Bra adventures » Boob and body issues

2

Braless for the night?

I've sometimes gotten away with going braless under lightly supported party dresses and tight bandage-like tops in the past, but having a cup volume of roughly 28H, I've never gone without ANY support. Last night I had an ointment on my chest and didn't want it to ruin any of my precious bras! I also didn't want to put anything ... on it that might absorb the ointment and render its effect ... less effective. Since I was staying in, I decided that this was a good time to go commando.

At first it was liberating! I went about my business after work feeding the kitties, lounging about on the couch playing video games, and making myself a little snack in the kitchen. Boobs got in the way a little bit, especially when I moved my arms, but overall, I felt empowered (RAAAAAARRRRR!!!), and I imagined myself Jane of the freaking jungle roaming and foraging for food while combating enemy insurgents (on my PS3).

Somewhere between a bite of chocolate chip cookie and dodging an enemy sniper, a tell-tale cramp started creeping in, starting with the spot that lies between my shoulder blades I refer to the PAIN HOT SPOT. The more I hunched over to compensate for the front load weight, the more intense the pain got. I tried leaning back on my seat to see if that might help. Nope. It also made me suck real bad at my game. Ugh.

Feeling defeated, I retreated to my bra drawer to find my least favourite precious bra. Sifting through my neatly stacked colourful Freya Decos trying to decide who would make the ultimate sacrifice, a familiar embroidered beige strap caught my eye. I found my old bra vest! It was perfect! To give you a better picture of what this is, it's basically a secondary support vest to wear over a bra that is open at the chest, but firm and supportive for your back. I used to wear them to supplement my poorly fitting 34DD VS bras. But now that I have bras that encase completely under my boobs instead of sitting on top of them, I had no need for my little beige hero. Here's an example of one http://litbimg4.rightinthebox.com/images/384x500/201205/cotton-with-lace-multi-way-front-busk-closure-wedding-party-shapewear_kpb1336536119695.jpg

He came to my rescue again last night. My back pain quickly diminished and its convenient design didn't interfere with my ointment application. Back to cookies and video games

In closing this rant, I've established that I definitely have some bra dependency. Going braless for me really isn't as fun or liberating as I had imagined. Perhaps that should have been pretty obvious to me, but for whatever reason, it wasn't.

Just wanted to share this story and see if anyone else has stories or comments on the topic of bralessness?
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Shared on Oct 08, 2013 Flag this

9 comments
- I've been braless 80-90% of the time I've had boobs since I was young,I'm now 19.It didn't use to be so bad,but now it's starting to get real uncomfortable.Bras that don't fit aren't comfortable,though when I get tired of the bralessness I will wear a bra that doesn't fit right for a while,it will be better than going braless completely.
  I find a bra with too loose of a band will give me back pain even worse than going braless,a good fitting band will eliminate that.Heck,even the Andorra I tried that was about 2 inches too small for me in the band took away my back pain,though it was hard to breathe.lol
- Aaah I used a bra vest too before I found well-fitted bras! In the end, it was almost torn to rags because of the pressure XD It was way too wide for me as well, but there was only a one size option at the time :P I used to wear that for support, and then a pair of stretchy bra tops (ah-bra like) over it. That was my improvised 'bra structure'.
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Can Your Breast Shape Change?

Is it possible for one's breasts to change shape due to weight loss/weight gain,wearing badly fitted bras,wearing well fitted bras,different styles of bras,etc? Say from more full on bottom to more even or even more full on top,or the opposite.Anyone ever had something happen?Or nothing happen after after a major change in weight or wearing bras that fit for a long time after not wearing well fitted ones all their life.
Or is it pretty much genetically determined and you have the same basic shape all your life?

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Shared on Oct 07, 2013 Flag this

SparkleDarkles

697 reputation

32 bras

6 comments
- Breast root width can change or "get exposed" with breast size fluctuations (due growth or weight gain).
  
  Similar happens with top fullness. I think Vee just mentioned some of that happening to her recently.
  
  If the weight change is dramatic then all bets are off, boobs can do about anything :P
  
  Of course the degree of which these changes can happen is bound by what you were born with. So it'd be tricky to translate experiences.
- "Boobs can do anything".hahaha,ain't that the truth.They like to do whatever they want at times too!
  I was looking at eliza 's adventures a few minutes ago and came across this.
  http://www.bratabase.com/profile/353/adventures/2345/
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Size Change *Again*!

I've been having so many body changes these past 9 months I am dizzy from them!
Guess it's a good thing I only ordered a few bras during this time.
My bust used to measure 51" and now measures 49".It will probably go back up to 50" during my period,I will measure then and see if it does.It used to go ... up to 52" then.I first started noticing I was losing from my ribcage,where I typically do first very easily,though my bust stayed the same and dropped 1-2 inches in a matter of...I think only 2 weeks?!
I started out ordering bras at 49" bust around 9 months ago,then gained 2 inches in a matter of...I think it was 5 weeks.So nothing fit again.
My ribcage measurement standing without a bra is now 38" when it used to be 39".So I seem to have lost an inch from boobs and an inch from back/ribcage,it was split pretty evenly.lol.

