Do you REALLY know your bra size?

ali-t

Well ladies to celebrate that we all know what size of bra to buy I have stumbled onto a competition to win a years worth of freya lingerie. It is posted on the competitions board https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2705801 good luck!!

blue_monkey_2

Hi everyone, we have been having a sunny break at Butlins the last week. I'll be busy on Monday getting orders out but if anyone has anything they need to ask then please feel free too, I shall be checking in. I'll try and answer as many messages as I can, apologies if I miss anyone but please do ask again if you need to.

blue_monkey_2

Beenie wrote: »

I'm late to this thread and maybe someone has already explained this, but how can ladies be 40 D and then suddenly 36C?? The measurement is your rib cage (isn't it????) and that can't possibly change so drastically.

The cup size I can see being a possible problem to be resolved but I can't get my head round the shrinking ribcages of some customers!

It is not so much the shrinking ribcages but a combination of a few things.,

There are many more bras on the market these days, for years ladies would have to 'make do' and they are still making do without realising that there are now bras on the market that fit them. This is because many of the high street stores do not do a good fitting, decent range. It is why I started doing what I did as I could not find anything to fit me properly. I have seen so many changes in the last 5 years alone, more styles, better fitting, more choice, more sizing choice. However, many women do not realise this.

If someone starts bulging at the cup they will go and buy a bigger band size. They start bulging at that one and they will go buy a bigger band size, not realising it is the cup size they need to change. How many fashion magazines have you picked up and there be any sort of article on getting or doing a proper bra fitting? I've not seen anything, have you??

Lastly. They probably got fitted at M&S. :rotfl:

Also, if they were wearing a 40DD and went down to a 36 band size they would be a 36F - they never end up in a smaller cup size. If the band size gets smaller the cup size will get bigger.

blue_monkey_2

pink_warrior wrote: »

I want to get measured but I'd hate to be told I'm smaller than I am (I'm not as blessed as most) so cant seek the courage to do it!! lol
I dont think I'm wearing the correct size, although I used the chart in the littlewoods catalogue to work it out...??? Anyone else done this?

PM me if you want. I need to know the size of bra you are wearing and the measurement of your ribcage - tape pulled in quite snug but not tight.

Your ribcage might WILL get smaller (if you are using catalogue measuring) but your boobs will get bigger - trust me. I've not made anyone smaller yet.

blue_monkey_2

raven-333 wrote: »

I done that worked out i should be a one size using a online guide so never bothered wearing a bra. i never went to get measured either too shy and thought they would laugh at me at being on the small size. I sent a pm to blue_monkey and she helped me i now wear a bra one band size smaller and 3 cup sizes bigger. and it fits perfectly. I was really shocked when she told me what size to try. last week i went into a well known shop got measured and was told i was the size i worked it out 2 be i tried on a bra that size and it didnt fit properly band too loose and cup size too small.

Once you know what you are looking for in a good fitting bra it is very easy to tell those shop assistants it is all wrong. And you should do too!!

Glad that you feel better in the bra you are in now Raven. I am just happy to help - even if it is virtually.

blue_monkey_2

Little_Vics wrote: »

slightly off topic, but does anyone know of any charities that collect/need decent un-wanted bras? I'm reluctant to take them to a charity shop if I'm honest.

There are quite a few now to be honest, your local hospital should have a pink box for collecting bras too. Google 'donating bras to charity' and you'll find them. A girl from MSE went to work at an orphanage in Africa a few years ago and she took loads with her that I gave her.

Also, your local Shelter is a good bet too. Some companies sell the bras on to make money for the charity (I have a link to the charity that collects for the Air Ambulance on my website) but Shelter and the ones I sent to Africa are giving to ladies who cannot afford bras so I felt a bit better about giving them to those as people who needed them got the benefit of them.

blue_monkey_2

Beenie wrote: »

I will need to buy some new bras very soon (following breast surgery) so need to get my head round this.

My measurement under the bust is 38" (cup DD) and if I am understanding you correctly, I can ignore this and look for bras that are in the 36" range, trying on cup sizes C-DD to get the right fit??

Hi Beenie,

Can you PM me the info I asked the poster above, current size of bra and ribcage with tape pulled snug and I'll help.

Can I ask if the wires are going to be a problem post-op? Will you have scarring they will rub on? You might do better gto get some cheap cotton non-wired until the scarring has gone down if this is the case.

Jacks_xxx

Bluemonkey you are a good'un to help us all like this. :T How was Butlins? I hope you had a lovely time.

sal-ad_daze

Hi everyone,
Blue Monkey, can I ask a question?
After mucho nagging by my darling daughter to go and get measured I braved Evans a couple of years ago (I'm a size 28-30 so didn't even consider 'normal' shops) it was winter and I had on a fairly chunky jumper. The assistant said don't bother taking it off put the tape around me (she at arms length) and told me I was a 54!!!!!! Now I wear 48 so knew instantly that that was waaaay too big, tried a couple to prove my point and left - didn't bother again despite still being nagged. Daughter got married in August and wanted to go to Bravissimo to get some supported strapless tops (didn't want white strap lines on her wedding pics!), she's blessed with a voluptuous figure so needed the support, I was with her on the shopping trip and she bullied me into getting fitted whilst we were there. I went from the 48dd that I was wearing to a 40FF:eek:!!!

Blue Monkey, the problem I have is that I find it impossible to do up the bra's on my own (I never could do them up from the back anyway) and have to ask oh to come and do it and he really has to pull! If I fasten it at the front I have to 'inch' it round the right way and it's quite an effort! Should you really have to pull hard to fasten the bra?

Can I just say, 'cos I've noted that some 'larger' ladies are worried about going for a fitting, the fitter I had at Bravissimo was lovely. She was younger than my daughter but completely understanding, she left the room when I took my bra off and only came back when I asked her. There are also gowns to slip on whilst you're waiting for the assistant to bring the bra's to you.

oops apologies for the essay!

blue_monkey_2

Hi sal-ad daze,

I cringed when I read you was told not to remove your jumper. Goodness, if ever there was a reason to stay away from Evans then this would be it. It made me think that she was scared of looking at you? How odd.

If you are larger then yes, you should have to pull fairly hard to do the bra up but if you are finding it a real struggle to get on then why not give a 42F a try next time to see how that feels. Although you have been measured at a 40 if it is a real struggle then just go up a band size and down a cup size next time - it would not hurt to give it a try. I have some ladies who are just not comfortable in their fitted size so I encourage them to move a band size at a time but some people are just not comfortable with how tight a fitted bra should be.

I also agree, Bravissimo is lovely, they have thought of everything to make you more comfortable for a fitting - only you will not find out until you take the plunge and go. I never expect to speak to a lady braless but once they see how proffesional I am they'll just 'let it hang out' anyway. I stand to the side and pass the bra by the straps while their back is turned, they just have to put their arms in and I do it up. This is what you should expect when you go for a fitting. I would only ever have to see someone face to face once the bra is on. I was speaking to my rep today and when you are larger in the cup, some fitters seem scared to tell ladies to lift their boobs up but without doing this you'll never have a good ribcage measurement, you can do this by putting an arm under and lifting them, it really is the only way to ensure that the bra is fitting you properly. But some fitters are worried people are going to be offended but, for me, I think it is more important they are in the correct size.