Bra woes

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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!

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

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

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.

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...

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.

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

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.

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!

Joan I usually wear thongs without any problems, but I did have 2 unfortunate incidents with them which have both been documented on here!

gracesmum I had similar experience when measured at House of Fraser.
I'd been wearing 38B .Now find 36DD much more supportive and,comfortable but harder to find in some ranges.

I have never had boobs to set the world on fire and have progressed from 34A through 36A and 38B to 40B as the weight has gone on - or so I thought,until I was recently measured in John Lewis and was told I was a 36DD !! Could have knocked me over with a chicken fillet! I want it in writing!! I wish there was some infallible method where you could do this yourself - I can't go through that experience again

I have a new bra and it is SO comfy.
In the end I resorted to archeology in the dead bra strata at the back of my underwear drawer. (cover your eyes and ears, ye people with tidy cupboards)
There I located one of the all time favourites and Wonderbra still do a version (see link)
Very comfy and very adjustable - perfect for my wide apart, lopsided 36A boobs.
Not as cheap as BHS but will probably last longer.
Debenhams online very easy - pick up at shop on 2 days.
Just off to plunder the internet before they decide they are all sold out and they arent doing more...

www.wonderbra.eu/uk/cleavage-bras/icat/cleavage/?sort=sequence_cleavage&sort=name&order=asc&order=asc&parentCategoryRef=cleavage&categoryPathRefs=shop&q=*&setpagenum=2&perpage=12

Yes, I go for non-underwired too. Have a look at the Miss Mary of Sweden website, lucid.

I'm a 34F !!!!...I used to buy all my bra's from M&S until recently. Have just bought some online from Debenhams and I have to say they are the most comfortable I've worn in years. What I'd really like to find is a supportive and comfortable non underwired bra....they just don't seem to make them in my size.

I've looked at the site, and there is an amazing choice of substantial-looking bras of the type I like - trouble is a lot of them only start at 36 or 38 and I am 34D or DD. Still, there are quite a lot in my size and I'll probably order a couple soon. Thanks for the suggestion, goldengirl!

I agree with goldengirl too - I'm still wearing the last one of three M&S bras I bought several years ago, and have bought new, similar ones but they just don't give the support the old ones do! I'll have a look at Miss Mary of Sweden.

I've bought a pull on bra to try, but I think I'll have to wear it when I need to take the firmer one off, as one does eventually. I do have a full bust (DD) even with a bit missing, and this bra, though very comfortable, is just not supportive, even with the inserts, and flattens me out, so I have no shape, just a low slung shelf!

Agree with you goldengirl about M&S bras - even the old favourites aren't the same any more. I'll be interested to hear how you get on with the Miss Mary ones.

I'm in dire need of new bras and have taken the plunge and bought 2 Miss Mary of Sweden bras as I like full cup bras even though I'm not particularly big in the boob department. My only concern is that I've measured correctly although I can return them of course if they don't fit [I bought on line as there's no suitable shop around here]. Has anyone bought this brand at all?
I'd love to try Rigby and Peller but they're way out of my price range. My M & S ones are on their last legs and the new ones I bought a whilst back which I thought were the same have slight changes and aren't so good unfortunately. Men don't have this problem!