Last night I also tried on that Mimi Holliday bra I got 3 months ago at my old 51" bust measurement and it was too small in cups and ok in band back then...now the band is way looser and the cups fit even smaller.I ended up laughing cause it looked hilarious.I'm going to sell that one.If I lose more weight the band will be even worse and if I gained then it just wouldn't work one bit.
Proof again that even if you do lose weight it doesn't mean the same bras that were too small back then will fit at a smaller size.Same can go for clothes. O.o

But since I still have lots of squish that has to be compressed a bit in order for bands to give me support and not give me a backache,I measured wearing my closest to best fitting bra at the moment,got around 37",but if I want more support 36.5" seems to be the sweet spot.Sitting down in that bra I measure 38",breathing in sitting down I measured 40".This band stretches to 41-42" and it's almost always 1 to 2" too loose,so that makes sense.
So I need bras with bands that will be firm enough at the lower measurement but stretch without killing the bra or myself up to 40".
I may need to size up to 40 bands and do a sister size in some of Ewa's bras cause of that,from all the reviews I've read and measurements I've looked at.

I believe my standard size now is around a 38HH and 36J,depending on stretchiness of band.
Though based on the Andorra I tried in a 36HH,I think Panache bras in a 38H would be a good fit.
It seems like a cup depth of around 13.5" is perfect for me at this point.

I better quick get some bras before they change again!Off to put more things on ebay and maybe a bra on here to help finance this adventure.
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Shared on Oct 04, 2013 Flag this

SparkleDarkles

697 reputation

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12 comments
- That would be so annoying. I haven't had any major changes since I was 16 and I grew 3 cup sizes pretty much overnight. I would probably keep stuffing myself into too small bras if I had as many changes happening, but that's because I'm a bad girl.
  So this Mimi Holliday. What size are you talking here?
- Oh,it is annoying,for sure.
  My mom also thinks that one should like stay the same size almost all the time,too. :P lol.Which doesn't work.
  Lol,I did for a while till I couldn't breathe!But I'm unable to do more than a cup size or two too small cause comfort is important..I end up ripping the bra off within an hour if it doesn't work.I actually tend to get better cleavage in a bra that fits well than one that is too small.
  It's a 38G.
  Measurements and review here.Probably wouldn't work for you..the cups do stretch a lot,which helps.I could measure that.Also the band is bigger than the Andorra.The problem I have most with this one is the narrow wires..the wires are short as well.
  http://www.bratabase.com/bra/dlbhj/
  But if you do decide you'd like to try it,I am selling it pretty cheap,especially for a Mimi.One reason is that there's a little bit of rust on the hooks.Happened cause I got sick when I was washing it and didn't get to it till a while later.The fabric is not harmed and doesn't smell at all,though.The eyes are totally fine.I might be able to get the rust off myself,but would rather let someone else decide how they want to do that.
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Full on Bottom and My Breast Shape?

Wasn't sure whether to post this in fitting help or bra adventures.
I only have a few photos from months ago and I'm a different size now,but my boob shape seems to stay the same.That's probably the most cleavage I have ever gotten in a bra.lol.I was pretty squished in it,though.
http://www.bratabase.com/bra/dl2pe/
I will try to add more current photos soon with the bra that fits me ok.
But I was wondering what people think I am,I think I may be full on bottom for the most part,but really don't know.

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Shared on Sep 29, 2013 Flag this

SparkleDarkles

697 reputation

32 bras

9 comments
- Might be best to post this in the fit request section so it won't scroll off too fast.
  
  Looks to me as though you are wearing it far too low.
  
  Otherwise, hard to tell, except pendulous come to mind (since I am too). Have you checked out this post? http://brasihate.blogspot.com/2013/02/clarifying-breast-shape-full-on-top-vs.html
- It's virtually impossible to tell from the photos you posted, especially because that bra is nowhere near the 'correct' size and an unknown model to boot. However, from this angle, to me, your breasts look splayed and shallow with breast tissue going high up your chest -- the latter often an indication of Full-on-Top breasts, actually. The combination of shallow, splayed, and FoT seems a reasonable assumption also because you say that this is "the most cleavage [you] have ever gotten in a bra".
  
  I agree with RG that your bra seems to sit very low relative to the crease of your breasts (as far as we can guess where that crease sits). If your bra is indeed sitting low -- check where the wire marks are: do they sit in the crease of your breasts or significantly below that? -- I think you're also fairly high-on-chest, which means you may often run into 'armhole issues'?
  
  All this is, obviously, just speculation. If you wish more adequate help, please, post a fitting help request with some more recent photos in a slightly better fitting bra. Also, check out the link RG posted -- it's perhaps not 100% accurate, but still very helpful :)
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2

To Enter SIAB Or Not To Enter?

That truly is the question that I am dealing with and there are only four more days to enter. There are cons and there are pros and I'm not sure which outweigh which.

