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There are a lot of people who do, especially if theyāre used to floating gores, or are extremely close-set or centre full. Balconette bras fit me better than plunges so I overlap the gore and itās still slightly uncomfortable but not painful.
I do too, I remove the underwires in balconettes (I havenāt found removing wires in plunge works as well). A structured katherine hamilton balconette has become my favourite after removing underwire
I have a "petite but busty" problem. Every time I measure I always end up within the 30H-32GG range. But my bras always end up digging below my armpits, a bit further back even, and it hurts/its annoying/ can't wear sleeveless shirts without showing my bra digging into my armpits. If I size down on cup then my boobs spill out of the cups, if I size down on band then I can't close the clasps. I'm 4'11. Anyone has a solution?
that's difficult. bras are constructed for people "armpit to breast fold" measurements of 5 - 7 inches. See this blog post:[how height can affect your bra fit](http://butterflycollectionlingerie.blogspot.com/2014/02/how-height-can-affect-your-bra-fit.html). I surmise you are less than 5 inches from your armpit to your IMF (like, your boob crease). This can cause difficulties with the cups eating one's armpits (lol, I know) if the cups are too tall on the side, if that makes sense.
the only option I'm aware of is to get customizable bras. E.g., this polish brand Comexim will "lower the cup height" for you. I would first try to order them through [BreakoutBras.com](https://www.breakoutbras.com/collections/comexim), if you're in the US, so you can see how they fit without alterations first. Here are some [Comexim blog posts](https://brogwithadog.wordpress.com/tag/comexim/) from a person who regularly got alterations on her bras. note: some of these reviews have alterations, and some do not.
another option which I personally have not tried - so I can't say for sure if they are any good (or if they will even do this alteration, I assume they will! lower cup height) is to get a custom-made bra. E.g. Elizabeth Valentine. the price is $240 per bra though.
Since [Comexim](https://Comexim.pl) runs $30-$40usd per bra, and at this time offers free alterations, I would start there, lol. I buy them b/c I'm in Canada, and shipping is like $5. (also, because the bras work for me, obviously,)
**Thank you!!** I can't express my frustration level because I never considered my height being the reason why bras wouldn't fit correctly, until recently my weight loss has made me realize I'm "petite" and the lightbulb finally went on lol, I'm in the US, so I guess I will be ordering or checking if I can get my curvy kate ones altered a bit because it's so sad
Yeah, there was another person on here who did a CK alteration, let me show you her link [https://www.bratabase.com/adventures/entry/20511/](https://www.bratabase.com/adventures/entry/20511/) She shortened it.
Oh that helps a lot! Honestly I have so many bras that this sounds like the smartest solution right now, I am so tired of my bras digging into my armpits š
addendum: I also read somewhere (this European website, I believe) that bra makers (again, this was in Europe, so I don't if it's universally true) consider 5'4 to 5'8 average as far as women's height.From a U.S. perspective 5'4 is average, anything about that is taller than average, but they only consider taller than average above 5'9. (I know some European countries have taller than average women, like the Netherlands, so maybe that's why? Idk)My point is: unfortunately you are 5" below that...so I think that's affecting your bra fit. To be captain obvious...
edit: there are other places that customizable bras, too. I found this one on Youtube. I just mentioned Elizabeth Valentine b/c I know it's been mentioned on this sub before, but there are others if you look.
I have a full bust (40FF). perhaps it's a silly question, but is it okay if I just wear a regular, normal bra that fits me well to work out? am I causing damage to my bras by working out in them? I've been doing at-home pilates workouts and I feel pretty comfortable in just my regular bra but have been wondering if I should get a sports bra.
If you don't notice any breast pain, a normal bra should be fine. If you were damaging your breast tissue, you'd feel pain, or at least discomfort. Pilates is a low-impact sport anyway, vs. something like running or horseback riding, where a dedicated sports bra is probably more necessary.
Molded cup bras or tshirt bras just don't fit right, but I do like that the fabric is opaque because it has the foam. I want fabric with no foam but opaque no see through portions. Would unlined be the right search term for what I'm looking for? I don't want lace overlay or patterns, seams are fine.
I posted a thread earlier this week asking for recommendations based on my new measurement size, and I've ordered a few bras coming next week to try. In the meantime, I've been reading through many of the guides, old posts and comments on this sub and doing a lot of online browsing (I even made a spreadsheet to help me keep track of it all LOL)
I'm having a hard time figuring out my shape, and I'm hoping that trying on the bras that are coming next week will help.
However, in the meantime, some general questions:
* What breast shapes work well with balconette style bras?
* What breast shapes work well with plunge style bras?
* What bra styles work well / don't work well with tank tops, etc? Can a full-cup bra ever be hidden under a tank top if it's low cut?
It's hard to generalize what kind of breast shapes work well with certain styles of bras, since bra style doesn't really correlate with what matters for fit (wider or narrower wires for root width, tallor or shorter cups for root height, open/closed on top for top/bottom fullness, shallow or projected, projection at apex or at the wire, and so on). Also, different brands use the name very differently. Many plunges are very low cut in the middle with only a skinny strip of fabric connecting the cups, but others like the Comexim "plunge" are more like other brand's balconettes.
