Bra intervention help! Measured, tried and still nothing...

[ResistanceIsNecessary]

Plea for help from anyone knowledgeable about bra interventions!

I've measured at 38.5 band and 48 cup. However I am a size 16 and find a 38 band has too much give so I sized down to a 36. Cup size I've tried FF and G.

Went to Debenhams and did a mammoth trying on session. Can't get on with Freya at all. Panache had a couple of nice ones but they were plain fabric and I like a moulded cup as I have prominent nipples. When I tracked down some t-shirt style Panache ones in HoF they gapped at the top of the cup - I am full at the sides rather than the top, but having done the "shoving" it felt like it should be the right size but that the cut was wrong.

So, I am going to have to throw myself on the mercy of online retailers. All advice on what style and which retailers I should try, would be gratefully received (along with any other pointers)!!

If your measurements are somewhere around 34/44 you should be in a 34GG dementedma. A 38DD is designed for someone measuring around 38/43; the top measurement isn't very different but a tighter band means a bigger cup and better support

I don't think a 34 would fasten around me, but I'll try one just to see ..

My order has arrived! DH very bemused by the size of the cups and also the look of one of them (described by him as looking "institutionally medical"!).

Will do trying on tomorrow when I have showered, and report back.

Ooh and thanks Birds for the insta link. The parfait bra is lovely! Am off to go and have a wee google...

Right, I have finished my trying on session and the results are in...

...None of them are quite right, but a couple come very close.

Size-wise 36H is spot on, apart from one Panache bra where I could have gone swimming because it was so epically huge! I even double-checked the label to make sure it was the right size. Presume it's a cut/style thing?

I started with the Panache Envy. Fitted really well - after gathering there was no quad boob and the gore was flat against my chest. However the gore is very high up, so much so that I was worried about being stabbed by it when I bent over!! Also there is some slight puckering on the bottom sides of the cup, and also a tiny gap at the top of the cup near the straps - suspect this is the effect of gravity on my norks as they aren't as high up as they used to be! Not necessarily a deal-breaker but ideally I'd like to find a style where this is not an issue.

Moved on to the Panache Tango. This was the one I could have gone swimming in. Absolutely huge.

Next was the Bravissimo Niya - this was the one DH thought looked like a straightjacket. In fairness he does have a point; in the photo it looks very pretty. IRL it looks rather...industrial! However it fitted well and gave a really nice rounded shape. However there was the slight gap at the top of the cup near the straps - again think this is gravity as everything else fitted well. As before in an ideal world I'd like a bra shape where this is not so much of an issue.

The final candidate was the Bravissimo Darcy. Again not quite right and I was really disappointed because I really liked it - the bra is a gorgeous colour and so pretty. The side supports felt lovely but there was a wee bit of wrinkling top and bottom - I think it's because the style is quite an "upfront" bra for narrower breasts, whereas I am quite full on the sides.

I'm heading back to Bravissimo at the weekend to return them - and will try make sure I am feeling appropriately zen for trying on!! All recommendations as to what styles/brands and shapes to try, are welcome. So far I think I need to look at Freya and Curvy Kate??

Well I was right to be sceptical about the GG!

Dementedma

Did you take your bust measurement when you were bent over? They need to hang straight down and you measure round to the lowest point of your norks without pulling the tape tight.

yes, I did it underneath both tight and snug, then bent over across my nipples!

OK I am all out of ideas then! Hopefully one of the very knowledgeable bra gurus will be along to advise

Nice looking bra though!

I've ordered a parfait affinity charlotte bra from Amazon to try. This bra intervention is not good for my bank account!

I will remeasure and try again. I'm baffled.
and it was a cheapo supermarket bra so not sure if that's a factor lol

Was it a 34 back? A 34GG is smaller in the cup than 38GG

i couldn't find a 34GG at all. the one in the picture is a 36 GG

ok, have remeasured.
36 under boob tight, 44 over boob at 90 degrees.
help!

36FF I get from that.
P.s. If you go up a back size you go down in the cup to get the same cup volume e.g. 34GG would be same cup volume as 36G

Resistance I think the gap you're describing is probably due to the shape of your boob and I'd look towards some round balconnettes shapes, Cleo (the "young" panache brand) has some but with narrow wires, Parfait, CK and Freya should have some with wide wires. Bravissimo will definitely help but do ask about your book profile (like "do I need wide or narrow wires? What shape should I go for? Do I need projected or shallow cups?" etc.) so that you're autonomous later.

