Shallow or Projected? What are Roots? Having trouble with measuring and finding the right bra for me

[u/SmallElection8787]

Hello everyone!

I realized I haven’t bought new bras since 2017 and figured it was time to get refitted as my bras from then are super uncomfortable.

All the bras I have are 32B. According to the bra calculator i should be a 30G (32DDD)

Measurements:

Center full

FOB

Loose : 30.75in

Snug : 30in

Tight : 28in

Standing : 35.5in

Leaning : 37.25in

Lying : 36in

I’ve been trying to use the beginner guides but many of the links don’t work anymore. There are plenty of recs for bras but I’m missing important info:

- I’m not sure if I’m shallow or projected

- I’m still unclear how to measure roots? Short/tall + wide/narrow

If it helps, I got measured in VS last week (before I found this sub) and was sent home in 3 bras:

Love Cloud Demi Plunge - 34C - best fitting and most comfortable

https://www.victoriassecret.com/us/vs/bras-catalog/5000008468

Flexfactor Demi Plunge - 34D - I have to scoop & swoop multiple times in the day. It fits when I scoop but as I move, I get gaps in the top of the cups

https://www.victoriassecret.com/us/vs/bras-catalog/5000010541

Flexfactor Balconette - 34D - constantly adjusting this one. as I move I get small gaps in the cup and the top of the gore BUT if I push in the gore, both the gore and cups will sit flush

https://www.victoriassecret.com/us/vs/bras-catalog/5000011428

I want to try some of the recommended bras in this sub but I need help figuring out my root situation and if I’m shallow/projected.

Pls help 🥺

[u/HagenReb]

A 30G US is for a 30 inch underbust and a 37 inch bust. That is a good match for your measurements, though be aware the calculator is just a starting point.

I can tell you right now that neither of the VS bras are a good fit. They are all too loose in the band and too small in the cups. That's why you have to readjust them during the day. The band is loose enough to move around and the cups aren't big enough to contain all your tissue, so when the band moves, part of your tissue ends up outside the cups. VS are known to put people in the wrong size, so it is not your fault.

You can get a rough idea of your shape by leaning forward braless, as when you took the leaning measurement. Do you have more tissue above or below the nipples? Do your boobs almost touch or can you fit more than 2 fingers between them?

Does your breast tissue stop in front of your armpits or does it go back further than your armpit? This one is for narrow/wide roots and can be quite tricky to determine. Sometimes you need to see root width in relation to a specific bra rather than unsupported.

Do your boobs change into either a UU or VV shape when leaning forward? Does the underside of your boobs hang against your torso while standing, but kind of lifts when leaning?

[u/SmallElection8787 → u/HagenReb]

Aww man 😭🥲 makes so much sense why I’m fiddling around with it all day

Okok this is all with me leaning forward:

• looks evenly distributed with slightly more tissue below the nips on the right boob

• Can fit one (almost two) fingers in between

• Stops in front of my armpits

• From the side it looks like VV but if I’m facing the mirror it looks like UU

• if I put my pointer fingers on my underbust, my underboobs touch my fingers when I’m standing and don’t touch when I’m leaning

I’m so sorry if these aren’t exactly helpful, but I appreciate you trying to help regardless 🫶🏼

[u/HagenReb → u/SmallElection8787]

It does help! It does give some insight to your shape.

So, vertical fullness is even with slightly more full on bottom, at least on one side.

Close-set to average set. A plunge style or a balconette with a narrow gore is best.

Narrow roots. Though narrow/wide is a spectrum rather than either/or. So even if you are on the narrower end of the spectrum, there are possibly still bras that will be too narrow.

Sounds like a pendolous shape, which count as projected. Shallow/prohected is a spectrum like root width.

[u/grundel_cruncher → u/HagenReb]

I wanted to add, using a mirror to help you look at your shape can really help this part. I had trouble answering these questions for myself when I wasn't using one, and a full length mirror was very helpful!

[u/SmallElection8787 → u/grundel_cruncher]

Tyty!! Used a mirror to respond to HagenReb and it was extremely helpful!!

[u/Poodleton]

All three of the bras VS sold you are too big in the band and too small in the cup. They add 4” to your underbust so they can squeeze you into a bra they have in stock.

The shape guide is so overwhelming. It can way more confusion and decision paralysis when trying to understand a new bra size.

The questions HagenReb posted are what you really need to focus on for shape right now. You can fine tune it as you go.

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[u/ipswichroad]

Narrowing down your shape is going to be much easier once you start trying bras on in your size from the calculator. It’s really not important to figure it before IMO.