Pros:
-It'll be a step towards modelling which I could see myself doing
-It helps NA women and the women I know to see bra sizes done the ... right way
-It'll help promote CK once again to NA
-I could possibly go to NYC if I get into the top 5
-And if I were to win, there's a modelling contract along with a year's worth of lingerie.
-It would be a great confidence boost to get into the top 20

Cons:
-I hate that they discriminate against women who have had surgery of any kind and I don't want to be seen as though I am okay with that.
-I have fibromyalgia so any physical/mental stress takes a huge freaking toll on my body
-If I don't enter, I might regret not doing so
-I'm self conscious about my acne scars and while I know I'm beautiful, my scars are abundant.
-I'm 30K and so already at the top of their range and don't do well in most of their shapes to begin with
-I don't have any properly fitting lingerie at the moment, let alone a semi matching set

I'm sure I have more pros/cons but can't think of any at the moment. I'm so very torn and I've gone back and forth about entering, but still can't make up my mind. Any help/tips/advise ladies?
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Shared on Sep 26, 2013 Flag this

izzylawliet

1032 reputation

83 bras

14 comments
- I will not enter because of the surgery discrimination, I can't get behind that at all. But I think it would be a lot of fun to enter, if you feel like you can and want to, submit photos. You can always drop out if you don't want to participate anymore but you can't enter later on if you don't enter and change your mind.
- I think you should enter. You can always pull out later if you change your mind :)
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2

Yet more breast shaming

- subtitled "by those who should know better"

So, for bra shopping, there's a store I like four hours away and one eight hours away - probably more, but I've not looked - there's a new Soma but I'm sized out, there's online but I prefer test fitting either with used bras or in person because I'm picky and cheap, or ... a semi local store that carries a specialty line and will order in Eveden lines. Since Freya is figured out, I figured I'd visit and order.

Yeah, never mind.

1 - I am 31.5" underbust. A 36 does not work. Add in the other fit issues, I would need a 26 most likely.

2 - Yes, I know my right breast is larger. Always was, always has been, always will be. It may be less common, but it's perfectly normal.

3 - Yes, I had a reduction. Don't glare and ask why didn't I get the right size earlier, because the "Icky Vicky" bras lie about no cup over DDD. 32S by my guess, surgeon based on amount removed says 30V at least. I'm in some of the upper cup sizes for Freya, I still have impressive breasts.

4 - I do need support. These lovely ladies are heavy. Very heavy.

5 - Well fitted wires don't hurt, and I need the support. A boob recliner (laying back, metal frame) is pushing it, a boob hammock does not work.

6 - 39-40" overbust means with the 32 band, a bra neutral point is 32G/GG. 36D is nothing but hell.

7 - with the 32G/GG weight with FoB breasts and scars preventing side migration, I need a 28 or 30 band for soft cups. This brand needed a 26 at least.

8 - But, with osteoarthritis in my spine, scoliosis and asthma requiring steroid use at times, a 28 is far too tight, 26 would be worse.

9 - I admit to being picky on shape. But, I am not required to like pointy boobs. If I like round, I can. If, from my second job where I help install gas lines, I prefer compact to my chest, I can. (Friend does installs, I help him as needed) It doesn't mean I'm being against the 1950s. Besides, I found the look more cone bra than bullet. So I'm dissing the 1980s. Be sure to let Madonna know.

10 - While I'm not modest or overly fussy over who sees my naked breasts, if I have an appointment, I'd rather the fitter doesn't stop seven times to help others and leave the curtain open for all to see.

11 - I'm not buying the lines because it doesn't fit. It's nothing to do with refusing to buy American or hating unions. See my car in your lot? There's a reason I have the union identifying stickers and pro union bumper stickers. Besides, you order from Eveden, that's not a union company or American as far as I know.

Shrug, guess they didn't want my business. From comments, it was clear I'm too young (32 isn't that young), too well off (wouldn't that be a positive, as I'd have more to spend on bras, too muscular (that totally lost me), dangerously underweight (I carry weight in my butt and thighs, not my ribs) and since I only drank water there, I'm anorexic (erm, wouldn't I lose my excessive muscles if that's the case)

On a positive note -

I got cranky with Curvy Kate again, got an out of office with another email. New woman is FANTASTIC. It probably won't change anything, but she got why I had the issues. I wasn't blown off for days. She - admittedly on paper only - mentioned taking the concerns seriously and the potential for change. She acknowledged receiving pictures.

Do I honestly think anything will change? No. Because they still are stuck on listening to the disgust directed towards breast surgery, and I've been taught the company doesn't care. But, had I started with this person, I'd probably not be finding the company to be nasty and unethical.

Because "I understand your valid concerns and will bring forth the issue. I understand why we lost a customer, but I'll still work to reduce or eliminate the discrimination." is far nicer than "I don't care, go away, fine here's the prior quotes. You'll come back, but if you don't, so what, you have fake breasts and no valid concerns. Now seriously, shut up and scram." New contact got that right away. Old one had no clue at all.
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Shared on Sep 25, 2013 Flag this

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- God the bra industry is rough. It seems like everything about it sucks. Companies that make a fairly wide variety of sizes are disciminatory, stores that carry a wide variety of sizes are rude and uneducated, people look at you funny if they figure out you wear your size...
  
