The band and cup fit like a glove, the cup is generous enough but not so loose that it causes wrinkles. It has seams and it's lace so this shows through most t-shirts but I can wear it with light sweaters. It gives a rounded sillhouette.


**This is sized with American sizing. It was bought as a G, but comparable to a 28DDDD cup as listed on Figleaves.com

*Update 8/02/11*
This did fit...for a short time. Because it's a lace style it is not one I ever wear, so when I do wear it, it's literally to just try it on for a few minutes and see if it still fits, then take it off because it's not practical with my clothes. As with ALL of my Freya bras that are lace, the cups wrinkle and sag if this is worn for even a quarter of the day, yet I'll have quad-boob. The reason this is not noticeable in the photos is because I was not wearing it that whole day. Just trying it on. The elastic used in the Freya's I own stretch out after just a few minutes of wear (maybe I got knock-offs??). As with the Pollyanna and Arabella styles, the band is too loose and too tight at the same time no matter what eye I close it on. It's painful to wear like this, although when I close any of my size 28 bras on the tightest eye they lift my boobs to where they should be - halfway between my shoulder and elbow. But I can't even take the 5 minutes of agony I'm in - heartburn and sore ribs because the band is too high and tight, straps have to be adjusted nearly as short as they can go (with about 2.5" of extra band!) if I want the band to stay up high which results in deep red gouges in my shoulders, shoulder, neck and back pain, and a headache.

And here's the big problem! = If I have the band closed on the loosest eyes and tighten the straps, the band is too tight and rides up my back. If I have the band closed on the tightest eyes and tighten the straps, the band is still too tight and rides up my back. If I have the band closed on any setting and loosen the straps, the band is too tight, and rides both UP and DOWN my back and there is no support in the cup! Going down a cup size fixes nothing and the cups are obviously too small. I have contacted so many people, including bra companies about this and they can't even give me an answer as to why my bras are doing this. <=(

Updated on Aug 02, 2011 Flag this

• Show all comments (12)
• It says on the left this bra doesn't fit me correctly. I don't know how to change that...because it fits absolutely perfect.

• Hi, go to your bras page and edit this bra. On the last tab you should mark the options that it fits you correctly both in the band and cup.
  Check this to see if it fits you http://bra.pe/Pd :)

• It sounds like the problem might be actually the cups being too small AND backsize being too big. The bra sits in the wrong place and too small cups cause pressure & make you feel really uncomfortable which you mistake for the band being too small.

  When your straps keep falling off it means the band is too wide. When the band is wide, the straps are wider apart and they fall off despite your efforts of tightening them.
  When you band rides up your back it means the band is too large.
  Quad-boob problems indicate too small cup size.

  Your correct bra size is probably around 26GG or 26H, but without your measurements I can only guess.

  I know this maybe sounds crazy and not actually comforting because basically 26 bands aren't made, altough I've heard that some brands are planning on it. I recommend going a blog called Thin and Curvy. She instructs you how to measure your bra size correctly.

• Thank you for the suggestions, but 28 is my correct band size. My ribcage is between 24-26" depending on how tight I hold the tape, and if I've exhaled. 24" exhaling completely and pulling the tape super tight around to the point of discomfort. 26" measured just snug enough but not loose enough to slide around and a moderate amount of air in my lungs.

  I do not agree with the advice given on Thin & Curvy, because just like most other methods of measuring, it does not apply to all women, and it's something that works better for those with a fleshier ribcage and larger breasts. Mine are not that big so I don't need as tight of a band as someone who might be, say a 28J and they have a 26" ribcage, also my torso is rather bony (my ribs show and I have no back fat), they are also in pain sometimes due to FMS so a tighter band is out of the question unless I want to be in pain. Now if the Freya Deco were made in a 26 it would probably fit me better since that runs a band size larger than most. I've been fitted by Freya's own Frederika Zappe and she agreed, along with one of Nordstroms regional fitters in New England that 28F/DDDD is my size (same size as this bra above, the label on this one is misprinted but it was purchased as a UK28F-US28G/DDDD so it has a US label instead). I don't think I could wear a bigger cup size such as 28FF or the cups will be obviously too big. (Unless it's a Panache)

  I have recently ordered a 26G (based on my measurements 25-35) from thebigbrabar.com and am awaiting that (Nikki suggested that size), though I highly suspect I need a 26FF and not a G. For me, adding 2" to my ribcage measurement works out the best. My breasts are also further apart and wider rather than deep, so other than the straps being too far to the sides, the placement of the cups and underwires on most 28F's fit me just fine. The apex of the cups sit in the correct spot. With a 35" bust that gives me a 7" difference. If I follow Brittany's advice, I end up with a 9" difference giving me a 26G, or an 11" difference giving me a 24H (or HH?), and I know these sizes are quite incorrect for me, going up to the larger sister sizes a 26G would be the same as 32DDD and 24H would be the same as 32F. Yet if I try those sizes on in store the cups (nevermind the band) are way too big! But following the same advice, my measurements do no coincide with 26FF because that would be a 34" bust, which would also suggest I can wear 28E, 30DD and 32D, but those cups are too small.

  The Rio bra above is just not a good style for me. I do better with a demi/balconette in a contoured or moulded cup, not so much a balcony. I don't think my breasts are stiff and pointy enough for these unlined traditional seamed cups. The problem I have with the cups appearing too small is again a matter of the wrong style. I cannot wear lace/seamed bras like this because there is not enough give on the top edge and I don't have very shallow breasts, yet the rest of the cup can either fit fine or even be too loose. With this one, it's all of the above, that's why I have selected "wrinkles, can't quite fill it". The reason I pull the straps up so high is because I get no lift if I have them adjusted lower, and then the cup still does not sit right, it actually looks too big. I've been told by a few women I have the "orange in a glass" problem, though I still do not understand that as I seem to have the opposite problem.

