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as well as some other blogs by women in the UK explaining why adding 4" to your band is obsolete and showing how a smaller band improves the fit of the bra.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