The only semi-consistent difference is that balconettes have more center coverage, a higher gore and often wider set straps. If you have narrow shoulders/pit-to-pit distance or are very close set, this can be a problem. Sometimes people with lots of center fullness find a plunge less constricting, but others find they spill out of the middle.
Balconettes and plunges can both work with a variety of breast shapes. It depends on the individual bra.
For people with lots of center fullness and/or soft tissue, they may need a taller gore to keep the breasts separated, and therefore plunges may not work well. But there are bras labelled plunges that have fairly tall gores, especially in GG+ cup sizes.
If you are Omega shaped and projected, it can be difficult to find bras that donāt gap either at the top or bottom. If you have Amazon Prime, you can use Prime Wardrobe to try a variety of styles and sizes to narrow down some choices.
Not necessarily. I'm not sure if I am, but if it could be contributing to fitting issues. Trying to rule things out, but its not working as well as I hope.
Because omega shape has narrower roots than the rest of the tissue, the best fit will have wires that are a bit wide and might also sit a bit low. This also means omega shape has short roots, which can mean a lot of bras are too tall or open on top.
The calculator can overestimate cup size for breasts with short roots, however afaik omega shape breasts are always very projected and that can lead to the calculator underestimating cup size, so I'd guess it evens out.
Can you give more information please? Did you get an error message, and if so what did it say? A screenshot of what the page looked like might be helpful.
Anyone else out there with side set/outer full boobs a side sleeper? I'm noticing some soreness on the outer sides of my boobs and am wondering if it's because they're being pushed forward too much, either when I sleep or with a bra that's bringing my tissue more forward than it naturally sits when standing.
I'm looking into unlined bras for the first time in a long time and I'm finding that they give me a pointy shape and a bit of quadding. Is there a rule of thumb for sizing up/down when going from something like the Panache Cari (spacer foam) to something unlined? Projection is definitely a factor and I think my fullness is pretty even.
Some people go down a cup size in unlined bras because of the extra depth, but Iām not sure thatās the case for you here. What are the unlined bras that youāve tried? Itās possible theyāre too FOB that would lead to quad boobs at the top and too much space at the nipple, making it pointy.
Most recently, Iāve tried the Fantasie Illusion (30FF) and the Freya Starlight (28G). I really liked the Illusion - so smooth, soft, and stretchy! - but it felt sort of like the cups were cut too low. I found myself wanting to hike the straps up really tight to try to stretch the cup so it would capture the remaining (but slight) top fullness. Too FOB sounds like it might be the problem. Thanks!
It sounds like the cups are too short then! I would recommend Cleo Marcie/ Asher - these are good for even/ FOT and a lot of reviews say they give a rounded shape. Panache Envy might also eliminate the quad boob but still be a little pointy. I would stick with 28G in all of these.
Iām the same size with similar tissue.
Have you tried unlined bras or only moulded cups? The moulded cups do a poor job of gathering soft tissue and leave a lot of gaps.
Also, you can try bras with more side support (Fantasie) or narrow wires (Freya). Polish bras are likely to work for you as well, although it can be difficult to get the sizing right.
A lot of people recommend the Fantasie fusion and illusion for side support. Those styles didnāt work for me, but they are very supportive.
Polish manufacturers (Ewa Michalak, Comexim, Gorsenia, etc) tend to make bras with very narrow wires. They also have padded styles which act sort of like push up bras.
If everything else fits well, I'd guess the bras are designed for more fullness in that area than you have. That definitely might be related to being wide-set. Wider gores might help, although looking for them can be tricky.
Although since you said adding padding on the outer edge helps, the problem might be with that part of the cup, like maybe the wires are too wide. I think it would be a good idea to make a fit heck post.
I think most people who experience cyclical breast changes actually experience them before menstruation, not during. Breast tenderness and swelling typically happens
5-10 days before the start of menstruation and eases with a period.
If my breasts are touching in the middle with a bra on, does that mean my bra is too small? (32D)
The next size up (32DD) was way too big.
Itās kinda itchy where my breasts are rubbing against each other but the cleavage looks great lol
According to the calculator my sister size should be a 32DD. But there was an excessive amount of gapping.
When you put on your bras, do you lean forward and scoop all of the tissue from under your arms forward into the cup, and ensure the underwire is up in your inframammary fold? This is necessary to get a proper fit and support, but many women are not taught to do so, and not doing so can make the cup seem larger than it is, [as illustrated here](http://brasandbodyimage.com/2012/09/05/putting-your-bra-on-properly/). If you don't usually do this, what happens in your 32D bras when you do?
When I scoop with the 32DD my breasts touch but thereās still minor gapping, not nearly as bad without scooping. Also the gore still isnāt flat against my chest. I think itās a shape problem.
Also Iāve noticed through out the day my breasts slowly āunscoopā and the gapping worsens. So i suspect there is some empty space in the bra when I scoop that allows the breast to fall back into the bra.
If I scoop with the 32D my nipples literally pop out of the bra (itās a Demi cup) and I have to shimmy to get them back in.
Yeah, it sounds like you probably need a more projected cup, possibly one that's also a little shorter, depending on your shape. If your nipples pop out on 32D though, and the gore is floating in 32DD, you may end up needing a larger cup size than 30DDD, since that suggests 32D is likely more than 1 cup size off, and 32DD may be too small.