  I just have a question, I'm guessing 31.5 isn't your BTT (or as I like to refer to it, just short of breaking your ribs measurement). That's my loose measurement and I can't even imagine wearing something that tight and I'm 1-2 cup sizes smaller than you? Do reductions then make your breast tissue denser? I'm just curious how that works out (I'm almost certain I have lighter breasts than you anyway because they never feel heavy).
- Ugh, sorry you had to experience all that!
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Dear boobies...

Make up your mind already, would you?

So, when I started here (half a year ago? a bit more?) I was wearing ill-fitting 32D's, because I was unaware of the existence of smaller bands. I am narrow, my bones are narrow, my hands are narrow... but I have a curvy body type. This seems to be impossible in most people's minds. ...

Somewhere around that time, by body HAS decided to change: my waist became narrower, my bum more pronounced... and you, dear boobies, decided to hitch along and become larger. And now I'm thinking about some urban myth about a woman's body changing every 7 years or so; usually referring to becoming fatter. Yes, it was about 7 years ago that my body reached a first adult form, I suppose, I was only fully grown at age 19.

But, I stocked you up with a bunch of well fitting 28F's and we were quite happy. Despite being bigger, and me not being all too enthousiastic about that, you looked better in clothing than you ever did before.

But then, about 2 months ago, you decided you've had enough of it, and shrunk again, leaving me literally with nothing to put you in. I gave it a few weeks, thinking it might just be fluctuation, but no. So, I decided to hook you up with a few well-fitting 28E's. Right before my 'time' they didn't fit, fair enough... and last week they did fit. I haven't actually even worn most of them, as it takes time to order these things. And now, you're filling up my 28F's again. The Cleo Bella, fitting me when it arrived, gets nowhere near fitting you now.

Please make up your mind!! I can't keep on buying bras you know!

And now I still don't have a simple fitting nude and simple fitting black because you're still not fitting my Deco's properly!

Yours, TSC
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Shared on Sep 21, 2013 Flag this
- It's definitely not impossible to be slim or skinny with curves,drives me crazy when people think that even though I'm plus size.
  
  I feel your pain.I go though so many different body changes all the time now,I feel like I'm going through a second puberty!Well,I am 19,so maybe things are settling right now.I seem to fluctuate a lot throughout the month now,and am keeping track of it.I think I did just lose about an inch from my back,which means the two bras I was wearing on the last hooks no longer work. O.o I can easily puff up 3 inches during shark week,though,no matter what I do to try to prevent it.
  
  I think what I will do,is once I figure out bras that work well for me,is to buy them in three different sizes....current one,one down,and one up.Or bras with removable push up pads.That way I am covered until they do something really weird.lol
  
  I think it's good to hold onto bras a cup size up or down for several months as boobs like to do what they want.haha
  
  Trying to find a simple fitting nude is one of the struggles I have too.There are 5-7 I want to try that could work for this,but then none could work too,which is a scary thing.It's funny,cause when I was smaller and wearing the wrong size,all I could find and wear were white and nude and now it's hard to find those.
- Yes, that may be an idea..
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New and looking for a starting size

Hi everyone. I joined this site because I have had a major size change in the last year and I am looking for a starting size. I lost weight, dropping a couple inches both in and under my bust. Then I started on birth control and gained what I lost in the cups right back while my underbust stayed the ... same. Going thru such a huge change led me to a few online calculators and then some blogs and then here. Yay internet!

SizemApp put me in a 32I in US sizes.
My underbust is 33" loose, 32.5" snug, 31.5" break the tape.
My bust measures 40" standing, 42.5" bending over 41" laying down.

Entering my measurements here gave me a recommendation of 34GG.

Since becoming "boob enlightened" I realized I've been wearing too loose band and too small cups my entire boobed life. I have learned the name for my "pendulous" "full on top" breasts. I realized I have massive tissue migration and even have glands migrated into my "armpit fat".

Advice is welcome.

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Shared on Sep 17, 2013 Flag this

6 comments
- Just a few questions that will help others giving advice. Are your roots wide, or do they stay on the front of your body? Are you firm or soft tissued? Do you have a style preference?
- I don't know how to tell what kind of roots I have. I think I'm firm tissued, I have lots of glands in there. I usually do better in bras w/ seams or ones that allow for projection. Side shaping is good. I always fall out of plunge or front close bras. Underwire is a must. Hope this helps.
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3

The continued debate on Curvy Kate

Quick background - Star In A Bra excludes ALL breast surgeries, even medically needed ones. I have issues. I shared them. CK said to email. I did, and had a read response in 17 minutes. I've had no return email or further comment.

Current news...

I snarked at them Friday. They posted other posts after my snark.

I go ... crabby in public and here. I point out the lack of response. Hey, people aren't thinking I'm nuts and I may have a few more joining the boycott.

