Your band is too big and your cups are too small

Once upon a time, I wore the wrong bra size. I wore a 32D when I needed a 28E. I thought there was something wrong with my boobs, because no bra ever looked right on me. I had all the signs of a bad fit, but it never occured to me that I could be in the wrong size. Why? Because most bra fit education out there is terrible, and most companies are too lazy to produce a decent size range. I'm here to change that. If you've ever felt that your boobs were abnormal or "wrong" just because no bra ever looks right or fits well, you have come to the right place. If you've ever spent hours trying to find a bra in your size only to find an ugly one that doesn't feel right, I'll help you out. If you're sick of being told that you're too small because you wear an A cup, or too big because you wear a DD cup, I'm here to tell you that everything most people know about bra sizing is wrong, and your boobs are perfectly beautiful and normal. Want to learn more? Start with my fitting guide, or just scroll down and keep reading. Feel free to ask questions, I'm here to help and educate! Contact Info: [email protected]

[thatbradoesnotfither]

What do u do when ur ribcage is unproportional to ur breast size. I wear a 34D (the cup fits but the band is too big) if I go down to a 32 D the cups are too big. I have the same problem with bathing suits. I need a large but the the band is huge!

Are you sure that the cups fit on a 34D but are too small on a 32D? I’m asking because due to sister sizing, the cups on a 34D are the same size as the cups on a 32DD. Not only that, but a too-large band can often mask a bad fit in the cups. For example, if your cups were too small but the band was the right size, you would know that the cups didn’t fit because you would feel constricted. But if you loosened the band, then the cups wouldn’t feel as constricting due to the extra band length, and you might never know that your cups don’t fit. So I would expect that the 32D would feel too small in the cups. Maybe that’s what you meant? If that’s the case, here’s what to do (if not, feel free to skip past these instructions!):

1. Try on a 32D bra backwards. This way you can know if the band fits without any interference from the fit of the cups. If the backwards 32D bra fits fine in the band, then you’ll know that the band is the correct size but cups are too small. If the bra suddenly feels too loose in the band, you’ll know that you need a smaller band size and a larger cup size.

2. When you figure out which band size you need (which means the bra fits well when tried on backwards), the next step is to try bras on frontwards and increase the cup size until the cups fit.

3. Another step that would be helpful here is to measure yourself and figure out a good starting point before you try on bras. This could save you a lot of time, especially if you end up fitting well in a size outside of the 32-36 A-DD range. (And a lot of average-sized people DO fit in bras outside that range, it’s nothing to worry about!)

However, if the 32D bra you tried did feel too big in the cups while your 34D bras feel just right, this could be due to the style or brand of the bra. Unfortunately, bra sizes aren’t completely standardized across all brands--most people find that there’s a range of sizes that fit them depending on the brand. (For example, I have bras in 28FF, 30E, 30F, and 28G that all fit me well!) Not only that, but the shape of the bra can make the bra seem like it’s the wrong size, when really it’s just not the right shape for you. Kind of like how a curvy-hipped person might feel like a pair of jeans is too big because of extra room in the waist, but in reality, if they try the next size down, the jeans will feel too small in the hips even though they fit in the waist. Boobs are the same way! Maybe the 32D’s cups were very projected, so there was extra space in the middle. Maybe the cups were very open on top, so there was extra space in the top. Who knows. :)

[rosewednesday-blog]

A few days ago, I wrote an article for The Lingerie Addict called “Where is the Lingerie for Trans Women?” about the dearth of options for trans women in lingerie and the lack of customer service and resources by companies for trans women. It also talked about how crossdressers often dominate the gender conversation when it comes to lingerie. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the comments have been dominated by crossdressers.

One man (founder of Homme Mystere, Brent Krauss) said that he didn’t think trans women were a viable market and that it wasn’t fair of trans women to criticize companies, but instead needed to “speak up a little louder”—I’m not sure what that means, or how it’s different from criticizing. He then talked about his company and about how they couldn’t possibly be expected to understand trans women or advertise to them. 

What was worse were people who seemed to miss the point entirely and wrote comments about their own crossdressing, effectively derailing the conversation and making it about themselves rather than about what we can do to provide more resources for trans women. Some people also seemed to be conflating crossdressers and trans women. 

