All bra adventures

Dec 12, 2012 -- All I want for Christmas ...

... is a lacy, non-padded, vertically seamed, horizontally cut half-cup bra that fits my normal root width but slightly shallow breasts. I want a bra like Ewa Michalak's HM, but shallower and in more 'continuity' colours. I want a bra like Chantelle's Rive Gauche or C Chick (I've just fallen head over heels in love with them although I haven't tried them yet) that fits my 27" underbust. I want a bra like Bravissimo's Mademoiselle, but not made of plastic.

Am I asking too much?

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Shared on Dec 12, 2012 Flag this
- No its not too much....its toooooooooooooooooo much.... best of luck ...let us know which bra contains all qualities of these bras.....
- It is NOT too much to ask, and thumbs up that lingerie stores and their management also understand this. I´m looking forward to you finding good bras, I think those sizes and models could fit me too :)
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Dec 11, 2012

Today I went to buy a much needed new bra. Knowing if I went to Nordstrom ,they'd have bras From Elomi and Freya I would love to own but not models that are made small enough in my 40D or 38DD/E. And they'd have bras from Chantelle and ... Wacoal in my size but not in the models I like( like Chantelle Amazone and Wacoal Basic Beauty and Retro Chic). So I decided to go to the not- as- high-end, Walmart and Kohls . Not knowing what to expect having never shopped for bras at either one. One plus is they are right next to each other.
First I went to Walmart and soon found out that they didn't have anything but garbage for bras. Fruit of the Loom and some Walmart
brand. Nothing I 'm interested in. I didn't buy a bra but I did buy some panties.
Next I went to Kohls hoping for better luck, aware that they at least carried Maiden Form, Bali, Playtex and Vanity Fair. But I was disappointed in their selection. Almost every bra was a t-shirt, molded, contour foam bra or a minimizer. Not what I'm into So I dug around in the clearance racks looking for full-coverage non t-shirt, non- minimizer and I found something I could handle ,if it fit me properly. Which it fits pretty good. For less than $8.00 I bought a Playtex Secrets (4421) in 40D. Not bad for $8.00.
So anyway, I think I'm going to be doing my future bra shopping on-line.What do you girls think of Herroom or Lady Grace ect? Any suggestions or advice? Thanks!

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DarianaWheeland

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131 bras
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1

Nordstrom Bras, Part Three

So I went back to Nordstrom today to return the Feathers and the Rive Gauche, hoping to find a nude bra and a black bra in 30 band that fit well and were cheaper to replace them. The same fitter who worked with me last time was there, and as soon as she spotted me, promised to help ASAP. I ... was pleased to find the C Chic that had been on the sale rack last time was still there - snatched that one up quick - and grabbed a Calvin Klein Customized Lift in nude to try on as well. My fitter brought me a few other cheap bras in nude, but all with 32 bands, sadly.

When I tried on the Calvin Klein, I had the worst quadboob I have ever seen! She told me that because it's a push-up, it's supposed to look that way, but I really didn't think that was true. I almost bought it, too, but settled with only purchasing the second C Chic. So now I have two C Chic bras that fit, and a Natori bra that is too big in the band but is absolutely beautiful.

I think I'll try ordering from Nordstrom online, or from other places. I was disappointed that they didn't have the 30 band in stores that they have online. There's also a small lingerie boutique near my house that I might visit for the first time tomorrow, because while the C Chics fit perfectly, I will need to wear a camisole or undershirt of some kind with them with most shirts, and I would like to get a few bras that I don't have to do that with, as well as at least one nude bra.

How many bras do I need, really? I know you're not supposed to wear them multiple days in a row without washing is the thing, and I visit places a lot where I won't have the ability to wash them for a few days. I'm also concerned, though, that if I start having tissue migration all these new bras will be for naught.
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- I tend to order online because they never have many 34s in store and seem to have a lot of 30s in stock near me. Funny how that happens :)
  How many do you need? As many as you'd like :) But people tend to say "one to wash, one to wear, and one to spare". I never wear the same bra 2 days in a row, so it does help to have 2 bras the same style to help with that. Have you considered using a rixie clip on the Natori bra?
- I'll trade you all the 34's near me for your 30's :)
  This is the first I've ever heard of the Rixie Clip, but that sounds like the most incredible thing. I'll have to order one just to have soon!
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Which of these should I keep? (if either)

So I finally had a cyber Monday shipment of bras come in, and I was super excited to unwrap the Cleo juna and discover how lovely and soft all the materials felt. trying it on, though, I'm faced with a conundrum. I got a couple of sizes, and found that the 34gg http://www.bratabase.com/browse/cleo/juna-6461/34GG/ ended up quadding a bit ... on me, while the 34h http://www.bratabase.com/browse/cleo/juna-6461/34H/ seems to gape at the top. it looks like maaaaybe were it not for the lace I'd be filling it out, but I'm not really sure. the straps on the larger size also did tend to kinda cut into my armpit, but it was lovely to actually feel contained in the sides for once!

