Does your bra really fit?

[Kathi]

I'm asking this because I've been struggling to find a good fitting bra and now that I know what to look for I thought I'd share my findings. My search started this summer because I was looking for T-Shirt bras. I've been ordering from an online company because dept stores rarely stock my size 30 D/DD. The local speciality bra stores state they stock sizes 32 up although they probably would have done a special order for me.

Years ago I was measured by a retail store bra fitter and was told I was a 32 C/D but these bras never fit me comfortably, if I found a small band I had to hook them in the tightest hook and as soon as they stretched they were uncomfortable. For a time I wore sports bras (which also fit in the tightest hooks) to work and went braless at home.

When I discovered online bra stores I also found out that a new band should fit in the 1st hook to give room for stretch. The fitting calculators put me in a 30 band (26" back + 4" = 30 band) and a C or D cup depending on how the bra fit. I would order a 30 C or D, depending on what the reviewers said about the fit of the cup and thought I was wearing the correct size. They didn't really fit and I couldn't understand why.

After a lot of trial and error I ended up with 3 molded style T shirt bras with a 30 band and a F cup. The bands aren't comfortable and the straps are too wide but not knowing any better I kept them anyway.

Last weekend I found this website http://sophiajenner.wordpress.com/2011/06/12/simply-ill-fitting/ as well as some other blogs by women in the UK explaining why adding 4" to your band is obsolete and showing how a smaller band improves the fit of the bra. I was skepetical of this but I went online and ordered 1 bra in a 28 FF and 1 28G, same brand but different styles. The cup size was a total guess but the advice when going down a band size is to go up a cup size. I guestimated that my bust measurement is 34-35" (based on my measurements from the tshirt bras) thus putting me in an FF or G cup for the particular brand of bras I was buying.

When I saw the bra with the FFcup I was so excited because the band looked perfect for me but was disappointed because the cups were too small. The G cup bra fit perfectly, the band is firm and very supportive, it doesn't ride up my back or move when I twist or turn. The style of the bra is a balconette with wide placed straps which have been a problem for me on my other bras but they fit perfectly with no rubbing or irritation.

One would think that such large cups would look out of place on my 5'2" 105 lb frame but this bra gives my bottom heavy boobs a nice lift, makes my torso look longer and so good that I thought about going back to wearing bikini swimsuits! :eek:

Finding the correct fitting bra is mostly trial and error. The blogs I found on the web for all sizes of women helped me tremendously in finding my correct size. I hope this post helps others who are frustrated with the way their bras fit.

[zoom-zoom]

I'm in the right size (34D), but have a biotch of a time finding them full-coverage enough or without push-up pads (seriously? I'm a friggin' D cup after reduction...last thing I want is to emphasize them more :rolleyes: ). I frequently find that cups cut across the top edge of my boobs, giving me that lovely quadra-boob effect. Going up to a DD doesn't work, since I don't fill those cups out. Just finding Ds with a 34 band is hard enough. And depending upon the bra I sometimes have to go down to a 32DD, which is damned near impossible to find.

[Kathi]

The "double boob with a smaller cup but next cup size up was too big" was my problem, too. I sent lots of "mistakes" back to the online company for this reason. They are very good about exchanges or refunds.

I worked with 3 different fitters from the company I order from and none of them recommended a smaller band. I was ready to give in to the "bras are just uncomfortable" syndrome until I tried the "smaller band, larger cup" theory. I'm amazed how well it worked with this one bra company. I can see with some companies that have more stretchy bands actually needing a 26 band. Unfortunately, I have few options for companies and styles in my size, even with the online companies.

Fortunately, I don't do high impact activities anymore as an improperly fitted sports bra is probably just as bad as no sports bra for the health of the boobs.

I thought with a G cup I'd look humongous but I don't at all. It's just there is a lot more room for my boobs, they aren't squished in too small of a cup anymore.

Not being able to find a 32 in sized cup was the reason I went to online companies. Lot more options in all sizes.

[Kathi]

I'm in the right size (34D), but have a biotch of a time finding them full-coverage enough or without push-up pads (seriously? I'm a friggin' D cup after reduction...last thing I want is to emphasize them more :rolleyes: ). I frequently find that cups cut across the top edge of my boobs, giving me that lovely quadra-boob effect. Going up to a DD doesn't work, since I don't fill those cups out. Just finding Ds with a 34 band is hard enough. And depending upon the bra I sometimes have to go down to a 32DD, which is damned near impossible to find.