Dear crosdressing dudes: please do not try to talk about how you have it worse than trans women. Please don’t insist that they are just confused. Please also don’t talk about how I, someone who blogs professionally about lingerie, doesn’t know what “economics of scale” are. Please stop assuming that criticizing a company is the same as bullying or is unfair in some way. And please, please stop assuming that every topic that mentions you is an opportunity to talk about you. There are plenty of spaces for talking about lingerie for men. A conversation about the lack of resources for trans women is not one of them.

[thelingerieaddict-deactivated20]

Preach.

[thelingerieaddict-deactivated20]

Where is the Lingerie for Trans Women?

Recently, the company Homme Mystere has risen to prominence by marketing feminine-styled lingerie for men, with articles declaring that the company is “challenging some of our most entrenched gender stereotypes.” That sentence bothered me, because even before Homme Mystere I saw lingerie companies catering to crossdressing men–specialty sites as well as sections on women’s lingerie sites. The idea of “lingerie for men” gets so much play, and I’m starting to get the impression that it’s drowning out another conversation that needs to happen: a conversation about transgender women’s options for clothing, especially lingerie and foundation garments.

Men who crossdress get all this beautiful lingerie to choose from at a range of price points, including whole lines specifically designed to fit their bodies that still validates their masculine gender identities–and trans women have to either fit themselves into clothes designed with cisgender women’s bodies in mind, or resign themselves to buying lingerie marketed with hairy male models and large text declaring that this stuff is for men.

I also suspect that the “lingerie for men” excitement, when combined with the lack of resources for trans women, has helped inspire some of this refrain I’ve heard  from many crossdressing men: that trans women are just very misinformed crossdressers. Some of these comments may come from struggles with their own genders, and I respect that this stuff is painful and hard, but I’m tired of companies making it easy to erase trans women from the conversation.

Images via Homme Mystere. Read the full article on TLA here.

[thatbradoesnotfither]

I see a lot of help resources for people who can't find bras who have fuller busts. I don't have a full bust, but I have an 'unusual' band size, and I can't find ANYWHERE that sells it. I measure 28C, and I can't find one store - in person or online - that sells it. I've also never even tried on a 28C bra (because I can't find one...) to make sure that it fits correctly. I'm starting to get really discouraged. Is there anywhere that I can look, or a similar, more common size that will work?

I actually get questions about where to find a 28C a lot! (HINT HINT, bra manufacturers!) Here is another question I've answered that may help in your quest :) But wait, there's more!

Since I've written that post, there has been some great news for those in this often-overlooked size range: Cleo is expanding down a few cup sizes for Autumn/Winter 2014! This means that some Cleo bras will now come in 28-38 B-C, in addition to their current size range of 28-38 D-J. Great news for you 28Cers, which I swear is one of the hardest sizes to find!

[thatbradoesnotfither]

Where did you get the blue floral and red lace bra? It's adorable

That is a Cleo Melissa, my favorite unpadded bra! Since it is from a few seasons ago, your best bet would be finding it somewhere online. You might be able to find it on sale on one of these sites, but at this point it might be better to scour ebay and the /r/braswap subreddit.

If it helps, some newer versions of that bra style/cut are: Pixie (LOVE that print), Maya, Bella, Ellis, Nyla, and Marcie (which has similar lace).

Best of luck!

[thatbradoesnotfither]

Hello, I just recently stumbled across your blog and I love it, it is quite informative and helpful. I had a question regarding your fitting guide, what sizing system does it follow? Is it UK, US...?

I'm glad you've found it to be helpful, even though I haven't been posting much! In general, my blog uses UK sizing unless otherwise specified. The short reason is that most brands that manufacture a large size range use UK sizing, and UK sizing is more consistent in general. The long answer can be found here. :)

[andrewgibby]

It is a privilege to engage in theoretical gender discourse, and while politicians, doctors, families, and friends ask themselves if it is right or wrong, transgender people are being beaten to death. Teenage trans kids are issued death threats, and across the globe our body count rises. It is here, at the intersection of oppression, where violence is commonplace. How can we still wonder which bathroom she should use? Privilege affords the gender debate at the expense of our most vulnerable community members. When a trans woman dies you can read about it in the newspaper, where you see her described as a man instead of the woman she died for. And we wonder how to best protect our children, forgetting that some of our children are trans. TDOR reminds me that our precious politics have a very real consequence. This is a critical moment in the history of transgender rights. Will we remember those who did not survive it?

