Proper Bra fitting a Game Changer

[sarawatsonim]

I noticed in the trends that need to die thread that a lot of people were mentioning not finding bras that fit properly or weird hard to find

sizing. I posted a response like this but I know it will probably be lost in the thread so I am posting it here. For my entire bra wearing life I always was told I was a 32 B, and although that was supposed to be my size I constantly felt like I had bad fitting, shifting, bras that you had to adjust all the time. I thought that was my normal since no store I was ever at sold under a 32 band and I was told on several occasion that was my size. Apparently that was my sister size which is what they will sell you when they don't actually carry your size. A few years ago a mom on one of my birth boards posted slink to a Reddit thread on how to properly measure yourself for a bra and it was a revelation.  I went from wearing a 32 B to 28 DD (sounds like a large cup size but is not when you compare sister sizes) and it has changed my life. I never knew that a bra could fit so well or that it was supposed to. I order my bras from Fig Leaves in the UK because they have a huge variety of sizing but I know that some friends have had success from quite a few US stores. I personally find that the balconette styles works best for me and makes the most out of what I have….or don't have. Most of the women on my birth board that tried it had dramatic changes in their bra sizes. It was crazy. I can't imaging going back to the size I used to wear.  Anyway, I thought someone mind find this helpful :) 

 

 

[Ellesmere]

I measured after reading that link awhile back and I was surprised! I think it explains why mine have never fit. Once I stop changing sizes so often I am going to try buying with that measuring technique.

[Barb_]

I can't understand why they don't sell bras with a smaller band than 32 in the US. Five of the females in this family wear a 28 or 30 band size. One of my girls is just under 5-1 and wears a 28g. No way to find a bra that fits her here. I had to a lot of guessing and returning

[kbutton]

That's a candid description. Love the scoop and swoop, lol! 

 

Well, I am getting closer to a fitting bra as I've sort of used the fitting techniques if not the measuring technique for my last set of bras. I would really like to know if this truly works for pendulous breasts that tend to sit a bit farther apart than average. If I go up a cup size, it does not always fix the band problem. Scoop and swoop works when I put my bra on (and it's underwire), and it fits a lot like what they describe, but then things migrate...always. I am not sure I would tolerate a tighter (or higher sitting) band. My bras could also just be getting stretched out, I guess. While I am miles ahead of where I used to be with fit, it could be a bit better.

 

Sorry if my question are TMI. 

[Guest]

It is a total game changer!

[medawyn]

There is NOTHING like a properly fitting bra.  I'm really missing mine.  Three pregnancies in three years + breastfeeding = a motley collection that fits sometimes.  Arrgh!  I'm looking forward to the day when my size stays constant from one month to the next.  Someday.  

 

For anyone who thinks wearing a bra is uncomfortable, I beg you to seek out a really good fitting or at least try on a huge range of styles/sizes.  Most women I've sent to my favorite lingerie store have been wearing the wrong size in both band and cup - by several sizes!

[Kathryn]

Does anyone know how long after weaning one should wait before measuring for new bras?

[Kiara.I]

Does anyone know how long after weaning one should wait before measuring for new bras?

 

No, because at least partly it depends on how early you wean.  Someone who weans when the child is 3.5 is already going to have sized down considerably, compared to someone who weans at 3.5 months.

[abba12]

Yep. I'm a 36B, but most ranges of bras have either 36C, or 34B. I can't shop in any of the nice stores, but it has made a big difference. 

[Night Elf]

I also think the type of bra matters. I used to wear a full bra because I've got a large chest and thought that was what I was supposed to wear but the cups didn't fit right. I got a fitting and they suggested I stick with a demi bra and it fits so much better!

[Kathryn]

No, because at least partly it depends on how early you wean. Someone who weans when the child is 3.5 is already going to have sized down considerably, compared to someone who weans at 3.5 months.

Well, it's been 21 months so far. I expect that I'll be done sometime this year.

[Sun]

I noticed in the trends that need to die thread that a lot of people were mentioning not finding bras that fit properly or weird hard to find

sizing. I posted a response like this but I know it will probably be lost in the thread so I am posting it here. For my entire bra wearing life I always was told I was a 32 B, and although that was supposed to be my size I constantly felt like I had bad fitting, shifting, bras that you had to adjust all the time. I thought that was my normal since no store I was ever at sold under a 32 band and I was told on several occasion that was my size. Apparently that was my sister size which is what they will sell you when they don't actually carry your size. A few years ago a mom on one of my birth boards posted slink to a Reddit thread on how to properly measure yourself for a bra and it was a revelation.  I went from wearing a 32 B to 28 DD (sounds like a large cup size but is not when you compare sister sizes) and it has changed my life. I never knew that a bra could fit so well or that it was supposed to. I order my bras from Fig Leaves in the UK because they have a huge variety of sizing but I know that some friends have had success from quite a few US stores. I personally find that the balconette styles works best for me and makes the most out of what I have….or don't have. Most of the women on my birth board that tried it had dramatic changes in their bra sizes. It was crazy. I can't imaging going back to the size I used to wear.  Anyway, I thought someone mind find this helpful :) 

 

Me too! 32B to 28E. I no longer look saggy and frumpy. It completely changed my look!

