ecb89
Well-Known Member
Regardless of what sizes I try I cannot get balcony style bras to suit me. My boobs fit better in full cup or plunge bras such as the Freya deco
Breasts the size of footballs!
- Thread starter 05jackd
- Start date
sbloom
Well-Known Member
I have one, yes one, regular style that fits me - Freya/Fantasie padded half cups, plus a now discontinued M&S sports bra. Flared ribcage makes extra complications.
palterwell
Well-Known Member
Thanks sbloom and ecb , I think I need to do some shopping !
conniegirl
Well-Known Member
Certain styles suit certain rib cage shapes! I absolutely cannot wear a full cup, the wires just wont sit right on me.
The freya Deco causes me pain and physical sores even in the right size. The Freya retro (a very deep plunge) however was my favourite bra ever and i cried when they stopped making it. The Bravissimo satine is the closest I’ve come to that shape since!
My sister is a similar size to me but her rib cage is a different shape and she loves the Deco.
sbloom
Well-Known Member
I went to see if there were any related cuts https://www.bratabase.com/browse/freya/retro-plunge-4253/related/ sorry
. Great resource if you haven't come across it.Ribcage shape doesn't tend to affect fit that much, longlines are an issue, but I'd say your sister and you just have different shaped boobs
, you can compare Deco and Retro, and Satine, on the site. If wires are impacting on the ribcage then it's usually about the wires being pushed too low below the breast root. She also might have a flared ribcage like me (ie my profile below my boobs goes out before it goes in), and that just means that it's more uncomfortable if the wires ride low, and longlines, unless very elastic are painful and usually roll up.
DabDab
Thinks the luddites had a point...
Well I just used that calculator and came out as a 30F 
. I've been wearing 34B for years and suffer almost constant boob pain. So I have ordered one in the 'correct' size and will report back when I've tried it out. Thanks for sharing the calculators, graphics and info sbloom and ecb
. I've been wearing 34B for years and suffer almost constant boob pain. So I have ordered one in the 'correct' size and will report back when I've tried it out. Thanks for sharing the calculators, graphics and info sbloom and ecb
sbloom
Well-Known Member
Well I just used that calculator and came out as a 30F
Sadly one bra is highly unlikely to fit as shape is super important, and you might be either side of that size anyway, as I am. I would massively recommend using the community, either on reddit or FB, and posting to ask advice. Use the resources on the reddit group to analyse the fit. It's complicated (I think I find it a bit like fitting saddles, very complicated!) but worth it for so many people. I would always recommend trying to make sure you have the right band size (some run stretchy, you can find general reviews, advice etc in the groups but bratabase.com is awesome with measurements, takes a little navigating) and then ordering at least two cup sizes, with one being likely too big. If neither fits then you know the shape is wrong, if you only try one you're always left wondering if it was worth trying the other size. Plus, most moulded cups are a tricky fit, much better to start with seamed. You'll find similar advice in the beginner's guide in the reddit group.
I tried a LOT of bras to get a good fit, free returns are your friend.
Annagain
Well-Known Member
I had a very disconcerting experience at Rigby and Peller. I was visiting a friend in London not long before my wedding so decided to get properly fitted for a really decent bra for under my wedding dress. I made an appointment and was greeted by a girl who can't have been more than 17. She asked me to strip off and then spent a good 45 seconds studying me and my boobs. I was expecting the tape measure but she just disappeared then came back 2 minutes later with one bra and gave me instructions on how to put it on, complete with wiggling and lifting and positioning. It fitted perfectly. What sort of witchcraft is that? I was a 32FF she informed me on the way out.
I'm a bit heavier now and a 34FF. The Bravissimo Inspire is the only sports bra I'll wear these days. In fact, I'll wear it even when I'm not doing sport if I can get away with it, it's so comfy. It gives a really good shape too - none of that awful mono-boob squished look. It's underwired and I always thought an underwired sports bra would be really uncomfortable but it's not at all. I've just bought another two as the underwiring popped out of one of my first ones after about 5 years of really decent wear. They last forever. I find Shock Absorbers almost as comfy but they start going saggy and the elastic starts fraying after a year or so.
I'm a bit heavier now and a 34FF. The Bravissimo Inspire is the only sports bra I'll wear these days. In fact, I'll wear it even when I'm not doing sport if I can get away with it, it's so comfy. It gives a really good shape too - none of that awful mono-boob squished look. It's underwired and I always thought an underwired sports bra would be really uncomfortable but it's not at all. I've just bought another two as the underwiring popped out of one of my first ones after about 5 years of really decent wear. They last forever. I find Shock Absorbers almost as comfy but they start going saggy and the elastic starts fraying after a year or so.
