Painter

Thanks very much for the comment, Mims24 ! Based upon the remarks here, I believe I'm going to try a 32GG again to see how that works. I suspect melifish 's point about it possibly being due to wearing out is right on target, and I overflow the top of the 32G/can't fill the 32H.

Hugely appreciative of all of the comments!

@melifish, that's good to know - thanks for pointing that out.

BumbleBean , I tend to wear them pretty loose, but I'll loosen them further and try it again - thank you!

Hi melifish - thanks for the response! I'm not sure I was clear, and so I updated.

The 32GG quads and and the 32H is too big. I'm wondering if Marcie runs different enough in different colors to try another 32GG. I don't think the issue with the 32GG is that it's too large, but it is older and possibly wearing out, and so perhaps that's the problem (although it did fit perfectly, and I've gained 10lbs/an inch at the full bust, so that probably isn't helping).

And that's a good point about Cleo and quality. Two Lucys I own have a full 1/4" difference in width between the gores...

You might look at the Panache Sports bra in the black or grey if you fit their size range. These do separate well and they're extremely comfortable. If they didn't come up quite so high, I might not wear another bra.

I mourn that Marvel was discontinued.

You might also like the Freya Kiyoko half cup, which I find to be slightly deeper than Patsy (this could be my imagination). I do find the band stretched out wildly as compared to Patsy, so if you're between band sizes, you might want your smaller one.

I was convinced that I was full on the bottom as well because I don't look like any of the standing diagrams in Bras I Hate's post on the topic, and because I often seemed to have too much room in the top of the cup. When I tried the lean test (also in that post), I realized I do have a little more upper than lower fullness. Because I was trying bras designed for lower fullness, I think I was settling too deeply into the cups, making the top seem too loose, when in reality, it just wasn't an ideal shape.

Good luck!

Measuring the difference between the full and under bust is an attempt to find how much breast tissue you have in order to calculate the cup size - but it isn't a perfect tool for a number of reasons. We aren't generally perfect cylinders. My ribcage narrows quite a bit between where my full bust sits and my under bust, and I often take a cup size smaller than what I measure, as my full/under difference isn't just breast tissue - it's breast and additional ribcage width. You also have to think about asymmetry (a friend has a two cup size difference between breasts - she has to go up from what her measurements indicate to fit the larger side), the shape of the bust (someone who's very full on the bottom may end up taking a cup or two larger in a bra designed for more shallow breasts), how closely set the cups are, wire width, etc.

Lastly, if you're calculating yourself, remember to figure the cup size difference from the band size you choose and not just the under bust. If you're going with a 32 band and your have a 41 full bust, that's a 9" difference. Both Sophisticated Pair and Breakout Bras suggests trying a 32G. If that fits you well in a Bravissimo half cup, you may just be a half cup girl - they tend to run a little more shallow in the bottom of the cup. You might also try a Freya half cup (some in a 32G and some in a 30GG - the bands are hit and miss, and may stretch like crazy) and see how they compare - the Patsy might be a good place to start.

Caveat to everything I just wrote: I haven't had coffee yet this morning. Good luck!