• I do think you're in the wrong band size! If your underbust is 25", you should look for 26 bands. These are hard to find, I know. But 28 is definitely too big, especially in a model like this that is very stretchy in the band.

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  No. I'm not. First of all, if you read my profile then you'd understand the problems I have with 28 bands. Secondly, that is just another one of those "general rule of thumb" statements that do not apply to all women. I am one of them. I have Fybromyalgia so I cannot wear skin tight cut off your circulation bras. If I close a size 28 band on the smallest eyes I get heartburn, I can't inhale very much and I have pain in my ribcage (due to the illness though), back, neck and shoulders. If I wear a 32 it's sliding around, but the only pain I have is in my shoulders from the straps pressing down. I'll take that over complete pain, thanks! Also that size gives a better shape because I have wider boobs for my small frame. Not stiff/fake or perky, narrow boobs. The cup proportion as far as width goes on a size 32DD fits me better than that of a 30DDD and 28DDDD, but I do have to take in the center gore. I can't imagine the problems and pain I would have in a size 26! I only have 14% body fat...so there is not as much flesh on my ribcage as a lot of others have. I do not need the size I measure at. That is a myth as far as I'm concerned. And as little back fat that I have, wearing a size 28 on the smallest eyes causes a ton of back fat on me (and I notice it with a lot of the people on this site who are wearing too small of a band size). I'm not into that look.

  Thanks for your suggestion though. But it doesn't apply to my shape.

• Hi, HLAleo. I am sorry if you were offended by my comment, that was not my intention. I didn't read your profile, and I usually don't read them when commenting on a review.

  I also have fibromyalgia, to the extent that I was housebound for several years. I know exactly what you mean by the pain in the ribs and chest and difficulty breathing. I am having the breathing trouble today, in fact, and I'm not wearing a bra at the moment. I found bra bands to be very painful, and I spent years wearing them too loose to avoid that pain. They really hurt me! Even now I am very sensitive to some bras: for me now it is more about the texture of the fabric though. A fabric that is remotely scratchy is agony to me! I am sure you understand.

  What I know now is that I was wearing cups too small, and those too-small cups put extra strain on the band, and caused the bands to dig in. I wore bras like a 38D. Now that I wear a 32H/34G (ish) bras I am amazed by how comfortable they are.

  Last year a bra fitter at Nordstrom tried to send me home with a bra that was right in the band but too small in the cup. We argued about it and she insisted it would loosen up and become more comfortable, but it was AGONIZING. The band and the wires cut into me so hard. I took it back. I have the same bra in a larger cup now and it's quite comfy.

  As for back fat: I too get this problem. It's really a matter of the model of bra. A bra with a wider band and a true leotard back minimizes back fat. Also a good-fitting band sits below the shoulder blades, minimizing the fatty pooch. BUt some bras just have a crappy band for back fat. I know some people who say they always get back fat with Fantasie bras, for example. The center gore issue is also a matter of the bra model: I personally can't wear a bra with a wide center gore, because my chest is narrow.

  You are right about body fat affecting compression. A person with a 30 inch rib cage who has some squish can typically wear a smaller size than a person who doesn't have much body fat, just because fat compresses and ribs don't.

  I hope you know that comments about bra fit aren't personal attacks. I wasn't picking on you. We are all on this site to help one another, after all. I was responding directly to your comment about people thinking you were in a too-big band. I do think that a 28 band is just too large for a 25" rib cage, but I also understand that there are extenuating circumstances and that you may be more comfortable in a looser bra right now. I personally experienced breast damage from my time wearing too loose bands, and I hope that you can avoid that fate. I also wish you the very best of health. I have had FMS for more than a decade and the good news is that things *can* get better.

• I wasn't offended by any means. I'm just sick of hearing lately that what you measure is what you should wear...give or take an inch. A lot of women promoting this fit advice act like it's almost the only rule to go by (I know you weren't saying that, but I just don't think a 26 would fit me since 28's are already snug), and it's not going to work with everyone. I know it doesn't work for myself.

  It is nice to see someone else with FMS though. My mom has it, I've measured her before, technically she should be in a 32B (we're obviously very different shapes, lol!) but she's wears a 36A because of the pain. I know Ewa Michalak does 26 but I've also heard they run smaller than normal. According to their calculator I should be in their 65E's (I'm guessing that's 30DDD on their site?) but to not be able to try it on in person and not be able to return if it doesn't fit and they're expensive...I'd rather just stick with a bigger band. Right now my two most comfortable bras are the Body By Victoria - I have an ivory full coverage and a turquoise demi. The fabrics on them are the softest I've ever felt and the wings are very tall. They've been taken in 4 or 6" in the band so they fit pretty snug without riding up. The elastic is also coverage by the fabric which helps a great deal. But they don't provide that much lift, they're almost minimizing for me. Still, I thank you for your advice, and no worries there are no harsh feelings. =)

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  Excellent! It is a gorgeous bra. Now tell us *why* you love it.

  --Kristine
  

• Looks a lot like the Pour Moi Opulence bra I had.

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