Maya, how often do you wear this particular bra? And how often do you wash it? Is it an underwire?

I don't think 6 months is a reasonable amount of time to be on the last hook. I'd say if you are rotating 3 or 4 bras, washing them every 2 or 3 wearings, but not wearing them two days in a row--a high quality bra--like Chantelle--should get you a good year before you're moving to the last hook.

But if you own two bras, and wear this one every other day, and wash it more often than once a week, then yeah, it might be stretching out. Also, I asked about the underwire because I think underwire bras have a stiffer--less elastic--band. I have not worn soft cup (non underwired) bras in years--but I remember the bands getting misshappen a lot sooner than underwire bands.

I am in bra heaven right now--my 4 brand new Fantasie bras arrived this week. Nothing makes me happier than a fresh set of bras. My last set (I was down to 3 because I lost one on vacation--how embarrassing!), were not quite a year old. They still have some life left in them--but they will now be rotated to second string.

1) It is an underwire

2) I wear it probably 3 times a week and wash it once a week (I rotate between 3 bras...sometimes 4--I don't really like one of them so it gets worn rarely)

3) I am just not sure if that odd gapping at the bottom is because the band size is too big or something else. It's hard to tell just by trying on because I have to wear it for a while before I can really tell. I have tried lengthening and shortening the straps but that hasn't had any effect.

Maya - from everything I have read, all the experts say get the smallest size band you can possibly wear, and go up in cup size if you have to. They say that a snug band size is essential.

http://www.oprah.com/article/o.....20080215_b

http://www.oprah.com/slideshow.....20051115/2

http://www.oprah.com/slideshow.....20051115/4

Is the gap in the front--between your breasts (in the band)? Or in the back, where the strap fastens?

Maya, see if any of these troubleshooters apply to your situation:

http://www.herroom.com/solve-b.....30.html#17

I do not get any redness or rashes (thank god!), but this is basically what is happening:

Rashes and redness under breasts.
Reason: Your cup is too small, your underwire is not in the breast crease, and your bra does not give enough support to lift your breasts off your ribcage. Consequently, your breast skin is overlapping and rubbing on your ribcage skin and irritation is occurring.
Solution: Increase your cup size until you find the right underwire that fits within your breast crease comfortably. Choose a bra that has a band on the bottom. This band will give additional support and insure your breast tissue does not come in contact with your ribcage skin. Select a bra with a supportive cup design such as 2 to 3 section cups, contains support panels at the bottom, along the sides and possibly all the way around your breast. Finally, consider a wire-free bra with a band and good supporting cup design.

I'm bra-stupid. What is a 2-3 section cup and support panel? I often hear that I should try a wirefree bra but I can't find a style I like.

Can you get to Nordstrom's so they can re fit you? It would be good if they could see first hand what is going on. If they put you in this bra and it isn't working for you they will make it right I'm sure.
My sports bra has an extra inside panel of fabric across the bottom of the cup for added support. It sounds like the article meant that piece when saying to get a bra with extra panels.
Your issue sounds terribly uncomfortable.
Nicole thanks for the bra website. That was so informative.

I did not go to Nordstrom. There is actually a privately owned lingerie shop near me that does fittings, and I prefer to support them, especially in such a bad economy. I don't think it's their fault that the bra doesn't fit right. I have never noticed this problem before and I have been wearing this bra style for a couple of years now. It could just be that my body has changed.

I have been thumbing through bras for over an hour. I haven't seen anything that seems right though. They recommend a band at the bottom, but almost all of them are sports bras. They also recommend wire-free bras, but again, most of them are sports bras (and the ones that aren't are crazy--I am a pretty modest dresser but these would stick out from underneath my clothes).

I'm hesitant to go for a 30 because the 32's start off pretty tight--just shy of being too tight for comfort. I am not sure why I'm on the third hook already. I'm going to wear my Wacoal bra tomorrow and see if I need the third hook on that one too.

I think a 2 to 3 panel bra means the cups are not seamless. Each section that gets sewn together is a panel. This is supposed to be a more supportive bra--but I prefer seamless, underwires personally.

