differing bra sizes?

Esoteric_

Has anyone else noticed that in different shops you can need different cup/back sizes in bras, or even get measured as different sizes (dunno how this is possible because it's easy to measure for a bra, but it happens!)?

I'm finding it impossible to actually know my bra size! I measured myself and I measure as a 38J (yes, ridiculous). I got measured in Bravissimo out of Ireland and this was confirmed and I got some lovely bras. I come down to Dublin, gt measured as a G in Debenhams and a 38 back, perfect fit. La Senza I get measured as a 42E, but need a 38FF as I'm bursting out of an E cup while the 40 back (the biggest back they do) is waaay too big. In Ann Summers, a 40G doesn't go near me in either back or cup.

Same thing happened to my friend. She normally wears a 36G but knew it was too tight with too big a cup. Got measured as a 38C in Ann Summers, but lo and behold the 40F is way too tight in the back and perfect in the cup. In La Senza she's wearing a 36F as a perfect fit. In Debenhams she's wearing a 40F.

Is there not one universal bra size?! I'm finding it impossible to buy bras, especially as I KNOW I'm a 38J but in some shops the 38 backs are too big and in others a G cup will fit me!

jimmynokia

anymore than a handfull is a waste LOL:D

The Cool

Yes OP I've had that problem as well. Got measured in la Senza last year as a 40F, but in Marks and Spencer the 40 is too big and the cups are too small, but strangely shaped - I'm spilling out in the middle but there are gaps at the sides. Don't really know what I'm like in Debenhams sizes.

Valentina

Unfortunately with bras you can be different sizes in each shop/brand. I know I am! All you can do is get measured each time you try a new one to see what size you are then you will know for future. It's frustrating but at least you SHOULD get a perfect fit each time (in theory anyway )

Yes OP, that's why you have to cart a bunch of them into the fitting rooms every time before you buy
bit of a pain

dudara

jimmynokia Please don't comment if you don't have anything helpful to add. This isn't After Hours.

dudara

E.T.

Go get measured by a proper fitter and find out your true size. I've had terrible fittings in most of the department stores here. If you're ever in the UK, Bravissimo are amazing and the difference wearing the correct size makes is very noticeable. I've seen loads of posts recommending Bramora in Dublin too.

M&S sizing seems to be different to other places - they do the 'back size + 4 or 5 inches', which means your size in their bras is totally different to most other companies at this stage. I was wearing an M&S bra when I got fitted in Bravissimo, and went down 2 back sizes and up 3 cup sizes from that bra!

I still do find that different brands are different sizes - the same as most clothes and stores. I go between 2 back/cup combinations in most brands, but find a lot of the more fashionable (ie nicer looking!) bras are not made for bigger boobs, even when their cup size does go up to a D/DD/E, they just don't fit properly.

RhubarbCrumble

A bit like clothes sizes I suppose. I seem to go anywhere from 1 32A to a 34B. Small anyway :P

LyndaMcL

LyndaMcL wrote: »

Has anyone else noticed that in different shops you can need different cup/back sizes in bras, or even get measured as different sizes (dunno how this is possible because it's easy to measure for a bra, but it happens!)?

Is there not one universal bra size?! I'm finding it impossible to buy bras, especially as I KNOW I'm a 38J but in some shops the 38 backs are too big and in others a G cup will fit me!

There isn't a universal bra size. It's different in every shop. When they measure you, they're not getting it wrong (well obviously that will happen sometimes) they're just measuring you for their bras, so it always turns out different. So essentially, you can never "know" your bra size, but you can know your size in a certain shop. It sucks but there's no universal right or wrong about it, at least most shops have fitters to kind of make up for the confusion.

TB1991

I think bra sizes are all over the place. A good while ago I bought one in Penneys, a few months later they were selling the exact same ones for about 2 euro I think it was. So I happily bought another one in the same size as the one before but when I wore it the cup sizes were noticeably bigger than the original one I bought. Waste of a 2 euro, cudda bought some tea with that money!

dazey

La senza's sizes are always wrong. I don't know wheher it is vanity sizing or what but if you are small boobed they knock your cup size up by at least one letter ...crap! But cheap so I can't argue with that. It's just more effort and there's no chance of ordering online.

I bought some on Amazon from Charnos at highly reduced rates and they are really lovely and true to size. Really well made as well.

Twee.

You just have to try on all the sizes! I'm a 32DD in Debenham's own brand, 32D in Wonderbra. Tried on a 32DD bra the other day (can't remember the brand) and it wouldn't go near me!

Never take your size as gospel as it differs from brand to brand. It is annoying though if you need to pick something up in a rush and don't have time to try.

rainbow kirby

Heh, this is the story of my life. I have bras that fit me in pretty much everything between 34DD and 32FF. Bra shopping generally involves carting half the shop into the fitting room and keeping what fits...

pinkypinky

Totally agree - it's not like a shoe size at all.
Years of going to Bravissimo has ruined me for shopping here. The last time I was in Arnotts I just flat out didn't believe them when they measured me.

I just make sure I go to Bravissimo once a year and buy new stuff. Occasionally I use their mail order but only for bras that I've tried (like in a different colour) because it's not free to return them.

SlinkyKittin

Feeling your pain! Can be anything from 32h to 34jj, different brands, makes, shops. Please please let Bravissimo open a shop here!!!

E.T.

That would be brilliant SlinkyKittin! Wonder why they haven't yet?

lace

Different shops and different sizing really does my head in. The one bra I own for which I was measured assured of the fit turned out to be the most uncomfortable bra I've ever worn! After a few hours of wearing the thing I was actually crying with the pain and, as I was a bridesmaid at the time, I couldn't change into something more comfortable or take it off as the dress wouldn't fit without it!

Now I just buy all my bras in Penneys or New Look (and the occasional Calvin Klein). Always a 32B in these brands.

SlinkyKittin

E.T. wrote: »

That would be brilliant SlinkyKittin! Wonder why they haven't yet?

I did ask them last time I was in their store in London, it's not in their expansion plan at all to come to Irelanc :-(