bra size measurement... help.

blue_monkey_2

Atomised wrote: »

I was always advised not to wear underwired bras but they give the best support-the most important factor:D
Rigby and peller are good ,but I am still different sizes in different shops
Maybe my breasts go up and down a couple of sizes on a daily basis?
Bravissimo are supposed to be good.I've looked at Ample bosom but didn't like anything

Atomised, yes, your cycle can determine your size, one day they can be 'inflated' and they can go down overnight - some ladies find they increase by 2 sizes!! It means they have to have differenst sizes tucked away for different times of the month.

What is it that you was looking for? PM me if you prefer and let me know your size and what you want and I can tell you where to look.

MrsTinks

blue_monkey wrote: »

Hi MrsTine,

Freya do a lovely nursing bra now called Rosalie - it's a great style and perfect for larger sizes, I'd recommend this one every time.

Yes, again, you do pay for what you get. Can I ask if you have tried Panache bras, I am guesing you are in Fantasie or Freya but Panache are slightly cheaper and give a better fit (this is my opinion from wearing a G+ size). You can also get 'Fashion' colours on all brands at the end of the season for half price so this saves some money too so stock up then if you are not fussed on colours. Fantasie make me look a bit 'pointy' while some of the Freya bras are a bit light for everyday wear and I ache at the end of the day if I wear one. Panache I would recommend every time for day to day wear and swimsuits. As long as you look after them they will last a long time, I grew out of my last ones before I threw them away and some were 2 years old. I love my swimsuit as well, feels much more supportive than the usual one peices with the shelf. I am in a G now but was a GG before, I started rising to an H and lost some weight and went to a G, the smallest I had been for ages.

Hehe I wear Panache and Freya Like you the fantasie bra's make me look like I should be in a Madonna video from the early 90's

I also have this bikini: http://www.bravissimo.com/products/swimwear/bikinis/freya/balconette-bikini-tops/fw16-details.aspx

as well as their turquise blue one and yes I wouldn't be without them when swimming... Bought the green one for our honeymoon
Depending on my weight (cough... less said the better) I'm a 32GG or H in some brands most of the time I spent YEARS thinking I was a 34FF... so... slightly out then

ebaybaby

Blue_monkey, thank you so much for all your help.
My DD is 12 and measured out today in M&S at a 32b.
The woman in there was really school marm-ish and told her off for wearing an underwired, this started the whole debate!
The thing is DD said everyone at school wears underwired and we couldnt find any nice un-wired.

MrsTinks

I might be slightly more worried about wanting "nice" bra's at 12 than the size and underwire Then again my DH claims that when we have kids if any of them are girls then they will be locked ina room till they're 18 because he knows exactly what boys are like... *sigh* gotta love him

blue_monkey_2

Millie's_Mum wrote: »

Is the bra expert still around?

I'm pregnant (12wks) and i am still in my normal bras but I will own up to the 4 boobed look at the moment. I guess its now time to go and get measured and get a decent non wired bra but how often am i looking at replacing or is it down to how I think things are going?

Its just that babies are expensive enough without having to replace all my bras every 3 months!

I can't remember from my last baby, around how long after baby arrives before they will have settled into whatever size they are going to be this time?

Hi Millies Mum,

Can I say that it is best to buy bras now that you wear on the tightest band size so that as you get bigger you can increase the band size as your belly expands and it gives an extra few months wear. From now on you can probably get away with buying 2 bras every 3 months unless something strange happens, LOL. So get 2 now and then 2 when you are 6 months. The non wired can be washed in the washing machine and the Roasalie comes in 3 colours so you can chuck it in with other washing. Also, look for some sports bras for sleeping in, good support during pregnacy is essential while you are sleeping too but some cheaper ones will do the job for this as you'll not be bouncing around in them.

It can take a week or several months after birth before they settle into the right size but I have had ladies buy nursing bras to last them through pregnancy and then they have them to use after when they have returned to your pre-preg size. Out of us 6 b/f mums I was the only one who still had huge inflated things while feeding, everyone else returned to 'normal' within 2 months and were back in a C cup or under, a couple of them it took a week and where they started from. Everyone one is different so you cannot really tell.

