All bra adventures

1

Upcoming bras

I was reading reading Invest in Your Chest and Sophisticated Pair and noticed that in there are a few bras I am really looking forward to: Freya Just Flew In longline in 28 band and the Deco Shape (Longline and slip) in a 28 band! I loved my Freya Nieve Longline when I could still wear a Freya 30 band ... and I'd love to have a strapless longline (even though the ivory/yellow color looks horrible on me). Hopefully these will actually show up in online stores were I can purchase it. (http://www.investinyourchest.co.uk/freya-fantasie-elomi-huit-fauve-press-event-springsummer-2013-collection#more-7157)

Unfortunately, it looks like none of them will come out before my trip to the UK at the beginning of the year.
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Winter/Spring Lingerie Fashion Preview: Freya | A Sophis...

http://sophisticatedpair.com/blog/?p=2255

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- If I were planning a trip to the U.K., to cities with Bravissimo stores, I would hold off buying bras for a while (if I had the willpower, lol) until I could try on a multitude of bra sizes and styles to my heart's content, WITHOUT BUYING THEM ALL FIRST...Yes, I know my priorities are a little warped, but if I went to the U.K. again, I'd be spending a lot of time bra shopping. Of course you may prefer to see friends, sightsee, sample delicious foods...
- That's totally my plan! Unfortunately, most of the new ones I'm interested in don't come out until after my trip. At least I'll be able to try the bravissimo own brand bras I've been eying.
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1

Nov 16, 2012

So yesterday I decided to try wearing the black full coverage bra I ordered from La Vie En Rose. And yeah, it's terrible. The band is too stretchy and the cups are way too small, and I was constantly reaching inside my clothes to try and get it to fit, and after a few minutes it would be all misaligned. ... I'm a bit taken aback, honestly. I'm a *seamstress.* I have drafted corsets for my costumes from scratch. but for some reason i never questioned bra fit. Whyever not? But I'm going to be exacting from now on, you can believe it.

Well there's an off chance I have bras waiting for me in the mail so I should wander down and find out...

ETA: THEY'RE HERE!
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- Didn't you try the bra on for 10-15 min before you decided to keep it?
- Hi t_maia! I hadn't, because I was going to return them, but the store refused to refund my money because they were more than 50% off. I wasn't going to give them any more business simply because they don't have bras that fit me, so i suppose the final blow to my Canadian bra experience isn't much of one. But I got curious and decided to try it yesterday, and yikes. I'm currently wearing my new bra for that 10 or 15 minutes, though.
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2

Nov 16, 2012 Support: Beyond band and cup size

We all know that finding the correct band and cup size is the most important step toward finding a supportive bra. But I've found that sometimes even when a bra fits correctly size-wise, it doesn't give as much support as I'd like (I notice the increase in upper back pain pretty quickly).

I've found that wearing a bra with somewhat too wide wires can cause this problem for me. I'm throwing this question open to those of you who have already found your correct size: what non-size related factors have you found to affect how supportive a bra is?

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- I am bottom heavy and need wide wires, if the wires are too narrow, the lower cup too small and the upper cup too big for me, the cup tends to tilt forward. The bra then feels very unstable. I have this problem with Freya, Fantasie and Curvy Kate bras.
- Not sure if it's an issue of support as much as comfort, but for me a bra can be technically perfect but the straps are too wide set and keep slipping off my shoulders. Or the strap connection and/or the wide panel is so high it rubs my armpit.
  Also, I don't have firm breast tissue so a half cup that fits will leave me jiggling as I walk. In fact, I tried on a Wacoal Retro that fit perfectly -- was not even a half cup -- but when I took one step I felt like a bowl of jello!
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3

Nov 16, 2012

Not an adventure, but a question:

Would somebody be kind enough to explain the 'Reputation' feature to me - how do we get it is my main question?

Thank you in advance!

