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/20...y-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as well as some other blogs by women in the UK explaining why adding 4" to your band is obsolete and showing how a smaller band improves the fit of the bra.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!

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 ). 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 ). 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.

[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.

[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/...00002~34D.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/...00002~34D.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.

[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!