Ugh, a pushy and weird fitter has scared me away from my local bra shop! Does her advice make sense in some way that I'm not understanding?
So I was fitted at this place several years ago, and it was a very positive experience. I walked out of the store with bras that fit properly for the first time probably in ... my whole life. I've got a relatively small bust, so this was hardly a life-changing experience, but still... I walked into the store in a massively uncomfortable 36A, and walked out in a 34C that fit like a glove (though little bit tight in one cup). The fitter thought I could probably move down to a 32D, but I had never worn such a tight band, and wasn't used to it. Hooray! I have gone back for more of my favorites a few times since then. These women never pull out tape measures. They size you up at a glance, and give you a couple basic bras to see how they fit.
Ok, cut to this fall: most of my 34Cs are stretched beyond usefulness, and even the newer ones don't seem to fit right anymore. I'm down 15 pounds, and an inch or two all over (except my upper bust, which is not budging): time to be re-fitted. I kinda thought they'd put me in a 32D or possibly a 32DD, but I got a different fitter this time, and she insisted that I still looked like a 34C, despite that every bra she brought me had to be fastened on the tightest hooks, and I was busting out of all but the most conservative cuts.
And then she just completely baffled me - she said "The trouble is that you're between cup sizes. The C is a little too small, but you are NOT a D." And then she brought me some 36C bras, which fit well in the cups, but were way too big in the band, and said I should get those, and they could alter the band to my correct size at no cost. At this point I was super flustered, and didn't feel like arguing with this supposedly professional fitter who is at least twice my age. But why on earth would she recommend altering the band of a 36C, instead of letting me try a 34D or a 32DD? I thought these were all the same cup volume, no? I hate shopping online, and prefer to support local businesses, but I'm afraid if I go back there, I'll get the same fitter again and I'll panic.
End rant.
**edit: Since this incident, I have taken my measurements, and used several recommended online calculators. Sizemapp suggested a 30H (which is definitely too big), and Sophisticated Pair recommended US 32DDD or UK 32E. The 32D I ordered from V.S. was too small in the cups, the 34 D too loose in the band and a little snug in one cup. The 32DDD was a little too big, so in that brand I guess a 32DD is as correct as I can get.
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Shared on Oct 19, 2013 Flag this
http://i.imgur.com/zeP3dZF.png helps some. Really, there is no "firm" definition (ha, I crack myself up).
But you might be soft if:
*you wear a low plunge and find yourself oozing out/escaping at the gore
*you wear a molded bra and your breasts puddle at the bottom of the cup
*you hold them up in your flat palms and they flatten out
* you wear a molded up and have no cleavage (or struggle to get any)
I don't think the shape chart helps at all with determining firmness. I also think it's easier to create cleave with soft boobs, because it would be easier to mush soft boobs together, whereas firm boobs tend to stay in a more neutral stance and will cause the bra to crumple around them if forced into an unnatural position.
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