No wonder you can't find your size, there must be a big demand for them. I just checked my online retailer, there are 47 pages of 34D bras! My size has 1.5 pages.

[KnottedYet]

Just finding Ds with a 34 band is hard enough.

Right there with you. Normally I'm a 34C, but I got fat and went up to a 36DD. Now I'm losing the weight, but was in a no-man's land of fit...

Thank goodness for Nordstrom. They fit me to a 34D, found me several bras that didn't cut across or make me look funny (I tend to need wide cups, my boobs start somewhere in the middle of my back, I swear.) I bought a Wacoal, which is great. It has no padding, but I also have the silicone self-stick "petals" to deal with my very prominent "headlights."

My favorite sports bra in the universe is made by CW-X, which is Wacoal's sport brand. I should've known a Wacoal would fit me right, but I didn't even think of it until the clerk brought it in for me to try.

[emily_in_nc]

Not as extreme as Kathi's story, but along the same lines, I recently realized that a 32C fit me much better than the 34B's I'd been wearing for years. Sometimes going down a band size and up a cup size really is what is needed.

Thanks for sharing your story, Kathi!

[zoom-zoom]

No wonder you can't find your size, there must be a big demand for them. I just checked my online retailer, there are 47 pages of 34D bras! My size has 1.5 pages.

Which retailer is this? I'm assuming it's in the UK. Yeah, the Brits are great about making a ton of bras in my size, but I refuse to order bras from overseas, then have to deal with the hassle of shipping them back (a few years back I went through that trying to find a bra-cup sized swimsuit from a UK retailer). In the US a 34D is a LOT harder to come by, online or otherwise. Frequently companies don't even make Ds any smaller than a 36 band size (which is pure idiocy, IMO...it's no more likely that a woman will be a D with the larger band size, since cup sizes are entirely relative to the band size). Calvin Klein has generally been the brand I've had the best luck with.

[Crankin]

Ha, I just came back from the LLS (local lingerie store) from my annual bra buying expedition. They send me a 20% discount every year for my birthday, so...
I've been wearing Calvin Klein bras for about 2 years, on their recommendation. I had horrible experiences with on line bra buying; I have the opposite problem, in that I'm a 32 A. Or, I thought I was. The salesperson told me Calvin had changed their entire line and gave me 3 bras to try. They were tighter than hell! She suggested a 32B. I was shocked! I am practically flat chested, yet the 32Bs fit perfectly. I bought 2 32Bs, one 32A (a different brand), and a V back bra in a 32B.
Then we laughed when I asked for 2 pair of Le Mystere thongs. Apparently, I am one of the 5 middle aged women in my community who wear thongs...
I don't think my boobs have really gotten bigger, but the bras fit.

[Kathi]

I order from HERROOM.com in Dallas, Texas. Shipping is free over $70.00 but returns are on you.

The other company I sometimes order from is Bare Necessities.com, Edison N.J. Same deal, shipping is free but you pay for returns.
I used to order from Figleaves.com which is a UK company but with Herroom I just pay the $3.00 for shipping and have my order in 2 days.
Free shipping for both Herroom and Bare Necessities involve shipping via UPS to your location then transfering your package to USPS so it takes a good 5 days or more to get here.

When you do an exchange HERROOM ships the replacement for free via standard shipping. I usually take a refund. I do cheat and return 2 orders in the same box.

I didn't check out Bare Necessities offerings in the larger sizes but thought HERROOM's unbelievable. They had brands I've never heard of. I'm soooo jealous.

With online ordering you really need to know your size and if you know your best brand that is helpful too. Be aware that a companies bra sizes can change from year to year.

The thing I like about HERROOM is they have a customer review section and often a rep from the company chimes in and makes fitting suggestions. Also, be aware that the customer may not be buying the correct size.

Both companies have sales and closeout sections. Bare Necessities just had 25% off of everything on their site.

I find the reps. from HERROOM very helpful but I think they still use the old standard measuring system of adding +4" to your back size. I guess it depends on how you like your fit if this works for you.