This morning, they claim the email went to the wrong inbox and I should have a response. Hrm. Guess they do listen if there's a threat to their pocket books.

But, oh wait.

Twelve plus hours later - no response. At all. None.

Oops.

Furthermore - I emailed the address THEY gave me, and someone on their end at least opened it 17 minutes after I sent it.

Nope, I'm not buying the claim anymore than I find them to be diverse. Sorry, I don't sit quietly and act like a lady. If I'm willing to go public in a bra and panties, why does the company think I'm going to play sweet and nice?

Sorry, I support Dr Horrible and the Evil League of Evil over Captain Hammer. Even if I do the weird stuff.
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Shared on Sep 17, 2013 Flag this

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- Not saying you're wrong, but ... I'd give them a bit longer to reply.
  I think your original email was opened by their PR secretary/social media rep or whatever whose job it is to answer quickly and without any new content. (That person *also* should be in charge of forwarding more important emails so that's a goof.) So now someone with a little more power is probably supposed to answer and that's taking longer than 17 minutes.
  Here's the thing: a longer response time is actually a better sign. It means they need to think about it.
  Good luck.
- Yes, I agree iwth @ntl. It's an email they have to think about. I'm sure there's a list of answers to questions asked that this person has to go through, and if they are working on the "star in a bra" competition, there may be a lot of similar emails about diversity (I'm thinkig of the new debenhams catalog type diversity, possibly including scars, missing limbs) or they leave these emails to someone in charge who could be busy.
  
  How long ago did you send the first email?
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3

Wtf is "full"?

Ahaa. Full = projects

"I am fuller on X" means "I project in X areas".

It doesn't mean "I have more breast tissue in these particular areas.

A tall or spread room does not equal full. Aha.

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Shared on Sep 16, 2013 Flag this

9 comments
- That does indeed ring true ... :)
  
  It's funny, when I think of 'full' I almost automatically think of 'round' -- as in: I don't consider my conical breasts 'full', because they are so 'not round', if that makes sense. But during some moments of my menstrual cycle I describe them as 'becoming fuller' -- their basic measurements don't seem to change change, but they become ever so slightly 'rounder' and less 'conical' and they definitely take up more space in my bras.
- If you think about it, it's just like the way we use the word 'full' to describe other things. You could have a very small glass, which is quite full, or you could have a far bigger glass, but if it doesn't have much liquid in it, it wouldn't be considered full, even if it had more liquid than the smaller glass.
  
  It's about having more 'stuff' in the effective area I feel. People who are fuller on top have more projection in their upper quadrants, and people who are fuller on bottom have it in their lower quadrants etc.
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4

Why I am really pissed with Curvy Kate

The Star In A Bra North America is back. Per T&C, it's for NATURAL D+ breasts that are not enhanced.

Well, I wear a 32G-JJ depending on the line, cut, style or annoyed breasts. So I've got D+, no problem.

Well, other than the delightful cleavage CK Showgirl bras give me, nope not enhanced. Seriously, I got enough, I don't ... want more.

Plus, these breasts are 100% natural. They are mine, all mine.

So, yay, I qualify! I know I'm too old for consideration, but I think it'd be fun.

But, wait. The reduction. The one that panicked doctors how much damage was being done. The one because under UK sizes, I was a 32S, which even today is not made. The one that was painful enough to make me never again consider a reduction again, as I'm pretty sure 32GG would qualify. That reduction.

I have enhanced, fake breasts. I'm disqualified from the start.

Enhanced? Bull. Flat out. It's not enhancement to go from at least an S cup that hung to my low waist to a 32GG that sit where breasts typically sit. It's called being able to function and survive. The reason I don't have much sag is from muscular development, not surgery. My under scars are not at the fold, they're on my breasts.

Fake? Oh big fat f*** you. I have real breasts. I'll do an MRI to prove it. These breasts are natural because I got smacked on both sides of my family tree. My sisters are also very well busted. Since I'm not some GMO plant, the genetics that made my breasts is natural.

Now, a huge issue. Apparently any surgery is disqualified. While reconstruction post breast cancer might technically be enhancement, I have major issues with the idea that wanting to look feminine and being able to wear women's clothing is viewed negatively. Removal of a cyst - how is that enhancement? Medically needed surgery, which can be deforming, shouldn't be punished.

Then, it's an unfair advantage to non surgically altered breasts and the fake breasts don't look the same as normal. There's a large population of women who have needed surgery. Why can't we be sexy or wear pretty bras? Why are we blatantly ignored as a market? And, excuse me, but my breasts look normal. They sure as hell didn't before surgery. Plus, erm, some of the top 20s before look a bit altered. But, either way - breast surgery isn't uncommon, so if surgically altered breasts look so different, why not have us model also? Because then, "real" breasts would look unnatural to us if Curvy Kate logic is true.

