Any bra fit experts about?

[terrywynne]

I am in need of new bras. Would normally go get a fitting but had to try online ordering from Bravissimo. I ordered 32E as a start point as that is the size of my current bras (but they have stretched!) The ones that arrived give me fat bulge at the side of my back (so under me arms really) and dig in very slightly at the top - not quite quad boob but close.

I had to pull quite firmly to get the hooks together on the loosest setting but I think the band is ok. I tried it on back to front and could pull the band away from me ok. So am I right in thinking I should probably exchange for a 32F?

Also, I have quite wide set boobs and I think the breast tissue goes under my arms. One of the bras is a balconette style and it seems the wire at the sides goes quite straight up rather than splaying out which I am not sure is the best fit for me. Is that a balconette thing or a brand thing?

I used to have a perfect half cup soft bravissimo bra that splayed out perfectly under the arms but they replaced it with a slightly padded half cup which didn't work as well I still haven't found a bra I like as much even trying them all on in shop so doing it via mail is hard work!

You could try the boob or bust website and use their measuring guide

@dementedpixie

You could try the boob or bust website and use their measuring guide

Thank you! I hadn't come across the detailed calculator before. Came out as a 32F so that would seem to tally with what I thought.

Following with interests as i am a similar size and shape, so curious to see why styles work well. I haven't worn a wired bra since before lockdown, but will probably need to once I go back to the office/ meetings in person etc. I find wired bras so uncomfortable and don't like the balconette styles where the wires come up high on the middle, but then the plunge styles with a lower middle don't seem to suit my wide breast shape...

If the half cup was the best fit for your shape, I’d stick with that and go up a cup as a start point. The Freya ones are generally good for wider spaced breasts. Do you know the name of the one you had before and the recent one that didn’t work as well? Might be able to suggest alternatives.

@sanitygirl

Following with interests as i am a similar size and shape, so curious to see why styles work well. I haven't worn a wired bra since before lockdown, but will probably need to once I go back to the office/ meetings in person etc. I find wired bras so uncomfortable and don't like the balconette styles where the wires come up high on the middle, but then the plunge styles with a lower middle don't seem to suit my wide breast shape...

I don't like plunge styles either! I don't know why it is but I find the wires wedge themselves into the flesh in the middle. I have had a full cup style that is ok - I don't like the wires coming up high in the middle but that is due to my aesthetic taste rather than comfort so I have lived with it.

I have found that I prefers styles that have side support panels (I can't remember the technical term for the design) down the edge of the cups as they seem to push everything towards the middle.

I keep trying unwired but I find the gets all creased up at the front and gets uncomfortable.

I remain hopefully that somewhere out there is the perfect bra and I just have to find it!

I find that Freya and Fantasie have wider wires than for example Panache

I think fantasie wires are reasonably wide but Freya and panache too narrow for me. What I really want is a balconette style cup, but without the high centre - perhaps that doesn't exist!

Bella Rosa Lingerie does a measuring service from photos.

half cups have balconette fit with lower wires.

I had a brilliant on line fitting from Sara from Bra Sense

www.brasense.co.uk
She understood the challenges of wide spread breasts and found me the perfect bra - no mean feat

Try a cleo maddie or lexi

Thanks for the suggestions! Will work my way through the brands and websites and see if I can find something that I like!

Bravissimo have an online chat that will help you with fitting and suggest styles. I've always uses it for nursing bras as I can't face going for fittings with newborns!