confused on sizing

hi all, so i have been wearing a 34e primark bra, although i know my back is smaller. Its quite comfy except the bottom seems to rub on my scars. Anyway, I went to m&s today and the lady gave me a quick measurement (as apparently you have to book in advance for a proper fitting) Anyway she said i am a 31 back so i could wear 30 or 32 band and then my boobs are meant to be a c/d cup. I bought a 32d m&s bra back to the shop (zip at the front one) because it was a struggle to zip up felt like i was squashing my boobs together. Anyway i tried a different 32 d and i couldn't do the back up so i tried on a 32 dd bra and it feels pretty comfy so i kept it. I went into lasenza also and the silly girl there measure just my band and then just asked me what did your surgeon say you are going to be (cup size) I said d cup anyway they had no d cup so she bought me a 32c which i tried on and it felt a bit squashed. She didnt hang around to see if it fit me or not. I also went into debenhams and was after the gorgeous range and they don't do them in this one. I am kind of confused as what size I am as in both shops they said i will measure you for 'our bras' but none of them seemed pretty sure. I don't want to go ordering lots of bras yet but wouldn't mind at least another sports bra but don't know what size i really am.
sorry bit long winded just very confusing.

You can be a different size in different shops. La senza seem to come up small so you will probably need a bigger band size and cup size there. I also found some of M&S bras come up a bit big, so I tend to need a smaller band size and bigger cup size. It's confusing, but it's probably best to try every bra you buy on. I went to bravissimo to get measured and found them the best in my area, M&S were rubbish.

Hi, every shop you go in will probably give you a different size hun, i asked my surgeon what size will i be and he said he never ever does size's, i had to chose my implant size by that as he said every shop will be different! i got measured in deb's and found the lady very nice and very happy to help me.. i was wearing a D sport from primark and she almost laughed at me when i took off my top.. she said "oh no dear thats rather small for you" lol i ended up measuring 34 F....!! but i know i'll be something different somewhere else lol...
good luck on hunting hunni xx

I was 34DD in m&s, 34F in la senza, 34E in Debenhams... I feel your pain!!!!! It's a nightmare. Bras used to be so easy... A cup, A cup, or A cup lol.

I have been told in every shop...

1) Make sure the band is straight at the back (not riding up or higher than bust). Check a finger can slide between strap and your back and it is comfy on middle clasp.

2) If the cup is right there should be no bulge of boob at all at the edge of the cup. It should be smooth. (Feel the need to draw a pic here!)

3) The bra fabric in the middle of the cups should sit flush to your chest. If the bra doesn't meet your chest wall inbetween boobies then the cup is too small again. (I didn't know this bit)

That's the advice I was given and it did help me to find some well fitting bikinis on my own. Try it. If not lots of girls really rate Bravissimo.
xx

thanks girls , i am wearing my 32dd sports bra from m&s and I am waiting for a 32d z bra (32e wasn't in stock) I think i will go to bravissimo when I have had my 6 week check just to be sure. I haven't even tried on a normal bra yet. Except for the stretched pregnancy bra in my profile pic, which doesnt' actually fit i just wanted to show of boob in pic.
Zoe not sure about point 3. 'sit flush to your chest' hmmm?

lol I can't explain it, what i mean is that the fabric should meet your skin between the cups... if you got a gape there and it doesn't then u need to try next cup size up! i need pictures to explain it lol!!
xx

hmm is that just normal bras though because don't sports bras tend to be kind of lifted. great avatar pic by the way

It does get easier sweetie I promise. Personally I don't rate either La Senza or M&S on their sizing ability. The size mainly by sight and will ask you what size your currently wearing, get you a bra in that size then go from there.

I swear by the girls in my local debenhams. They all seem to be so well trained and really knowledgeable about natural and augmented breasts.

TRY BEFORE YOU BUY!! Every shop is different. I had to do this even before I had my ba. xx

my year wrote:hmm is that just normal bras though because don't sports bras tend to be kind of lifted. great avatar pic by the way

Yes I meant normal bras, not sports bras.
Thanks for the compliment!!
xxx

Hi babe, just a little info, I used to work in la senza, and we were not trained in sizing. We had markings on the measuring tape for the back size and we were told to make a guess on cup size depending on what bra size you were already wearing !
Terrible service and after working there wouldn't buy bras or be sized in there. Disgusting customer service.

Good luck in your bra hunt. I can't wait to fill a bra size past b.
They are looking great! X