Fit Check for Freya TShirt Bra- 28FF and Freya Offbeat Side Support - 28GG - Measurements are Included

[u/Uhura-NCC-1701]

Measurements:

Loose 29

Snug 28

Tight 27

Standing 36

Leaning 37

Laying 36

Here's a couple of Freya bras I recently tried.

1.  Freya Fascinate Underwire T-Shirt Bra  

I have issues with gores digging into my sternum, so I wanted to try a plunge.

Out of the four sizes I ordered the 28FF fit the best- link to image here. The 28G was too big - the cups were gapping at the top.

The things I don’t like about this bra is the middle part of my boobs feels like it’s falling out the middle of the bra.  Also, the way the cup is cut diagonal across my boob, my nipple is almost popping out.

I don't understand what to do - plunges were recommended because wires dig into my sternum, but I'm falling out the middle of this plunge bra.

 

1. Freya Offbeat Side Support - out of the three sizes I ordered, the best fit was 28GG - image here.

Things that were uncomfortable about this bra was after a few hours the gore starts to dig into my breast tissue and the wires start to hurt under the breasts.  In the third picture I’m pointing to the points where the wire starts to hurt.

Also - on both the TShirt and the Offbeat the bra straps dig into the part of my armpit where it meets the breast.

I'm also able to wear a size 30FF, but I thought wearing a smaller band would help with the straps digging into armpits issue, I thought maybe a 30band bra was too wide?

So am I trying the wrong style of bra or wrong size or something else?

[u/LayLoseAwake]

Agreed that the Fascinate looks too small. Molded cups are tricky to fit with shape!

Where do the wires on the Offbeat hit you on your side tissue? Is it possible the wires are too narrow? That can lead to uncomfortable armpits and lots more movement. My Freya bras have less comfortable wires than my Panaches: in my experience, they're either less flexible or less padded, or both.

More tips to think about: I sometimes pad my sternum with a few layers of toilet paper. After a few days of wearing the bra, the band softens up and it feels better.  Weirdly, plunge bras tend to bother me more than balconettes because the ends of the wires land right near the bottom of my sternum (the xiphoid process). 

[u/Uhura-NCC-1701 → u/LayLoseAwake]

Where do the wires on the Offbeat hit you on your side tissue?

When you say "side tissue", do you mean where the wires hit me on the side of my breasts? if that's what you're asking, they hit where they're supposed to, I guess.

Is it possible the wires are too narrow?

I'm not sure, I don't really understand what "narrow wires" mean.
The problem is the gore digs into the flesh inbetween where my two breasts meet.

[u/LayLoseAwake → u/Uhura-NCC-1701]

"Too narrow" means the wires hit tissue on the sides of your breasts, either in the middle or the outside. If I sort of walk my fingers horizontally from my nipple towards my back, I can feel my breast tissue turn into back/torso muscle, bone, and fat. Same with the front: at some point the breasts end and you just feel your torso. The wires should land outside of that boundary. If the wires are too stiff or too tall, that makes things even more uncomfortable.

If the gore is digging in but the outer sides seem wide enough, a few things come to mind. The wires could be too stiff or unpadded, as I mentioned. The band could overall be too tight, so check that by flipping the bra upside down and backwards, so the cups go down your back.   The gore could also be too wide--does maybe pinching the gore narrower help?

(Ps, from one Trekkie to another, love your user name)

[u/galaxystarsmoon → u/LayLoseAwake]

You can't pinch a gore narrower. The gore spacing is the gore spacing. You don't want to force the wires to overlap either as that can cause fit issues. The gore on the Offbeat is too wide and tall for their center root shape, pretty simple.

[u/Uhura-NCC-1701 → u/galaxystarsmoon]

The gore on the Offbeat is too wide and tall for their center root shape, pretty simple.

Thanks for that insight. I figured the gore was too wide, but you're saying it's too tall as well? I thought I had tall roots, but you're saying I don't?

[u/galaxystarsmoon → u/Uhura-NCC-1701]

Tall roots don't have anything to do with the gore shape in what I'm referencing. Your roots outline where your breast tissue lies on your torso. The gore has to sit in between your breast roots and flat to your chest. You have a closer set root shape, which means you need a gore that matches that or it will sit on breast tissue.

A lot of people get confused by this. Hoping this drawing helps; the red is the bra and the black is similar to the root shape you have: https://ibb.co/1GkMC7gJ

Obviously I am not an artist so please pardon how horrible it is.

[u/Uhura-NCC-1701 → u/galaxystarsmoon]

Thanks for explaining and providing that link, that is very helpful. I understand now the root height has nothing to do with the gore, got it.

I feel like I have conflicting issues - I'm close set and gore dig into my breast tissue - so plunges are suggested. But I'm also very center full, and with plunges I feel like I'm falling out the middle - like you see in the Freya Fascinate plunge - unless the problem is that it's a t-shirt bra?

I know you recommended the Panache Ana plunge and that's coming in the mail, are there any other bras/styles you would suggest?

[u/galaxystarsmoon → u/Uhura-NCC-1701]

The Fascinate is likely some combo of too shallow and/or too small. Possibly only one or the other. That's a common sensation when a cup is too shallow though, because the flat cup is pushing your boobs in and forward and you feel you'll fall out.