Maya. just because a bra is being sold as a "sports bra" does not mean it's really a sports bra. I used to wear a bra that was advertised as a "medium sports bra" then they changed it to "Active Bra". It was a Glamorise bra, and it had these slings built into the cups of the bra that gave the girls a little extra shape and lift. It kind of took the place of an underwire. Unfortunately, they don't make them in your size--othewise I'd link them for you. Anyway, my point is that this bra would not suitable for exercising--but it was perfect for every day wear.

Do you prefer a seam or seamless? Do you like a molded cup that offers a little bit of coverage, or do you prefer a thin fabric? Do you object to any kind of lace? And do you have a preference for how many rows of hooks are on teh back?

Oh one more thing I wanted to commet on...I find Chantelle bras to run a bit small. If you are wearing a 32 Chantelle, you might actually be a 30 in other bra brands.

Heres a soft cup bra with a nice band on the bottom. This brand's sizing goes D, E, F.... So I think you'd be a 32E?

http://www.barenecessities.com.....h,32DD.htm

Wacoal makes wonderful bras:
http://www.barenecessities.com.....h,32DD.htm

I'm off to bed, but I'll look some more tmw.

I think I prefer seamless too, though I"m not sure why. I don't like lace or anything else that might show through my shirt, and seams might show. I also find that they give that weird Madonna-esque conical effect that I definitely do not want.

I really like the coverage of a contour bra, but I hate the extra bulk. OTOH, I like how thin fabric makes me look a bit smaller, but it's not so great when I'm cold...

Hooks don't matter to me. Most of my bras come with 2 but one of them comes with 3. I don't really see a difference to me.

That's the problem: my size is limiting, and would be even more limiting if I went down to a 30. I guess I'll see. A 32 in Wacoal seemed to fit well. I will have to wear that bra tomorrow and see what I think.

Hi Maya,

I wear 32H, so I feel somewhat qualified to answer your question :)

1) Chantelle are not that good for full busts. I like Fantasie and Panache much better.
2) I recommend you read the posts in the livejournal community http://community.livejournal.com/thirty_twod/
From the name of the community you can guess that it is targeted towards women with large busts and narrow backs. It has tons of useful information about bras, fitting etc.
3) Read the section about bra fitting at http://www.bravissimo.com/ Even if you end up not ordering from them, the information is very useful.
4) Order several different bras online, for example from http://www.figleaves.com/ (they have the largest selection), try them on at home and return those that do not fit. Important: in large cup sizes the actual size varies wildly between different manufacturers. I suggest you find the type that works for you and stick with it. For me it is Fantasie, for example.

I used to think that I have almost no choices at all, but after discovering figleaves and bravissimo I see that I actually have a lot of choices.

Judging from the situation you describe, you should go down a number and up in the cup size to compensate for it. You will see that there is a lot of selection in 30E (this will be your size, right?) online.

Good luck!

Forgot to add - I also like seamless bras best. I am paranoid about bras showing through my clothes, and I always feel that the seams in 2 or 3-section cups show through knits. Also, seamless bras give the most round shape, so no Madonna-like effect.

I don't think you should wear soft cup bras - they either don't give enough support or come all the way up to your collarbone. I am a modest dresser too, but this is just too much coverage.

I re-read the whole thread and see that I was mistaken about your size - if I were you, I would try 30F and see whether it fits. When you buy the bra, it should fit on the loosest set of hooks. This way, when it stretches a bit after several months, you can tighten it by moving to tighter set of hooks and will still be supported.

The straps are the least functional part of the bra. Basically, most support should come from the band. If this is not the case, the band is probably too loose.

Hi Maya,

Are you in NYC?

HannahC, you are on thirty_twod as well? What a small world.

The elastic in bras disintegrates pretty quickly in the washing machine - if you want your bras to last longer, take them in the shower with you and handwash whilst there.

I love Bravissimo - such a great range.

