Bra fitting help » Straps too far apart, suggestions of half cup with narrow straps

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Freya » Patsy Padded Half Cup Bra (1223) » 32G 32:9

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  well, some people have actually removed and reattached their own straps, but it changes teh fit of the cup, sometimes. You could try comexim, which you can order customized with the straps moved in, but their sizing is different adn their quality control is terrible. Hopefully someone with your same problem in your size range finds this!

  Updated on March 23, 2018 Flag this

  
  

  • 1

    Half cups and balconettes have wider set straps than plunges, if that helps in your search.

  • 1

    But she needs a half cup, due to her shape, and narrow set straps - so that wont help! we need unicorn bra!

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  Boob or Bust has a rather unusual algorithm for determining size, with the result that (while it works decently about half of the time for the specific body types and situations they probably studied to design their fitting model) MANY other people are assigned an overly tight band and overly large cup. Last time I checked, their admins' fit advice also errs very very extremely on the side of telling people to get super tight bands and they seem to be very averse to considering telling people to size down in the cup! Not sure why... Anyway, one side effect of a too-tight band is that it forcibly wraps cups too far around your sides, which can "eat up" cup volume (making an adequately sized cup seem smaller and shallower than it is, or can make a too-large one seem to fit--at leaast along the lower half of the cup which is being pulled tight due to band tightness). It also drags straps further out side-to-side, forcing them into your armpits...!

  Anyway, if you love this bra design and if you think you are relatively shallow in breast shape, it would be worth trying in 34F (up one band size, down one cup volume: true sister size in cup volume would be 34FF, in case you wish to try both, but I think the 34F may work and this would likely help the strap issue). If you're not absolutely wedded to it, look at Cleos (more likely a 36 band as they run very small) and since their cup sizing varies greatly between models, just search for the cup volume that matches your lying-down breast perimeter, and use this as a first attempt for sizing (you may want to size up or down but this is prob your best bet).

  You correctly point out that this band feels too tight--this is logical given that even Freya's stretchier 32s are not a typical fit for someone with a comfortable measurement of about 34". A 34 band in a stretchy brand (Freya) or 36 in a snug-fitting one like Cleo is more typical. I am not sure about this idea that you're extremely full on bottom a nd can ONLY wear short cups; I think this impression could simply reflect the fact you've been trying on bands that are overtight and are making overly voluminous cup appear to fit at the bottom, but not the top. If your breast perimeter measurements are anything to go by, 10.2 lying down and 9.8 vertical might actually indicate an amazingly even and round shape on some people, unless you are especially shallow and tall-rooted (can't see here due to lack of profile/side shot).

  Also, unless you made an error taking your frame width, 12.6 is a nice average shoulder width so I think it's reasonable to be optimistic that in a more suited size, you will not have such a struggle finding models with straps that are well-placed for you. if you did mismeasure or enter a too-large number, and do genuinely have super narrow shoulders, traditional full cups and convertible bras with crossable straps usually work much more reliably to address this problem.

  Updated on March 26, 2018 Flag this

  
  

  • 34f is far too small I've tried loads in that size. Boob or bust has a correct form of measuring. If a tape measure fits around me at 32" I'm not going to wear a 34" band because there's no support in that. I've tried 34f, 34ff 32ff 34e 38dd 36dd . If I go smaller in cup capacity the wires dig into the side of my breasts. I've tried probably 30+ bras in other sizes. I have the exact same issues with straps falling off and cups not filling at the tops in t-shirt or fuller style cups. Even going way too small I never fill the top of cups on bras... ever. A 34E while way too small is still empty at the top. A 34F is the same, and also the gore won't sit flat against my ribcage in that size. Thanks

  • I'm confused then, why did you mark this 32 band (in one of the stretchiest brands, Freya) as being too tight for you? Some people definitely have enough ribcage padding and a heavy enough bust that they would want a 32 for support--which did not appear to be your case from the photos, but obviously images can be deceiving, so if you had said it feels great I would have assumed you were in that category. Did you check that box (feels too tight) accidentally perhaps?
    As for BoB's "correct form of measuring" yes of course their directions for taking measurements are fine. It's how their calculator turns those measurements into a suggested size which is not very versatile. If it works for you, fantastic, but I would humbly submit that since you're facing a struggle to find anything that fits, perhaps another calculator would be worth a gander.
    I would also suggest a search by measurements, using the desired wire width, cup height, and stretched band requirements. Polish bras may be of interest to you. However Comexim and Ewa Michalak run very narrow in wires and are unlikely to work terribly well unless you can find shallow half cups where you can size up to get the desired wire width without getting too much height. Their straps are also quite widely-placed in the larger cup sizes though. Kris Line or other less known Polish brands offer a greater range of cuts.

  • @wendybein
    Because for the first week or so of wear I had to wear a 1" extender on the band as it was too tight, I have dermatographism so pressure can cause hives. So what's I feel is tight might not be what you or someone else feels is tight.
    The cup capacity is great, the band now is fine as it's stretched a little, but brand new was awful.
    Thankyou, x

  • Freyas do stretch out extremely fast!
    Now that I think of it, another brand that has historically used wider wires is Tutti Rouge. They are very reasonably priced especially if you are in the UK and not paying for international shipping. I believe the Liliana is the one which would offer the most wire width vs depth and height. It is padded/foam molded, even though it might not appear to be from photos (see user pics here on Bratabase). if you look at their site currently, you can see from the fit on the model (who has taller fuller breasts) that several of their designs are cut for a shallower upper breast, which could avoid the gaping upper cup problem.

  • llr39 That's a thing? I didn't realise that that's not just what happens to everyone. If I scratch myself with something blunt (so no skin breakage) it always goes red. In my darker mental health times I'd just scratch instead of cut as it causes enough pain/discomfort and would often write words on my skin in doing so. So does that mean it's normal not to be able to do this? Could this also be why I've always worn larger bands than would otherwise be recommended to me? And why I get welts at pressure points even though the band can be loose?
    Gah! Learn something new every day!

    Edit: just googled this plus autism and apparently it's more common in people with ASD so that's yet another thing weird about me is potentially explained by being autistic!

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    llr39 getting non-raised marks from pressure or scratching, even mild, is very common and not usually an issue/thing, but welts can be. I have dry sensitive skin and could definitely write on myself just from ordinary, non painful scratching--I also get marks from socks, waistbands etc. that are not overly tight and do not hurt. I do not get welts or raised marks or very angry-looking marks with spreading redness--those are more typical of the condition as far as I know.

  • Wendybien, they're not normal "sock marks" they're hives for me. Which is what dermatographism is, when the skin writing or pressure causes hives.
    I'm not sure how I'd get on with wider shallow cups, I had a Lepel Matilda and Lepel Victoria and they seemed very wide cups and it was uncomfortable where the wires sat (very far round under my arms). The Freya patsy I'm wearing is already on the middle hook and I've not had it long, it's frustrating! Hopefully I find something.

  • I was going to suggest trying a sister size for closer set straps, but looking at comments it doesn't seem that will work. So in a pinch they make these things that look like super short bra straps. You loop them around the both straps in the back and adjust the width, and it holds the straps together, but doesn't pull them all the way together like a J hook or racer back. If everything else is perfect and you have a narrow frame and you just need a bra that works while you try other things, that's an option. I have slightly sloping shoulders so there's always some fighting with straps for me. I agree Freya's are pretty darn stretchy in the band, so you might look for a balconette or half cup style where the band runs more firm in the band so you can sister size up and hopefully get closer set straps maybe??

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