1
May 20, 2019
So about underwires and root height....
I'm having problems with getting enough support and uplift, especially on the outer sides where I'm fullest. I keep feeling like the the wire is in the IMF in the front, but doesn't get up in there on the sides. So I took the wire out of an old Bali bra (42DDD - completely wrong size) and bent it to fit my personal root width, height, and perimeter. It was educational.
My measurements were 8.25 inches wide from tip to tip of the wire, 4 inches from the bottom of the arch to the midpoint between the tips, and 13 inches in perimeter.
The original Bali wire was 8.75"W x 5"H x 15 perim.
So already I'm seeing my root is shallower than the wire by an inch. This makes sense, because when the wire is in place in front, it is still too deep along the side. And if I push it up into the IMF on the sides, the wire is too long and curls around and pokes.
What about my two new bras (Elomi Matilda and Elomi Morgan in 36HH)?
Morgan: 7.25"W x 5"H x 15.25 perim.
Matilda (plunge): 7.25"W x 5"H x 15 perim. (Because this is a plunge, the wire is angled differently into more of a J than a U shape.)
Next I found some other sizes and measured to compare.
Bali 40D: 6"W x 4"H x 12.25 perim.
Christina (?) 38DD: 6.75W x 4"H x 12.25 perim.
Sure enough the 4" wires were just right in the depth, although the cup volume was obviously far too small. When I put on the Matilda, the wire is too deep, but if I bend it up on the sides to match my shallower root (which means also pulling it a little wider so the length doesn't just go straight up into the armpit), lo and behold! More uplift! But since it's not its natural shape, the bra of course won't stay in that position.
It seems like maybe the manufacturers have standard wires they use per cup size? So maybe the 36HH cup with a 4" high wire is a unicorn? I went on Bratabase to see about any bras with 4" high wires, but we don't include that measurement! It seems like it would be very useful, especially for us gals with shallower roots.
Edit: I'm editing this to clarify that when I'm saying "root," I mean the bottom of the root - really it's more the IMF dimensions.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/k9uZC2SHdtHhuAoo9
These are the two wires from my old Bali bra. I bent the smaller one at the end of my natural root, to conform to my actual body.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/k9uZC2SHdtHhuAoo9
Filed under Bras ups and downs
6 comments
Wire height at center between breasts is the gore height and wire height under the armpit is the wing, both included in our measurements we take. Are you looking for a different spot of measurement?
Hi! Yes, the measurement I mean is from the bottom of the arch of the wire to the midpoint between the two tips. So like the radius of a semicircle. Because it seems like that's the depth of my actual root. The wire of my bra is deeper by an inch, so it can't come up into my IMF everywhere at once (front and sides) without poking into my armpit. I will see if I can add a picture to show what I mean.
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