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Bra ignorance by bra sellers

The bras I have listed here, I am also selling at a Danish website, where also companies sell stuff... And there are those completely back-less bras, where it is like a attachable bra-cup you stick on to your boobs.. And they are selling them by cup sizes... Like "This one will fit A and B cups, this one is for ... C and D-cups" Well, let me see how that goes if a 60D and a 90D tries on the same one! I am considering asking them about it!

And, another little quirk: I also had an ad up for the 34HH / 75L EM bra, and I said in the ad that it was all new, but selling because it is too small. I noticed that this size seemed "extreme" compared to the other bras: The biggest one besides my own, was 85F! So I was a little nervous..
Well, I got a response... From a man. in his 50's. Who wanted to come and pick it up personally. Maybe I am just paranoid, but it seemed a bit creepy xD So I was glad that I had just sold it here on Bratabase, so I could easily turn it down
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XLhourglass

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- Lol those back-less bras sound weird. Unlikely that they could work for anybody.
  Btw. do you still have the EM 80H CH and the CHP 75HH?
- Oh no, that does sound rather creepy that a man in his 50's wanted to pick it up personally! Sounds like he wanted to meet the "pair" that the bra belonged to....ewww.
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Bras for my mom

I just saw Demeter made a similar post, and I figured I would ask this community for help too
My mom is uncomfortable with her body, so I have not actually fitted or measured her, neither has a fitter.
I found out she was wearing poor fitting UK 42E's. She has a very similar body to ... mine, though her hourglass figure is not quite as defined as on me, as she is older, has had kids (and C-section), and has been overweight for many years - because of this, she is also 'softer' than me, both bust and back (and I am already pretty soft, so this is a factor when looking for bras)
I got her into Change Lingerie, where after "fitting" her (I would ask her questions of the fit, tell her how to put it on + look at her with a shirt on), and she ended up with a UK 40G and 40FF.
I ordered Oriental Bloom in 40FF and Alana in 40G. She was very happy with these 4 bras I had now helped her get (which, I think is saying a lot - she wouldn't comment on such things as bras, unless it really really was good), and showed me the bras I had ordered - and omg, the band is so loose! I think she is probably a 36/38 (depending on band). The cups looked fine, though I suspect that if the bra is forced closer to her body (in a tighter band) it could quadro a bit.
She doesn't like padded bras and she likes traditional looking bras - not boring (actually, she thought the Alana was just a tad too boring for her), but 'young looking' things like a lot of the printed bras is not her thing. Big laces in color is more her. She doesn't want too much coverage, as she likes wide and/or deep necklines. Also, she cares about how the materials feel: Those I ordered for her were both polyamide elastane polyester mixes, and she was dissapointed that they felt so cheap.
I think the band is pretty crucial: It has to have the least possible back-fat-creating as possible, because she is already so conscious about such things. So very wide band, with very wide seams would be good.
I think Elomi would be a good place to start? But since she is with in the band size range of non-plus size brands, are there some of those that would also work, do you think?
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XLhourglass

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- Change Lingerie has its quirks.
  
  Quite a few Change Lingerie's styles run small in the cup so keep that in mind, in other brands you may need to go a size down. Usually the smaller CL size is the "average" fitting size with other brands.
  
  As for the bands I feel that although Change Lingerie ones do stretch out to true size they are a bit resistant to stretching so the bands feel a bit tight, especially when they're new. They may start to feel looser and closer to true size a little bit of wear in (most of mine do, a few stay "tight").
  
  So, yeah, I wouldn't be surprised if your mother actually needed a 38G cup most of the time and should probably even go for UK 38G/GG (so, J/K?) in Change (with an extender the first half a dozen/ten wears).
- Well, she also has those two from Bravissimo, so I am not basing it 100% on change ;)
  And yea, Change can be all over the map. Their sweimwear and other bras made of similar fabrics tend to be tight, I think. But the others, I would say loose. And I think their size chart can really throw people: They have a DD cup as it's own size, but no other double letters. So they are not standard EU, UK or US.
  These are some of the reasosns I am looking outside change now :)
  She won't wear an extender. When ordering those Bravissimo bras, I also tried to convince her to rather get a too small band than too big, because she could always wear an extender, she almost called off the whole order - she feels like it would be a cheat: As I said, she is body-uncomfortable, so size and bras are a very delicate subject.
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huh whut? stupid stretchy bands...