If you have the four boobed look then you are not in the right size, I know they are expensive but I cannot recommend the Freya Rosalie enough because it is so supportive and such thick material it will last a long time, if you buy it to wear on the last hook (if you are in a 34 band size for example, get a 36, this will give an extra 2" growth) it'll mean you get more for your money. You usually wear a bra on the first hook and then as the bra gets older and the band stretches you can take it in - hence them having a row of 3 hooks.

From my own experience I would stay away from Mothercare, unless they have changed the quality mine lasted 1 month, a complete waste of money. Likewise, Emma Jane, I was fitted (before I started doing this) as being a 38 and was a 34 after the baby was born, so £45 down the toilet on bras. Not impressed.

I do think that to be able to advise you should have some of the other types of experience as well on what happens to your body at times like this and of which items are not worth spending money on, having someone come in and ask to try a bra on which turns out to be poorly fitting means that they will not bother coming back again so you never know and this is where experience comes from. If you know what I mean.

I hope that helps, but please ask more if you need to.

Millie's_Mum

MrsTine wrote: »

Millies mum what size are you normally?
Go and see Bravissimo and hey can show you how the bra should fit... that way you can check cheaper places (even ebay once you know the size in that brand & model) and that should help keep the cost down.
The "4 boobed look" is however in my view a definite bad thing!

Normally I'm in a 34DD but I suspect that would change were I to get measured anyway, I do plan to go to bravissimo but I will have to wait til payday!

ellies_angel

Larger well made, supportive bra's can be expensive £30+ Some of the brands mentioned like Freya, Panache etc. I went along to Brassmissio to get fitted and found a range which suited me really well, but I was over £100 for 3 bra's. I found a website called www.brastop.com which sells all these ranges at greatly reduced prices. They seem to have a better selection of the larger sizes. The bra's are generally last season and they do matching briefs too! I joined up to their mailing list, so get an email when they have a sale on saving me even more £'s

ebaybaby

MrsTine wrote: »

I might be slightly more worried about wanting "nice" bra's at 12 than the size and underwire Then again my DH claims that when we have kids if any of them are girls then they will be locked ina room till they're 18 because he knows exactly what boys are like... *sigh* gotta love him

I can say, as a Mum of 2 girls whether we like it or not they do grow up faster and want more grown up things to be "in" with the rest of their peers.
Im sure you will find this when you have your own.

In "nice" she means girly rather than the "Miss Mary of Sweden" ones we were shown today!!

BTW my DH is worse than your's in that when the time comes for the boy's to come knocking he said he will insist on having a "word" before thay even set foot in the door!!!!!!!!!!!!

MrsTinks

Are his words like the ones that Will Smith says in Bad Boyz II?

"Boy.... remember this: I - DON'T - MIND - GOING - BACK - TO - JAIL!!!!!"

He swears hes going to use that one...

blue_monkey_2

MrsTine wrote: »

Hehe I wear Panache and Freya Like you the fantasie bra's make me look like I should be in a Madonna video from the early 90's

I also have this bikini: http://www.bravissimo.com/products/swimwear/bikinis/freya/balconette-bikini-tops/fw16-details.aspx

as well as their turquise blue one and yes I wouldn't be without them when swimming... Bought the green one for our honeymoon
Depending on my weight (cough... less said the better) I'm a 32GG or H in some brands most of the time I spent YEARS thinking I was a 34FF... so... slightly out then

Yep, me too, i wore a 34F and I spent the whole time yanking it around - but that was the size I was told I should be. Actually it was the fiasco with my own bra fittings that made me start doing this, it sounds silly but I got a warm glow seeing someone with a new bra looking like a different person and with a different shape. The number of times I have been told 'I am not that size' and I've said try it for them to be surprised. I had one girl in an E and she was.... an H! Ladies just trying to keep on cramming them in and popping them back in if they pop out!!

I've not been brave enough to get a bikini, I loved the Panache Bardot but it was too much for me and just looked awful on me. So for now I'll stay tucked up in my tankini and swimsuit and hide what I have, LOL.