Squish1901

I can't blame Gossard for most of the fit issues I've had with this bra because it was my own fault for ordering the wrong size. Because of that, I hope you won't judge the bra or brand solely based on the fit issues I will discuss.

My most comfortable underbust size is 32" and my overbust is 42" with a best fit of a 32GG, so I was WAAAY off when I picked this size; I couldn't even sister size down to this size, as I'm about 200cc off the correct amount of volume needed for my chest. My fault, completely.

Taking my sizing failure into account, ... I've chosen to give Gossard the benefit of the doubt in regards to how uncomfortable this bra is to wear. That is, I'm assuming that the fit issues I've experienced are because I bought to wrong size and would not exist (or be as bad) if I bought the correct size.

Yep, so this bra is terrible to wear. It offers no support or lift and is awfully uncomfortable. I feel very insecure in this bra. Assuming all those problems could be solved by wearing the correct size, I'll talk about the things fully in Gossard's control first: design and quality.

Design and Quality: I bought this bra about 6 months ago mostly because I liked the look of the design. The red is pretty, the fabric is silky and it has ruffly bits and a cute black bow and detailing. Unfortunately, when you look at it up close, it looks like it was sewn together in the dark. The stitching is wonky and lazy, especially around the underwire where it is an absolute mess. The underwire appears to be severely warped (you can probably see this the best in my side on photo where the band is being pulled back) possibly because of how it was sewn into the bra. The fabric of the band is far too elastic and therefore would not provide firm support even for somebody with a 36" underbust, rather than one of 32". The ruffly bits on the straps and below the band frayed quickly.

In short, even though it wasn't Gossard's fault that I bought the wrong size, their bra is still pretty crap. Now, onto the fit issues:

Straps:
They are far too long and do not adjust short enough. Despite the straps taking most of the weight of my chest because the band is too large, they still manage to slip off my shoulders. I think the reason for this is because they don't do much heavy lifting, as not only does this bra not lift my boobs at all, but it actually squishes them down lower.

Underwire/center gore: With the straps fully adjusted to their shortest, the underwire and center gore of this bra sit more than an inch lower than my underbust. If I wriggle the bra upwards to sit at my actual underbust, the traps become ever longer and therefore more likely to slip off and the bra quickly slides back down at the front and up at the back again anyway. With the underwire sitting so low on my torso, all it does is poke my ribs rather than supporting my bust in any way, shape, or form. The underwires at the center gore sit about an inch out from my body, poking into my breast tissue and giving the part of my bust a horrible misshapen appearance. If I press the center gore flat against my body, it simply digs into the breast tissue more and makes it obvious that the cups are placed too far apart for my close-set boobs.

Cups: The very top of these cups where they attach to the straps sag out from my body because the straps are too long. If this bra lifted my breasts, this area of the cups might be filled with more breast tissue lifted up from my full-on-bottom boobs, but the lifting of that tissue would only increase the 'quad-boob' effect of the too-small cups. Because the underwires of the bra sit more than an inch below my underbust, that inch and a bit of cup space is left completely empty, pressed up against my body and therefore the fabric there wrinkles a bit.

Band: Obviously like 6" too big for my body even on the tightest hook. No support whatsoever, lots of riding up. Enough said.
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Updated on Mar 30, 2014 Flag this

AWFUL! You might be wondering why, as a 34J, I thought this 36GG would fit. Well, I read reviews saying it runs like 3 sizes large in the cups and 1 size small in the band. I found that almost exactly right. I'd say this 36GG fits like a 34HH. So really, only one cup size small for me. The real problem for me is the (lack of) strength and structure of the cups and not enough immediate projection in the bottom of the cup. I also found there wasn't enough cup depth either side of the gore for my center fullness.

My boobs are full on bottom, ... very soft and heavy, kind of 'hanging', very close-set and center full. I'm also high set (despite the hanging) and have short, medium width roots.

Without the straps, the cups completely collapse under the weight of my boobs and the lower part of my boobs is squished flat (orange in a glass effect). The under wire is not sitting too low- I have the underwire right at my inframmmary fold. With the weight of my boobs, the cups can't hold themselves up so I also get gaping at the top of the cups despite them actually being too small. I think the problem is the cups aren't strong enough to hold the weight of my boobs and they don't have enough immediate projection for my lower fullness. The cup depth measurement of this 36GG is actually right in the range of cup depth measurements for 75JJ PL and S Ewa Michalak bras which I fit well. But the difference is the Ewa PL and S bras have A LOT more lower cup depth.

With the straps on, it becomes obvious that the cups are a size small but you can see how the cups might look if there was less weight put on them are therefore could stand up properly. I still have an 'orange in a glass' effect at the bottom of the cups because of their not being enough cup depth there for my bottom heavy boobs, but the cups aren't so collapsed on themselves. It also becomes obvious that there's not enough cup depth either side of the gore for my center fullness- so my close set, center full boobs push the gore out and try to form cleavage because there's nowhere else for my extra center fullness to go.

