Bra fitting help » Too narrow, too small. How much bigger?
Cleo » Juna Balconnet Bra (6461) » 28FF 28:8
Issue resolved
Wrong shape
Original problem
Ok, obviously this is bad. Too small. I found it really hard to photograph how much too narrow the wires are while I was wearing it. I didn't leave it on long, since I sold it and will ship it Monday and didn't want to distort the wires. I took a few pics of me holding the cups up to my boobs with the wire aligned with my outside root, but not sure how long all of the pics will take to be approved.
So my main thought is - this is a bra that *could maybe* work for me, because it allows for bottom projection, but in what size? I believe I need the wires at least 5.7" How many cups up do I need to go? G or GG? Or do I need to give up on the Juna? Just looking at these pics, it looks worse than I thought it did....
You must be logged in to leave suggestions
-
New user?
-
Have an account?
Suggestions (3)
-
1
helpfulHmm, 28 GG is 10.2 depth, 5.7 width, 28G is 9.6 depth, 5.5 width, per the entries here on bratabase. Your perimeters vary from 9-10, and this FF you measured a depth of 8.2 and width of 5.3.
but i'm curious, did you measure your bigger or smaller breast for your perimeters? You probably should aim to fit your larger side - you can always put pork chops in the smaller one
Updated on May 2, 2015 Flag this
-
wow, thats a lot smaller.
-
Ur horizontal perimeter says 10 inches so a depth of 10.2 doesn't sound too far off? I think the 28GG might be worth a try for you.
-
I know it's not that far off. I also remember I had a Fantasie strapless with 9.5" of depth & it swallowed me up. So since then I've been shy of bras that measure over that. But what do I know, I haven't been successful yet lol.
-
I had to order my Juna two cup sizes bigger than normal…the style was called the Rihanna…it was still so ridiculously shallow. It did fit ONE of my breasts ha, but had horrible quad boob with the other. I ended up selling the bra on here.
-
0
helpfulThe Juna is not actually wide, just tall and shallow. I would not bother, it is the wrong shape for you altogether IMO. Sorry!
Updated on May 3, 2015 Flag this
-
I agree with wendybien . It's not the right bra for you. The Juna has very little projection (depth), and that's the problem with it. You could go up a cup size, but I think you'll still have quad boob.
-
wendybien that's odd, because it's the shortest and most projected bra I've tried yet. The underwires felt like they were sitting under my boobs where they needed to be, if I ignored the fact that they're too narrow.
I have no upper projection at all - anything that looks like upper fullness in those pictures is just quadboob from the cups being so tiny. So you think if I went up to a size where the wires are wide enough, it's going to be too shallow? I've always thought of the Juna as not as shallow as other shallow bras. I don't know what to try, since I fear anything more projected than the Juna that I find in a wide enough cup for me is going to be giant and way more projection than I need. Not arguing with you, just trying to get a better idea of where to go next.
-
The Juna is not a tall bra but indeed has shallow cups. I still think this bra isn't for you. You appear to do best with plunge styles. I'm kind of the opposite of your shape (I'm narrow/full on top) so I can't recommend a good wide/plunge bra, but you should ask around on here.
-
That's what I'm trying to do and what I asked for in my FOB/wide bra adventure semi-rant. I actually tend to fall out of the center of plunges. My Jude, Neve (which is wrong for me anyways), and Alice - all plunges. I have to tuck the girls back in. Soft tissue, center fullness... that's why I've been trying half cups and balconnettes. The only plunge I have that I don't fall out of is my Koko strapless.
I'm getting conflicting advice - try a plunge! Try a half cup! Try a balconnet! I wish this wasn't so confusing. I just want a bra that freakin fits. It's re-affirming why I've always hated my boobs and bra shopping and why I wish they'd disappear.
-
Plunges are great for full on bottom types, that is why I suggest plunge. Half cups are hit and miss. Balconettes are better for full on top gals - I'm extremely full on top, balconettes are my standby. Try plunges in something other than Cleo - they aren't known for their plunge bras, in my opinion. Edit: wait, you mention Alice as being your favorite bra, and it's a plunge. I'm just trying to help, darlin. I looked through some of your other threads and am kind of shocked at the advice you were given.
-
I know you're just trying to help, and that's totally awesome and I appreciate it. Alice is my favorite bra so far, because it's the only one I own that isn't too shallow. I got it before I got my Koko though, which hold me in a bit better. And I wrote that review about 5 minutes after I got it (I need to quit doing that!!) and before I knew how easily I'd try fall out of the middle of it. I do have to tuck the girls back in sometimes, but there's no obvious quad-boobing, so I don't know if it's too small or just too plunge-y, it's definitely a wide open plunge. And the band has stretched out and is too big now.
Plunges other than Cleo - Freya? Masquerade? Freya is known for being narrow and good for FOT, no? Wide wired plunges. The Masquerade Tiffany comes to mind, but I don't think there's anymore 28FF or G's on the face of the planet. There are 30's still, but that band is big anyways.
