Bra fitting help » Shape mismatch or too big?
Ewa Michalak » Sf Trapez (908) » 60JJ 28:14
Issue resolved
Sending bra back.
Original problem
I ordered this bra in my normal UK size, but it is too big on top, and too shallow on the bottom. Is it just a shape mismatch? If not, how many cup sizes down, without squishing my sensitive tissue?
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Suggestions (5)
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5
helpfulWayyyyyyy too big, but have you had any luck with other Ewas? Her trademark round shape relies on compressing the apex of the breast to gather the tissue into a blunted round mass, isn't that going to be a problem comfort-wise in anything approaching a workable size?
Perhaps you can hack this too-large size with pads at the base of the cup, allowing your tissue to kind of stretch out uncompressed in the upper portion?
Updated on September 22, 2017 Flag this
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There are a million type of pads, fabric, foam, and yes silicone etc. Amazon, etc. will have a large number of options, as will many lingerie depts in shops.
EM bras often come with their own set, but they also sell them separately on their site:
https://www.ewa-michalak.pl/eng_m_Accessories_Pads-134.htmlBtw I wouldn't call any bra accessory "horrible" as lots of Bratabase users here use them for various perfectly valid fit reasons including asymmetry, post mastectomy, or just achieving the shape or cleavage they want to rock that day ;-) no need to make them feel bad!
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The Ellace gives me a round shape without hurting me. I'm looking for something like that, without so much armpit sawing from too wide strap placement.
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I meant horrible because it sticks to me and feels awful. I live in a very humid place, though.
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Zathiya told me the wires are too wide (what?) and to size down to a 60H or 60HH. All that tissue is just going to get smashed back into my armpits, not go up into a round shape. Is she correct? Are all of my bras too big?
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The Ellace has really soft flexible material that moves with your breast shape and is super projected (gives a rounded oval shape) Maybe you need bras that are similarly less structured, softer materials, and more forward projection. Have you tried Comexim Angel Balconette Bra (449)? I hear the material is very soft.
Another thing you can do is hack your Ellace by fixing the strap placement. Do you sew?
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cupandahalf Nope, can't sew.
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Damn.
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Bringing the strap closer in the back will get it out of your armpit. You could try one of those strapkeeper things for now, at least until you figure out a new bra.
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This is very frustrating. At times I want to go back to wearing the 34DD that the fitter in my town put me in.
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Sovavosi , I concur. The majority of my "fitting bras" are 36DDs and my underbust is 28" . Short, center full, close-set roots are not easy to fit.
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Sovavosi well the wires aren't sitting on you where the designer intended, that's for sure. I think that is what she means.
If your breast tissue on your sides reaches all the way to the underwire, then you have very wide roots and likely will not be able to wear Ewa in your desired cup volume, as this would make the cups too narrow.
I've definitely seen you post photos of a bunch of bras that were too big, but I can't recall every single one well enough to say if they were ALL too big. We know you are using a fit rule that goes against normal fitting i.e. you are using your "fully extended" boob perimeter as a general guide to choose cup volume, which normally will yield cups that are way too large except on women with completely firm and self-supporting breasts where gravity has no impact on shape. So that will already skew things a bit although there is no need for it to be tremendously off--just enough to avoid the compression you can't tolerate. But if you want a comprehensive eval feel free to put up a list of links to all your bra photos!
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My roots are invisible. If I push on my breast there is no distinct line, but the skin and tissue below move the wire mark backwards. Does splayed automatically mean wide roots? The CK bras always feel too wide on the sides. My breast are self supporting. The smaller one has no tissue below the IMF and the larger one has just a tiny bit. The tissue is not soft or super firm. I can’t really push it into a lot of shapes.
The unicorn bra I asked for a fit request on wasn’t too big, it was too small and hurt me when I wore it. I still have my Panache Jasmine 30HH and while yes, it does look like it fits, I have this uncomfortable feeling wearing the bra. It’s also super shallow, lots of bottom wrinkling. I've posted the photos of the Jasmine.
http://www.bratabase.com/albums/4aa/
Is that how bras are supposed to look when they fit?