Carissa, I am in NYC. Were you going to recommend Intimacy or Bra Smyth? :)

OK, I wore my Wacoal bra today, and I did have to wear it on the third set of hooks BUT I did not get the same weird gap/spillage as I did with the Chantelle. Maybe Chantelle just isn't my brand anymore. I'm going bra shopping tomorrow so I will look into some other brands, and also try a 30F and see how that works.

NYC is rife with great stores. I am currently working with a client (for clothing) who highly recommends Raquel at http://www.bratenders.com/contact/. Is that where you went the first time? Where do you currently go?

I'd be happy to look through the trade mags for other top retailers in NYC, but tonight I'm prepping for a video we're shooting tomorrow about BH (our line), so I'f you're shopping tomorrow I can't be of further help.

Intimacy & Bra Smyth aren't particularly excellent for the full bust (narrow back with larger cup). The thing with a full bust is A) it is hard to fit and B) the brands definitely come in a 30 band size, even a 28. Great brands are: Fantasie, Freya, Panache, Fayreform, Prima Donna, etc.

Recently when shopping with clients, the regular stores (Nordstrom, small boutiques, etc.) pretty much stop at 32. However, they can be found.

Keep us posted.

Hm, I feel I'm being misleading: I live in NJ but work in NY. The bra place I'm going to is in NJ. They have sizes starting at 28 and going all the way up to a J cup and the staff is really helpful. I'm sure I'll find something there. Whether or not I can afford it is another question all together, but at least I'll get a better idea of what the right size and brand is.

I have never actually been to either Intimacy or Bra Smyth. I just hear about them all the time from different people.

Wow. Who thought this was so complicated!

I am a very full DD (34DD) (but I also have a broad back) and have been wearing a Wacoal minimizer, but I just read that minimizers are actually bad to wear because they compress the soft tissue. Does anyone know if that is true? I really like the support I've been getting, but sometimes I feel the minimizer spreads things around too much. I guess it's time to explore some new bras.

Yes Tarzy, please explore different bras.

A minimizer doesn't give a very upfront & together position and I think can actually make the bustline appear bigger and lower.

I don't know if referencing another blog post is OK, please correct me if not, but here is one on the subject of minimizers: http://bratiquehelene.blogspot.....birds.html

Maya, I think tomorrow will be fruitful for you, your store sounds great.

Bigger and lower. That's just great. Sigh.

(Off to the shops next week ...)

Kari -
I am not active in thirty-twod, but I read their posts all the time - it is a great community, very informative. Also, sometimes they publish coupons for figleaves there, which is nice. The reason why I am not active is that this requires setting up a livejournal account and writing something in the journal, to prove that I am not a troll - too much work :( But I am thinking of it.

Tarzy -
I also don't like minimizers. I feel that they make you look wider all around, as opposed to the style of the bra that holds your breasts uplifted and in front of your body. I find that some styles (usually those that give a very rounded shape) have a subtle minimizing effect without actually squishing the breasts to the sides of your body. I like Wacoal, but not the minimizer, the regular full cup bra style. Also Fantasie, Panache, and Freya are all brands that specialize in bras with large cups. I think that Nordstrom carries Panache, you may want to try them.

Maya, to my knowledge what you are describing usually indicates the cup size is too small. However, it can also happen if you are wearing your bra band too high, which can happen if your bra band is too big - it rides up.

Check yourself in the mirror and see where your bra band is hitting. It should be level all around, and hit fairly low on your back.

This can also happen (has happened to me) if your straps are shortened too much. This happens to me with VS bras, which stretch out too much too soon. The straps then start slipping, so I end up shortening, shortening... and then the bra band doesn't sit right - it starts creeping up and won't sit level because I've got the straps too short.

I do like the Chantelles because even if I have the straps set long, they don't slip off. The straps with my Chantelle seem to have little function, actually. The bra would stay on and give ample support without them.

My only complaint about the Chantelle's is that the one I bought that is breathable for summer heat (which it is - it's fantastically cool) developed permanent sweat stains on the cups after wearing on our 100 degree days in Paris. It is true I sweat horribly those days, so I guess it was inevitable. The bra was pretty comfortable and kept me cool as could be anyway. I think the bra somehow wicked the sweat away from the body - and unfortunately into the surface of the cups.

