https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/bra-size-experts-needed Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Wed, 08 Apr 2026 20:07:10 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/bra-size-experts-needed#post-1006854 Fri, 16 Aug 2013 08:09:28 +0000 ManidipaM 1006854@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Mo, thanks for that link. I now understand why a seemingly random size seems better on me than so many 'add 4 or 5' results.</p> <p>Becky, I wonder if you have tried the Cantaloop brand before? My 32GG/34Gs (UK, US I cup I guess?) seem well supported when I get the band size right. Even though they are a stretchy material.u </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/bra-size-experts-needed#post-1006779 Fri, 16 Aug 2013 04:06:06 +0000 Marley 1006779@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Maya had a great thread on bra fitting several years ago!&nbsp; Its full of really helpful info - enjoy!<br /><a href="http://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-bra-fitting-thread" rel="nofollow">http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....ing-thread</a> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/bra-size-experts-needed#post-1006760 Fri, 16 Aug 2013 03:42:48 +0000 Joan Joplin 1006760@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thin And Curvy has a really good fitting guide. Your measurements might put you in a 28H. But depending on the fit of each bra and your own comfort levels, it might vary by several sizes from that measurement. The big points to remember are: a band that doesn't ride up, even when you raise your arms or move around, cups that enclose all your breast tissue with any spillover or falling out, and a central gore that tacks. It's also really important to scoop all your breast tissue into the cups, and then to scoop tissue in from the side so the bra holds all of it. If you don't do this, a much smaller cup will often seem to fit, but will leave you with underarm flabby bits and cups that aren't holding your entire breast. Bras I Hate And Love explains it all very well, too, and does great bra reviews.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/bra-size-experts-needed#post-991683 Sat, 27 Jul 2013 02:25:12 +0000 Suz 991683@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Good luck, and nice to see you stop in, Becky!&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/bra-size-experts-needed#post-991643 Sat, 27 Jul 2013 01:46:38 +0000 cobaltblue 991643@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thank you, Mo, for the handy calculators!</p> <p>Sarah, thank you for your response. I haven't worried about back fat up to this point (the belly flab is more assertive!) but find that your explanatiob about band sizes makes sense.</p> <p>Marit, I think I will try some bras with a 30 band. I had never thought about the lack of "squish" room for those of us with small band sizes. Baby is only two months, so I'm sure to change size. I lived in nursing tanks last time around, but I hate the "sagging to the navel" look! As a bigger-busted person, I'd like a little more support (but no underwire). And the 38D bras from last baby (I had no idea about bra sizes then) are just not cutting it.</p> <p>I'll let you know how the search goes! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/bra-size-experts-needed#post-991612 Sat, 27 Jul 2013 00:46:32 +0000 marit 991612@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>You're nursing and you're a small band size, so if I had to close my eyes and jump (buying online without trying on!) I would say you should go for a 30 band, because small band sizes sometimes find their actual band measurement a little tight if their ribs have no "squish" over them; and nursing means your breasts will be really unhappy if the bra is too tight!</p> <p>Now my next question is - how far postpartum are you? Because your breasts are going to change a lot over time with nursing. If your supply has stabilized (baby is over 6 months) then your actual measurement (30FF in UK sizing, 30H in US sizing) would be my best guess. If you are recently postpartum (baby is younger than 3 months) I'd guess a cup size up (30G in UK sizing, 30I in US sizing) just for some room.</p> <p>From what I see some nursing bra brands that are well recommended will not go lower than a 32 band (Anita, Bravado) so your actual measurement sister-size will be a 32F UK or 32G US if you have to go that big a band. If you are recently postpartum having some more room might well be okay anyway.</p> <p>Anyway, I wish I could recommend you something personally but you can look on Brastop (they have a couple Freya nursing bras and a Panache, both good brands), on Bare Necessities (Anita, Bravado) or on BiggerBras.com - to start. </p> <p>If you're recently postpartum I'd look at nursing tanks and wire-free bras over underwired bras (for instance, something like this: <a href="http://www.bravadodesigns.com/shop/the-original-nursing-bra-double-plus-style" rel="nofollow">http://www.bravadodesigns.com/.....plus-style</a>). I seriously lived in sports bras and nursing tanks until all of mine started solids... less chance of mastitis and more comfortable. Also much easier to buy because they more likely are not precisely sized.