Diana Tourjee, Transgender Day of Remembrance, 2013 (via andrewgibby)

[thatbradoesnotfither]

I guess I should tell you guys why I've been so quiet lately...

My lovely readers, I have some good news and bad news. Since I usually prefer to hear bad news first so that I have the good news to comfort me later, I'll start with the bad news.

I'm sure many of you have noticed that I've been a bit MIA lately. This happens fairly often, but usually I'm not gone for long, and am able to bounce back in a timely manner. However, lately I just haven't been able to find the time or energy to bounce back, and I don't think I will for a few months. So, I am going on a hiatus.

The good news is the reason I've been too busy to run a blog—a few months ago I was accepted into a somewhat prestigious internship program at my university. This is a really awesome opportunity for me, because at the end of this program I'll graduate with almost 2 years of job experience in my field! However, this means that I have to take a lot of difficult classes (with their big piles of homework) all at once to prepare myself for these internships. I'm having a hard time finding the time to make dinner, let alone write a quality blog post.

So, what does this mean for the blog and its readers?

Everything on the blog (+social networking) is staying up, I just won't be posting or answering questions for a while. I will probably still post on Twitter from time to time, so if you want to keep up with me, go to my Twitter page! I will do my best to answer the remaining questions in my inbox, as I feel bad for leaving them unanswered for so long, but after that I cannot guarantee any answers until I get back. I will most likely be back around March, as that will be when I start to have free time again.

I'm sorry to leave you for so long, readers, but I thought about this a lot and it seems like the best thing to do for now. Plus, I figured that an official “bbl” post might be better than silently disappearing like I have been.

Well, BBL!

P.S. In the meantime, you should give some of these other awesome blogs a read... they are wonderful!

2 Cakes on a Plate 

A Sophisticated Pair's blog 

Boosaurus

Braless in Brasil

Bras and Body Image

Bras I Hate & Love

By Baby's Rules

Contrary Kiwi

Curvywordy

Hourglassy

Invest in your Chest

Fuller Figure Fuller Bust

Fussybusty

Kurvendiskussionen

The Lingerie Lesbian

Miss Underpinnings

Obsessed with Breasts

Quest for the Perfect Bra

Thin and Curvy

Under the Unders

Undercover Lingerista

Undiegamer

Venusian*Glow

Voluptuously Thin

Weirdly Shaped and Well Photographed

[electraboobs-blog]

[ifthebrafits]

I’m pretty sure Marina’s wearing a Panache Tango bra,probably the plunge version,here.I saw a video her wearing this dress and was wondering what bra she was wearing.

[thatbradoesnotfither]

I think you are right! How fun, Marina wears the same brand(s) I do :)

[amychowmein-deactivated20130422]

[thatbradoesnotfither]

Do you know if it would be possible to do a 38D to 28G alteration? Or would it be possible to use a Rixie clip for that? I know usually alterations are done only to make the band one, maybe two sizes smaller, but 38D is the only sister size to 28G that I could find in my country and I can't buy from the internet :(

You probably could make an alteration like that, but it might not work very well. (Also, a rixie clip would not work, it's only meant to be used for 1-2 band sizes off.) It'll probably do until you can get something closer to your size, but any time you alter a band down 2 or more sizes, the fit is compromised a little. Someone who needs a 38 band has a very different ribcage and boob placement compared to someone who needs a 28 band, so it's likely that the cups will be positioned improperly and the wires will probably be too wide. You can definitely try it, but just know that if it doesn't fit very well, it's probably because the construction is just off.

I'm not sure what to recommend alteration-wise to avoid this, but I know you'll have to do more than take in the band in the back. Also take in the gore, perhaps reposition the straps or bend the wires to be narrow--I'm not really sure. You should ask Dressing Curves, she is more of a sewing/alteration expert than I am, and she's made bras before so she knows the pattern differences.

