Bra shopping fun! - YouLookFab Forum

Hello!

I've recently discovered the YouLookFab blog among others when searching for the correct bra size.

I can't wait to browse through more posts as I love girly fashion, but have been stuck in a "tomboy I have no idea what to do and don't want to made fun of so take the easy way out" rut since I was in 1st grade.

Now to make matters worse, I wear a uniform at work and when I'm home lounge pants/pj pants and a tshirt or tank top. Haha! Makes me love the days I wear "real clothes" even more.

Now that you know a little about me on to my reason for posting. I went bra shopping yesterday. I want to make an appointment for my mom, me, and my best friend to go to Intimacy in Atlanta for a fitting, but became impatient and decided to do some searching on my own.

For starters, I've been wearing a 34 A my whole life... or variations of 34A.... 32B, 34B... even bought a 34C once... don't know what I was thinking!

I've always thought of my boobs as tiny and almost non-existent. Even recently, when I thought they were getting a little bigger, I was still told 34 A when I went to be measured.

When I've tried to measure myself, my underbust (I also learned recently to exhale to measure...) is 28.5 to 29 inches and my largest part is 33.5 to 34 inches (obviously it is hard to measure yourself). Before when I measured without exhaling, I got an underbust of 30 inches. If you add the 4 inches, it of course doesn't work well at all... I got a 0... 34AA LOL

I could practically put a whole different person in the band of my 34A bra. Talk about no support. I never thought "I" needed support though. Figured that was for "bigger" people.

More recently, I went to a 32B because it felt more comfortable, and they actually had the size at Victoria's Secret. It felt a little better, but still not great. Band rides up, straps fall down.. I kept thinking the cups were too big, never the band until I started reading these forums.

So yesterday I decided to put my new found knowledge to work. First store I went to was a Bali/Hanes outlet. They only had a couple 32C bras. They didn't fit at all. They had me try on the new Playtex bras that are supposed to be fool proof in an extra small and a small. They aren't fool proof. The extra small cups were too small, band was still a little big. The small cups fit, but the band was huge. Joke is on me right?

Next place, mall... I walked around Dillard's to see if they had any bras smaller than a 32 band. They had 30's! The first one I found was a Calvin Kline strapless bra. http://www.dillards.com/webapp.....R=02856849 I still figured I needed to try on 32's though, so I grabbed a 32B, a 30C, and for the fun of it a 30D and off to the dressing room I went.

32 band still big... I can stretch it out behind me about 4 inches... So then I decided to try the 30C. I had a hard time trying it on because I'm not used to hooking my bra in the back. Finally got it on, and to my surprise, I had quad boob! Really? This has never happened to me?

30D fit, but I still couldn't believe it. I searched for some regular bras and found another Calvin Kline bra in a 30D... http://www.dillards.com/webapp.....R=02763423
I think I also tried on the 30C yet again, and 32C and 32B because I just couldn't believe it. I also found another brand on sale in a 30D that is cute in black with pink kisses. http://www.dillards.com/webapp.....R=03494901
It fit a little snug on the last hook, but obviously it will stretch... and I could actually still pull it out from my back pretty far. I even asked the fitting room woman that had been helping another customer... She looked at me like I was nuts and why was I asking her anything.

I also tried on a few bras labled as "t-shirt" bras. In these bras, the 30 D the cups were baggy, and the 30 C was a little tight and didn't make me look good at all. Does that make any sense? I think t-shirt bras aren't for me.

So after about 2 hours of deliberation, I bought the nude Calvin Kline bra and the black with pink kisses bra. At least I have something now that gives me some semblance of support.

I work 24 hour shifts, and wear a bra the whole time because it takes to long to put on in the middle of the night when you're half asleep... besides the fact that a lot of the time I'm working with a guy.

Today I am wearing the new nude Calvin Kline bra. So far, 15 hours a counting I have a few likes and a few dislikes.

Likes: the cups feel good, aren't itchy, feel like I have some more support and I'm not constantly having to pull the straps up or the bra down.

Dislikes: The part where the hooks are, I'm not sure if it is the thread they used to sew it, or the stuff they used to make that part a little stiffer, but it keeps poking me in the back and itching. The underwires feel like they are digging in in the center of my chest against my breast bone. I've never actually had a bra that the center was against my chest (I didn't even know it was supposed to be until the other day)... so that might be part of it. I also noticed if I put my arm out in front of me, like I'm driving, the top of the cup/strap folds... is that supposed to happen?

What do you guys think? Did I pick the wrong size? Should I look for something without underwires for the days I have to work? Any suggestions?

I hope you guys don't mind the long post. I'm not very good at short ones!

Medicechic

15 years ago

Steph

Veteran

Congratulations on finding some bras that fit better! It's hard to know from a written description if you picked the right size, but it sounds like you might have or, at the very least, that you are way closer now than you were before! I think you should give it a week or two to get used to the feel of the bra--particularly with it lying flat in the center. My guess is you need some time to adjust to the new fit, and once you do you'll be much happier.

