Need help from the small chested fabbers... - YouLookFab Forum

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Need help from the small chested fabbers...

nemosmom

Veteran

First, Happy 2019 to all the fabbers! I hope this year brings you good health, pleasant company, and plenty of smiles

Second, I need bra help! I am small chested (32A-B depending on style; Wacoal is my usual brand). Come winter, I find my go-to underwire bras extremely uncomfortable underneath the weight of my base layer+pullover+coat. I have tried lace type bralettes, but once I pile all the layers on top, I get flattened out to the point of being very self conscious once the coat comes off. Can anyone recommend a great bra or bra-type undergarment that is comfy AND gives shape under all the winter layers?

Dressing

44 replies

Latest reply was from Suz

kellygirl

Veteran

32B checking in here. I bought the lace bralettes from Costco. They're Felina with no pads. (I can't add a link but I'll try to add a photo from my phone.) They have a dart under the bust that seems to add some structure as opposed to flattening. I don't wear under layers--I just wear them under tees on the weekend. I usually wear Natori Feathers during the week--those are very comfortable FWIW.

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bj1111

Veteran

i have the same bralettes that kellygirl has in a stretchy sportier fabric that have removable thin padding. i use the padding more fore nipple coverage. that might give you a bit of shape while being comfy. i wear these with winter layers. also from costco.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Nemosmom, I have to ask! When did you last have a professional bra fitting, and where did you have it done?

kkards

Veteran

i'm not sure if i qualify as small busted...30D, but i found this style earlier this year and like it alot. Wacoal has also been my go to brand, but i found myself wanting something different...i really like this style as it is really comfortable with just enought support. i found these to be espeically good in the summer when i wanted something that truelly disappeared under clothing.

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Cardiff girl

Veteran

I m a small chested gal and totally understand where you are coming from.The most successful non underwired bras I have found come from Marks and Spencer’s .They are comfortable and lightly padded so what you do have doesn’t get squashed out of existence .l realise that you might not be able to get Mand S where you are but maybe the principle of light padding would work for you.l find that most bra let’s are disasterous on me as they offer no shape at all.

SarahD8

Veteran

This probably won’t be a popular solution on this forum, but I’ve found that the best bra for maintaining some semblance of shape is no bra at all. I’m a recent convert to Uniqlo’s heattech line. I find that the camisoles (withOUT shelf bra) provide just a little support and smoothing. I feel polished but not flattened. The long sleeve undershirts work the same way if I need more warmth. I’m a 32B fwiw.

nemosmom

Veteran

Angie - my last fitting was late August, before my big purge. I had it done at Nordstrom. I had no issues with comfort in the summer, and my weight has only fluctuated by 2 lbs since. I just feel like I'm futzing with the darn bra more lately and suspect it's the heattech+shirt+pullover, then usually a coat.

nemosmom

Veteran

SarahD8 - I'm in heattech daily and prefer going braless when I don't need to leave the house. Unfortunately, without one I have ZERO shape. Combined with my long torso and lack of pattern in my sweaters, I look like a large panel. I have turned to blanket scarves for coverage but here in the midwest, indoor places tend to be extremely overheated so I can't wear them for very long if inside.

SarahD8

Veteran

Ah, nemosmom, makes sense. Oddly I have a very differently shaped torso (very short, and a disproportionately wide ribcage) but I know that "panel" effect well. I think that's why I gravitate to cardigans, and scooped necklines -- something to break up the blockiness. Good luck -- and I will be following along to see what others suggest, as they might be useful for me as well!

Anonymous

I have so little that I can add to this, but of course, I am going to weigh in anyway.

1. Although I haven't tried the Felina lace bralette, I can say I wear Felina underwear. I love the underwear.

2. I was bra fitted three times during the summer of 2018 (Nordstrom, Belks, and one other place). I was completely dissatisfied with ALL bra recommendations made based on the three fittings. I finally resorted to ThirdLove based on a recommendation here on the Forum. I love my ThirdLove bra (which I wear for work and OITW settings). At home, I either wear an old sports bra or go braless. Neither of these two options will give you the shape you are hoping for so I recommend at least looking at the ThridLove website. You might be pleasantly surprised.

May 2019 bring you good health, pleasant company, and plenty of smiles.

Eva

Nemosmom, since you buy heattech from Uniqlo, have you tried Uniqlo bras? They are wireless and have molded cups. I find them quite comfortable.

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Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

I can just repeat what Angie and others have said--get a good fitting!

I went to Soma two summers ago for one. They measured me, asked what size I usually wear, and said "yeah, that's right". I asked for basically what you're looking for and they brought a bunch of bras that weren't quite it, so I reexplained and they brought a bunch more. They never really seemed to catch onto or care about what was going on.

It took me over a year, but I finally tried again in a different store. This time, she didn't use a tape measure, but she did take a long look at me and how the bra I happened to have on fit. She brought a couple at a time, always with an explanation of how it corrected for whatever the problem with the last one was. We eventually honed in on one that she wasn't entirely satisfied with, but said it was the best for me out of what they had. It is very comfortable for me (Natori Feathers, not so much) and does a better job shaping my silhouette than others I have.

So if you strike out the first time, try again!