Sorry I can't be of more help... alterations are not really my forte!

[thatbradoesnotfither]

Quick Try-On Review: Nordstrom’s Current Offerings

 Since I’m currently working a few blocks away from a Nordstrom, I’ve been visiting a lot this summer just to try stuff on. Most of the things I’ve tried on haven’t worked very well (mostly due to Nordtrom stopping at a 30 band), but a few things worked pretty well, and I’ve had a few surprises! I’ve been taking pictures every time I’ve gone, so I’ve decided to do an end-of-SS13 Nordstrom offerings roundup before the new AW13 styles start appearing.

I tried a 30F Freya Patsy longline in Coral:

It looks really cute and gives a pretty great shape, but the fit was a bit strange on me. If you read my blog regularly, you know that in Freya bras I usually need a 28 band, so this is probably a lot of the problem. However in my opinion, this seemed loose even for a 30 band. The band felt like it would slide around all day. Not only that, but the wires were quite wide and the cups were a bit wide-set. Now, I have shallow breasts myself, but I think that I personally need more lower volume than this bra provides, and a narrower wire. I have tall-shallow breasts, and I think this bra is meant more for wide-shallow breasts. You can see this when I point out all the empty space in the bottom and sides of the cup:

I was a bit surprised by this fit at first, because I’ve owned 4 other Freya longlines (Ivy, Piper, Carys, and Nieve), and they’ve worked quite well on me shape-wise. However, I have tried a Patsy halfcup before, and that had these same shape issues, so I suppose it should be no surprise that the longline version acts the same.

I also tried a 34DD Mimi Holliday Whizz Pop Comfort bra:

Now, I know that I am silly for even trying on a 34DD, but Nordstrom doesn’t carry Mimi Holliday above a DD cup or below a 32 band (Why Nordstrom, why?? Mimi Holliday is manufactured 28-38 A-G!), and I really wanted to try it on. I had some extra birthday money and was thinking about buying a comfort bra (in 30F/28FF or 28G), but I wasn’t sure if the shape would work on me.

I was actually quite impressed with the shape—even though the band was huge on me (it slid when I moved my arms), the bra was still quite comfy and supportive. I think that the stretchy cup fabric helped it work well for my shape, but I have no idea how they managed to keep it supportive. I think that those with bigger and/or softer breasts might find that this bra isn’t supportive enough for daily wear, but I think that is why I’m at the top of the size range. :) To be clear, I would never consider buying this size, but I’m glad that I was still able to make an educated guess at which size and style to order.

This 30F Fantasie Jana was interesting:

Usually, when I go into Nordstrom, I tell the employee who is helping me that I only want to try on colorful bras, in fact I often explicitly say that I’m not interested in “nude” bras. And every single time, without fail, they bring me at least 3 beige bras. Usually, I just leave them on their hangers, but this one caught my attention because at first glance, I thought it was a balconette version of the Cleo Jude.

And when I tried it on, it fit exactly like a balconette version of the Cleo Jude. Super tight on top, a point at the apex, yet shallow on bottom, but with a higher gore and a fuller band. It didn’t seem like it was as difficult to fit, though. Obviously it didn’t work on me at all (the Jude is a terrible fit on me so this is no surprise), but I tried it on mostly for kicks and giggles. If anyone is a fan of the Cleo Jude/Neve but wishes they had a balconette version, here you go.

I found this 30FF Cleo Lucy in Navy/Pink at the nearby Nordstrom Rack, and I was surprised by the shape update:

I love to buy Cleo Lucy bras and their printed cousins (Francis, Bonnie, etc) because of the cute colors and prints, but I always have to alter them. The gore is too wide and the cups are too closed on top, but when I take in the gore, they are actually quite comfortable and only give me a little bit of quadboob. But this newer Lucy style fit pretty well even without the alteration. The cups are much more open on top, are a little bit taller, and the gore isn’t so ridiculously wide. There is also some more room at the apex, as shown on me with wrinkling cups, so the cups seem to be a bit deeper now. I have a feeling that if I altered this one, I would get even less quadboob than usual. But alas, I hate this colorway, and I wasn’t particularly fond of the SS13 purple colorway. Maybe I’ll snatch up one of the AW13 colors.