  Thanks for the advice though, I appreciate any feedback I can get. (Sorry for the lengthy response, haha)

• ETA* Most 28F's fit me...those being just the Freya Deco.

• Oh no problem about the lengthy response, I made mine even longer! (Sorry!)

  I'm quite small around by ribs too, I measure about 27.6 and around my bust about 35.5 . When I was wearing the band size 30 I was in pain! That was because the cups were too small, not much but it was enough. Now I'm wearing big enough cups and suddenly size 28 feels almost too loose. Just wanted to share this altough people are different and maybe bigger bands really work better for you. The jump from 24 to 28 does feel quite big though! I'm really curious to find out out how that 26G bra will work for you.

  Okay, I tried to compare those sizes you mentioned and I'm really quite lost on what sizing system you used there.You mentioned triple d's which would suggest the US system but then you mentioned a FF cup which isn't in the US system, only in UK/New Zealand. You also talked about a fitting in New Zealand. Because I'm uncertain I'll compare sizes in both us and uk measuring systems.

  Anyway, you said 26G would be the same as 32DDD - I'm not following you there?
  
  In US I get:
  26g --> 28ddd/f --> 30dd/e ==> 32d

  In case you are using the british/nz system I get:
  26g --> 28ff --> 30f ==> 32e

  So 26g's sister sizes are 32d/us and 32e/uk. The 32ddd and 32F bras you tried (and found too big) are bigger than those. 32DDD sounds like an american bra which would be in UK size 28e/26f and US size 26I. You're actually wearing a cupsize bigger in the photo!

  ******

  And you said 24H would be the same as 32F. I got this:

  US 24h --> 26g --> 28ddd/f --> 30dd/e ==> 32d
  Uk/nz 24h --> 26gg --> 28g -->30ff ==> 32f

  So I got 32dd/e in US and 32f/uk. You've said you've tried 32f and found it too big. In US system 32f's sister sizes are 24j and 26i.

  In uk/nz 32f is of course 32f. So in the uk system 24h/26gg would be too big in that 32f bra.

  Anyway, when I look at these sister - or should I say cousin - sizes I think UK sizes 24gg or 26G might not be too big in cups after all.
  And since you measure 24-26" I don't think they would be too big in bands either. Anyway, 24H and 26G are sister sizes only in the US system and I'm now wondering why you're using this system as all the 26 band bras are from the UK. I'm getting really confused about what system you mean.

  ***************

  "But following the same advice, my measurements do no coincide with 26FF because that would be a 34" bust, which would also suggest I can wear 28E, 30DD and 32D, but those cups are too small."

  You were thinking that 26ff would fit and then later you said 26FF would be too small, there is no such size in US system to my knowledge so I'll try this in nz/uk system:

  UK SYSTEM:

  26ff sister sizes:

  28f, 30E, 32DD.

  26G hasn't been proven too big yet.

  26g is bigger than 26ff. You haven't tried either.

  28E-->26f. This bra is too small, but it's not a sistersize to 26ff.

  30dd-->28e-->26f. Too small. Again, not 26ff's sistersize.

  32d-->30dd-->28e-->26f. 26f, bra too small, again not a sistersize.

  It's no wonder these cups are too small.

  26f would appear to be too small, but 26ff and 26G remain a mystery.

  All in all, you've tried bigger cups than 26g's & 26FF's sister sizes are and they've been too big. You've tried smaller cupsizes than 26G's and 26FF'S sister sizes are and you've found them too small.

  ********************

  Now, If you simply made a mistake and meant to write that 26F might fit yet does not:

  US system:

  26f's sistersizes: 26ddd/f--->28dd/e-->30d-->32c.

  Your too small bras: 28E, 30DD and 32D.

  28e is the same as 28dd/e-->26ddd/f and small.

  30dd is the same as 26g, bigger than 26f. But the bra is too small.

  32d is the same as 26g, bigger than 26f. But the bra is too small.

  Size variation between brands and bras might explain this weirdness. Also I wonder if you've kept up with all the bras you've tried since your sizing system seems to change sometimes. But I see no real problem why 24H and 26G couldn't work since bra sizes do vary a lot within sizes.

  UK SYSTEM:

  28E-->26F and the bra is too small.
  30dd-->28e-->26f. The bra is too small.
  32d->30dd--26f. The bra is too small.

  You said the bra is in american size 28G, than would mean UK sizing 28F, 26ff and 24g.

  Since you described overspill I'd go up in cupsize and try UK sizes 24gg, 24g, 26g and 26gg. Your cups in the photo's bra aren't too big at all.

  Also if you were talking about UK sizing, then based on the bras you told about, UK 26f is often too small and 26gg is often too big for you so I'd go for 26g or 24gg.

  Now, I know the market doesn't really offer these sizes so this is just what I would do in an ideal situation. I really hope you 26g bra fits better! One option could be to select a fitting cupsize in a band too large and then take the band in.

  I have no experience with FMS so I don't really know how different bras feel on you. That I can say that cups too small in a right band size can make your breathing halt. I couldn't wear my ill-fitting bra more than a few hours without horrible back pain and red marks and it was only one band size too large.

  "The reason I pull the straps up so high is because I get no lift if I have them adjusted lower, and then the cup still does not sit right, it actually looks too big. I've been told by a few women I have the "orange in a glass" problem, though I still do not understand that as I seem to have the opposite problem." I think you just described "orange in a glass" which is essentially wrinkles with overspill. Fiddling with your straps is a band-too-large-problem. Straps should only bring 10% of the support, band 90%. You're trying to find the support you need from the straps and they aren't able to perform.