</p> <p>I also would not buy more than a couple bras; first you're buying online and they might not fit well (again my sizes above are best guesses and different brands fit differently!) so check for free returns wherever you order; second your breasts will change a lot in size as you transition through the postpartum year and your nursing pattern stabilizes, so what fits you now might not fit well in as little as 2 or 3 months - again my personal experience. </p> <p>Hope this helps! Happy to answer more questions as best I can. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/bra-size-experts-needed#post-991522 Fri, 26 Jul 2013 23:00:06 +0000 MovingFashionForward 991522@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>What I have learnt is that most people wear too big a band size and too small a cup size. If you measure 28.5" under your bust, at least TRY bras with very large cup sizes and 28" or 30" band size. If you have been thinking your band size should be 34" or something, you will no doubt baulk at this idea, as I myself did, but to my very great surprise, it is indeed the case that the small band bigger cup size feels much much more comfortable, and even more surprising to me, the smaller band size made the back/underarm fat problem I had had with the 34D size go away. This sounds patently ridiculous, I know, or at least it did to me before I tried the small band size, but what I discovered is that the correct band size stays completely horizontal as opposed to riding up a bit at the back, and that it is the riding up that is the main cause of the back or side fat problem. Not that you are asking about that, of course. It is just such a common concern, including for thin women like me, that I thought I'd mention it.</p> <p>Until I compared the two sizes back to back, as it were, I have not even realised that the larger band width size was riding up. It was not dramatically riding up so I had assumed that it was as it should be, and indeed, the M&amp;S bra fitter had told me 34D was correct for me. But I now know that it really wasn't correct at all.</p> <p>I think part of the problem is that when faced&nbsp;with significant back fat (like on me despite my general thinness) bra fitters think that it is necessary to increase the band size to get rid of the back fat. What that does is to put all the strain of support on the shoulders instead of the band doing some of the work to keep things in place. Fat is squishy so if, like me, you have back fat, you have to slightly DECREASE the band size, if anything, not increase it. I am still not wearing a band size 28, which is what I measure around my underbust, but only because I have not yet found any 28 band size bras. I can definitely tell from the 30 inch band size compared to the 32 and 34-inch band size bras&nbsp;that that is what would work best.</p> <p>I am not exactly sure what cup size you would be but my wild guess would be in the region of a G cup if you were trying a 28 or 30-inch band size.&nbsp;As with clothing more generally, there will be differences between different manufacturers' sizes, unfortunately.&nbsp;There are specialist bra shops online that offer free returns should you want to order several sizes to find the one that works best for you.</p> <p>Best of luck!</p> <p>Sarah</p> <p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/bra-size-experts-needed#post-991460 Fri, 26 Jul 2013 21:35:48 +0000 Mo 991460@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>This site has several calculators you can use.</p> <p>&nbsp;<a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.boosaurus.com/2012/03/bra-sizing-calculators.html">http://www.boosaurus.com/2012/.....ators.html</a>&nbsp;I find they tend to put me in a 28F or 30E, but I'm more comfortable in 30DD. &nbsp;(27.5 underbust and 34.5 across)</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/bra-size-experts-needed#post-991459 Fri, 26 Jul 2013 21:28:41 +0000 cobaltblue 991459@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I'm starting from square one again with my wardrobe, at least for now - I'm in the postpartum dressing doldrums.  First order of business is a few new bras, as the ones I'm wearing now are by far the wrong size (band waaay huge, cups far too small).  My size is hard to find, and I need nursing bras, which makes things impossible in-store.  I'll be ordering off the internet and would like the best chance at minimal returns.  </p> <p>I just measured: 28.5" under the bust (where the band goes) and 37" at the fullest point.  They actually get bigger at certain points in the day, when I am fuller, so I think I'd go up if in between sizes.  </p> <p>So, what size might that make me?  Any suggestions for brands or places to order?</p> <p>Thanks, as always, from your lurking friend,<br />Becky </p>