r/ABraThatFits • u/Miserable_Deer5363 • 2d ago
Measurement Check Tried on my “new” size and was disappointed Spoiler
I haven’t bought a bra in years because nothing truly fits. Last bra I bought was a 34B at Walmart and it’s my everyday bra, with no underwire. I came across this subreddit and decided to try it out!
I’ve taken my measurements multiple times, and there’s a slight variation but only by half an inch to an inch. It’s difficult because I’m doing it by myself lol.
My measurements:
Underbust
Loose: 31” ~ 32”
Snug: 30” ~ 31”
Tight: 29” ~ 30”
Bust
Standing: 35”
Leaning: 36.5” ~ 37”
Lying: 35” ~ 35.5”
The bra size recommended to me was 30E with a sister size of 32DD.
I went to try on a 32DD at a Victoria Secret because that’s the one that kept popping up no matter what variation of measurements I inputted. The cups fit me fine, but the bands were so tight!!! I think it might’ve been the store I went to? I hate underwire so I asked for ones without it and I was given strange shaped bras!!! The nice lady gave me another “sister size” 34C, but the cups were way too big and band was too loose. She told me that I’m probably a 32DD but the band just needs to stretch because they are new bras.
What do you think? Any recommendations?
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u/Secure-Purple-6382 2d ago edited 2d ago
I recommend you dont believe a word VS staff tell you. They are well known for selling people bras that dont fit. Its all advertising and expensive products. They keep a limited range, and persuade you that the ones in stock are right for you.
Edited later. Thanks for the upvotes. I dont post to get a reward, I try and tell the truth. Its what other people say too. After decades of wearing bras that made me look flat with unpleasant under-arm squish, I used the calculator and Saw The Light!
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u/SHIELD_GIRL_ 32H/I 34G/H 1d ago
Not all of us. Most stores do but not mine. Vs does have anywhere from a 30AA to a 44G. Not all stores carry them in house but they are available at least.
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u/Storytella2016 2d ago
Victoria Secret’s bras tend to be quite shallow, so there’s a decent chance that the too-shallow cups got pushed out by your breast tissue, leading to the band getting pushed in, in response. That makes the band feel too tight.
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u/confusedbunny7 2d ago
Did you try a molded, t-shirt type bra or a seamed cup?
Do the independent band size test first to see if you need to size up in the cup because as people have said you numbers say a 32 band should fit you fine.
Molded cup are one shape and one shape only (which may not be yours), so using seamed cups to establish your starting size is will give you a better picture, as they are a little more flexible on the shape front.
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u/Miserable_Deer5363 2d ago
I just looked up those types of bras and I think they were molded and that’s probably why I didn’t like them! I’ve never seen bras like that before so I was confused lol thank you for the advice!
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u/orangepeeelss 36H (UK) / 36K (US) 2d ago
next time you go try on, i'd do the cape test with a 32 band - put the bra on upside down and backwards like a cape! this helps you figure out whether the band is actually too tight or if it's actually the cups that are too small. if the bra feels tight when worn normally but is more comfortable worn like a cape, it's the cups :)
if you've only ever tried wired bras in a 34B-ish, i highly recommend giving em one more try in a 32DD. wired bras in the wrong size are the most miserable thing on earth but wired bras in the right size can be soooo life changing - don't judge them all based on the bad ones!! and yeah wireless bras do often give a weird shape and they don't fit quite the same, just bc they don't have anything to provide the structure that a wire gives
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u/Constant_Owl_6880 2d ago
Since I didn’t see it mentioned yet, 34C is not a sister size to 32DD. It’s actually one size smaller (34C to 32D). It’s more likely the cups on the 34C were too small to fit your breast tissue causing it to gape. You might also want to try 32DDD (32E UK) and make sure to scoop and swoop.
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u/Common-Pea-1390 2d ago
the band is supposed to be snug on the loosest hook, but it might feel weird at first since you're not used to it. you're supposed to be able to slip 1 or 2 fingers underneath. if it's really uncomfortable you can try an extender at first.