But, final straw - they want to be emailed to discuss further since they listen to customers. So, I email a detailed list of issues and the problems with the discrimination. I include a picture of me in a CK Romance, a Thrill me and a Freya Deco because hey, look, normal looking breasts. Yet, because I agreed to go private in good faith that CK listens to consumers, nope, not worth responding. I know my email was read. In fact, I got the notice of reading 17 minutes after I sent the email. But, teehee, no response. At all. Not even a form email "Thank you for the email" type email. Really? That's listening to and respecting your customers?

Sorry CK, but that's not listening. That's not welcome to all. That's not diversity that you claim to want.

It's plain and simple discrimination. It's encouraging the continued mind set in the D+ world that surgery is bad and evil. It's boob shaming.

Stating that being a Caucasian is an unfair advantage in bra modelling, so Caucasians can't enter sounds patently ridiculous, discriminatory and just plain mean. They wouldn't dare say that, even though Caucasians are over represented. Yet, it's perfectly fair to say altered breasts are an unfair advantage, so altered breasts can't enter. Despite having a 100% majority of winners having non altered breasts.

The line fits me too well, there's never wires or excessive pressure on my scars. But, they don't like my breasts. I'll absolutely buy the bras used, but never again will I buy a CK bra directly until they stop with the body shaming discrimination. Because I do not feel ashamed of my breasts or my reduction. My reduction totally removed my body shame.

But, it still hurts to be laughed at and excluded because I listened to well qualified doctors instead of further destroying my body and not letting my breasts keep me from anything other than laying down, then puking from migraines just caused by by rolling over and letting them eventually kill me, either from damage physically - having doctors panic about positional asphyxiation by laying on my back drove that fear home - or mentally - I'm an extrovert, I love playing music, but I couldn't do ANYTHING and yes, I have no doubt I'd have eventually committed suicide to leave that hell. It's painful to know a company who loves diversity on paper really doesn't consider being anything but perfect as a real consumer.
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- I have nothing to add or comment on, can only lend my support in all your experiences and don't find you unnatural in any way, nor do I find bybabysrules and her beautiful enhancements unnatural.
  
  I don't get why they wouldn't allow surgeries such as reduction and cyst removal count. Is it the scars they don't want to deal with? But even with enhancements, you have to wear a bra and the issues that come with enhancements are just as extensive as natural breasts of the same size deal with. It's unfair and wrong for them to discriminate against a good amount of women who would otherwise qualify and love to enter.
- That's so weird they won't allow that... :/
  I don't blame you one bit for getting a reduction! I would have too.
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Sep 15, 2013

A couple of months ago I bought 3 new bras and the pink "t-shirt bra" with full coverage gaped at the top and I stopped wearing it. I had a beautiful lace bra that has no gaping and I assumed it fit perfectly. A couple of months later I was wearing the bra and it is now one of my ... uncomfortable bras. It leaves red marks on my skin which I've read is normal. I assumed my band was too tight but upon further reading the bra band should not be able to rotate around the rib cage easily, therefore it's too large.

With this information I've redone my measurements and boy has my weight loss changed some measurements! My ribcage is down to a 31-32" and my breasts have gotten larger which I'm going to blame the birth control because I had noticed. My breasts have grown 2"! I'm also well aware that my breasts look small and these measurements I'm about to become a DD and I just am struggling to even think about trying on a DD when I thought I was a Bcup for a majority of my life. I do have wide root, shallow, full on bottom breasts. There's a lot of space between my breasts, achieving cleavage is a struggle.

Here I am trying to buy new bras because I can't go through classes uncomfortable.
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- I assume your bust measurement is 37" or 36"? I would try 32D or 32DD. The Cleo Juna is a pretty good starter bra for that (and the band is slightly stretchy, so it might feel better than something that isn't so stretchy). This is a pretty good list too: http://www.venusianglow.com/2012/09/small-breasts-with-broad-base.html
- The thing about my breast measurements is that standing the measurement is 37" but bent over it's about 38.5"... Thank you for the bra recommendation, I'll definitely check it out!
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Dry skin

I don't know why, but I have chronically dry skin on my boobs. I've tried creams, oils, exfoliations, and nothing helps. My skin is dry in general but my boobs are exceptionally dry. Does anyone else this problem? What can I do?

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Shared on Sep 13, 2013 Flag this

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- My husband doesn't have boobs, but he does have chronically dry skin on his chest and under his arms that nothing will get rid of. His doctor says it's a mild case of eczema.
- Mareka Do you think eczema cream would help? It's driving me nuts!
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Boob sits lower?

So I noticed this maybe a month ago and today it irked me as well... It seems like my smaller breast sits like half an inch lower than my larger one? It's pretty annoying since I'm asymmetrical as it is.

It's like my larger breast comes out more at the crease and the smaller breast just kinda of gradually comes into itself? Hard to explain, I don't have a lot of projection.

Anyone else have this problem? :/

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Shared on Sep 11, 2013 Flag this

demdem

353 reputation

31 bras
- Not that problem in particular but no one is symmetrical. Some people even have to buy two pair of shoes to get one that fits. For bras, we do the best we can--fit the hardest to fit if we can and use cutlets or alterations for the other.
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Not What I Thought They Were?

