Bra fitting help » Wires too narrow? Cup too big? CK Emily 36H
Curvy Kate » Emily Balcony Bra (CK5001) » 36H 36:11
Issue resolved
Unfortunately this bra is not quite right for me. I'm having better luck with <a href="/browse/panache/jasmine-6951/" class="mentioned-item">Panache Jasmine (6951)</a> and <a href="/browse/bravissimo/alana-au01/" class="mentioned-item">Bravissimo Alana (AU01)</a> to date.
Original problem
I don't know how good this fits - I feel like it may be very slightly too big in the cup, and maybe I should try a sister size down. But I can fit most of my hand between the band and my back. I would think this means band is too big, right...?
Usually I'd wear a 38GG or 36H although I'm still trying to find the best size/fit for my breasts, which have a very, very wide root as far as I can tell.
There is a slight problem too in the manufacturing (as far as I can tell) in that the wire is slightly shorter than the channel in which it sits, which I think leads to the slight overspillage at the side. Any and all suggestions are welcome, including any other bras/brands you think might work! Thank you.
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Suggestions (3)
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helpful
Does the band move when you are wearing the bra? In the side view, it looks like the band fits pretty snug, downsizing will only increase your back fat. If the band does not ride up, the fact that you can get your hand under it just means that it is stretchy. I'm not sure from the pictures if this bra is a cup size too large, or if it is the wrong shape for your breasts, because while you do have some extra space at the top edge, you are getting some quadboob at the horizontal seam in the cup. It may be that this bra is fits but just has a loose top edge. How noticeable are the issues under clothes?
Updated on June 29, 2013 Flag this
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The loose top edge etc that mycuprunnethover may be due to the fact this bra is cut for a full upper breast. there is a bit of room in the top of the cup. I have a similar fit with it. Its not too bad a fit by the look, if you need something to keep you going while you keep searching..Seems like many of us are on that elusive hunt for THE bra. ;)
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I'm determined to find THE bra one day :) Thanks for the response - I always thought I was very full on top but the more bras I try, the more I realise I'm not quite as full as I thought! The fit is very comfortable; the best I've tried so far, so I'll keep it!
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I am a bit the same. I always thought I was very full on top..not so sure now, but maybe more even fullness. SOmetimes I even think I lean towards full on bottom!..lol its a learning process. Good luck in your search. :)
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mysteries1984 ,I hope it's ok to ask about this,but I was wondering about one of the photos,it seems like you might have an armpit rash?I am asking as I've been dealing with one for a few years that looks similar,I believe I may have figured out what it is,but am not sure.
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mycuprunnethover and NaturallySo thank you both for your help! I'm sorry it took me so long to report back. I was on holidays, then sick, then moving, and here I am. I got a Bravissimo Alana (AU01) and Panache Jasmine (6951) and both work much better for me than either this or the Cleo Marcie (6831) I have. I'll upload pics as soon as I manage to find the camera that got lost in the move!
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SparkleDarkles it is certainly okay to ask, and my apologies for the delay in responding. I do indeed have a rash in the armpit area that appears most often after shaving. I used to use Tend Skin which helped it somewhat but my bottle is gone missing and I can't get it in my country too easily. So, I assumed it was very, very sensitive skin (moreso under my right arm, for some reason) irritated by shaving. But if you have a different suggestion, please, do tell me! I'd love to know :)
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mysteries1984 ,is it very painful?Mine tends to be very painful and itchy a lot of times.It's gotten extremely bad.It will flake a lot.Goes between very dry and thin skin to thicker.I used to think it was a fungal infection,but now I think it is inverse psoriasis.
If your's just appears after shaving and isn't very bad,it's probably just sensitive skin.
I do have a recommendation,though.This is one of the few things that really helps me.They do ship outside the US. :)
http://www.grandmasusa.com/
The other thing that helped was the strawberry toner.I haven't tried the mist one,but that one might work too.
http://www.wildcarrotherbals.com/collections/rose-lovers#
I'm trying something new right now,too,and will report back.
I've found coconut oil or sunflower oil to help at times.
