Broad shoulders, the +0 rule, and band size... frustrations and ideas?
I posted a fit request last night, and Jillsas noted that in my back photo, it looked like the band was straining. Well, I used to be pretty sure that I had my band size correct (if nothing else!), but her comment started me wondering. Lingerie fitters and online calculators always try to put me in a 32 band, but those usually feel way too tight. I'm a 33" underbust... so using the +0 rule, I didn't understand why 32 bands would cut in so badly.
I think that I might finally be starting to figure it out. (Maybe?) I know that I have a dramatic difference between my shoulders (37.5") and my underbust measure (33"), but I started to wonder how that works in the middle of my back. I put on my Elodie bra this morning (I picked it because the wing reinforcing strip runs pretty straight down under my armpit) and got my husband to mark the bottom of the wing, the top, and the middle, and then measure my back with the bra off. Here's how it turned out:
- the reinforcing strip is 3" tall
- underbust: 16.5" (--> 33" underbust)
- middle of wing: 17" (--> 34")
- top of wing: 18.125" (--> 36.25")
So... the numbers seem to be saying that the top of my band is almost a whole size up from the bottom of my band, which would mean that I shouldn't be following +0 underbust at all. Does that make sense? Does anyone else see the same kind of thing? And... what to do next? I've been most comfortable in 34Es recently, so I'm trying to figure out if the next step is to order 36Es (ie leave the cup size the same), or 36D or DDs. Or maybe 34Es with super-stretchy bands?
Anyway, if anyone has ideas, a way to find other resources about this problem, or similar fitting "adventures" (bras ups and downs indeed, ugh), please share! Also: a huge shout-out and thank you to Jillsas for making me think about my size in a new way.
Filed under Bras ups and downs
11 comments
Someone once posted to get a bra that fits the biggest measurement and fasten the top hook on the loosest and the bottom on the tightest. I don't have this issue so I don't know if it works. So maybe 24s done this way would work?
The user that has posted a lot of bra adventures about this topic already is MilkAndHoney :) If you search for "conical ribcage" you will find some adventures about it I think :) But now she's also pinged :)
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