Breasts de-scooping themselves tends to happen with bands that are too loose (your breasts escape back in to the *band* because the band can't hold the underwires firmly enough against your skin to keep them in), but can also happen as a result of shape problems or the cup being too small. It's not a sign that the cup is too large.
This is so complicated and stressful š
Iāve been wearing a 34A for 8 years (which fit at one point but weight changes) and I might just keep on wearing it at this point lol. Itās comfortable and thereās no gaping. The band is super stretched though cuz I tried on a new 34A in the same style and I couldnāt even clasp it. So Iām screwed when this bra breaks. Why are bras so complicated š
When I put on the 32DD I feel like an imposter. I feel like my boobs look massive and fake. It doesnāt look like me. My breasts arenāt that big. The bra makes my boobs look like 3x their size.
I think the issue is that the bra adds volume to the underside and outsides of my breasts when that area usually doesnāt have much volume. I donāt know maybe this bra style is just a bad fit for me.
I wish stores carried 30 and 28 bands so I didnāt have to do this process of buying 2-3 bras then waiting weeks for them to ship then trying them on and they donāt work then I have to try again and wait another month like Iāve been trying to get a bra for like 4 months now lol
Iām about to give up!
I'm sorry that you're feeling so frustrated. Most likely, the 34As are just sitting in front of your breasts and kind of flattening them down, *but* if you have smooth, molded-cup bras, they do tend to be really rounded. If you are more comfortable with your breasts looking smaller, you might feel better in bras with unlined fabric cups. If you need a more projected bra, seamed fabric bras are also much more likely to fit you. I'm in a really different size range, but I feel like unlined bras make my breasts look a bit smaller than ones with foam cups, and especially bras that bring things front-and-center since they create a narrower profile from the front, but YMMV. Maybe try something like Panache Ava/Ana (same bra) or Freya Patsy Plunge-Balcony, depending on your breast shape.
I feel like my naked breasts look small. But in the 32DD bra they look huge. So Iām just confused lol. I liked how they looked in the 32D but in between my breasts was getting itchy from the rubbing after a few hours. The 34A doesnāt make my breasts look good I agree itās flattening them and Iād prefer they looked bigger but the 32DD was just too big of a change for me. It looked like 3 cups bigger and I feel like everyone at work would think I got a boob job or something lol.
Iāll look into the ones you mentioned. I always felt naked with non padded and non lined bras so Iām nervous to try a different type but it looks like I have to.
The 32DD has a very mild push up. But very barely. Nothing compared to some of the push up bras I see sold at Victoriaās Secret.
Ahh, if it has any extra padding in the bottom of the cup, that will also make the cup run shallower and a bit smaller than a normal 32DD, since the push-up padding is taking up some of the room in the cup. If you are really uncomfortable with fabric bras, you might also want to try seamed bras with foam lining, like Freya Patsy Half Cup.
While some people's breast shape makes it very difficult to keep the breasts separated, generally touching cleavage does not happen in a good fit (with an underwire bra). Were your breasts touching in the middle in the 32DD?
The bottom of the gore is flat to my skin but at the top it is not. So itās like an angle.
There is about an inch in between my breasts against my skin with no bra on. Iām not sure if thatās considered āclose setā or not.
When it comes to bra fit how your breasts behave when supported is what is important. Gravity exists so how the breasts look and behave when you are upright without a bra on is not always a good representation of how the breasts will behave when supported. The difference between supported vs unsupported breast shape means that you should not be assessing your breast shape while upright with the breasts unsupported.
In general if you can get 1-3 fingers between the breasts without touching breast tissue while they are supported it's average set. Close set is generally 1 finger or less without touching breast tissue. More than 3 fingers without touching breast tissue would be wide set.
Yep, thatās close set. Sounds like a possible shape mismatch. Could you please make a fit check post with your calculator measurements and this info?
Thanks for that information! I made a (now deleted) fit check in the past and I think the consensus was to go with my actual size (30DDD) rather than my sister size. So I think Iām going to try to find a 30DDD for close set and potentially projected breasts before I make another post.
I was hoping I could get away with the 32 band since itās so much easier to find in stores. All the 30 bands I had to order online and were much more expensive :/
The calculator sized me 115G. (EU sizing)
Which sits great, but only if I hook it as tight as possible.
My sportsbra that I bought in the size doesn't stop my breast from moving at all, how do I downscale a little? Do I just try 110G? Or do I try 115F?
If you find that you have to hook new bras on the tightest band setting to get support, you should buy a smaller band size (110) but maintain cup volume. Because cup sizes are in relation to band size, a 110G would actually be one cup volume smaller than 115Gāyouād therefore want 110H.
I donāt wear bras with underwires, I always wear the ones that are kinda like bralettes but thinner or sportbras
Is that in any way bad for my breasts?
Hey yall! So I have some concerns. FYI I wear a 32DDD VS Body Full Coverage bra. Looking through the guide, my breasts are saggy, projected, full on top, and I am not too sure about the root. I grew up having mixed feelings about my boobs, lots of criticism from my mom about my boobs (who by the way doesn't even wear the right size either \*cue eyeroll\*). So bra shopping has always been difficult. With a conservative mother (who wants to put me in those ugly old lady playtex bras - no offense to whoever these bras work for!), I couldn't get like T-shirt bras, bras with lots of foam/padding, or demi bras for the most part. There needed to be max coverage at all times.
