Bra fitting help » Finding a bra that fits!
Curvy Kate » Princess Balcony Bra (CK6001) » 40J 40:13
This is the closest to a correct fit I've ever come. I've never had a bra that tacks before and this one almost does. It's so comfortable. Per the calculator from A Bra That Fits, I bought 4 size 42HH bras that are all too large. I will get pictures of those later. I also bought two sister size bras; this one in 40J and a Goddess one in 40M. I'm hoping to figure out my correct size and best styles soon. I'm very confused on projection, roots, fullness etc; I feel like I have fairly even but very saggy breasts.
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7
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First off, welcome boob size twin (more or less)! And my god that new colorway looks amazing on you!
So this bra gives us so much information because it is really close to fitting. In fact I think that you're experiencing slight shape incompatibility more than anything.
However, don't chop those tags off yet!
First, if this feels good on the side then your roots are pretty narrow for your size.
Second, the gapping you're getting on the top of the cup is due to the Princess being open on top, whereas you are surely even to full on bottom.
Finally, I think the gore not tacking is due to this being a cup size too small, looking at your perimeters in comparison to the cup depth. However, there are two other reasons the gore might not tack. The first is that you seem pretty centerfull, short rooted, and to have touching tissue. So your breast tissue might be pushing the gore out. The second is that the wires might not be strong enough to hold the cup up, causing the gore to push out. Especially considering you seem to have full, dense breast tissue (your hanging vs lying measurements are quite similar. On me for example there's a 4 inch difference because I have more sag going on).
However, the slight weird shape you're getting plus your measurements leads me to believe that this bra is a cup too small (most CK bras give a weird shape when too small). I would do what Love4Pollinators does and wear it for 30 mins a day for a couple of days and see what happens. Or, if the rest of your bras are terrible, feel free to keep it until you can find something better.
As far as recommendations go, I have a feeling that you will fit 42J in true to size bands and 40JJ in looser bands. Your measurements are all pretty close together, meaning you don't have much squish, which is why the ABTF call gave you 42 as your band size. Note this bra stretched to 42 so that's a pretty good size for you probably unless you feel this bra could be tighter. . Because your roots are pretty short and you're close set you might have trouble with gores.
What was the fit of your Goddess bra like? They are built for tall women with tall roots so it will give us some idea about what to avoid recommendations wise.
Btw, if after a bit of wearing you still find this comfortable, get it in a few colors. The most important thing is your comfort.
Updated on March 9, 2017 Flag this
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oh, and here, look at this on centre fullness:
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maddy2596 great info on center fullness etc. I have read everything about it and I still don't get it. I don't mean to be rude or contradict you but CK seems to fit differently in larger sizes than it does in smaller ones. First off, newer CK models tend to be deeper than same sized Cleo or Panache. For instance, if you compare my 38J - Cleo » Hettie Balconnet Bra (9011) to my sister-sized 40HH - Curvy Kate » Princess Balcony Bra (CK6001) (which was the autumn colorway for this bra so quite new) you'll notice that CK is deeper, narrower, and shorter than the Cleo bra.
CK does not scale like Cleo and Panache. They are shorter and narrower in larger cut sizes but not in smaller ones. That's why I try not to generalize about brands in smaller sizes than my own and go to the measurements first.
CK dreamcatcher is much wider and shallower in this size range and has a weird construction. Ellace might work but avoid the black or white colorways as they have softer wires. I would try Ellace in 40J or 42HH because it runs big in the cup and tts in the band.
Finally, cleos wont fit op. Their largest size is 38J. Panache, the sister brand to Cleo, has similar wires to Cleo but will be quite tall. Firmer wires can be found in CK bras however. Princess wires tend to be softer.
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Ok, I'm sorry. I just took some CKs apart and I got all excited about wire shape. But you are right in that they do not fit the same in different size ranges. I'm glad there are such a variety of bratabase users so hopefully most sizes can be covered. I keep learning! Thank you!
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Our husbands/boyfriends have it so easy. I am seriously planning to take a day from our spring vacation to go get fitted at a couple of lingerie boutiques. Hopefully they/or a combination of their measurements will help me find my right size and style.
