Hey there.....a salesperson gave me a tip for finding difficult bra sizes, she said to look for the sister size by going up a size and down a cup. This may be helpful for some of you!!

It's good to hear that Chantelle has smaller cup sizes. I'll have to try them out. I must be oddly shaped because it seems to be almost impossible to find a bra that fits me. I only have two bras that fit me well at the moment, a Vassaret from Wal-Mart and a VS bra, both 32Bs.

I went bra shopping a while back and tried on a couple more 32Bs at Macy's (since you will search for ages before finding one at Wal-Mart and VS most of the time). I found two that fit tightly against my body, but the cups came nearly to my shoulders, so they looked way too big. Then I went to Dillards. Since all four 32Bs I'd ever tried on fit me, I made the mistake of just grabbing two out of the 32B sale bucket. They only cost me $9 a piece, but when I got them home and tried them on they both stuck out about 1/4 inch away from my chest. My husband had already cut the tags off, so I couldn't return them. I wore one of them the other day, and as it turns out it's a strapless/convertible and has sticky stuff all around it that left sores on my skin. Needless to say, that one went straight in the trash can.

So I'm looking for bras that come in small cup sizes. I stick out far enough to be a "B" and far enough to make an "A" uncomfortable, but I have that funny looking 50s triangular shape, so almost nothing fits me. Any suggestions?

Get yourself fitted professionally Sarah (and not at VS). Bra fitting is tricky and every bra is different. You haven’t found a shape that works for you yet, so you need guidance. Once you find a bra that fits, you’ll get a better idea of what to look for in the future.

I'm coming to this very late in the game, but I just wanted to share my own bra experiences:

I am a 32DD (or 32E, same thing). For some reason, people have it in their heads that if you are petite or small you must also have a small chest. I usually end up spending about $50-$70 for my bras because they don't carry them in stores. Luckily I have a small privately owned lingerie shop in town that is really great and stocked with band sizes from 28-52 and cup sizes from AAA-J. They also custom alter the bras, if necessary. I have had several straps shortened to fit me.

Victoria's Secret is a joke. I hate shopping there. When I told them my size, they looked at me like I was some kind of freak and acted as though I was lying or making it up. They insisted I was a 32C, since that's the largest cup size for a 32 that they had in store, and told me if that didn't work, to try my "sister size"--34B. So basically "try the wrong size. If that doesn't work, try an even more wrong size."

Online, I actually really like amazon. I found a Bali minimizer for only around $24 which is far less than what I have paid for my Chantelles.

One problem I have consistently have, even with the shortened straps, is that they slip off. I have to reach under my shirt and yank them back up constantly. I have very narrow and slim shoulders and the straps always seem to be too spaced out. Unfortunately petite bras are just that, and don't come in cup sizes over a B. I might try a racerback next time I go bra shopping to remedy this.

Also, I wanted to throw in that measuring myself has never worked for me. When I used to go by measurements, I came out to be a 34C, which was completely wrong. What I like about the women at the bra shop I go to is that they measure the band size to get some idea, then just go through the store and pick out bras based on how you look. It sounds so horribly unscientific, but bra fitting is an art and not a science, and these ladies have seen more bosoms than I could ever hope to, so they're almost always spot-on.

Maya, you might be interested in reading a product review of Embrace's Bra Strap Solution posted on Wardrobe Oxygen just a few days ago:
http://womanwardrobeneeds.blog.....?q=embrace

The bra strapper might work.

http://youlookfab.com/2007/09/25/the-bra-strapper/

I am most content with an expert helping me find my bra.

I'm coming into this thread late. I am large busted I measure at a 34 DDD, but I have found two manufactures that really fit me nice. Panache Superbra and Elle Macpherson. The key to finding a great bra is to try them on regardless of what size they say. My Panache is a 34 F and my Elle is a 36 E. Which is why I have a hard time buying bras (and shoes) online, but I love going to my local store and trying on several different styles to see what works and what doesn't.

I received one of my favorite bra catalogs today--Bra Smyth (Mayapple, they have two stores in NYC, 2177 Broadway and 905 Madison Ave) They are also online at http://www.brasmyth.com . Anyway, I thought it was worth posting that they carry Petite bras made by Wacoal. The sizes range from 32-36 AA, A and B and range in price from $38 to $45 with discounts if you buy 2.

Hopefully someone will find this information helpful!

My experience with Victoria's Secret has not been good. I find their stores in the Seattle-Tacoma area to be dirty and the sales people do not seem especially knowledgable. I haven't been to one for years because of this so hope they have changed for the better.
I could not stand to wear under wire because I felt it poked me in the rib bones. Ouch! A few years ago I was fitted at Nordstrom's where they reccommended a larger cup size so that the wire half circle is wide enough to not touch the breast tissue. This is more comfortable but the cup size is really to big so I have to have some padding or molding in the cup to keep it's shape.
Le Mystere looks great under clothing and Walcoal is comfotable to this under wire sensitive person.
Also adding a shape ware under tank by Spanx or TC seems to make the bra feel more comfortable. I haven't figured out why yet. Maybe because it holds everything in place and keeps it from shifting.

Although I'm much smaller than most of you, I know of the following company who also does bra alterations for free. I think they do the alterations for bras you purchase from them only though. They have pretty much any size you can think of and I use their distraction bras which make me look 1.5 cup or so bigger. I'm tiny so I didn't think getting this type of look would be possible, but I'm really happy with these bras. A friend of mine is a 28D! I hate her! hehe

She also shops from them and she loves her bras. It's hard for her to find good fitting bra sizes too.

http://www.bitasaviss.com/bitasaviss/opener.php

You mentioned that you were obsessed with bras.
When I read that, I sighed with relief. I'm not alone! I've loved them ever since I got boobs (14 and a half years old. I was a late bloomer. But I am still a teenager). But that's where the similarity stops- I'm really quite small. Only 32B.
However I love my breasts all the same, and bra shopping is one of my all-time favorite things to do. Unfortunately I go for color and design, not comfort- I don't own a single sports bra! I think I've shopped Victoria's Secret Pink all out. They have such cute, colorful bras. Now I can't find anything I like- I got a couple of H&M's but they are such bad quality. I need some more lace, color and patterns!
Do you know where I can find this?