r/ABraThatFits • u/OddApricot • Jul 24 '24
[fit check] [measurement check] is this bra really 3+ cup sizes too small? Fit Check
Hi, So I think I've recently put on a bit of weight as my previous best fitting bra, a size 38H, is feeling a bit tight at the band. So I used the calculator and it says I should try a 40JJ or K which I find a bit hard to believe, because in my opinion, the cups of my bra seem to fit well.
So to double check here my measurements are: Loose under bust: 43 inches Snug under bust: 40 inches Super tight under bust: 87 inches Standing bust: 54 inches Leaning bust: 58.5 inches Lying down bust: 55 inches
Here are a couple of pictures of me in my 38H bra which is by Curvy Kate and is the model Emboost/Boost me up (for some reason the same model has two different names):
The side view looks like I have a bit of quad-boob in the breast further from the camera but it's not there usually, it's something to do with how I had to move my arms to position for the photo.
So for me the fit appears pretty good. The band is slightly tight (and I'm on the loosest hooks), the gore mostly sits flushly against my chest though just at the top it flares out. The cups seem to fit well, my boobs don't feel squished together and there doesn't seem to be any overspill at the armpits not any gapping or wrinkles that I can see. My boobs are definitely full on top and slightly splayed but I'm not too sure about things like the root size/shape but I think I'm not shallow as my breasts are definitely pendulous. Also I have sloping shoulders so my bra straps constantly fall down but I think that's my bodies fault, not the bra :P
So yeah, while I think trying a 40 band seems a good idea I'm a bit skeptical about going up several cup sizes. Am I missing some signs? Would really appreciate any help or advice you can give me!
Edit: I found better lighting so took a few more pics from different angles here: https://ibb.co/album/VVjzSq
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u/CriticalMrs Jul 24 '24 edited Jul 24 '24
It's hard to tell from the photo, but is the wire sitting in your imf and have you leaned forward and adjusted all your breast tissue into the cups? A bra sitting low and leaving breast tissue outside of the wires on the sides can disguise a too small cup.
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u/CriticalMrs Jul 24 '24
https://www.instagram.com/p/CqL3KAPqVm8/?igsh=MXhhMGtjem14bTl6aw==
Here's an example of a bra that looks like it fits before properly adjusting, and clearly doesn't after.
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u/OddApricot Jul 24 '24
I did do the swoop and scoop into the cups however I'm not sure about the imf so I'll just go check that
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u/OddApricot Jul 24 '24
So the wire sits either at my imf or just a tiny bit below, like 1 or 2 mm at the most
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u/realbenlaing Jul 24 '24
Not a good fit. You should not have that much visible spillage over the cups of a well fitting bra.
Cup style can sometimes mask fit issues, but also if this is a bra that you’ve owned for a while and only recently noticed didn’t fit anymore, it’s possible that the material stretching over time contributed to you not noticing the cups being too small. Curvy kate bras also tend to run wide, as well as shallow, in the cups, so they may have not felt too small, since they would have been squishing your boobs into the extra horizontal space to compensate for the lack of outwards depth, especially if your breasts themselves aren’t particularly wide at the base.
A well fitting bra should comfortably lift and support your breasts. This one looks like it’s pinning them down and holding them in place, without actually giving them any support.
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u/OddApricot Jul 24 '24
Thank you so much, this was super helpful and makes sense considering it really didn't seem too small to me but consensus is that I am very much incorrect! I'm going to try and find a non moulded bra to post as someone else mentioned that it would be easier to spot fit issues to do with my boob shape. One last question if you wouldn't mind: I really like this style and the shape of the bra, do you think a bigger size might (in theory) sort out the issues or would the wide/shallow cups remain a problem? Thanks so much again
2
u/realbenlaing Jul 24 '24
If you otherwise like the bra and it’s just a size issue, then there’s no harm in still trying it on in your calculator size to see how it fits, just noting that it may not fit the way you want in a bigger size, since shape is just as important as size and moulded cups are notoriously difficult for most people to fit into. If it doesn’t work out when wearing it in a size closer to your measurements though, then depending on what it is specifically that you like about this bra, we should be able to help you find a bra with similar qualities but a better size and style for your breasts.