Well,for a while I thought my boobs were mostly fat,but now after thinking about it,I think they may be more glandular!Part of my reason in thinking this is that is when I gain weight,it normally takes quite a bit of weight gain for my boobs to grow and sometimes it seems like my boobs grow a little bit before I ... gain weight.But I feel a difference with my boobs when they seem to gain what I call "actual boob" and not just fat.
A lot of people my size will have bigger boobs and while I know everyone's different,I would wonder why.
And while I gain pretty much proportionally,my boobs were often last to grow till recently.
I tend to gain more side boob.
They seem to be about the size,apart from the side boob fluff,that they would be if I was slimmer.
About 9 months ago,I used to be able to squeeze some muscles and kind of contort myself so that the "actual boob" was separated from the "side boob".I can't do this very well any longer,but sort of can.

Also my boobs don't seem to "fill out" or plump up much with weight gain,and will still have loose skin.Sorry if this next part seems gross (stop reading if you think it will gross you out as I don't want to gross anyone out),it isn't as bad as it sounds,except for the sagging that it causes.lol
I can pinch this loose skin and lift it up slightly with a very thin layer of fat and then under that is tissue that feels the same as the Mayo clinic describes as glandular.

From the Mayo Clinic site

"How breast tissue normally feels

Breasts contain tissues of varying consistency. The glandular tissue in the upper, outer part of the breast usually feels firm and slightly rope-like, bumpy or lumpy (nodular). The surrounding fat tissue, often felt in the inner and lower parts of the breast, is soft."

Interestingly enough the bottom of my boobs feel like they have a bit more fat,but not a lot.The sides as they describe the glandular tissue.
As for the side boob...the further back I get,the more it just feels like fat tissue,but as I'm going back it still feels like the first till a certain point.

This is all completely backwards from what I used to think,I thought glandular meant bigger,but maybe my boobs don't want to be past a certain size and want to be mostly glandular.As I say,my body likes to do things backwards.Then again,I also have lumpy fatty tissue on the side of my upper arms,so it could be fat,but it really does feel much more "ropey" with my breasts.

I could be completely wrong,but I found this all very interesting.
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SparkleDarkles

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Back chub

I was wondering if anyone else has found this- on my bigger side everything lies flat and I find that I get very little to no back/underarm chub over the top of the wing of my bra, however on my smaller side, even though I'm struggling to fill out the cup (it's not dramatic but there's definitely empty space), I ... have a roll of chub that pops out over the top of the wing where it meets the strap at the back. It's definitely there and it's definitely bigger on my smaller side. I have a 29" super tight underbust and find the problem is worse when I wear 32 bands, but it's still there when I wear a 30.

Does anyone have any idea what might be causing it? Could I eventually coax it into my cup or is it just another of the wonderful quirks my body likes to throw at me?
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Shared on Sep 05, 2013 Flag this

8 comments
- It sounds like a mild size/shape difference between your two breasts. Like your bigger breast might have more depth and therefore work better in a bra with narrower wires and deeper cups and your other breast might prefer wider wires and shallower cups. One thing that I've found definitely helps with back chub and armpit chug is tall wings and wires (on the side).
  
  It makes sense that it might be worse in a larger band because larger bands mean that the wires aren't pulled as wide as they would be in a tighter band.
- Jillsas I do find the situation is improved by taller wings that do genuinely come up as tall on me- I'm 5"8 but I have a crazy long torso (I once worked out that if my legs were in proportion to my torso I'd be about 5"11) so even taller than average sides and wings tend to fit like average wings :(
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Sep 04, 2013

Bratabase people are the best people ever. Just sayin'.

I've been wearing my old bras (that I swore fit me) to bed these days. Now that I've learned more about bras and stuff I'm starting to see why I thought they fit. The gores tack on all of them. I knew from way back that that was ... at least one aspect of how bras should fit, so I thought I was good.

But my breasts, it turns out, are pretty far apart (I can fit four fingers between them quite easily) and I think just about any gore would tack unless I put on a band maybe 10 inches too big. Plus even in my bras that pretty much fit, I tend to wear the band too low, which I guess comes from all the years of wearing a too-big band?

How is that I knew the "gore" part about bras fitting properly and not the rest? How how how?

I took another step in body acceptance by purchasing a dress. I thought if I liked it I'd get it in a few colors and make it my "uniform" for the winter. Dress, nice and easy, plus that's my true style.

Except...not so much. The dress is stretchy jersey and it looks all wrong. It's too big even though it's a size medium and that REALISTICALLY is the size that should work for me. I was going to settle but then I remembered...NO, I'm not SETTLING any more. Gosh darn it. Clothes that are big and baggy do not make me look smaller. They don't hide me. They only serve to make me feel worse about myself.

Hear that, closet?? I'm coming for you!!

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- Tacking gores have little do with bands being tight enough. It has to do with the amount of projection near the gore, so a gore may not tack for two reasons: the cup is too shallow or the cup is too small. Just thought I'd let you know so that you don't keep going down band sizes and end up being squeezed in all ways from a too small cup and a too small band.
  
