Bra fitting help » Fit check - Fantasie Lois, slight quadraboob, empty space at cup bottom
Fantasie » Lois Side Support Bra (2972) » 32F 32:7
Issue resolved
Bratabase members helped me understand the Fantasie Lois is not the best bra for my shape, which is immediately projected. Recommendations were given for other, more suitable styles to try.
Original problem
I am uncertain whether this bra is a good fit for me, and as I'm still in the learning phase I'd appreciate feedback to help me decide whether to keep this bra or whether I might find a better fit in another size or style. Of six bras I tried in 32F this is the most comfortable and most secure feeling, so that's a big plus. However - there is a very minor dig in at the top edge of the cups, into my soft/pliable top-of-breast tissue. Meanwhile at the bottom of the cups, there's a small amount of empty fabric between the underwire and breast. This is after doing the gentle upward tug on underwires. It's almost like the UW are rounder than my underbust creases are (to be fair, all the new bras I tried have this problem, or bigger fit issues, with the underwire). However - this is still far and away better than any of my ill-fitting 34D's. I would appreciate any feedback! Thank you.
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Suggestions (2)
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helpful
I think you have the right size, but the wrong shape. The combination of quading on top and wrinkling or empty fabric at the bottom usually means that there is not enough "immediate projection." This means that the angle the fabric makes with your chest wall at the bottom of the cup at the underwire is too shallow for your breast shape. Consequently, in order to get enough space for your tissue at the bottom of the cup, your breasts push the whole bra downward until it reaches a place where there is enough room. This usually disrupts the whole fit and shape of the bra and thus brings to top edges of the cup down and cutting in on top. You are correct to think that the wires are some how not fitting properly, but it is most likely because there is not enough room at the bottom of the cup for all your tissue so they are forced down from your imf. Bras with side support panels tend to be shallower than those without and, as far as I know, Fantasie tends to be shallower. You might try one of the following styles that are known for good immediate projection, but the size itself looks about right.
* I need particularly narrow wires so "wider" for me may not be especially wide. Also, wire widths are very size dependant because different brands scale cup sizes differently.
With narrower wires:
Curvy Kate new models: Ellace, Bardot, Madagascar, Portia, Dreamcatcher, Florence
Cleo Marcie, Lucy, their "clones" - Hettie, Kali, etc.
Freya Rio
Comexim 3-part half cups
Ewa Michalak BM and SMs
Gorsenia unpadded K200s
With wider wires:
Gorsenia K000s
Flirtelle - several unpadded models
Parfait Sophia
Nessa unpadded balconnettes
Ava Sunflower
Updated on January 20, 2017 Flag this
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just thinking again, the flirtelle and nessa are more narrow than wide but just too wide for me.
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Thanks for the additional data points! It sounds like the Flirtelle and Nessa may therefore be worth a try. :)
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helpful
This looks like "orange in a glass"--your breast tissue is a bigger volume than the cup. It looks like you could use a bra with more immediate projection, a lower or more narrow gore, and a bit more open along the top of the cup. Ewa Michalak BM cut may feel more comfortable because it will have both better immediate projection and a narrower gore.
Panache and Cleo may work. I find the wires objectionable because of their lack of padding around a very firm wire. Other Bratabase users can enthusiastically recommend them: I'll let them do that
Curvy Kate Ellace may be an option, but the gore may still be too tall. Check the dimension here in Bratabase to ensure it is shorter than Lois.
Gorsenia is new to me, but the immediate projection is exceptional in the unlined styles I've tried. Center projection (space near the gore) is also outstanding in the Gorsenia unlined. So, they, too, may provide a better fit. Their gores, however, are, relatively tall. More narrow than Lois and wider than Ewa Michalak BM.
Hope you find a comfortable bra soon!
Updated on January 20, 2017 Flag this
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Hi Love4Pollinators! Thank you for the reply and advice! Hmmn, I hadn't considered the gore at all. I've worn nothing but (ill-fitting) plunges for the better part of a decade and nothing has bothered me yet apart from a Panache Envy I tried (STIFF gore on that one for sure and the UW way too wide overall) but for whatever reason the Cleo's I tried (Marcie, Juna) felt fine gore-wise (though not in other ways). Hmmn... the Marcie has a shorter gore than both the Juna and Lois. Wow, there are so many things to think about. Bras are so much more complicated than I ever imagined!
I haven't tried a Curvy Kate model yet, but will definitely do that on your recommendation. I'm in favor of anything I can get on Amazon and send back if needed. This is perhaps the only reason I'm skittish of the Polish styles. I will keep an eye out for listings here that may make these more accessible.
I enjoyed the Orange in a Glass analogy and appreciate the insight into projection. I read that phrase here somewhere, but wrote it off because my shape is very unlike an orange when unsupported! This left me in considerable doubt. Thanks for taking the time to respond and set me straight!
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Amazon: I'm eternally grateful for their business model. I SO hope my non-bra purchases cover their losses on my bra returns. Eeks. So glad you are acquainted with them, too :-) :-)
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I feel the very same way now that I'm making liberal use of the return policy! It's not something I've had a good reason to do in the past unless there was a product quality issue. It's just amazing I can send a bra back for ANY reason and they'll take it! So grateful for Amazon. :)
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Hi maddy2596, thanks so much for the list of other bras to try! I will happily do that and share back what I find with the Bratabase community. I really appreciate the help! I thought I might be "immediately projected" as you described because I tried a couple of Cleos (Marcie, Juna) that while misses overall, matched the shape of my underboob really well. These were in 32F's as well and seemed a touch small, but only a touch. Bratabase suggested 32FFs as a possibility for the Cleo brand so grabbing a Lucy in the F & FF cup sizes seems like a good direction.
I am by no means an authority on my own breasts yet, but I don't think I'm a match for wide wires. A couple of the bras I tried were much too wide in the wire department, leaving lots of unfilled space for sideboob I don't have (Freya Rapture, Panache Envy). The Cleo Marcie was just a wee bit narrow. I have more homework to do in this department. Your list is very helpful in giving me an idea of what to try next, and what not. I appreciate the size validation too!
Thank you, thank you, thank you once again. I will send the Fantasie back and look forward to another, perhaps better fitting bra!