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Well, fit isn't only determined through how it looks, but yes, IF you had told me you were nice and comfy in the Jasmine, I would say it could be an acceptable fit. Lots of people have bras that fit that look just like this. Base wrinkles in the cups aren't a big deal in and of themselves. The wires are a lot wider than what most people would need, but for some people this would be the needed width so therefore it would be a fit for them. But anyway, if it hurts, then clearly it;s not a good fit in one regard or another, if that makes sense.
Yes I do remember the unicorn bra now,silly me. I think it didn't tack or something? Was that the main fit problem? That one does not look too big at all obviously, again the fit problems were not visible, but clearly if it didn't work they did exist.
Regarding side tissue and width: no, splayed boobs does not mean you are wide-rooted, many people look splayed when standing or even leaning over.
I can't see the edge of my breast tissue but can feel it. It's more tender to the touch than muscle or fat (if you have soreness issues you are likely even more sensitive so hopefully this can be a clue) and can feel somewhat granular/have small lumps, as opposed again to other flesh which doesn't. Does that help you locate how far it extends?
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* oh and if there are pics of the Ellace maybe that would help too
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The unicorn bra had a soft tack, but it still tacks. I don't ever remember not having a bra tack, except for maybe a 34D... My boobs are magic and just go back into my armpits. That bra makes me feel a dull pain in my larger breast, it lingers.
Ellace:
http://bra.pe/IgHj/
http://bra.pe/IgHk/
http://bra.pe/IgHl/ -
OK, so, the 28JJ Ellace is also absolutely huge on you, I'd say about 3 cups too big by standard sizing practices. BUT-- I mean, if this is what works for you and avoids the pain you get with bras that technically do fit, I don't think there is anything wrong with it, per se. I always buy pajamas 2 or 3 sizes too big because that's what I find comfy at night. Unlike a too-small bra cup, a way-too-big bra usually is not going to hurt or harm your health in any way!
I think the more rounded shape you get in the "supersized" Ellace is down to the diagonal seam placement and the type of fabric used on the lower cup--these cause your breast to be sort of loosely supported as if in a sling, so there is some rounding of the lower breast without compressing at the apex the way a standard-fitted cup would do.
Any progress on discerning how far the outer edge of your breast tissue reaches on your sides?
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No, I can’t find them. You are sizing me down three cup sizes from my measurements on the calculator:
Snug: 27
Tight: 26
Standing: 39
Leaning: 41
Laying: 39
This says 28JJ, not 28H. I don’t know where you expect the tissue to go. That Jasmine doesn’t not fit. My areola is popping out on the larger side. If you’re looking for quadboob my tissue is too firm for that to happen. All I get in too small bras is the upper edge slightly puffing up and a lot of pain. The 34DD I wore in April had a tacking gore and no quadboob, so that would be a fit right? -
It just occurred to me, I am left handed and hold the camera in my left hand. The left breast is bigger and facing the camera. Are you looking at my right breast to determine the 3 cup sizes too big?
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The calculator isn't magic, it can overestimate cup size by a good deal especially if you are projected, narrow or conical in shape.
I specifically noted in my response above that the Jasmine obviously was not a good fit SINCE YOU HAD PAIN AND DISCOMFORT. Idk how you managed to take that as a mean and wrongheaded response, but apparently you did.
*I* am not sizing you down, I'm not telling you what size to wear or buy or prefer. I am getting a profoundly disagreeable vibe from your responses here when all I did was answer the questions you SPECIFICALLY ASKED. Don't get pissy with me because I am answering your questions! I am responding based on photographs, if the physical sensations or comfort issues you are experiencing are indicating to you that a different fit approach is needed, only you can determine that. And I have stated that about 10 times over our interactions in the past few days and before.
I responded to your inbox message to the best of my ability. From now on I will leave you scrupulously alone, and please don't ask me further questions because I really, really don't like how you react when I do respond to your questions.