Any opinions on which to keep, or if I should just wave the style goodbye? (I'm sorry if this more aptly belongs in fitting help, but I don't have access to a tape measure right now, and wasn't sure how that'd work to look at two sizes anyway. Thanks!
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- The 34gg is not an option if you ask me. I think you are wearing the 34h too low and you should also tighten the staps a bit!
  http://brasandbodyimage.wordpress.com/2012/09/05/putting-your-bra-on-properly/
  
  Anyway, i also think you might stalk branarchist too a bit - bravissimo halfcups might work wonders for you too :)
- i am agree with vee....go for 34 H..... u know its more suitable for you...thats why u post more pic in 34 H...:)
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3

Brands by quality?

Bra quality - this is something very important to me, more than looks in a bra. Quality for me means four things - materials, sewing, strenght and durability. First two influence comfort level, the other two how wellthe bra pays off.
So, having those criteria in mind, how would you line brands you've tried from best to worse?
Mine are
1.chantelle - absolute ... winner in all categories
2. Freya - I may not wear them much because of the shape, but they tend to pick their materials with everything in mind, sewing is good and the bras are comfy and last a long time.
3.ewa michalak - it would be in the second place if the brand wasn't so inconsistent in picking materials and sewing. Some bras would put them at the top, others knock them down - the really tend to choose some cheap materials sometimes
4. Curvy kate - dont wear them, but materials and sewing is impecable. Cant speak about durability though.
5. Bravissimo - they also had some fails in choosing materials. I have problems with their straps and the wires tend to pop out after time. They are scratcy, but supersturdy.
6. Panache - it wears out quicly, especially lacy parts - compaired to chantelle lace it's really much lower
quality. I saw somethreads sticking out not once. Scratcy too.
7. Cleo. By a mile worse materials ever. Ever.

So, the sadest part is - two brands I wear moste were listed last
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- You are right about Panache : bad quality. My lagoon Andorra looked after 5 weeks of wearing like I've worn it for years. The lace does fazzle out and tore apart on some places. Btw. I only hand-washed it.
  The Bravissimo's bras I bought are so far not bad, but there are lots of comments on wires popping out on the Bravissimo page.
- Please do a line up :)
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3

Curvy Kate and bottom-heavy breasts

I know that the conventional wisdom is to size up one or two cups in Curvy Kate bras. But I have found that I need one or two cup sizes SMALLER in Curvy Kate than I do in other brands. I think this may be due to my very bottom-heavy breasts: a smaller size pushes my breasts up slightly, and they're able to fill up the top of the cup.

Has anyone else had the same experience?

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- I have. I normally wear 40 GG/H in Elomi and 40H/HH in Panache. In Curvy Kate I need to wear a 40GG if I want my breasts to fill out the cups. However if I do this I get a really weird shape and the bra feels unstable, bc the base of my breasts is larger than the bra assumes. Plus the wires are too narrow and too short for me and poke me. If I size up, I cannot fill out the cups and the bra feels unstable because it upsets the usual balance of power between breast tissue and cup fabric.
- What other brands do you compare with? And what Curvy Kate styles? Emily, for example, runs bigger in the cup in general than Princess, Portia and Angel, and a lot bigger in the cup than Elegance and Tempt Me.
  
  I wear a cup size up from my unpadded Cleo size in Emily, but a cup size down from what i would have needed in most Panache bras, and a cup size down from my Ewa Michalak size.
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15

New feature! - Browse by size

There will be some stuff coming soon, today it is the "Browse by size" feature on the site

You can find it on any brand's page below the logo and see what is their full range and how they do their cup conversion for different countries.

You can also see which bras we have on the site and go directly to them without having to browse through each bra model.

Bra size charts by brand | Bratabase

http://www.bratabase.com/blog/2012/dec/10/bra-size-charts-by-brand-203/?utm_s...