The advice I've gotten on ABTF suggests half cups or balconettes lol. Ahhhh. I'd rather not have boobs at this point.
-
Ok, so it looks like the Freya Totally Tartan worked for you, except the band size. So let's use that as a starting point that maybe Freya half cups could work out for you. The Flourish Longline is popular and on ebay for cheap right now, you could consider that in a 28FF. Or there's lots of other Freya half cups in 28FF.
-
Man, I really need to go revise my reviews. The totally tartan was close, but too narrow as well. I fit in it, until I realized I needed to scoop & swoop, then it was quadboob for days once I scooped all my side tissue into it. That's the 2nd real bra I ever tried and most definitely way too small overall.
-
From the look of the pictures, I think it's a closer fit. Try a 28FF Freya half cup, a cup size bigger, which could potentially alleviate the problems you are describing. I'm excited to hear if it works for you.
-
I saved a Freya Instinct half cup to my Amazon wishlist, mostly because it's way discounted... there's no reviews of it on here but (I'm assuming Freya-provided) measurements are only 5.2" wide for a 28FF and 5.8" for a G but 10" deep for a G. Raaawwr. Might still try a G, for all I know I need 10" of depth, I wouldn't be surprised if someone told me I needed a bra made of unicorn hair at this point.
-
-
0
helpful
Based on these pics, I think you have some decent projection, and I am not at all sure you want a shallow bra. Also, you describe yourself as FOB, and based on the pics where you are holding the bra up in front of you, not wearing it, I would say you have some upper fullness (even shape). Half cups will still work to give you a wider wire, but you are probably looking for a more projected shape. The Maddie may still work for you, but being closer set in the middle, the gore might not tack. Are you sure you won't try an unlined? And what was your Deco issue again?
Updated on May 3, 2015 Flag this
-
What about a Curvy Kate Roxie Padded Plunge Bra (SG2311) ? 28FF or 28G might do the trick-- padded per your preference, plunge per your close-set-ness, and wider wires for your wide root/axillary.
-
I have projection and upper fullness when I'm holding something up to my chest and pushing my boob up lol. I could take a censored nude pic where I'm not pushing on my boob at all, but that idea kinda has given me the heebie jeebies.
I haven't tried a Deco yet - I've got a Hatty on the way in the mail from another BTB user and haven't tried it yet, but am expecting it to ask for more upper fullness than I actually have.
I'm not absolutely 100% against unlined bras, I just have such sensitive skin I haven't found one soft enough, and one that provides enough lift and shape for my shapeless, soft, and definitely not evenly round boobs.
-
Try a Deco. I am not FOT and I love mine. I have Deco Charm but have also tried Deco Spotlight. If you like 28 bands from Cleo, Deco may feel a bit looser. But really, padded Cleos have looser bands like Freya. It's the unlined Cleos that run tight in the band. If it helps, my Juna/Darcy size is 30G and my Deco size is 30FF. I find that sizing down in the cups helps when wearing more FOT shapes.
-
Sizing down makes sense for FOT shapes, but if I size down in the cups, I run too narrow in the wires :-(
The Deco Hatty coming is a 28G, so I guess I'll find out and let you know once it gets here! Might be a while since it's coming from Canada. Anything I've looked at for Freya (excluding the strapless which is a totally different animal) looks like it needs a G cup to be wide enough.
-
Something like the Tutti Rouge Liliana Bra (TU100) might work too, in say a 28G-28GG. Wires are wide, stretchy lace on top doesn't require a lot of upper fullness, band runs tight, and gore is lower than average (plungey).
-
I have a Liliana also coming in the mail, in a 28G! I fell in love with the looks of that bra the second I saw it. Found it half off on eBay but it's coming from overseas so might be a while on that one too. Worried it might be too shallow overall but have my fingers crossed.
-
Sounds right. G in Deco if you would need GG in Juna (regardless of shape issue).
-
I looked at a Roxie on Amazon because the 28FF measurements looked right on here, but in a 28FF or G it's $72, so after I almost passed out I moved along lol.
-
Roxie should go on sale soon. It's been out for awhile.
-
See this is why FOB and FOT get people all confused. The terms are really only helpful when combined with other descriptors. lcl0706 you have a projected and evenly full breast shape as far as I can see, it's just the fullness is distributed vertically over a very short (as opposed to tall) height, and there is almost no "slope" above. Your brafitting needs are just not the same as those of a person with a tall shallow slope of upper boob and average/greater projection below, or a person who is shallow all over. Andyes you are not crazy, your shape (wide, projected but not tall) is very underserved by existing full bust designs overall and options are even scarcer in moldeds.
-
wendybien that's helpful information. I would have never thought of myself as projected or evenly full. Mostly because it appears and feels like there's very little breast tissue above my nipple, and when I'm bra-less and stand sideways and look at myself in the mirror without lifting my boobs up or pushing on them at all, my boobs don't stick out very far. I guess I thought of projected and wide as mutually exclusive? And especially if I raise my arms, all of my breast tissue sinks below my nipple, if that makes sense at all.