…And *drumroll* the surprise of the day, a Chantelle C Chic in  65DDDD/G (in UK sizing, that’s 30F):

Now, I have to mention that I’ve had a silly grudge against Chantelle for a long time because of my 32D-wearing-teenager days when I would be pushed into buying bras that were too mature for my age. I wanted a colorful, starry-print bra, damnit, and the most colorful 32D Nordstrom seemed to have was an ugly Chantelle bra in a dingy pink color! But this bra has changed my mind completely. It’s still a bit sophisticated for a teenager, but it’s colorful, has a cute pattern on its not-quite-opaque-not-not-quite-sheer fabric, has a cute emblem on the gore, but most importantly it’s the perfect cup shape for my tall-shallow boobs and it’s a plunge. How awesome is this bra!

Unfortunately, the smallest band size Chantelle makes is 65/30, their bands run a bit loose, so this size doesn’t quite work on me. The band doesn’t feel secure and the cups wrinkle slightly, but the next cup size down is too small. I have a feeling that a 60H would work great on me, but they don’t make this size. I might buy it and alter the band just because of the perfect shape/construction, but $70 RRP is a lot to spend for a bra I’ll have to alter.

In Conclusion:

I tried on a few other bras that weren’t worth mentioning because the fit was so off or I didn’t get a picture: a 32DDD/F Chantelle half cup that nearly fell off me, a 34DD Mimi Holliday padded superplunge with a lot of *ahem* “restraint” issues, a 30FF Cleo Marcie that I didn’t get a picture of because it didn’t fit. But overall, it’s been awesome to be able to walk over to a local store and try on bras that I like. If only I had the luxury to do this with a store that carries 28 bands (in lots of styles) near my usual house! :) As much as I whine about Nordstrom sometimes, I really do appreciate that they carry full-bust sizes that I can try on in lots of locations. I think I will always wish that they didn’t do silly things like stocking D-J Cleo bras in D-GG cups, though. (Why??)

[thatbradoesnotfither]

I Don’t Believe in Flaws Anymore and Here’s Why: A Word Vomit about #DiversityInLingerie

I just wanted to start my #DiversityInLingerie post with a quick explanation for my picture before going into my main post. The main picture I’ll be posting on the twitter machine is this one: just me in my trusty Cleo Melissa asking for lingerie companies to include lots of different bodies, because they deserve representation, too. My main picture is more or less a show of solidarity—showing that just because my body type and race is currently fairly well-represented in the lingerie world, doesn’t mean that I’m not incredibly disheartened at the lack of diversity in the lingerie industry.

When I was thinking about what I wanted to make my #DiversityInLingerie post about, I thought about doing a post to include my flaws—zooming in on tiny stretchmarks, talking about why I don’t shave my armpit hair (even though I believe I shouldn’t need a reason), or showing the two scars above my lip that demonstrate that I’ve loved cats since before I learned not to piss them off.

I got these when I was 7 from a kitten named Ty (this was during the height of the beanie baby reign). I don’t want them to go away ever, because to me they symbolize my love for cats, and they look pretty cool. They’re my own unique marks. I feel the same way about the scars on my arms: they’re supposed to be “flaws,” but they remind me of the days when my baby cat, Sasha was a kitten, and would play day and night (often trying to play with my arm in the process).

And this is where I run into one problem with zooming in on my flaws—I don’t perceive any of these things to be “flaws.” Not always because of what they mean to me, but often because I simply like them. My stretchmarks are cute and fun to run my fingers over. I don’t think I should need any other reason to like them. I think it’s sad that our society is so fixated on our labels of “good” and “bad” that nobody thinks there is any chance that someone thinks that stretchmarks are cute all by themselves, even without the help of the “mom earning her tiger stripes” cliché (among others). My shortness is adorable on me. My scars are a happy reminder of how crazy my kitten acted when she was a baby. The scars above my lips are actually really cool looking, and give my mouth a curve illusion. My armpits are sort of androgynous-looking (and actually pretty soft), and they allow me take shorter showers.