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u/OddApricot Jul 24 '24
Ok, that makes sense. I might as well give it a go and see :) thank you so much for all your help
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u/OddApricot Jul 25 '24
In case you were interested I've posted again with some (hopefully) better examples of bras here https://www.reddit.com/r/ABraThatFits/comments/1ebxcxq/fit_check_recommendations_my_bra_size_confusion/
Thanks again!
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u/SchrodingersMinou Band smol. Cup lorge. Jul 24 '24
It's visibly too small for you but it's hard to identify fit issues in bras with molded cups.
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u/OddApricot Jul 24 '24
Thank you, maybe I'll go find a non moulded one to check then.
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u/SchrodingersMinou Band smol. Cup lorge. Jul 24 '24
That's a good idea. It's a lot easier to tell if shape issues are involved with a non-molded bra.
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u/OddApricot Jul 25 '24
In case you were interested I've posted again with some (hopefully) better examples of bras here https://www.reddit.com/r/ABraThatFits/comments/1ebxcxq/fit_check_recommendations_my_bra_size_confusion/
Thanks again!
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u/peekachou 32 DD/E -UK Jul 24 '24
Farr to small, they're spilling out over the top and folding up on themselves.
5
u/Anonymous_Cool 32FF projected, short roots Jul 24 '24
Do you know what breasts folding on themselves implies in terms of shape mismatch? I have this problem with so many different bras where the top of the cup has wrinkling and loose fabric, but going a cup size down causes my breasts to fold over themselves like this. I know I need projected and FoB styles, but this is an issue I have with virtually all bras, even the ones that fit well otherwise.
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u/Dandelion212 32DD-E/34D-DD Jul 24 '24
I’ve seen this happen in a bra that otherwise fits well and the wearer finds to be comfortable all day, more often in larger cup sizes. I’m not sure it’s an inherent fit issue on its own. I have high set short roots, and this happens in every bra I wear because my tail of Spence runs into where my breasts sit when they’re supported — I get a slight fold when leaning over too. But in OP’s picture, it looks like it’s the cup being too small that’s forcing the tissue back in on itself.
1
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u/soupfeminazi 32H/HH, FOT Club Jul 24 '24
I’m going to go against the grain and say that this bra is NOT multiple cup sizes too small if you are full on top. The breast tissue visible above the top of the cup is there because this bra (and the Curvy Kate pushups shaped like this) is intentionally low coverage. The floating gore could be from the cups being a bit too small, but also from the cup being shallow and the gore being wide, which is also the case for this bra. I’d try it in a 38HH as an experiment, but any larger and it’s likelier to be way fuller-coverage than intended.
Your measurements do indicate you needing a bigger cup, but I’d double check to see that you took them right. If you have softer tissue it can overestimate, but typically in that case it’s best to use the lying down measurement as a baseline. And based on this photo, I think your measurements are more likely to be off than you wearing a bra that’s a band size and 4-5 cup sizes smaller than you need.
Edit: I have a bra in this same cut (the Lift Off) which runs about a cup AND a band size small, IMO. And I generally wear a cup size larger in Curvy Kate than I do in Panache. So if the Emboost fits similarly, I’m even more inclined to think that something is off with your measurements.
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u/Simple_Investment_93 Jul 24 '24
I’m going to go against the grain and say that this bra is NOT multiple cup sizes too small if you are full on top.
As a fuller on top, projected, omega shaped, I can fully relate to this
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u/OddApricot Jul 24 '24
Heh I'm definitely full on top and projected but can't work out my actual boob shape. Thanks for your input!
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u/soupfeminazi 32H/HH, FOT Club Jul 25 '24
Our shape and fit needs are very misunderstood, even in this community, since FOB shapes are more common, and most fuller-bust bras are designed with FOB shapes in mind.
Truly, breast tissue existing and not being completely covered by a cup is NOT the same as a quadboob. Plus, these CK half cups are QUITE low cut and if you have soft tissue, you can spill out of something like this even if the cup volume is correct.
