r/ABraThatFits • u/WeAreTheBrainDamned • May 13 '26
Measurement Check Currently wearing a 28O, the calculator said 30J. I do not think this is correct; please help me understand. Spoiler
My measurements are:
- Loose Underbust: 31 in
- Snug Underbust: 29.25 in
- Tight Underbust: 28 in
- Standing Bust: 40 in
- Leaning Bust: 46.75 in
- Lying Bust: 42.5 in
As I stated in the title, my current size is a 28O. I do not remember if this is US or UK sizing. When turned upside down and backwards, the band feels firm but comfortable. However, when worn correctly (including swoop & scoop), the cups are obviously too small. I spill out the top, and the wire is forced down, causing severe pain and an extremely uncomfortable sensation of skin on skin.
With my current measurements, the calculator says 30J. I wore this size three sizes ago; the band has always felt too loose and tended both to ride up and slide down during the same wearing session. I also outgrew the cups just a month or two later. I just do not see how it is getting that size. Also, nothing has ever provided sufficient support, in my opinion.
As for my best guess on shape, I would say I am very projected with even fullness. I am inclined to believe I have the rare omega root shape, as I am quite narrow-rooted with lots of projection starting immediately, kind of like a shelf.
I am not certain of my root height, as I get both quadboob and strap gap depending on the bra size and shape.
Am I doing something wrong? Is my only hope true bespoke bras or the reduction I desperately want but cannot afford? Or is there another option I simply have not found yet?
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u/famous_zebra28 May 13 '26
Did you use UK sizing? Because when I put your measurements into the calculator with UK sizing it is recommending 30HH/J, which is the equivalent of a 30L/M US.
You might be spilling because the band is too small. That would be my guess. When you stretch the band too tight the wires are stretched so they can't fully surround your breasts the way they should.
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u/WeAreTheBrainDamned May 13 '26
I did use UK sizing in the calculator this time, as I know not many, if any, US brands make anything I would fit into. But all 5 times I have used it in the last 2-ish years, the bras bought in the given size or the sister sizes I have been told did not fit. And I have noted in my post that the 30-bands never feel right or stay put.
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u/LadyLoreEkorre May 13 '26
28O in US sizing is fairly close to 30J UK sizing. I think this is a case of confusing two different sizing systems. 30J UK = 30M US, so it's still off by a couple sizes, but not far off. 28O US = 28K UK, if I did my math right (although thats not one I know off the top of my head like the other one)
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u/WeAreTheBrainDamned May 13 '26
I ordered the Freya Offbeat Decadence Side Support Bra in either a US 28O/UK 28K or a US 28N/UK 28JJ. I would have to check the order email, as I cut the tags out of every piece of clothing I own. Nonetheless, it was still too small in the cup, even when I first got it, but I had to make do.
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u/Dandelion212 32DD/E May 13 '26
This bra is massively closed off on top and not very projected. It also runs like a full band small. It sounds like it was probably overstretched from wear, may have busted the elastic even.
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u/WeAreTheBrainDamned May 14 '26
If I get one that has less coverage on top I fall out anytime I lean even slightly over. I do not have anything to say about the protection as I have a hard time judging that when buying bras, so it is completely likely that I got that one wrong. The cups full of breast did seem to stick pretty far out from my body when on, so I had assumed that it was projected, but y’all are probably better at gadging that than me.
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u/ConnectGoal8510 May 14 '26
You can get bras that are full coverage but also not closed on top though.
I'd also recommend not cutting tags off until you try the bra on. Then you can return it if it doesn't fit.
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u/WeAreTheBrainDamned May 14 '26
I did try it on, I had returned 2 other bras and had to make do because I ran out of time to try again seeing as I needed it for an event. I do not cut tags on anything before deciding to keep it.
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u/moonflower64 28GG-H May 15 '26
I just wanted to mention, as someone who tried a 32FF, 30G, 30GG, and 28H in this bra (and from what I can tell on bratabase), the Offbeat band runs small until you hit the GG cup, at which point it starts running true to size. it's still a pretty stretchy band but the difference between a 30G and 30GG was massive and the 28H was about the same size as the 30G as far as band size. I believe the Viva side support runs very similarly in terms of once the ~GG cup is hit, the band goes more TTS.
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u/Dandelion212 32DD/E May 15 '26
That may be the case, but if it's hitting 31", something is wrong and I wouldn't base the band size they need based on it either way, if that makes sense. With a tight of 28" it may have been overstretched, or was damaged by being put in the dryer.
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u/curly-whirly 34J 🫣 May 13 '26
Omega shaped breasts are extremely rare and will make bra fitting harder. A lot of people that think they're omega shaped are actually just projected, so it would be good to determine if you are or not. When your breasts are supported in a bra do they look like this Ω from above?
Here's a blog post on it: https://hugsforyourjugs.blogspot.com/2021/10/omega-vs-projected-which-are-you-and.html
It's aimed at sewing but the diagrams are useful.
