Bra fitting help » Fitting help for 38ff
Curvy Kate » Emily Balcony Bra (CK5001) » 38FF 38:8
Issue resolved
Thank you so much for all the comments, they have all been extremely helpful. I am returning the CK Emily and ordering Panache Andorra 36H to start with. I may then try to find a half cup style (Masquerade or CK) and most definately a Ewa Michalak - will post reviews on as many as I can!
Original problem
I would really appreciate your help and advice about style and size. I have put on quite a bit of weight over the last year and I don't have any bras that fit me. After reading quite a few reviews, I ordered this Curvy Kate in 38FF. I am not happy with the shape I get but I don't know whether it is just an issue with sizing. I prefer a more upfront/lifted shape because my breasts sit naturally quite low and I am not too keen on moulded bras, so if I can't get a good fit on this model even in a different size, maybe I should consider another style and/or brand. I am wearing this on the loosest hook (and I know I forgot to do the last one!). My torso is quite short, and many times I get wires digging in my rib cage. I also have to make straps really short. You can probably think by looking at the photos that the straps are diging too much into my shoulders but unfortunately i have "developed" some sort of "dent" on my shoulders from so many years of wearing ill fitting bras. Plunge styles don't suit me because my breasts just press together in the middle. So ideally I am looking for a balcony bra with great uplift and that does not push the tissue to the sides. I had a Freya Rio in 36G when I weighed about 10kg less and my complaint was mainly that the straps were too wide set apart and it was painful, although the shape (side profile) I found I bit too rounded for my taste. I would also love to find a good fitting full cup bra with side support panels but I really don't know where to start. I would also like to try an Ewa Michalak bra but, again, I am quite lost in terms of size and styles.
I live in Spain and the only bras you can get over E cup in very few styles are Marks and Spencer, and I have not really found any I like, so I have to order online all the time and postage costs in case of returns are not very friendly. I am so thankful that I found this site and I thank you in advance for any comments and help you may give me.
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Suggestions (3)
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2
helpful
The band looks too big, and the cups look too small. I would recommend trying a 36H. This might seem like a huge jump in cup size from a 38FF, but I don't think it will be too big for you. I used to make the mistake of ordering bras in cup sizes much too small(30G) because I didn't think I could fit into cup sizes that sounded so huge (28J/30HH).
I'd recommend halfcup styles such as:
Curvy Kate Tease Me 36H/HH (The cups run small in CK Showgirl Bras)
Curvy Kate Thrill Me 36H/HH
Masquerade Rhea 36GG
Ewa Michalak halfcup styles (I've never tried EM, so I'm not sure what their sizing is like. You might want to try them after you are confident in the size that fits you best
)These styles will keep you upfront, I'm just concerned that you might find them too rounded.
You might even want a 34 band in the CK Tease Me and Thrill Me, but a 36 should be just fine since a 34 might feel too tight compared to the 36/38 you usually wear.
I also have to order online because my size isn't available in the US, so I understand your frustration :/
I'm not sure if Asos ships to Spain, but they usually have larger cup sizes and reasonable prices. Where do you usually order bras from?
Updated on December 18, 2012 Flag this
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1
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I think you could try Ewa Michalak; You have fairly round breasts, and it doesn't look like you have a lot of migrated tissue (I could be wrong....do you have a lot of underarm/sideboob???).
For EM, I would suggest starting with an 85H (or 38H). The bands run fairly tight, and some of the cups do not scale well. ((EM Calculator suggests a 90GG for you)). In that size, you can only try a plunge style. However, the EM plunge bras might actually work really well for you, as the center gores are usually 4.5-5" tall, so they aren't super low plunges by any means of the word.
Updated on December 18, 2012 Flag this
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Thank you so much for your help and comments. Good observation about the breast shape,, you are right! I really appreciate your help regarding the style and size for EM, I will do some research in their site and order at least a couple of them to try maybe two different styles! Thank you so much.
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Agree that the cups look too small and the band too large. Quad-boob is obvious is the 3/4 profile photo, and it looks like the wires aren't resting on your sternum in front. That said, Curvy Kate unpadded bras often just give a droopy shape (sometimes called "upside down 7") on larger breasts. If you want a bra with side support, you might look at the Panache Andorra, which seems to fit a lot of people. It runs small in the cup, so you might need a 36H or even 36HH.
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MaraS - No problem. You could try a 36 in the PL Onyks as the band is stretchier, and you may have luck with an H or HH cup. You will definitely have to order a couple sizes to find what works best for you. EM is very different!
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Thank you very much for your help, Greenpianokeys. And thank you, Me, also for your comment on the shape of CK bras and suggestion for Panache Andorra - I suppose you are suggesting I try the full cup version of the Andorra?
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Yes, the Andorra Fullcup please. The Andorra Plunge is difficult.
Also check out these fit requests:
http://www.bratabase.com/troubleshoot/dhmek/
http://www.bratabase.com/troubleshoot/dhm6r/I think some of what I wrote there also applies to you.
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Yes, the full-cup Andorra.
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Agree with most of what has been written before.
The cups are way too small, you need to go up at least 3 cupsizes. I also think Curvy Kate will be too wide for you in the right size.
I also wanted to add some styles that you could try:
Masquerade Persia
Panache Andorra Fullcup
Fantasie Kara
unpadded "Gorgeous" bras by DebenhamsUpdated on December 18, 2012 Flag this
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Thank you T Maia for your comments and style suggestions. Wow, going up 3 cup sizes sounds like a lot but I will follow the suggestion and try some in that cup size.
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Well, the wire doesn't even come close to touching your sternum. One inch way = approx 2-3 cupsizes too small. That the cut isn't right (too shallow) doesn't help at all.
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Hi again T Maia - thank you for your additional explanation, it helps me understand the problem better and learn for future fittings!
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Thank you very much for your comments and suggestions. I have always wanted to buy exactly those styles you are suggesting but never dared to as I have never tried half cup styles before and I wonder whethre they will be comfortable eniugh for everyday wear. But I think I will definitely get at least one of them!
Asos does ship to Spain but I find their bras in bigger sizes a bit expensive and, again, I did not want to risk without having some reassurance about size/style.
I usually order from eBay, Brastop, Bravissimo and I have also ordered from the US in the past (Bare Necessities and Lady Grace). My all time favourite bra was Vanity Fair 75005 (discontinued now) even though it only went up to a DDD cup I have literally worn to exhaustion about 4 of those bras in 38DDD before I put on weight. Funny thing, since I absolutely loved the fit everywhere in that size even though the rest of my bras were UK36F !! Thank you again for your help.