  I do understand that sometimes the bra won't fit no matter what size you are wearing but with your measurements & problems all seems to point to too large a band and too small cups. I realise that you must take your health problems into account but you might be overreacting by wearing a 28 band when you measure 24 inches at your smallest. The bands might feel too tight because the cups are too small.

  Now I hope I'm still talking english (I'm actually finnish), I've been staying up to morning hours trying to understand your problem better. x)

• Ok, hopefully I'll write this out better. Sometimes I do throw in with my bra reviews that something is US sized or comparable to because it's easier for me (probably not others though, lol). I live in the US, but have grown away some from using US sizing as the bras I wear typically are not sized in US standards. The only ones that are are the Freya Arabella and Rio. I bought them as a size 28F from Figleaves and when I selected the size it said it was comparable to a US G/DDDD. When I got the bras in they both said G on the tag! It must have been a misprint, or maybe because it was Figleaves? I don't know. But they are the same exact size as the rest of my UK sized F's in Freya. I always compare the F's I wear to DDDD because I have seen quite a few bras on here from others that are listed as an E or F and they really mean comparable to DD and DDD (either that or they don't know how to measure but they are definitely smaller in cup width/depth and wire length than the ones I have...and same styles too. You never know which bras you can trust on here. But for the most part I have been trying to use UK sizing as that seems to be the most popular.

  Now about the 26G being the same as 32DDD, it would. UK sizing again. 26G - 28FF - 30F - 32E (aka DDD) - 34DD - 36D. (Btw, how did you get a 28E and 32DDD as being the same cup volume? It's the same letter/conversion and distance between full bust and frame but not volume, those two have a 2 cup size difference) I already know everything from the 28 and on to be too large in the cup. So I really don't know if the 26G I ordered from BBB will fit, I have a feeling it will wrinkle. That being said, a 26FF would be the same cup volume as the bras I'm wearing currently in 28F - 30E - 32DD - 34D - 36C (I do not own 36, but the rest of those sizes I do). However! a 26FF has, or should have a full bust of 34". Mine is 35. With a bra on standing up and with a bra off leaning over. To me it seems the super snug method of measuring does not work. So if I'm measuring 35" and a 28F fits good in the cup it would make sense if I needed a smaller band size to go to a 26FF, yet my measurements do not equal that size. My thoughts are because of that, 26 is not really my appropriate band size. I think I mixed up my sizes when I wrote a 26FF is the same as a 32D, it's not, it should be the same as a 32DD. What I meant was a full bust of 34 would be a 26FF yet if that's the full bust measurement for it and mine is 35 when it should be 34 for my smaller sister-size then 28E, 30DD, 32D should fit but they're too small. It's possible I'm entirely screwing that up. The bra in the photo is the right size, but wrong style. It's labeled US 28G but the same as a UK 28F. I can tell that if it were a cup size smaller I would be spilling out of it. The wires fully encase my breast tissue without extending well beyond them (I can tell when I take it off because I'm left with deep red marks everywhere). The problem lies with the very center

  Right now a brand new Freya Deco feels tight enough on the loosest setting, but if I reach something up high it does slide up a tiny bit. Especially over my ribs at my side. Directly under the breasts and center gore it does not move. But the side and back do. That could be because my ribs have very little flesh on them. People who work with Freya directly have told me they are making their bands larger for some reason. So I think if Freya made more (true to size) bands they would fit better. The Panache Porcelain I have in a 28F (which does run too small in the cup much like most other bras from them) is super tight. Obviously I don't wear that anymore because of the spilling. The band in front pinches my ribs, it must be either because it's tight or where the wires are placed. My FMS is mild right now but certain parts of me I can't have anything too restricting, one of those being my torso. Now you could say the band hurts because the cups are too small. If I take the straps off and let the cups hang open the band still hurts and is tight. Even sometimes with the Decos they hurt my ribs and I also get heartburn from them. I think the problem here might lie with my ribcage itself. If you've ever noticed in my photos my ribs/abs are sticking out, it almost looks like I've got a gut. This may be why the bands feel too tight on me but slide up my back...'cause there's nothing around my back to hold it in place. My muscles tend to be a bit more puffy too and I do a lot of situps, but even without exercise, my ribs themselves are angled out. I recently read on a review for the Sadie Longline that if you have ribs like that, a band size up is not going to feel as if it's too big (which is a good thing 'cause I just ordered the Freya Edina! =D And it starts at 30). But it would only work for a longline style since it sits over that part.

  The orange in a glass seems to be a little different of a problem than what I have. I only have what appears to be quad-boob along the very top edge of the bra, everything else fits fine. So I always thought that term applied to the entire cup pinching on the edges and then center being loose. It was pointed out to me by Freya's fitter that it's just not the right style for me, and I do agree. Most of the bras designed like Freya (pretty much anything that is a lace, seamed plunge/balcony) have a very tight upper edge. Sometimes it looks as if they're not sewn correctly. Even if you're looking at it in your hands the cup has a very geometric look to it. My breasts are more like bowls of pudding (LOL!). They're not stiff, rigid or perky. They start low on my chest, but also high at the same time. And again, my exercising probably doesn't help that (bench press, pull ups, push ups), so it makes me look a little fuller on top though it does squish down and there's still boob there without muscle. I wouldn't consider them fuller on top like a high profile boob job, but they're certainly not shallow and I have a feeling most of Freya's styles are directed towards that kind of profile (except for the Deco). And it doesn't help those styles lift and seperate, and you'd think that mine being a little further apart (2-3 fingers width at gore) would work great with this style.

  I once used the bra calculator on EM's site and it suggested a 60F, even with my tightest measurement. I asked the owner and she said because their bras run small they wear them looser but measure tighter...something along those lines. I thought it odd because you have Brittany from Thin & Curvy saying to wear what you measure at, but then even in their bras too. I haven't ordered from them and probably won't. The shipping I've heard is outrageous if you need to return (something around $20).

