Boob or Bust, this can't be right?

[Notoutloud]

I don't think I've ever worn the right sized bra. I've always been fairly small but since breastfeeding two babies, I'm now at mosquito bite proportions. I've been wearing bralettes and crop top style bras for the last few years but I've recently realised how unflattering they are and that my chest is just a bit squashed and sad.

Anyway, I've just put in my measurements to the Boob or Bust calculator and I've come out as a 30DD/G - I would previously have said I'm around a 36A! Have I done it wrong?

If anyone has any experience or knowledge of bra sizing, I'd be very grateful!

Sounds fine - we’ve been conditioned into thinking anything over a C cup is massive but I wear a 30C and have really quite small boobs indeed! I hardly even need a bra at all tbh. So 30DD really isn’t outlandish. It’s only one cup size larger than a 36A (same cup as 34B/32C/30D).

A bit confused about how you could be squashed if you don't have anything to squash?!
Generally speaking, where you go down a back size, you have to go up a cup size to have the same cup volume. So a 36A would have the same cup volume as a 30D.
Given that you say you're squashed in a 36A then I don't think 30DD sounds outside the realms of possibility (assume you mean DD/E and not G?!)

Caveat is I'm just going off what you describe and haven't actually seen you or how your current bras fit so the advice here will be limited!

A 36 A means you measure 36 inches under your bust and 37 inches around. I.e. you’d have no boobies at all.

The number refers to inches under the bust and each letter represent one full inch more around the bust.

So 30 DD means you measure 30 inches under the bust and 4.5 inches more around the bust. I.e. 34.5 inches.

I measure the same using this method and Boob or Bust.

As a general rule of thumb, your under-bust measurement and waist measurement are more or less the same.

I found I had to go up a back size and down a cup size or two from the Boob or Bust calculation, as I'd been wearing a 36 but it came out as a 32 which I found far too tight. Lots of women wear a too big back size, so it's worth trying some other sizes. As a rule if you go up a back size you go down a cup size and vice versa if you don't find the size it suggests comfortable. When you wear your current bras, do they ride up anywhere? Are the cups going back as far as they should?

What's your clothing size? I think 36/37" bust would be around a 14 whereas a 30DD is probably more like a 10?

My DD went for her first bra fitting. I would have said she was a A/B cup.

She was fitted as a D!

I think alot of women wear cup sizes too small.

I was wearing a 36c, now I'm wearing a 28h and it's the most comfortable bra I have ever owned.

Someone explained it to me like a belt.
If you had a 30 inch waist you wouldn't buy a belt that the tightest option was 36 inches.

Bigger band bras rely on the straps to keep them up which can cause shoulder pain. The loose band then means breast tissue sits in the band rather than the cup.
The band should be supportive and give the space in the cups. Best thing to do is try it on backwards to begin with. If the band is fine backwards but then too tight the right way round you need a bigger cup not a bigger band.

What clothing size are you? That's usually a good starting point. If crop tops were squashing you there must be some boobage, so 30DD/G would make sense if you're about a size 10 with small boobs but not flat-chested.

The band should be fairly tight, with enough fabric in the cup to encompass your whole breast - you need to scoop them in from the sides. Women often buy 'comfy' bras that are too loose in the back. If the bra is really hurting, causing red marks or you can't breathe properly then of course go up a size or try a different style. But they need to be quite tight to do their job.

I'm fully prepared to be told that I did something wrong, but I carefully followed the instructions of that boob or bust site, and it duly told me a different band and cup size. I got all excited and went out and bought some bras in the new size, and they are so tight on the band I could barely get them done up. It hurt to wear them! ...So now I am wearing the same size bra I always wore in the past.

Well, every day's a school day! How did I not know any of this?! Thanks everyone so much for these replies.

I haven't worn an underwired bra for about three years, but the fit was horrible - tight or loose in all the wrong places, gaping cups, so uncomfortable!

I'll take myself off to M&S this weekend to try some different styles on. I'd love it if I could wear proper bras again, and it would never have occurred to me that my cup size needs to increase!

And yes, dress size I'm about a 10-12.

I look fairly small busted and typically wear a 6 on top. My correct bra size is 28E which is the same cup size as a 30DD. People who need small bands very often have a D+ cup size without looking visibly "big". I can easily go without a bra, and really only wear one for shape.

PS. If you fit in a size 10 top you are definitely a smaller band than 36.

Yeah you definitely aren’t a 36 band at a size 10! I’m a size 16 and used to wear a 36DD but after trying the boob or bust method a few years back I’ve been in a 34GG and it’s much more comfortable and better fitting. The band did feel a little snug to start with but they stretch with time if you do scoop etc that makes a difference!

@Notoutloud I wear a 36 back and I'm a size 20/22 at the top! (36GG). If you're a size 10-12 then a 30 back doesn't sound unreasonable.

36A=34B=32C=30D with regards to cup volume i.e. they have the same cup volume on different back sizes. Also known as sister sizes. A 30DD is therefore only 1 cup size bigger than a 36A.

Definitely give M&S a swerve. Book yourself into Bravissimo. They will properly sort you out with the best style bras for your shape. If you’re after non-wired, check out Wear My Freedom. Not cheap but the most supportive comfy bra you’ll ever wear.

I wore a 34A for years, measured myself using boob or bust after finishing breastfeeding and discovered I was a 30D! When you put the two sizes next to each other it's surprising how similar the cup size is.

M&S bras are good but just not their measuring.

If you go to M&S don't let them fit you. They'll have you back on the 36A.

As @dementedpixie mentioned if you look at sister sizes your cup size is only one bigger since having a baby. With regards to boob or bust a smaller back band you can achieve more uplift as the bra will not ride up when you shorten the straps.

However, it really depends on your skin with regards to how you are with a tighter back band and shorter shoulder straps. I am older than you and have also scars from a mastectomy a few years ago. I do like the pressure of anything tight whether that be back band or shoulder straps. I am also menopausal and my skin is much more sensitive and less firm. Tight straps can cause soreness and rashes. I combat this less firm support from a bra with building muscle through exercise.

Also people who are on the thinner side, with less flesh to cushion, can find tight straps uncomfortable against bone.

So you prefer a looser back band than boob or bust gives you can refer to the sister sizes for cup size to get your ideal fit.

M&S bras will be a completely different size & fitting, OP.

Don't like

You still have to try on a range of bras, because despite the theory behind boob or bust, there isn't actually an industry standard of making bras like shoe sizes - they all do their own thing. I heard a programme about it on the radio- this is why we all go about in the 'wrong' bra size - it's impossible to know what size you are beyond trying them on.

I don't know why people rave about boob or bust. I always come out a size too small around and then I'm a size or two too small in the cup. Most uncomfortable fit I've ever had but people say it's a brilliant method amd I thought I was odd

It's towards the end of this episode:

www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m000wsf0?partner=uk.co.bbc&origin=share-mobile