Advice re first bra

[m0therofdragons]

Dd1 is 13 and needs a bra. All sounds simple until I learn the smallest they come is 28”. She’s tall and very slim (slimmer than her 9 yo sisters) so needs 24” max. Her school skirt is 22” if that’s a guide. She’s in proportion and healthy but beanpole like. How do I find a bra that fits?

You'd maybe need to use a sister size (same cup volume on bigger back size) or maybe try a rixie clip which can make a back size smaller.

Re: sister size. 24D = 26C = 28B (as you go up a back size you go down in the cup size)

She needs a 25” band but only an A cup. You can’t buy this and a 28” is massive on her!

So she measures 26" over her bust?
Could she wear a bralet or crop top instead?

Maybe get the smallest band size you can and take them in/have them taken in?
With bralette style I shouldn't be too uncomfortable

Calvin Klein xs bralettes are quite small. John Lewis have sports bras in ages rather than band size, so those might work, getting a smaller age size? (I think they start at 8-9).

Yes- just checked, JL age 8 sports bras are 24.5 inch band size, here:
www.johnlewis.com/john-lewis-partners-girls-sports-crop-top-pack-of-2-white/p3867307?size=8-years&sku=237832390&s_ppc=2dx92700051922679826&tmad=c&tmcampid=2&gclid=CjwKCAjw8cCGBhB6EiwAgOReyzofmiF1AGrdwOH3FhWvBj5OMsvUJSybmUP3QROT7GH1bVFulKcuxBoCyFUQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

JL bralets are also sold in age sizes not chest band size, so should be small enough.

The issue we have is her width is age 8 but her height for straps isn’t. I hate clothes shopping with her because she comes away feeling like a freak - she really does look normal and in proportion but very narrow. Normal height for a 13 year old though so age 8 crop tops don’t come down far enough and cut across her bust. I’ll see if I can get a 28” and take it in (I struggle with sewing buttons but I’ll give it a go - unfortunately that highlights to dd her body isn’t “normal” which I was trying to avoid).

Try a rixie clip maybe

Does she actually need one, if that’s her size, or is it that she would like one? I would have thought bralette/crop top type ones would be a better fit.

@NotAnotherPushyMum she has proper boob shapes that anyone who could fit a 28A would almost certainly wear a bra. She has crop tops but nipple shapes are visible and boys commenting (that’s another issue). Her under boob measurement is 25” but over boobs is 27”. She’s very narrow, always has been. She’s officially under weight but eats well and dr not concerned as she’s always been underweight but is on the right trajectory. She’s 5’3” and weighs 5st 10lbs.

Have a look at Hollister bralettes. They do them in XS which might work. They are very comfortable as well.

In fact I've just checked and they do an XXS. Although that says 30A they do tend to come up a bit small and I do think there's a chance they would work as their shape is quite good for a fairly wide range of sizes.

Thanks @Chilldonaldchill I hadn’t thought of that!

M&S come up small. For my 30" daughter a 32" was perfect

JL with a proper fitting worked for my dd - she isn’t quite as narrow but measures a small 26B, using the Boob or Bust method. A lovely fitter in JL found one bra that fitted (28 A, but designed for teens so comes up small) and the Calvin Klein bralette in XS also works (but shows more under tops, so she keeps it for sport).

My DD is between a C and D cup. I buy size 32 t-shirt bras from Asda and sew them to her size 26/7 inch torso.
It's easy. I fold and stitch the band on either side of the hook and eyes.