Joy

Veteran

I also recommend getting another bra fitting. I was wearing 32 A or B and it was so uncomfortable. Nordstroms put me into a 30D and I have never had such bra comfort. most of mine are Betsy Johnson or Natori, a couple of Chanel. The key is a band that supports and stays put. Too large a band can move and even chaffe.

Column

Veteran

My DD found Kohl`s SO brand bras for juniors extremely wearable during the developmental years: https://mobile.kohls.com/searc.....toreId=244

nemosmom

Veteran

Thank you! I will give the Uniqlo and ThirdLove a peek, and I can pop in somewhere for another fitting soon, just to see....

Anonymous

Good luck.

Alexandra

(website)

Veteran

I second the ThirdLove recommendation. For years, I joked that I needed a 34A1/2 and now that need is being met. I hope you find just the right bra.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Bra fitting is tricky. I hear you.

Thanks for the explanation, Nemosmom. Have you put your bras in the dryer, by any chance? That will adjust the fit. Air drying is best. And use the delicate setting in the washing machine.

Unfortunately, Nordies bra fitters are not as good as they used to be. If you lived in Seattle, I could suggest the very best fitter. Or the MANAGER of the Lingerie dept at Nordies is a better bet. Failing that, go to a specialty lingerie shop to be fitted. Or try ThirdLove.

DonnaF

Veteran

I went bra shopping with DD last week. She wears a 32 band, and the only places with a decent selection are some (but not all) Nordstrom Racks. No other department stores save Nordstrom. Once you find a good fit, look for similar cuts and read the reviews on bratabase.com.

nemosmom

Veteran

Alexandra- a half size sounds perfect! I ordered a thirdlove today to try. It’s still underwire, but hopefully it’s more comfy...

Angie - I hand wash all bras (and sports bras) and tights/leggings weekly in lukewarm water and hang them dry. Hopefully it’s not a laundering issue. I’m in Chicago; would a place like Soma work for a fitting?

DonnaF - I also haven’t had much luck finding a good selection outside of Nordstrom. I can find ones with overloads of padding, or ones that are built like training bras - not much in between. I’ll bookmark bratabase! What a nice resource, thank you!

Joy

Veteran

Soma does not make bras for the small chested. If you get a fitting there, they will probably try to put you into something they sell.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Joy, that depends on what you mean by "small chested". Right now I wear a B cup, but I've also worn an A as an adult. By that measure, I am small. On the other hand, my band size is 36, which is not small.

Soma does have the kind of bralette that KellyGirl posted about. The problem was not in their sizing--they had tons in my size. But the sales associate was absolutely not knowledgeable. Even within a size, there are differences in shape of breast and their placement on the body, probably other things too. The second SA was looking at that sort of thing.

ETA, just checked Soma's website. 30A is the smallest size.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Nemosmom, not a laundry issue! Some of my large busted clients rave about Soma. It’s worth a whirl.

SusanBe

Small chested fabber here. I can’t say enough good things about Lula Lu. https://www.lulalu.com/ They offer a range of beautiful bras for small chested women. While they only have stores in California, I carefully followed their online measuring instructions and what I ordered fit on the first try. After many years of frustration, I now have well fitting bras in a variety of styles. Good luck!

Anonymous

My DD is small chested (32A/B) and also the "girls" are not the same size so it takes a long time for her to find a good bra. She has had the best luck (for whatever reason) at Aerie.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

My experience was like Joy's -- all my life I'd been wearing (and told I needed) 32 A or B, but I'm actually much better in a 30D (or DD) and now that I have found shapes that actually fit (i.e. bras whose cups are spaced correctly for my shape) I don't find underwires uncomfortable. In the past my bands were always shifting around no matter what I did. Doesn't happen now. Phew!

Good luck with this -- it can take several fittings and lots of experiments to learn what works and the trouble is, many, many stores do not stock bras for small chested women and even if the fitters have expertise it is usually more for women with larger breasts and they can't really offer advice to a smaller chested person.

nemosmom

Veteran

Thank you, SusanB and danusia, I will check them out!

Suz, yes! My band is dancing all over the place and I'm about to lose my mind. I can't wait to rip off the bra the minute I walk through my door. I also have a hard time finding bras in stock in stores. I remember going for a fitting after my last kid was born and they didn't have any to sell to me after they measured me. So frustrating!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

If you check the archives of the forum under "bra" or "bra fitting" you will find an absolute WEALTH of information and many, many links to a variety of sites with different instructions for measuring yourself and various ways of categorizing the shape of your breasts. All of this is really helpful when you go for actual fittings and try ons.

Your shoulder shape can also be relevant (i.e. square or sloping).

Those whose breasts are more widely spaced than average will not find a good fit in a petite bra even if they have a small cup and band size. (Raises hand). This narrows the range even further. But I've found several types that do work for me to the point where I can safely order online, amazingly enough! So it's worth persisting.

If your band is moving around, you are absolutely in the wrong size. And the right size may feel uncomfortably tight at first after years of wearing the wrong one. Many fitters will just try to put you in a 32 no matter what since it is the smallest band size many places carry.

nemosmom

Veteran

Suz - thank you! I'm off to hunt...

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