So I recently bought my first CurvyKate bras, and they are of course gorgeous.
Because they are also my first foray into sub-34 bands (32s), I struggled with getting them on, the first time. I hook on the front then move 'em to the back. Yea yea, I know, it's not perfect, but I just can't get anything fastened on my ... back, it seems.

Anyway, something I'm noticing today... the Angel I'm wearing today seems to be riding up in the band already I am still wearing it on the loosest hook so after posting this I'm off to tighten it... but it's only the 3rd or 4th time I'm wearing this bra! Is this normal in CK bras? If so, I'm SO getting myself a 30 band with an extender next time... oh, plus increase the cup size some extra because these are quadboobing on me but they're the best I have and no money to spend on better ones... geez I need a job.

*edit after checking it* OK, so the mirror showed me it is actually not riding up... but it did feel like it. I've tightened the straps a little now, forgot to do that this morning so maybe it's because of that.
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- One thing you can try when trying on bras is to fasten it with an extender, and then once it's on properly, "walk" the hooks in tighter. You're never going to be able to get a band hooked as tightly closing in front as in the back (at least most people won't) so this way you can close it, turn it, scoop, etc. and then tighten the band up by moving one hook at a time tighter. I find this a lot easier than trying to just fasten the bra, or to move the whole thing in at once. (I do hook in the back, but almost always try on new bras with an extender, and do this, because I like a really tight band, and I don't want to damage the bra trying it on.)
- That sounds really smart raspberry, I will look around local shops for a good extender and otherwise grab one online for any future bras!
  So it's not crazy that after about 4 wears it's time for the new hook?
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Figleaves shipment! Nov 28, 2012

I ordered a bunch of bras from Figleaves last week, and they arrived today! I ripped open the box like a kid on Christmas (not literally ripped, though, because I knew I'd probably have to ship a few back.) The kid-on-Christmas attitude faded into kid-on-Christmas-who-got-too-many-socks-and-not-enough-toys, though, as I tried them on one after another.

It frustrates me so much to have ... to order my bras from another country, wait a week, then find that almost none of them fit! I'm sending back four out of six, and I'm not even sure if it's worth it to exchange any of them for another size. There's just so much that can go wrong when you're somewhere between a 28HH and a 30K, and brands can't seem to decide which.

So I just spent a couple of hours meticulously documenting the fit on each of these bras on Bratabase (much to the chagrin of my hubby, who was initially excited about the game of boob-hide-and-seek, but quickly got bored with me sitting around measuring things.) Hopefully, I'll save some other busty lady the trouble of cycling through bras and money to find out which ones fit!

On the plus side, though, I did get two new bras that fit!

Freya's Ellie bra in 28HH fits just about the same as the Teagan in a 30H, but the band is just a tiny bit more snug, so I won't have to worry about it riding up in back over the course of the day. It's also BEAUTIFUL. The pictures made the pattern look much less vivid than it is in person. That factor is a double-edged sword, though- the pretty colors limit the types of clothing I can wear with it. (Honestly, I only ordered this because it was so on sale- I reeeally should have gone for more beige or white bras instead!)

I also had success with the Royce Sadie soft-cup bra. I've been wanting one for a while now- I haven't had a soft cup bra since I was 14, so I've long since forgotten the feeling. Looking for a soft cup bra in my size is kind of like searching for unicorns. Beautiful, beautiful unicorns. But they do exist! I've seen them! Honestly, it's kind of frumpy, but I just love it anyway 'cause it's so comfortable. And despite the frump, my boobs definitely feel supported in it.