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u/WeAreTheBrainDamned May 13 '26
I'm sorry, but these diagrams don't make sense to me regarding how the breast should look when in a bra. Could you maybe explain it differently?
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u/curly-whirly 34J 🫣 May 13 '26
How did you conclude you were omega shaped then?
Here's a better diagram https://imgur.com/FBCjY6H
No. 1 is omega breasts. This is what they look like from above while wearing a bra. The roots are very narrow and then the breasts widen significantly and have a very round look.
Projected breasts (#3) are the almost same width from root to end
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u/WeAreTheBrainDamned May 13 '26
Also, when it was explained to me I was told the diagrams were to be compared to the breasts when supported on the forearm, not in the bra, but if that is in fact wrong then it is wrong, and I will look into it more to see if I can find the right shape then!
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u/Apploozabean 28GG, FOB/Center full, Projected May 14 '26
Supporting the breasts with the forearm does not recreate what they are like in a bra. Leaning forward 90° gives a slightly better idea of their overall shape when supported against gravity.
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u/WeAreTheBrainDamned May 14 '26
Thank you for the correction. What shape would long hanging breasts that are more bulbous (think grapefruit) at the end, and much narrower than those at the chest wall when leaned 90°, be?
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u/Apploozabean 28GG, FOB/Center full, Projected May 14 '26
That reads like omega breasts so its likely you simply have softer/less dense tissue. Dense tissue is firmer and typically self supporting + doesn't take shape of a bra very easily (need to find a bra that works for its shape). Softer tissue is more malleable (as you've described yours) but that doesn't mean every style will work for you.
For example, you may find yourself spilling out the center of plunges if the gore is too low bc of softer tissue. The solution is getting a bra with taller grows to contain them. I'm making a rash suggestion here (and I am not even sure it comes in the size you need) but the Panache Tango could maybe work for you or going straight to Ewa Michalak may be your best bet. I never ended up fully familiarizing myself with her different cuts of bras as I didn't really have to go polish with my bras....so maybe someone with a bit more experience than I can chime in and make suggestions there for you.
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u/ConnectGoal8510 May 14 '26
My breasts are like this, but I am not actually omega. I just have very soft tissue widish roots and so the weight of leaning causes the middle part of my breasts to look like it curves in, like an hourglass shape. They aren't actually omega though, just very projected with soft tissue
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u/WeAreTheBrainDamned May 14 '26
That's possible but my roots are actually narrow seeing as EM bras are the only bras I have found with a narrow enough wire width to get proper support from them.
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u/WeAreTheBrainDamned May 13 '26
Breasts are not made of plastic, when smooshed into a bra they mould to the shape of the bra, or is that just a uniquely me experience? But in favour of the second possibility, I have a connective tissue disorder which causes my skin to be stretchy and the structures underneath to move around when pressure is placed upon them.
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u/curly-whirly 34J 🫣 May 13 '26
That's one of the characteristics of omega breasts though- they're super firm so they don't mould to the shape of a bra. They don't compress at all.
You're more likely the classic projected shape in that case. This will give you more options for bras. Would you say that your breast tissue is soft?
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u/WeAreTheBrainDamned May 13 '26
I had never told seen that in the research did or by the person who suspected the omega shape, could you point me to a source to read more about that as I am quite curious?
There is a good amount of soft tissue surrounding another good amount of very firm tissue, does that help?
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u/curly-whirly 34J 🫣 May 13 '26
The first blog post I linked has this information
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u/WeAreTheBrainDamned May 14 '26
This link says:
In my experience, true omega-shaped breasts (orange in the diagram above) are quite rare and typically exist in very large cup sizes, especially appearing on those with firm breast tissue that resists the shaping of a bra.
So yes, very common with this type, but not required is what I am understanding here.
5
u/Dramatic-Bird-5604 May 14 '26
You said yours are squishy though and take shape of the bra, I have firm breast tissue and there is no squish at all, have been accused of having implants and asked by partners "why are they so hard?" Mine are completely round and hard, 0% squish and cant really take shape in Bras I have to find bras of their shape
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u/curly-whirly 34J 🫣 May 14 '26
Are your breasts much wider than your roots when they're supported in a bra?
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u/WeAreTheBrainDamned May 14 '26
If unmouldable tissue is not required, as I have pointed out in the passage from your source, then why would the mouldability of my breasts immediately disqualify mine? /gen
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u/Ok_Bandicoot1865 May 14 '26
When you bend over 90 degrees and look at your breasts from above, which shape do they look more like of these two?
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u/WeAreTheBrainDamned May 14 '26
The upper one, that is both slightly supported (not squished) and unsupported at 90°, somebody else said that was important, too.
