comes to bras, I often end up exhausting the lower band sizes in brick and mortar stores...

I don’t understand. I’ve been a 34b for most of 35 years and the sizing hasn’t changed. I don’t buy many bras and they’re all M&S or supermarket but they all still add four inches. Saying that, I’m on the verge of giving them up anyway because they’re so itchy!

All the main stores add 4 inches so a 28 band would actually be 24 inches.

Some people just have v narrow ribcages. If you’ve got a narrow ribcage with a bit of padding on top you can get away with quite a small band ime, but I reckon it would be more uncomfortable if my ribs were prominent.

I am less than 8 stone, size 6-8 and I cannot imagine wearing a 28" bra - is this why Mumsnetters always take their bras off when they get home? I wear a 30 or 32 and my bras are comfy enough to wear all day.

Same here. But you’re actually wearing the same size bra as OP. You’re a 26-28” band width, calling it a 30-32 as per the traditional way, OP is 28” band width calling it a 28.

it can be better for your back to wear a smaller back size and larger cup size (and not add 4inches)

Wait, what? We’re not supposed to add 4 inches on anymore?

i didn’t realise this either lol

Tiny ribcage over here- I measure 26 inches round, NEVER found a 26 inch bra!
I am a J cup on a 28 inch back- it’s harder to find the 28 inch back than it is the J cup!

If I were to use my measured size I’d buy a 26K which obviously doesn’t exist 😳. Instead have had to work out what brands come up small in the band (Panache and Fantasie and Bravissimo own brand generally). Freya is far too generous in the band for me.

I am a long distance runner and sports bras are a nightmare to get something that’s tight enough in the band to provide enough support. My husband knows that if I find something that works, I will go out and buy 6!

26K does but you have to go to Polish bands really

This woman sells and fits bras and is really helpful, stocks from a 26 band

www.instagram.com/bellarosalingerie?igsh=MXg4ZTN4YmdlNjdzbQ==

Influencer that posts small back bra reviews

www.instagram.com/madisonxalexandra?igsh=ank4bGtxemQ1d24y

Oh and custom sports bras, they've made a 24J bra for the influencer I linked
Rixie clips also work to shorten bra back bands

www.instagram.com/fitgameapparel?igsh=MXY4YmE1NjlqMnFmeQ==

Oh stop it. There are lots of women who are a size 32 which is not fat. 28 is just not a common size just as extra large back sizes aren't common so manufacturers choose not to cater for the extremes to maximise profits.

@DietrichandDiMaggio agree, I'm at that size where I'm borderline between a cute dainty bra and something that looks like a skydiving safety harness.

Love the description!

The add 4 inches was the old old OLD rule as back in the 1950s fabric technology was far more basic and bras had little or no stretch.

Modern bras are designed with firm but flexible stretch. No added inches required. The stretch gives the ability to move

It beggars belief that any bra manufacturer still works with this rule. If they do I'd avoid them as they clearly have no idea about how to fit a bra.