Onto some less negative points:

THE STAPS! They have implemented the BEST idea with their straps: two distance position options on front and back! So you can choose how far apart you want the straps set! I hooked the straps on at the further in position in the front. That distance apart if PERFECT for my narrow shoulders/frame. I always have trouble with straps being set too part apart for me. I think the further out position is about where most straps are set but if you have trouble with straps being too far apart you can hook them on closer in. You have the same option in the back. I hooked the straps on the further apart hooks at the back as I have no problem with standard strap distances in the back, just the front. I wish ALL bras had a strap position option like this!

Side view: The shape in profile is like the green shape from Bras I Hate's shape post: not very pointy but not very round- somewhere in between.
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Updated on Sep 16, 2015 Flag this

I typically go for a 32GG, but had to sister size to a 34G to try this longline.
The 34 back just isn't supportive enough and the G cups is so very small on me that I think a GG would be too small too, so I think I would really need a 32H if they made one.

The bra itself is a pain.
There's no support for the extra fabric of the longline, so it annoyingly folds over itself.
The back is difficult to do up and very uncomfortable.
The 34 back stretched out bigger than 36 inches.

Updated on Sep 07, 2014 Flag this

Design and Quality: This bra is clearly very well made. The stitching is done superbly, and the main fabric of the bra is a beautiful light, silky, breathable fabric. However, the fabric of the band seems like it might 'ball up' in the wash, unfortunately. Perhaps not in a lingerie bag. Being a sports bra, the design is very simple, but the seams almost look like intentional patterns so that's nice.

Straps: Oooh, padded straps! Love the idea of them and they're just as comfy as I expected. This bra seems to sit too low on my chest, but I would not blame an insufficient amount of strap ... adjustment for this issue. When the straps are adjusted to their shortest, I don't think I would want them to go much shorter. If they could be adjusted shorter, the top edge of the bra may come up uncomfortably high and the sides may cut into the underarms more.

Cups: I measure as a 32GG, but bought the 34GG after being advised by Bratabase users that this bra runs small in both cup and band. The cups push my boobs up very high, almost to my collar bones, leaving the lower portion of the bra quite empty and causing the bra to cut into the breast tissue that has been pushed up at the top and sides. This feels uncomfortable and looks unflattering. The bra cuts in at the sides more than the top, making it mildly painful there, and where it cuts in at the top it simply puts a little strain on my breathing. Because there is no underwire, I'm sort of confused as to wear my boobs are supposed to sit. At the front, the lowest point of the horizontal seams which sit under each breast are only just above my underbust. Then there's like 3" of empty wrinkling fabric! In photos of other women wearing this style, their breasts seem to fill the entire bottom section almost right up to the band. I feel like this size might work if all my breast tissue sat lower on my chest. I don't consider my breasts high-set or full on top, but I've definitely got more breast tissue filling the top portion of this bra that the lower portion. From the side, my boobs certainly look compressed, but not unflatteringly so. Despite the tissue at the top and sides, a nice round shape is indeed created.

Support: Oh boy! Despite the fit issues, the support is still incredible. I jumped around and had a quick run to the top of my street and back- enough to test out its basic capabilities without getting sweat on this bra since I don't think I'm keeping this size. I was very impressed. I actually purchased the bra for light exercise like walking and yoga, but feel I could absolutely use it for jogging too. I felt almost no bounce and like zero impact pain.

Band: With the way the bra cuts in under the arms, my arms are too restricted in this bra to get the back done up as I usually would (last) so I had to do the old 'round the waist do up first. No big deal, really, but made it a bit difficult to get up and over my boobs and settled into place. On a hot day, getting into it would probably give me a panic attack though. It felt tight in the back getting it on and into place but less so after. The band does still feel very snug as the fabric has little give. I measure 32" comfortably, but bought the 34 because it was said to fit like a 32. I does feel as snug as a 32 to me, but it rides up at the back and the band at the front folds over on itself. I can also fit my whole hand under the band with a little effort.
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Updated on Apr 10, 2014 Flag this

Hand delivered by Lou3134 this afternoon.

So glad I got to try this bra!
Lovely round shape and uplift.

Sadly I'm a little squished together quadboobed, so really need a bigger cup.
This style doesn't come in an H unfortunately.
This 32 band is comfortably tight and supportive, though a little stiff.
I have a bit of squish out from the band, as my 29" ribs are 'padded out' to about 34 inches at the moment. But as Linda the bra lady says "think fit, not flab".
The other problem I have is that where the top of the cups join to the straps, there's a little digging into my arms.

Before I consider whether or not to re-list this bra,
I'd like to see how it looks under a few things.

Updated on Sep 08, 2014 Flag this