Does your bra really fit?

[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!

[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