Crankin, I'd give anything to be able to go to a LLS and have a good selection in my size but I'm afraid I'd have to go to the UK to find one!

Muirenn, it's very common to be different sizes. I am too, it's more noticeable to me but it isn't obvious in this new bra.

The best recommendation I've read is to try a combination of different band and cup sizes and that not all fitters know how to do a good fitting. They are often trained by a bra company and will try to sell you their brand whether it fits or not. that's why one fitter tells you one size and another will be completely different.

If anyone knows of any other online companies please let me know.

[goldfinch]

After I had lost a considerable amount of weight I went through the difficulty of finding the right bra. I figured that I was about a 34ddd. I found www.herroom.com and ordered several different styles of bras and several different sizes. I discovered through trial and error that yes, the plus four inches is misleading for larger cup sizes. I ended up a 34FF and now with some more pounds down, a 34F. Technically though (based on Kathy's article) I might do better with a smaller band size and might go up a cup and down a size next time I order. Herroom gave me good advice on underwire, which I had never been able to use as a short person. I bought balcony bras for short torsos and for the first time can wear an underwire without it poking into my armpits. It is nice because it gives you the lift.

[nscrbug]

What a timely topic this happens to be. I too, just went bra shopping today. I had 2 fittings done (Nordstrom's and Victoria's Secret) several years back, and both places put me in a 36C. Went to try on a bunch of 36C's today and quickly discovered that I must have put on some weight since the last time I bought new bras. I had to go up into a 38C in most of the brands. The 36's all felt too tight in the band...even on the loosest hook. :eek: However, some of the 38's felt a tad bit loose (on the middle hook). Overall, I like the "coverage" I get with the 38 vs 36...especially in that troublesome area in the back where I tend to "bulge" out all over the place. I specifically looked for bras that had a "back smoothing" effect. I ended up with 2 bras from Warners, and 2 from Ambrielle (JcPenny brand). When I got home, I went through my "bra" drawer and ended up tossing out 13 old, stretched-out, raggedy bras...along with 5 old, raggedy sports bras. I feel liberated, ridding myself of these ill-fitting, over-worn, junky bras. ;)

Linda

[Becky]

Very interesting reading. I do believe that I'm more confused than ever (!), but it's given me something to think about...

I need to find a LLS...

[ny biker]

The last time I was measured, the woman at Nordstrom's insisted I'm a 34B and the woman at VS said I was a 36A. But I find both sizes to be too tight. They might seem okay in the fitting room but after about an hour I can't stand them anymore. The woman at Nordstrom's refused to believe that I could not wear a 34 band. The woman at VS was much more understanding, but she didn't have any 38s in small cup sizes (I would need AA and they don't even have A).

Also I can't wear underwires because they dig into the front of my rib cage. Very painful.

I went to a local specialty store and bought a bunch of "spa bras" which are 1-size-fits-most with wide bands and cookies to which provide a little more volume and hide the headlights. They're pretty comfortable, though I get tired of having to position the cookies every time I put them on. They don't provide any support so they wouldn't work for someone who needs a larger cup size.

I also have a some Barely There unpadded bras. They used to be available in 38A, and I have several of those, but a couple of years ago they "improved their sizing" by switching to S-M-L. The large is a little snug in the band but they're cheap and come in fun colors so I bought a bunch a few months ago. They stretch enough to be comfortable on most days. I use Bezi bra discs with them when I'm wearing a t-shirt or thin sweater.

BTW the woman working at the specialty store was great. She understood that the tape measure only gives you a starting point, and somehow she managed to make me feel good about my figure. Whereas the woman at Nordstrom's had me in tears, feeling like a freak.

Also, when I was trying on 36As in VS, it was interesting that some styles came closer to fitting than others. I learned from the saleswoman that the front of the band (between the cups) is supposed to rest against your skin, but one style left a gap which indicated it didn't fit right.

[goldfinch]

One other thing to mention is something I learned from herroom---that when a band feels tight it might not be the band, but the cup size. Too many women are in too small a cup size, maybe in part because the standard department store sizes just don't go up very high, often a D or a DD.

[Kathi]

Here's a good explanation of how to find your band size. http://www.tomima.com/2011/01/07/finding-your-personal-bra-band-size/
This is from the HerRoom website, there is lots of information there on bra fitting. The suggestion here is once you find your band size to go up or down a cup size but if your wearing the wrong sized cup going up or down 1 size won't work.