  I guess we'll just have to find out when I get that bra in. If Freya made 26 they would probably fit good, since they run large in the band their 26 would be more like a 28. Personally I don't see it as beneficial to either the wearer or the bra to wear it so tight. A bras maximum stretch shouldn't be the same as your torso because you should be factoring in water weight, food intake and breathing (and I have to wonder if any of these girls are that are wearing what they measure at). So ideally - in my opinion and comfort level - the band should be 1-2" larger when it's completely stretched than what you measure at to accomodate for this, and most of mine are. I was over a friends house a few months ago wearing my very stretched out Deco (the nude one I bought 3 years ago), and just from drinking a glass of liquid I had horrendous heartburn I thought I was going to be sick. You might think maybe I'm wearing them too low and they're pressing on my stomach because of that, but that's where my boobs start. I have the wires right up underneath the tissue, and if I pull it up any high then it rests on a couple of my ribs that have the worse of the pain. I'd probably benefit greatly if all my bras had more cushioning. I think I'll start working on that ;)

  Alright, I hope I was able to clear up any confusion. Bras should be done away with and everyone should just wear underbust corsets. Then you only have to figure out the number, haha! (Btw, my mom has the same problem too. 31/32" ribcage but she actually wears a 36! FMS, and she also gets heartburn, even from 34's. Our shapes are completely opposite though)

• 1

  Okay, this will be easier now that I know you are talking about UK sizes!

  I think it's pretty much impossible to know what your weirdly tagged bra's size actually is. It could be that for some reason the UK 28F bra had tags for different nationalities - UK 28F is american 28G as you said. The tag could even be european sizing as UK F is european G. I live in Finland and I've sometimes seen really bizarre tags that say something like "UK 28F, EU 28G" even though the european system isn't marked in inches and the back size should be 60 not 28. Also, different bras aren't consistent in sizing so it could be just a coincidence that the misprinted bra is comparable to your other bras. Maybe they shipped the wrong bra - you asked for 28F but got 28G and the bras were unusually small in the cup for a G or your bras in F are unusually large.

  "Btw, how did you get a 28E and 32DDD as being the same cup volume? It's the same letter/conversion and distance between full bust and frame but not volume, those two have a 2 cup size difference"

  Sorry about that! I was quite sleep deprived when I wrote my message and using a foreign language and changing sister sizes and jumping from one sizing system to other must have fried my brain. Now when I look at my incorrect conversion - 28E being the same as 32DDD - I think I just changed UK e to us DDD and somehow didn't realise that the backsize wasn't the same. (That wasn't very bright, sorry!)

  Also I didn't really fully realise that you could be using the UK sizing system and still refer to an american size tag. Of course UK 32E is the same as american 32DDD, you are absolutely right.

  Anyway. I feel that you haven't quite taken into account that the right cup in a bigger sister size may be hard to recognize. I know this from experience as I once had my band taken in from a larger sister size. When you try on a larger sister size the bra doesn't sit right. For instance, it doesn't go under the breast properly because the too large band doesn't pull it there. The cup fabric doesn't get enough tension from the band and straps. It may seem too big, especially if it's a much larger sister size than your actual size. The straps are too wide apart and pull the cup in a slightly off direction and the band isn't tight enough to pull the cups from the sides and make them sit smoothly. But when the cup gets enough tension from ALL directions, it isn't too large anymore. This could be why women often wear too small cups and too large bands - with a large band the right cup feels too big.

  About the measuring methods - I don't think you are doing it right. You said your underbust measurement is 24 when you exhale and your bust is 35.
  35-24 = 11.

  Now, I'm using UK sizing again. When you count to the 11th cup, you get 24H. I started from A (like Brittany instructs) so I guess it might be one cupsize smaller if the brand starts their cups from AA.

  24H's sister sizes would be 26GG, 28G, 30FF, 32F... Which again might seem too large because it can be hard to recognize the right cupsize as larger sister sizes don't sit right. Also, bras aren't consistant in their sizing so even if you try on a correct sister size, it might be too big or small in cup.

  I think size 28 band (even in a right size cup) is way too large for you so I wouldn't put you in 28 anything.
  I have several reasons for this:

  1. Your underbust measurement is actually 24.

  I checked out what you said about your fitting bras.

  2. You say your straps are set too wide apart - in a too large band they are.
  3. You tighten your straps too much, you get headaches (the strain on your shoulders leading to circulation problems). You do this because the band doesn't give you the support you need.
  3. You say your straps don't adjust short enough - it's because the band gives no support causing you to tighten the straps too much.
  4. You said a fairly new bra "slides around". Your bra shouldn't be moving in any direction.

  So my suggestions using the measuring method (like Brittany does, starting from A) are:

  24H. Adding a "young/firm cup" to previous, 24HH
  26GG. Adding a "young/firm cup" to previous, 26H.

  Their too-large-in-the-band sister sizes are 28G and 28GG. I know that's different from what you are wearing now but you _are_ still searching for the bra that sits well on you, right?

  Anyway, even though I'm a fan of measuring I do think that the measurements are only the STARTING point. It's hard to get the correct measurement. When I first measured myself I got the band size right but I was too modest about my bust. I didn't realise how much my ill-fitting bra compressed my boobs so my measurement was smaller than I actually am. The bras I had ordered were of course too small in cups.

  After I had sent back the too small cupped bras I tried measuring again, this time leaning forward without my bra on and I got a totally different measurement.

  So the measurement method is a good starting point if it's done right. If the measured size doesn't fit in any bra model you usually need to go up in cups, especially if you are young.