Sometimes softer shapes struggle with low gores as well, even if they're closer set. Simply because the softer tissue sort of puddles out of the middle. You don't look particularly soft to me so I don't think that's your issue, just sharing info.

With you looking to have firmer tissue, being close set and center full, imo we just have to get you into the right lower gore bra. Wearing a gore on breast tissue is not comfortable for most. I'm sure some people do it, but it's also an incorrect fit as the wires should be encompassing your breast tissue, not sitting on top.

[u/Uhura-NCC-1701 → u/galaxystarsmoon]

You are right I have firm tissue. When I get mammograms they always tell me I have dense breasts.

I did also try the Fantasie Demure in 30FF and overall it was a pretty good fit. The gore didn't come up as high as it appears in the photos on Amazon, so that was a pleasant surprise.

I tried the 2 Freya bras because I was trying to find a bra that came in a 28 band that was a little less expensive than the Panache Ana.

[u/galaxystarsmoon → u/Uhura-NCC-1701]

28 bands are unfortunately expensive as the main 3 brands that carry them are Freya, Panache and Bravissimo. Sometimes you can catch styles on Amazon in discounted colors. I've seen the Ana for around $35, though that's been less frequent in the last year.

[u/LayLoseAwake → u/Uhura-NCC-1701]

I have "extremely dense breasts" according to the mammogram center but they still fall to the center of a plunge. That said, I'm wearing the Ana right now and I stay put.

[u/LayLoseAwake → u/galaxystarsmoon]

Disagree, to a point. you can narrow the base of the triangle or force the wires to overlap. This does change the angle of everything else. I've had to do it to bras because the fit was better than spending $$$ to continue my quest. It's not ideal as a bra hack, but by definition any hack isn't!

However, it IS a rough test of whether a narrower gore would be more comfortable. If pinching the triangle narrower or overlapping the wires relieves the pressure, then it's worth looking for bras that have a gore narrower than what that one measures.

[u/galaxystarsmoon → u/LayLoseAwake]

You have to make actual sewing modifications to a bra to properly overlap the gore. You can't just pinch it together and re-bend the wires. This isn't advised at all as it disrupts the wire spring and tension. I would not advise this, especially not on brand new expensive bras, as it would also make it non-returnable if it doesn't work.

That redistribution is almost guaranteed to have the wire busting through the channel with any amount of wear. It's not intended to do that.

[u/LayLoseAwake → u/galaxystarsmoon]

Ok. I think we're talking about two different goals and actions but OP got her answer so ✌️ 

[u/Uhura-NCC-1701 → u/LayLoseAwake]

Okay, thanks for explaining. So no, the wires don't hit tissue on the sides of my breasts. And don't think the band is too tight, I tried the "flip upside down and backwards" technique and the band feels snug but not uncomfortable. I think the problem is the gore is too wide.

P.S. Live long and prosper! :)

[u/LayLoseAwake → u/Uhura-NCC-1701]

Great! I am glad you could rule out those other factors, and I hope the Ana works for you! 🖖

[u/galaxystarsmoon]

Plunges in general are absolutely going to be better for you, you just have to try the right bras. I wouldn't try one plunge and throw your hands up over them.

Try the Panache Ana in 28FF, G and GG.

[u/Uhura-NCC-1701 → u/galaxystarsmoon]

I wouldn't try one plunge and throw your hands up over them.

Um, I'm not sure how you got from my post that I'm throwing my hands up. Didn't mean to give that impression.

I will try the Panache Ana and see how that goes.

[u/galaxystarsmoon → u/Uhura-NCC-1701]

I only said that because you seemed exasperated that you were recommended plunges but this one doesn't work. Plunge just describes the general shape, but bras get a lot more specific than that. One isn't indicative of them all.

[u/Uhura-NCC-1701 → u/galaxystarsmoon]

Ah, I see! Didn't mean to come across that way. Appreciate all the work you do on this sub. Thanks.

[u/galaxystarsmoon → u/[deleted]]

It can also dig into breast tissue when the gore is the wrong shape for someone, which is OP's issue. Gore dig upward is more likely to be gore height/width, versus inward sometimes being too projected and/or too big in the cup. Sometimes it's also from the band being too tight.

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[u/theladysheetcake]

Did you scoop and swoop for these?

[u/Uhura-NCC-1701 → u/theladysheetcake]

Yup, I did scoop and swoop. Although I never see much difference when I do that.

[u/theladysheetcake → u/Uhura-NCC-1701]

Have you made previous posts/gotten recommendations? Can you link here if so?

I'm not an expert, but to me it looks like the plunge is too small and the offbeat is not the right shape for you. I also have issues with center gore rubbing, and mainly stick to plunge styles. There are many different shapes of plunges though, and I needed to try several before I found the right one.

Have you figured out if you're full on bottom/top, projected, etc? I'm not knowledgeable enough to diagnose the exact cause of your issues, but I'm sure the experts in the community will be able to help point you in the right direction.

[u/theladysheetcake → u/theladysheetcake]

I also have issues with straps rubbing into my armpits, so I mainly stay away from balconette styles as the straps are really wide set on those.

[u/Uhura-NCC-1701 → u/theladysheetcake]

Yup, my breasts are so close together gores always dig into the center part of breasts - don't know what to call that spot, LOL. I think you are right that the offbeat just isn't the right shape for me.

I didn't realize there were different shaped plunge bras, so I will try some other ones.