When you look at a bra on the HerRoom site there is a chart that interprets the measurements for you. This is for women D cup and above. For example, I measure 26" around my back and with a good fitting bra 35" across my bust. According to the old standards of bra measurement I add 4" which makes my band size 30". There is a 5" difference between my band size and my cup size putting me in a 30D bra. If I don't add the 4" to the band I'm now a 26" band with a 9" difference. According to the chart I'm now an FF-H cup depending on the brand. This assumes I could find a 26" band which also makes determining my cup size tricky. I used a 28 band when I ordered and the G cup worked.

Thinking I was the 30D or DD my bras stretched out too fast, they rode up the back, my boobs spilled out the sides, the underwires were uncomfortable. Because the band and cups were too small I was getting no support from the band and there was no place for my boobs to go. Besides being uncomfortable the bras gave me a teardrop shape making me look like my grandmother.

Also, my 30D's fit very nicely in between my boobs but they were squishing me together. I thought I was shallow on top and heavy on the bottom but I'm finding this isn't true. If I ran or walked fast I bounced on the top.

The sad thing is I'm in my 60's and have never had a properly fitting bra. There is a web site that shows good and bad fitting bras. If I can find it again I'll post it.

[skhill]

Bras are one thing I really don't like buying on-line, with how many I have to try on to find one that fits. But it's tough to find stores that stock much in my size-- 32A or B (Bs are often too big, As too small). And what's worse is that most everything that small is a padded, uplifting, underwired monstrosity. I see no reason to try to make my bust look bigger, I like being small...

It was so much easier when I was a 38DD....

Crankin, I'll have to try out those Calvin Kleins, thanks for mentioning them.

[Kathi]

I totally understand reluctance to order online. There's no one to help you figure out correct fit, it's frustrating when the bra doesn't fit and return shipment adds to the cost although not paying state taxes balances that out.

However, there is a better selection of bras to try than what you find in the local stores. At least, there is for me.

Since I had no correctly fitting bra to compare to I have bought lots of bras over the years that I should have returned but didn't because I had no idea I could get a better fit. I was using an online calculator as my guide. Even if I had gone to stores I would have looked for the wrong size or the clerk would try to put me in a 32c bra that "runs small".

There's lots of good online information (some good videos) on how a bra should fit. Most of it is coming out of the UK. HerRoom is also a good source.

I understand your frustration with the styles of bras. I'm limited to balcony and plunge bras. They are beautiful colors and prints, very few white or beige, which I need sometimes. I have little use for plunge bras as I rarely wear a low cut top. Maybe I'm missing the point about plunge bras.

The other thing I don't get is why "petite" bras start at a 32 band and are only A,B,C cups. I'm as petite as they come and I also need the features of petite bras but I happen to be full busted or "curvy" as the UK girls put it. It seems there is an entire market the bra industry is missing out on.

[GLC1968]

Bras are one thing I really don't like buying on-line, with how many I have to try on to find one that fits. But it's tough to find stores that stock much in my size-- 32A or B (Bs are often too big, As too small). And what's worse is that most everything that small is a padded, uplifting, underwired monstrosity. I see no reason to try to make my bust look bigger, I like being small...

It was so much easier when I was a 38DD....

Crankin, I'll have to try out those Calvin Kleins, thanks for mentioning them.

This is my problem as well. So far, I'm making due with a couple of old, stretched out bras for everyday wear because I'm dreading shopping for new ones (32A or 32almostB depending on which breast you measure!). It was so easy when I was heavier and a 36C fit because those were super easy to find and usually, with enough persistence, I could find a style that worked in that size.

Now? Besides still having a cup size difference between breasts, my biggest problem is now running bras. When you are moving rhythmically for 1.5 hours and your breasts and ribcage have shrunk out of your old sports bras...chafing happens in all kinds of bad places. Ugh.

[lph]

For anyone wearing an AA, A, or B cup. May I suggest. (http://www.dancedistributors.com/shop/style_N233.html?&pid=7752&Shop=Style&SID=295015559) :)


Hey those are nice.

sign,
ms flatchest-but-that-doesn't-mean-I'm-petite

[Kathi]

This is my problem as well. So far, I'm making due with a couple of old, stretched out bras for everyday wear because I'm dreading shopping for new ones (32A or 32almostB depending on which breast you measure!). It was so easy when I was heavier and a 36C fit because those were super easy to find and usually, with enough persistence, I could find a style that worked in that size.

