Bra fitting help » Technically, it "fits" BUT awkwardly and uncomfortably so! Help!

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Panache » Tango Ii Balconnet Bra (3251) » 34DD 34:5

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Suggestions (3)

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  Not only is Tango a difficult fit (per my research) but the Tango Li is an even harder fit. How do the wires feel? Do they feel/look like they're sitting on bra tissue to you? I can't really tell by the pictures.
  Being conical and FOB, most Freya non-padded bras won't fit you very well. But I definitely recommend trying the Freya half-cup styles. Though I hear different non-padded bras from Freya are good for FOB shapes, their Vertical Seam bras are great. I also recommend 34DD/E/F.
  Panache Clara & Andorra could be good choice for you in 34E/F as it's more shallow friendly. You appear to be on the shallow side of projected (there are different levels of shallowness and projected, ABraThatFits on Reddit have a fantastic page that talks about this) so you'll be able to get away with more shallower shapes than most projected women. I think you would really like Wacoal bras in 34DDD. I think you might like Curvy Kate padded styles and you may want to try 32F/FF and 34E/F.
  I hope I have helped some as I think the Tango is a total shape mis-Match for you.
  I think that you have a very similar shape to me, and it's a difficult one to shop for. I still haven't found one specific style that works for me! Lol.

  Updated on February 1, 2018 Flag this

  
  

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    Panache Jasmine and CK Ellace also work for conical, depending on how projected the person is (based on my experience with them).

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    LeProfessor Thanks for the tip(s) and suggestions! Yes, ABTF on Reddit was where I found Bratabase! I must have gone through the Beginner's Guide/Shape Guide/Size Guide/Everything Guide over and over again! Not to mention doing research on the bras that I thought might fit me...

    OK! So I'm FOB, shallow as well as projected. Tricky, indeed! Yup, I was thinking of getting the Freya Fearne Padded Half Cup Bra (4093) next as well as the Panache Jasmine Balconnet Bra (6951) . I read that the Clara and Andorra are similar to the Jasmine but are more full coverage. Do you think I should get the Fearne in 34DD or 34E? I read somewhere that newer Freyas are more true to size. I think I shall be getting the Jasmine in 34DD.

    Thanks again! You have helped MORE than some!

    EDIT: Just realised I forgot to answer your questions. The wires aren't sitting on my bra tissue. They actually do sit on my IMF or very close to it but the wires feel "wrong" somehow. Uncomfortable, but I'm not sure where. The gore digs into my sternum, maybe because it's too high or too "inside"... I don't have a problem with the sides digging into my armpits though. It's the strap that's digging into my sides. I found that by folding down the top part of the cups, it made the bra look more "acceptable" although it was still uncomfortable. Maybe the wires are too (narrow) "U" and I could do with a "fatter U", if that makes any sense.

  • Sovavosi Thanks for the suggestions! The Panache Jasmine Balconnet Bra (6951) is indeed on my list! I'm thinking of getting the 34DD, because it would seem that 34DD would indeed be my size judging by the "fit" of the Tango. I'll look into the CK Ellace as well. Thanks heaps!

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    chartreuseelephant I found the Clara very shallow at the wire, and it slid down on me. Jasmine is also shallow at the wire and very projected at the apex. Jasmine is more for even fullness than FOB, but you should try it anyway to see if it works for you.

  • Sovavosi Hmm... If that's the case, I shall do more research on these three: the Jasmine, Andorra and Clara. The Andorra and Clara look very similar to each other though. I'm not sure whether I will be able to fill up the top of the cups though.

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    These models have stretch lace across the top which may be very helpful to you.

  • Love4Pollinators Stretch lace! I see now! Thank you!

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    Although I loathe Panache wires and lower gore width, their stretch lace is so comfortable and accommodating.

  • Okay, so it looks like that gore is probably too wide for your especially at the bottom and is probably sitting on tissue, but you'll get to know what gore's are best for you as you try more bras. I suggest the 34E in freya padded bras as they run smaller than their non-padded bras. Panache wires are notoriously firm and uncomfortable for some. Some find that going up a band works, while others don't. When you try Jasmine you'll be a better judge because you'll be able to compare the two and hopefully to others you may have gotten. ^.^

  • Thanks LeProfessor! I reread ABTF's shape guide... and took a good long look at the Andorra, Clara and Jasmine. I think I might just give the Andorra and/or Clara a shot. 34E instead of 34DD, you say? BTW which Wacoal bra would you recommend? We're talking about Wacoal and not their b'temptd line, right?

