Are YOU wearing the right bra size? (brands, look, cheap)

[Tourian]

Originally Posted by jade408

Yup, this is true. Lane Bryant never carried my tru bra size. They didn't go up enough in the cups in the smaller bands, I am similar in size to your wife.

There are 2 classes of "bigger bras"
Full Bust: this means bigger cups (above DDish),
Full Figured: this means "bigger bands" generally above 38ish

Most stores ignore the full bust people, or don't have "full bust" sizes in smaller bands. "Plus sized" stores tend to cover full figured sizes, but skip the larger cups.

The people with the hardest time with fit are the smaller band/bigger cup sizes. Stores like Victoria's Secret will encourage you to go up in the band until the cup fits. Many stores (and brands) don't carry band sizes below 32, although this isn't necessarily an outlier size.

That's it. You hit it. That sort of mentality covers probably 60-65% of the population, but through sister sizing, vanity sizing and just plain bullying/hard headed sales tactics they (the big retailers) have gotten 90-95% of women believing that the "wrong" size is right. The bras my wife wears are very tight when she buys them new and as they gradually "give" as they age, she uses the next row of hooks. A 42/44 will seem to "fit" her in the store, but by the end of they day the weight of her chest will pull the back strap up and the shoulder straps leave dents on her shoulders. That aint right. Smaller boobed women can get away with wearing bigger bands because their boobs just don't weigh as much. My wife jokes she is probably the only woman in town less then 200lbs that wears a UK H cup since nobody but the speciality shops seem to have anything for her and don't look at her like she's an alien when she suggests it.

[jade408]

Originally Posted by Tourian

That's it. You hit it. That sort of mentality covers probably 60-65% of the population, but through sister sizing, vanity sizing and just plain bullying/hard headed sales tactics they (the big retailers) have gotten 90-95% of women believing that the "wrong" size is right. The bras my wife wears are very tight when she buys them new and as they gradually "give" as they age, she uses the next row of hooks. A 42/44 will seem to "fit" her in the store, but by the end of they day the weight of her chest will pull the back strap up and the shoulder straps leave dents on her shoulders. That aint right. Smaller boobed women can get away with wearing bigger bands because their boobs just don't weigh as much. My wife jokes she is probably the only woman in town less then 200lbs that wears a UK H cup since nobody but the speciality shops seem to have anything for her and don't look at her like she's an alien when she suggests it.

LOL! Well I do know quite a lot of Hs under 200 pounds.

Personally, I go to Nordstrom (generally stops at H) or online. Mostly because all of the lingerie shops in my area seem to be catering to small busted asian women (no offense anyone) and nobody seems to have above a DD. Except for the stores that are really far. And of course one run by a former stripper that is fairly close. Sadly for me, each pound I lose seems to make bra shopping more annoying. I am now basically a UK HH or so.

[kitgirl11]

shoot I meant 34C I wear a 34C.

anyhow. I'm not sure if that store is here I'll see.

and I've been fitted at different stores. It's ranged on how they measure. If it's adding 4-5 in an A34 if it's the 2 to 3 inch add it's 32C. Which is what I'm good with perfect fit but it's too expensive so I settle for C34 on the last hook. I've never seen a bra inanything higher than a B in 30 or less band sizes. Just not in the stores I shop. But when I get spare money and time I could try out exotic sizes...

also that's the angle and I fluctuate so probably wasD 32 there.

[Tourian]

Originally Posted by jade408

LOL! Well I do know quite a lot of Hs under 200 pounds.

Ha, yeah I imagine so - but I thought it best not to mention that there were probably plenty of women that size or bigger.

She's losing weight too, and her goal is to comfortably be back in a 36 band again and they don't seem to be getting smaller so she'll probably stay in an H, if not she's still got a couple of 36GGs. Elomi and Panache are her favorite brands.

