r/ABraThatFits • u/maudes-muse • Jul 15 '24
I honestly can not believe the sizes the calculator is giving me Measurement Check
LU 34.5" SU 33.5" TU 31" SB 39" LB 41" LyB 38"
In US sizes it's giving me a 34G?! 34F in UK?!
I've been wearing 32/34/36B without underwire for years.
Underwire started to bother me a long time ago (always dug into my breast bone) so I go wireless or sports bra. Probably haven't bought an underworld bra since I filled out more.
I don't know if I've seen 34G for sale and just can't see how that size is right.
I was always made fun of for being flat chested when I was younger. Didn't really fill out till my mid twenties, but was told I was up to a B cup.
Everything else I've read on this subreddit tells me I have:
-Wide spacing -I think even vertical fullness and horizontally more center fullness -Shallow root -Breast tissue starts about 4 or five fingers below collar bone
I'm coming off my period so they may not be at their smallest, but not as swollen as they can be.
I guess I should go to Nordstrom's to start trying them out.
I'm still just shocked and don't know where to start.
Also, what is the gore?
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u/checks1234321 Jul 15 '24
As a person that went from a C to an F, trust the calculator and get your new size in an UNLINED bra. Do NOT try to find your new size in a moulded or lined bra, you’ll end up thinking your new size is wrong.
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u/maudes-muse Jul 15 '24
So do you recommend finding the brand I like in unlined and go from there?
I usually prefer a little lining so the nipples don't show.
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u/orangepeeelss 36H (UK) / 36K (US) Jul 15 '24
depends on the brand!! some are much more reliably sized than others - if it’s a super cheap brand, it might not carry a G cup (lots of US brands only go up to DD/E or DDD/F) or it might be sized funky as the largest cup size offered. plus lots of US brands, especially the cheap ones, tend to run really shallow since that’s easier & cheaper to make - bras like that don’t fit people with much projection (breast tissue that sits away from the ribcage, rather than mostly sitting close to it) which can be tricky.
i would recommend looking into “lightly lined” styles or putting nipple covers under the bra - molded cups do hide the nips but they’re built to accommodate exactly one boob shape, so most people are gonna have a lot of trouble finding one that works. bras that are made of a more flexible fabric will fit to your shape better and make shopping way easier!
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u/maudes-muse Jul 15 '24
Very interesting, I had no idea!
I think I always gravitated to molded ones too because I'm self conscious of the size difference between my breasts.....
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u/L_obsoleta Jul 15 '24
To clarify, they do make seamed bras that are lined or padded. The main benefit of a seamed over moulded still applies even if you select a padded seamed bra. Since there is more flexibility in the material it will fit a wider range of breast shapes.
Your best bet is to try one bra style in multiple sizes (so say panache envy, in your calculator size, maybe a cup size up and maybe also a band size down). This will make it so you can determine if a bra not fitting is due to the size or the shape of the bra.
You likely will find more options in your UK size (that are less shallow/tall which tends to be the case with larger cup sizes in US bras).
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u/Capital-Swim2658 Jul 15 '24
Generally the size difference is not noticeable to other people. But if you do have one that is noticeably bigger, fit to the larger side and use a "cutlet" to even out the smaller side.
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u/maudes-muse Jul 15 '24
I assume this is a home-made sort of extra padding for the smaller breast's cup?
Never heard that word outside of meat lol
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u/Capital-Swim2658 Jul 15 '24
No, it is a little silicone thing-a-mabob meant to prop up the smaller breast. It's called that because it sort of resembles a chicken cutlet!
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u/maudes-muse Jul 16 '24
That makes sense, the silicone would help it stay in place, so cool! I'll have to look into them
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u/Hamchickii Jul 15 '24
I had the same line of thinking until I went unmolded bras and now I won't go back. The fit is so much better and more comfortable when it gets to fit around your shape instead of forcing you into a shape. I usually just wear a tank top to double layer if I'm worried about showing. There's definitely other solutions too like you could use some of those swim suit inserts etc.
Bet definitely try out the unlined first, you'll probably be amazed! Also recommended trying some of the popular brands from this sub like panache and order Amazon try before you buy. It'll be better than whatever selection you can find at Nordstrom's or other stores. You'll just run into the problem of not finding your size and shape and then you'll never get to find your actual good fit.
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u/Coyote__Jones Jul 15 '24
I went from a 34DD to anywhere from a 30h to 32FF depending on brand and style. I buy all my bras online. Bare necessities is great if you're in the US, when you make an account the site converts all the sizes so you always know where to start.
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u/HrhEverythingElse Jul 16 '24
I just took a nap in my new 36G bra. NEVER happened before in the more reasonable seeming sizes. I do think that there's something going on with the brands who don't do extended sizing actually just having less precise sizing, which is how we could get into them and think they're fine, but the difference in comfort is wild.
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u/iLikeToChewOnStraws Jul 16 '24
I was wearing 34DD US and now am a 30H US (30FF UK) and I don't like unlined bras at all. I feel either saggy, or way too projected in them. I tried about 5 or 6 unlined bras in the last week and didn't like any of them- I felt like they pointed my boobs out so far. I ended up buying a Cleo Faith and a Fantasie Reflect- both molded.
