I think 36D, full coverage cup, is starting to get "busty." That seems to be about the size around which men split into their two preference groups, lol.

I can only wear balconette bras, 'cuz I'm pretty much hollow chested. That alone, I think, qualifies me for "not busty."

I feel busty at 32DD and I'm not happy about it. And I had a breast reduction, but the doctor wouldn't let me go smaller because I was hoping for a second child and wanted to remain "intact" for nursing. I think I have some body dysmorphia around my old size, and I'm also able to hide it a bit with my surrendering looks, but I really would like to fit into more things and not struggle with swim tops. Sigh....

alaskagirl - I don't get busty from your photos at all, you look slim & proportionate.

With swim tops, I find only underwires seem to fit properly. And S/M/L sizing does not cut it for me.

I'm not sure if there is a clear dividing line in this case. I *feel* large-breasted at 38C, and I am a wide-shouldered pearish hourglass at 5'9". I can only wear mostly-full or full coverage bras, as all the other types result in unsightly boob overflow. I have no idea how others think of my bust size.

This is such an interesting read.

I am technically a full busted 32F but there are many factors at play which means I do not feel busty. I am tall at 5'8", predominantly a rectangle post children and my bustline is quite low.

I do have some difficulty dressing my bust properly, being on the cusp of tall sizes the fit of tops can often seem off and darts hit at the wrong place in both regular and tall sizes.

At school I was all blond hair and boobs 'Hello Boys' which was both a blessing and a curse as a teenager.

OK, how did I get to be 47 years old and NOT know that a 32 c cup was different than a 36 c cup? This explains so much.

Before I lost weight, I wore a 38C. During weight loss, there was always extra fabric in the cups -- sometimes I felt like I fit another pair of breasts in my bra. Lately I've been wearing 34B, because everything shrunk, so I just went down in everything. But I've been feeling that the B is too small, but telling myself that there's no way I could still be a C.

I have to search out a place for a professional fitting. For some reason, the Nordies near me doesn't seem to offer that.

Ann, last year I lost weight (about 15 lbs) and went from a 34D to a 32DDD or E. Even though I definitely lost weight in my breasts! The new size surprised me too. Don't be shocked if you actually need a 34D, for example.

I've been wondering about this too. I feel average, or slightly above, but clothing manufacturers seem to think I'm big, because tops tend to be baggy through the shoulders. Yet my shoulders are not particularly narrow, being well-balanced with my hips. I definitely don't want to wear a minimizing bra, because that would accentuate my thick waist. Just can't win here.

Since I've been on YLF, I have gotten much more particular about getting things that fit right, and it's not an easy task. At least it helps prevent a lot of impulse buying. ;o)

As for sizing being inconsistent, I can attest to that. My two newest bras were 36D (band definitely not tight) and a 34DD (cup definitely not tight), bought at the same time with the same SA. She assured me that that DD cup in that particular model was smaller than normal. So much for standard sizing. I was feeling pretty much like Shiny, exhausted and wanting to just go home, but I really, really needed some T-shirt bras.

Just wanted to add that a 30D is not that hard to find: I wear a 28DD and can find them in plenty of places. Just search for online stores that sell Freya, Panache, Fantasie or Parfait Affinitas; I heard Nordstorms is good to (if you are in the US).

Sizing across brands is very inconsistent. On line retailers like her room.com have created common sizing ratings across brands because of this.

I have struggled with my "girls" most of my life, but never as much as after having my DD. I was never perky, but breastfeeding made it much worse. They are also set low, so support is a huge component.

I have also struggled with tops forever. I wear a lot of knits because at a 36(6D) it is almost impossible to find tops that fit across the girls that don't tent over my waist. I do not own a basic white button down as I have never found one that fits without looking like a tent.

At my size, bras last 6-12 months, even the expensive ones.

Uggh. I normally wear a 32F unless I'm pregnant then it's 36G and I am 5'4". I have broad shoulders that help with my large bust and my hips are the same size as my bust so that helps me balance out. My husband recently pointed out that no one other than him sees my waist because most of my shirts just flow down from my chest. So I would say how the shirt fits is a good indicator of large bust or not.

Very late to this but I just joined YLF today and feel I must weigh in on this topic that is close to my heart. I am 5'2", "small-boned" and wear a 34FF or 32G. Couldn't find a well-fitting bra for years. I felt top-heavy and sometimes a little frumpy due to poor support. Ill-fitting underwire just hurts. 5 years ago we went on our first tropical vacation since our honeymoon in 1990 and I wanted a bikini. I went to a bra & swimwear boutique for a fitting and was introduced to the wonderful world of English/European bras! Now I buy gorgeous bra and swimsuit brands like Panache and Freya. I look and feel better, clothes fit better and they are worth every penny even with costs to import from the U.K. Deals can often be found on eBay. I tell everyone who wants to listen to investigate British engineering lol!