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Tried on my Old Favorite Bra...from before learning proper fit
Before discovering more about proper fit, I had worn a 34C for a couple years, prior to that 34B (since I had started wearing proper bras and not sports bras). I was getting dressed the other morning and just grabbed the first bra I saw not paying attention to the fact it was my old worn on VS plunge in a 34C. I quickly realize the band isn't feeling right before I even finish getting it in place. I notice the gore isn't the little metal ring like my 32DD VS plunge has (Yes I know VS is frowned upon, but it was in the clearance bin and happened to fit, it's also the first decent fitting bra I found prior to Bratabase, and it reminded my of my old favorite).
Upon realizing my mistake, I decide to check it out in the mirror.
Surprisingly the band doesn't really appear to ride up much it does, but not to the point of being super obvious, and this thing has to be really stretched out now. The whole reason I decided to try a different size was because mid day the underwires wouldn't be in my IMF and were irritating me and I couldn't adjust the straps any tighter. I didn't seem to have any quadding, just a good deal of cleavage. Naturally I thought sister sizing to a 32D would take care of this especially since the issue seemed to occur more toward the end of the bras lifespan (I honestly don't know how old that thing is, and I didn't rotate bras much back then).
I went off to Victoria's Secret (the only place I thought to look for bras since all the Fredericks stores closed). I try a 32D (I didn't get measured, I think I may have measured at home and measured larger, but didn't think I could be more than a D or DD), to my surprise it didn't fit the cups were definitely too small. I ended up buying a 32DD that I liked at the time, and I went to some other VS stores since the Semi Annual sale was going on, I found the 32DD plunge that I still wear, and also had them order this bra I loved that had a plastic underwire and was comfy, but wasn't in the store in my size (also on sale they price matched over the phone and had it shipped to me). I was a bit upset when the bras arrived, they were still comfy, but the gore didn't tack and I wasn't sure if it was this particular style that it was meant to sit diffferently or not. I wore the bra into VS and had an fitter come back to see it. She said it should definitely tack, and said I was probably a 32DDD, she brought me some of demis they use for fitting a 32DD and 32DDD looked at both and said I was a 32DDD. I was a bit confused I did get light quad boob in the 32DD on the left breast but the 32DDD gapped a lot on the right, could have been fixed it the bra straps had more adjustment. I leave just with the knowledge that I need to return the bras I had ordered and that I am a 32DDD. The measurement assessment (I didn't let them measure only had them look at the fit) seems to be somewhat accurate though. I've tried on a 32F (UK size), it was a bit big so a size down would seem to work. Right now my best fits a 30FF(cups run small), 30E (could probably go up a cup, but it's not a daily bra and I don't quad in it) and a couple 32DD's (one VS plunge and the other a Betsey Johnson I think it runs a bit big in cup depth, and I feel like I need to size down in the cup for plunges to not gape a ton on me).
At some point in my journey I discovered Bratabase, and am so happy I did, especially since discovering 30 bands, extenders, and better quality bras. I really feel like I am in between a 30/32 in most cases and I rather buy the 30 and have it on the tight side and use an extender than get the 32 and have it wear to quickly though 32 in brands that have tight bands are perfect.
I think I might try experimenting with alterations on the old 34C since I don't think anyone would want this old thing, and I've been curious about alterations since learning there are some easy fixes.
Filed under Bras ups and downs
5 comments
VS is not frowned upon for the bras that it does carry. VS is frowned upon because their employees often say stuff like "that size doesn't exist" if you say you are looking for a bra that is outside their size range (30A-B, 32A-38E)
The truth is, many people do need a size that VS carries (this includes my mother and both of my best friends) and for those people VS serves them very well.
Most the associates I had who assisted me were helpful, but again this was before trying a smaller band and 32's do sometimes work, but since VS bands are so darn stretchy I have to look for their less stretchy ones.
Although, I was actually talking to a friend of a friend who used to work at VS and we were discussing things we had a hard time finding that fit. I stupidly brought up bras and that I fit best in around a 30F, she said there was no way I was that size. I should have told her that VS has fitted me into their 32E bras and that 30F is it's sister size. She also went on to admonish wearing tighter fitting bands as being bad for you. She asked what type of brands I was wearing, which I didn't get a chance to answer since someone thankfully interrupted the conversation (at the time I was wearing my 32DD from VS so thankfully she didn't want proof, lol).
So now even though I haven't had a bad experience at a VS store, I can see how many people can with people with that mind set who somehow understand sister sizing and supposedly cup volumes being different, but can't grasp the idea with anything outside of the VS realm of sizes.
I'm sure I will still get bras from there on occasion especially since some of them seem to fit and it's nice to have a local option to easily get a bra. I hate going to the high end department store near me the older lady who works there is always obnoxious either telling me not to take back so many to try on or arguing with me that if the wire is too wide/ tall that I need a smaller cup. The other department stores near me don't have a lot of selection even in anything in a 32 let alone a 30. I regularly check out Nordstrom Rack and Kohls for any online returns (wish some would be returned in my size, they get super marked down).
Once my recent bra orders come in, I will probably be able to quit looking around so much. I have bras I like that fit well now, but they aren't great daily bras.
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