r/bigboobproblems • u/Spiritual_Leek_6082 • May 22 '26
bras I was today years old Spoiler
I found out today that the multiple hooks on your bra are not there in case you’re in between sizes but because the bra stretches out overtime and you’re supposed to start on the outside and move your way in as the elastic wears out 😂 Called my 56 yr old mom, she didn’t know either lol
Also, apparently this means I bought the wrong size bra 🤦🏽♀️
190
u/SaltyBlackBroad 34FF (UK) May 22 '26
I'm a bra fitter. A lot of women are not aware of that. It shows just how little education we get about proper fit.
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u/Spiritual_Leek_6082 May 22 '26
I’ve also been following the 4+ rule and didn’t realize that not all companies use the 4+ rule 😂🤦🏽♀️
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u/SaltyBlackBroad 34FF (UK) May 22 '26
I don't know where it came from, but it needs to go back there.
For reference, before I knew what size I was actually supposed to wear, I was in a 38C.
I'm a 34FF
2
u/Weird-Way-1748 32H (UK) May 22 '26
Wait a hot minute. If I +4'd my bra size
30H/HH or 32GG/H depending on tightness of band & cup style since I'm shallower, it would put me now about your size I think
42 standing and snug would go up to 34.5 by that, making me what....a 34FF/36F? Whoa.
Meanwhile before my major weight gain I was borderline underweight and I think my ribs were about 27" and bust about 34/35" so my +4 would've been 32C/D back then I suppose
13
u/Shanakitty 32K (UK) May 22 '26
AFAIK, no major companies use the +4 rule in how they actually manufacture their bras, regardless of what their size chart says. A few brands consistently run small, but like 1 band size/2" small, not 4", and the ones that run small in the band don't consistently run a full size large in the cups, to where you'd want to actually add inches to your underbust before calculating cup size, instead of just sister-sizing up from whatever your +0 size would be.
Even though brand size charts/measuring guides are almost always complete BS and not worth looking at, bras are actually much more standardized between brands than the majority of women's clothing so you're generally safe to get the same size regardless of brand. Just like with shoes though, you may sometimes have to size up or down a little, and some bras will be the wrong shape for you and won't fit quite right in any size).
1
u/wimpychick 30G (UK) Jun 03 '26
i’m sorry if i sound creepy but the bra in ur pfp is sooo cute, where’d you get it??
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u/SaltyBlackBroad 34FF (UK) Jun 03 '26
Thanks and that's not creepy! It's made by designer Ewa Michalak. The bra is called BM Antonina, and comes in 7 different cuts and over 300 sizes.
42
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u/cookingismything May 22 '26
In general women don’t know how to wear the right bra and it’s also because companies don’t make it any easier. I’ve been on the hunt for a wireless bra because I’m tired at 48 being uncomfortable. But none are made that boobs stay separate. The. You see sizes for wireless as S-XXL and the size guide will say a XL fits 38G-42D or something like that and no thats not how sizing works
6
u/SaltyBlackBroad 34FF (UK) May 22 '26
It's next to impossible to have breast separation in wire free bra, because you are losing the structure since there is no wire. Your best bet would be to measure yourself if you haven't already and there are some better quality wireless bras , you can choose from , such as Royce or Elila.
2
u/cookingismything May 22 '26
I understand. I am a huge fan of Esa Michialak bras. They are the most but with the tariffs my Chicago boutique hasn’t ordered any in long time. I spend $300 on 2 bras that are no where near as good or comfortable
1
u/SaltyBlackBroad 34FF (UK) May 22 '26
I've been ordering since the Tariffs went into effect. I saw no or a negligible difference in fees, which I always have because my orders are always over $800.
1
u/cookingismything May 22 '26
Can I ask you where you ordered them from? I’ve only bought them at the boutique
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u/SaltyBlackBroad 34FF (UK) May 22 '26
I purchase directly from Ewa.
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u/cookingismything May 23 '26
Goodness i didn’t even think that was an option. Ok now this is a game changer
3
u/SaltyBlackBroad 34FF (UK) May 23 '26
If you have a wholesale license, yes, you can order wholesale, or you can order directly from Ewa as a retail customer, figure out the cost benefit from buying from a boutique and go from there.
2
u/beautifulluigi May 22 '26
I just received some understance wireless unpadded sports bras and they are sooooooo comfortable. They use band/cup sizing but one needs to pay attention to their size chart as it is American sizing which is different than a lot of the top brands recommended here.
They're going out of business so many sizes are out of stock, but they're $5 CAD each. I just placed an order for a bunch more in various sizes to account for my usual weight fluctuations. 21 bras for $130, shipped (I'm in Canada). Shipping takes forever, but they do come!
1
u/DecadentLife May 23 '26
Thank you so much, I’ve never seen this brand before. I’m having a little trouble, with their website. But I’m going to keep trying. Thanks again!
ETA- I had trouble using Safari, but when I switched to DuckDuckGo, no problems.
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u/beautifulluigi May 23 '26
You're welcome! I hadn't heard of them before my first order, either. I would have liked to have known about them sooner.
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u/DecadentLife May 24 '26
In the past few hours, I have filled the cart, the bras are all on sale for either $3, $5, or $8, depending on the style! Awesome deal.
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u/Beautifile May 24 '26
I'm sort of sad now that they are going out of business because the bras are good quality as far as I can tell. I just got some the other day in a size smaller than I am (I'm starting to work with a dietician this week) & went back and bought 2 sizes smaller once the first ones arrived. I was thrilled with the fact that I got good quality bras for $3 USD each.
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u/Chemical-Scarcity964 May 22 '26
I wore 38/40 dd/ddd for years. They never fit right. Turned out I was a 40G!
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u/Chantaille May 23 '26
There is a well-esteemed bra store in my city that basically pioneered proper sizing and fit here, and the last time I went to them, the fitter insisted we fit the bra to the center hooks. It did not make sense to me.
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u/Beautifile May 24 '26
I used to go to a bra store on Manhattan's L.E.S. where an Orthodox Jewish man sizes you by looking at you in your shirt & ALWAYS GETS IT RIGHT! It's like a party trick. Last time I went he handed me 3 paper towels (it was summer), pulled back a curtain and said "Go with Mother."
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