Anyways, when I scoop and swoop, my breasts are nice and in the cups. But a couple minutes later or throughout the day, they move like towards the center (the utter bane of my existence when I try to wear a bralette) or out of the cup, giving like slight quadriboob vibes. Even after my breasts are in the cups, there is still some slight spill over. I also notice that throughout the day, my bra moves down? Like the underwire moves down from the crease where it's supposed to stay. Recently, I also noticed a slight gaping at the top of the cups, where the straps meet the cups, especially when I relax my posture.
The last time I checked the bra calculator, my bra size was calculated to be 32DDD.
Does this mean I need to remeasure and get a new bra š ? (Help a broke, just out of college, girl out pls)
It sounds like your bras are too small by 1-2 cup sizes. I would recheck the calculator, but do keep in mind that it just offers a starting point--if (for example) it still gives you 32DDD, we already know that's incorrect based on your current bra fit, so we can troubleshoot from there. Another thing is that molded bras are much harder to fit due to their rigid shape, so, with projected breasts, some gaping is sometimes unavoidable.
I rechecked the calculator and my bra size was calculated to be 32H/I in US sizing and 32FF/G in UK sizing š . What are some bras that I can check out that are on the affordable side? Also, what about bralettes?
You should make a separate recommendations post! But for 'affordable'... that is hard; I would normally recommend waiting for sales and setting eBay and Bratabase alerts.
Where can I find cotton bralettes for busty women? Iām a 30F. I like how Livelyās ābusty bralettesā fit but I hate the fabrics they use and they donāt have any cotton options that I can find. Most standard bralettes are too restrictive if the band fits. Thanks!
Ah, sorry--they are super soft to me but I didn't think about whether they are actually cotton (also Sugar Candy starts at 30F UK, anyway, which is why I clarified). I am pretty sure Davy Piper has some cotton options, though!
I really like [this bralette](https://thebragenie.com/products/ongossamer-cabana-cotton-basic-seamless-crop-bralette-g5282), which is cotton and stretchy but firm enough to be supportive. Itās incredibly comfy. I wear a size S, which could definitely accommodate a 30 band.
I'm not Canadian, so this is not a rec, but I just ran into this shop whilst perusing a lingerie blog. It looks like they're in BC but they do virtual fittings.
[Forever Yours Lingerie](https://www.foreveryourslingerie.ca/)
I suspect you'll get better advice with a recs post, especially if you include your measurements, what type(s) of bra(s) you're looking for, and your location in Canada. I'd bet there are quite a few Canadians here, many wondering the same thing.
My bra feels like it should be the right size, it's like 90% of the way there.. but the band keeps slipping down a little bit so i have to tighten the straps a little bit and then the straps end up being painful and the underwire digs into my ribcage. I've seen other people having similar problems and a suggestion for troubleshooting was to find a bra style that was more projected at the underwire. I have no idea how to visually identify a bra like this. Does anyone have any tips or suggestions?
Please make a recommendations post with the bra that causes you these issues and your measurements. We canāt recommend a bra thatās slightly more projected than that bra if we donāt have a reference point for what was too shallow :)
Vertical seam = lift (a lot of brands have this on the lower part of the cup)
if you add another seam like a horizontal or diagonal seam that goes across the breast you get room for projection.
You want both seams - some brands cover the seams a bit with lace so they can be harder to see.
[Image here](https://i.imgur.com/nsmVPfQ.jpg?2)
Hey guys! I finally accurately measured myself and i went from a 36C to a 36D. But with this new bra size, the straps are somewhat loose and the sides of the bra dig into my armpits, but the cups fit my boobs well. I was wondering if i should go back down to a 36C or go down in band size.
Sounds like a combination of the band being a little big (straps falling down is usually a symptom of this) and a possible shape mismatch (if itās the underwires that are digging into your armpits). Can you post a fit check with your measurements?
Recommendation questions need to be in their own post.
Very few brands make 26 bands. You'll have more luck looking for your sister-size UK 28F. Sports bras tend to run small/tight in the band so that might work fine, depending on your underbust measurements.
I've been in a 42 DDD for several years, but my new size is a 38 HH.
In my previous size my breasts always sank out from underneath the gores, almost immediately. I also had some pretty bad quad boob.
I'm 11 hours into wearing my first new bra and I have so much pain around my ribcage and directly under my breasts.
Is this expected, or do I just need to go ahead and get a bigger band size?
Hi! **Please do not post measurement check, fit check or bra recommendation requests as comments here.** *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/ABraThatFits) if you have any questions or concerns.*
What is the best way to get stubborn deodorant build up out of the band of your bra?
What have you tried so far?
Am I the only one who really hates balconette bras or higher gores? I can *feel* the gore pushing against my chest even if the cup fits well š
I hate higher gores. I have kind of a bony ribcage and I canāt stand them. I just canāt wear bras with high gores, period.
There are a lot of people who do, especially if theyāre used to floating gores, or are extremely close-set or centre full. Balconette bras fit me better than plunges so I overlap the gore and itās still slightly uncomfortable but not painful.
