Bras...(venting)

[Kathi]

Nordstrom has just been a lifesaver to me, first for measuring me, and 2nd for providing so many sizes. Some dept stores don't carry over a DD! Since I've lost some weight, i also needed new bras a few weeks ago. I didn't get refit, but was able to figure out on my own that i needed to go down a band and up a cup size, which put me at a, ahem, coughcoughcough34Hcoughcoughcough. I found some nice Chantelle and a few Wacoals. I also found a few at Nordy's Rack!! Love Nordys!

And what is a balcony bra? Push up-ish? I'm scared to order one, lol.

So, on a related topic...what do you ladies do for bathing suits? (If this is too far off topic, plz ignore.) Those teeny tiny little "shelf" bras in bathing suits, ha! Even "soft cups" usually only fit up to a C or maybe D. I've had luck with Lands End in the past, special ordering online, but very hard to get the right fit without ordering several suits. Tankinis are my favorite cut, but so many of the tops are halter, which are scandalous looking on me, lol.

Panache, Freya and others make swimsuits, including tankinis, in cup and band sizes. US online companies such as HeRRoom.Com, BareNecessaties.Com have them as well as UK companies such as BraStop.com, Figleaves and UK EBay. I've heard there are good deals from the UK companies but I'm not sure if shipping costs and import duty out weighs the prices. I do know that Figleaves told me that if you order over $200 US you have to pay duty. Figleaves has a US location for returns so postage is less. US companies often offer free shipping over a certain price or on certain bras. Return shipping is on you but 1 exchange is free. Swim suit bottoms also come in sizes. I've seen good swimsuit sales on these sites at the end of the summer.

Don't be embarrassed about your size. Places like VS make women believe every woman is a small size because they sell limited ranges. If you check out ABTF you'll be amazed at the range of sizes that women really are. I'm a 28FF but my back size is 26".

[Kathi]

Bra Styles http://www.butterflycollection.ca/pages/Bra-Styles.html

Balcony bras and balconette bras are pretty much the same. I wear balcony bras because I'm afraid full cup will be too much coverage for me. I disagree with the description, that only happens if you have the correct fit for your body and the style of the bra. My first attempts gave me none of these characteristics. It took me nearly 2 yrs. to figure out what works for me. Now that I'm in the correct fit I don't look so "low slung".

[Kathi]

The women are there are very knowledgable. There is a lot more to bra fit than band and cup size. Just reading will help you evaluate bra fit and find brands that will work for you.
I finally figured out why the Cleo Lucy doesn't work for me and what my figure is. Not low slung as I thought. Now I understand why some Panache Cleo bras work for me while others I've tried don't.

Bra fit is very confusing unless you have a very good fitter. Yesterday I observed women in the cafeteria at a local ski area and it was amazing the number in poor fitting bras. Just looking at their backs it was obvious that their bras didn't fit. Bands riding up in the back are the most obvious sign of a poor fitting bra. It didn't matter size, shape or age.

Sorry about the rant but it's unbelievable to so many women in such poor fitting bras.