Bra fitting help » How do you tell if a strapless bra fits right?
Panache » Evie Strapless Bra (5320) » 36G 36:9
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Original problem
It's been years since I've had a fitting strapless bra, I honestly can't remember what to look for anymore.
The band feels tight enough (though I haven't worn it for longer than minutes at a time), though the underwire sits too low and digs into my chest and I keep wanting to pull the band to sit higher in the back (but I always do that with strapless so maybe that's just me). My breast tissue doesn't fill out the bottom of the cup (which is a trend I'm noticing for myself when the underwire is too low) and the cup also gaps slightly at the top- it's barely noticeable though, so if I didn't have the too-low underwire issue I would discount it.
I feel like I should maybe go down a cup size to 36FF, which is what I think I am generally in Panache bras. I do remember hearing in the past that you should go down a band size for strapless bras; is that more outdated bra info or does that still hold true? And if it's true, would I stay in a G cup then, since you usually go up a cup if you go down a band?
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Suggestions (5)
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helpfulThe cups are swallowing you whole
That's why the wire is sitting so low. This is a very -- sorry to be kind of direct -- a very unflattering look on you. Remember that every bra runs differently so we take different sizes in different bras. I would go down two cup sizes in this and then you may have to go up a band too. (It will be tighter in the right cup size.) So 36F or 38E.Updated on July 25, 2016 Flag this
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helpfulI don't know how strapless bras are supposed to fit either! It does look like you could go down a cup size on this one, but the band looks a bit tight. The stretched band measurement is less than your comfortable rib cage. The band is seeking a smaller place lower down on your body and that's why the under wires don't stay put. I was looking at the reviews of this. Some people say the band is too stretchy, others say it's firm and too tight. Maybe you got one of the tight ones! Try it on with an extender and see if it stays up. That will tell you whether you should reorder in 36FF or 38F.
Updated on July 24, 2016 Flag this
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helpfulWhat I've found, and seen others comment on, is that strapless bra's bands usually run tight. Those rubber strips make it hold firm and have less stretch, too. My suggestion would be to go up a band size from your normal, and down one cup size. Hope you find one that works!
Updated on September 24, 2016 Flag this
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helpfulYou might want to try the curvy kate luxe strapless bra too - it has 2 curved vertical seams, which are more supportive for larger breasts, give more lift etc. Mixed reviews here, but could be worth a shot.
From the reviews here the band seems to run snug and the cups small, so I would definitely try it in a 38. The cups might be too narrow for you - there are no measurements for the 38 bands, but looking at the measurements for the 36GG and the 38J, you may want to size up a couple of cups. (The 38J matches your breast measurements and the wire width of this bra most closely, but may be too big for you regardless. When on, a bra will be wider. What is the wire width of your most comfortable, best fitting bra? A strapless with that width would be a good place to start).
I know everyone else has said that this bra looks to big for you, but I think it looks too small. Hard to tell when it is sitting so much lower than it should, but even looking at your measurements next to the bras, its depth is only 13 inches to your 15 inch vertical perimeter. And you say the gore is floating, which again suggests too small or a shape mismatch. Plus that it slips down at all suggests that either the wires are too narrow for you, so your breasts push the cups down; or that you are too projected overall for the cup, resulting in the same; or both. But that could also be caused by the too small band moving to where you are smaller.
When you pull the wires right up to your IMF (maybe put the straps on to keep it there while you check this) how does it look and feel? Is there gaping, quadding, wrinkling? Where?
The way you have to twist to take photos of yourself will cause gaping and funny fit in most moulded cup bras IMO, bc the cups have their own shape, so this is best for you to check yourself in a mirror and don't worry about photos. Just add what you see to this post. And try with an extender, if you have one, so the cups aren't being distorted by the band stretching too much.
RE strapless bras generally, they tend to run wide and shallow, like most moulded cup bras. AFAIK that's a structural thing common to most, so they will not be great fitwise for your projected breasts. Curvy Kate tries to circumvent this with their vertical seams, which provides room for projected. (If you are pendulous you are projected). Hence why I have suggested it to you. But I have a different breast shape to you and have never tried the Curvy Kate, so ignore whatever you think is wrong!
Updated on January 21, 2017 Flag this
Hmmm just saw how old this is! No idea how I came across it!