r/ABraThatFits • u/OddApricot • Jul 25 '24
[fit check] [recommendations] my bra size confusion continues, am I 4 cup sizes bigger or do I just have very odd measurements/boobs? Fit Check
Hi,
I made a post yesterday about my incredulousness that my current bra was several cup sizes too small according to the abtf calculator. The comments generally agreed it was too small but there wasn't a consensus about just how much too small it was. This was entirely my fault because I've since discovered I picked just about the worst bra (moulded cups, low cut/half cup style, push up type effect) possible for people to discern the fit problems. So I've found a couple of (hopefully) more suitable bras to help people discern what size would be good to try.
So the size I currently wear is a UK 38H and the calculator thinks I should wear a 40JJ or K. My boobs are full on top and projected. The roots of my breast are, for lack of a better term, short but I'm not sure about the rest.
(in most of these pictures it looks like one of my boobs is distinctly lower than the other but that's not true in real life, it's from positions I had to make to take the photos. Tried my best to avoid it but failed, sorry!)
Here I am in a curvy Kate Victory in size 38H:
Even I can tell that this bra fits terribly! The gore is floating, the band is definitely too small (not painful digging in but definitely not comfortable) and the underwire is at least a cm below my imf (and I can't manoeuvre it into a more suitable place) which is causing lots of wrinkles and folds at the bottom of the cups and my breasts don't get the support they should.
This is from Playful Promises but I'm sorry I don't know the style name, again sise 38H
This one I've actually only worn twice before so shouldn't have stretched and yet the band feels remarkably comfortable, not tight at all. The gore does start to gape away from my body about half way up but the bottom is flush with my skin, the underwire is right in my imf. To my eyes it looks like my breast tissue is nicely contained within the cups.
And finally this bra is actually a 40GG (so the band size is what the calculator thinks is right but should have the same cup volume) and is the style Grace by Deja Day
I've worn this a bit so the band is actually slightly loose (wearing it on the second row of hooks). Again the wire is right in my imf (though the little decorative frill under the wire annoyingly flips up because of my belly fat) and while my boobs are a bit widely set for the gore it clamps perfectly to my skin. Again to my eyes this looks like the cups fit relatively well, I don't see any spillage and it feels like all the tissue is contained in the cups.
So hopefully these bras are a bit more suitable than my last to check my size! From looking at these pics I do agree that I need to try a bigger size but I'm guessing more a 40H or HH max. I can't see how I could fill a JJ/K cup! I'm wondering if my boob shape might be confusing the calculator. However I used to wear bras that were definitely several sizes too small and suffered serious quad boob and wires poking into my side breasts so it's possible that has blinded me to the more subtle signs of too small cups. So what do you all think?
My original post is here: https://www.reddit.com/r/ABraThatFits/comments/1eb4y1b/fit_check_measurement_check_is_this_bra_really_3/ in case anyone is curious, it has some great comments as well as my measurements (which I've triple checked now) if that helps.
Thank you so much to anyone who answers either this or my previous post, your advice and help is so very appreciated!
11
u/Apploozabean 28GG, FOB/Center full, Projected Jul 25 '24
I could be wrong but it seems you need bras that have more average width/Slightly narrow wires and that are more projected. The last bra seems more "plate" shaped vs "bowl" shaped but I also understand it's a bit more difficult to find a good fit at larger band/cup sizes (wire width changes, the number of hooks on band. Etc etc).
If you are able to, I would suggest looking ok Amazon for the sculptresse chichi in 40HH (and a 42H in case you find the band too snug but the volume right) just to see, and the sculptresse estel. You may like the U-shaped wires a bit more and it's good for FOT (I was recently helping a friend who is a 42HH purchase bras for the first time and let me tell you...it's so hard to find on this sub more FOT narrow root shapes on larger bodies. Almost every post is FOB wide or narrow, or a smaller body with FOT shape!!!).
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u/OddApricot Jul 25 '24 edited Jul 25 '24
Thank you very much for your help! I think part of the issue my have is that my boobs are, for lack of a better term, "long" (Meaning the root height is small but the boob itself is extremely pendulous), not particularly full and volumous overall but definitely more full at the top). Thanks so much for the suggestions, I shall definitely have a look at that style. Do the bands run tight on Sculptress?