  I checked out the other bras that fit you. There was one 28FF which you said didn't sit on skin at the frontcenter - it means too small cups or too wide center piece. About a 28F(which you said is larger in nude which you have) you said that you have top cup issues - I guess you mean it digs on your skin? - which would mean the cups are too small. You also said that the underwire bends which I'd translate to cups being too narrow/small or centerpiece being too wide. In the sports bra I can see overspill next to your armpit - it's too small in cup. In Cleo Sadie 28FF I again see migrated breast tissue next to your armpits, the cups are too small.

  Orange in a glass means that the cup is too narrow. When the cup is too narrow it usually means that the cup is too small, as smaller cups are narrower. In a cup too narrow the breast doesn't "sink" to the bottom of the cup where the underwire is the narrowest. There is empty space on the bottom and spillage at the top because the cup depth is too small as well. Imagine an orange in a glass, it's too large to go to the bottom. It is too big to fully fit inside. I think this is what "orange-in-glass" expression comes from. An empty space with overspill.

  Orange in a glass and quad-boob on top are pretty similar problems, cups are too small/narrow. I can't see orange in the glass with your fitting bras but this could be because I'm only looking at a picture, I can't know if there are empty spaces inside your bra. It sometimes isn't easy to see especially if the cup fabric is very stiff/thick. I do see the overspill though, the cups are too small.

  About the Freya fitting, I've had umm... six? different saleswomen/fitters put me in WAY too small cups so I've sort of lost my faith in fitters who are trying to sell me a bra at the same time. x)

  "Obviously I don't wear that anymore because of the spilling. The band in front pinches my ribs, it must be either because it's tight or where the wires are placed. " I think the pinching happens because the cups are too small. The underwires are too small/narrow so they cause pressure and pinch at the front.

  "Now you could say the band hurts because the cups are too small. If I take the straps off and let the cups hang open the band still hurts and is tight." When you take the straps off, the underwires are still too narrow and pinch.

  And hey! I see nothing unusual about you ribs/back/breast, please don't think that the problem is your body! Your back isn't supposed to do anything about keeping a bra in place! A bra supports you, you don't support the bra. I don't think you/your ribs are unusually pointy or bony either. I'm actually so thin that I can clearly see my ribs in the mirror but they don't cause me any problems when I have a bra on.

  Btw, I love that you compare your breast to bowls of pudding xD

  About bra calculators - don't trust them! They just NEVER give you the correct calculation. Ewa Michalek included, I just tried it out and it gives me a totally absurd calculation. Two band sizes too large and way too small in cupsize!

  This one is the only one I've ever encountered that makes any sense:

  http://www.sophisticatedpair.com/bracalculator.htm

  Now, I've thought about your health problem and I'm thinking that you might actually feel the most comfortable in a bra that corresponds to your actual underbust measurement (given that the cups are big enough too!). When you are wearing the right band and cups, the bra is comfortable yet supportive, it doesn't dig in anywhere, the weigh of the breasts is carried by both band and straps meaning a wider area does the supporting. When you have support from a wide area, the weigh is balanced more evenly.

  A band in 28 isn't doing any work at all, the whole weigh of your breasts is supported by the straps or should I say shoulders and that sounds just painful!

  If you find that you need a slightly looser band then I'd suggest bras in bandsize 26, maybe taking in a 28 band in a larger sister size. Altough I've heard that many manufactures are planning on introducing 26 bands, yay!

• One thing to keep in mind when I'm measuring, I only get 24" if I exhale completely and pull the tape extremely tight to the point of pain and flesh hanging over and under it around my sides/back. I do not consider this a very good way of finding out your band size, and I'm never going to have all the air out of my lungs. So I would say 25/26 is my actual measurement. When I'm making shirts or dresses I always use 26" at the very least when making a form fitted garment (especially corsets or bras). Of course bras stretch so I prefer them to be a few inches smaller than my actual frame, but have a maximum stretch an inch or two larger to accomodate for daily fluctuations. As I said in my previous comment, some of my 28's are causing pain and I don't think it's a matter of cup size being too small because it happens in the band itself, not so much in the cups. My breast perimeter is only 8.5-9" (right breast appears smaller because of scoliosis "stretching" it), so this would fit just fine in a cup with similar depth. And that's what 28F, 30E, 32DD all have. (For the most part. I try to measure mine accurately, there are a couple ladies on here who have a 28F Deco listed as having only a 7.8" cup depth and that's not right)

  The 28FF Sadie I have fits me ok, however I have noticed the band feels a lot looser in 28FF as opposed to 28E and 28F (I went to a really bad fitter who said the Sadie fit me in a 28E and my nipples were just barely covered! LOL), and I know this could be because the cups fit better so it doesn't make the band feel as tight, but it still does. The band sticks away in front because of it's shape. I mentioned this in my review and it's also noted on another review (I found it once before but can't remember where), the center gore is curved up for those who have a fuller stomach. Mine is flat (with the exception of ribs) so it makes it seem like the gore is too loose, but it's laying flat. Bands that are straight across on the bottom feel much firmer. Before I went to get fitted by Freya I was wearing my straps way too tight. They adjusted them for me (I was wearing one of the Deco's which they said fit me perfect), and when I got home I readjusted the straps on all my bras. So I was just wearing that one too high. Also upper armpit fat is kind of unavoidable. I've always had it and I've always been a thin kid. I see some people in their bra blogs wearing the cups extremely high and it pinches the fat right there just like it does mine. But it also positions the cups and center gore too high, making it look like it doesn't fit.