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helpfulYou appear to be fuller on bottom with a narrower cup. The straps look like they are digging into your armpits. This simply means the straps are designed too wide and again, attest to your breasts being a bit more on the narrow side than wide. Curvy Kate and Panache tend to produce certain models with wide straps/cups, so be aware. You may have better luck with Fantasie or Freya brands.
Updated on June 30, 2013 Flag this
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Now this is a massive enlightenment. I always considered myself more full on top, with a verrrry wide root. I think it's at least partly because I have broad shoulders, so in my head that = wider root. I don't get along too well with any Freya I've tried, but have a lot more to look at. I do have a Freya Rio (3510) but I think I have the same issue with the straps (most straps do tend to look a bit funny on me - same with camisoles/vests). Thank you very much for the help!
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I own the Rio too but it does have wide straps. You'll probably have good luck with a plunge style since you are full-on-bottom. I've read on here that the Freya Jolie is a good, comfortable plunge and can still be found on eBay. Good luck in your search, I hope you find the perfect bra now.
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Thank you :) Ebaying it up as we speak. I'm hoping I'll find a bargain!
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No offense, but I would NOT take the advice to go for Freya. Freya wires are generally just too weak in the larger cup sizes, and cannot support the breasts, and almost never have tacking gores.
I'm also not seeing what underwonder saw about your root looking narrow? I can't tell very well from these shots., but I would say based on this and marcie, you probably do tend toward a wider root rather than a narrower one. Strap width won't have anything to do with root width. -
Elphabra , thank you! I'm still figuring it all out, and definitely thought I had a wider root...but was/am open to suggestions otherwise. I've never had much luck with Freya, really - I don't find them as supportive as Fantasie or Panache, as an example, even in the wrong sizes. Thank you for your feedback, it's much appreciated :)
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Hi :) I agree with Elphabra
The easy answer I think is this; Your *root* is wide but your *boobs* are narrow. Hello and welcome to this club: http://www.bratabase.com/profile/353/adventures/1778/ and to bra fitting hell, because no matter what you do you'll either have wires on boobs or cups gaping in the middle.
Instead of thinking of full on top vs full on bottom I've started thinking like this: http://lingeriebriefs.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/breast1.jpg
I cannot tell from these pics, but maybe your boobs are fuller in the upper outer quadrant but less full in the upper inner?
Also I'm really curious about Andorra pics. could you add pics of it to compare? I think what you think is wires poking your armpits is wires poking your boobs and that you might have boobs all the way up in your armpits. Wires poking on that is incredibly painful. It doesn't really matter what is glandular or fat in the end, but my guessing is that we both have a tail of spence that goes back to our lats and also fat around it. Either the wires then needs to be very low or very high. Same with the gore if your boobs are less full in the upper inner I think :)
Edit: I must question myself on wide root and narrow boobs. I'm not sure. I think you look quite similar to Elphabra but with a less tall root?
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Branarchist, I think you might be amazing. You've opened my eyes to another possibility, but the one that feels closest to me. I find it very hard to look at my physical self objectively, but it looks like you're right - narrow boobs with a wide root.
I feel I am definitely fuller in the upper outer quadrant (outer in general, I think - my lower outer feels more full than my lower inner), and my tail of spence (never heard of it until just now) goes almost to my shoulder, as far as I can tell. My tissue is pretty soft, too. Oh, and I have fat. Sadly.
I will add Andorra pics, yes - although I should say that the lighting in my flat isn't great and the bra is black. Also, I've accidentally flung it into the machine to wash it so it isn't in great condition - a bit embarrassing, to be honest. But I'll add them, and tag you when I do (hopefully tomorrow). I'm not sure about the breast/armpit issue you mention, but it warrants further investigation...
Thanks so much for your help, I appreciate it a LOT! :)
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mysteries1984 *blush* It's a hard shape to track and an even harder shape to fit. It really is a bitch because no matter what we do we have to sacrifice some parts of bra fitting rules for it so in the end most are stuck with either distorted wires or wires on breast tissue or gaping in the middle.