Now? Besides still having a cup size difference between breasts, my biggest problem is now running bras. When you are moving rhythmically for 1.5 hours and your breasts and ribcage have shrunk out of your old sports bras...chafing happens in all kinds of bad places. Ugh.

Sports Bras in 32a from HerRoom. You can look for these brands when shopping. http://www.herroom.com/search.aspx

Sorry the link only brings up the site but search on 32a, sports bras.

[goldfinch]

I totally understand reluctance to order online. There's no one to help you figure out correct fit, it's frustrating when the bra doesn't fit and return shipment adds to the cost although not paying state taxes balances that out.

However, there is a better selection of bras to try than what you find in the local stores. At least, there is for me.

Since I had no correctly fitting bra to compare to I have bought lots of bras over the years that I should have returned but didn't because I had no idea I could get a better fit. I was using an online calculator as my guide. Even if I had gone to stores I would have looked for the wrong size or the clerk would try to put me in a 32c bra that "runs small".

There's lots of good online information (some good videos) on how a bra should fit. Most of it is coming out of the UK. HerRoom is also a good source.

I understand your frustration with the styles of bras. I'm limited to balcony and plunge bras. They are beautiful colors and prints, very few white or beige, which I need sometimes. I have little use for plunge bras as I rarely wear a low cut top. Maybe I'm missing the point about plunge bras.

The other thing I don't get is why "petite" bras start at a 32 band and are only A,B,C cups. I'm as petite as they come and I also need the features of petite bras but I happen to be full busted or "curvy" as the UK girls put it. It seems there is an entire market the bra industry is missing out on.

I too found that ordering a whole pile of bras from Herroom to be much easier than dealing with stores. I sent what did not work back and the postage really wasn't that bad.

As another petite person Herroom had me me search for "petite plus" bras which gave me bras that worked on a short torso. The underwires were all balcony and plunge bras. I am finding them surprisingly comfortable even though like you I don't wear low cut tops.

Oddly, my size in a soft cup bra is different than my size in an underwire.

[Irulan]

http://www.barenecessities.com/

This place has a ton of bras also. I shop for bralets, and A bras that don't' have padding.... also very hard to find. I suspect but don't know that they'd be very similar to the other link posted.

[Crankin]

Well, I like my bras with the "microfiber" filler stuff; not the heavy duty padding of yesteryear, but something to hide the headlights and also make me look like I have some breasts! It just helps my clothing look better.
Some of the Calvin Klein bras have underwire, but it's not the underwire of earlier times. I bought one that has it, wore it yesterday and I was comfortable all day. But, the bra I wear most days is very plain. I would recommend anyone with A-B cups to look at the Calvin Klein line. They have a lot of styles. I also bought a V back one for regular wear, not sports.
I wear the "Handful" sports bra for all sports. It is the most comfortable sports bra I have ever worn. I find most to be way too compressive. I decided to size up and bought the small instead of extra small and it's just great. TE carries them and they come in sizes XS-XL.

[Susan Otcenas]

In the US a 34D is a LOT harder to come by, online or otherwise.

Zoom-zoom, forgive me, but I think you may not be looking in the right places. 34D is generally a very common size. Whether you are looking for an everyday bra at a department store, or a sports bra, 34D is widely available. I just went to the macys.com website and there were 279 different everyday bras available in 34D. At TE, we have 15 different sports bra styles available in 34D. http://www.teamestrogen.com/product/apparel/tops/bras/bra-size-34d/c0-c1-c2-c3-so100002~34D.html Title9 has 48 bras in D-cups, nearly all of them available in 34. We're happy to make some recommendations, if you need help. :)

---

Kathi's experience is not uncommon. MANY women are wearing bras that are too big in the band, too small in the cup. Going down a band size and up a cup size can cure a lot of fit problems.

