Bra fitting help » Unsure of correct bra size
Victoria's Secret » Body By Victoria Demi Bra (241-206) » 38DD 38:5
Issue resolved
Based on the helpful suggestions I was given here, I am going to try to find bras in several sizes on the Internet. I am hoping to find something that will work better without breaking the bank.
Original problem
I have always shopped for bras based on whether the cups seemed to fit me, but recently an associate at VS suggested I was wearing the wrong size. She suggested I try a 36DDD. The fit was horrible - I was exploding out of the cups. This bra is a 38DD. The fit is the best I have had in a while but it still isn't great. The back will ride up and sometimes the girls slip out of the bottom a bit. My rib cage is 32" and my bust in a bra is about 44". I would like to start trying other bra sizes but I have no idea where to begin.
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Suggestions (3)
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helpful
Welcome to the neverending search for the perfect fit! I think most of us here, like you, wore bras that didn't fit right for a long time before realizing what a good fit felt like. I assure you that once you find a well-fitted bra, you'll never want to go back- the difference in support and comfort is just a huge leap in quality of life
To start with, I really recommend you consult this checklist for finding the perfect bra fit: http://www.herroom.com/bra-fitting-advice,907,30.html
How many boxes does this bra check? I can see a few problems from the pictures, but there are some issues, like how comfortable you feel when you're seated, that only you can really judge.
Now, my assessment: first of all, you're wearing a band that's way too big for you! Victoria's Secret is kind of notorious for measuring people with the wrong band size; they usually measure me as a 34, when I wear a 28!
The band riding up in back and your boobs falling out of the cups in the front are classic signs of band-too-bigness. The gore between your breasts also isn't sitting flat on your sternum, which is what it's supposed to do to give you ideal support! I would recommend going for a 32 or even a 30 band. In most brands, the band size directly corresponds to your underbust measurement- 32 inches is a 32 band, 34 is a 34 band, etc. Some bras vary, though, so it'll take some trial and error!
And you'll need much bigger cups, which unfortunately VS doesn't really carry.
It would make life a lot easier if they did... I'm just eyeballing it, but I would recommend trying a 32HH or J to start. It may sound huge, but smaller bands have proportionally smaller cups, so they won't have as much cup volume as a 38HH or J. But you certainly do need more cup volume than this bra has, once you account for the smaller band!It might be difficult to find bras in stores where you can try them on (though if you have a Nordstrom's near you, or a similar high-end department store, I would give them a try. They usually carry a wider range of sizes. Some places also have little specialty lingerie stores; check your yellow pages and see if there are any near you! Some other people might have more suggestions too!)
You will probably need to try on several different sizes and styles before finding the right fit- even if you have the right size, bras come in all different shapes. For example, I usually fit into Freya bras really well, because I have a fairly narrow root and deep breasts. People with a wide root might need wider underwires, which brands like Curvy Kate or Goddess or Elomi tend to make.
If worst comes to worst, while bra shopping online can be really tough, it's worth it in the end to find a bra that really fits.
Some good online stores include Freshpair, Figleaves, HerRoom, and BraStop. I usually use Figleaves because they have the best selection of bras in my size.
If you have the means, I recommend ordering several bras that you like the look of in a few different cup sizes in a 30 and a 32 band. Then you can try them on and send back the ones you aren't comfortable in- the ones that do fit can serve as a baseline for future bra fitting!Another user recently posted about a new thing FreshPair is doing where they send you a number of bras in various sizes free of charge, and you try them for a week, and then pay for the ones you like and send back the ones you don't. You might want to look into that, too!
Another good idea is to just look at listings here on Bratabase and see if anyone is offering bras that might fit you. Since they're mostly lightly used, it's easier on the wallet, and if they don't fit you can just post them on Bratabase again.
And you can put up the bras that you currently have that don't fit, too, once you find something comfy to replace them- I know I'm always very happy to find someone has listed bras in my size.Good luck in your search! I hope my advice was helpful
If you need any more help, don't be shy! Everyone here on Bratabase is eager to help other people find the right bra for them.Updated on December 29, 2012 Flag this
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Aww, I'm glad I could help :) I know how you feel- I wish I found this site a lot sooner too. Would've made high school a lot easier :P Good luck!
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helpful
The reason why the 36DDD felt a lot smaller in the cups is because the band brought the cups closer to your body. It is a sign that both the 36DDD and the 38DD cups are too small for you.
With your measurements I think you might be a 32H to a 32HH (UK)(This is after breast re migration), but a safer place to start would be at 34GG so that you don't feel overwhelmed at the new tightness of the band.
Updated on December 29, 2012 Flag this
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Thank you for your feedback. I have been trying to look at various places on the web to figure out sizing. I have been confused by non-US sizing.
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I think Herroom is helpful with the conversions:
http://www.herroom.com/european-lingerie-size-conversions,929,30.html
So the UK GG would be a US J, H would be K and HH is L
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Girls said it all, but I must ask.. Breast perimeter 47 cm?? Is that a typo? Because I'm guessing it's more like 37 cm
It's very important to enter your correct measurments here - you will get more accurate reccomendations here if you do
So please remeasure.
As for your underbust - please take two measurments: as tight as possible and loose. The number you should enter is one between these two measurments.
Overbust should be measured loosely and in a non padded bra if you own one.
Anyway, I think a good starting point for you is 32H/hh as others have stated.
You need to look at brands that go past the uk G cup. So fantasie, bravissimo, freya, panache and cleo, and the polish brand ewa michalak. The brand you should avoid, no matter how cheap and cute it looks is curvy kate. You are outsized from their showgirl range and their unpadded bras will give you the worse shape ever.You seem to have a narrow root and deep breasts.
I actually think ewa michalak and cleo will be most to your liking.Updated on December 29, 2012 Flag this
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I would just like to add that Curvy Kate unpadded does not give the worst shape ever on everyone. In the wrong size and/or shape it looks horrible, but there are many of us who has or still suit their unpadded bras really well, even in sister sizes to the 32H.
To wear Curvy Kate you do however need to be quite shallow and firm, especially for their unpadded bras. You look quite deep (looking at DionneDionne) which definitly would make Curvy kate unpadded horrible on you, but it doesn't make them bad on everyone. :)
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I didn't say they were bad for everyone, I said I think they are bad for her and I'm glad that you agree :)
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I remeasured my larger breast and I was at most an inch off on the perimeter. But there is no way I was almost 5 inches off. The girls are fairly saggy after three kids sadly. Thank you for the brand suggestions. I am going to try to find a couple styles to try on from Figleaves. :)
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Well, good news is you will get firmer in the right size :)
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Darn I'm late to this party, but looking at your measurements you're like my boob twin. I've got measurements super close to yours, so you might want to check out what I've tried as a starting point.
If you are so much like me as your measurements suggest, I'm afraid the generally suggested H bras will still be too small for you, even though they will be a huge improvement (at least the band) from what you're wearing now.
If you want to try out some cheap bras, I've listed my barely-worn 32K Curvy Kate bras here which might fit you if you're smaller than me.
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Wow! Thank you for being so thorough. I have a lot of reading to do. :) I only wish I had found this website sooner. Thanks!