Bra woes

I'm 34G. When my waist was a mere 25" and hips were 36" I had a good figure. My waist and hips have expanded over the last two years. I try to disguise my plump bits by dressing appropriately. Mr soop comments on my "delicious curves" without fail, every day. I lurve that man to bits!

There is an infallible method. Measure round your ribs under your boobs for the bra size. If it is an even number add four. If it is an odd number, add five. That's your bra size.

Then measure yourself around the boobs. Write that measurement down.

So, suppose your rib measurement was 29inches and your boobs measurement was 35 inches, here's what you do.

Add five to 29. That gives you 34 – your bra size.
If your boob measurement was 34 you'd need an A cup.
But it is 35, so you need a B cup.
If it had been 36 you'd need a C cup
37 – D cup, etc.

I suppose if it's 37+half, that might be a DD

Whether a bra fits well also depends on the style, how far apart the cups are (or not), and other stuff like that, so it may still take you a while to find a bra that's right for you.

My Miss Mary's bras have come and fit Beootifully! Very comfortable. Mine are underwired with full cup and a slightly wider strap. Soooooo, I've bought a couple more! No more double boobs and in fact they look a bit perkier than they did, even though I say it myself

Afteryears of 'harness agony' I have taken the plunge and bought a pack of genie [or similar, can't remember] bras, and comfort at last for my 38ds....you can wear them one on top of the other for more support and there's plenty of stretch to stuff a fillet in. At last I don't look like Jayne Mansfield any more and the boobs aren't bouncing about like ferrets in a bag! Plenty online or in the weekend papers. Glamorous no, blissfully comfy yes. Hope this helps.

I would worry about the support aspect, though - mine need a hefty hoik or they're somewhere near my waist! Fine for the more self-supporting bust, though...

jintzy I just got some similar ones to put on when I sit down in the evening. That's when the bones dig in
I think they are ok (I'm 36DD) and they don't look bad under clothes.

annobel: you pull these on feet first, thus scraping all your bits in an upward direction!

Wandered into a little bijou lingerie shop on Monday thinking is get measured correctly for a bra. The elderly lady serving asked 'do you mind' and gently cupped my breasts and declared me to be a size 36E. She then produced a selection of lovely bras which fitted perfectly and were so comfortable I've bought two. No tape measures needed. No wonder the M&S size 38D I was 'expertly' measured for was so uncomfortable. Oh the joy of wearing a bra that fits perfectly and doesn't look like a cantilever bridge

Long ago when I could afford such fripperies I used to buy bras at Rigby & Peller.

The ladies didn't cup the breasts but just briefly held their hands across the width of the back and then came up with the most amazing and gorgeous bras that fitted like a dream.

I had a friend who wore a 38C - it was obvious from her slight frame that she was no such size so I sent her off to R&P and she came back a delighted 34DD!

There are currently a lot of threads on Mumsnet as most women in this country wear the wrong size of bra - the idea is to change the world, one bra at a time. Evidently the system mentioned at the beginning of this thread is NOT the correct way to be measured for a bra, and M and S are amongst the worst culprits when it comes to still using it.

Evidently you should measure on the rib cage under the bust, and then bend over to 90 degrees and measure round including the "dangle". I think I worked out at something like 33 and a half, and 43. The big figure gives you the cup size. I was staggered to learn that cup sizes alter as the band length goes up - stupidly I just assumed that it was the same whatever the band size. And you should make sure that you get all of your boob in each cup, by pulling into the cup any breast fat from under your arms. Do have a read, it's fascinating stuff. My DD and my DSister are both going to try this way. DD has always worn a size 36B and yet she is only 33 under the bust. Mind you, it does mean that most of us are larger in the cup size than we thought - no longer are DD cups the preserve of page 3 models.

Do have a look on Mumsnet - it is under "Style and Beauty"; there are loads of different threads and they are well worth reading.

I used to use r&p as well. I miss them. House of Fraser aren't too bad , but nowhere near r&p

If you are in the NE there is Sadie the bra lady. She just looks at you! She's in Consett BTW

Stansgran - there is also a Sadie the Bra lady shop in Ashington. I am thinking of paying another visit as I have lost lots of weight. Last time I went there I was able to buy a swimsuit in the correct bra size - a great idea.

How about if you bought a decent normal bra in the right size and stitch into it your own pocket? You could fit it to the insert / fillet that you want to use (you could make your own fillets too)

We did it for my teenage daughter who had one breast significantly bigger than the other and it worked.

Lightening the mood a bit......oldest daughter measures bras by picking the right back size and checks cup sizes by putting the cup on her head, if it fully covers her head and ears, its the right size.

Bra buying with her is comical, just the look on other shoppers faces is brilliant!

sallybee,

Has anybody tried Bravissimo? They cater for all shapes and sizes. I was measured at M&S as a 40D and then Bravissimo - 36F. They are quite expensive but last for years. They have really expert fitters and I think they do a mastectomy/partial range.

Just been on the Bravissimo site- they have a hilarious 'boob school' page, showing you all the symptoms of a badly fitting bra.
If you need a laugh this Monday morning......

Sainsburys do a "comfort" bra with removeable inserts. They are similar to the genie bra except they have the inserts - haven't tried them myself but I do use the genie bra and have to say its the most comfortable bra I have every worn!

THONGS!!
Surely at our time in life we can enjoy wearing our big knickers?Or even small ones, [if you happen to be tiny.]bra's are a real pain [but I can't not wear one] the pull on ones are very good, especially in Summer under Tshirts, a couple of years ago I bought a lovely bra [not sure of the range name] called of all things DOREEN.For anyone 38/40 bra size in full cup this bra is a wonder of engineering, I will look for another one [think I bought it from debenhams.]
I have never worn underwired except for once when I was about 20, and I found red marks from the wires.

I mention thongs because somebody said they wore them [ a very brave person.]

Doreen style bras are made by Triumph - my mother wore them for years!

Speak for yourself re knickers roses

I manage very well with thongs.

Well, I do now

Ith a thong thomething you thing?

LOL I always speak for myself Phoenix [nobody is willing to speak for me] and must admit I have never tried a thong, but they look so painful to wear, and a bit chilly in Winter [red flannel drawers for me!]Presumably women wear them so as not to have a VPL, but that doesn't concern me, and I would prefer not to have a sharp bit of lace stealthily making it's way into my tender regions. So I will stick to the old red flannel.
Bez thanks, yes it's Triumph, very old fashioned styling, I agree but does the job and is comfy, told my daughter about them last year, and she [reluctantly] tried one in the store and bought 3!for anyone well endowed [always wanted to use that expression] they are great bra's.