So I'm going to be sunny here and say: it definitely was worth the shipping. I have two new comfy bras, which bumps up my comfy bra total to... three and a half! (I'm counting the Freya Deco strapless as a half because it's comfy and practical, but not all-day-wear comfy.) Semi-success!
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- So I saw you in ellie, it is cute :) you do have some wrinkles on the bottom and near the gore, but thats not an uncommon problem for close set breasts in freya and it wouldn't justify going down a cup size. It would probably cut your boob in half on top also.
  Now, Im ranting here because I concluded that you are a great bravissimo candidate :) and that you still fit the cleo range :) since you're in the business with figleaves, you might as well try some cleos - they might actually suit you better than freya. You also might like panache jasmine and andorra :)
- You might be able to make those wrinkles go away by taking more care when putting on the bra correctly. After you've done the swoop and scoop what you need to do is the following: left hand holds wire of left cup, right hand goes to left cup. Left hand, push up the wire and hold it in place. Right hand, grab the cup and crumble the fabric in your right hand, thumb inside next to your boob and fingers outside. Shove your thumb down to the wire. Now pull the fabric in a round motion around your boob towards your chest. Sometimes this makes a huge difference bc it frees up volume in the upper cup and it becomes obvious that the cup is too large.
  
  Second the rec for the Bravissimo bras, especially the BoudoirBeau.
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Nov 28, 2012

So I got a Cleo Lucy in 36G for my mom for Christmas. Now I'm afraid it's not going to fit or the shape will be all wrong. 36G is what I measured her at, but she had clothes on and stuff. She tried a US 36DDDD but it was obviously several cups too small. She also said the band ... was too tight but I assume it's because the cups were so small. I think she currently wears a 42D or 38DD. I wonder if I should just resell the Lucy and look for something else. I also don't know if a G will be big enough. She has a lot of sagging (Ptosis) and I don't know a good style for this. Any advice?

In other news, I am waiting on four bras! Three are coming from the UK: two CK Thrill Me and a Masquerade Polka plunge. I too got a Lucy which I hope will be here by Saturday, all in 28FF. I hope something will fit me! Ad I just ran into a black Deco in my size on ebay, so I will probably have to bid on it xD I must stop buying bras!!
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demdem

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- Hmm I'd say moms would appreciate more freya, fantasie and elomie, but You may have a really hip mom :) I think lucy is a good bra for young girls that don't need major stability (anything I would consider stable would come in a full band). Anyway it still could work if her boobs are far set and not too heavy. You should measure her properly for your next attempt- think of lucy as a starting point :)
- I agree with Vlatka, why not use the Lucy as a starting point and if it doesn't work, you can start her journey towards her true bra size together!
  
  and YAY for more bras!
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Nov 28, 2012

Those of you who have tried busty-cut clothes (Pepperberry, BiuBiu, Urkye, etc) but have a bit of a belly pooch, I have a question for you: What is the difference between your largest waist measurement and your bust? Are there shirts that are cut for the bust but have some ease in the waist?

I know AJ Rumina trends towards super ... tight waists, so obviously I'll steer clear of them. My bust is 35" and my natural waist is 27". However, around my belly button I pooch out to 30", and that 5" difference basically sizes me out of busty clothing and yet pushes the limit on even curve-friendly off-the-rack clothes such as Express. Do I have any options for button-up shirts besides "buy something that fits the bust and tailor it"? Off-the-rack clothes that are big enough for my bust are too big for my shoulders, even in petites.
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NeverTookHomeEc

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- I'm afraid I haven't tried any of these clothing brands however, I'm interested to hear what others have to say as I have exactly the same problem as you with the belly button pooch.
- I would keep an eye out for everything that flaires at the waist. I'm 32" an inch below my belly button because of my hips (but always considered me being small there :S). Anyway, I don't have any trouble at all with clothes, but especially the BiuBiu stuff that flares at the waist would probably be really good. As they fit nicely around your waist it should not be a problem with the pregnant-look either.
  
  In your case I would go by the size chart and recommend Vanity Fair by BiuBiu: http://www.biubiu.pl/search?st_search%5Bsearch%5D=vanity+fair&st_search%5Band_search%5D=1&st_search%5Bdetail%5D=,
  Fado by BiuBiu: http://www.biubiu.pl/search?st_search%5Bsearch%5D=fado&st_search%5Band_search%5D=1&st_search%5Bdetail%5D=
  
  I also think that all flared dresses, especially though in woven or thicker fabric would be good on you. :)
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Wires too wide, full on bottom, and torso too short... what to do?

