Bra fitting help » Acceptable? Suggestions?
Claudette » Dessous Mesh Underwire Bra (CD2000) » 30G 30:9
Issue resolved
It's not perfect, but it's comfortable and functional and I can alter the band when it stretches.
Original problem
This bra mostly fits, but it sits low, particularly toward the center. The band is loose (more like a loose 32 than a 30) but is wearable on the tightest hooks and I can alter it when need be. I love the style; the colors, fabric, and design all appeal to me and it avoids my most common, unacceptable fit issues (too wide wires, wings that are too tall, lots of wrinkling at the bottom)so I'm not entirely unhappy with it. I'm not sure whether it is sliding down because my immediate projection is overwhelming it or the gore is settling in where it fits best, since my breast are closer together toward the top. Are there any obvious issues I'm missing? Any suggestions for styles with narrow wires, low wings, low gores, and accommodates a FOB shape? I like the idea of unpadded styles, but have found nothing so far that I'm entirely happy with.
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Suggestions (3)
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helpful
It looks pretty good to me. I had a Claudette Paramour which seems to be very similar to the Dessous, except the lower half was satin instead of mesh. It fit pretty similarly on me, especially with the empty space at the bottom because of lack of immediate projection. I think it's an odd cut - the top is pretty shallow as well as the bottom. My breasts aren't particularly close together so I'm inclined to think that it's more of an immediate projection issue than a gore issue for you.
The stretchy mesh at the top is nice but it looks like it's cutting in a teeny bit. I had that too, but it wasn't super visible under clothing so I was okay with it. It looks like you may have more upper fullness than you believe. I mean, it's completely possible to need a ton of immediate projection but also have upper fullness.
Looking at your profile I see you do well in Ewa Michalak.. if that's the case there's probably very few UK/US bras you'll be completely happy with... and I have no idea what they'd be
Updated on May 30, 2014 Flag this
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helpfulYou know, almost all bras eventually creep down on me because of the projection issue. As long as it isn't a comfort issue it's not something I really worry about per se.
In your case though I would be mostly focused on the size of the band, it looks like it's sitting quite high on you at the back. You may just have a case of the weight of the breasts pulling the front of the bra down and therefore pulling the back upwards--because it is not snug enough. Looking at the measurements I'm pessimistic about the band's ability to stay through weeks or months of use--your ribcage is really petite for a band that stretches to 32". I would definitely do the alteration since you have that option.
Updated on May 30, 2014 Flag this
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I actually don't think the back is being pulled up -- to me this looks fairly typical for someone whose breasts are just quite high-set. Also, with a ribcage that looks that tapered it is almost impossible not to have the back sit relatively high (try wrapping a straightish strip around an upside-down cone), so I don't think the level of the band in itself is an issue. Sure, with these measurement it is quite likely that the band *will* at some point require shortening to prevent it from riding up in the future, but that is a slightly different thing altogether.
In my opinion this bra suits you pretty well. It may not be a textbook fit with the wires sitting were they do, but it certainly *looks* pretty awesome and if it's comfortable without you feeling you're compromising on support I'd say this is a keeper ;)
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I'm not basing my comment on the proximity of the band to the shoulderline. I was reacting to the side shots where it looks like the band is angling up, so it's higher at the back. Maybe this is caused by your arms being up to take the photo ayoungpretender ?
Also maybe in terms of torso shapes, I wouldn't assume that would make bands ride up. My rib cage is the same, very wide and narrowing down sharply below, and I most definitely don't have bands riding up--in fact they are always traveling south.
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I agree with MilkAndHoney, that the angling up is due to the shape of my back. I get that in almost all UK brands and often intentionally allow the band to sit high because it helps the wire positioning. Although my measurements are rather small, they represent a resting position. I have a very muscular back and I need a lot of extra play in my band or the wires get distorted. When I move and the band stretches, the wires bend, and the friction of the tight band doesn't allow them to spring back. I prefer a maximum stretched band length of 29.5" to 31" and on the tightest hooks, this falls in that range.
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wendybien : I guess it depends. I have a very tapered torso myself, with very high-set breasts and a short upper torso as well, and this is pretty much how most bras look on me. I HAVE to angle the band to sit higher in the back or the wires and cups will not sit properly -- they will act as if they're tilting backwards with the wires sloping towards the sides and the top edge of the cups way too closed even for my short boobs. Of course, my personal experience does not equate everyone's, but it does seem to apply at least to some. For reference, I measure 28" underbust, but prefer bands that stretch to (but not beyond) 32" due to the large difference between my comfortably snug and fully inhaled figures and my complete lack of squish.
I used to have the problem of bands travelling south as well, but that was when I was in too tight bands and never exclusively in the front. If I measure only one cm lower on my ribcage (textbook horizontal) I end up with a full inch less for my underbust, but that is not where a band will naturally settle on me and apart from being horribly uncomfortable, it would result in all sorts of other fitting issues as well (see above). I have to add, though, that my from ribs jot out ever so slightly right below my underbust, so maybe that is why on me bras don't really slip down THAT easily in front.
But this may all not be very relevant for this particular fitting help request ... to me this still looks like a viable, if perhaps not textbook perfect, fit. The empty space in the bottom of the cups is not ideal, but if it is not experienced as taking away from support and/or comfort then I don't really see a problem. From an engineering point of view it's not the wires supporting the breasts directly anyway: the wires support the fabric and it's the fabric that ultimately supports the breasts. Having the wires sit neatly in the breast crease obviously is the most force efficient way as well as the way that puts least undue stress on the fabric, but it is not the ONLY way.
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MilkAndHoney, I actually have the same thing with my ribs, where they flare out just under where my band sits. It's not so noticeable in these photos because the wires are sitting low. I have a palpable ridge that goes almost all the way around and it often contributes to my bands looking to tight because it exaggerates the appearance of it digging in at the sides. Because of this, I cannot wear longlines. They always flip up or bow out.
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helpfulThe biggest issue that I can see is the wrinkling at the bottom of the cup. That's a lot of space that isn't getting filled. I'm thinking with your projection, the wires might be wrong for you and that's what's causing both the empty space and the bra getting pushed down
Updated on May 30, 2014 Flag this
I did notice it is slightly tugging at the top, but it's not enough to be a problem. I do have a significant amount of upper fullness, but since vertically, my boobs are rather short, my upper fullness is almost never a fit issue. Actually, I often get gaping at the top of unpadded balconettes, which is my biggest problem with Cleo, even though a lot of styles fit my lower half perfectly and sizing down just creates an overall poor fit.