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- Hey cbear :)
  There will eventually be a help page explaining exactly how reputation is calculated, but afaik Jj is sometimes changing it around to make sure the algorithm works as well as possible :)
  
  Generally though, different actions around the site (adding bras, adding pictures, getting voted up, commenting etc.) will give you reputation points. They're not calculated live yet, so they should update once a day. :)
- thanks!
  
  I think the live thing as confusing me, because i have been commenting / reviewing etc and not getting more points, but if it only happens once a day, that would explain it!
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Nov 16, 2012

I have been adding to me Bravssimo wishlist! I am tempted by about 6 of the new season designs.
I think as well, i am more tempted now that they have the reward scheme, but has anyone else noticed it's not really a very good deal? You have to spend about £300 to earn a free bra - i think ... that the offer might be retracted before i buy that many!!

i like some of the sale items, but now, in my mind i am better to choose a full price item in order to get the 'free' bra! However, my husband, a mathematician, says that i'm better to buy a decent sale item than a full price item. The sale item only has to have 13% off to make it worth buying over a full price one!
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Nov 16, 2012. Ewa Michalak sizing

I received yesterday my first Ewa Mchalak bra, CHP Stalówka in DD65 and it was amazing!!! Might well be the best bra I´ve ever had! It fitted perfectly

Now I surely want to order more bras, but how do I know if the same size DD65 fits me concerning their other bras? I´ve been googling it and done some research but really found no answer to my question. Anybody?

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- chp's run large in the cup - one size up for your pl's and ch's. not sure about hp's.
  The cup sizes mostly are pretty consistent in a certain cut - however, there have been different reports about ewa's bands.
  I think you will find enough info on her bands here on bratabase. What bras are you interested in?
- Thanks for answering!
  
  So this is what I have:
  http://www.ewa-michalak.pl/product-eng-307-CHP-Stalowka.html
  
  I guess I´m interested in everything, but especially these:
  - CHP Milady
  - HM gold
  - HP Koktajl
  - ATRAMENT (is this PL or CH or what..? didn+ t say on the site)
  - PL Onyks
  
  Would all CHP bras be similar to their shape / cut? If one CHP bra fits, can I expect all CHP´s to bee good in shape for me?
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4

Bravissimo bras finally arrived...

Sooo my new bras finally arrived Yay! But I had to pay customs on them Ughhh. But anyway, I had high expectations on those bras since they all got a lot of positive reviews.

Bravissimo Alana in 30K : Let’s say I’m impressed. This bra is really supportive! Great uplift and support. ... No jiggling at all! My breasts feel like concrete ;D
But there is no perfect bra and also the Alana has it’s downs: those straps are too seperated! They cut into my arms Also I have to say it really runs small. I would recommend to go up 1-2 cup sizes from your usual size!

Bravissimo Boudoir Beau 30JJ: Once again, good support, uplift and fantastic shape! I like it!

Bravissimo Broderie 32JJ: Cups too big! they had only 32s left and I read that most of Bravissimos balconette are modelled after the Alana, so I thought I had to go up 2 cupsizes from my usual size as well.
If anyone is interested in buying this from me, message me! I wont send it back because its not worth it, because I keep everything else.
Or I’m thinking about using this as a sleeping bra. The material is very soft and it feels really comfy.

Shock Absorber Sports Top 34H: this I had ordered because I desperately needed a sports bra and it was on sale It worked out better than I thought! The band runs very tight so I can get a away with a 34 band.

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- Could you compare alana and beau? Shape, lift, size, upper par of the cup? Alana doesnt cut in?
- I'll add measurements and pictures tomorrow. A lot of reviews on bravissimos site were complaining about pointy shape, but I found both bras made quite a good shape, round but natural. More coverage than Cleo Bras and not a "BrasIhate-fit".
  The upper part of the cups runs very thight on the Alana, so sizing up is nessessary! It has also fully adjustable straps.
  (too bad, Beau and Broderie haven't :( )
  So my theory about these bras is:
  Take your Cleo or Panache Size (mine 30J)
  Boudoir Beau Size (go 1 cup size up from your cleo size = 30JJ)
  Alana (go two cup sizes up = 30K)
  I also saw this pattern on other users that reported both Alana and Beau as fitting.
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Nov 15, 2012 - Curvy Kate wires, ouch!!!