So the first bra I've ever had in the DD+ range is the Wacoal Awareness full coverage bra in a US 36H (the label says UK 36H too... wtf Wacoal that's not how sizing works) I'm sure I've needed one for a long time, just didn't know it. I was so excited to have something I wasn't falling out of... ... however, it feels too big. I did try a cup size smaller in the same style, and it was too small (center gore wouldn't rest flat, I had armpit fat) Also tried a band size bigger, cup size down, and it wouldn't sit right in the center either. I swooped and scooped. So I'm thinking it's just a problem of being full on the bottom and the wires being hugely wide. I also don't like how it flattens me out. The bra construction feels kind of silly, like why make the cups so dang wide and the band part so short? Of course you're going to end up with the cups wrapping around as part of the band if you do that! The edges of the cups rest over an inch back from where I'd like them, especially at the top. Like they're going behind my armpit. I'm "squishy" for band sizing, that is snugly I'm a 35-36", but really tight I can get down to 32", so I don't think having too small a band is the problem at a 36 band. It's been a couple weeks and I'm comfortably on the second set of hooks. This bra also has stiff wires, so some of it might be pulling the cups wider, but not easily.

Also I wouldn't exactly say I'm wrinkling, except for a bit in the side where my side fat/migrated tissue can't quite fill it. But when I lift my arms the tops of the cup wrinkle, because I'm only full on the bottom. My camera's broken, can't take pictures, but might get a new one for Christmas.

My other problem with wires is that I'm short, and every underwire bra I've had has poked me up in the armpit. I'm not talking about digging into the sides, I'm saying that when my arm is hanging down, the wire is too tall on the sides and pressing up into my armpit. In the Wacoal there's a gap in the wire casing and the wire ends an inch below the upper edge of the side, which is good because the sides are so high they fold over since they're basically choking my armpit.

So basically what I want is a bra with narrower wires, less coverage for very soft, full on bottom breasts, and short sides. Unfortunately it seems like to get short sides you need wider wires. Ugh. Also I had some migrated tissue which I'm working on getting back into the cups, so I guess for now wide is okay since it covers all that.

I've ordered an Elomi Abi and Goddess Rose Bandless because the Eveden representative I emailed about which bras were good for shorter torsos recommended them... but now from reviews I see that they have wide, torquable underwires, at least in the Abi. Also ordered a Panache Tango plunge because it was cheap, but of course I now see they too have wide underwires. They're supposed to be here next week, so we'll see about whether the 36FFs are okay, but I wish I knew what I should be looking for.
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- endless
  
  I'm on the same quest so I can't really offer much advice. I also got fitted into a Wacoal when I started this journey and thought I was happy. BUT, I am a 32G (US) and it was a 36DD! (this was a couple years after being told I was a 38B!!) I have since tried on many a Wacoal and for me, they hold my breasts in place pretty well--but I want them up, not in place! Like you, I am short and most bras poke me in the armpit. I stumbled across a couple of Fantasie 32G (US and UK) in England and snapped them up--I have very limited shopping time alas. The Lizbeth has ended up becoming my go-to bra. I had to modify it a tad to get the straps from slipping.
  
  I also got a Fantasie Elodie which pokes me in the armpits. Do you have sloping/narrow shoulders? If not, try Fantasie. If so, try the Lizbeth and tack the strap over just a tad onto the cup.
  
  You will find the Chantelle Rive Gauche will poke you while also feeling like an armor breastplate. Don't do a real plunge bra with soft tissue--you will fall out.
  
  Let all us short (er, I mean, normal height) people know when you find the Holy Grail!
- I have a short torso and my ribcage measures 35 inches. I, too have full on bottom breasts. One of the first "fancy" bras that I bought was a Chantelle Rive Gauche and I love, love, loved it! I typically wear Freya bras and I have a Fantasie that I love. Panache bras poke me under my arms, but I have had luck with Cleo.
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Nov 28, 2012

I ordered 3 Ewa Michalak bras last night; the PL Carmen in 38JJ, PL Stalowka in 40JJ, and PL Karmelki in 40JJ....

I know that the EM bands run tight, and some have said that the cups run small. I also have a 42J PL Burgund coming from another blogger in Finland, so we'll see how that fits...

