Bra fitting help » What causes the center of the underwire to dig in?
Panache » Melody Fullcup (6055) » 32F 32:7
Issue resolved
It seems as though this gore problem can be caused by a few different fit problems, and I don't have it entirely sussed out. The smaller band was too small (straining hooks), and the bigger band slid all around. I am going to try some bras with narrower wires. I also think a more rigid wire might help, since it would be less likely to twist under pressure. the one other thing that might be an issue is that I do have a kind of bony sternum and maybe some wires just hit me in the wrong place.
Original problem
I really don't know if it's a wire height issue. If I pressed the base of the cup against my ribs, the very uncomfortable digging-in went away.
This bra's clearly wrong in many ways, but I'm mystified by this particular issue.
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Suggestions (5)
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helpful
This happened to me once when I tried the Panache Carmel. I found that although it was a size I knew fit me in other brands, the wires on the Carmel were too wide and thus made up too much of the circumference of the bra. Because of this, the band was not able to stretch the amount I needed for the bra to be comfortable and the wires wrapped around my ribcage under my arms to compensate. This caused the center gore to turn slightly inwards, creating additional friction and pressure against my chest. If this seems to be the problem with this bra, you may be able to counteract this by increasing the band size.
Updated on August 5, 2012 Flag this
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That's what worked for me! I have a similar broad back/shallow ribcage combination. I've found that I prefer Freya, Cleo, and Parfait bras to Panache because of this. Good luck!
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HI Danielle -- did you mean that the larger band worked for you or that the narrower wire worked for you? Or both?
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Both--In that style, I go for a larger band and smaller cup, while in general I find that narrower wires suit me better. :)
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From the way you phrase it, it sounds to me like you might have a too-big band. You said "if I press the base of the cup against my ribs-" Does it not sit flush against your ribcage if you don't hold it down? Does it ride up in back? Those are both tell-tale signs.
If you can, try experimenting with pinning or pinching the back of the bra, where the hooks are, and see if making it tighter that way helps. If it does, you might want to tailor it or send it back and try a smaller band.
It looks like the cup might also be too big, which might translate into the underwire coming up too high for you. But since you said you're also experiencing quadraboob, it might be more of a problem of the cups being too far apart.
All that said, I tried the Melody on and it was a total failure for my shape. I was popping out the tops of the cups but not filling up the bottom, it didn't give my boobs enough lift to prevent under-boob-rash, it put too much weight in the straps, etc. I think it's just not the right bra for everyone.
I tend to fit much better into Freya bras, which is odd since they're owned by the same company, but they seem to have very different structures. Maybe you, like me, just need to try a differently-shaped bra!
Updated on August 6, 2012 Flag this
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Just a note - Panache and Freya are not owned by the same company. Panache encompasses the Panache Superbra, Cleo, Atlantis, and Harlequin/Masquerade lines, while Freya is owned by the Eveden group.
Otherwise, though, no complaints!
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Whoops! You're right- I got Panache confused with Fantasie for some reason. :)
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Cake mimic, you are so right!! Read my comment below to Strikes ...
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It looks as if your right breast is a little smaller than the left. Perhaps that translates to the wire being too long. Possibly down size your cup and suffer more puffiness on your left breast that appears to fill the material.
Updated on August 6, 2012 Flag this
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Hi Krissy! Actually, the right is a little larger -- I was holding my camera out with my right arm, which made the cup gap more!
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helpfulHi whodathunk. Actually , you are right. Mine change shape all the time and if you hold your arms out the bra does not conform to the shape of your breast. Just a suggestion. Lol
Updated on August 6, 2012 Flag this
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helpful
I agree it may be the matter of too wide band, but also it seems that your breasts are quite close together and the gore may be simply too wide and too high. Wires may be too wide, as cups are clearly too big for you.
Anyway, wires stop digging at the middle when you push the base, because they don't fit. If they did, they would lay flat under whole breast, from armpit to the sternum.
Anyway, from my own experience I'd say it's often hard to fit into full cup bras. I like panache a lot, and their plunge bras fit me perfectly. I tried other models and they just don't fit. Have you tried other models? I think plunges may be good for you. And people who seek lifted, rounded look, usually like their half-cups.
Also, I can see from your reviews that you tend to shorten the straps rather too much. It usually means that there's emptiness in the cup you want to get rid of. But shortening the straps won't help, they will only dig into your flesh and cause the cups to cut into your breasts and armpit area. Just try a smaller cup, and if you don't feel enough support, try a smaller band.
Updated on August 7, 2012 Flag this
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thanks, Strikes! There are so many variables to get my head around-- I think I'm a little slow to absorb it all. perhaps the most important thing I've figured out since joining here is that I need a 30 band, at least in the ones I've tried. (2 weeks ago I thought I was a 36!). I have a long torso and a rather muscular back, and I've always worn bras too high (as well as too large in the band) where they dig into my lats and move around when I move my arms. When I tried the 32 Andorra on the tightest hook down below my shoulder blades, with the straps let out a lot ... Blessed relief.
You're right that my breasts are close together, and I used to wear plunges back in the day, but now my breast tissue is so soft and "mobile" that they'd drop right out of a plunge. I think that's part of why the stretch lace of the Andorra is good for me -- it holds on! I have always liked balconettes both because of my broad shoulders and because the more open top leaves more room for variation. they just can't be too demi nowadays (see plunge issue above).
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Thanks for the insight! That seems possible! I do have a broad back, but a shallow ribcage, if that's clear ... Or maybe a bra with a narrower wire would be good?