1
Frame Width and Fit?
Hi! I have a question and wondering if anyone has read any articles on this topic or if you have an opinion on it. Does frame width affect fit? Could this be a dominant fit factor I need to plan around?
My frame width is 11". I don't know what is 'normal' for my band size or for bra manufacturers. I typically wear a 28" band size as it is more common to find then a 26" band. My underbust is 25.5" tight and about 28" loose. I also like stretchy bands so I do like 28" bands.
I have broad shoulders for my frame. I never feel the straps falling off of me and the straps never feel too wide, though they must be very wide for me.
When I narrowed the gore on my Curvy Kate Princess bra, the cups stopped wrinkling. I also notice gores usually sit on my breast tissue. I could be close set, or do I just have a narrow frame? I do narrow and shorten most gores, which saddens me to alter beautiful bras. I do often have a gap at the outer portion of my bra cup when leaning forward. It is like my boobs are bullet shaped. But again, maybe I am just narrow framed and my breasts are just normal and projected?
So if there is such thing as a narrow framed bra, it could potentially solve a lot of fit issues for me. Does such a bra exist? And I am above a c/d cup, so I can't buy from the Little Bra Company. Are there bra manufacturers known for making more narrow bras, like the whole bra is more a "petite" size overall minus the cup size? Is this a topic that has been discussed? Just curious on people's thoughts on this matter.
Filed under Bras ups and downs
5 comments
Narrowing a gore not only increases room for centre fullness/close set breasts but effectively shortens the cups on the outside edge (if you narrow it more at the bottom).
Based on my experience I would say frame definitely effects bra fit, particularly in H+ sizes. A larger framed person is more likely to have a larger root area which would suit a lot of UK brands in very large cups as they tend to become pretty wide and tall.
Straps coming off the shoulders is another issue too that's mostly affected by shoulder width though breast shape can come into play here too.
Also if you have a shorter frame you're more likely to encounter issues with wings being too tall and poking, and vice versa with a tall frame.
Ribcage shapes as well can affect how wires wrap around you & where the fullest part of cups are but that's not super relevant here.
What it sounds like is happening to you is a combination of either close set or centre full breasts (people sometimes mistake them for each other, I know I used to), and narrow roots and/or not a huge deal of outer fullness. I have this shape (not really close set but v centre full) in a similar size (26H/28GG), as well as broad shoulders so you're not alone!
What has worked for me are Cleo/Panache's unlineds on the whole (of course there are variations between each individual cut) and Polish brands, namely Comexim and Ewa Michalak. Their bras, particularly the Polish ones, are narrower than Curvy Kate and other UK brands and more projected and suit my centre fullness better.
So overall while frames can definitely affect fit it's imo in more of a secondary way - causing things that each have other causes as well, such as how larger root areas can just be from genetics, and wires poking your pits can just be from having high or low set breasts. The main exception would be the strap thing.
She has a few pics up, and it looks like she's a little FOB too.
But definitely looks like many of your bras have too-wide wires. Its hard when you are that small, bra manufacturers just dont scale to the extremes very well. But i do wonder if you want to try polish some time - the do run narrower. Comexim I think does smaller bands without charging extra? Ewa Michalak doesnt make many in bands smaller than 30 any more
This thread has 5 comments. Log in to read them