[zoom-zoom]

Zoom-zoom, forgive me, but I think you may not be looking in the right places. 34D is generally a very common size. Whether you are looking for an everyday bra at a department store, or a sports bra, 34D is widely available. I just went to the macys.com website and there were 279 different everyday bras available in 34D. At TE, we have 15 different sports bra styles available in 34D. http://www.teamestrogen.com/product/apparel/tops/bras/bra-size-34d/c0-c1-c2-c3-so100002~34D.html Title9 has 48 bras in D-cups, nearly all of them available in 34. We're happy to make some recommendations, if you need help. :)

Sure, online, maybe...but even when I do find them at brick-n-mortar retailers I have to try on 6-7 to find 1 that fits (and I'm lucky if I find that many to bring in the fitting room. Typically the 34s stop at C cups, for some odd reason. I blame the store buyers, since I know these sizes do exist). Frequently they just aren't cut right for my shape and the top of the cup cuts across the tops of my boobs and/or I squish out at the armpit area. I definitely fall into what is categorized as full-figured or full-cup. So many retailers automatically make anything 34 or smaller with less generously cut/volumed cups, even if the underwire is the same shape/size. Or they don't offer any support or the straps are too skinny or slide off my shoulders. I've ordered online a few times, but get tired of paying shipping both directions, sometimes to not have anything fit.

[Susan Otcenas]

Sure, online, maybe...but even when I do find them at brick-n-mortar retailers I have to try on 6-7 to find 1 that fits (and I'm lucky if I find that many to bring in the fitting room. Typically the 34s stop at C cups, for some odd reason. I blame the store buyers, since I know these sizes do exist). Frequently they just aren't cut right for my shape and the top of the cup cuts across the tops of my boobs and/or I squish out at the armpit area. I definitely fall into what is categorized as full-figured or full-cup. So many retailers automatically make anything 34 or smaller with less generously cut/volumed cups, even if the underwire is the same shape/size. Or they don't offer any support or the straps are too skinny or slide off my shoulders. I've ordered online a few times, but get tired of paying shipping both directions, sometimes to not have anything fit.


I totally get it. I find the lack of consistency in what "34D" (or any other size) actually MEANS to be very frustrating. Surprisingly, our return rates in bras aren't any higher than what we see in any other apparel category, which always amazes me.

[Crankin]

OK, I didn't realize the woman at the LLS switched the brand of the really comfortable bra on me. It looks just like the Calvin Klein ones I had before, but it's the Warners Blissfully Aware line. So comfortable and fits my small size well. But, I also bought a couple of Calvins, so it's worth it to look at those, too.

[SheFly]

OMG. I finally went to Nordstrom's yesterday and had a fitting. WHY DID I WAIT SO LONG TO DO THIS???? Turns out, like most, I have been wearing the wrong bra size. As Susan observed, I needed to go down one band size, but up TWO cup sizes (really - since WHEN was I a 32 D instead of a 34B????).

I had a bad day at the office on Tuesday, so decided to treat myself (I've also recently lost some weight, so my old bras weren't fitting anyway). Heaven. But when did bras become so expensive? :eek: Good thing I LOVE the new ones.

I highly recommend a fitting if you haven't had one. Now if they would just create a similar experience for buying pants...

SheFly

[GLC1968]

Well, I like my bras with the "microfiber" filler stuff; not the heavy duty padding of yesteryear, but something to hide the headlights and also make me look like I have some breasts! It just helps my clothing look better.
Some of the Calvin Klein bras have underwire, but it's not the underwire of earlier times. I bought one that has it, wore it yesterday and I was comfortable all day. But, the bra I wear most days is very plain. I would recommend anyone with A-B cups to look at the Calvin Klein line. They have a lot of styles. I also bought a V back one for regular wear, not sports.
I wear the "Handful" sports bra for all sports. It is the most comfortable sports bra I have ever worn. I find most to be way too compressive. I decided to size up and bought the small instead of extra small and it's just great. TE carries them and they come in sizes XS-XL.

Are you kidding me? You are significantly smaller than me, but I needed the XS in the handful bra (I tried one on yesterday)! The small only fit if I had the pads in, but I felt like they made me look abnormally huge so I took them out and had to go down a size.

ps - Susan, I tried them on at a local store, but I'll be ordering them from TE of course! ;)

[VeganBikeChick]

Thanks for the encouragement from this post. I went today to get refitted, and found that while I am correct on my band size, I'm a cup size larger than I thought :eek:

Much more comfortable, though! I thought a larger cup size would make me look bustier, but it actually does the opposite.

