Cracking the bra size code so I can order more online
February 21, 2022 11:27 AM Subscribe
My husband gifted me with a professional bra fitting, which is great since my size and shape changed since I became a mother. I want to be able to buy affordable bras in my newly discovered correct size (32E) online, but I have some questions.
I am really surprised at the size they identified, but that's neither here nor there. Shopping for bras in person is hugely draining so I'd like to get more bras online, and I don't want to pay $75+ per bra. How do I learn more about which brands are true to size and which aren't? Does it matter if I look for uk or us sizing? (The shop that fitted me uses UK sizing.) Are you aware of any bra brands available online that are affordable and true to size?
And finally, what are the chances that they fit me according to a system that only applies to the brands they keep in stock? Chantelle was the brand they used to fit me. I ask because I was sized as 34C as a teenager and I know cup size can change but was under the impression that band size doesn't. (And if it does, I weigh more now than I did before, not less.)
I am really surprised at the size they identified, but that's neither here nor there. Shopping for bras in person is hugely draining so I'd like to get more bras online, and I don't want to pay $75+ per bra. How do I learn more about which brands are true to size and which aren't? Does it matter if I look for uk or us sizing? (The shop that fitted me uses UK sizing.) Are you aware of any bra brands available online that are affordable and true to size?
And finally, what are the chances that they fit me according to a system that only applies to the brands they keep in stock? Chantelle was the brand they used to fit me. I ask because I was sized as 34C as a teenager and I know cup size can change but was under the impression that band size doesn't. (And if it does, I weigh more now than I did before, not less.)
Try asking these questions on the subreddit "a bra that fits". Based on what I've read there, uk sizing is actually more consistent than US, and you might be able to find bras that suit you in 32E in UK brands like freya. Ive been able to find economical bras in my own slightly non standard UK size new on ebay for reasonable prices, although there are no returns.
posted by MFZ at 11:42 AM on February 21, 2022 [13 favorites]
posted by MFZ at 11:42 AM on February 21, 2022 [13 favorites]
Response by poster: @phunniemee I just returned from such a trip, but the shop fits and sells bras exclusively. I was afraid of that being the answer. I am still hoping someone has ideas for brands that seem true to size but you're right type of bra matters. Le sigh.
posted by crunchy potato at 11:44 AM on February 21, 2022
posted by crunchy potato at 11:44 AM on February 21, 2022
Best answer: The Bratabase website is the nearest thing you can find to what you're looking for. It's still not perfect, but it's there.
As a UK person: once every year or two when my current bras are getting raggedy I go to Bravissimo, who will fit you for free, and whose staff know the size ratios on various brands. Those days can get expensive, but if it's only a rare thing then (for me) it's dealable with. Keep an eye out for sales.
posted by Pallas Athena at 11:46 AM on February 21, 2022 [5 favorites]
As a UK person: once every year or two when my current bras are getting raggedy I go to Bravissimo, who will fit you for free, and whose staff know the size ratios on various brands. Those days can get expensive, but if it's only a rare thing then (for me) it's dealable with. Keep an eye out for sales.
posted by Pallas Athena at 11:46 AM on February 21, 2022 [5 favorites]
I recently had a professional bra fitting and I too was shocked that my band size went down. I think I was incorrectly fit for a long time. I recommend https://www.barenecessities.com/ to shop for different bras because they will tell you if the brand you are wearing or you want to buy is UK or US - so you know what size to order. If you can't find a good sale price on here, you at least know what size to buy looking at other sites.
posted by turtlefu at 11:50 AM on February 21, 2022 [3 favorites]
posted by turtlefu at 11:50 AM on February 21, 2022 [3 favorites]
Reddit’s r/ABraThatFits is incredible for this sort of thing. Lots of people write in asking “is this particular bra true to size?” and get a ton of answers. I think there’s also a wiki or some sort of page that lists things to know about popular bras (whether they tend to run small in the band, gape at the top of the cup, etc.)
posted by chaiyai at 12:18 PM on February 21, 2022 [3 favorites]
posted by chaiyai at 12:18 PM on February 21, 2022 [3 favorites]
So you might give Bare Necessities a try. I wouldn't just automatically order the same size. This isn't about "true to size" but also because two people can both wear 32 E but have very different shape breasts that fit different bras quite differently. So a different Chantelle bra isn't necessarily going to fit you the same way either. Bare Necessities has a quiz with a few questions about size and shape of your breasts and then will give you some recommendations. They also have a fit chat with a human, but I've never tried it. Just plan to order a few different styles and brands that might work and then you can return the ones that don't work. They are having a sale today for Presidents' Day and you can sign up for emails for discount codes, too.
There was a website I've used where you could tell it the brand and size and it would help convert that to other brands, but I can't figure out what it was (FigLeaves maybe? But they don't seem to have shopping to the US like they used to).
The US/UK thing isn't a huge deal. They use A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H. We use A, B, C, D, DD, DDD, G, H. I think. Someone can correct me if I'm wrong, but I think the US size for you is 32 DD.
As far as your size as a teen: did you get fitted at Victoria's Secret by any chance? Because they are known for not really fitting people well. Band size can change with weight fluctuations (and maybe weight lifting? I don't know). In another five years, even if you weigh the same, you might have a different bra size again. They're not immutable like fingerprints.