[UnexpectedError]

Originally Posted by Tourian

That's it. You hit it. That sort of mentality covers probably 60-65% of the population, but through sister sizing, vanity sizing and just plain bullying/hard headed sales tactics they (the big retailers) have gotten 90-95% of women believing that the "wrong" size is right. The bras my wife wears are very tight when she buys them new and as they gradually "give" as they age, she uses the next row of hooks. A 42/44 will seem to "fit" her in the store, but by the end of they day the weight of her chest will pull the back strap up and the shoulder straps leave dents on her shoulders. That aint right. Smaller boobed women can get away with wearing bigger bands because their boobs just don't weigh as much. My wife jokes she is probably the only woman in town less then 200lbs that wears a UK H cup since nobody but the speciality shops seem to have anything for her and don't look at her like she's an alien when she suggests it.

The Fitting Touch at the Summit, I presume?

Has she (or anyone else reading this) tried Curvy Kate? I've bought a couple on ebay and you have to go up a cup size or two but I'm pretty pleased with them for fun bras, lots of bright colors, lace, ribbons, etc.

[jade408]

Originally Posted by UnexpectedError

The Fitting Touch at the Summit, I presume?

Has she (or anyone else reading this) tried Curvy Kate? I've bought a couple on ebay and you have to go up a cup size or two but I'm pretty pleased with them for fun bras, lots of bright colors, lace, ribbons, etc.

Next on my list! I am a little worried, because I hear they fit like Panache's and those don't always fit me well, the underwires come up super high on me, and can be a little wide. So I haven't taken the plunge yet.

[Tallysmom]

Originally Posted by Tourian

I'm not sure I quite follow you. I'm not saying the bras themselves are wrong, but rather the salespeople. Despite what they may offer online, the actual stores tend to just stay within a certain comfort zone of inventory and they tell their people to "force" people into buying them. Most women believe that anything above D or DD is fat/porn star so the stores don't carry it. Which is why it is easier for them to "+4" you into a bigger band/smaller cup. The acutal bras themselves are "true" they just typically don't carry them in smaller band and bigger cup sizes because they'd most likely never sell. LB stops at H though, and their H is like an American I, I think, but the stores around us usually don't carry anything like that in a 36/38. So all the plus sized ladies there always give my wife dubious/sneering/comical looks whenever she says she has bras ranging from H to J (until they look at the tag of whatever she has on) and then still they try to get her to look at a 44 or something goofy because that's all they have in stock.

The last time I bought through the catalog, I measured myself around the ribcage under the breasts at 41 inches and bought a 42. The time before that -- I measured myself at 41 1/2 and bought a 42 and it fit. The time before that -- I measured myself at 43 1/2 and bought a 44 and it fit. I'm losing weight, so I'm not measuring wrong -- and I've been buying the same bras since I was a 48, and bought a 48 and it fit.

Wow. I just realized I lost 7 inches. YAY!! Anyhow...

When the 42's came -- I couldn't begin to get them hooked. Laid them down, got out my tape, and measured 38 inches. Marked 42. Looked at the old bra, marked 42 was 44 because it's all stretched out.

I quilt -- so I have many different measuring things -- these things were 38s. So sometime between my last purchase and this one, they changed their systems -- which sucks because I loved the boost of going down in sizes as I lost weight... and now I have to go UP 2 sizes again. Disheartening.

[Tourian]

Originally Posted by UnexpectedError

The Fitting Touch at the Summit, I presume?

Has she (or anyone else reading this) tried Curvy Kate? I've bought a couple on ebay and you have to go up a cup size or two but I'm pretty pleased with them for fun bras, lots of bright colors, lace, ribbons, etc.

Yes, but never tried Curvy Kate.

Originally Posted by Tallysmom

When the 42's came -- I couldn't begin to get them hooked. Laid them down, got out my tape, and measured 38 inches.

Interesting. I guess we can try that. Never really bothered measuring them because anything bigger then 38 rides up her back. And they always try to get her to try on a 44DDD or 42F or something similar rather then a 36/38 in a larger cup.

[jade408]

Originally Posted by Tourian

Yes, but never tried Curvy Kate.

Curvy Kate has a pretty good size range. K cups in I think 28-44 bands. Maybe even higher in the band.

[xxbabeechick]

Wacoal! In love with their bras! Affordable too.