But I'm recommending Andorra and Bravissimo halfcups to this shape like a broken record so I'm curious about seeing those pics :)
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I was also thinking you might be in the narrow boob with wide root category mysteries1984 , this post caught my eye. I am so new to this though that I thought I must just be imagining things. I'm glad Elphabra and Branarchist said something.
What made me think that is the red marks by the end of the underwire, it looks familiar to me.
Oh also about the underwire, I have noticed that in all (I think) of the bras I've tried on so far the underwire on the outer edge doesn't reach to the end of bra where you'd think it would. There is usually about an inch of underwire channel with no underwire usually. I'm not sure if that's what you mean or if in your bra the wire is even shorter than that and it is a mistake.
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Branarchist and SuperSecretL , thank you both so much. I'm sorry for the delay in uploading pics, but I have shaky hand syndrome and have been very busy (off on holidays tomorrow though!) I've done the best I could with the camera resolution and uploaded to imgur here: http://imgur.com/a/XLKMf#0
I also took a couple of naked boob shots (http://imgur.com/a/jBAuL#0 NSFW, NSFW!!! Naked boobs within) to help show the possible narrow breast/wide root issue - I have massive problems looking at myself objectively in the physical sense so it's hard for me to tell. I also threw in a couple of Freya Rio shots (no idea what size it is, the label has practically disintegrated...that's how old it is) so you can see (almost) the difference in how supported I am in that versus the Andorra. Also, how twisted the gore is. It's always been like that. I never considered myself close-set before, really...more splayed. The sagging doesn't help.
I tried to show the armpit/boob issue, but it's difficult to see - I do think I have tissue right up to my armpits though, as suspected. DAMMIT. I see some slight quadboob too, which I've never noticed before.
I hope it's ok to upload to imgur rather than here...the pics aren't really of any good quality as far as I'm concerned. So I'm not expecting any great further diagnoses from either of you due to my own crappy photography, but you've already done more than enough...if you do have any further insight/confirmations though, I'm all ears. I had just washed this, so hadn't been wearing it all day - I will add pics of the red marks after a day's wear too though. I'll add to the same album and tag you both if you're interested?
I'm actually going to Bravissimo this week (excite!) and am going to try their half-cups while I'm there, and anything else they offer. CurvyWordy recommended their half-cups when I pestered her on Twitter, so this reinforces that suggestion.
I really am sorry about the photo quality, by the way. And thanks again. Massive, massive thanks. I can't pass on enough of them.
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mysteries1984 From the naked boob pics I would say it doesn't look like narrow root at all for sure, definitely wide root. I'm not sure about the narrow boob/wide root from these pictures. You might have some auxilliary tail going around to your shoulderblades but I can't really tell, Branarchist would probably be able to guess for that. But I think it looks like your bras are definitely not wide enough right now and that the underwire is sitting on breast tissue. You could go a lot wider just to get all the visible tissue I think.
In picture #12 you can see some definite sideboob happening. I think you're definitely right about having tissue right up to your armpit.
Ya I think imgur is fine I've been using it. And ya I'm interested in the pics of the red marks I find those can help.
No problem about the photo quality they are pretty useful I think.
And once again I am very new to this too so hopefully I am being helpful at all and if not feel free to disregard!
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mysteries1984 I'm really sorry for the late reply. I don't know what's up with bratabase notofications for me nowadays because some gets amissed.
Anyhow; about shape; I don't know. Wide rooted yes, I agree with SuperSecretL But I think the angles makes it impossible to spot if the boobs are narrow compared to the root or not. Rather the boobs disguise the roots in the pics. I tried to photograph myself in the same kind of way and I got the somewhat of the same result, but my boobs are definitely much smaller than yours but with the same root.
So I'm not sure about the narrow boob shape anymore since your boobs looks so full!
And yes, the root is definitely up in your armpits and that Andorra is cutting you there. At least it looks like that to me :)
Best way to photograph root vs boobs I think is photographing them on top, from like above the head and straight down. In that angle my boobs are very obviously narrow compared to my root.
