Please help, bra sizing!

[NinePoppadomsAndASaagAloo]

I’ve lost a large amount of weight. My boobs have changed size, shape and volume.
I’m currently wearing 34DD, full cup bra. But it rides up at the back and I don’t fill out the cups properly at the top.
I thought I must need a smaller back and thought that you were supposed to go down a back size and up a cup size? so I ordered a 32E but I can’t even do it up! Not even close! And the cups are still the same problem obviously.

What size do I need?? And what type of bra? It seems a full cup is no longer any good to me but that’s all I’ve worn for decades.

I need underwires, slight padding and no more than about £20 preferably as money is tight. I can’t go anywhere to get measured, I need to buy online.

Try the Boob or Bust method of measuring at home

Your current bra may have become stretched out.

Also different brands don't all fit the same.

As above- try the Boob or Bust measuring method. If you can get to a department store then you can try on as many ass necessary to get the correct fit .

Boob or bust gives me a 30F which isn’t going to work if I can’t even do up a 32 lol

You may need a balcony style if you’ve lost volume. Chances are the 32E didn’t do up as the cup size wasn’t big enough so was stealing from the band.

Your back size very roughly will be your dress or top size +20 so if you’re size 12 then you’ll be about a 32 (not perfect method but gives you a good steer). Most people are in too small a cup size though as they’re not scooping all the breast tissue in

I can recommend the M&S Jasmine balcony bra, it’s only £10, comes in loads of colours, is comfy and good if you’ve lost volume so can’t fill a full cup anymore. It’s in both the A-E and F+ sections. Maybe try a 32F as a starting point

This is my current favourite , most comfortable bra I’ve had in years , can’t help you on sizing though . It’s M&S in case pic isn’t obvious. I’ve recently lost about 3 stone and have gone from a 34/36F to a 34D/DD. Are you able to order a few different sizes and return the ones that don’t fit ?

@Redbird12great info, thanks!

Omg @bugalugs45that is the exact bra I ordered and couldn’t do up!!

I can order a few different sizes, but maybe not until next payday. I’m wearing size 10 clothes now mostly.

If you’re a size 10 you can do up a 32 - I’m a size 18 wearing a 34!

don’t put the straps or cups on, turn the bra round and try doing it up at the front to see if the band fits that way
get a tape measure and measure under your boobs without any bra on and see what it says (don’t add anything)

Almost all of my clothes are size 10, definitely all of my tops. I already tried every which way to do it up, it wasn’t happening.

my boob or bust measurements are:
Tight 30
Snug 31
Standing 34
Leaning 37
I did it twice to make sure. The bra I tried on I ordered in two different colours and could do neither of them up, so I can’t even say it was a mis-labelled bra.

You may fit in a 34 at size 18, but we’re all built differently, when I was an 18 I only fit in a 38.

Came on to second the Jasmine bra from M&S. I have also lost quite a bit of weight and have always been a bit bottom heavy. This works well.

edited to say I did bra or bust and it came out at 34 ff/g. I got a 34 g in the jasmine done up on tightest band. I’m a size 12 ish now

M&S sizing is notoriously weird. I ordered a 32E from M&S, the unstretched band measured 25 inches so even allowing for stretch and doing up on the loosest setting it was never going to fit. If you have to shop at M&S ( and I get it, they are reasonably priced and have a good range of colours and designs), take a tape measure with you and measure the bands, allow for stretch, cup sizes may be hit and miss and they miss out some cup sizes past DD.

Thanks @myladyjane I will definitely look at that as it’s been recommended twice here now.

Good info @Defiantly41 I’ve packaged them up to return now but will definitely try that with the next ones I order, thanks.

It might be that individual bra that’s weird. Maybe try a different brand. I actually like George at Asda bras, they’re very good value

Thanks for the recommendation @user2848502016 you may well be right that it’s just weird sizing!

M and s are shite. Go to bravissimo and get fitted. Buy one. Then trial it. Once happy buy more online maybe cheaper elsewhere

Forget everything you think you know about bra fitting, we’ve been lied to by shops for years. You probably weren’t wearing the correct size. Also brands don’t all fit the same, just like jeans vary from shop to shop. Boux Avenue are small in the band and supermarkets/M&S skip some double cup sizes so you have to go up a cup size.
I either use boob or bust or go to Bravissimo. Boob or bust website has a fitting guide, follow the steps and that means starting with a backwards band test. Avoid moulded, nobody has the correct shape boobs to fit in them. There are also decent independent lingerie shops. Panache is my go to brand and other than tango, fit true to size.

Why are you asking on mumsnet go and get a bra fitting
I like Ann summers

Because Mumsnet is a forum where women can go for advice. That is literally what it is for.

Perhaps re-read the last sentence of my OP.

If you are stuck with shopping online, I can recommend Bravissimo's virtual fitting service. They fit by sight anyway, and it seems to work just the same via video link. They only downside is they can't bring you multiple styles to try from the stock room.

Go to a small independent bra shop where they can fit you properly. They usually fit by eye and trying on different brands and styles to find what really suits you. You might spend a bit more but one bra, hand washed only will last years. You’ll feel like you’re not wearing one!

Avoid M&S - they just use a tape measure and give everyone much bigger back sizes than they need! I wasted so much money on uncomfortable bras bought from them!

You measure under your bust in inches for the back size 32/34 etc then round the fullest part of your bust for the cup size. For every inch bigger the fullest part measures is a-b-c So if under your bust measures 34 then the fullest part of your bust measures 36, you would be a 34b

Try some 30F and the sizes around them.

I bet the 32 didn’t fit because the cups were too small. I’d also try different shapes to see what suits you now.

If a tape measure goes round you to measure 30 inches, then a stretchy bra band should do up at 30 inches in stretched. The reason you can’t do it up is because the cups are too small so the breast tissue is forced out into the band and makes it feel tighter.
When you try a new bra, try it on backwards first - so upside down, with cups at the back. This will tell you if the band fits. You should do it on the loosest hook and should be able to get a couple of fingers under but not be able to pull it out more than an inch or so (2 inches or more and it’s too big).
Once you’ve done that, you then know that any further fit issues are down to the cup.
Boob or Bust is a fantastic tool for giving you a starting size, but remember, all styles and makes are different so you may still have to use trial and error before you find the right size.
Depending on the shape of your breasts, the fit will be different in different styles of bra as well. Often people try a full cup and it’s huge so think the size is wrong, but then a balcony or plunge style in the same size fits perfectly.
As others have said, if you have a local Bravissimo they are fantastic. Avoid M&S for measuring - they won’t fit you correctly.
The Boob or Bust Facebook group is incredibly helpful.

M&S bras just don’t fit me. You can email the staff at Pour Moi and I found they were really helpful and quick to respond.

Definately give it a try, you may be very surprised. I was wearing a 36E and thought I needed a bigger band as was falling out of the top and the bra felt tight, but used bob got 32H, I laughed yeah right no way I am a H cup, but ordered a couple to try and wow they fit, no more riding up etc. I am a size 14 and after about 10 months the breast tissue had migrated to where it should be (in the cup rather than in the band) I am now comfortably wearing a 30J (2 and a half years later). Bravissimo will in my experience give you a similar to bob measurement if you want to get a second opinion. What you need to remember is that the cup size is differently relative to the band size, so a 30D it's much, much smaller than a 38D.