i wear a 34GG, but have recently lost weight, so the back band of my bra can be pulled a fair way out and i feel like i should try a 32. however my 34 digs in at the front under my boobs, and leaves a horrible red indent, so i don't want to go even tighter. the wires sit flat against my ribs. am i wearing the wrong cup size too, or is it a problem with the style i'm wearing? (freya deco)
I can’t judge on the cup size, but I would definitely go down at least one band size. I’m not sure if I’ll explain this way, but I’d hazard a guess that you’re experiencing something normally known as the seesaw effect: if your band is too loose, it rides up your back diagonally to find a wider place to sit. As well as meaning you are less supported/uplifted, it also means that, instead of the wires sitting properly, they sit at an angle. Instead of the band being flat at the bottom, it pulls in tightly at an angle, resulting in digging in at the underbust. Apologies for the quality, but hopefully this quick doodle will help illustrate what I mean:
Where the red is the underwire, the blue is the bra, and the arrows show where a poorly fitting bra puts pressure on you. If you can pull your band out so there’s more than 1-2 inches between it and your skin, it’s more than likely too loose. If the digging in is something you get regardless of band size, I would probably put it down to the style. It could be that you need to change the make of bra you wear more often - if you solely wear one type of bra, you will get rubbing in spots regardless of the fit. Different brands have different styles and pressure points, e.g. I find Curvy Kate to irritate under my breasts, Bravissimo irritates my sternum, Panache irritates my armpits…They are fine for a day or so, but with extended wear you keep putting pressure on the same points. I don’t tend to wear the same brand for two days in a row because of this!
Lastly, I would also note that the Deco generally runs a band loose and a cup big, so you’re pretty much already wearing a (more “standard”) 36GG, something to keep in mind if you try other styles/brands. If you’ve lost weight there’s no substitute for a proper fitting, but unless you’re in the UK and near a Bravissimo, you may find it hard to get one. If you can get a cloth measuring tape, I’d suggest measuring your underbust - that measurement, in inches, should be fairly close to the band size you’ll need in most brands. Please don’t hesitate to message if you have more questions, I am more than happy to help!