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mysteries1984 I've had some help. So now I think now like this; my boobs compared to my roots are very very narrow. Your boobs are bigger than mine but the root is about the same so compared to my boobs or SuperSecretL your boobs are not narrow. But if you compare with someone with even larger boobs and still a wide root your boobs would be more narrow. So they are something in between I think. But every single boobs are narrower than their roots if they are not omega shaped. It's kind of the logic way to be, so to speak.
At least that's the words I would put on it now :)
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mysteries1984 I noticed the Panache Harmony Underwired Balconnet (4031) on reddit the other day (http://www.reddit.com/r/ABraThatFits/comments/1ieyxx/scaling_disaster_or_fit_check_panache_harmony_30kk/)
For the girl who tried it it was insanely too wide and she complained about how ridiculous it was, but I immediately thought of you and that maybe it would be wide enough for you. Branarchist has tried the Panache Harmony Full Cup Underwire (4035) and the wire was wide enough for her, so maybe I was onto something in my guess.
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eliza SuperSecretL I'm going to work backwards in my response as it's easier that way...firstly, apologies for the delay. I was on vacation/holidays, then sick for a few weeks, and then I moved, got a new flatmate, etc etc. Life has been busy! I'm still unpacking and still haven't found my camera, but as soon as I do I will upload pics of the new bras I got :) (also apologies to eliza for the repetition between this and the Cleo Marcie (6831) fit check I already posted on.
I bought a Panache Jasmine (6951) and Bravissimo Alana (AU01) (managed to actually get to a Bravissimo store for a fitting, and she said what's already been outlined here - wide root, tissue up to my armpits, etc. I think I was a bit of a challenge to her, actually - she brought in about 10 bras and only 2 fitted. I tried on a few Curvy Kate models, but no go with any. I think we're just not meant to be. Given the current controversy I see they're undergoing with the whole star-in-a-bra-must-not-be-surgically-altered, maybe it's a good thing I'm not associated with them!
As soon as I find my camera, I'll take pics - of me in the Alana, me in the Jasmine, and me and my red marks after wearing the Andorra for the day. Oh, and more nekkid boobs from the top angle facing down towards my feet.
Anyway again, I'm sorry for the massive delay. I don't want that to come across as if I posted and then stopped caring, because that wasn't the case at all. I'm very, very grateful for the help offered.
And oh! SuperSecretL, I'd forgotten until I saw that comment...I actually have a barely used Panache Harmony Underwired Balconnet (4031) in my wardrobe, bought in the wrong size (36G, if I remember correctly). Once that turns up (seriously, I moved down the hall, and EVERYTHING has gone missing, even though most of it didn't even leave the building) I'll put it up here so it can go to a good home. I bought it on eBay. I did like the shape it gave me (well, aside from the too-small thing...I could see potential there, in a different size) so I'll have to put it on the list for a next purchase.
Thanks again to you both :) x
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helpfulIt looks really nice on you. Is it comfortable? I own 1 curvy Kate bra in 32K and I quad boob a little in it but the material and wire are so comfortable. Maybe if you feel there is a little extra fabric, keep it as a pms / bloating bra cause to me it looks really pretty on you. I'd keep it if it looked like that on me!
Updated on July 20, 2013 Flag this
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MelaB I'm keeping it purely because I have very few bras at the moment :) Comfort-wise, I'd give it a 7/10. It does the job, basically...it's just not ideal.
Apologies for the delay in response, I was on holidays, then sick, then moving...
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It doesn't move, nope. It stays pretty snug all day, and it's quite comfortable. I didn't even consider the stetchy thing you mentioned, in that the fact I can get my hand under it isn't necessarily a bad fit. I measure more as a 38GG, but am still figuring it all out (CK and many other brands can be pretty hard to find where I'm from, so I rely heavily on online shopping).
Under clothes the issue isn't noticeable at all...but I didn't notice the quadboob until you pointed it out. I'm hesitant to go a cup size down, as I think that'd be too tight. I do have a 38GG Cleo Marcie (6831) that I'm in the process of putting up a fit help for, but that's worse than this for the quadboob.
Thanks so much for your help - this is the best bra I've found for me so far, but I'll keep searching!