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    Yeah, I've only looked at the measurements and reviews for Wacoal, not b'temptd for you. Here's two that i think you'll really like the comfort and fit of: Body by Wacoal Under wire Bra (65115), Fire and Lace Under wire Bra (851252). I think you'll be between their 34DD and 34DDD. And yeah for Andorra/Clara I'd say the 34E and not DD because it's closer to horizontal perimeter while the 34DD doesn't even reach 9" cup depth. If your really worried about it, try what you think is best, just remember a cup that is too small will make a band feel too tight.
    Btw, I just take your measurements (horizontal perimeter , snug rib measurement, and the cup width of this bra since it's fine for you) go to Bratabase's Browse section, find a specific model and check out the measurement table. Then I locate the size that has a stretched band measurement of 33.5"-34.5", a cup width of 5.4"-5.6" , and a cup depth of 9.7"-10.5" and I read the reviews and check out the pictures if available to see if it could fit your shape fairly well.
    Though I did just notice that you laying horizontal perimeter is almost 13" while you standing/leaning horizontal perimeter is 10", and that's a HUGE difference and I think you should double check that your measuring right and always make sure you scoop and swoop when putting on a bra because if these measurements are right you will probably be best in a cup depth more like 11.5" (middle ground between your horizontal perimeter and laying perimeter).
    Don't be scared of buying larger cups! I know I used to be, because well, there's no WAY my tiny boobs can fit into anything bigger than a 28D/30C. But now I own and wear bras from sizes 28D-F and 30C-DD(I even have a 30F/65G and 32D/70D that fit me)! Some one once told me to purposely buy bras on the larger side of my horizontal perimeter to find my "max cup depth", my horizontal perimeter is between 7"-7.5" and I own a bra with a cup depth of 8" and it still fits great because it was a good match for me & and a bit of wrinkling is only noticeable to us and not the world!
    You should also check out the listings on here, so many great women to buy bras from! You can search by size, brand, and even specific measurements!

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    LeProfessor "take your measurements (horizontal perimeter , snug rib measurement, and the cup width of this bra since it's fine for you) go to Bratabase's Browse section, find a specific model and check out the measurement table. Then I locate the size that has a stretched band measurement of 33.5"-34.5", a cup width of 5.4"-5.6" , and a cup depth of 9.7"-10.5" and I read the reviews and check out the pictures if available to see if it could fit your shape fairly well." --- That's a REALLY good tip! I shall most definitely do that. Thanks! Usually, when I look at the measurement tables for the bras that I'm interested in, I get lost right after reading the "stretched band measurement"! LOL!

    Actually my laying horizontal perimeter is 11" (not 13'), while standing it's 10". Yup! I scoop and scoop, and swoop and swoop! So, if that's the case, should I be looking for cup depths of 10.5'?

    I tried the Tango II again, and this time what was really obvious was the center gore. It really dug into my sternum, mainly because it sort of "leans into" my chest. I tried bending them outwards, which seemed to somewhat ease the digging in. Should I be looking for bras with lower gores or closer ones?

    Yes, you're right! What's a little bit of wrinkling if the shoe (I mean bra!) fits! Har! You're a gem!

  • All Panache gores are high/wide, and they do tend to dig into one's sternum. You can try bending the wires away from you if you're going to keep the bra.

    IMO all Panache/CK bras have very wide gores, and if this bothers you, you will have to look for plunges or start looking at brands other than these.

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    Sovavosi is right though about pretty much all of Panaches bras having tall and wide gores, but I've also had people recommend me to curvy kate to find bras with a narrow gore base. So it may be very dependant on style and size range.
    Since you've only tried two bras, one with a band too small and one that is a complete shape mis-Match, I would suggest trying other styles and brands before absolutely deciding that you need to steer clear of tall gores, wide gores, or firm wires. I find some tolerable/comfortable...some not so much...
    With your perimeter being between 10"-11", you could probably wear depths between 9.5"-11.5". For example if your bra has really stiff, non-stretchable fabric you'll want to stay on the larger end of your horizontal perimeter, if they're stretchy and accommodating you'll be able to wear a bra on the lower end of your perimeter. It also depends on the coverage of Bra, how squishy or firm your boobs are, if you like them being a bit compressed or not etc. 10.5" a good depth to decide if it's the size you should try. You may want to change your laying perimeter to 11", from the 12.8" it currently says.
    This whole bra journey is about fun and deciphering what works best for you! You have a good idea of what your shapes is now, but you'll get to know it even better after you've found some bras that support you really well.
    And lol, thank you, I really enjoy helping women and learning all I can about bras and boobs!

  • Sovavosi I shall definitely look into bra-wire-alterations! Thanks!

  • LeProfessor That's strange. The measurements on My Measurements page says 11' though. I'll check it out later. Maybe I should make my measurements public so that it could clear any discrepancies. Thanks for the heads up!

    Incidentally, I've got pretty firm boobs that don't really squish much. Can't say that I like them a bit compressed, I would prefer a nice lift from good support so that they can pretty much stay in place. For a start, I'll look for 10.5" or thereabouts...