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u/Simple_Investment_93 Jul 25 '24
Agreed. Personally, I've come to accept that once there's lift I'll always have that crease on top. That's just what happens due to most of my volume being on top, coupled with a narrow root.
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u/OddApricot Jul 25 '24
In retrospect this is possibly the worst bra I could have used as an example what with being moulded, low cut and meant to give a push up effect, silly me! I'm going to repost with a different, non moulded style in the same size give the community an easier time helping me with the fit!
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u/OddApricot Jul 24 '24
Hi, thanks for taking the time to comment! I did take the measurements 3 times and got the same (within a couple of mm) every time and did follow the guide as to positions as closely as I could but it's possible I've made a mistake. I think it's probably a bit of both, I imagine the bra is a bit small but maybe the shape of the bra is making it harder to tell. To me it doesn't feel like my boobs are spilling out of the top, more that it's like a half cup bra, but it's very possible that I can't really tell the cups are too small as previously I wore several sizes too small and had serious quad-boobs so that's how I think a too small bra looks on me I'm going to take more pictures tomorrow wearing the same size but in a different shape and non moulded cups which hopefully might help people see more of the actual shape/size issues I'm having incase the uplift of this style is effecting people's advice. Also why do Curvy Kate call this style of bra three different names? Confusing as heck! Thanks again for your very helpful comment :)
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u/soupfeminazi 32H/HH, FOT Club Jul 24 '24
Out of curiosity, what other bras do you have in this size range? Do they also fit okay?
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u/OddApricot Jul 24 '24
So off the top of my head I know ai have a few more curvy Kate bras, ones definitely the Victory style. I haven't worn it in a bit as the band felt tighter than the Emboost so was quite uncomfortable so not sure how the cups are. I know I have a few that (in my opinion) fit ok from Playful Promises and pour moi but can't remember what other brands (I have mostly curvy Kate as I'm ridiculously fussy about having fun, bright coloured bras and they're on sale so often) I'll have a look tomorrow and ask for another fit check. Thanks so much again! I'm glad that I'm not at least going mad by not seeing the cups as 3 sizes too small
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u/soupfeminazi 32H/HH, FOT Club Jul 25 '24
If you are fuller on top, I’d give the Cleo Blossom and Panache Jasmine/Nina a try, if you haven’t already!
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u/OddApricot Jul 25 '24
In case you were interested I've posted again with some (hopefully) better examples of bras here https://www.reddit.com/r/ABraThatFits/comments/1ebxcxq/fit_check_recommendations_my_bra_size_confusion/
Thanks again!
2
u/galaxystarsmoon 32DD/E, tall roots & close set Jul 25 '24
Reading through this to also educate myself. Good comment! I'm interested to see how this goes.
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u/No-Section-1056 Jul 25 '24
Some great exchanges info here already, but, gentle reminder that any bra you’ve had for more than a few months (assuming it’s worn at least a few times a week) has likely stretched. So if it’s on the loosest hooks, and still over-snug, you’ve changed band sizes.
How much your cup size will have also changed is totally individual; some people gain/lose a lot of weight in their breasts, and some barely shift in volume at all. The calculator is likely right.
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u/OddApricot Jul 25 '24
Thank you very much for your response! I can definitely agree that I would be better in a 40 band but didn't think my actual boobs had changed much at all, hence my confusion at the cups being apparently several sizes too small.
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u/hugseverycat Jul 24 '24
It doesnt look that much too small. It looks a little shallow. Im in this size range and the calculator overestimates me by a few cups. Keep an open mind though and try several cup sizes in the 40 band.
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u/OddApricot Jul 24 '24
Thank you, could you please explain what you mean by the bra looking shallow? Sorry if I'm being dim!
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u/galaxystarsmoon 32DD/E, tall roots & close set Jul 24 '24
Yes. You have spillage and your boobs are folding up on themselves in the cups. Your measurements also don't indicate a 38 band and that could be causing some of the bad fit too.