  It's good to hear that you won't take crap from clothes though.
- On me even on a too big bra a gore can float. Or if the cup shape is just wrong or the gore is too wide. I have quite close set boobs and for example a rather wide Elomi Caitlyn gore cannot lie flat - even if the bra is too big in the cups for me.
  So tighter bands are mostly not the answer to floating gores.
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Seams of the cups printed on the breast at the end of the day

Do you have this too ? Is it normal ?

I had a perfect bra day today, but this evening, when I took off my bra, seams were printed on me ! Not red, not painfull, just here. The top of the cups was not printed of course (because no quadraboob). I am not worried, but very surpised. It is the ... very first time I get this, normally, I just have superficial red marks where the underwires and sides of the band were sitting.
I was wearing padded seamed bra I already had worn several times before, not too big, not too small, but today my breasts were particulary heavy because of PMS, and also the weather was really hot.
Do you think the weight or the hot weather (so skin feels looser, body swell a bit) can cause this ? And do you experience that too ? sometimes ? allways ?
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Galactica

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- yeah, i have this. i don't think it's anything to worry about. When i wear Curvy Kate Emily, i get all sorts of marks on my boobs - the seams, the flowers the wires etc etc.
  
  Basically the skin is soft, and therefore easily indented. Provided nothing hurts, i think it's just normal bra wear. :)
- Thanks !
  Now I want flowers printed on my boobs too ;)
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Sep 03, 2013 - "Nearly Me" Take 2

Two weeks ago, exchanged a size 3 "Nearly Me Silicone Breast Enhancer" for a size 2. It arrived today. (Size 2 is supposed to bring you up one cup size.) It took me quite a while to situate. Still not an exact match to the left side, but pretty close (I suppose it will look more natural that way.)

Wow, ... it makes a huge difference in the fit of clothes!! Square necklines are tacking, v-necks are centred over my cleavage...

But, here's the weird thing, my cleavage seems to have shifted to the right. What the...what?

Do I not have it in right? Do people without pronounced asymmetry not have their cleavage aligned with the hollow of the neck, as I assumed?
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- Maybe try adjusting where the inset sits in your cup? I have about half a cup of asymmetry and I haven't noticed what you're describing.
  
  But maybe this is another type of asymmetry. Some have mentioned that one breast is FoB and another is FoT, or that the roots start in different points, so I can imagine it would also be possible for one to be further from the center than the other.
- I do think that one has lower roots than the other. But the more I get the hang of putting it in, the better the clothes sit.
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Fit Issues and Body Type

I have a problem that I am hoping some of you gals can help with. Lately, I've become extremely frustrated with my body. It has been uncooperative to say the least. A few years ago, I discovered how ill-fitted my bras were. Despite the fact that I was fluctuating between a size Small and Medium, I've always been fitted into ... 38DD or 40DD (Yes, I'm looking at you Sears!) When I finally got around to being fitted properly, I found out I'm a 30G.

Now, I've always had issues with the 30G. It would initially fit but some bras would slowly wiggle their way to the bottom and I would end up quadboobing at the top. Instead of the band riding up, it would slide down. Some bras don't do that and I'm not sure if it's material or what. For example, the Panache Fern will stay in place and fits perfect in 30G, but something like the Panache Tango Plunge just rides down horribly. I am currently waiting for one in 28GG to see if a tighter band will fix the problem. I have a 30" underbust so going down to a 28GG is not a problem in some bras.

I believe my problem (diagnosed by Claire from Butterfly Collection - I love this woman!) is that I have a flared ribcage. My waist is smaller. Bras slip down and I end up not filling the cup entirely and so I quadboob. It is extremely frustrating. Almost always, regardless of what size I try in a bra, it ends up sliding down. Some brands do this more than others. For example, I have to wear Curvy Kates in either 30H or 28H. When I go for 32G, it only takes an hour before the bra starts to ride up in the back. Cleo bras are a hit or miss. Some of them stay put, and some just slide down. I found that bras like Cleo Rita, Melissa and Belle, tend to stay put when I go for 30GG. Freya is also a hit or miss, varying from 30G to 32G. I find them super comfy but again, I had serious issues with Jolie and was constantly pulling up on it. This happens to me in pretty much every brand so I can't say that it's the brand's fault to be honest.

So here is my question. Are there any women out there who have this flared ribcage issue and would someone please help me out and tell me what bras work best for this body type? I'm at my wits end. I am tired of quadboobing and pulling up on bands that insist on sliding down.
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- I have a slightly flared ribcage, but not as much as what you have. I find that a thicker band is helpful. Have you tried wearing the bra tighter on the bottom hooks? It would give you a hook/eye setting like \=/ where the top is on the loosest and the bottom is how ever tight you need it. I know June from Braless in Brazil has this issue too, I'm not sure what she does to solve it.
- abominatrix I have actually been thinking about this too, I have a flared ribcage too and bras dig in a lot because I have a little roll of chub sitting on the flare. EVERYTHING digs in and it's driving me nuts :(
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