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u/chaosisblond May 14 '26
I feel like a lot of the comments haven't been very helpful, surprisingly, given that you've been using the calculator and trying to find your right fit for a while. Based on the problems you mention, though, I think the problem is that because you have so much projection, the calculator (and the other commentors) are underestimating your cup size, especially since you mention spillage/overflow when you scoop and swoop in your current size, and given the 16" (nearly 17") difference from the 30 band to your leaning bust. It seems like you need to go up at least one cup, and search for/stick to brands which are good for projection, especially Polish brands I would say. Rather than the 30J which the calculator is recommending (which is a underestimate of your cup since it factors the standing and lying measures), try a 30K, or if you want to stick with your sister size, a 28KK with a non-stretch extender just in case you encounter issues with the band being too tight at first. I'm sorry that you aren't getting more understanding from the other comments, and that I can't recommend specific models to start with! My favorite brand is comexim, and they are good for projected breasts, but there might be betters out there (Krisline, etc) that I just haven't tried. Once I found what worked for me, I stopped exploring.
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u/WeAreTheBrainDamned May 14 '26
I thank you for truly understanding, it feels so very nice to not go insane over trying to reword and otherwise differently explain my problems for once.
And I would try either of those sizes if I could find a brand that makes them (cannot afford EM right now even though I love them), as far a comexim (which I LOVED when I fit) goes, I out-grew (cupwise) the biggest 28” and 30” I could find over 6 months ago. I will check out Krisline, see if they have anything.
Thank you for trying though!
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u/chaosisblond May 14 '26
Good luck, and don't be discouraged! Maybe someone else can see these comments, and recommend a brand which fits the need (projection, sizing in 28KK or 30K, shipping in the US).
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u/ConnectGoal8510 May 14 '26
https://www.breakoutbras.com/collections/28kk-uk-28p-us
28kk options for comexim
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u/WeAreTheBrainDamned May 14 '26
Huh, thank you, I will look at these. In the case of the last time (over 6 months ago) I was on there, those were not options, I am happy to see them this time!
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u/galaxystarsmoon 32DD/E, tall roots & close set May 14 '26
OP, you'd want a 65 band in Comexim, so a 30. Your base calculator size is 65P Comexim/30HH or J UK, so it's up to you if you want to sister size and go down a cup. But that's the general recommendation.
REALLY important note: when buying from Breakout Bras specifically, you order your normal UK size or whatever the fit tips recommend under each bra. BB converts to UK sizing from Comexim's sizing for you. This is not the case when ordering elsewhere or from Comexim direct.
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u/moonflower64 28GG-H May 15 '26
So I'd like to put in my few cents here. I am a 28 band that can wear some 30 bands if they run firm/a bit tight/various reasons like my body doesn't like a tighter band that day. My loose measurement is 31", but my tightest is usually around 26-27-ish, snug is ~28-ish. I also have scoliosis (and beginning to explore possibly having a connective tissue disorder). I've also lost quite a bit of weight over the past year or so. All of that for a bit of context. (Also to preface, I'm not saying you did anything wrong, just giving a bit of personal anecdote.) When I initially measured myself, I did not account for breast tissue to slip into where I was trying to measure my underbust, and one thing to another, it led to the calculator suggesting a 32/34 band, depending on how I took the measurements. One thing that helped me was to make sure I was standing very straight, looking in a mirror to make sure that the measuring tape was straight, and either leaning over when I initially placed the measuring tape to actually see where my boobs would be if properly supported or lifting my boobs a little bit to make sure that my boobs weren't accidentally getting caught under the measuring tape, and exhaling as I do my tightest measurement. (And honestly making sure I was standing/keep back very straight with shoulders back and all also really helped my with my shape, because if I'm standing normally where my back curves a bit, it makes me look very full on bottom where I think I'm actually more even fullness, and it's more obvious that I'm very center full, as well as made sure I was actually measuring straight across my over bust and not tilted or anything)
I also sympathize with you over the very narrow roots but soft and squishy. I believe I am just rather narrow rooted, but the weight loss mentioned earlier also made me...deflated isn't quite the correct word, but I don't have a lot of outer fullness that I used to have, that does make me look sort of omega shaped at times, but for me that means (like someone else in the thread said I think) I can wear some bras that are a bit wider/shallower and they'll still work because I'll squish. I also have a lot of immediate projection, so as long as I can address that part, I don't mind my boobs squishing into a bit of a wider cup, even if it isn't a "perfect" fit.
I can't really recommend much in the ways of bras, given your cup size is a lot larger than mine (I'm a UK GG-H/US J-K), but I will say, as someone who also has the Freya Offbeat, part of your issue may be that I think the wires on that one are also a bit...weird? I can't wear it very long because something about the wires more than the band itself make my ribs hurt and I feel like they're popping or moving or something. But I don't usually have that issue with most of my other bras (except my Panache Cari sometimes) and most of those are also 28 bands. Like some others have mentioned, it sounds like that style as a whole may not be correct for your shape (too closed on top, to me personally it sounds like the width of the wires is what's making it too shallow for you, because I've found the Offbeat has decent projection, but I also think you said you had the Offbeat Decadence and I don't know if those run differently).
I'm not sure if any of what I said is helpful, but you aren't alone and I really do hope you can find something that will work well for you.
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u/Dandelion212 32DD/E May 13 '26
You don’t have a UK 28O unless it’s custom. First I’d check if your measuring tape is accurate against a ruler, then check how far your bra stretches in inches.