  The 28F in nude fits fine, considering it is 3 years old. It has stretched out and I was washing them in the machine (compact version, no center agitation, and always in a bag, no softener). The upper cup has no issue, it has to do with the dye. Having worked in retail this is something I've always noticed but more so with feel rather than size. Bras that have a lot of dye in them, or are a darker color will always fit smaller than something that is white or nude. The dye shrinks the fabric. The nude Deco has cups that are about 1/4 taller and side wings 1/8" taller but it is the same exact size as the black and charcoal ones I have. So it may appear as if it gaps at the top, but only when I weigh less

  The 28G bras I have are sized correctly. They have the wrong tags. I'm looking at the tags again.
  Freya Rio - UK/FR 28F, US 28G, EU 60F, AUS/NZ 6F
  Freya Arabella - (says exactly the same thing)
  And then I have a Freya Pollyanna purchased from Nordstrom in a 28/60/6F (and I specifically asked to make sure it was the same as DDDD). If you measure the Arabella and Pollyanna, or even lay them on top of one another, they are exactly the same, to a T. So I definitely know these bras I have labeled as a G are in fact a US G, not a UK G. (I wonder if Figleaves gets the mistake label bras?)

  Ok...I don't know what's wrong with that website, but everytime I used that link it just says Bra Calculator, with a paragraph explaining it, but no fields to input your stats. I tried the one JJ had in her blog too and it was the same thing. Does it require flash or video of some type?

  I know what you mean about a bra in the correct band will pull as it should in all directions. I've noticed this with a bra I bought 5 years ago from Victoria's Secret (white, full coverage I have on here). When I initially bought it it felt so huge on me and never got worn. Then I was altering all my bras one day in 32/34 with a stitched down pleat. I think I knocked close to 6" off the band of that bra and took in the center gore. Now it fits correctly and doesn't move around, probably one of my most comfortable and well fitting (I can't say that on here though since it is a 34, that's misleading for others my size, haha). I have done the center gore dart to a couple of my 28's (everything but the Deco's, it doesn't sit well with the foam for some reason) and the cups fit better. It brings them up higher in the center and creates more room at the top of the cup so the rigid lace doesn't pinch. But it did make the bands too tight, taking off about half an inch from the total length and I could close them on the loosest setting. But it was just too tight so I undid my stitches. The only one that still has it remaining is the Fantasie Karly 30E. I can wear that on the tightest setting.

  Btw, I do appreciate the time you're taking to explain and help me with all this =)

• You are indeed supposed to exhale when you measure yourself but you shouldn't be strangling yourself with the measuring tape. Just hold it snugly against the skin, make sure the tape doesn't sag. It doesn't need to be so tight that you are in pain or have flesh hanging over. Now that I know how you measured yourself I agree that 26 is probably a more truthful measurement for you. If you measure 25/26, a 26 band should be perfect because the band does stretch a lot.

  If size 28 bands were right for you I don't think you ever would have adjusted your straps too tightly. I doubt that would be having these fit problems either.

  "Also upper armpit fat is kind of unavoidable. I've always had it and I've always been a thin kid."

  You were talking about "armpit fat". I'm guessing your armpit fat appeared some time after your breasts started to grow? That's because it is NOT armpit fat. There's no such thing as armpit fat! Especially not with thin women such as you are. It is migrated breast tissue. If you touch it, you'll notice it feels pretty similar to your breasts. The breast tissue has migrated there because you wear too small cups, all of the breast tissue simply doesn't fit in. Your straps and the top of the cup are pressing into the tissue so after a while it sort of parts from the main breast and goes up because that's where the pressure is leading it. The breast tissue will probably go back to its proper place once you are wearing a bra that fits correctly, it will take some time though.

  You don't need to wear "granny fashion" bras for that. Regular bras will work, they actually come pretty high in the armpit if the fit is right. Here, I'll demonstrate how different the exact same bra can look when it fits and when it doesn't:

  http://www.bravissimo.com/products/lingerie/sensational-sets/tango-plunge-bra/nude/pnb5nu/?show=16&sort=4&brand=panache&level=2 The Bravissimo models are wearing the right/close to the right size.

  http://www.figleaves.com/uk/product.asp?product=Panache-Tango-plunge-bra&product_id=PA-3256&size=28GG&colour=Pinks Figleaves models are not.

  See how high the same bra sits compared to the same bra that's too small in the cups/is too wide in the band?

  "I see some people in their bra blogs wearing the cups extremely high and it pinches the fat right there just like it does mine. But it also positions the cups and center gore too high, making it look like it doesn't fit."

  If the bra doesn't capture the migrated breast tissue it really DOESN'T fit. The problem is probably the band if the centerpiece is against the skin and cups are high ( = big) enough. With different sized bands the position of the straps changes so an improper band size can be one reason why all of the breast tissue isn't captured by the bra. The problem could also be the bra itself, it just isn't right in any size.

  About the centergores: There are indeed bras that curve up in the center gore for a fuller stomach. I doesn't make much sense to make those in size 28 though? Women wearing size 28 would hardly ever need a curved up centergore. Maybe if they were pregnant. So I'm wondering if that information came from the manufacturer or from someone who just came to that conclusion?

  "Ok...I don't know what's wrong with that website, but everytime I used that link it just says Bra Calculator, with a paragraph explaining it, but no fields to input your stats. I tried the one JJ had in her blog too and it was the same thing. Does it require flash or video of some type?"

  The calculator does that to me sometimes too, I don't know why. You could try opening it with a different web browser, that sometimes works for me if a website doesn't open. If that doesn't help then I don't know what would.

  "Then I was altering all my bras one day in 32/34 with a stitched down pleat. I think I knocked close to 6" off the band of that bra and took in the center gore. Now it fits correctly and doesn't move around, probably one of my most comfortable and well fitting (I can't say that on here though since it is a 34, that's misleading for others my size, haha)." I'd be interested in knowing what size cups did that bra have before the alteration?

