Do you REALLY know your bra size?

faithcecilia

Can I ask a question please blue_monkey? Is there a particular style that you would recommend for post-reduction women (ie me!) who find that they don't quite fill a cup, in my case gappy at the top, but cannot go down a cup due to the width of the breast, which doesn't alter much with surgery? Thanks.

blue_monkey_2

faithcecilia wrote: »

Can I ask a question please blue_monkey? Is there a particular style that you would recommend for post-reduction women (ie me!) who find that they don't quite fill a cup, in my case gappy at the top, but cannot go down a cup due to the width of the breast, which doesn't alter much with surgery? Thanks.

Yes, go for a balcony cup. Do not get this confused with a half cup, these are different. You need to look for balcony, balconette or balconnette bras (all different spellings) they have good structure (look for 3 or 4 part cups) and give a lift. If you get overspill on these bras go up a cup size - NOT a band size (a mistake so many ladoes make when they see their bra is getting too small)

A balcony suits every shape of breast and it has wider set straps and has less coverage - you can wear it with more styles of tops too. You will probably find that if you choose a really plunging bra everything will fall forward into one 'lump' at the front so you just find it looks weird. A lot of women, especially after children, lose the elasticity at the top of the breast so cannot wear plunge bras.

I can highly recommend Freya Pollyanna for you though. I wear it and the fit is gorgeous - I am a Tango II convert!! It is a balcony bra but sits lower than the Tango II, it has lace at the top of the cup and it is soft so it just clings and gives a lovely shape.

Also, every wardrobe should have a nude coloured bra, it can be worn with anything and cannot be seen under white shirts. If wearing white shorts choose nude over white every time. White can be seen, nude cannot.

dreaming

I hope you don't mind me asking a question. I am struggling to get a bra that doesn't dig into my shoulders. I was having major problems with headaches etc. and realised that my bra straps seemed really tight on my shoulders, even though I have adjusted them all the way out. I am a size 24 top (26 bottom) and was in a 44G. Have just bought 46G (Berdita from Ample Bosom) but after a day sitting at my desk I can't wait to go home and take my bra off (or at least take the straps off my shoulders). I hate underwired bras by the way but obviously being large need a firm support bra. The bra bit seems a good fit (no gaps or bulges) but the neck/shoulder pain is getting quite bad.

elfen

blue, I PM'd you....think my bra size is changing due to me losing weight....HELP!

blue_monkey_2

dreaming wrote: »

I hope you don't mind me asking a question. I am struggling to get a bra that doesn't dig into my shoulders. I was having major problems with headaches etc. and realised that my bra straps seemed really tight on my shoulders, even though I have adjusted them all the way out. I am a size 24 top (26 bottom) and was in a 44G. Have just bought 46G (Berdita from Ample Bosom) but after a day sitting at my desk I can't wait to go home and take my bra off (or at least take the straps off my shoulders). I hate underwired bras by the way but obviously being large need a firm support bra. The bra bit seems a good fit (no gaps or bulges) but the neck/shoulder pain is getting quite bad.

Argh, posted and then lost it.

I'll PM you. BM x

blue_monkey_2

Also wanted to add in case anyone else was reading:

If your bra is digging into your shoulders your band size is wrong, your bra is too big. The weight will be carried by the band and the bottom section of the bra cup, sometimes they will have a cradle to support you as well. The straps are just to give the bra some stability and shape and to stop it moving around - they should not be carrying the weight of your boobs. If you have the weight on your shoulders it is because the bra is not supporrting your breast at all so you need to adjust this.

HTH

blue_monkey_2

Another tip - how to put a bra on properly.

When you put your bra on lean forward and lower your breasts into it placing the underwires under your breasts.

Do it up at the back, ensuring it is round the middle of your back, not rising up. Please try not to put it on at the front and swivel it round (although I do understand some people have to due to mobility issues, if you do not have to then don't put it on this way). It can make 1 or 2 size differences because this way you get all the tissue in the cup and the underwires will sit where they need to and cup everything they need to.

Put your hand into the bra and scoop everything forward into the cup from underyour arm, this will ensure all of the tissue is bought forward into the wired cup. Part your breasts at the front ensuring the bit in the middle sits against your ribcage. It is called the 'scoop and sweep'.

Apologies if I said this already, I thought I would put this all in one place.

faithcecilia

blue_monkey wrote: »

Yes, go for a balcony cup. Do not get this confused with a half cup, these are different. You need to look for balcony, balconette or balconnette bras (all different spellings) they have good structure (look for 3 or 4 part cups) and give a lift. If you get overspill on these bras go up a cup size - NOT a band size (a mistake so many ladoes make when they see their bra is getting too small)

A balcony suits every shape of breast and it has wider set straps and has less coverage - you can wear it with more styles of tops too. You will probably find that if you choose a really plunging bra everything will fall forward into one 'lump' at the front so you just find it looks weird. A lot of women, especially after children, lose the elasticity at the top of the breast so cannot wear plunge bras.

I can highly recommend Freya Pollyanna for you though. I wear it and the fit is gorgeous - I am a Tango II convert!! It is a balcony bra but sits lower than the Tango II, it has lace at the top of the cup and it is soft so it just clings and gives a lovely shape.

Also, every wardrobe should have a nude coloured bra, it can be worn with anything and cannot be seen under white shirts. If wearing white shorts choose nude over white every time. White can be seen, nude cannot.

Thanks, I do have a balconette and will look out for some more. I used to wear Freya pre-op but due to the sucess of the surgery, they are now toobig for me:T My surgeon did a fab job of getting me from a G to a B/A,and now I can do this:j quite happily;).

Chinkle

It staggers me how so many women don't understand bra sizes and don't understand the importance of getting the right fit. The bigger you are the more problems you will experience with a badly fitting bra. It can improve posture, make you look pounds lighter and immensely improve comfort. My tips are:

- Go to a proper bra fitters - they mostly never use a tape measure
- Remember bras are made proportionally so treat the band size and cup size as two different measurements. If one changes, it is quite likely the other will change too.
- Get fitted regularly as your size changes over time due to weight gain/loss, hormonal changes, pregnancy and aging
- Even when you know your size do always try on bras, as different styles give slightly different fits

EllaKeat

I have no idea if I wear the correct size, some bras are confortable, others are not, but to be honest, I will never go for a fitting again, I felt so ashamed and distraught after the last one. I went about three years ago now, having had a mastectomy, followed by reconstruction after treatment. I was badly scarred, and my boobs are not equal, and are a bit lumpy:( But, as soon as I thought I looked reasonable,and was well healed, I went for a fitting and was turned away by the lady who said it would be better if I consulted a specialist fitter. Leaving the changing room she shouted across to the others behind the counter ' This lady has had a mastectomy, we can't do anything with that, can we?' Cue pitying looks from customers browsing and me slinking out, face burning. Never, never again.
On the 'up' side, would encourage everyone else to go for fittings, there is a school of thought that badly fitting bras could be a contributory factor to breast cancer.
Wish I had met someone like blue monkey a few years ago:)