Bra fitting help » Fine-tuning Ewa Michalak fit
Ewa Michalak » Ch Lato (271) » 65F 30:7
Issue resolved
For the most part this bra fits. It was suggested that the wires/cup of the 60FF would be a better fit because they are slightly longer. I would need to wear a 60FF with an extender.
Original problem
This is the first Ewa Michalak bra that I've owned. While it fits (had to change to not fitting to make the fit request), I don't know if it is the best fit. It feels a little narrow in the wires and a little loose in the band. I've uploaded pictures both with band on the tightest hooks and on the loose hooks. (I've labeled all the pictures to make it easier to figure out which is which).
My root is very wide and goes back to about mid-armpit and then up to pretty high on my chest but a lot of that doesn't have very much projection. I feel like I'm pretty bottom heavy and my boobs aren't very "tall". I'm pretty petite above the waist and generally need to take out 1" on both sides of the shoulder seams on shirts so they aren't too tall.
I'm wondering if a 60FF would fit better? I prefer to use an extender if need be rather than a too loose band since if my band isn't tight enough I get really bad back pain.
I'd also appreciate any suggestions on other bras that might work, especially strapless.
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Suggestions (3)
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helpful
I don't have much fitting experience, but I'm a similar size as you are (about one cup size smaller, I think) and I am also on a quest to figure out my Ewa Michalak size, so here my two-cents:
I think you have a pretty decent fit, but what you describe sounds very close to my own problems with the CH Onyx I tried in 65E: the band feels a bit too loose and the wires definitely too narrow (do they feel as if they poke you at the sides?). The cups seem fine if not at touch too small.
Based on my own experience, I'd say it's worth trying a 60FF (although the custom-made no-return IS off-putting). I didn't find the 60F wires narrower than the 65E ones, so I think 60FF isn't actually narrower than 65F. Based on my experience, I think the wires are practically the same width, but they're just bit longer combined with slightly more volume in the cup. A deeper cup with longer wires is indeed RELATIVELY narrower, but in ABSOLUTE terms there doesn't have to be a significant difference in the actual width, if that makes any sense. Like you describe above, on me the wires in the 65E FELT too narrow, but I think they really only were too short -- in combination with the loose band and slightly too shallow cups they simply didn't manage hold me in very well at the sides, which resulted in uncomfortable poking. The 60F I tried is definitely tighter (can't wear it without extender) and with the longer wires and slightly more voluminous cups I experience no poking or discomfort at all. For what it's worth, I don't deal well with narrow wires -- Freya, for example, is an absolute disaster on me.
As I said, I think you could definitely try a 60FF. If my observations are correct, the wires will be a similar width as the 65F but slightly longer. Combined with a smidgen extra depth this may be just what you need. Just be sure to get an bra band extender with it as I agree with t_maia that your underbust measurement doesn't really need a 60 band (mine measures 69cm and doesn't for sure). However, like you also indicated, I prefer wearing a too tight band with extender and perfectly fitting cups over a somewhat loose band with imperfect fitting cups and possible discomfort.
Alternatively, you could try a 70F -- which should also be half a cupsize up from 65F -- and shorten the band. In theory the proportions of the 70F should be RELATIVELY wider and shallower, but as I haven't tried this myself I cannot tell you what how the difference would translate into actual measurements ... of course, 70F is returnable, so it might be worth a shot to try this first.
As to other Ewa Michalak styles: like you, I have wide roots and my breasts sit fairly high on my chest. I don't have narrow shoulders, but I do have a short upper torso. I think this CH style is actually quite well suited to figures like ours, as the cup edges don't come up very high. I tried a PL Onyks, but even though it fits okay, the cups do come up a bit too high on the sides (I do not mean the wings and wires; it really is the point were the cups connect to the straps that sits too high on me which results in major gapping when I move my arms/shoulders even a little bit). I find that the HM style also works wonders, again, I guess, due to the low cup edge. Other styles I haven't tried yet, so can't shine my light on those
As to how different wires compare between different styles (similar sizes) [*]: I did not find the wires of the CH significantly narrower than the wires of PL and HM. Based on my fitting experience I THOUGHT they were, but all of them were very similar in WIDTH -- the difference was in their LENGTH and SHAPE. CH has, by far, the shortest wires, medium rise in the centre, low rise on the sides; PL has medium length wires, low rise in the centre, medium rise on the sides; HM has the longest wires, high rise in the centre, high rise on the sides.