  "I have done the center gore dart to a couple of my 28's (everything but the Deco's, it doesn't sit well with the foam for some reason) and the cups fit better. It brings them up higher in the center and creates more room at the top of the cup so the rigid lace doesn't pinch. But it did make the bands too tight, taking off about half an inch from the total length and I could close them on the loosest setting. But it was just too tight so I undid my stitches." Do you mean that you could close the tightest hooks after the alteration? If you can close the band on the tightest setting it really shouldn't be too tight. I do think the problem might be the underwires which are taking from the space. They make the band seem too tight because they don't stretch or bend and with a tighter band they are quite frankly strangling you. This would be because the underwires aren't a good fit for you, they are too narrow.

  If you feel doubtful then just try on bigger cups in band size 28. See what happens to the band when you have on a cupsize that is much bigger than your regular F or FF. There are currently some very inexpensive bras for sale on Bratabase Listings.

  "The only one that still has it remaining is the Fantasie Karly 30E. I can wear that on the tightest setting." No wonder you can wear it on the tightest setting, the band is enormous compared to your size. x)

  Anyway. With the measurements of 26/35 I get a bra size 26g. I think it makes sense because your 28Fs & 28FFs seem just a bit off when it comes to the fit. The 28FF seems to fit the best from what I can see. I think a size 26 band would be much better for you and I think your cups could be just a bit bigger.

  When you measure your bust it's normally a measurement that's smaller than your actual size. It's easy to take off inches from your measurement, harder to add them. So 26G, 26GG and 26H would likely fit quite well. It's great that a 26G bra is already on the way and you will see if it's big enough in the cups. If it's not then I think it would be worth it to at least try ordering 26GG and 26H (Ewa Michalek) or adjusting 28G and 28H bras (both the band and placement of straps, possibly the centerpiece too if it's too wide). From your comments I get that you've already adjusted your other bras so this project wouldn't be too difficult for you!

  This person seems to have good instructions if you have any remaining doubts about how it is done: http://dressingcurves.blogspot.com/

  You were talking about you breast being different at some point. Remember, if your breast are different sizes then you should always cater to the bigger breast. You can add some filling into the cup that gapes.

  Btw, it would be good if you took always took
  1) one pic that shows you up to your shoulders with your hands at your sides (use a timer if you can't get anyone to help you). This angle shows armpits well.
  2) A photo from the front where your arms aren't at your sides. This angle shows how the band sits & if there is any overspill from the sides.
  3) photos from the side, silhouette. This angle shows how the cup meets your skin and if there is any quad-boob.
  4) A photo of your back to see the how the band sits
  5) A photo that shows the centregore, from an angle (up or down) that shows if it sits on skin
  6) A photo that shows how the straps sit on your skin

  Some of the photos you've taken are a bit too close so I can't see everything properly.

  I hope you aren't sick of my comments yet! I hope you don't feel pressured into anything, these are just suggestions which I think would be easy enough to try. :)

• I've already adjusted the tissue in, starting from the back/sides, underneath and at the underarm. That part next to my arm just moves over and is sticking out more in the bras that are adjusted too high. And I have always had that, even before wearing bras, the little bit of tissue that's at the very top crease of your arm. I know it sounds impossible but it's true. Most straps are set too far apart, except for the white 34D I altered down to a 28 or so (just remeasured and it has a 21.5" band without stretching, 27.5" with stretching, so it would be a 28F). It's a full coverage style so the straps pull more from the center and better suited to my frame, yet even those pinch the skin next to my arm. It seems strange that I get told by all kinds of fitters not to wear my bra as high as I was yet I see so many girls doing so and saying how comforable it is. I was in pain, I can't imagine how they must feel. I'm not getting any more headaches or neck/shoulder strain now that the straps are lengthened. Another problem I have is the chafing. When I was wearing my bras higher up and the cups/straps were on that part of flesh holding it in, every time I reached my arms forward it would rub. Now that doesn't happen. So I'm really on the fence whether the bras should be positioned that high and cause discomfort or have them lower. It wouldn't make sense to have straps set even closer to my frame because they wouldn't be holding in that part of tissue, they'd be pushing it out, that's what the white one does and so does the sports bra. Even if the cups are positioned higher due to either tightening the straps or a smaller band, they would be rubbing against my arms. And then I still have the problem of the band. If it were any smaller it would hurt. A brand new bra I can close on the largest and middle setting. I think what I really need is a 27, rather than 26 or 28.

  Thank you for the alteration link. I have done that to 1 or 2 bras in the past, but for me it doesn't work out as well because it sets the straps too close in the back that they're resting on my neck/shoulders in an awkward way and hurt. It makes more of a halter style (but not quite as severe) so the cups get curved in the front, which is good if they're just a tad too small since it creates more room. It's better to take it in in 4 places rather than just 2 in the back to keep distributing even. But she does a very good job explaining that, and it suits the bra she's doing it to. Some bras just work better if you alter the side wing rather than the back closure. The white 34D I did had a lot of excess fabric on the side wings.

  Haha, yeah I really need someone to help me take pics of the bras, but my husband is never around, and when he is he doesn't get a good shot. And oddly enough...the camera on my phone doesn't have a time on it.

  My breasts aren't so much different sizes as they are a different shape. My right one is taller (on that side of my body everything is an inch or so higher than the left) making it seem a quarter, almost half cup size smaller, whereas my left one is shorter so it seems just slightly deeper. I've tried inserts but they add too much, even the thinnest of ones. It helps if I have the straps adjusted to the length of each shoulder, so I think they just kind of correct themselves in height.

