This is a sort of follow up to my 2 separate articles - one on bras and the other on panties. Its inspired by 2 recent articles in the Guardian.

Part 1 - Bras

The bra one starts with the headline

"Approximately 80% of women wear ill-fitting bras – and now the US underwear firm Jockey wants us to measure ourselves and deal with a whole new sizing system"

It talks about a boobular contaiment system .......

"Right – the good news! US underwear supremos Jockey International claim they are on the verge of revolutionising the bra industry by introducing an entirely new way of measuring for fittings. After eight years investigating the sizes and shapes of real ladies' baps, they have created a sizing system that takes account not just of ribcage size (that's the 32/34/36 etc inches bit) and cup size (that's your actual boobular containment area) but of breast shape too.

To that end, brave researchers scanned the entireties of around 800 women's torsos, collecting measurements from all points, and then followed the women around, watching how they dressed, chose bras, finding out their complaints about the products and the process of acquiring them.

At the end of this meticulous mammarian survey, Jockey determined that 10 cup sizes were needed to account for most variations in size and shape. To fit customers properly, it has made the term literal and requires women to manoeuvre their boobs into a range of plastic cups to see what works best. That, plus your ribcage size, will give you a new measurement of anywhere between 1 and 30 and 10 and you'vegottobekiddingme " says Lucy.

What is fascinating about Lucy Mangan's piece is not so much the idea of putting your boobs into a plastic cup but the comments about how hard it is to find bras that fit, or shops that have fitters who know what they are doing. For more details see the link -


http://www.guardian.co.uk/fashion/shortcuts/2013/jun/09/secret-to-perfect-fitting-bra


Part 2 - Panties

This article by Paula Cocozza bemoans the demise of M&S as Britain's first choice for knickers (panties) that fit. Again its not so much the article as readers comments...have a look.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/fashion/shortcuts/2013/apr/17/marks-and-spencer-britain-knicker-shop


Why you may ask have I posted links to these articles in the Guardian. Well bear with me as they are a good starting point for some questions you may (or may not) want to answer.

Given that few of us have real breasts and thus the cup is filled with silicone or bird seed or whatever...

Q1, How do you decide what bra size to buy - both band size and cup size.

Q2. How many bras do you have?


Given that none of us have real hips how do you go about buying knickers or panties....


Q1. Do you go for the same size as your skirt size? Or figure out your size another way?

Q2. What is your favorite type - bikini, see through, big panties, etc

Q3. How many pairs of panties do you have?


And one last overall Q - do you wear a bra and panties on a regular basis....and feel free to talk about where you buy your lingerie, and if you shop for your favorite frillies in drab.

Have fun girls....

hugs


Pauline xxx

Hi Pauline - an interesting rummage through the drawers!! Despite its demise M&S is still a good place for stuff that fits. And it may be an age thing but I cannot cope with the thong thing - too uncomfy, especially when dancing. As for size - my breast forms came with a bra size guide which was very handy and accurate. I experiment with size on the knickers but skirt size has usually been a good guide xxxx

A
This post was edited by Deleted Member at October 29, 2014 3:48 PM GMT

Thanks for the suggestion Pauline - God know's how many pairs of knickers i have - but i'm with Marianne M&S are fabulous fit really good, I do have one thong tha thong thong thong! lol only wear it on " special occasions" lol .

I buy a 16-18, knickers, also Evans do some great end of season/line sale stuff from time to time!
As for bra's - having just lost some weight, i'm now a 44 B without forms so i guess i'm a little lucky!

Back to the Panties, If i'm feeling daring - i my forget to put them on if i have my sheer to waist tights on.

Liz xxx

Oh forgot to say - Asda do a great t-shirt bra for £4 - yes Four Quid! bargin xxx - i yes i do buy them myself! lol xxx

My Bras (2) of them are from M&S 1 from Asda, my knickers size 14's (size smaller than my skirts) are from M&S too.
I use my chest size 38", and the cup is a A and they are the "2 cups bigger bras" as i dont wear forms.
Yes i buy all my lingeri myself and i dont have any issues going into store.
I do wear ligerie on quite a reg basis ;-)
Thanks for the suggestion Pauline xx

Regarding bras that fit - its 38a- boost bras from Primark - those that I stuff extra into or used to range from c - dd but all were 36 or 38.

Panties, well they used to do the job of the gaff so had loads of size 8-10 can't go too small or tight to keep the junk under control. Comfy panties on top are size 10-12. Don't do lingerie its loose t shirts or girl pj's no longer go bedders nakt!!! Sometimes knackered but thats another story

I'm a 38B, according to the various measuring sites (and they seem to fit quite well). I've found the Asda 2 Sizes Bigger bra gives GREAT results....hehe. I own 2 of them. 3 padded bras and 2 underwired bras. I quite often wear the underwire ones to work under my shirt. My record is 21 consecuritve days of bra wearing.

Knickers...I'm the same as my skirt size. I've not worn male underwear since about December. I own about 2 dozen pairs. To be fair I don't wear the 5 thongs, they're too uncomfy. My faves are my brightly colour bikini briefs.

Debbie