Suz I think spacer foam is like memory foam (only more expensive). It holds its shape better than regular foam. Also it does not crinkle/wrinkle, it has excellent recovery. Also, it molds better to your body. Finally, a spacer foam bra can be very thin rather than a regular molded cup bra that is usually a bit thicker adding unwanted volume. All of my Simone Perele bras have spacer foam.

http://www.tomima.com/2008/12/.....lded-bras/

I'm not sure why it's called spacer exactly -- could be the process or maybe it was originally developed for NASA/space applications.

So -- I'm going to say goodbye to this bra style and return the two Natori full fit bras.

Here are some new styles I'm contemplating. Does anyone have any experience with these bras? Especially the 3-part cup bras from Chantelle.

@Joyce: If you measure 31" underbust, the band size you should start with is 32". The band should be pretty snug and sit low and with a new bra you should start hooking at the outermost hook. American women are known to wear their band sizes too big with their cup sizes too small. As you go down in band size, you go up in cup size. For example, if you have been wearing a 34D, the sister size is a 32DD or even a 30E/DDD.

Nordstrom carries down to 30 bands, and most brick'n'mortar department stores go down to 32 bands but not very big in the cup size. Online, lots of options are available in 30 bands and a fair number in 28 bands. Only one company that I know of makes 26" bands, Ewa Michalak in Poland.

Specialty lingerie shops in my area seem to carry larger sizes more than smaller sizes, but there's one in the East Bay and another in the South Bay that carry smaller band sizes.

@ Joyce, I wear a 32DD and it is not too difficult to find the size. I even have found bras that size at TJMaxx . Nordstrom carries lots in that size. I was shocked when I was measured; I'd been wearing a 34C or a 36B!

Denise, thanks for starting this thread; it's been instructive!

Thanks, DonnaF and Isis, now I know how to approach this. My measurement is actually 33", so the 34 band is good, I need to work on the cup size.
The 31" measurement is my daughter's and she prefers a 36 C and does not like the 34 band. I think I need to get her to the 32 band and work on the cup. Thanks for the cup equivalencies, Donna. Now I have a better idea of where to start.
She will not go for a fitting, btw. Plus she dislikes shopping, so I am her shopper service... A mom's job is never finished.
Cocolion, thanks again for this post. It is very instructive. I hope you don't mind that I put my question here as well.

I'll second DonnaF's comments about measuring and band size. Some online shops with a good range of sizes: Amazon (free shipping and returns with Prime, which is *really* useful if you're not 100% sure about your size), herroom.com, barenecessities.com, figleaves.com, breakoutbras.com.