OK I am back from my bra adventure.

As soon as I went in the fitting room, and explained my issues, the woman said "no wonder, you have no shoulders!" She says I'm extremely petite on top but my boobs are wide and gigantic and pulling the straps off my shoulder (those are my words, not hers...she wasn't rude at all, hehe).

Then she said just what I dreaded: I am up to a 32F. This made me very depressed, as this is the fourth straight year that I have gone up in cup size. I don't know how long this trend is going to continue but it's upsetting for me because I hate being busty and I just keep on getting bustier. At this rate I will be an L by the time I'm 30. For the first time, I am seriously considering saving my pennies for reduction surgery. There are other parts of my body that I'm not thrilled with, but this is the only part that I actually actively HATE.

Anyway, that was very negative, so I"m just going to get on with the rest:

They told me the reason I'm "spilling" out of my Chantelle bra is because the straps are too wide set for my shoulders, and I'm trying to compensate for it by pulling them too tight, which makes the bra ride up. They told me to bring it back and they could alter it for me after I launder it, but it doesn't seem like the right size so I might not bother.

The first bra they put me in was Fantasie. Nicole, I know you have mentioned this a dozen times, but what styles do you wear? I know you like seamless bras and that's what I need. I can't remember what style she put me in, but it was a seamed balconette which was also black and gold and lacy--definitely not my style. I'm a plain jane as far as bras go. Unfortunately all of the Fantasie bras they had in stock are lacy sorts. It did, however, make me look much smaller, so I think I would like to look for some other styles online. I would like one that has no padding or foam and no seams.

I tried one by Freya but the straps were too thick and wide set. It fit well though. The 32 was very tight but not as tight as a 30 would have been, so it was good for me. The only problem was that it made me look bigger, which is a big problem, so I bypassed that one.

Then I tried 2 more Chantelles. One of them was a convertible bra and had two places to hook the straps in the back, which made them stay up. It fit well everywhere else. The band is very snug, but not unbearble. I knew at this point that a 30 would have been too tight.

FTR, I took a 32F in all of these styles. I have never felt that Chantelle runs small though.

I ended up getting the Chantelle. It was the one that the sales person and I both liked the most. I know this brand doesn't have the best reputation among the full-busted, but it works for me.

I still would like to get a Fantasie bra, but I'm horrified by the price! I'm going to have to choose wisely. Maybe I'll have a look at that community for some coupons.

Maya,

My favorite bra is Fantasie seamless:
http://www.figleaves.com/uk/pr.....0132-style
(the link will bring you to the UK site, but you can see the type, and it is available also from the US site).
The UK site has 20% off everything today, I don't know about the US site.
Note that this bra runs big in the cup - for reference, I am solid 32H, and I take 32G in this bra.

There is a sale and that one is well within my price range. I'm just not sure what size to get. It says a 32F is equivalent to a US 32G. According to the label on my new bra, I'm a 32E UK, 32F everywhere else. I guess that means a 32E is the size I would normally be?

So then if I size down, should I go down to a 32DD?

Hmm, yes, I do think the Chantelle straps are widely spaced, which I happen to like for me, because my shoulders are a little broad. It's nice not to have straps showing, and having them wider seems to help me with that unsightly underarm roll stuff, which I tend to get with lots and lots of bras. My number one pet bra peeve!

I am wondering if bras in the US have undergone some sort of vanity cup sizing? Because in college I was a 34A, now I'm a 34B ... or possibly even a 32C. Yet I am same exact weight, and except for my waist being thicker now, same essential measurements.

I always figured it was nursing that increased my cup size (and it did - at one point while at peak of nursing I was in a 36D nursing bra), but who knows. It is quite possible there has been some vanity sizing going on, just as they do with clothing except increasing the size on the label.... because... well, you do know that there are legions of women who would risk their life going under the knife to have 32F's!!!!

This kind of makes sense to me, come to think of it. Hmmm.