OK, that's useful OP...

The Panache Envy is one I've tried and found to be a bit too wide and shallow; it wasn't awful but not great. The wrinkling you describe at the bottom I think might be because the bottom of the cups doesn't have quite enough space for your breast tissue so it's not getting right to the bottom of the cups. This can happen because you're deeper or wider than the cups. Given the issues you describe I'd definitely be tempted to try Cleo Marcie and Panache Thea a go; they're a more balcony shape which tends to lift a bit better and might help to sort the issue near the straps, plus they have a bit more depth in the cups without any extra height.

On the t-shirt bra; these are a bit prone to gaping simply because they have far less ability to fit to your shape. It's quite rare to get them fitting every bit of breast tissue absolutely perfectly. TBH they're not my favourite type of bras for fit but they have a place when you need something smooth! You might like the Bravissimo satine, which is still plunging but more flexible.

Thank you both - really helpful.

The parfait is on its way and I'm planning to go to Bravissimo tomorrow with a list!

Also on it are:
Bravissimo Alice
Panache Petra
Miss Mandalay Robin
Panache Clara
Panache Thea

Are these any good? When I searched for side sling bras these came up.

you might not need actual side slings once the bra is fitting well with suitably wide wires tbh. Personally, I prefer the sort of cut where the piece of fabric which attaches to the strap also comes round under the breast - I think it gives better lift and support. By all means try the side slings but I wouldn't make it an absolute criteria iyswim

Compare this www.brastop.com/cleo-by-panache-hettie-balconette-bra-cerise-pink to the cup structure on the Envy and you'll see what I mean.

OK that makes sense. That Cleo bra is lovely. I will update again tomorrow once I have been!

Took back my online orders and picked up a Cleo Marcie to try - they didn't have any of the others! Manager said it's been jammed over the weekend and really busy over the last few weeks - they've got a big delivery coming in on Monday morning.

I might need to try and go back during the week as Sundays seems to be the worst day for their stock levels! I have some annual leave coming up so might try and weekday then.

Will try on the Cleo later on and report back (I didn't try it in the store as I was on very time limited parking!).

Cleo no good. Lovely bra (had the black one) but lots of gapping at the top and the same issue with feeling like the gore was going to stab me in the chest

Bonkers as it sounds, I think the wires might be a bit too wide. I've got a Parfait bra on order from Amazon - should be arriving Monday week, so I'll see how I get on with that.

I'm finding the Bravissimo store a bit limited as well. There's loads of swimwear and Pepperberry clothing but not that many bras out. I'm in London for business for a couple of days this week so if I get time I might try a bigger London store.

I get on really well with Fantastie bras .. 34ff/g here!

Painful as the process is, that's actually useful too!

The Marcie runs a tad bigger than most Cleos IME, by about half a cup. So bear that in mind. But it's also relatively open at the top and fairly high, so tends to suit balanced or top heavy boobs. Given you've experienced gaping in quite a few bras I think you're maybe more bottom heavy than initially suspected. Could be worth trying the Minnie from the Cleo family which has a more closed cup structure at the top, or conversely the Lexi which is quite open and square shaped so doesn't actually have much cup in the upper half of the breast to gape.

Cleo and panache are a wee bit prone to stabby centre wires; sometimes this is a case of getting used to it especially if you've had a big size change (where often the wires wouldn't have been sitting flush against your chest), but the other thing people sometimes do if they are otherwise well fitting it to bend the wires out ever so slightly in the middle.

If you go to another Bravissimo then I'd be tempted to try something as close to a half cup as possible; the Bravissimo wren looks lovely and like a potential although I haven't tried it personally.

Thanks Statistically - I was thinking about trying something with a bit less coverage as I think it's the effect of gravity! They used to be pretty equal but I have been in a DD cup (or probably bigger because that was 'old style' measuring) since age 19 - I am now 39 so you can imagine that time has taken its toll a wee bit

I've just checked the store locator and there is a Bravissimo near where I am staying in London, which is open until 7pm. If I get a chance I'll bob in and try again. The manager of my local store told me that they get deliveries M-F so the weekdays are the best for stock levels.