Bra fitting help » Bratabase suggestion off - fit is awkward and annoying
Cleo » Lucy Balconnet Bra (5851) » 34F 34:7
Issue resolved
I just returned the bra, since it was so illfitting.
Original problem
Hey everyone! This is my first time using Bratabase. I purchased this bra after doing all of my measurements and utilizing Bratabase's suggestions.
I purchased the Cleo by Panache Lucy, UK 34F. It arrived and I was super excited to try it!
The bra basically only fits one boob, and not very well - there's still wrinkling and gapping in spots, the underwires seem way too big, and it generally feels uncomfortable.
I bought a 34F as suggested by Bratabase, but it just feels so weird on. The photos included are scooped, as without them the fit was even worse looking.
I usually wear a 34D from Aerie, which is obviously too small, but at least it feels a little more comfortable.
What should I try? Should I retake my measurements and use the smaller breast instead of the larger one?
Any tips, or a different size, or bra suggestion, would be super helpful.
Edit: I went in and redid my measurements with my left breast, which is smaller than the right. My left breast is 11 inches with an 8 inch nip-2-neck measurement, whereas my right breast is 11.5 inches with an 8.5 inch nip-2-neck measurement. Not a huge difference, but still a difference. Maybe it will help?
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Suggestions (4)
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2
helpful
From what I can see in these pictures, it looks like your breasts are two different sizes. It seems like one almost fits in the cup, and the other one is barely filling it out. Is this accurate?
If so, I would recommend trying out maybe a molded cup bra, as it will be easier to get good shape and secure fit than with the soft cup.
If you think your breasts are actually pretty even, I would measure the bra cups. Maybe it's a faulty model.Also, there is definitely wrinkling in the cup. I think in this bra you would need to go down one cup size. This might not be true for all styles, but at least in Cleo you should probably try the 34E
Updated on February 14, 2014 Flag this
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helpful
The recommendations here are ballpark. The calculator can't really factor in all the many ways we are different. Try a 34F in Aerie (I am not familiar with the brand and don't know their sizes but you would look for UK 34F). Also remember US and UK sizes are much different as your tag shows.
Judging from the photos I'd say you are wearing the bra way too low--or it's the wrong shape for you and it slides too low. That can happen if your boob does fit in the cup and tries to push its way in but instead pushes the cup lower. Look for explanations of "orange in a glass."
Updated on February 15, 2014 Flag this
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Aerie only goes up to a 34DD US I think, but I'll look for similar styles to an Aerie. I like Aerie bras for the most part.
I had hiked the bra up as far as it would go, and it wasn't moving, so I'm assuming that it's just the wrong shape for me entirely. I've worn molded cup bras for years, and they've always worked (for the most part, aside from size and fit issues) for my breasts.
Thank you for the suggestion!
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liya: I agree with both recommendations so far, but I just wanted to mention that if this is the first time that you've ventured out into DD+ bra cup land, things are not going to fit right at first. There will be some adjustment as your body and boobs start going back to what is a little more natural, since they won't be squashed front to back.
Most of us here initially found bras that seemed to fit and then things changed a little and we had to re-find our sizes or styles that worked best. This seems to happen even if there is no weight/body changes. It's like the boobs respond to having more room to be themselves?
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I think bratabase should put a big disclaimer on its recommendation page. So far, it's just not possible to 'calculate' bras that actually fit. There are so many factors... The measurements, the shape, the size. Also bras that fit other people that have the same fitting bras as me will not neccessarily fit me.
My recommendations are currently mostly sister models of bras that I own (thank you, I can look up sister models myself, this is not helpful), and some 'guesses'. Some bras are even shown in 3 different sizes and bratabase is 60% sure each of them would fit me.
Honestly - hands off this feature. Sorry you had to learn it the hard way
As for suggestions to find a well-fitting bra: First of all, take your measurements and calculate possible sizes. Then figure out your shape and look for bras that are likely to fit. Order them in several sizes so you can try them out and see what fits best.
As you seem to have different sized boobs, the bra should always fit the bigger side. You can try to level out the differences by shortening the strap on your smaller side, and/or padding your smaller boob.If you have any questions etc., look at http://www.reddit.com/r/ABraThatFits/ They have a measuring and a shape guide, and lots of helpful people.
Good luck!
Updated on March 10, 2014 Flag this
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helpfulThis cup is too large for you even on the "better" side in my opinion. You should not have that much wrinkling in a bra that fits well. If you like this particular bra it is absolutely worth just trying a 34E instead and taking it from there! If I were you I'd even try a 34DD just for kicks just because of how big this bra is on you. For future reference typical signs of being way too big are: underwires miles from where they should be, lots and lots of wrinkling, needing to tighten the straps like crazy and still not getting much uplift, feeling that the breast is just dangling into the cup instead of being firmly supported, bagginess both above and below the breast.
Remember Bratabase's data on your body is one thing but its data on existing bra models is based on data entry from other users... there's quite a bit of room for error when it recommends a particular bra. Also, no bra fit calculator has a foolproof way of telling you the optimal size; the best they can do is provide a general orientation. No two boobs are the same even on the same person, and the calculators can't account for things like tissue softness, exact ribcage shape and breast root shape, etc.
Finally, Aerie is a US brand with US cup sizes, and your Cleo is a UK F cup size. That's the equivalent of a US 34G--up 3 cup sizes from your old Aerie 34d bra. If you try on another UK bra you will want to experiment with the Es and DDs as I said above, but in many US or French/Belgian brands that use the other cup lettering system, the equivalent cup sizes for you to try would be an F or E. THe US/French/etc. F cup is one size SMALLER than this Cleo F cup that you have on.
Updated on March 4, 2014 Flag this
Yeah, they're two sizes - I'll actually go through and measure the other one and see just how big of a difference there is.
I've always worn molded cup bras, so I'll definitely go back to them since they seem like they work better for me anyway.