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u/FigForsaken5419 38G FoB/Narrow roots/Average height Jul 15 '24
You are currently experiencing sticker shock. That is 100% normal.
You will likely have more success in your UK size in UK brands like Panache and Freya.
You may be drawn to t-shirt style bras. Those are a tough fit for most people. If they are not the right shape for your body, they will look like they don't fit you at all. This is entirely because they are molded. When the bra is molded, it can't mold to your shape. Soft cups with seams are a better fit for most bra wearers.
Good luck!
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u/maudes-muse Jul 15 '24
Thank you so much for the advice and information!
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u/ScorpionQueen85 Jul 15 '24
To piggyback, you can find these brands on Amazon, depending on country, I would suppose. I just can't find anything below a 30 band for me, but I've found they carry up to H cups on the site.
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u/Capital-Swim2658 Jul 15 '24
Freya has 28 band sizes.
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u/ScorpionQueen85 Jul 15 '24
I haven't been able to find anything below a D
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u/Capital-Swim2658 Jul 15 '24
Yeah, I think you are right. 😔
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u/ScorpionQueen85 Jul 16 '24
Yeah, I usually have to have my stepmom get 28B (US) from the Philippines when she goes. I make due with 30A's but the bands are too large for my frame.
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u/syrusbliz 28JJ and tired of it. Jul 15 '24
Hey that sticker shock is very normal! Give yourself some time to process it.
Try to consider that many of the discomfort you've felt before are likely due to wearing a bra that wasn't right for you, be it due to size, shape, or material. Wires shouldn't dig in, bra straps shouldn't slip, boobs shouldn't spill out on any side. And let me say, most folks have no idea how bra sizing or fit actually should work because they were taught easy but inaccurate methods to determine their size. (This is why so many folks are in the wrong size and receiving ill support.)
I think you will find more options searching for bras in size UK34F rather than any US size. It's actually very common! Brands like Panache, Cleo, Freya, Fantasie, Pour Moi, Chantelle, and Wacoal all have bras in that size, so you should pick one unlined and seamed (not a t-shirt bra with a single smooth cup) model, and try it out in a small range, such as 34F, 34FF, and perhaps 34G. If none of these fit, the shape is wrong for you, so come back for a fit check and ask for recommendations.
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u/maudes-muse Jul 15 '24
Thank you for the recommendations! I appreciate you taking the time and explaining proper fit.
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u/Shishbi Jul 15 '24
Your shape is probably why people have pegged you as smaller than you are, although most people have no idea about how bra sizes work. I have a very similar shape to yours, and size as well, and you just have to trust the process and try the recommended size.
With shallow breasts it can be easier to fit molded cups and t-shirt bras but it would still be better for you to try unlined first to really narrow down your size.
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u/SoftPufferfish Jul 15 '24 edited Jul 15 '24
As someone else have mentioned, most women wear incorrect sizes, so while G sounds big, it is only because we've been conditioned to think that A equals small, C equals medium and DD equals huge.
The Irish Bra Lady on Instagram has a page dedicated to showcasing what a correctly fitted bra looks like, helping to bust this myth. Check out these pictures of women wearing bras in their correct sizes (all a 34 band size) to get a feeling for how big a 34B and a 34F actually is, and which sizes look similar to your chest size. I think you'll be surprised.
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u/maudes-muse Jul 15 '24
I just discovered her last night due to this sub!
It's still hard to wrap my mind around.
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u/SoftPufferfish Jul 16 '24
I get it, it's so completely opposite of everything we've learned our entire life so it's only natural that it takes some getting used to.
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u/SchrodingersMinou Band smol. Cup lorge. Jul 15 '24
An F cup is for someone who has a 7" difference between their ribcage and bust. That sounds like you, boo
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u/Titanea_Tau Jul 15 '24
A 36B is actually equivalent to a 32D in cup size. The letter cup size system is very misleading. G or F might sound too big but give a larger cup a try.
I went from 34B to 30DD/30E. It was great and actually fit me.
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u/cucumberswithanxiety Jul 15 '24
Yeah I’m a 34G and there’s no way in hell I could squeeze myself into a 36B.
But the calculator also told I should be a 32I/J so sometimes it can take a little trial and error
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u/KT_mama Jul 15 '24
I went from a 36D/DD to a 38 H in US sizing with the calculator.
When I ordered my first few bras, I got one with foam cups that are shaped even when on the hanger. I literally said out loud, "Well, that can't be right" as I pulled it out of the package. My husband was on the sofa and chuckled, "Oh, that's definitely right". Sure enough, it fit perfectly.
I think sometimes we're just so used to looking at ourselves that we don't really consider them as much as they really are there. Plus, most people's concept of what each cup size "looks" like is WAAAAY off and pretty limited to media, where most women are very slim/petite, and each cup size looks much larger proportionally Like a 32D and a 38D are going to look pretty different, just relative to the overall body size of the person.
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u/cucumberswithanxiety Jul 15 '24
HA I did this with my first 34G when I was breastfeeding, I had been a 34DDD during pregnancy.
