Bra fitting help » Sculptresse Candi- 40HH- Does this size fit me ?
Sculptresse » Candi Full Cup Bra (9375) » 40HH 40:12
Thanks to the help of some of Bratabase members (thanks alisa, bustyand and cupandahalf !) , I've order this bra and it arrived today.
It fits much better than my older Triumph bra (not very difficult as the Triumph was quite awful) but I need help to know if this size is right for me or if I need to return it (I'm leaving tomorrow for some holidays so would need to return it tomorrow morning).
I have also ordered a 40H size (the 40HH was the largest bust size available on 3 Suisses for that model) but haven't had enough time yet to photograph it.
The cup size sems quite OK for me, but there a few details I'm wondering about:
-the band is very tight, maybe it's just because I'm just not used to it, but it hurts a little bit, and also I needed my husband's help to put it on (I usually put on my bra backwars, do the hooks in front and spin it around, but this one is too tight to do it)
-the gore is almost flat on my sternum but I don't know is it's flat enough (see the photo)
-there are a few wrinkles on the sidesSo what do you think ?
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Suggestions (7)
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helpfulThat looks like what I've heard call a "soft tack" for a gore. It's about as good as it every gets for me: touching skin but not necessarily pressing, if the makes sense. That looks tight, but it can be hard to tell from pics often. If you have an extender trying it with one might help you determine if a sister size would be better!
Updated on July 24, 2020 Flag this
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helpfulI think the band is too tight and it’s over stretching the wires, causing them not to tack and to cause wrinkling on the sides. This bra has a notoriously short band and it’s never really going to stretch out because it’s doubled layered spandex rather than being a regular mesh or knit band, so I would try a 42h or 42hh.
If it hurts it’s not a good fit, don’t settle for pain.
Updated on July 24, 2020 Flag this
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So...the 40HH us the best fit (you’ve got a bunch of breast tissue hanging out the side on the other two) but the more I see the more I think you need a bra that is more open on top or has stretch lace. I think Elomi Morgan in 40H or HH would be a good one to try. I haven’t found the perfect fit with Sculptresse Estel but you might try that as well with either 40H or 42GG.
You also might really like Ewa Michalak bras which have narrower wires and gores and more room towards the front of the bra. Your tissue is mostly to the front (btw I think you have fairly narrow roots for your size but that’s just me). How do these bras feel wire wise? Are they pinching the sides at all or digging into your breast tissue on the side?
The gapping on the side but cutting in/wires not tacking in the front makes me think you have narrow roots but are full on top and have taller breasts (I know, that’s a lot to process!).
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Thanks a lot for your reply, cupandahalf !
I've added one photo for each bra (angle shot from the other side, which shows more clearly the problems with my left-hand breast... I wish it weren't so much larger than the other one).
" How do these bras feel wire wise? Are they pinching the sides at all or digging into your breast tissue on the side? "
Well, I would need to wear them a bit more, but the wires seem OK on the side.
On the other hand, the 40HH bra seems not totally full in the bottom (near the band), as if it were a bit too large in that part (that's probably what you mean when you say my breasts are "full on top" ?)
"The gapping on the side but cutting in/wires not tacking in the front makes me think you have narrow roots but are full on top and have taller breasts (I know, that’s a lot to process!)."
Well, before I discovered Bratabase recently, the only things I could say about my breasts was "too large" and "not suited to whatever bra I could find in stores" so that's indeed a lot to proceed :-)
I'm thinking about taking the bras on holidays and sending back some of them from the post office there.
If I keep one of them (to have at least something not too ill fitting to wear), do you think the 40HH - Elomi » Cate Banded Bra (4030) would be the best choice ?
Zalando does have the Elomi Morgan Banded Bra (4110) so I could order it when I'm back.
Finding some Ewa Michalak bras will be another challenge... -
I do think the elomi 40HH looks like the best fit...try something though. When you hook it, try hooking the top hook in one (on the second hook). I wonder if that will provide more support and help with the gapping at the top and side.
