Does your bra really fit?

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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!

[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.

[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.

[lph]

For anyone wearing an AA, A, or B cup. May I suggest.

Hey those are nice.

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