But, I know that I’m lucky that I have never once thought of any of my “flaws” as flaws, because there are messages everywhere that tell me that I should be ashamed of them, even in the lingerie world (which I sometimes consider to be more diverse than the runway world). Have you ever seen a lingerie model in an ad with a visible scar or stretch mark anywhere on her body? Have you ever seen any model whose body hair wasn’t whisked away by wax or photoshop?

I’m not even asking about the big things yet. If I see a woman without a scar, at least I can look at her race and body shape/size and feel okay again. If I feel bad about my armpit hair, at least I can just shave it and stop dealing with it for a while (even though I believe I should not have to feel that way). But some people are simply not represented at all. They have no one they can identify with in lingerie ads, and sometimes lingerie companies won’t even cater to their needs at all. And often, they can’t just “take off” their traits and ignore the messages. This it the other, bigger reason why I chose to not zoom in on my "flaws" for my #DiversityInLingerie post.

If you don’t believe me, think about these questions for a bit: How many “nude” bras have you seen that didn’t cater exclusively to light-skinned women? How many bras have you seen that could work as a nude for a dark-skinned woman that were named “nude” instead of “mocha?” Have you ever seen a visibly trans woman in a lingerie ad? What about a woman with implants who wasn’t sporting a “porn-star look?” A plus-sized woman in something that wasn’t frumpy or matronly? An older woman in something sexy and fun? What about a woman with a visible disability, or an androgynous woman? There are so many different body types out there, and I know people who have some of these traits who are beautiful people. Yet, the lingerie industry currently only focuses on one type of body: white but tan, slightly curvy but not TOO curvy, thin, young, not visibly disabled, traditionally feminine, and conventionally attractive.

Even the most diverse ads I’ve seen are often lacking something. Ads with lots of different skin colors where everyone has the same standardized body shape. Ads with lots of different body shapes and sizes where everyone has the same skin color.  Ads containing women with implants who look like the stereotypical (aka not the average but perceived to be the average) implant receiver. Diversity isn’t something you can just insert tokens into until people stop bothering you—it’s the mindset that everyone is beautiful in their own, unique way and deserves representation. And it’s something that I firmly believe in, even as someone who is currently fairly well-represented.

If you want to participate in the #DiversityInLingerie tag, you totally can! Just post a picture of yourself holding the sign on Twitter, Tumblr, Facebook, your blog, or whatever. You can even send your post to me if you’d like, and I’ll post it for you. (Consider sending it to Braless in Brasil, as she’s the one who kicked this whole thing off!) You don’t need to be dressed in lingerie, you don’t need to show your face, and you don’t need to show your “flaws.” You don’t need to be under-represented, in fact, you can even be someone who would be hired to the Victoria’s Secret Angels in a second. The point is to show that everyone is aching for diversity, not just the under-represented.

Further Reading:

Remember to check out Braless in Brasil’s original post—she is the one who had this idea and kicked it off, and she has reached so many people already. She’s done an excellent job!      

Lack of diversity in Brazilian lingerie models

Diversity is more than bra size

Why Lingerie for women is ageless

Ladies looking for more "nudes"

Token Diversity: A Step Forward or a Way to March in Place?

[thatbradoesnotfither]

I know I've never worn the right bra size, so I recently took my measurements to figure out what my size should be. My band size should be a 48 (I'm plus size woman, and I've been squeezing into a 38 band for far too long), but I came up with an E cup size, which seems way too big! My boobs are on the smaller size, especially for someone my weight, and I would think I'd need more of a C cup. I guess I'm just curious if I'm misinformed about just how large an E cup really is. Thoughts?

Don't worry, many people are shocked to find their new size because department stores (and the incorrect +4 method of measuring) would like you to believe that A-DD are the only cup sizes that exist. ;) However, there's a whole lot more sizes than that--21 cup sizes are currently manufactured, from AAA to M. There's a whole lot more diversity out there than what 5 cup sizes can cover! :) So, instead of looking at it like you need the 6th cup size out of 5 cup sizes (aka bigger than the biggest size there is), look at it like you need the 7th cup size out of 21 cup sizes (aka the higher end of "small," which I think it what you would call "more of a C cup").

