Do you REALLY know your bra size?

blue_monkey_2

catflea wrote: »

Thanks for that Blue Monkey,

I'm pretty sure that the 38 is right, it doesn't feel too tight. Just a shame it seemed to be night on impossible to get a 38a last time I went shopping (found a few places now, but reluctant to spend out!)

Yes, I agree, I sell just one 38A and it's a vest with a bra in. They do tend to start at 38B.

If you are going to be growing anway, why not invest in some 38B's for now and pad them out with fillets (although I appreciate this might feel heavy but there are some with lightweight oil pads). Do you want me to see if I can get anything cheap for you save paying out a lot - drop me a PM if so. I just sold almost all of my cheap gel bras.

Or. You could get a 36A and get a bra extender for them to get you buy. Is always an option.

catflea

Thanks ever sew for the offer. I've enough to be making do for the mo and judging by female family members, I'll likely needing to go a fair bit bigger in the future so no point investing in the same as I have.

Whilst experimenting with sizes I bought 20 extenders for less than a quid off eBay! So supplies are plentiful. Might try a cheap 36a and extend it though....

blue_monkey_2

catflea wrote: »

Thanks ever sew for the offer. I've enough to be making do for the mo and judging by female family members, I'll likely needing to go a fair bit bigger in the future so no point investing in the same as I have.

Whilst experimenting with sizes I bought 20 extenders for less than a quid off eBay! So supplies are plentiful. Might try a cheap 36a and extend it though....

Do you try on in shops? If so then take them with you. Then you'll not waste money needlessly - however, I can understand how difficult it is and this is why a lot of ladies buy online.

moneylover

another vote for John Lewis, have never had a badly fitted bra from them and have used them for 40 years! And never paid more that about £25 or so.
The one place that you can be fitted with no struggle no matter what size you are is Rigby and Peller. But expect to pay £60. John Lewis cannot fit me with a strapless bra so if I need one thats where I have to go.
I reckon a good bra makes a woman - a bit like a man with a suit!

happy35

I am a 30G although sometimes I need a 30GG, I find this a nightmare to find bras that fit well and offer enough support.

I usually buy ar Bravissimo but will look at Rigby and Peller, even with a sports bra I find it very uncomfortable.

I was always a DD before I had children, I find it very hard to get clothes to fit as everywhere else i take a size 8 but in tops that are fitted i just cant get them to fasten,

blue_monkey_2

happy35 wrote: »

I am a 30G although sometimes I need a 30GG, I find this a nightmare to find bras that fit well and offer enough support.

I usually buy ar Bravissimo but will look at Rigby and Peller, even with a sports bra I find it very uncomfortable.

I was always a DD before I had children, I find it very hard to get clothes to fit as everywhere else i take a size 8 but in tops that are fitted i just cant get them to fasten,

Look for Panache, Freya, Fantasie and Fauve. To be honest, you'll not find a cheap high street brand that will offer the same support as these 4 brands. hand wash them and you'll get a good few years out of them so they are worth the money. I wear Freya Pollyanna in a GG and it feels great on although I do remove the bones from the side that seem to appear past a G cup!!

Also, sports bra, look for Freya Active in a 32 band size, it runs a little snug, but it won best sports bra on Good Houseeeping and Dr Chris from This Morning recommends it as being the best sports bra too.

I agree about the tops, I have given up trying, and V necks are the best as round neck tops just look weird but do you find the same as me, that sometimes they rise up at the front higher than you would like? That annoys me. I have considered giving Bravissimo a go this tear to get something that fits me nicely.

Mrs_Arcanum

blue_monkey wrote: »

Yes, this is true - but most ladies think that the band should get bigger and not the cup and this is why everyone should get fitted more than one.

I too think that a front fasteneing band for larger cup sizes is much needed, I've got a larger sized customer at the moment that is struggling to get into her fitted size so she is having to go up a band size so she can put it on at the front and twist it but because she has limited mobility in her arms cannot get it done up at the back.

I can also understand, because of how the bras are constructed, that it would be difficult to get a good fit using the front fastening bra, but I am not sure what the solution is other than doing as my customer is. I do not like selling bras that are the wrong size, but in this case there is no alternative as the lady cannot get the fitted size done up.

Would need a bra designer but I can see no reason why the bra should not be in 2 parts. with non adjustable hooks to fasten at the front & standard 3 position eylets at the back for adjustment as needed. There are front loaders out there but most seem to be posture back support or for mastectomy considerations. With maybe one or two above a D cup. :mad:

blue_monkey_2

moneylover wrote: »

another vote for John Lewis, have never had a badly fitted bra from them and have used them for 40 years! And never paid more that about £25 or so.
The one place that you can be fitted with no struggle no matter what size you are is Rigby and Peller. But expect to pay £60. John Lewis cannot fit me with a strapless bra so if I need one thats where I have to go.
I reckon a good bra makes a woman - a bit like a man with a suit!

What size are you looking for? There have been a lot of bigger cup strapless bras on the market in the last year, Freya Deco, Elomi smoothing and Panache Evie. Sizes from from 28-48 back size and to an H cup. None of these are more than £25 either. JL should be able to order you these if you ask them too though, if not a small independant will probably be happy to, just ask them. Check out the brand website for the size details.

blue_monkey_2

Mrs_Arcanum wrote: »

Would need a bra designer but I can see no reason why the bra should not be in 2 parts. with non adjustable hooks to fasten at the front & standard 3 position eylets at the back for adjustment as needed. There are front loaders out there but most seem to be posture back support or for mastectomy considerations. With maybe one or two above a D cup. :mad:

If you look at how a bra is constructed, you would just not get the support in a front loading bra, there are some but they are not really made for comfort or support, more for convenience.

As a GG cup myself, if they were fastened at the fron there would not be enough structure in the bra. if there was one clip it would then be a plunge bra and some ladies - more so those that have lost the elasticity in the top of the breast - cannot wear plunge bras as everything just falls out the sides to the front - not an attractive look. And if you look at a balcony bra, the front is quite wide and the wires quite close together so there would not be scope to have something to clip together on this style of bra for someone who is shaped like myself.

As an after thought, there used to be something on the market that you clip to the hooks and eyes, bring it round and it does up at the front, like a really long extenders and it can be adjusted for size too. I'll have a quick google to see if I can find anything that is for sale now.

ETA: Like this: http://www.rigbyandpeller.com/404.aspx?aspxerrorpath=/Underwear_Accessories/Fashion_Tape/sc1596/p27424.aspx

They then fasten at the front like this: http://www.zodee.co.uk/womens/braza/the-low-down/b8050/?partner=googleproducts&member=uk&utm_source=googleproducts_uk&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=googleproducts&content=B8050

If you are really struggling with doing bras up then this would be a solution.

poorly_scammo

My advice is to go to somewhere other than M&S to have your bra fitted. I used Debenhams and found that I instead of being at 36D, I was actually a 32FF!