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I'm 29 much of the time... Which I was told to add 3 inches in America. The old fasion is to actually add 5 inches which would make me 32C/B or a 34 A. I don't fit 34 A's they can't even cover my nipples with covering the base... So I don't follow the method as my rib cageis usually 29 inches therefore I'm 34 in band size.
I'm 29 much of the time... Which I was told to add 3 inches in America. The old fasion is to actually add 5 inches which would make me 32C/B or a 34 A. I don't fit 34 A's they can't even cover my nipples with covering the base... So I don't follow the method as my rib cageis usually 29 inches therefore I'm 34 in band size.
It is tricky. "New school" bands are really stretchy. So size XXX might stretchy 4 or 5 inches. A 34 band likely measures 28-30 inches un-stretched, but expands to fit. The +4 or +5 method is extremely inaccurate for those of us with larger chests. It isn't so as bad with the smaller cups. But it would be good to try on a 30D or so to see how it fits in your case.
**the bra I was wearing today measures 28ish un-stretched, and is labeled a 34 band. I am 33 around the ribcage.
I'm smaller chested well when it comes to ribcage at least.
idk isn't 30D the same as 32 C? I am wearing a 348 pretty much everyday because 32C's are too exensive. It's ok my rib cage fits 32 band size perfectly. 34 is a squeez but I just pull the straps high and put it on the last hook and it works like a 34 maybe one dayill be able to buy a 30 or 32 and see which is best. 32 on the second hook is like an exact size made for me...
I'm smaller chested well when it comes to ribcage at least.
idk isn't 30D the same as 32 C? I am wearing a 348 pretty much everyday because 32C's are too exensive. It's ok my rib cage fits 32 band size perfectly. 34 is a squeez but I just pull the straps high and put it on the last hook and it works like a 34 maybe one dayill be able to buy a 30 or 32 and see which is best. 32 on the second hook is like an exact size made for me...
So I'm feeling like a bit of a creeper, but in your pictures your boobs look way bigger than a 32C or 30D. Maybe it's just the angle of the photos, but I'm a 28DD/E and my chest looks smaller than yours. If you've never been properly fitted, it can often be hard to know what constitutes a good fit. A good fitter will not only get you in a bra that properly contains all of your breast tissue, but she'll be able to point out the clues that indicate a proper fit.
Other people have suggested Nordstrom's to get fitted. I've never been in one but haven't had luck in any big department stores like that, I'm just lucky that a specialty bra boutique opened up down the street from me. Look for any store that carries a band size smaller than a 32. Generally if they stock that sort of size, they'll know about proper fitting.
And to get an idea for yourself, put on your best fitting non-padded, non-pushup bra and measure around the fullest part of your bust. You've already measured your ribcage at 29, so your band size will be 28 or 30 and your cup size will be determined by the difference between your band size and bust measurement. if you measure 31" around your bust, you're a 30A, 32" is a 30B, 33" is a 30C etc.
Oh, and whenever you buy a bra, it should be snugly fitted on the loosest hook. All bras stretch with wash and wear, the reason there are different hooks is so it stays fitted even as the band stretches. If your bra fits best on the tightest hook, it's going to be the wrong size after just a few months.
Actually, Lane Bryant for years used the actual measurement as the band size and not the old fashioned plus 4 or 5 inches measurement. I was confident enough to buy my bras via catalog because I knew the size.... and the last time -- they changed. My 42's measured 38 inches...
So I went in and asked about it and was told -- no they hadn't changed -- the actual size was the actual size....
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.
You should try Elomi bras. They go from about 34-44 bands and run just about true to size.
Available at all of the local Nordstrom's (and Nordstrom Rack). And also, Fantasie fits well too. You probably need to go down 1-2 inches in the band because they are stretchy. I think they go from 32-40ish. Elomi Lingerie Fantasie Lingerie
Jade, are you saying Elomi bands are stretchy, or Fantasie, or both?
I'm finding my 36 Fantasie bras to fit true to band size.
Looks like we have a lot of people on diets in this thread, and I'm one of them! Doubt I'll ever be smaller than a 34 though, I am large framed and wore a 34 in high school. Of course, now that I know what I know about proper bra size measuring, maybe I was wearing the wrong band/cup size!!
So who invented these horrible contraptions anyway? I have NEVER found a comfortable bra except on that is overly worn out. If I could have all the money back I have spend on bras, I could supplement my retirement quite well. It must have been a man that develped this ..a misogynist's tool.
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.
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.
Not all bigger women need bigger bands and not all smaller women need smaller bands. This is a function of body shape mostly. If you are a pear, the odds are high you need a smaller band. Same with a typical hourglass. If you are an apple or swimmer build you probably need a bigger band.
Jade, are you saying Elomi bands are stretchy, or Fantasie, or both?
I'm finding my 36 Fantasie bras to fit true to band size.
Freya = super stretchy. Fantasie bands aren't super stretchy, but seem to stretch out fast. I always go down a band in those. Elomi is kinda stretchy but they have lots of hooks, so those tend to fit more sizes, and feel like the stretch out faster, but fit OK because of all of the hooks.
You should check out Elomi, they might fit you well.
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Looks like we have a lot of people on diets in this thread, and I'm one of them! Doubt I'll ever be smaller than a 34 though, I am large framed and wore a 34 in high school. Of course, now that I know what I know about proper bra size measuring, maybe I was wearing the wrong band/cup size!!
I am one of them. If you would have told me awhile ago about my bra size being a 34 I would have thought you were crazy, because I was in a 36 in high school. But now I realize I was WAAAY off in size/cup then and my bras fit horribly then. I am crossing my fingers about where I'll be when I get to my goal, but the odds are really high it will be a 28/30. I was hoping to stay around 32, but that isn't looking too probable. I am hoping I will at least drop a cup or 3, but this is also not looking too probable either. The cups have been increasing and the band shrinking with the past few weigh ins.
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