What is it with these CK underwires?? I have never before experienced such pain from wires, ever!! I didn´t know what painful wires meant.

Yesterday I wore an altered 30DD Criss Cross and although I think the wires could ideally be wider, they dig into my sternum! Not under arms. At first when I tried on this bra, I didn´t notice ... it. But during the day it became obvious. I don´t think my boobs are too close, at least that has not been a problem in any other bras I have. I tried to stretch the wires away from my sternum, but I don´t know if that helped at all.

I tried on Tease me in 30DD and the wires were awful in that bra as well. I sent it back and got 30E in which the wires are not bad at all (it remains to see when I wear it for a whole day though).

The cups in Criss cross 30DD are definitely too small and I would prefer wider wires, but can a) too small cups or b) too narrow wires cause the digging in in the sternum..? Should it not be undes arms, if my boobs are not too close? Or is it overall the combination of an ill fitting bra and maybe too shallow center part of the bra?

In tthe other bra, Tease me 30E in which the wires are wide enough and cups big enough, I still feel the wires very clearly. I´m afraid they will hurt me also after a long day´s wear...

Is it only me who´s having trouble with CK wires? This has not happened in any other bra unless the band has been much much too tight.
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- I think it's due to the thin fabrics mostly with their wires. But I've always found the wires to be thinner compared to Panache at least. I think the thinness both in wires and fabrics gives cutting in. CK are lightweight and lightweight are less sturdy and comfy. The way I see it. On me CK mostly seems to bend with my body.
  
  As a general rule CK probably irritable skinny people more than me with extra padding :)
- ^Hmm, makes sense. I guess I am quite skinny where the wires are placed. Too bad, maybe then I am not a CK girl after all :(
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5

Nov 15, 2012 - I found the formula

So I've found the pattern in bras that seem to fit me well... they generally fall within this range of measurements:

cup width 5.5-6"
cup depth 7.5-8"
wire length 8.5-9" (can wear 8-9.5" comfortably too)

If a bra is too far off on the first two, then it tends to be a fail. If it fits the bill but still does not fit the ... bust, then it tends to be a shape issue (ie. soft cup, full coverage styles wrinkle up top for me; they're a no-go, no matter the size). I have bras in the following sizes that fit me well & fall within those specs: 28E, 30DD, & 30E. I also have bras in those sizes that DON'T fall in those specs, and "surprise, surprise", DON'T fit me well.

Bottom line: look for the pattern in the measurements, as well as style/shape/cut. The measurements may be more consistent than the actual sizes you wear. I wish online retailers would provide that info, just as they give inseams/leg opening measurements for pants or heel height for shoes, etc.

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Crossing my fingers for non-returnable Ewa Michalak bra!

I've just made a special order from Ewa Michalak for a 75HH CHP, so I need to cross my fingers it will fit! I do have reason to doubt it: I am much more like a 34J/JJ than HH, but they don't do larger... And then, I can hope, can't I? I have seen other be surprised that the CHP ... runs larger, which is good news for me! I just reaaaally want a bra that fits I don't have any... The ones I've set to 'fit' here at Bratabase are more like "Bras I can get away with wearing", rather than actual fits
And the EM plunges are disasters on me.. I have them in 75JJ, so I've ordered a 75J and 75K to check if it is a size-issue.
I've also just recieved a massive Bravissimo order, and it seems only one of them worked (though I am mesmerized by the Lola Luxe).
And, as I have mentioned earlier, I am set to be on a make over TV show on Tuesday, and now I won't have a proper bra for it :/

In other news, I'm selling a lot of my old bras? If the price is not good, just mail me, and we can talk about it
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XLhourglass

1002 reputation

83 bras
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