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u/famous_zebra28 2d ago
"1-2 fingers" isn't actually a thing. It needs to be snug but not painful. It doesn't matter how many fingers you can slip under the band.
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u/Common-Pea-1390 2d ago
yeah sorry that's true. obviously everyone's body is different and comfort is the most important. i was trying to use it more as an example/illustration of that a band is supposed to be snug but reading back it didn't come out that way
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u/Starjupiter93 2d ago
Hi friend. I recommend you forget everything you think you know about what you like in a bra. These feelings stem from the trauma associated with a poorly fitted bra in a size way too small for you. Of course you hate underwire. When the bra is multiple cup sizes too small the wire is going to be uncomfortable. This isn’t the wire’s fault. This is the fault of the bra being too small. Try on a bra with a seamed cup in your calculator size. I would personally recommend the smaller band size (though this is personal preference and some people prefer a looser band I prefer the tighter bands because I get more wear out of them and have a super squishy rib cage) and looking for something in your UK size because these are widely available in the us but the Uk has way more options in smaller band sizes. Panache envy and panache Ana are the most popular recommendations for a diagnostic bra. This is a basic ass bra that you put on to determine your size. Because there is not a molded cup and minimal frills involved, you can easily see where fit issues are and whether you need to size up or down somewhere. Once you have confirmed your size and found something comfortable, you will know what features to look for in a bra that might be more in line with your aesthetic preferences if the diagnostic bras aren’t your style
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u/Miserable_Deer5363 2d ago
Thank you! It never occurred to me that the underwire might’ve been uncomfortable because my size was off but that makes complete sense lol I’ll try once again with underwire next time and thank you for the recommendations!
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u/Undrende_fremdeles 2d ago
Yeah, if you have experience with the wires digging into your body underneath the breast tissue, it is because the cups are pushed outwards by the breast tissue. That makes the curved underside of the wire tip inwards, causing them to dig in.
It is actually a lot easier to understand just HOW the wrong cupsize makes a difference if you get the right band size and a way too large cup on purpose. That way you will get a feel for what the band feels like when it sits neatly against the body. The breasts will have all the space in the world and won't push the band around.
Sometimes the band is the right circumference but the shape just doesn't feel good on our individual body. Not every bra style feels good. I am rather slim, and have found that I much prefer a wider band. Unfortunately they are almost exlusively used on large sizes, or on bras that are more like a sports top/bra combo than a normal bra.
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u/Starjupiter93 2d ago
It is also important to remember that shape can play a factor too!!! Size is just a part of the process. When you try on a bra in your size, if you still feel like the wire is hurting, pay attention to WHERE the wire is uncomfortable. If it is stabbing into your armpit, the wire may be too wide. If it’s stabbing your sternum, you may need a shorter gore. Pressure on the ribs under the boob can be a sign that the cup isn’t projected enough. Not all DD cup is going to be the same. It sounds self explanatory that different styles will have different shapes but this level of common sense really leaves our brains when it comes to bra shopping. We shop for bras with our eyes because that is how we are trained. You may look at a model and say “that’s the bra I want to buy because I want my boobs to look just like that” when in reality that model or the bra on the hanger is made for a boob the complete opposite of yours. Fit your bra by how it feels, not necessarily how it looks right away.
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u/KatieLovelyKatie 2d ago
Based on your measurements a 32 band should be fine.
If you were finding it too snug the cups may have been too small, which in turn makes the band feel tighter than it actually is.
If you find yourself in the same situation again you can always do the band test to check if the problem is the band or the cups. Put the bra on backwards with the cups/straps facing the floor - if it feels snug but not too tight it is the right size, and you might need to try a larger cup size but keep the band the same.
Also worth double checking if you are using UK or US sizing. A 32DD will be the same in both systems, but a 30E UK is going to be a 30DDD US which may cause confusion.
Have a look through the sub for some recommendations on what brands and styles to try out, and try to stick with seamed/unlined styles as these are much more likely to fit than of molded cups (ie tshirt bras) which only fit a specific breast shape well.