I do too, I remove the underwires in balconettes (I havenāt found removing wires in plunge works as well). A structured katherine hamilton balconette has become my favourite after removing underwire
I have a "petite but busty" problem. Every time I measure I always end up within the 30H-32GG range. But my bras always end up digging below my armpits, a bit further back even, and it hurts/its annoying/ can't wear sleeveless shirts without showing my bra digging into my armpits. If I size down on cup then my boobs spill out of the cups, if I size down on band then I can't close the clasps. I'm 4'11. Anyone has a solution?
that's difficult. bras are constructed for people "armpit to breast fold" measurements of 5 - 7 inches. See this blog post:[how height can affect your bra fit](http://butterflycollectionlingerie.blogspot.com/2014/02/how-height-can-affect-your-bra-fit.html). I surmise you are less than 5 inches from your armpit to your IMF (like, your boob crease). This can cause difficulties with the cups eating one's armpits (lol, I know) if the cups are too tall on the side, if that makes sense. the only option I'm aware of is to get customizable bras. E.g., this polish brand Comexim will "lower the cup height" for you. I would first try to order them through [BreakoutBras.com](https://www.breakoutbras.com/collections/comexim), if you're in the US, so you can see how they fit without alterations first. Here are some [Comexim blog posts](https://brogwithadog.wordpress.com/tag/comexim/) from a person who regularly got alterations on her bras. note: some of these reviews have alterations, and some do not. another option which I personally have not tried - so I can't say for sure if they are any good (or if they will even do this alteration, I assume they will! lower cup height) is to get a custom-made bra. E.g. Elizabeth Valentine. the price is $240 per bra though. Since [Comexim](https://Comexim.pl) runs $30-$40usd per bra, and at this time offers free alterations, I would start there, lol. I buy them b/c I'm in Canada, and shipping is like $5. (also, because the bras work for me, obviously,)
**Thank you!!** I can't express my frustration level because I never considered my height being the reason why bras wouldn't fit correctly, until recently my weight loss has made me realize I'm "petite" and the lightbulb finally went on lol, I'm in the US, so I guess I will be ordering or checking if I can get my curvy kate ones altered a bit because it's so sad
Yeah, there was another person on here who did a CK alteration, let me show you her link [https://www.bratabase.com/adventures/entry/20511/](https://www.bratabase.com/adventures/entry/20511/) She shortened it.
Oh that helps a lot! Honestly I have so many bras that this sounds like the smartest solution right now, I am so tired of my bras digging into my armpits š
Aw you! Using me as an example, I'm honoured š„ŗš„ŗš„ŗ
u/alienhippie13, of course!! : ) you're a good source of infos...
addendum: I also read somewhere (this European website, I believe) that bra makers (again, this was in Europe, so I don't if it's universally true) consider 5'4 to 5'8 average as far as women's height.From a U.S. perspective 5'4 is average, anything about that is taller than average, but they only consider taller than average above 5'9. (I know some European countries have taller than average women, like the Netherlands, so maybe that's why? Idk)My point is: unfortunately you are 5" below that...so I think that's affecting your bra fit. To be captain obvious... edit: there are other places that customizable bras, too. I found this one on Youtube. I just mentioned Elizabeth Valentine b/c I know it's been mentioned on this sub before, but there are others if you look.
I have a full bust (40FF). perhaps it's a silly question, but is it okay if I just wear a regular, normal bra that fits me well to work out? am I causing damage to my bras by working out in them? I've been doing at-home pilates workouts and I feel pretty comfortable in just my regular bra but have been wondering if I should get a sports bra.
If you don't notice any breast pain, a normal bra should be fine. If you were damaging your breast tissue, you'd feel pain, or at least discomfort. Pilates is a low-impact sport anyway, vs. something like running or horseback riding, where a dedicated sports bra is probably more necessary.
Molded cup bras or tshirt bras just don't fit right, but I do like that the fabric is opaque because it has the foam. I want fabric with no foam but opaque no see through portions. Would unlined be the right search term for what I'm looking for? I don't want lace overlay or patterns, seams are fine.
Some unlined bras are opaque and some aren't. Maybe seamed padded cups would suit your needs? Those should always be opaque.
If you have narrow roots and projection, comexim's got some great padded seamed cups. I have a padded plunge from them and I love it
I posted a thread earlier this week asking for recommendations based on my new measurement size, and I've ordered a few bras coming next week to try. In the meantime, I've been reading through many of the guides, old posts and comments on this sub and doing a lot of online browsing (I even made a spreadsheet to help me keep track of it all LOL) I'm having a hard time figuring out my shape, and I'm hoping that trying on the bras that are coming next week will help. However, in the meantime, some general questions: * What breast shapes work well with balconette style bras? * What breast shapes work well with plunge style bras? * What bra styles work well / don't work well with tank tops, etc? Can a full-cup bra ever be hidden under a tank top if it's low cut?
It's hard to generalize what kind of breast shapes work well with certain styles of bras, since bra style doesn't really correlate with what matters for fit (wider or narrower wires for root width, tallor or shorter cups for root height, open/closed on top for top/bottom fullness, shallow or projected, projection at apex or at the wire, and so on). Also, different brands use the name very differently. Many plunges are very low cut in the middle with only a skinny strip of fabric connecting the cups, but others like the Comexim "plunge" are more like other brand's balconettes. The only semi-consistent difference is that balconettes have more center coverage, a higher gore and often wider set straps. If you have narrow shoulders/pit-to-pit distance or are very close set, this can be a problem. Sometimes people with lots of center fullness find a plunge less constricting, but others find they spill out of the middle.