[OakLeaf]

It's been a while (I'm due for some new bras) but I usually just pick two or three bras that I like the looks of, and take a collection back into the fitting room in four combinations of cup and band sizes (32A, 32B, 34A, 34B). Considering I wear anything from XS to L in regular clothing, I don't find the variation in bra sizes unusual. :rolleyes:

[Crankin]

GLC, I always wear the pads in the Handful bra, maybe that makes a difference?
It just doesn't feel so constricting, and perhaps covers more of my b00bs than an x small would. I just got tired of the horrible red lines under my chest and across my back from sports bras. My skin is extremely sensitive, even my socks leave lines, and sometimes I even get hives from being irritated, so this works.

[GLC1968]

GLC, I always wear the pads in the Handful bra, maybe that makes a difference?
It just doesn't feel so constricting, and perhaps covers more of my b00bs than an x small would. I just got tired of the horrible red lines under my chest and across my back from sports bras. My skin is extremely sensitive, even my socks leave lines, and sometimes I even get hives from being irritated, so this works.

OK, that does make more sense. Plus, if I was wearing these for low impact stuff, I probably would have chosen the small as well but I wanted more support for running longer distances. Phew! I started really questioning my decision-making skills there for a minute! :p

[amb]

It's equally hard to find small bras at the stores. There's maybe (1) 32B, if you're lucky. It's hard to find one that has some padding (to round out my somewhat pointy, small breasts) but not adding 2-3 cups sizes. I just don't see the point of that. I had a great Maidenform bra that I loved but of course they stopped making it. We have a high end LLS (SOL - Store of Lingerie) here locally that is supposed to be great for fittings but I just can't bring myself to spend $60-120 on a bra!

And to the other poster who was surprised to be a 32B....I am very small as well but that seems to be the best size for me too.

[Crankin]

The bras I bought were about 40.00. I've spent more. It's worth every penny. Go to a real lingerie store; mine has a huge range of sizes, and will order for you if they don't have it.

[quilts4homeless]

What does everyone do with their old bras? I work with a great group of ladies making quilts for those less fortunate. We use old bras in part of the quilts. All of this talk of getting fitted and getting all new bras got me thinking about what is done with your old ones?

[Artista]

I'm resurrecting this thread to thank Kathi for bringing up this topic. I read the entire thread and related posts with interest, but since I rarely filled out even A and B cups, I was skeptical that I could benefit from a larger cup size.

Boy was I wrong! It turns out that the A and B cups that I had been wearing are set too close together for my shape. I have little tissue toward the center of my chest to fill those closely spaced cups while I had a significant amount of tissue that wasn't covered by the small cups toward the side of my chest. I ended up shrinking the band size significantly and increasing the cup size to C and D, which spread the cups properly for my shape. Now I completely fill the cups, everything is covered properly, and I'm much better supported.

On the topic of stores and fittings, I visited Nordstrom's, an LLS, and Victoria's Secret to shop for my new bras. I'm pretty sure that each of the stores would have tried to put me into larger bands and smaller cup sizes had I let them measure me. Since I went in requesting specific sizes, each store helped fit me into the sizes that I was focused on.

I tried on 8 - 12 bras at Nordstrom's and the LLS. The"mature" staff at both stores tried to convince me that 90% of the bras fit me well enough in spite of the fact that I could identify major fit issues. These women ultimately became impatient with me and kind of gave up.

The much younger women at Victoria's Secret, however, really seemed to understand proper fit and were infinitely patient with me. They probably brought me 25 different styles and sizes until I found two bras that fit properly.

I'll stick with VS from now on, thank you. They have kind and patient staff, a plethora of sizes and styles, and the staff knows their products well. I just won't let me measure me:p

[barrelgal]

If you are lucky enough to live in a city that has one, I can't reccomend intimacy highly enough. They reccomended the smaller band bigger cup to me and all their bras feel soooooo good. Also buy my sports bras from there. They also will alter you bras for life for free. I had band stretch out and the shortened it for me 2 years after buying for free! Great company to do business with IMO.

