When it comes to bras, Your Mileage WILL Vary - YouLookFab Forum

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About: Refreshing My Bra Capsule with Something New

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When it comes to bras, Your Mileage WILL Vary

April

Veteran

Instead of YMMV, bras are a case of YMWV.

I have worn the same Simone Perela bras that Angie writes about for years and years and I too am tired of the price and the fact that they never seem to go on sale.

So I lemminged the Natori smooth-cup bras in nude-for-me and black, and they do not fit me at all.

To be fair, I recently "downsized" my Simone Pereles to adjust for weight loss and aging-related shape changes, and bought the Natoris in the new size. I will try the Natoris in the larger cup size and report back.

General

19 replies

Latest reply was from Roberta

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I have learned that when it comes to bras, I absolutely need to go my own way. Recommendations rarely work. I wear a not terribly common size and I guess my fit issues are not very common either. I laugh at sports bra recommendations that are “just go to Athleta or Lululemon” — they don’t even make my size. LOL

When I was younger and smaller, Natori worked for me, but no more. Bravissimo (specializing in small band and large cup sizes) makes my current favorites, and Knix does decent sports bras.

I hope the new ones you ordered work out!

Lisa

Veteran

I have had no luck with bra recommendations. Unfortunately, bras are one of these items that I feel are very personalized to fit. What works great on one person is a complete miss on someone else. When I find something that works I tend to wear that style and brand for many years before I even think about trying to change it. Shopping for bras is a lot of trial and error.

Good luck bra shopping!

Runcarla

Veteran

Ahhh! April, I’ve experienced age related weight loss and shape changing and had to ‘downsize’ LOL! Out with ALL the old, and 5 new bras in August. Success with 2 styles of Wacoal: 855303 and 853303.

Funny story. I ordered two to try, and really liked them, so order 3 more. I was looking at the pictures, and ended up ordering 2 that looked similar, but were actually T-shirt bras with a thin foam cup vs the original no padding ones I first bought. The T-shirt bras fit really well, so I kept them.

The bras are marketed under the ‘Back Appeal’ monicker and have high/wide bands that are supportive and smoothing.

So far, so good!

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Peri

Veteran

Definitely. Awhile back I posted asking about wireless and have been following up on suggestions....and not liking any of them. The hunt for any bra I can stand is still on and still discouraging. Unfortunately for me it seems, weight loss is having no impact on the girls and the age related changes seem to be having me upsizing instead of downsizing.

MsMaven

Veteran

A year ago I got pain in my ribcage--worried, my heart, lungs, what? Told the physical therapist I been working with for 8 months. She laughed. "It's the obliques!" She had just introduced me to a new exercise, around-the-world using a 5 lb kettle bell. Who knew I had so many muscles in my rib cage area? I've learned a lot about muscles.

At first I got back bra extenders, but other changes happened. Since age 70 I've lost 2 1/2 inches in height, mostly between rib cage and hip bone, I've lost more than 10 pounds and built a lot of muscle. I now do exercises at home, including around-the-world with a 10 pound kettle bell. I'm stronger and feel better and my balance is so much better.

I didn't want to do a bra fitting in a store, so I've experimented. I went from a 32F or G to a 34DD. I buy a couple of bras at a time on sale. My most recent bras are Le Mystere--the ones Oprah used to recommend. Guess what? The 34DD (or E) are uncomfortably tight in the rib cage. I'm having a difficult time with cup size too. D too small, DD too big. I used to be a 32G. Chantelle is good, but only in one style so far. And it hasn't been on sale. Other styles don't give me enough support.

And you know what? I'm about to buy a 12 lb kettlebell! I love having muscles despite the skin over them being all wrinkly.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Yes, someone should make bespoke bras. Is that a thing? MsMaven I applaud your kettlebell and muscle growth progress!

MsMaven

Veteran

Brilliant idea, Jaime!

Joy

Veteran

I applaud your effort to find new bras that fit. Any luck ? I am also looking for new and colorful. No luck so far. Most places do not carry them with small bands.

DonnaF

Veteran

Freya goes down to 28 and 30 bands. I found that when I lost enough weight for my cup size to down, if I connected the hook in back to make the bra a racer back the bra would fit again.

Runcarla

Veteran

I’ve seen a video short from a woman who removed the underwire from her bra, and uses it as a regular bra. Just nip off a tiny bit of fabric, and push the wire through and out.

I’ve removed the underwire from a bikini top that is heavily seamed, and it’s fine. Haven’t done it with a bra though.

Star

Veteran

Carla I have removed the underwire from a bra using the method you explained and I am happy with the result. BUT I am a B cup so I can even go without a bra sometimes depending on what I am wearing.

April

Veteran

I knew I was not alone! Thank you all for chiming in. Of course, this has been a front-and-center issue on YLF forever.

Many of us have had a horrid experience with bra fittings at some point. Maybe we persisted until we had a good experience, maybe not.

Here are some past threads that might still be useful:

https://youlookfab.com/welookf.....perele-bra

https://youlookfab.com/welookf.....-nordstrom

I will add that long ago I had gone to Macy's - in desperation, after 2 years of pregnancy and nursing - and was put in an A cup with a huge band. What? Pretty much soured me on the fitting experience until 2020.

Would have gone back to my "bra gal" but I moved to a new US state.

Anonymous

Bras are one of those things that I just need to go to a store and try on about 30 of them. If I’m lucky I will find one that fits. And I have to be just in the right mood to do this, which doesn’t happen very often!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

April, I'm not sure if you saw my comment in the blog. I wear one cup size up from my "regular" size in Natori bras -- always. So you may fit them similarly. Crossing fingers for you.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I only had to try on 28 bras this time to find 4 that worked well. That’s a focused try on with upfront knowledge about fit and brands. Enough said.

Finding the right bras is tedious! I empathize with all of you

Cookie

Yeah, sadly there is no substitute for trying, and there are so few shops where you can find a wide variety on person without resorting to the internet. The Abrathatfits subreddit is a great though overwhelming resource. The online shop Breakout Bras often has information from their bra fitter on who a particular bra might suit best, but it’s still a leap of faith. I currently love the Panache Envy, but with that info and $3.50 most of you can buy a cup of coffee!

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Yes. You are lucky if you live near a store that carries a variety of brands and styles, and in your size! I have to resort to placing an online order for hundreds of dollars, just to *try* many in order to find a couple that might work. Never mind that sizing is often unpredictable — maybe I’m a 32G in this bra? Or a 30G? Or god forbid a 30H which is a unicorn? Ugh! This is why I order a bunch when I find one that works!

Ginger

Veteran

Natori hasn't worked that great for me otherwise, either. The cup shape tends to flatten me, and going up just makes them cover more without really matching my shape. It's very individual.

Roberta

Veteran

When I find a bra that fits, I look on eBay to find them (new) in various colors at a better price. This at least saves me some money when I buy Chantelle bras. Wacoal no longer works for me, and sadly Natori never did, because they sure are pretty.