Love the color/print of the Marks & Spencer bra I got on ebay (for like $20 including S+H to the USA - woo!). The quality seems decent, especially for the price.
The cups have some very minor inner "paneling" (not sure what to call it) for shaping. I find the top edge of the bra very "rounded" for a balcony style (which I expected to be more straight across). The straps are slender & comfortable, and the band is only slightly stretchy, so that I think it may run slightly small (it does not stretch to 28" when new, which is good if your back is smaller).
Happy to find ... a band that fits! This confirmed I need a 28 band, at least in M&S bras. The band stretches to only 26.5" or so.
The band was snug as a bug in a rug on the largest hook for me, and it passed the "two finger" test.
The cups seem wrong, unfortunately. This is likely not an issue with the bra running strange so much as me still figuring out what size/shapes works best for me.
The center gores does not lay flat, although it's close. I have wrinkling at the top of the cups, which suggests they are either too large or the wrong shape. However, I have "armpit fat" still, which looks worse in person than in the photos. When I scoop all this into the cups, then I end up with "quadra-boobs" and breast tissue squishing out the center gore area (and then the gore REALLY does not lay flat). The wrinkling doesn't go away, even when I do that though. All in all, not a good look. It could be a matter of style. Balconette/demi styles should fit my shape well (teardrop & wide), and they usually do, but this one comes up higher than most and is "curved".
The wire width only seems slightly too short or maybe the cups are just slightly too far apart. I can see in the center that the wires cut into the breasts tissue a tiny bit (probably why the gore won't lay flat). This makes me think the cups are too small, despite the wrinkling, too far apart, and/or they are just the wrong shape.
The ebay seller takes returns, so this will go back.
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Updated on Jan 21, 2012 Flag this
"Balconette/demi styles should fit my shape well (teardrop & wide), and they usually do, but this one comes up higher than most and is "curved"."
I have similar measurements to you and get the same problem with M&S balconettes, and I think it's because the upper half of the cup is too "closed", meaning the cup edge cuts in really easily (and you often get wrinkling in the upper cup as well, even though it's not too big). I have one in 28DD ( http://bra.pe/S5d/ ) that doesn't really fit for these reasons. In general I have more luck with half-cups than any other style, although I've yet to find one in the right size.
FYI, Marks & Spencer DD+ styles usually have a different shape and construction than their A-DD bras and can run larger in the cup, so it can be a difficult brand if you're a DD or DD/E. A lot of their bras run small enough that a 30D/DD might work for you, but it could be that the cup shape just isn't compatible. Regardless, I think you're on the right track trying 28DDs. :)