Bra fitting help » Shoulder strap question
Cleo » Alexa (6631) » 32H 32:11
Issue resolved
The problem seems to be that the cup size of my original bra was too small. The cups being small forced me to wear the straps at their absolute longest, and then sat the O-ring on the apex of my shoulder.
I went up a cup size in the same bra, which then had the cup encase my breast better, and so the straps and O-ring sit farther back along my shoulder line and are not problematic.
So, the odd strap placement was a sign that the cup was too small, and that I had let the straps out very far to compensate.
Original problem
I haven't had any issues with shoulder straps on other bras before, so perhaps the gallery can help me. On the Alexa, I need to adjust the shoulder straps to their maximum, and they still feel snug. More annoyingly, the circle connector between the adjustable section and the fashion fabric section sits squarely on the top of my shoulder, leaving a little ring of a red mark t the end of the day! I didn't notice this when I first purchased this bra, and haven't run across any other notes on the same issue for this model.
I feel like the band is snug enough to keep down in place, but the straps are pulling it up desperately. I had tried a 32J (too large cup) and 32GG (too small cup) before landing here at 32H in the middle. This cup seems appropriate, but if I point my elbows behind me, then I get a bit of quadboob effect (but this is the same with all soft cup bras that I own.)
I'm wondering if this is related to some other fit element that I am missing here. Is my band size off because I want it snug to my softer sides? Is the cup size incorrect? (though the next up seemed way too large at a J). Any other ideas why the strap would be in such an awkward position?
I'd love to think of a way to adjust or modify it to stop the strap annoyance. I'm also trying to identify the issue so I can look for it in future when trying on bras before I buy and don't notice until later.
Thank you!
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Suggestions (2)
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helpful
What happens when you pull the straps tighter?
I actually think you might need a 32HH - from my experience with alexa, I do not think this bra should sit so low on chest. If you pulled the straps tighter you'd probably be quadboobing like crazy - this I think proves my point.
Also, from the back shot I do think there is some back fat you could bring to the cup with scooping - this will make the cup even smaller.Updated on October 31, 2012 Flag this
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helpful
I think the bra is a good fit on you.
That the circle connector ended up on your shoulder - well, that sometimes just happens. That is an issue related to torso length and how high your boobs sit on your chest.
I would suggest a silicone bra strap shoulder pad to make it wearable.
Alternatively you could mess around with the straps. My suggestion would be to shorten the non-adjustable front of the strap, moving the ring forward to the front. To solve the problem of the now too short adjustable part, buy strap elastic (search for bra makers supply) and insert it/replace the strap in the back.
That there is a lot of pressure on the straps is also due to the construction of the bra. See the three-part cup and how a lot of the push-up qualities acutally comes from the part of the cup that is directly attached to the straps? Combine that with heavy breasts with dense tissue and the straps might cut in.The only solution in those cases is to wear a different cut.
BTW, between 32H and 32J is usually 32HH with british brands. So one cupsize up from 32H would be 32HH, not 32J.
Updated on October 25, 2012 Flag this
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Thank you for the suggestions! I just ordered silicone shoulder pads to try them first, since that seems easiest before trying to mess with the straps.
I've worn only padded or molded cups before, and so I've been trying various soft cup bras in recent months, so thank you especially for noting the structural qualities of soft cup bras. I hadn't really thought about the construction difference and assumed it was "all in the snug band" as it is moreso with the paded bras, but I can see how the lift needs to be different now.
And OY! I wish I had known there was an HH to try. Just to know! When ordering several sizes weeks ago, the HH must have been sold out on the few shops plus ebay I was looking for it, and when looking on the bratabase entry and it says "D - J" (or similar) with not yet photos for all sizes, I'm never really sure what sizes are available in between for a particular model. Also drives me mad when I'm shopping and find a model stops at size XYZ, but then find out later that the model range is much wider and the shop just doesn't carry the full size range.
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Hint: A good source to find out size ranges of models is the manufacturers websites. You can often download catalogues in pdf-format for free or look at a all the available models online. Many manufacturers have an online shop that stocks the full range. With my 40H/HH I have an odd size too, many bras stop at a 38G, so when I hunted for that perfect fit 2 years ago I made a huge list of bras and brands that came in sizes 40G-40J. I sort of tried them almost all until I finally hit the jackpot - a bra with the right size and shape for me.
I can also recommend looking at the inventory of a lot of online stores as well as searching for "bra 32H" "bra 32HH" etc on ebay.co.uk. The UK is bra heaven, plus people there like to shop online and on ebay. Sooner or later every available bra in your size will show up on the british ebay, so it makes sense to frequently search there, if only to see what brands are available. And yes, the results are different compared to what you get from ebay.com. From the brands you can then look at the models and at alternative sources of getting them.
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It took a week to get a 32HH, but WOW does it fit a bunch better. The cup is now big enough that the straps sit back farther and so the O-ring is not at the apex of my shoulder any more.
Also notable is that the cup shape is much rounder and not longer slightly pointy. The sides come up a bit much in to my armpit for me, so I'm not sure if that's a high-wing style I just don't prefer or if the underwires are relatively too wide for me. I've read tons on this but still don't have 2 bras of those characteristics to try simultaneously and compare, so I'll keep trying.
With some heavy-duty swoop-and-scoop, I only have a little bit of underarm fold and hardly any back bulge any more, so I do think you are correct in that was probably escaped breast tissue. I would have initially guessed the 32HH as too big, but I recently also read this article on wearing bras too low ( http://blog.butterflycollection.ca/2012/11/are-you-wearing-your-bra-too-low.html ) and then read up on how to *really* swoop and scoop everything in, which I am not yet very good at. I subconsciously try to make everything fit and end up tucking back a bit here and there since I can't ever compare multiple sizes at the same time.
Weirdly, the bra does seem to migrate after wearing a bit, and I feel like I can to swoop everything back forward. Not sure if that's a style not working for me or issue that will go away eventually, but bra seems to fit fairly well at this size at least.
Thank you!