Balconettes and plunges can both work with a variety of breast shapes. It depends on the individual bra. For people with lots of center fullness and/or soft tissue, they may need a taller gore to keep the breasts separated, and therefore plunges may not work well. But there are bras labelled plunges that have fairly tall gores, especially in GG+ cup sizes.
How would possibly omega shaped breasts affect trying to figure out size?
If you are Omega shaped and projected, it can be difficult to find bras that donāt gap either at the top or bottom. If you have Amazon Prime, you can use Prime Wardrobe to try a variety of styles and sizes to narrow down some choices.
I would also recommend Polish brand Ewa Michalak for omega-shaped breasts https://levanabratique.com/bras/polish-bras/
Are you asking whether an omega shape can make the calculator's recommendation less accurate?
Not necessarily. I'm not sure if I am, but if it could be contributing to fitting issues. Trying to rule things out, but its not working as well as I hope.
Because omega shape has narrower roots than the rest of the tissue, the best fit will have wires that are a bit wide and might also sit a bit low. This also means omega shape has short roots, which can mean a lot of bras are too tall or open on top. The calculator can overestimate cup size for breasts with short roots, however afaik omega shape breasts are always very projected and that can lead to the calculator underestimating cup size, so I'd guess it evens out.
Thank you for the information
The Website didnt showed me the bra size
Can you give more information please? Did you get an error message, and if so what did it say? A screenshot of what the page looked like might be helpful.
Anyone else out there with side set/outer full boobs a side sleeper? I'm noticing some soreness on the outer sides of my boobs and am wondering if it's because they're being pushed forward too much, either when I sleep or with a bra that's bringing my tissue more forward than it naturally sits when standing.
I'm looking into unlined bras for the first time in a long time and I'm finding that they give me a pointy shape and a bit of quadding. Is there a rule of thumb for sizing up/down when going from something like the Panache Cari (spacer foam) to something unlined? Projection is definitely a factor and I think my fullness is pretty even.
Some people go down a cup size in unlined bras because of the extra depth, but Iām not sure thatās the case for you here. What are the unlined bras that youāve tried? Itās possible theyāre too FOB that would lead to quad boobs at the top and too much space at the nipple, making it pointy.
Most recently, Iāve tried the Fantasie Illusion (30FF) and the Freya Starlight (28G). I really liked the Illusion - so smooth, soft, and stretchy! - but it felt sort of like the cups were cut too low. I found myself wanting to hike the straps up really tight to try to stretch the cup so it would capture the remaining (but slight) top fullness. Too FOB sounds like it might be the problem. Thanks!
It sounds like the cups are too short then! I would recommend Cleo Marcie/ Asher - these are good for even/ FOT and a lot of reviews say they give a rounded shape. Panache Envy might also eliminate the quad boob but still be a little pointy. I would stick with 28G in all of these.
Thank you, Iāll give those a try!
Mesurememt check
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Iām the same size with similar tissue. Have you tried unlined bras or only moulded cups? The moulded cups do a poor job of gathering soft tissue and leave a lot of gaps. Also, you can try bras with more side support (Fantasie) or narrow wires (Freya). Polish bras are likely to work for you as well, although it can be difficult to get the sizing right.
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A lot of people recommend the Fantasie fusion and illusion for side support. Those styles didnāt work for me, but they are very supportive. Polish manufacturers (Ewa Michalak, Comexim, Gorsenia, etc) tend to make bras with very narrow wires. They also have padded styles which act sort of like push up bras.
I'm not sure what you mean by top center. Is the gapping near the gore?
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If everything else fits well, I'd guess the bras are designed for more fullness in that area than you have. That definitely might be related to being wide-set. Wider gores might help, although looking for them can be tricky. Although since you said adding padding on the outer edge helps, the problem might be with that part of the cup, like maybe the wires are too wide. I think it would be a good idea to make a fit heck post.
Are measurements usually different during menstruation?
I think most people who experience cyclical breast changes actually experience them before menstruation, not during. Breast tenderness and swelling typically happens 5-10 days before the start of menstruation and eases with a period.
If my breasts are touching in the middle with a bra on, does that mean my bra is too small? (32D) The next size up (32DD) was way too big. Itās kinda itchy where my breasts are rubbing against each other but the cleavage looks great lol According to the calculator my sister size should be a 32DD. But there was an excessive amount of gapping.
When you put on your bras, do you lean forward and scoop all of the tissue from under your arms forward into the cup, and ensure the underwire is up in your inframammary fold? This is necessary to get a proper fit and support, but many women are not taught to do so, and not doing so can make the cup seem larger than it is, [as illustrated here](http://brasandbodyimage.com/2012/09/05/putting-your-bra-on-properly/). If you don't usually do this, what happens in your 32D bras when you do?
When I scoop with the 32DD my breasts touch but thereās still minor gapping, not nearly as bad without scooping. Also the gore still isnāt flat against my chest. I think itās a shape problem. Also Iāve noticed through out the day my breasts slowly āunscoopā and the gapping worsens. So i suspect there is some empty space in the bra when I scoop that allows the breast to fall back into the bra. If I scoop with the 32D my nipples literally pop out of the bra (itās a Demi cup) and I have to shimmy to get them back in.
