Bra shopping!

scotsgirl_3

being a 28 back in a big cup is a right pain in the a**!!!! there is a website called leia where I managed to pick up a freya in a 28gg for £14 ish last week, but other than that the choice is pretty poor. I would try having a look at bravissimo, brastop, figleaves, debenhams and ebay websites. Unfortunately most of the cheaper ranges don't start until at least a 30, although if you are less than a g it might be worth trying m&s,as I find their 30 back in some styles fits more like a 28 in Freya.

Just checked - Leia have this in a 28gg for under £12 (they have others in different cups)

http://www.leialingerie.com/product.aspx?id=AA3510FA

mum26

TK Maxx might be worth a look, they often have small back sizes in but again it is essential to try on. Have seen Freya stock in there recently too.

continualdiamond

Second the ebay thing.

I've kept the label off both bras i bought. Did a search for one of them on ebay, can save myself a £5, plus the cost of petrol as the 2 places where i live didn't have any in my size, so i had to drive to the next town, about half hr away.

AJayneC

Thanks for all the advice- it's much appreciated. And Thank you to ecsb and scotsgirl for the links - they are fab!
Think I am gonna try the eBay thing, I have found one that I kinda like, although I do prefer to buy from shops or a company because of the whole customer service issue- I'm not sure I'll be able to send it back if it doesn't fit??
However, I am up for trying new things thanks again!

scotsgirl_3

I tend to play it quite safe with ebay, and stick with bras I know fit. Freya and panache tend to only have a few different shapes, just with different fabrics, so in the past I have stuck with ones I know the fit of (even if it means nipping to bravissimo first for a try on)

If it is an ebay shop, you should be able to send it back in most cases, just double check the returns policy.

RHemmings

I can't understand bra sizes. (I'm male BTW). It seems that there is this explosion of larger cup sizes. I'm sure that way back when I first started noticing these things, that even larger breasts would be a D or DD cup, that being considered very large. Now there seem all these insane bra sizes, e.g. FF, H, I cups. But a quick check of bra companies seems to suggest that these cup sizes aren't for massive, only for reasonably large breasts. E.g. these are supposedly a "J" cup.



What has happened to bra sizes? Have the manufacturers been changing the definitions of the various cup sizes, perhaps because women like going up a cup size? Is it related to the general increase in the average weight of the populace compared to previous decades. Is it due to more "enhancement", or what?

scotsgirl_3

It is reckoned that the average bust size (natural) is increasing, but I think a lot of it is also due to increased awareness of how a bra should fit. Previously, I think a lot of women wore sizes which were somewhere around the average just because that was available and they didn't really know any better. Smaller back sizes play a huge part as well. old school measuring used to be along the lines of "measure your underbust, add 4 or 5 inches, that's your back size (number), measure your full bust, deduct back size number, each inch is a cup size"

eg - 29" underbust, 38" overbust, old school would have been calling somewhere around a 34d. But this system doesn't actually work as that back would be far too big with all the support coming from the shoulders,poor posture, backache etc and it's only now that people are becoming more aware. Btw, the measurements above actually equate to a 28gg or a 30g depending on fit.

Also, I'd guess the girl in the pic you've shown is probably a 28 or maybe a 30 back. a j cup in a 28 is not the same volume as a j cup in a 36 back. In terms of volume, a 28gg, 30g, 32ff, 34f and 36e would all have the same volume of breast tissue, but obviously they would look bigger on the 28 who would be slimmer otherwise.

I'm sure enhancement is involved somewhere, but I'm a gg and there's no silicone going on! I think the pill/hormonal contraceptives are also a factor - i went up 3 cups when I first went on the pill(within weeks), and the same has happened to 3 other friends.

I hope that makes some sense!

RHemmings

Thanks. I had to read it all more than once, as it's a complex business, and it makes sense now. My partner is officially a B cup, and while she's not the kind of person who would be happy if she knew I was discussing her attributes online, they aren't as small as the cup size would suggest.

blue_monkey_2

You are right scotsgirls, I think it has more to do with how poorly bras used to fit in the past. 8 years ago I was in the biggest cup size I could get which was FF but it never fitted right and now I wear a 30/32 G/GG. However, my 'measured' size is still 34FF - this changes depnding on where I am in the month. I am not on the pill anymore either and my bra size has not changed, if anything they have got bigger.

I do find a lot of older ladies are still wearing those sizes and I had a lady come to see me for a fitting who thought she was a 46DD (M&S!!) - she was in fact a 36J - I've had a few lately to be honest. This size was practically non-existant 10 years ago and a bra that size would have cost the earth. I wear a bra much different to my 'measured' size and I fit by looking at the customer wearing the bra, not with a tape measure.

While we have a guide on the website I do stress that it is just that, a guide, but also supply a list of things to look for when the bra is on to ensure it fits correctly.

I always find it bizarre that ladies will spend £50+ on a pair of shoes but begrudge paying £25 for a good bra that fits well, it is so important to make sure your bra fits well.

I would also like to add that if a company does not respond to emails regarding fitting issues or does not take returns the take your custom elsewhere. You could test their knowledge by asking about sizing. This is regardless of whether you buy face to face or over the internet. Sure, you can buy some cheap bras on eBay but there is no point in buying 4 cheap ones that do not fit and then you are then stuck with when you can go out to a shop and get 2 good fitting bras that will last for the same price. You will get a good 2 years out of a good bra if you look after it!! Those made from flimsy lace will not last as long as those made with a double layer of lace or a sturdier material, obviously. HTH.

scotsgirl_3

blue_monkey wrote: »

I had a lady come to see me for a fitting who thought she was a 46DD (M&S!!) - she was in fact a 36J

Oh gawd, do not get me started on the useless fitters in my local M&S...their method seems to be "we don't do the size you really need so rather than telling you that we'll wedge you into something that doesn't fit!"