Annagain
Well-Known Member
I cant wear plunge bras at all, my boobs just fall out of them!
conniegirl
Well-Known Member
I had a similar experience at bravissimo!
Birker2020
Well-Known Member
Gemm Sports bras on ebay. £17.95 and they are very good.
In a trial in one of the horse magazines it said the type that encapsulate both breasts but then cover both (as picture) are the ones that are best as they move less! I have a number of these and use mine everyday for work as well as gym wear, I'm 42DD.
Pippity
Well-Known Member
The first time I got fitted at Bravissimo, it was all tape measures, and I walked out of there with a sports bra that gave me conical boobs pointing out at a 90 degree angle from each other, and no support.
The second time was the 'looks at me and gives me a bra that fits perfectly' experience.
sbloom
Well-Known Member
I've never had anyone fit me really well and now have a hopeless strapless, the second one (and probably the 5th I've bought over the years, in vain), from Bravissimo. I give up on strapless, and must remember never to rely on their fitters! R&P - in 1997 I spent £35 with them on a French bra, a lot of money at the time, and it was terrible, I wore it twice. The underwires sat on top of my boobs, but I had no idea because of the lack of education about bra fit, especially pre-internet.
sbloom
Well-Known Member
For anyone who really wants a plunge there are several Polish brands that do really good plunges, I believe Ewa Michalak are like magic, boobs can't escape them! There's a special section in the reddit wiki for Polish bras, they're not expensive but hard to return (some are customised).
ecb89
Well-Known Member
I’ve heard really good things about Ewa Michalak but can’t be bothered with the faffing around
MagicMelon
Well-Known Member
Stick on a body protector? I find mine are solid in a body protector! I have big boobs after having my 3rd son 9 months ago, never had big boobs and now I do, they're horrible. I went to a fitting the other day and the professional promised me a certain sport bra she gave me was a perfect fit. Its so damn tight underneath it leaves deep red marks when I take it off. I complained to her about it and she just said sports bras are designed for short term use, not all day?? Not much use for say a horse event then which can run on all day. The comfy ones dont offer much support at all. Boobs suck!
Spot the Merry Risk
Well-Known Member
Just got around to measuring on the bra that fits calculator, and it’s come out at 38FF… which was a surprise. I have 38D for sports and normal wear and feel the cup is slightly too big, and too much movement when running. I’ve just bought a Shock Absorber run bra in a 38C and it’s waaaay too small but my 38D M&S zip front bras are too big in the cup. Where do I go from here?
bouncing_ball
Well-Known Member
That’s where you wear 2 bras / crop top on top for the actual riding bit
Jango
Well-Known Member
I find the shock absorber ones the best. Running shops usually have a good selection. When I was a stone heavier I used to wear a normal underwired bra with an older sports bra on top. Im a size 12 top, 31" underbust and I wear 32F in a sports bra but a 34E day to day. I know it's technically too big, but I've tried wearing all types of underwired 32s and they kill me after the whole day. I'm fine in the smaller non-underwired sports bras, even for the day. But the mono-boob look isn't good for day to day ? Everyone's body is different and unfortunately it's probably just trial and error.
Once in Boston for work I went into a really posh specialist bra shop ($150+ each), got 10 bras in the same size and some were too small, some too big etc. I don't think you can buy without trying unfortunately. All makes fit differently for different boob shapes etc.
Once in Boston for work I went into a really posh specialist bra shop ($150+ each), got 10 bras in the same size and some were too small, some too big etc. I don't think you can buy without trying unfortunately. All makes fit differently for different boob shapes etc.
Rokele55
Well-Known Member
May I suggest you find out what oti mabuso (sp) from strictly uses to strap down her frankly mahoosive chesticles. How she keeps those from leaping around I have no idea (I can't find mine with a magnifying glass).
sbloom
Well-Known Member
Shape, shape, shape. And bear in mind that most sports bras are made much smaller in the band, but not all. If you want to compare bands then stretch them along a tape measure and measure to the hooks you use, you may be surprised. Advising on where to go next is complicated so I'd refer you back to the reddit sub or their FB group, read the shape guide, look at how the wires sit on you, swoop and scoop all your tissue into the cups before deciding if they're the right volume...and post questions, there are plenty will help you