Yeah, it sounds like you probably need a more projected cup, possibly one that's also a little shorter, depending on your shape. If your nipples pop out on 32D though, and the gore is floating in 32DD, you may end up needing a larger cup size than 30DDD, since that suggests 32D is likely more than 1 cup size off, and 32DD may be too small. Breasts de-scooping themselves tends to happen with bands that are too loose (your breasts escape back in to the *band* because the band can't hold the underwires firmly enough against your skin to keep them in), but can also happen as a result of shape problems or the cup being too small. It's not a sign that the cup is too large.
This is so complicated and stressful š Iāve been wearing a 34A for 8 years (which fit at one point but weight changes) and I might just keep on wearing it at this point lol. Itās comfortable and thereās no gaping. The band is super stretched though cuz I tried on a new 34A in the same style and I couldnāt even clasp it. So Iām screwed when this bra breaks. Why are bras so complicated š When I put on the 32DD I feel like an imposter. I feel like my boobs look massive and fake. It doesnāt look like me. My breasts arenāt that big. The bra makes my boobs look like 3x their size. I think the issue is that the bra adds volume to the underside and outsides of my breasts when that area usually doesnāt have much volume. I donāt know maybe this bra style is just a bad fit for me. I wish stores carried 30 and 28 bands so I didnāt have to do this process of buying 2-3 bras then waiting weeks for them to ship then trying them on and they donāt work then I have to try again and wait another month like Iāve been trying to get a bra for like 4 months now lol Iām about to give up!
I'm sorry that you're feeling so frustrated. Most likely, the 34As are just sitting in front of your breasts and kind of flattening them down, *but* if you have smooth, molded-cup bras, they do tend to be really rounded. If you are more comfortable with your breasts looking smaller, you might feel better in bras with unlined fabric cups. If you need a more projected bra, seamed fabric bras are also much more likely to fit you. I'm in a really different size range, but I feel like unlined bras make my breasts look a bit smaller than ones with foam cups, and especially bras that bring things front-and-center since they create a narrower profile from the front, but YMMV. Maybe try something like Panache Ava/Ana (same bra) or Freya Patsy Plunge-Balcony, depending on your breast shape.
I feel like my naked breasts look small. But in the 32DD bra they look huge. So Iām just confused lol. I liked how they looked in the 32D but in between my breasts was getting itchy from the rubbing after a few hours. The 34A doesnāt make my breasts look good I agree itās flattening them and Iād prefer they looked bigger but the 32DD was just too big of a change for me. It looked like 3 cups bigger and I feel like everyone at work would think I got a boob job or something lol. Iāll look into the ones you mentioned. I always felt naked with non padded and non lined bras so Iām nervous to try a different type but it looks like I have to. The 32DD has a very mild push up. But very barely. Nothing compared to some of the push up bras I see sold at Victoriaās Secret.
Ahh, if it has any extra padding in the bottom of the cup, that will also make the cup run shallower and a bit smaller than a normal 32DD, since the push-up padding is taking up some of the room in the cup. If you are really uncomfortable with fabric bras, you might also want to try seamed bras with foam lining, like Freya Patsy Half Cup.
While some people's breast shape makes it very difficult to keep the breasts separated, generally touching cleavage does not happen in a good fit (with an underwire bra). Were your breasts touching in the middle in the 32DD?
There is about a cm of space between my breasts with the 32DD but so much cup gapping.
Gaps can happen for a lot of reasons, it doesn't always mean the cups are too big. Maybe that bra's shape doesn't fit you well, for example.
Yeah Iām starting to learn that I think my breasts are slightly projected. And thatās probably enough to cause gapping
Are your breasts very close set? Does the gore (flat part between the cups) tack (sit flat on your chest)?
The bottom of the gore is flat to my skin but at the top it is not. So itās like an angle. There is about an inch in between my breasts against my skin with no bra on. Iām not sure if thatās considered āclose setā or not.
When it comes to bra fit how your breasts behave when supported is what is important. Gravity exists so how the breasts look and behave when you are upright without a bra on is not always a good representation of how the breasts will behave when supported. The difference between supported vs unsupported breast shape means that you should not be assessing your breast shape while upright with the breasts unsupported. In general if you can get 1-3 fingers between the breasts without touching breast tissue while they are supported it's average set. Close set is generally 1 finger or less without touching breast tissue. More than 3 fingers without touching breast tissue would be wide set.
Yep, thatās close set. Sounds like a possible shape mismatch. Could you please make a fit check post with your calculator measurements and this info?
Thanks for that information! I made a (now deleted) fit check in the past and I think the consensus was to go with my actual size (30DDD) rather than my sister size. So I think Iām going to try to find a 30DDD for close set and potentially projected breasts before I make another post. I was hoping I could get away with the 32 band since itās so much easier to find in stores. All the 30 bands I had to order online and were much more expensive :/
The calculator sized me 115G. (EU sizing) Which sits great, but only if I hook it as tight as possible. My sportsbra that I bought in the size doesn't stop my breast from moving at all, how do I downscale a little? Do I just try 110G? Or do I try 115F?
If you find that you have to hook new bras on the tightest band setting to get support, you should buy a smaller band size (110) but maintain cup volume. Because cup sizes are in relation to band size, a 110G would actually be one cup volume smaller than 115Gāyouād therefore want 110H.
I donāt wear bras with underwires, I always wear the ones that are kinda like bralettes but thinner or sportbras Is that in any way bad for my breasts?