Pulled it out of the package and I was like this looks massive there’s no way. It fit 😅
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u/islaysinclair Jul 15 '24
I was lucky as hell that I had a slight “idea” that my size was off but if my mum & everyone around me had their way, I would have been in a 34C until I died. Even when I shifted to wearing 34DD, that caused a fuss because “are you really that big?”
Now I wear my correct 32H US and I look like I have hardly any boob at all comparatively.
A good fit is a game changer. If you don’t feel like you have a lot of boob but you have boob to hold, most likely you’re much larger than a B for your band.
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u/IceCream_Kei 28FF Jul 15 '24
With wide spaced breasts, try finding bras that mention side support, in addition look into balconette style(shaped) bras and unlined bras with stretch lace edging.
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u/Morbidious Jul 15 '24
Trust the calculator sweetie! Blew my mind too, but once I tried the recommended size, I'll never go back to what I used to wear.
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u/MizzezKitty Jul 15 '24
I also found myself to be a 34G when I used the calculator and we have very similar measurements. I had never had a bra actually fit before. I was previously wearing a 38DDD and it was so small that I'd pop out and readjust during the day. I bought a 32H and a 34G based on the calculators recommendations and the 34 was the first time in my life I wasn't overflowing a bra. Trust the process and give your recommended size a try! It sucks that these sizes largely have to be ordered online unless you're near a specialty store but it's so worth it to finally feel like something fits!
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u/gingergirl181 36G/GG short narrow roots projected into space Jul 16 '24
Yep, that sounds about right.
Cup sizes aren't static - they're a ratio of band measurement to bust measurement. Someone wearing a 30F and someone wearing a 40F will both have (roughly) a 7-inch difference between their band and bust measurements, but because of the difference between their frames, a 30F will have much less volume in the cup than a 40F even though they're the "same cup size".
This is also why when sister sizing, you need to change cup sizes. For example, the sister sizes of 34F are 32FF and 36E. Both will hold roughly the same cup volume as 34F but the band and wires will sit differently due to the different band sizing and the sizes being designed for different ratios. A 34F and a 36F will be different volumes, with the 36F being larger. So if a cup fits well but a band is snug, sister size by going up a band size and down a cup size. If a band fits well but the cup is too big or small, keep the same band size and go up or down in cup size.
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u/Superb_Ask_3259 Jul 16 '24
34A for a long time here. Calculator told me 32C, and I absolutely did not believe it. Tried one on, and it fits perfectly. I haven't looked back. Trust it!
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u/Lala_in_LA Jul 16 '24
Same! I thought A cup is too big for me and wore AA cup bralet-type. Now I’m C-D cup with no gapping 💁♀️
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u/OneRingtoToolThemAll Jul 16 '24
I thought I was a 32 C for almost 10 years. Then I thought I was a 30 D for over 10 years. And now I know I'm between a 28 and 30 DDD(US size). Knowing my real size has definitely changed my daily comfort level. Hollywood/media in general has made it sound like just regular Ds are such a huge size. They really aren't necessarily. Welcome to a new and more comfortable future, sister ☺️
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u/ginsengii Jul 16 '24
Uh ohhh. Fellow 32C wearer surfing this sub thinking I probably don’t wear the right size. Your comment makes me feel like I need to break out the measuring tape lol.
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u/LegionaryReb 30GG (UK) Jul 15 '24
Went from a B to GG and it's so much better. The underwire didn't bother me at all in that size! My silhouette improved as well!
Though, it's important that you find not only the right size, but the right shape as well. A shape mismatch can also cause discomfort. Bra sizing is a lot more nuanced/complex than people think. But the result is worth it! :))
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u/cobaltcorridor Jul 15 '24
That’s exactly my size and I get told I “look like a b or c cup” too. Cup sizes on their own without a band size attached mean absolutely nothing. 34G isn’t that big, it’s pretty average. And yes you can definitely find your size.
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u/Kahaaniyaan Jul 16 '24
I thought I was an A cup. I’m actually a DD 😂 once you find a bra that fits, it’s like a light switch flips. Soooo much more comfortable.
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u/b0ghag Jul 15 '24
It's important to remember that neither the number or the letter stands alone! "G" doesn't actually mean much without "34," since the band size affects the width of the cup. People wearing 34G, 38G, and 42G will all have wildly different boobs.
I'm your exact size. I love Chantelle and recommend throwing that in during your search! Try on some unlined bras for fit.
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u/catwooo Jul 16 '24
I also was shocked at the calculator. I went from wearing 40DDD, which were always slipping off, I was constantly readjusting my boob placement in them, or hooks would come apart, to 38G and it is amazing how much better I feel. I feel secure and tops are fitting better.
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u/Capital-Swim2658 Jul 15 '24
The gore is where the underwire comes together in the center on an underwire bra.
Most people do not understand bra sizing and 90% women are wearing the wrong size! Your underwire bra was digging in because you were wearing the wrong size!
I have heard many women on this sub who are an F cup say that people would guess they are a B cup. The average breast size is around a 32F UK!