challenges of large ribcage /small bust

anne

we seem to have had lots of bra talk from the small ribcage crowd recently and I am glad for all the advice for them but just wondered how many people were like me.

My bust is about 33" and underbust about 30" (if I am holding a breath)

What would you say the challenges and opportunities of this combination are?
(in general, not just for the bra situation),

14 years ago

Body Type

8 replies

Latest reply was from chewyspaghetti

Tanya

Veteran

Hmm, while I do not have anything useful to say about challenges, I am not quite sure that you have a wide rib cage Anne ( according to those measurements you would need a 30C bra). Mine are pretty similar ( 29" underbust, 34" bust) and I consider myself small rib-caged.

14 years ago

Maya

Veteran

What are you smoking Anne?! A 30 is not a "large" ribcage! That is the second smallest band size there is. You are 2" bigger than me and only 1" bigger than Tanya.

14 years ago

marianne

Active Member

I know what you mean, Anne - my measurements are 30.5 and 34 respectively, and my ribcage is relatively large, even though there are plenty of people with bigger measurements. Typically it's a problem when I try on tops and dresses with a banded empire waist, or not necessarily empire, but where the band is set high enough. Or very fitted sheaths. In that case the item would fit everywhere except my ribcage and going up a size ruins the fit. I don't really consider it a *huge* problem though, and I typically avoid empire style anyway.
One thing that came to mind - you mentioned before you wear A cup, but from your measurements it sounds like it would be about C.

14 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

No challenges in my book, sweet Anne. How do you feel challenged with these measurements?

14 years ago

wilson

Active Member

I have a wide ribcage and smallish bust too. The challenge for me is finding dresses that zip up all the way but don't bag at the chest. A lot of dress zippers get stuck right at my rib cage because it is so wide then my chest is drowning in a sea of fabric. I am a getting more and more comfortable with buying things with the intention to have them altered and that is helping.

14 years ago

Christie

Active Member

Anne ... those measurements don't sound like a large ribcage at all!

My measurements are 36" bust and 34" underbust. I wear a size 6/8, except often will fit a 10/12 just for the underbust fit! I have the same fit challenges as Wilson describes. So when I find a button-down shirt or woven dress that fits my broad torso, I buy it because its hard to find.

14 years ago

anne

Veteran

Cricket - okay I concede - not compared to you!

I guess I was thinking of Angie and Taylor and Theresa when I said my ribcage was large - especially Theresa since we are the same height and about the same weight (as well as in the same country!)

I haven't had a bra fitting yet because I chickened out (!) and also because my toddler is still breastfeeding and she yanks up the band (we are as of last week down to only 2 feeds a day from heaps every day so making a bit of progress there).
I only times I have been fitted were at 15 with a 32A and when pregnant with a 32C maternity bra. Have also worn 34A. My recent maternity bras were B cup and are way to big for me.

I can relate to Marianne and Wilson with having things zips sticking at the rib cage!
Part of the challenge I face is that being long waisted as well means often the waist of a garment is actually on my ribs.

I don't find fit a major issue, but do often find things fit at my (square) shoulders) are tight around the rib cage and then loose.
Also so far as figure flattery goes, I have to be pretty careful about empire seams (like Marianne) as this is a broad place.

14 years ago

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

I never thought of myself as having a large ribcage, but I do have the problem of zippers getting stuck there (and sometimes if it fits there, the chest being too baggy).

14 years ago

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