 

I can't understand why they don't sell bras with a smaller band than 32 in the US. Five of the females in this family wear a 28 or 30 band size. One of my girls is just under 5-1 and wears a 28g. No way to find a bra that fits her here. I had to a lot of guessing and returning

 

They do, but I can't find any at the cheaper retailers. Nordstrom goes down to 30 now, and specialty stores often carry 28s. I get most of my bras off of Amazon or from my local boutique. Bra manufacturers really seem to be lagging overall with the best options for 28s coming from the UK manufacturers. I don't know what women who need 26s do!

[Butter]

I can't understand why they don't sell bras with a smaller band than 32 in the US. Five of the females in this family wear a 28 or 30 band size. One of my girls is just under 5-1 and wears a 28g. No way to find a bra that fits her here. I had to a lot of guessing and returning

 

I get my (insanely huge) bras from decentexposures.com.  They custom make the bras.  My daughter is a 28E which is definitely never to be found at a regular store.  They made her a bra to order and it's just perfect.

[Joyofsixreboot]

It is a total game changer!

Truth!

[ashfern]

Great info! I'm currently wearing sports bras. Once I lose the rest of this weight, I'll get real bras again.

[Laura Corin]

Just ordered four 30G bras on sale from figleaves. We shall see.

[Guest]

I also think the type of bra matters. I used to wear a full bra because I've got a large chest and thought that was what I was supposed to wear but the cups didn't fit right. I got a fitting and they suggested I stick with a demi bra and it fits so much better!

Yes, I have very soft breast tissue from weight swings and nursing, and a full cup bra always puckers at the top even in the right size. A demi cup fits my breast shape much better, and with wider set underwires.

 

In the last three years I've worn anything from 34I to 38J, depending on my weight and nursing status. Such is life :)

Edited February 8, 2016 by Arctic Mama

[Tsuga]

#no-bra

 

I find a nice undershirt fits me best.

[BooksandBoys]

This Reddit post changed my life back when it was posted. My band size was two sizes too big and my cup size two sizes too small. I went from a 38D/40C to a 34H/36G depending on the bra. So much better!

[Seeking Squirrels]

#no-bra

 

I find a nice undershirt fits me best.

Same here! I gave them up about 4 years ago and have never looked back.

[DesertBlossom]

According to that I wear a 34J. That seems ridiculous to me. My 36D nursing bra seems to fit me just fine. Maybe 6+ years of nursing have made my b00ks too saggy to be reliably measured!

[Laura Corin]

According to that I wear a 34J. That seems ridiculous to me. My 36D nursing bra seems to fit me just fine. Maybe 6+ years of nursing have made my b00ks too saggy to be reliably measured!

A D cup with a larger band may be the same volume as a J cup with a smaller band.  They are called sister sizes:

 

http://www.brasize.com/bra-sister-size.html

[Lady Florida.]

Okay, I must be dense. I'm reading those instructions and trying to figure out where the hell the "root" of my boob is!  :lol:

 

Are they talking about at the top where it begins? Or underneath.

 

I get all the rest of the how-to-measure instructions, but can't find my roots.  :smilielol5:

[DesertBlossom]

A D cup with a larger band may be the same volume as a J cup with a smaller band. They are called sister sizes:

 

http://www.brasize.com/bra-sister-size.html

 

They are too far apart to even be sister sizes. I am going to re measure myself. I'm not currently bra shopping as my b00ks wl shrink up as I lose baby weight and he's not nursing as much anymore. But I was curious if I was wearing the right size for now.

[Sun]

According to that I wear a 34J. That seems ridiculous to me. My 36D nursing bra seems to fit me just fine. Maybe 6+ years of nursing have made my b00ks too saggy to be reliably measured!

 

Yeah, I thought my 32Bs fit just fine too. Turns out 28E is WAY better. Once I actually did the scoop thing to get all my breast tissue into the cups and realized the underwires on the sides should basically be under my arms, the much larger cup size fit perfectly. I look much, much better in clothing now!

[Desert Strawberry]

A few years ago I went from a 38A (Which I KNEW wasn't right, but didn't know what was wrong about it) to a 34D. HUGE difference. 

The first time I measured myself, I got 32F or something. It wasn't right. I went to a store and tried on a few and the 34D was perfect!

 

We think a D cup is SO BIG, but it isn't. At all. Really. My husband was standing in front of me, looking at my rocking new bra and insisting that I COULD NOT be a D cup, because I'm not that big. But yeah. It's not that big. I had always thought I was a B. I was SO wrong. 
 

[KungFuPanda]

#no-bra

 

I find a nice undershirt fits me best.

Team No Bra!

 

I wear them in public for social acceptance.

[shawthorne44]

That's a candid description. Love the scoop and swoop, lol! 

 

Well, I am getting closer to a fitting bra as I've sort of used the fitting techniques if not the measuring technique for my last set of bras. I would really like to know if this truly works for pendulous breasts that tend to sit a bit farther apart than average. If I go up a cup size, it does not always fix the band problem. Scoop and swoop works when I put my bra on (and it's underwire), and it fits a lot like what they describe, but then things migrate...always. I am not sure I would tolerate a tighter (or higher sitting) band. My bras could also just be getting stretched out, I guess. While I am miles ahead of where I used to be with fit, it could be a bit better.

 

Sorry if my question are TMI. 

 

'They' say that the bra when new should fit when on the loosest clips.   That way when the bra stretches you move to the tighter clips.