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Thank you so much for all this information cupandahalf and maddy2596. I definitely think I have center full issues. And cupandahalf you've hit everything spot on! I'm going to be on the lookout for all your bra reviews and info.
I wore the CK Princess all day and had zero issues with comfort, so at least that will tide me over for now.
The 40M Goddess bra is not the best fit for me. It starts out comfortable, but wires are way to wide and after some wear time end up bothering my under arm area. The gore is somewhat close to my chest. The cups just don't seem suited to my shape either.
I've posted photos of the Goddess on my profile, and also a 42HH Sculptress/Panache Chi Chi Full Cup that I'm having horrendous gore issues with.
I still need to do a full review of:
42HH Panache Tango II Balconette - cups seemed large
42HH Elomi Caitlyn Underwire side support - cups seemed large (and I now know I probably don't need side support 😅)
42HH Elomi Cate Underwire - cups seemed large -
Wow, those bras are all really big on you. I wonder if you're actually smaller than you think. Try remeasuring your perimeters. You might have included armpit in there. I think you could size down in everything except this bra.
A bra I think you would really like, and you might get a gore tack with, is the Princess Plunge in 40J. The measurements are about the same as this princess you're wearing, but the gore is about an inch shorter. That might free up your close center tissue.
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4
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This color is gorgeous on you
Just to clarify the terms we use, check out this blog post: http://thepetitecollegiate.com/2016/04/21/photo-glossary-bra-fitting-and-breast-shape/ This will help us speak the same language. @cupandahalf You'll know precisely how to help
Updated on March 9, 2017 Flag this
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Hahaha I'm the bigger boobed bra whisperer!
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Thank you!!!!!
Here's what I tried 😬 to gather from the links:
Very close set
Supported -can't fit anything between
Unsupported - can't fit full finger betweenCenter heaviness? Quadboob and necessary readjusting at gore often (in too small bras). Wire popping at center (in too small bras). Little tissue at sides. Bras seem to want to ride low. Supported breasts very plump in middle.
Low set breasts - tissue starts close to armpit height.
I believe I have U shaped root with slightly outward pointing nipples.
I believe I have short roots.
Possibly narrow roots.
Projected? Tissue completely covers IMF
Pendulous?Leaning over - nipple on top of tissue facing more towards face than floor; slightly fuller on bottom?
Firm tissue? Feels like dough
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Great :-) Your analysis confirms what we can see in your photos. This is helpful :-)
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The only thing to add is that Curvy Kate unpadded new styles tend to fit a cup small compared to most other brands, so maybe a 42HH/J to 40J/JJ in looser bands? Also, this model is a bit "saggy" or more naturally shaped anyway and you may be happier in 40J CK Ellace (stretch lace on top to close in cup), CK Dreamcatcher (a little more lift and good for centre fullness), or sister brand (and fits the same) Flirtelle Ellie (which is really good for centre fullness and gives a little more lift than Princess).
Oh, and I totally second the cup up in this because you are totally "upsidedown seven" here - the top panel is stretched essentially flat, instead of allowed to sit curved - in addition to the floating gore. A good test - if you manually push the gore flat on your breast bone, do the cups quad? (breast tissue bulging over the top edge of the cup.
Plus, do you think you might have splayed roots? Do the inside bottom edges of your roots look like a V or like a U? If your roots curve U-like, they are not splayed, but definitely centre full. If they in general resemble a more Nike swoosh shape with the curve below your armpit and the flat edge at the centre, then they are splayed and may or may not be centre full. CK/Flirtelle are excellent for splayed roots, and can cheat for centre fullness, but there are better brands for non-splayed centre fullness. Both splayed and centre fullness cause nipples to point outwards rather than straight forward, but the difference in cause can require very different solutions. Also, centre fullness and touching breast can be confused and conflated - centre fullness causes gores not to hard tack because they do not have enough room where touching roots cause gores not to tack because there is not enough space for it. Touching roots require narrower or shorter gores because having the wires sit on breast tissue is painful. Centre fullness alone, usually doesn't hurt if it looks like the gore is sitting on top of breast tissue because it is not on the roots, just the skin and fat layers "outside" the root. Centre fullness only does not require less gore, but may look painful to some advisors, and hard tack can be found, especially with firm wires like Cleo.