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helpful
Personally I think Ewa is going to be too tall and not projected enough for you because that's their deal. I can see you fill the apex but not the bottom or the top. So shape mismatch likely (considering your needs), size mismatch definitely.
Updated on September 22, 2017 Flag this
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helpfulA rule of thumb seems to be that most people sister size up in the band from their UK size when buying EM bras. In your case, I'd also suggest to go down at least one or two cup sizes. Checking the cup width/depth measurements of these sizes and comparing to a well-fitting bra you own is going to help narrowing down your size.
Good thing about sister sizing up is that it will eliminate shallowness at the bottom of the cup that's caused by the wire being pulled too wide due to a too small band (this is a thing), and it will also get you out of expensive "special order" territory.Hope that's helpful - good luck with your search
Updated on September 22, 2017 Flag this
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I have 30 bands, they ride up on me and cause me neck and shoulder pain. Thanks though.
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I cannot wear UK 28bras because they ride up on me and give me like no support, but I can wear Ewa bras in 65bands! :)
I think it is because of the strong wires (or maybe it's just magic? :D)
So I would definitely recommend you to give it a try!! Especially because you will be able to order and exchange them in the 65range!
Hope that helped! :) -
Sovavosi Yep! So a 65 band in Ewa is not the same as a 30 band in Cleo (or another UK brand). That was my point. Thanks for confirming, BronteBeach!
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yes exactly! :)
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helpfulthis is definitely way too big
Updated on September 22, 2017 Flag this
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helpfulCan you describe in detail what kind of pain you exactly get from bras? From your different posts it is not entirely clear to me. Is it really from compression (like when you squeeze your breasts real hard), or is it an unpleasant feeling on your skin (e.g. from a material you don't like)? Is the pain everywhere, or on certain parts of your breasts?
I`m asking because a friend had the exact same problem and it turned out she has a skin condition which make bras in certain materials unbearable for her. She also, just like you, got cups which were way too big as a result to avoid friction and pressure.
The solution however was to get bras made from a certain material (no lycra etc.) and without wires (the pressure from wires would cause her pain). She also needs cups which are very elastic and do not firmly press her breasts into a certain shape.Updated on September 23, 2017 Flag this
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Compression. The best way I can explain is it a shoe that technically fits but presses on your toe throughout the day so by the end of the day your toe is hurting so bad you can only think of taking it off.
Pain is centered around the center mass of the breast. The pain lingers afterwards, it’s like they’ve been beaten up. Very sore.
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Maybe an encapsulation sports bra like the Panache Sport would be comfortable? It somehow doesn't feel like it's putting pressure in any single spot (at most the straps), and it distributes the pressure evenly. It's also quite projected.
Another thing I can think of is that to avoid squishing the center of the breast but still offer some support, maybe a more vintage-inspired / pointy shaped bra could work. Then you might get the apex depth that you need without getting too much additional space everywhere else - which happens now because most bras are designed with a more half-dome shape in mind. -
I know this is not the place for medical advice, but have you seen a doctor to check if anything is wrong? Your condition sounds quite extreme to be honest (it seems to be with practically every bra?).
It does not need to be anything serious, but you could have e.g. cysts (they are not harmful, only painful). You should not assume you need to just live with this pain.
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My boobs are shaped like a traffic cone on top, with a baseball duct taped to the bottom. I’d prefer shorter bras instead of sizing down in tall bras to make them fit.
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It is a damn weird advice, but have you thought about nursing bras and taking the upper layer off, so the center of your breasts is left bare? The bra would "frame" your breasts, but not compress them. It should still give you enough lift and hold them in place....
Another option are open cup bras. They are not meant for daily use, but if they fit you, why not....
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This is the second one I've ever tried. Bra Obsessed suggested a BM 30JJ, which was way too tall and big. Then she told me to go down 3 cup sizes, which I think would be too small...
What kind of pads? I've only ever seen those horrible silicone things.