  The only 28FF I have is the Cleo Sadie, which is known to run a cup size too small (as with most of Panaches bras). I do know if I had the Deco or any of my other Freyas in a larger cup size they'd be too big. Even in a smaller band, they would just be too large. Certain styles I could get away with a bigger cup. I recently ordered the Taylor and because of the detailing at the top of the cup, it cut in, so I'm in the process of exchaning it for a bigger cup. Layed on top of my other Decos in the same size it was a lot smaller!

  I remeasured my ribcage yesterday. Exhaling and giving a gentle tug at the tape I end up with 25, almost 25.5". Relaxed and pulled around it's 26". The reason I was pulling it so tight before is because I was following Brittany's advice. She said to pull the tape really tight, like you're strangling, and I've actually gotten as small as 23.5" doing that (no food or water in me).

  Your comments are more than welcome! It's nice to have feedback from the other end of the spectrum. Most of my friends think I'm flat chested and size me up to be a 34B. They give me strange looks and are almost hateful when I tell them I can fit in the cups of a 34D. So this is quite refreshing =)

• "I've already adjusted the tissue in, starting from the back/sides, underneath and at the underarm. That part next to my arm just moves over and is sticking out more in the bras that are adjusted too high. And I have always had that, even before wearing bras, the little bit of tissue that's at the very top crease of your arm. I know it sounds impossible but it's true. Most straps are set too far apart, except for the white 34D I altered down to a 28 or so (just remeasured and it has a 21.5" band without stretching, 27.5" with stretching, so it would be a 28F). It's a full coverage style so the straps pull more from the center and better suited to my frame, yet even those pinch the skin next to my arm."

  When you have big enough cups and the right band size, the higher part of the bra won't dig into your skin. When your band is too big, your straps are set too wide. You wouldn't need to search for a bra that has straps closer to your neck if your bands were snug enough. The likely reason why the bra digs into your skin even in that adjusted bra is that the cups are too small. So you need a smaller band (26) and bigger cups. I'm thinking that 26G won't probably fit you because it's a sistersize to 28FF and I can see spillage in bras that you own in that size. I even see spillage in the 28G bras that you own. Big bra bar does offer size 26H, it would be interesting to see how that size would fit.

  "I'm not getting any more headaches or neck/shoulder strain now that the straps are lengthened."

  I think that you've only cured the symptoms (too tight straps) and not the real problem (too wide band).

  "And then I still have the problem of the band. If it were any smaller it would hurt. A brand new bra I can close on the largest and middle setting. I think what I really need is a 27, rather than 26 or 28."

  I think size 26 would be comfortable, but you'd need to go up MORE than one cup. Also, because you measure a low 26, backsize 26 wouldn't be too tight at all.

  A while ago I helped my sister find a better bra for her. She was wearing 34F. It didn't look that ill-fitting on her. I did notice that there was some spillage next to her armpits and the band seemed really snug.
  I measured her. She should have been wearing a band size 30, she was wearing 34.
  I figured that the reason why the band must seem so snug was that her breasts were pushed to the sides by the too small cups. The spillage was taking away space from the band. Also I noticed that the 34F was actually very close to my "cousinsize" which was alarming because my breasts are clearly a lot smaller than hers.
  I tied the band to a knot thus making the band smaller and tried it on. The cups fit me. The bra was obviously wrong for her.
  So I ordered several bras in band size 30 and went up a lot in cup size. Turns out, 30JJ fit her. All in all she went from 34F (=30G) to 30JJ. Her wrong size bra didn't even look that bad on her! She was eating a lot of pain medication for back pains though and was also considering a breast reduction.

  This might be an unreliable way to look at things but your breast look quite similar to mine, your are maybe even bigger. But you are wearing much smaller cups than I am. I'm usually size 28GG. I measure 28.3 around my ribcage. As I've said, I experienced pain when I was wearing a too big band with too small cups. The spillage from the cups really makes the band feel tight. I wasn't able to wear size 30F more than a few hours without awful pain. 30F was one back size UP from what I'm wearing now but several cups smaller. With large enough cups the 28 band isn't too tight at all, it's almost too loose.

  Btw, what you say about the bigger cups gapping... My mom had some trouble believing that I won't find the right sizes in finnish bra stores so she dragged me to one. This was just a few days ago so now I have more insight on orange-in-the-glass!

  They had the right back size (28) but the cups weren't big enough.

  What happened every time was this:
  I would try the biggest cupsize FF and what I'd get was orange-in-the-glass. I'd be spilling from the sides and armpits even when the cups (usually the top of the cups) were gapping.
  However, the saleswoman always took the orange-in-the-glass for too large cups and was very amazed when a smaller size fit even worse. I tried like 8 different type bras, knowing that they were too small in the cups. The saleswoman finally decided that the problem was the bra model. How could that be the problem when I had tried every single bra model there was in 28F and 28FF?!

  "The reason I was pulling it so tight before is because I was following Brittany's advice. She said to pull the tape really tight, like you're strangling, and I've actually gotten as small as 23.5" doing that (no food or water in me)."

  "Measure this tight! You _don't_ need to be straining to pull it tight as a corset, or leaving marks on your skin, or anything like that." This is what Brittany says, she actually advises AGAINST measuring too tightly.

  Btw, I was wondering if the bras you've adjusted had straps that sat in the middle of your shoulders. If you move those straps even closer to the neck then they would naturally be quite awkwardly positioned.

  "Your comments are more than welcome! It's nice to have feedback from the other end of the spectrum. Most of my friends think I'm flat chested and size me up to be a 34B. They give me strange looks and are almost hateful when I tell them I can fit in the cups of a 34D. So this is quite refreshing =)"

  My friends aren't quite that lost but they do get sick of me babbling about bras and bra fitting all the time x) I've also fitted pretty much every friend I have who's kind enough to let me xD Right now I'm working on fitting my mom, I need to be really cunning with her because she's Very Stubborn. :>

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