Here's the rest of your ask:

Oh, previous anon again (about the 48E sizing), I forgot to mention that I was concerned by the cup size because I figured that back fat would throw off the cup size. Wouldn't my overbust measurement be thrown off add fat from the back? I wish I could figure out my cup size simply by measuring the perimeter of my breasts.

Now, unfortunately, I am not really an expert on plus-size bra fit, so I don't know if I can answer this question as well as someone else could. Women who need a band size greater than 36 have very different fitting challenges than women who need sub-36 band sizes, and the measuring guide isn't always as accurate for 36+ bands. However, I can link you to resources that may help you figure out which method of measuring will be most accurate for you. If you make a fit check post on the ABraThatFits subreddit (just measurements, pictures aren't necessary), there are several ladies there who know a lot about 36+ bra fitting who can help you find the best starting point. :) Sorry I can't be of more help. :(

[thatbradoesnotfither]

I feel I have to wade in and provide a normally unheard perspective - wide shoulders! I wear a 30GG, and I've never tried a bra with straps that are wide enough. The straps sit at an angle, which causes all kind of problems for fit. I try on so many bras and wish the straps were an inch or so wider, so they wouldn't flatten my boobs sideways. It makes me look like I have pecs not boobs! Not everyone is petite! I feel like a unicorn when people act like wide straps are a crime against boobs.

That's interesting, thanks for your perspective! :) To be clear, it's not that I think that wide-shouldered women don't exist, I just think it's strange that there are almost NO options for narrow-shouldered women. I wish you luck in finding a bra with wide enough straps! :)

[thatbradoesnotfither]

Hello I've had quite a problem converting EU bra sizes to UK. My band is 65 cm/26 in yet only 2 sites of about 30 that I've visited tell me I should wear a 26, most say 30. Someone said you have to wear 2 sizes smaller in EU because their bands are stretchier. I have several of both UK and EU bras and if there's any difference it's that UK bands are stretc more! Most online calculators automatically add 4 inches to band when I enter 26, yet say they do not. Help, please? I'm really confused :c

Well, here's the thing: EU band sizes have the +4 method built into them. An EU 65 band is equivalent to a UK/US 30 band, even though 65cm is closer to 26in than it is to 30in.

So, that's why the sites say that they do not add centimeters. Technically, they don't add anything to your underbust measurement to get your band size--however, the band size is automatically 4 inches (10cm) larger than what it says because it is built into the sizing system.

That said, you are correct that many EU bras are less stretchy than many UK bras. Here's what I know from my experience: generally, Polish bras run tighter in the band than UK bras. (I'm not sure about brands from other countries--I've only tried the French brand Chantelle and I found their bands to be quite loose.) For instance, most people need a smaller band size in Freya than they need in Ewa Michalak. However, it's important to keep in mind that every country (and brand, and style, and so on) has its size variations--Masquerade bras often run just as tight as Ewa Michalak bras, Ewa Bien bras seem to be loose in the band like Freya bras, and some Ewa Michalak bras are very loose in the band, etc, etc.

As far as bra size calculators go, most bra fit bloggers I know recommend A Sophisticated Pair's calculator. It's one of the most accurate ones I've seen, plus it takes preference into account--and as I've said before, preference is an important aspect of bra fit that often gets overlooked! :)

[thatbradoesnotfither]

Hi!!! I saw in your drawer post that you own both the Freya Deco and the Cleo Marcie. I own the Freya Deco in 34f (which fits perfectly). I'm trying to decide if I should go up a size on not in the Cleo Marcie because I own the Panache Andorra Plunge in 36F ( should have been 34FF). How does the fit compare between your Freya Deco and Cleo Marcie?

Well, the Freya Deco is notorious for running large in the cup, and the Marcie isn't. :) (Although I have heard that on some shapes, the Deco doesn't run quite as large. I'm not sure.)

From my personal experience, I found that the Marcie ran about a half cup size small--I'm usually between a 28FF and a 28G, and my 28FF Marcie was too small for me (my 28FF deco fits fine, if not almost a half size large in the cups). So, I would go with the bigger cup size you are considering... why not order both and return the one that doesn't fit? You can find a website that does free returns (like ASOS or Nordstrom) and order from there so that you won't lose money on return shipping.