-
Yes, but see, you gotta realize your nipple position LIES... haha, especially if you've had kids! Where your nipple sits at this point in your life is largely a reflection on skin elasticity and ptosis (sag) of the breast mass within the breast skin. It is NOT INDICATIVE of your overall breast shape at all.
I am also post 2 pregnancies and for sure if I raise my arms it looks like there is nothing much going on above the nipple. But thank the Lord, there is no "nipple slot" on bras, so we don't need to worry about where the nipple goes, ergo this means nothing!
Instead, to assess your shape, consider your breast tissue distribution once the girls are reasonably well supported in a bra. The apex, geometrically speaking, (and NOT the nipple) is what defines the "mid point" which separates upper and lower boob.
FoT and FoB originated, if I'm not mistaken, on the bra blog BrasIHate. The blogger is a very smart and savvy young woman but people who have just heard the terms instead of closely following her blog (Which she discontinued a couple years ago I believe) tend not to realize her expertise was mostly geared to fitting her own shape. She had a somewhat unusual anatomy with tall, full and projected breasts (so basically the full part extended quite high up on her torso) on a slim and petite body. She had difficulty finding cups whose projection continued high enough vertically to contain her tissue without also being too wide. Her discussions of her own "FoT" issues made perfect sense in the context of her own body shape and fit problems she encountered, but once you lift them out of that context and use the terms FoT, FoB to talk about any boobs, anywhere, without also considering the person's other boob dimensions and shape features, it can become almost impossible to derive actual fit needs just from that term.
-
Ohhh, that makes more sense. Yes I've had 2 kids, and can't even remember what my boobs looked like before I had kids. I don't recall thinking they've sagged a lot, I always thought that was a result of breastfeeding and I didn't nurse my first one at all and wound up not being able to nurse my second one after about 8 weeks :-( So who knows. I really don't remember my pre-baby boobs! I think I tried to deny they existed forever!
What are your thoughts on tissue migration? I see people say "well maybe they'll migrate back to being narrower" after I wear well-fitting bras for a while. I don't know if that's a thing or not. I paid absolutely zero attention to the width of wires before this bra-adventure I'm on. All I knew was the gore should tack and so any bras I bought pre-enlightenment were molded 32DDs at VS with no padding and I just went with them as long as the gore tacked and I didn't fall over the top too much, because they were the tightest bands and biggest cups I could find in a store. I always put them on while leaning over & doing up the hooks behind my back, but I never scooped & swooped.
Edit, if it helps: I have a short torso and long legs, am 5'3, I hang out around 120 lbs naturally, am an ex-gymnast so my shoulders and back are well/overly developed, and a frame width of 13." Not very much "squish" in my ribcage, my so-tight-I-can't-breathe and so-loose-it-falls-down band measurements are only a couple inches difference.
-
I think tissue migration is a slightly misleading term for a change in breast appearance or volume that can indeed happen, but is more pertinent to the situation of women in their teens/20s (still apt to get breast tissue growth) and women who were wearing minimizers and bras so many sizes too small that there was a severe compression effect that inhibited normal post-puberty boob growth. THey can indeed go up several cup sizes after switching to bras that no longer effectively compress their boobs. I also feel it's true that wearing better fitting bras can enable the greater volume of the breasts to start to sit more front and center, if indeed that is their natural inclination. However, I really don't think that the actual breast root morphs into a completely different shape when you wear better bras, so if you had a little bit of breast tissue extending onto your sides before, I doubt that will disappear. And it is BS that nobody naturally has side-heavy boobs--many people do--so if that is your shape, no bra is going to change that. Most of the cases of so-called tissue migration would be better described as a case of either new tissue growth or repositioning of the projected part of the breast mass.
-
That makes total sense. I'm well past the boob-growth stage - at least I freakin better be!! I do think I've always had side-boob, so I'm afraid finding a good fit will be hard. Or at least, finding a variety of bras that fit well will be hard and I'll end up owning one bra in 6 different colors...
-
Good explanation, wendybien. I also think that a lot of "tissue migration" is really 1) hormonal weight gain, 2) becoming increasingly better at swooping and scooping, or 3) increasingly high standards on what constitutes a large enough cup.
Anecdotally, once I did start wearing a well-fitting bra, my first few bras did stop tacking/start poking me in the side boob (became too small) within a couple of months at most. I then gained some weight, and the others followed suit. I lost all the weight and then some, but those first few bras continue to be too small. I am in my mid-thirties and have not made any changes hormonal lay during this time.
-
This FF does not measure like the rest of the FF measurements on BTB... I was just reading the table again. I will double check the depth, but I honestly wonder if the animal print runs small, or mine was mis-marked. It seems TINY by any FF standards. I measured my bigger breast. Multiple times lol. The GG's 10"+ depths seem so excessive to me, but maybe that's what I need and just don't know it... I know this one looks so much too small I can't imagine going only one cup up fixing it. Plus, I know 5.5" is still going to be too narrow. I love this bra and it is so soft, but it just might not work for me :(