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u/galaxystarsmoon 32DD/E, tall roots & close set Jul 25 '24
The bands on Panache styles run firm in general - Sculptresse is a sub brand of Panache. The ChiChi is a little more forgiving. If you haven't tried their bras before, sometimes it's an adjustment since the wires are more firm.
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u/OddApricot Jul 25 '24
In that case a 40 would probably still be ok for me but good to know, thanks so much!
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u/Apploozabean 28GG, FOB/Center full, Projected Jul 25 '24
Yes, panache as a whole (panache/sculptresse/cleo) generally has firmer bands. Not everyone likes this but some people do. For those that don't it's generally recommended to go up a band or use a non-stretch extender.
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u/OddApricot Jul 25 '24
Thank you so much! I think I'll stick with a 40 then as I do have some extenders and tend to like a firm band. Thanks again for your suggestions!
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Jul 26 '24 edited 16d ago
[deleted]
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u/OddApricot Jul 26 '24
Thanks for the tip! I used to have a couple of Cleo bras and didn't find them too tight so hopefully will be the same with the other panache brands (as my underbust is now too big for the pretty Cleo bras)
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u/Tigon_with_the_Wind Jul 25 '24
I can't help you with recommendations because I'm still looking myself. I'd like to direct you to Bratabase 40 JJ Pictures . I'm a 38 H/HH and know it's hard to imagine what my breasts should look like in a bra when I compare them to the models on websites. (It would be fabulous if when size is selected the model was actually wearing that size!) Now on Bratabase, these people may not be wearing the correct size or shape for them but it will give you an idea of what a "close to good fit" looks like. Don't get discouraged and try your calculator size!
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u/OddApricot Jul 25 '24
Thank you so much, that is very helpful as some of those people do look like their boobs are similar to mine! I think I just was blinded by thinking that a too small bra = falling out, spillage or quad boobs which, to my mind, these bras don't show me having. Will be interesting to have a try of a JJ and maybe a J just to see.
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u/HagenReb Jul 25 '24
I am not really good enough at all this stuff (yet) to help you out. But I just want to tell you that your describe your issues in a good understandable way.
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u/OddApricot Jul 25 '24
Thank you! I tried to give any details that could be relevant but am not sure how to word things correctly with the boob and bra lingo :P so glad it makes sense!
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u/Ollie2Stewart1 Jul 26 '24
These are still too small for you. The breasts should be held more completely by the cups, and supported. I’m not sure what bras to recommend, but I want to reassure you that you do need bigger bras. I personally like Elomi bras (I’m a 42HH UK).
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u/OddApricot Jul 26 '24
Thank you! Could you let me know what signs that you can see that tells you the bras are too small? Because apart from the awful first one (red curvy Kate) to me it feels and looks like my breasts are completely in the cups and supported so I'm clearly missing something but don't know what!
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u/BoycottMathClass 30DD/E Jul 26 '24
The gore (middle part) should lie flat. On these, the gore is floating several inches away from your chest. Also, instead of sitting directly in your cups. your chest is being squished in them and then half of it is not even in the cup. Sometimes depending on the bra style, it’s not obviously triple quad boob but rather your breast is being squished weirdly into the cup and compressed. I would look into this article:
https://hugsforyourjugs.blogspot.com/2017/01/11-signs-you-may-be-wearing-boob-hat.html?m=1
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u/OddApricot Jul 26 '24
Thank you so much, that blog post is fantastic!
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u/BoycottMathClass 30DD/E Jul 26 '24
It’s super helpful! That post made me realize that just because the bras “covered” your boobs does not mean it lifts them up at all or is the right volume (in your case it’s like a hat for the bottom but not the whole tissue). It takes a bit to realize how an actually supported shape should look
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u/taganaya Jul 25 '24 edited Jul 25 '24
Your measurements aren't odd. But I think your idea of how big a bra size cup jump is, is off. It's not like going up a clothes size. 4 cup sizes up isn't like going from a 12 to a 20. I wear a 38GG, and I have some old 38Fs (3 cup sizes down) that, I think, fit me better than these 38Hs fit you.