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- Ohmy That might have been my most wished for improvement ever so far. So much more effective. Thank you :)
- Hallelujah! I love this improvement!!! SO much easier to browse for added bras around the own (suspected) size!
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Nordstrom Follow-Up

It's only been a few days, but I've put on and taken off each of the bras I got from Nordstrom numerous times, and I've worn a few of them for full days. I'm still very satisfied with the C Chic - which doesn't surprise me, as it IS my proper size - but the Feathers and the Rive Gauche ... have given me a few problems. The strap of the Feathers is cutting into the top of my armpit/shoulder in a really uncomfortable way if I slouch even a little bit (and twisting and leaving lasting red marks), and the Rive Gauche has some gaping at the top of the cup, especially if I don't have perfect posture, and shows up under white t-shirts a lot more than I would like.

The Rive Gauche was the most expensive bra I purchased and the one furthest from my real size (32DD) so returning that is a definite. The Feathers, though, is such a beautiful bra. I tried adjusting the straps a little - making them both longer and shorter on the side where the pain is happening - and it doesn't seem to help much.

I'm going to head back to Nordstom tomorrow and return the Rive Gauche and maybe the Feathers, if I haven't come up with a solution by then, and hopefully replace them with nude and black bras that are cheaper, and better fitting. I will say its rather irksome that the Feathers is only available in 30DD in the red coral color - I really would prefer it in black, and I bet getting it in my size would solve the problem.

The other Natori bra is bigger in the band than I would like, but it is so gorgeous, I'm having a hard time making the decision to give it up. It doesn't hurt or anything, feels amazing, and looks beautiful. I'll keep the tag and receipt around...I don't want to return it, but I'll give it time.
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- This is the really hard part... When you start to understand bra fitting really good, these tiny things drive you slightly "mad". It's so hard to feel satisfied and comfortable in a bra with even the tinier fit issues, but at the same time there is so many beautiful bras out there that one wants to have. :(
- Oh m so sad that the rive gauche didn't work for you! It's such a wonderfull bra, i bought it for tao of my friends and it works lake a charm :) but I agree, the lace isn't exactly t-shirty :) have you tried anything made from spacerfoam from chantelle?
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Dec 10, 2012

It seems to me that all the traditional bra companys I grew up with, which are all American I think, are not very popular with all you educated Bratabase members. Brands like Warners, Bali, Maiden Form, Playtex, and Vanity Fair. Now that I've discovered Wacoal (American too I think) I can see a diference in quaulity with Wacoal being better. It also seems to me that Victoria Secrets bras are popular amongst a lot of Americans. I've tried Victoria Secrets and I must say I didn't care for them at all.

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DarianaWheeland

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131 bras

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- Dariana
  
  None of the ones you list (except Wacoal) carry my size, which is 32G or H. I would love to support US businesses but first they need to start understanding their audiences.
  
  Your posting prompted me to send a note to Playtex asking them to make more sizes (and I gave them specifics).
- The main issue is the size range, not necessarily the quality. I wear a UK28J/30HH or US 28N/30M and none of those brands carry band sizes below a 32/34 or any cup sizes above a USDDD/UKE or a USG/UKF.
  
  Also, most American Brands and American retailers give terrible sizing advice. The Playtex bra size calculator told me I should wear a 38DD! I used to wear a 38DD and the band was swimming on me as the band measured almost 10 inches larger than my ribcage!
  
  Many Americans wear the wrong size, but I think most bratabase users have broken out of the "Bra Matrix". The size ranges of those brands only truly fit a small range of women. We need to spread the word so that more women are educated about bra fitting. Then we can "vote with our dollars" by buying foreign brands and making American brands realize that they need to step it up and expand their size range to make sales.
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Dec 09, 2012

So, I think I'm in love with my Cleo Darcy in 28H. The one thing that would make it better is 2< hook and eyes like it does now. It keeps my breasts from going numb here in Minnesota. Besides other Cleo Juna based designs, are there any good options for padded/unpadded bras for someone whose short and narrow (and sloping shoulders), but thick with shallow breasts? The straps are a bit wide for me, but they're stretchy and comfortable enough that they don't bother me.

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Jillsas

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- You might want to try the Masquerade padded half cups, they tend to give a similar shape, though the straps are just as far apart. You might also like Curvy Kate, they are made for shallower breasts and have short wires under the arm, though the straps can be a bit far apart here as well sadly. The Bravissimo half cups are also quite shallow, and not overly high under the arm.
  
  For open at the top of the cup and not overly deep you might also like the HP style from Ewa Michalak.
- Out of the Masquerade bras, I would recommend Anise and Delphi over Rhea. Anise and Delphi are closer in shape to the Darcy.
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