Bra fitting help » Under wire is painfully digging into ribs and poking arms
Cacique » Smooth Balconette (36851) » 40C 40:3
Issue resolved
42DD seems to be the best. 40DDD fits too but tends to gap at the top of the cup (depending on style) when I sit/slouch.
Original problem
I think I was sized wrong? I was told under wire should not be painful but this digs into my ribs at the bottom of the cups when I am sitting down as well as pokes me in the arms. ALL under wire hurts me like this! Looking at the photos I have lots of flab hanging out the sides. I chalked all these symptoms up to just being too "fluffy" for under wire but a friend suggested a larger cup? The band part doesn't bother me and doesn't ride up my back. I was sized as a 40C. Any ideas?
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Suggestions (5)
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The cup is far far too small for you! I would suggest going up at least 3 cup sizes!
See how your horizontal perimeter is 12" and the cup depth is 9"? Usually you want them to be similar! Some of my bras even have a larger cup depth than my measured perimeter.The band size looks good, but you might also want to look into a 42 band size for more comfort.
The cups are too narrow for your breast root and they are too far apart for you. It looks like you have wide roots that are close together. Once you go up a size you will be able to find wider wires and cup depths that are more similar to your horizontal perimeter. Hopefully that will solve some of your wire pokey issues.Updated on January 29, 2015 Flag this
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This is both a size and a shape issue. I see that the gore of your bra is too wide. It's squishing the center breast tissue. You wanna get a bra whose gore is much narrower and whose underwires are much closer together at the gore. Kinda like this: https://lingerieabstracts.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/overlapping-underwires.gif
I also think you'd be happier in a larger cup size.
Updated on January 29, 2015 Flag this
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I agree with the other posters. The sizing is way off base, the cups are too little and the wires are sitting on breast tissue. The too-small cups mean that the whole bra is fitting you too tight (even though a 40 band with the right size cup seems like it could potentially be a reasonable choice) and, as you point out, basically it hurts you everywhere. Burn it or return it! I'd look at 40DD or E, at least. If you size down in the band, remember you'll need to size up in the cup (so let's say you try a 40DD and the cup is great but the band is kinda loose; you'll then want to try a 38E in order to maintain the same cup volume but a slightly smaller band).
If you are in the US, for underwired bras consider brands like Elomi, Goddess, Elila and so on. They also have several non-wired options if you would like to explore those to compare. You can easily find all of these brands on major retailer websites. Amazon is always a very safe bet because you can return and exchange things without any financial penalty, but I also hear really good things about the site Woman Within (click on their Lingerie tab to see the bra options).
Updated on January 30, 2015 Flag this
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I highly agree that you should try some other brands. Depending on where you live a start would be to go to a real bra store that carries brands such as Elomi and Panache. If you live in a "bra desert" like I do perhaps try Nordstrom if you have one. The selection will be limited but it would give you an idea of your true size. Just saying... I started at 42FF and was really about 36J in UK sizing. What is your snug under bust measurement? It appears to me that you might be smaller than a 40 band but because the cups are so small your "boobage" that should be in the cups is really in the band.
I know the frustration of ordering and returning tons of bras to find what works for you but it is so worth it. If you want a molded type bra you could try Elomi Amelia. First step- is to get a really good measurement. For instance you can use A Sophisticated Pair's calculator. Good luck and have patience!
Updated on January 31, 2015 Flag this
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I agree with everyone else. I think a 40DD or DDD from Lane Bryant would be better. If you want to try other brands like Elomi or Curvy Kate, a 40FF would probably be a good place to start.
Lane Bryant sizes are different, and their fitters are better than Victoria's Secret, but they still don't get it right every time. I try on at least three different sizes in each bra I try from there.Updated on February 2, 2015 Flag this