Edited to add: I think their full name is intimacy bra fit stylists

[Wasp]

Check out figleaves.com
They have a USA site as well as a UK site. I've ordered many bra's from both websites, and the service is excellent. They have a big selection and cover a wide range of sizes. Elomi is my personal favorite brand. It keeps the girls high, locked and loaded :)

[meganm]

I used to avoid wearing a bra at all costs when I was in college. The discomfort of the bra was less important than the discomfort of bouncing, so I just dealt with it. There were many days that my bra ended up in my purse or backpack because I couldn't deal with it after a few hours.

All of that changed after I got a fitting and realized I had no idea what I was doing when I went shopping. After getting fitted and realizing that it is possible to find a bra that doesn't make me want to rip it off after an hour, the engineer in me took over and I decided that I wasn't going to settle for discomfort. If my girls are going to be strapped down for 12-14 hours/day in a harness of wires, straps, and hooks, that harness needs to do its job and not annoy me.

I get fitted whenever I feel like I'm not getting support, and I'm now willing to spend a lot of time trying them on. I even have a bra with for days around my period when things are a little more bloated. While I'm a fashionista in all other aspects of my life, when it comes to bras, I'm a functionista. No lace, bows, or decorations for me.

I won't go as far as to say that I'm comfortable or that I like wearing them, I will say that my time spent getting fitted frequently and trying them on has resulted in me being able to tolerate it without constant annoyance.

[Becky]

I've been telling my mother for months that, if her two daughters wear 30" bands, there's no way that she (of similar build) needs a 36" band. She resisted forever but, while doing some other shopping last weekend, I finally persuaded her to try on her actual bra size, not that miserable +4 nonsense. I didn't even bother with a tape measure, just grabbed stuff that was her current band size - 4 and appropriately scaled the cup up. She was thrilled with the fit!

Now I just have to find her some lingerie sales/coupons so that she can start replacing all of those terrible ill-fitting bras!

[Antaresia]

I'm a total bra heathen. My size is....medium, lol.

I was doing some traveling a while ago, and wanted a bra that I could sleep in (for the train)/wash easily/wear for maybe a few days straight if had too. I got a stretchy, one-piece, yoga-bra type thing, and now it's all I wear. I really don't care about looking busty, I'd strap em' down completely if that was comfortable.

It's a bonus that I can throw them in the washing machine, and the straps don't look like bra straps. When I wear a tank top it just looks like I have another tank underneath (I used to hate visible bra straps).

NO MORE UNDERWIRE, FFFFFFFF.

[nuliajuk]

I've been telling my mother for months that, if her two daughters wear 30" bands, there's no way that she (of similar build) needs a 36" band. She resisted forever but, while doing some other shopping last weekend, I finally persuaded her to try on her actual bra size, not that miserable +4 nonsense. I didn't even bother with a tape measure, just grabbed stuff that was her current band size - 4 and appropriately scaled the cup up. She was thrilled with the fit!

Now I just have to find her some lingerie sales/coupons so that she can start replacing all of those terrible ill-fitting bras!

I'd really like to know where that +4" thing came from, because it never worked for me, and if millions of women are walking around in the wrong size, it obviously doesn't work for very many people.
After watching a daytime t.v. show dealing with bra fit (possibly Oprah), I went to a department store and tried on dozens of bras in sizes I wouldn't normally have even considered. Surprise surprise, I was actually a "D" cup, not some unfindable size of an "A" cup as the charts put me in. I couldn't believe the difference.

[Becky]

I'd really like to know where that +4" thing came from, because it never worked for me, and if millions of women are walking around in the wrong size, it obviously doesn't work for very many people.
After watching a daytime t.v. show dealing with bra fit (possibly Oprah), I went to a department store and tried on dozens of bras in sizes I wouldn't normally have even considered. Surprise surprise, I was actually a "D" cup, not some unfindable size of an "A" cup as the charts put me in. I couldn't believe the difference.

I read a really good blog post about the whole +4 thing, and now I can't find it. What I recall is that +4 came from the days when bra materials were very rigid and sizing up was required in order to be able to breathe. If I can find the actual post, I'll share it here. ETA: Found it! http://sophiajenner.wordpress.com/2011/06/12/simply-ill-fitting/. Kathi posted it earlier in this thread.

I spent years thinking that I was a 34 band cuz that's what the fitters and size charts told me. The first 30 band bra that I bought was life changing.