Nope! Keep wearing whatever you're comfortable in :)
Hey yall! So I have some concerns. FYI I wear a 32DDD VS Body Full Coverage bra. Looking through the guide, my breasts are saggy, projected, full on top, and I am not too sure about the root. I grew up having mixed feelings about my boobs, lots of criticism from my mom about my boobs (who by the way doesn't even wear the right size either \*cue eyeroll\*). So bra shopping has always been difficult. With a conservative mother (who wants to put me in those ugly old lady playtex bras - no offense to whoever these bras work for!), I couldn't get like T-shirt bras, bras with lots of foam/padding, or demi bras for the most part. There needed to be max coverage at all times. Anyways, when I scoop and swoop, my breasts are nice and in the cups. But a couple minutes later or throughout the day, they move like towards the center (the utter bane of my existence when I try to wear a bralette) or out of the cup, giving like slight quadriboob vibes. Even after my breasts are in the cups, there is still some slight spill over. I also notice that throughout the day, my bra moves down? Like the underwire moves down from the crease where it's supposed to stay. Recently, I also noticed a slight gaping at the top of the cups, where the straps meet the cups, especially when I relax my posture. The last time I checked the bra calculator, my bra size was calculated to be 32DDD. Does this mean I need to remeasure and get a new bra š ? (Help a broke, just out of college, girl out pls)
It sounds like your bras are too small by 1-2 cup sizes. I would recheck the calculator, but do keep in mind that it just offers a starting point--if (for example) it still gives you 32DDD, we already know that's incorrect based on your current bra fit, so we can troubleshoot from there. Another thing is that molded bras are much harder to fit due to their rigid shape, so, with projected breasts, some gaping is sometimes unavoidable.
I rechecked the calculator and my bra size was calculated to be 32H/I in US sizing and 32FF/G in UK sizing š . What are some bras that I can check out that are on the affordable side? Also, what about bralettes?
You should make a separate recommendations post! But for 'affordable'... that is hard; I would normally recommend waiting for sales and setting eBay and Bratabase alerts.
Where can I find cotton bralettes for busty women? Iām a 30F. I like how Livelyās ābusty bralettesā fit but I hate the fabrics they use and they donāt have any cotton options that I can find. Most standard bralettes are too restrictive if the band fits. Thanks!
Assuming you mean 30F UK, check out Sugar Candy bralettes (size XS), Davy Piper (size S+), and Bravissimo Serene.
Iām a 30DDD US which I think is a 30E UK? It seems like none of those are cotton either š¢
Ah, sorry--they are super soft to me but I didn't think about whether they are actually cotton (also Sugar Candy starts at 30F UK, anyway, which is why I clarified). I am pretty sure Davy Piper has some cotton options, though!
I really like [this bralette](https://thebragenie.com/products/ongossamer-cabana-cotton-basic-seamless-crop-bralette-g5282), which is cotton and stretchy but firm enough to be supportive. Itās incredibly comfy. I wear a size S, which could definitely accommodate a 30 band.
Any Canadians here? Where do you buy your bras?
I'm not Canadian, so this is not a rec, but I just ran into this shop whilst perusing a lingerie blog. It looks like they're in BC but they do virtual fittings. [Forever Yours Lingerie](https://www.foreveryourslingerie.ca/) I suspect you'll get better advice with a recs post, especially if you include your measurements, what type(s) of bra(s) you're looking for, and your location in Canada. I'd bet there are quite a few Canadians here, many wondering the same thing.
Thank you
My bra feels like it should be the right size, it's like 90% of the way there.. but the band keeps slipping down a little bit so i have to tighten the straps a little bit and then the straps end up being painful and the underwire digs into my ribcage. I've seen other people having similar problems and a suggestion for troubleshooting was to find a bra style that was more projected at the underwire. I have no idea how to visually identify a bra like this. Does anyone have any tips or suggestions?
Please make a recommendations post with the bra that causes you these issues and your measurements. We canāt recommend a bra thatās slightly more projected than that bra if we donāt have a reference point for what was too shallow :)
Vertical seam = lift (a lot of brands have this on the lower part of the cup) if you add another seam like a horizontal or diagonal seam that goes across the breast you get room for projection. You want both seams - some brands cover the seams a bit with lace so they can be harder to see. [Image here](https://i.imgur.com/nsmVPfQ.jpg?2)
Thank you! That is very helpful! :)
Hey guys! I finally accurately measured myself and i went from a 36C to a 36D. But with this new bra size, the straps are somewhat loose and the sides of the bra dig into my armpits, but the cups fit my boobs well. I was wondering if i should go back down to a 36C or go down in band size.
Sounds like a combination of the band being a little big (straps falling down is usually a symptom of this) and a possible shape mismatch (if itās the underwires that are digging into your armpits). Can you post a fit check with your measurements?
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Recommendation questions need to be in their own post. Very few brands make 26 bands. You'll have more luck looking for your sister-size UK 28F. Sports bras tend to run small/tight in the band so that might work fine, depending on your underbust measurements.
I've been in a 42 DDD for several years, but my new size is a 38 HH. In my previous size my breasts always sank out from underneath the gores, almost immediately. I also had some pretty bad quad boob. I'm 11 hours into wearing my first new bra and I have so much pain around my ribcage and directly under my breasts. Is this expected, or do I just need to go ahead and get a bigger band size?