But when I ... shared this news with the other bloggers, one of them was like "OH NO! THE BAND WILL BE TOO TIGHT IN A 40!"... It made me sad. Hopefully I'll have some luck. My absolute tightest measurement is something like 37.5"
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The Long Wait for Ewa Michalak

So, I took the plunge! My husband gave the go ahead for me to order some bras from Ewa Michalak as an early graduation gift, and I’m so excited! It will be a while (and maybe they won’t...

http://fussybusty.com/2012/11/27/the-long-wait-for-ewa-michalak/

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greenpianokeys

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- I hope they will arrive soon and that they'll fit you!!
  You're right, better to find they are too tight and use an extender than having to return them for being too big in the band...
- I had the same fear, but after I received my PL Toffik in 65(30) JJ, I thought it was much too loose in the band. So I sent it back to exchange it for a 60(28) K - a 'special order'. I am still waiting for the 60K.
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Nov 28, 2012

I tried Cleo Chloe and Cleo Rhianna in 30GG. They were both too big. So, logic dictates that if i go down to 30G/28GG i should be fine, yes?

I am a touch confused, but i want to try Cleo and to get it right, i'm just sick of having to wait for bras to arrive, spending money and then ... they don't fit

It doesn't help that Chloe and Rhianna seem to be unpopular, and i can't find many suggestions of how these two compare with Marcie, Meg, Zia, Alexa, Olivia etc etc - any guidance?

Thanks!

ETA: I have Very close set boobs, and the central gore on every bra i have tried has sat on breast tissue. I need a gore which is only the width of one wire in order for it to sit on my sternum properly without pain in my boobs - which brands / models are best for this?
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- Ughh I hear you about sending bras back and forth and spending a large amount of money on shipping costs:(
  Rihanna has the same cut as Juna,Ellie, Martha, Poppy and Darcy. Juna is quite popular on here. If you could put on a fitting request on with Chloe and Rihanna then we can better suggest which sizes to try:)
  Chloe has the same cut as Marcie, Zia, Natasha etc. and is a member of the "Cleo George family" but they all fit a bit different. Chloe does run a bit big in the cup as I read in reviews and allows more volume on top than for example Cleo Lucy.
- i don't have the bras anymore ... i returned them to get the money back when i realised how massive they were!
  okay, i will look for Juna size guide then, thanks!
  i'm getting bored of not having bras that fit, and the more i get to know, the fussier i become!
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Nov 28, 2012

I've recently fallen in love with the Masquerade Rhea. Got one in the 30D (sister size to my 28DD) and it's given me more clues about my shape.

The problem with this is that it mostly fits.. but on the outer side of my breasts, I'm quadding out, and on the inside I'm gaping. The gore is uncomfortable. If I wear ... it higher (tighten the straps) I get beautiful victorian boobs and no quadding/gaping and I don't notice the gore at all. As a bonus, my armpit fat is gone! This makes me think maybe my breasts have sagged and that is why they're low on my chest (I have a long torso). They LOOK perky.. but if I shift the root and skin surrounding around, they come with..

I'm going insane, right?

The delphi in 28DD gives me a ridiculously pointy boob shape and the lace on top folds funny. That's going back.

Got the Curvy Kate Tease Me the same day, and the pain that bra caused on my sternum was insane. I have a high pain tolerance but I will never be trying that on again.

In this same order I also got a Panache Tango plunge 28DD and that was terrible too. Pretty sure balconettes are a nooooo go. But the Rhea just looks so amazing. I blame all you amazing bra bloggers with your gorgeous chests.

This journey for a bra that fits is tiring. I love my Mimi Holliday super padded plunge, but it's got a clear line where the padding stops and my boob starts, making it not great for slightly tighter clothes.

Now waiting on a Chantelle and Figleaves home brand to come through.
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- You're not insane!!
  
  Those bras sound like they do not suit your body at all. Have you tried bending the wires if they're poking you? It might help.
  
  I can totally understand it's a tiring journey, it's one I myself have only recently started so I'm still quite energetic about it myself. But with high street failures... I know the feeling at least.
  
  I hope your Chantelle and Figleaves turn out to be better suited to you!
- it is so tiring... i wish i lived in the U.K still :( it's also expensive to keep trying different things.
  I wish you the best of luck :)
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