    Thank you!

    EDIT: I must've had a brain fart or something while taking my latest measurements... Sorry, when I said 11", those were my older measurements (or rather the first time I measured myself) - It's confusing determining armpit fat and breast tissue as I suspect much of my tissue have migrated thanks to wearing ill-fitting bras. I shall take a new set of measurements as soon as I can. I measured my laying perimeter again just now and it's between 11-12".

  • Well, if there's one thing we all know about breast tissue is that it is SENSITIVE and will hurt if you push into it with your finger too firmly. So that's how I found my roots, and I also used my opposite hand.

  • Eek! Sensitive and will hurt if pushed too firmly? Okay, I think my breast tissue is wayyy back to the sides, almost reaching my back. No wonder it hurt when I poked around looking for breast tissue! Is this normal? Does this mean our measurements start/end at the sternum til where it doesn't hurt when poked?

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    Yes, it's normal. Some people have wide roots and require bras with wide wires. Just to double check, does the hurting part have a different texture than skin and fat? Being poked in the ribs is also unpleasant.

  • Sovavosi Hmm... I think I felt the difference while pinching and pressing. Basically, what feels like our breast is breast tissue, even if it's under our armpits, yes? Does this meant the border between breast tissue and ribs are where we start our measurements? Even if it IS under (a good part of) our armpits?

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    My breast tissue feels a bit grainer than the regular fat tissue on my ribs, and both hurt being poked but they hurt in different ways. I have tissue under my armpit too.

    When I'm laying down, my breasts slide back into my armpits so I measure from the back of the bulge to the center of my sternum. You want the side boob in the cups so wires don't sit on it, so I think you have to include that part for the laying measurement.

    Cup depth and wire width are not correlated. I wouldn't get super hung up on the measurements. A cup's measurements may look good width and depth wise but be too big all over because the cups are 3D objects. I can't speak to how wide your roots are relative to your size, it unfortunately will be a lot of trial and error until you find something that works for you.

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    I know some women on here have breast tissue going all the way to their back. I agree with Sovavosi , you want your measurements to be accurate, but there's no reason to get hung up on them. You'll figure it out via trial and error and your breast might migrate from under your arms after wearing better fittings bras for awhile. I s'pose I was a bit lucky because I can firmly prod anywhere on my ribcage and not have it hurt unless I'm hitting breast tissue. Don't worry about it too much though! I've learned most of what I know by wearing and trying different bra and by reading others reviews & looking at their pictures.

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    Sovavosi I shall remember that, cup depth and wire width being non-correlating factors. Thanks for pointing it out and for the reassurance about armpits and breast tissue!

    LeProfessor Thanks heaps! Definitely reassuring.

    By the way, guys... I managed to bend the gore outwards and also bent the wires wider, less U, more C ... and it's definitely more comfortable and fits so much better now! Thank you very much, all for all the tips, suggestions, advice and encouragement! Am going to research some new bras now...

    PS- Any tips/suggestions for Curvy Kate? Sizing and/or specific models? Sovavosi mentioned CK Ellace.... I've been looking for those with vertical seams but am unsure on the sizing... Would definitely appreciate some suggestions. TIA!

  • I'm not sure on sizing for that range of Ellace. I mentioned it because it also has stretch lace on top. Perhaps cupandahalf might know what other CK models/sizes would be good for you try?

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  I recently started wearing Tango (but in a 32JJ) and at least in my size range, its a very deep and tall cup. In 32JJ it runs significantly bigger than other Panache I've had. Its also very FOT friendly.

  So, I guess you probably should try some more FOB friendly bras. Or shorter cups. I am not familiar with what would fit that bill tho

  Updated on February 1, 2018 Flag this

  
  

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    Thanks for responding dbmamaz ! I've only just figured out that I'm more FOB than anything else, despite all the horizontal/vertical leaning! I will most definitely look into that! Thank you, once again!

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  Panache runs a little tight and has hard wires. You don't look even REMOTELY fluffy enough around the ribcage to merit persisting with a 34 band in this type of design from them at least, or at least not without an extender. The cup looks too big anyway but the band and wire combo is why you're in pain.

  Updated on February 2, 2018 Flag this

  
  

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    Fluffy! LOL! Thanks wendybien. I will most definitely keep that in mind!

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    You're welcome! Yes, fluffiness, aka body padding, aka a good layer of nice soft fat, is protective of sensitive ribs/muscle and people who have more body fat around the ribcage not only can tolerate a tighter band than a leaner person of similar measurements, but also may need one in the case of a heavy bust for example--because a 34 band that's supporting 7lbs of boob will securely "grip" a 32" ribcage that's more bony but will slide right up the wearer's back if the 32" of circumference is composed of a soft 2" deep layer of flesh all around.

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    wendybien Haha thanks! For a newbie, that actually made sense!

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