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as well as some other blogs by women in the UK explaining why adding 4" to your band is obsolete and showing how a smaller band improves the fit of the bra.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

[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. 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/fin...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.