I would not recommend going with a non-underwire bra. It could be that this bra is just itchy on you, but I'm sure there are others that are not. Definitely, definitely go to Intimacy when you have a chance. They will be able to look at the bras you have and tell you if they are good fits, and put you in others that should work well for you.

(website)

I also wore a 34A for a long time. Sometimes a 34B if it was demi. I'm in a 32C now but should probably be in sizes you are looking at. I wanted to get a fitting on Sunday but ran out of time. I have one 32D that is the exact style and brand (Natori convertible) as a 32C I've had. Neither is perfect. I'm just between sizes. I am 27.5 under bust and 34 or 34.5 depending. I'll be curious to see what your bra fitting comes to bear.

Kari

It sounds like either the size and/or the style of the bra might not be quite right. The center gore (the part of the bra that is under/between the cups) should lay against your chest, but the underwire absolutely should not dig in. It sounds like what you have is a better fit than you had before, but still not a *perfect* fit. My suspicion from what you described - the underwire digging in and the cup folding when you move your arm - is that the cup size might still be too small for this particular brand/bra style. Or it could just be the wrong style of bra to fit you comfortably, period.

A few thoughts, and keep in mind that I am definitely on the large side of the bust spectrum. That being said, I think we *all* deserve adequate support and great comfort from our bras, regardless of what size we are:

* Tee shirt bras are not for me, either. I have had a couple of molded bras that I liked, but in the long run I have found that seamed bras (that have diagonal seaming across the cup, like this) give me much better support & a better shape.
* In general, I have better luck with either a balcony/balconette or full coverage bra style rather than a plunge shape like the two bras you posted (particularly the Hot Lips style.) It might be a good idea to try out some different bra styles to see if the comfort factor increases with a bit more support/coverage. Here's a guide with photos of different bra styles that could be helpful if you aren't sure what options are available.
*I also had to experiment a bit to find out the ideal distance between the cups/between my breasts. Some bras had the cups spread very far apart, so while the cup size may have been a good fit, the separation between the cups meant that I had underwires poking into my breasts. Ouch! That might be something for you to watch for, although the non-strapless CK bra that you posted looks like it doesn't have a huge gap between the cups.

Are you near a Nordstrom store? If so, I would highly, highly recommend stopping by for a fit. Nordstrom is the only store where I have been fitted in person and did not have a sales representative try to force me into a smaller cup size just because it was the only one they had that would fit.

If budget is an issue, try on different bras, even if they are *way* beyond the price you plan to pay, to get an idea of the ideal size and shape for your body. Take photos & write down brand, size, & model numbers of the bras you like, and then you will be better equipped with a list of similar features (seaming, shape, etc.) to look for or avoid in the future, and you can also keep an eye out for your favorite bras online to see if they go on sale later.

I hope that this helps, and good luck!

Active Member

Thanks for the advice. I agree the balconet style, or another style might be better, but at least this is getting closer to a better fit.

I'll let you guys know how a better fitting goes. If I ever get our schedules together, I'll make appointments for my mom, bff, and me to go to Intimacy in Atlanta. It's about 2 hours away from me. That is also where the closest Nordstrom is to me.

Anonymous

Medicechic, we have similar measurements. I was recently in for a bra fitting after a year at Nordstroms and was amazed to be put into a 30D. I bought the Calvin Klein strapless that you tried in black because I wanted a black bra and that was what was in the store. I also bought a Calvin Klein bra very much like it with the same lace band but not strapless in nude. The non-strapless was much more comfortable.
I also bought a Betsy Johnson lace bra in a 30D that has no padding or contouring at all and still looks smooth enough to be worn under knits. It was fun to find a *fancy* bra that would actually fit my little cupcakes. I'm not on my regular computer but will try to add links later. You might try the nonstapless version of the Calvin Klein bra for comfort. The underwires don't poke me on this one.

Maya

"little cupcakes"! Love it. Mine unfortunately serve 10-12.

Bra shopping is a lot of trial and error, and the only solution is to try on a bunch and put them through their paces.

FWIW, I have had the problem of the center gore being diggy. For me, this usually happened in plungier styles, where the gore was shorter. Plunge styles concentrates all the pressure onto one small area. It doesn't bother everyone, but it bothered me and I guess it bothers you too. I'd try more of a balconette style.

Definitely go to Intimacy. I just went there for my annual fitting and got some new goodies. You'll have more options than you would normally have, since they will alter 32's to fit you.

Joy, I didn't get the strapless one. I think I got the same nude one that you did actually! I listed a link to it in my first post.

I actually think the strapless one might be more comfortable because the center comes up higher. If it stays hot here, I may go get the strapless one to have to wear with dresses and tank tops etc.

Maya thanks for the advice on the center gore. I never had the problem before, but the center was off my chest. I'll have to pay more attention to the shape of the bra instead of how it is labled... I thought the Calvin Kline because it was a level 3 would sit higher etc than others. I'm still learning.

I actually have a balconette style bra that is probably a little small in the cups. I think it is a size 1 (Italian sizing) from Victoria Secret. It's lacy and I was worried about it showing under clothing so I don't wear it a lot, but it is one of my favorites from before.

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