Bra Sizes

Some years ago after being mis-fitted at both M&S and Bravissimo I tried House of Fraser. The lovely and efficient fitter told me my size and suggested Triumph Doreen, they didn't have my size in stock. Try Debenhams she advised so I did.
Since then I’ve been happy with same make, same size, including TD bras bought via mail order.
My daughter decided to treat herself to Rigby and Peller. The assistant was so patronising and bossy that she left without ordering. Until I’d also been planning a visit to R&P but decided not to bother.

Only ones whop ever to got it right for me was on the phone by Bravissimo. They are so helpful. Never buy bras anywhere else now & they arrive very quickly.
M&S said 38b, JL said 40b & I am actually 36c. Mad!

I measure 39'' around my ribcage so you would think a 40 bra would fit - not a chance with most brands - and a 38 is always that bit too tight. And then the fun really starts with the cup size - I measure 47'' round the fullest part of my bust, a difference of 8'' which should, all things being equal, make me an H. I have tried on loads of bras that are supposed to be a 40H and the cups are huge - even on me! Could carry the shopping home in some of them! I have found that, if the band size fits okay, then I need to try the F and G ones as one of these should fit properly. Another moan is why are bigger bras so padded? I have plenty of my own and don't need it! It is hard to find pretty bras at my size too - I do wonder who designs them!

It took years to find the perfect fit (36DD) at BHS- then they closed down, typical! I used to hand wash my undies but now pop them a little net zip-up bag from Lakeland to use in the washing machine which I'm happy to recommend.

For bra fitting advice, I have found that the Facebook group called Boob or Bust is very useful and helpful. Also, try their calculator at www.booborbust.com

M&S are notoriously bad at measuring and fitting for bras, getting a good bra from there is more by good luck than judgement.

Yes I have also measured myself, Triumph are very good, I would imagine you have measured yourself correctly.

Bravissimo are great. I thought for years that I was a 34B turned out to be a 30E! They don’t measure you but seem to have the gift of sizing you up immediately. I find Panache fit perfectly, so just order these online now.

Could never find a M&S bra to fit properly. The lady there tried everything on me and then told me I was probably suited to cheaper bras!!! Even there 30E bras still don’t fit.

We have a brilliant shop 'Sadie the Bra Lady ',and also Debenhams measuring service is great .I went in for a 42 dd and the assistant said ,I'll hazard a guess that you're 38 ff and I was , I was mortified , but she was correct when she measured me

I am convinced that it is the bras not measuring what they are supposed to measure that is the problem. I bought 3 bras in the same size and made the mistake of trying on one and assuming the others would also fit as same size. The one I tried on fitted me perfectly on middle fitting. The other two are too tight even on last fitting. I had to take them back. Then after I washed first one on just 40 degrees it shrunk and was too small but does still fit on last fitting. I am going on diet to try to make it fit me on middle fitting again.

Debenhams also recommend staying on the middle set of fastenings! But they advise as long as you've got the band size correct you can try bras to suit as each manufacturer is slightly different and each bra shape is slightly different.
M&S measured me incorrectly too! I was wearing a C cup that was obviously not big enough & they made me a B ?.
Although M&S is where I buy the bras I find the most comfortable for my large bosom!

I needed new bras for a long time and, as my 14 year old twins were at the stage they needed bras, we had a family outing to M&S.

Absolutely couldn’t fault the lovely ladies there. Found out I was suffering from backache because I was squashing my ample frontage into 42DD bras when I was actually 44E. Soon had me sorted with no fuss whatsoever.

And the girls were fitted out with minimal fuss or embarrassment.

The worst part of the trip was the £130 odd for half a dozen bras - but worth it for the comfort

I have always measure my bra size as the Triumph video shows and have never found myself with the wrong size.

I must admit, I only very rarely buy a bra without trying it on first.

My advice is definitely to buy a bra when you have time to try it and put your blouse back on too, before making up your mind.

Well now what. According to Triumph I measure 36C. But according to abrathatfits.com my starting size is 34EE, but a 36DD/E might be more comfortable! It gets more and more confusing. I'll have to go into a lingerie shop, when I find one, and try on a few.

If you telephone Bravissimo, they will talk you through it whist on the phone and ask you questions about the bra you are wearing. They will then advise you on the correct size and style for your body and breast size. I’ve used them several times and every time they’ve got it right.
Their number is on their website.

Try getting a good choice of post op bras in any store . I have to go on line m&s have a selection but I feel for larger ladies because size for most stop at 40 !! There are specialist shops but none near me when travelled to one they only had one bra I could try and post and packing expensive ?

I stoped buying bras in M and S when they insisted I was a bigger size than I thought I was. Every time I raised my hands the bra ended up halfway up my bosom. Not comfortable and not easy to correct while teaching a class.

I've got a drawer full of useless bras. Very depressing; none of them fit properly. How I would love to rush into Rigby and Peller (sp?) and shout 'One in every colour please!

I have a friend who was an M&S bra fitter and she sorted me out.. was 34DD in my youth, didn't realise just how much bigger one gets as one ages, so was buying 36J, now apparently I am 40 JJ.. and they fit fabulously! Bravissimo bras did nothing for me - no shape, all falling out at the sides etc Good luck choosing!

I, too, am disappointed with M&S. For years I have bought my bras there and been really happy with them. But recently I have noticed that the straps are much shorter (another cost-cutting exercise ?) I have also been measured there twice with completely different results (admittedly one agreed with the measurements I had done myself) So I am really interested in all the opinions on here as I need buy new bras. Thank you and good luck !

This thread prompted me to grasp the nettle and go on some very much needed bra shopping trip. I followed instructions from the links kindly provided by helpful Gransnetters and measured myself in some ungainly positions. As Debenhams had 20% off this weekend. I opted to go to them. Picked a lot of pretty bras in my horrendous 38G size getting really excited as they were not too matronly. Really kind assistant helped me with the fittings, so ended up with two wired and two unwired bras......but none of the pretty ones for me. The only ones that fitted properly were black white and skin colour. I feel really disappointed that in the styles that suit me there is no choice.

Oh, I had to order the black bra. The assistant told me to do click and collect to check the fit in store as all black bras, whatever make come up small. Go figure.

I find M&S bras good. I've never tried more expensive bras but cheaper bras are useless. A few years ago having put on weight, I was measured in M&S who told me to go down 2 band sizes and up 3 cup sizes. I thought getting fatter meant just getting a bigger band, but weight and age meant a change of shape and the bigger cup is so much better. They did say I might find one size down in band better and that was right. I only buy the DD+ bras as the others are smaller and less supportive.
My 12 year old DGD is wearing a size only one down from me but in a completely different style which is much smaller.

How strange, Nandalot. I have the same bra in black, white and nude. The black bra does indeed come up smaller than the other two.

Nanalot/Blinko - Bra fitting training taught me that all black bras are likely to come up smaller than other colours because of the dying process. In order for the black dye to take, the temperature needs to be higher, hence extra shrinkage of the fabric.

thuberon that's useful to understand. We clearly should pay particular attention to the fit when trying on black bras. Might even need to go larger. But how strange that the industry knows about this and it seems not a lot is done at the customer interface (ie the shop) to allow for it. Bras are difficult enough to get right as it is.