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helpfulHow tight are your straps? If you loosen them all the way, what happens? Side wrinkling can happen if the straps are pulling the fabric of the cup up and back, not allowing for full projection. Side wrinkling can also happen if a cup expects wider tissue than you have. Loosing the straps all the way can help determine with of these might be the case.
Updated on July 24, 2020 Flag this
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I tried to loosen the straps a little bit, but didn't see much of a difference with the wrinkling.
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Salvia3 sounds like the cup is too wide then. cupandahalf may be spot on about the too tight band pulling the wires too far. Here's another fit test. Put the straps on, and your boobs in the cups, but don't fasten then band. Using your hands, hold the wire against your chest around one boob, and be sure to swoop and scoop. How does it fit? Do you like where the wire sits? Is the cup too big or too small? Where are the gaps/wrinkles/bubbling? Check your other boob as well. We're looking to see how well the cups alone fit, to see if the too tight band is causing the fit issues.
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helpfulPartly agree with confused.
I have read a German bra fitting blog that the optimal band size should be 1 or 2 level below your tight ribcage, so the band size 40 may fit you. New bras usually need some time to stretch out so it is normal to feel a little bit tight at beginning, but you should make sure at first that the wires can directly lay in your IMF.
You can buy some extenders. However, I don't think they can help you to achieve the perfect fit in this bra. According to my personal experiences and the bra measurements in both of your fitting requests, I guess the center gore of the both bras maybe too tall or wide for you. This can cause the "soft tack". I suggest you to try Elomi Maya Plunge Bra or any other Elomi plunge styles in 38JJ, their bands can be almost stretched to 100 cm and the center gores are lower than 10 cm. Or luckily maybe you can also try some customized Comexim bras. Because they have pretty narrow center gores.
Updated on July 24, 2020 Flag this
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Thanks for your reply !
I'll try to find the models that you recommended, but it's not so easy (it took me some time to find some French web sites with free returns and large sizes, and their choices of models are quite limited alas).
One of these web sites has the Elomi Elomi Matilda Plunge Bra (8900) model, do you think it might suit me better ?
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Salvia3
According to the measurements, I guess the band of Matilda Plunge Bra might be too stretchy for you. The band of 38JJ can be stretched to 109 cm, it's too loose for your ribcage. I personally find the optimal stretched band length is 1-7 cm above your comfortable ribcage.By the way, you can also get free return in online shops which do not provide such a service if you have a PayPal account. Every year you have 12 chances for uploading the cash receipt of the post office to get the delivery costs back.
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helpfulI've juste asked for a return for this bra (and the 40H one). I had to make a decision
before leaving this morning, and so the safest option was to return it now (maybe I'll
order it again if I change my mind, or order another size).But I'm still interested in getting some advice (maybe the discussion should move to my other fit requestion, the one about the 40HH - Elomi » Cate Banded Bra (4030) ?)
Thanks a lot to all the people who replied.
Updated on July 25, 2020 Flag this
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Ah I see you already returned it. I also wanted to say the band looks like it's too tight. A too tight band can make the cups more shallow and fit smaller. A band should be only as tight as necessary to support not as tight as possible.
I see your loose ribcage measurement is 100cm. The band of this bra stretches only to 92cm. For me personally a good indicator if a bra band fits well is if my loose ribcage and the stretched band measurement are similar.
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helpfulThe band does look tight.
Updated on September 6, 2022 Flag this
Thanks for your reply !
I didn't know that this bra was known for having a short band.
It's difficult for me to know whether a band is too tight or not, as I've been wearing old, ill-fitting bras for years (with a too large band and too small cups)...
Have you seen my other fit request about the 40HH - Elomi » Cate Banded Bra (4030) ? It has the same band size, but the band seems less tight and it doesn't hurt.
I also ordered the 40GG - Elomi » Cate Banded Bra (4030) and the 40H - Elomi » Cate Banded Bra (4030) but it's difficult for me to see which one is better (probably not the smallest one because it tends to be too small on my left hand side near the armpit).