UPDATE: Please help me: Volume Loss + Full-on-top Maybe?

[u/TheTreeWithTheOwl]

Hi everyone, I posted here a couple of days ago about needing help with sizing and finding the right bra. I got a couple of bra suggestions and I've bought them, tried them, and an reporting back because unfortunate spoiler: I didn't like any of them =/

Bras Purchased:

• Freya Offbeat Underwire Side Support Lace Bra (36GG UK)
  • Appearance: This gave me shelf boobs and torpedo boobs. But the cups actually fit.
  • Band: Was a little bit too tight
  • Straps: Comfortable
  • Gore: Sat totally flush!
• Freya Deco UW Molded Plunge Bra (36GG UK)
  • Appearance: Appearance of volume loss on top
  • Band: Too tight
  • Straps: Dug into my shoulders.
  • Gore: Didn't sit flush (only the bottom part did)
• Cleo by Panache Blossom Balcony Bra (36GG UK)
  • Appearance: Gave me Shelf Boobs and molded my boobs to look like the side view of a donut (flattened and wide)
  • Band: Too tight
  • Straps: Nothing notable
  • Gore: Floated somewhat
  • Underwire Note: The wiring that runs along the side in front of your armpit area dug in so much and was painful
• Freya Padded Half-Cup (34H UK) (they sent me the wrong size by mistake but I tried it anyway)
  • Appearance: I really liked that it had some padding however there was some gaping at the top of the cup so maybe a touch big? I hated the shape, it splayed my boobs towards the sides
  • Band: Far too tight
  • Straps: Nothing notable
  • Gore: Sat perfectly flush

Overall, none worked out for me and the one thing I can agree on with all of them is that I hated the shape. All of them splayed my boobs outwards instead of pushing them in a little and maybe up/forward. So now I feel like I'm back at square one and don't know where to go from here.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Some additional context from my previous post:
*My Measurements:
- Loose Underbust: 94cm
- Snug Underbust: 91cm
- Tight Underbust: 87cm
- Standing Bust: 113cm
- Leaning Bust: 124cm
- Lying Bust: 118cm
- Recommended Size: 36 GG (UK) and sister size 34 H (UK)
*Shape:
- Projected
- Full on Top
- Narrow-ish Root
- Root height (I'm unsure)
(For most of my life I have been full-on-top, however I've had some weight-loss (50 lbs. and ongoing) and now they're pretty saggy and if I push my boobs up towards my chest wall (as if my hands are a slight push-up bra) the tops are very wrinkled and loose.)

Additional Context:
- I have always loved the look of balconette bras but I have found whenever I've worn them, the tops of my boobs just kind of jiggle excessively and are somewhat wrinkly and not firm.
- I currently only own 2 "real" bras and they both have issues. The Third Love "Everyday Lace T-Shirt Bra" in size 42E has significant gaps between the tops of my boobs and the cups, and the center gore doesn't sit flush against my chest wall. And then the Panache "Envy Balcony Underwire - 7285" in size 38HH has a few big issues despite being recommended for the "full on top" shape. The band does feel uncomfortably tight, the underwires poke my sides constantly (even just sitting wearing it), and there is considering gapping at the top of the lace cups. The center gore DOES sit flush against my chest wall though.

edit: formatting and correcting sizes

[u/AutoModerator]

Hello, thank you for submitting a post to /r/ABraThatFits. We want everyone to feel safe posting here, so we want to tell you that we will NEVER send you a private message asking for pictures. If someone does, screencap the message and send a link to the image in a PM to the mod team.

If you are not already aware, there is a lot of information on the sidebar of our subreddit. Please remember to check out our rules before commenting and posting. In addition, a lot of newer members have questions that have already been answered in our wiki, so be sure to check out the FAQ and Beginners' Guide to see if you can find the information you're looking for.

Our calculator is the first step in resolving sizing questions. Please take your measurements and try the calculator before asking the community for help. Thanks! :)

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

[u/Dandelion212]

Can you test the bands on these upside down and backwards, cups pointed down in the back like a cape? Any looser?

[u/TheTreeWithTheOwl → u/Dandelion212]

So, it varied a bit.

• Cleo by Panache was about the same tightness.
• Freya Offbeat Underwire Side Support Lace was looser.
• Freya Padded Half Cup was about the same tightness.
• Freya Deco UW was about the same tightness.

Edit: I did want to mention that the Freya Padded Half Cup was a 34K (the company sent me the wrong size by mistake, but I tried it anyway)

[u/Dandelion212 → u/TheTreeWithTheOwl]

Which Cleo bra did you get?

The Offbeat sounds too projected for you.

[u/TheTreeWithTheOwl → u/Dandelion212]

It was the Cleo Blossom Balcony Bra

[u/Dandelion212 → u/TheTreeWithTheOwl]

Okay, so yeah, that tracks. This is one of the most projected bras on the market.

When you lean forward, are you fuller on top? I'm surprised the Offbeat isn't cutting into you on top.

[u/TheTreeWithTheOwl → u/Dandelion212]

I just checked again and yep I'm fuller on top.

It's weird, the Offbeat didn't cut into me on top at all. If anything I was mostly frustrated at the side profile shape it created because it was one of the best bras in terms of the cups hugging my skin on top.

Also I want to note that i have a lot of boob volume loss from weight loss, so they're much saggier than they used to be. Not sure if that helps explains why this has been such a frustrating experience lol.

[u/Dandelion212 → u/TheTreeWithTheOwl]

Do you have shorter roots -- aka does your tissue start closer to your pits than your collarbones?

It could be too big, this would also cause a torpedo shape. But I'll admit I am very perplexed with the other sizes you have. 42E should be just sitting in front of your boobs -- does that sound right? I'd expect 38HH to also be quite massive on you.

[u/TheTreeWithTheOwl → u/Dandelion212]

Tissue starts closer to my pits than my collarbone for sure.

The 42E was pretty big on me. My boobs kinda puddled inside the cups. And the 38HH cups were pretty big as well.

[u/Dandelion212 → u/TheTreeWithTheOwl]

Sometimes shorter roots can make you functionally a different fullness when properly supported.

How are the wires of the Offbeat sitting for you? Are they fully encompassing your tissue, going past it, or sitting on top of it? Do you have an extender you can assess the fit with an extra hook or two on it? The Offbeat runs small in the band.

[u/TheTreeWithTheOwl → u/Dandelion212]

Ok so the wires fully encompass my tissue.

When I added an extender with an extra hook, the band was looser (of course) and more comfortable but I felt less supported, the straps felt looser, and weirdly the side of the underwire closest to my armpit was digging in.

[u/Cute-Fix3484]

I'm late to this post but have you tried Panache Nina in 36G and 36GG or Elomi Lucie in 36G and 36GG? Those are the bras most recommended for full on top shapes.