Anyway, 'sister sizing' up in CH (65E > 60F) gave me wires that were longer (particularly noticeable on the sides) and cups that were a little bit deeper, but not significantly different in width. Likewise, 'cup sizing' down in HM (65E > 65DD) gave me wires that were shorter and cups that were shallower, yet not significantly different in width.
[*] For what it's worth: I compared the wires of all these bras by matching the centre gores of the bras and tracing the length and width of the wires accordingly.
Updated on October 26, 2012 Flag this
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By the way, I got the same issue you did with the Andorra when I tried it in a 28F. The fitter was going "I've never seen it do that." I'll have to try it in a size up when I get a chance.
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Really? That's funny -- it really seems as if we are size/shape twins :) DO try it in a size up when you get the chance. I still feel that half the time it's too big on me in 28F (breastfeeding related size fluctuations), but at least the shape remains nice and rounded. I have actually read in several places that 'sister sizing' in Andorra works a bit similar as it does in Ewa Michalak -- maybe worth checking out at some point.
On a different note: I have actually been considering to list the Ewa Michalak HM Gold 65E I was unable to return in time. It runs large in the cups -- I had to go down to 65DD in this model -- so it might fit you, if you're interested in trying an unpadded half cup. The wires are longer than on the other models and the shape it gives is absolutely gorgeous, albeit a bit less 'up and out there' than what one gets from a CH. I just have to replace the straps (long story), but I'm a proficient seamstress so once I've sourced some replacement strap materials it shouldn't be a problem. Even though it hasn't been worn and is essentially brand new, because of the straps I won't be asking much.
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It seems so :)
I'd definitely be interested in HM Gold once you are ready to list it.
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helpfulMy recommendation would be to switch for another style (PL, CHP or HP maybe) if the wires of the CH cut is too narrow. The CH cut is known for having narrow wires in the smaller cupsizes.
Looking at your measurements I don't think you really need a 60 band with Ewa. In general a band needs to be as tight as necessary, not as tight as possible. Try some jumping jacks or similar, if the band doesn't move be happy about the comfort of the slightly loose feeling.
Regarding your questions, you might want to write to Ewa's customer service. They can answer you far more accurately than I could on wire width and cupsize.
Updated on October 25, 2012 Flag this
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I'll look into the other cuts,thanks!
I think part of the band issue for me is that I give off a lot of heat so the band loosens up throughout the day. Once that happens the cups can shift around. I should probably just tighten the hooks in the middle of the day. It tightens back up after not wearing it for a day or two.
Do you have any suggestions for others bras outside of Ewa Michalak?
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helpfulHey, I know that bra!
It seemed to be a little small in the cup for me, too. (which was why I had to sell it.) I've heard that EM has some inconsistent sizing, but so far both of the EM bras I own came up small in the cup. However, I attribute a lot of that to being in between an F and FF.
To me, the fit looks pretty good, other than having to wear it on the tightest hook. (At least it's not new; less likely to stretch a lot.) What I'll say about the cups, is that a lot of EM bras (especially CH) are designed to bring your boobs out, forward, and up. So, they're shallower around the edges and bottom, deeper at the ends/tips and top, and have narrower wires. They seem like they work best on boobs that "project" a lot. (which are not mine...
)It's probably best to wear it out and see if you like the shape, and see if it's uncomfortable. I wasn't sure about it at first, but when I wore it out it became obvious that it didn't fit.
I wish you luck!
edit: sorry, I misread your post. I thought you were wondering if a 65FF (30FF) would fit better, because it felt small in the cup! For the record, I think the cup fit looks fine, and the band is maybe a LITTLE loose, but I don't think it's anything to worry about since it's not likely to stretch.
Updated on October 25, 2012 Flag this
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Yup! I have to say even with these (minor) issues, this is a very nicely constructed bra and I do love the look it gives. Thanks for the reassurance about the band. I worry about that since I've had several (cough*Freya*cough) that have started out fine then quickly moved to too loose and major back pain.
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Thanks! What you described pretty much fits exactly with my issues.