I've also had some luck with Macy's, in person, trying on a few different things in the store. Their prices are often a bit less. You could try them online too.
posted by bluedaisy at 12:37 PM on February 21, 2022 [2 favorites]
There was a website I've used where you could tell it the brand and size and it would help convert that to other brands, but I can't figure out what it was (FigLeaves maybe? But they don't seem to have shopping to the US like they used to).
The US/UK thing isn't a huge deal. They use A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H. We use A, B, C, D, DD, DDD, G, H. I think. Someone can correct me if I'm wrong, but I think the US size for you is 32 DD.
As far as your size as a teen: did you get fitted at Victoria's Secret by any chance? Because they are known for not really fitting people well. Band size can change with weight fluctuations (and maybe weight lifting? I don't know). In another five years, even if you weigh the same, you might have a different bra size again. They're not immutable like fingerprints.
I've also had some luck with Macy's, in person, trying on a few different things in the store. Their prices are often a bit less. You could try them online too.
posted by bluedaisy at 12:37 PM on February 21, 2022 [2 favorites]
In addition to the good advice above, as a person who wears a 32FF and has to buy bras from specialty stores and Nordstrom, I'll add:
1. UK vs US sizes matter. There's a handy size conversion chart on this page. Most brands sell in one or the other.
2. I've found that, rather than bras being "true to size" or not, each brand sort of has its own fit--just like every woman has their own breast shape. And a 32FF in Chantelle, or any of their sizes for that matter, is never going to work for my breast shape. While a 32FF in Freya or Fantasie fits me perfectly. So if one or two Chantelle models worked for you, chances are good most of theirs will.
3. I usually scout for my size & preferred brands at Nordstrom Rack and buy them whenever I see them, no matter what color they are or whether I need any new bras. It usually saves me 30-60% on bras that typically cost $70-80.
4. Chances are very, very good that you've been wearing too big a band for years. Most women who've never had a bra fitting outside of Victoria's Secret do, because VS only carries the most common sizes. So they'll tell you you're one of the sizes they sell. When I walked into Nordstrom years ago, I thought I was a 38 band size. They showed me how a band that big rides up my back, my boobs spill out the front, and put me in a 32.
posted by ImproviseOrDie at 12:40 PM on February 21, 2022 [1 favorite]
1. UK vs US sizes matter. There's a handy size conversion chart on this page. Most brands sell in one or the other.
2. I've found that, rather than bras being "true to size" or not, each brand sort of has its own fit--just like every woman has their own breast shape. And a 32FF in Chantelle, or any of their sizes for that matter, is never going to work for my breast shape. While a 32FF in Freya or Fantasie fits me perfectly. So if one or two Chantelle models worked for you, chances are good most of theirs will.
3. I usually scout for my size & preferred brands at Nordstrom Rack and buy them whenever I see them, no matter what color they are or whether I need any new bras. It usually saves me 30-60% on bras that typically cost $70-80.
4. Chances are very, very good that you've been wearing too big a band for years. Most women who've never had a bra fitting outside of Victoria's Secret do, because VS only carries the most common sizes. So they'll tell you you're one of the sizes they sell. When I walked into Nordstrom years ago, I thought I was a 38 band size. They showed me how a band that big rides up my back, my boobs spill out the front, and put me in a 32.
posted by ImproviseOrDie at 12:40 PM on February 21, 2022 [1 favorite]
Your band size can change with weight. Your rib cage doesn't often change but I think pregnancy can shift it out. OTOH chances are exceedingly low that you were correctly sized at 34C as a teenager unless you went to a store known for fitting bra sizes correctly (eg Bravissimo, Nordstrom, a good independent). I agree with ImproviseOrDie that once you find a brand that works for you then many of the bras they make will work, particularly if you can identify whether the one you have just bought is a balconette / full cup / plunge etc. I tend to spend good money on bras and buy in the sales whenever possible. They are quite complex in their tailoring and I wear them daily so it feels worthwhile to me.
posted by plonkee at 12:48 PM on February 21, 2022
posted by plonkee at 12:48 PM on February 21, 2022
If you have not visited the subreddit A Bra That Fits and the associated A Bra That Fits website and taken advantage of their advice and links, you might wish to before making any more purchases.
posted by stormyteal at 12:50 PM on February 21, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by stormyteal at 12:50 PM on February 21, 2022 [1 favorite]
i found a style that works for me from Freya and keep tabs on ebay for liquidations of that brand & style on my size. Occasionally the saved search will yield good deals.
posted by wowenthusiast at 1:04 PM on February 21, 2022
posted by wowenthusiast at 1:04 PM on February 21, 2022
Agree with the reddit suggestions. To add- as someone who is also a 32 band, you often can get away with a 34 band sister size, and since 34 is one of the most common band sizes, this often leads to cheaper bras.
posted by coffeecat at 1:04 PM on February 21, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by coffeecat at 1:04 PM on February 21, 2022 [1 favorite]
Best answer: I'm in the US, but we had almost identical experiences. In my case, US sizing had gotten so loosy goosy — read cheaper mass market manufacturing — although I had been a 34B all of my life, and hadn't gained any weight, my bras simply weren't fitting anymore.
So I booked an appointment with a Japanese bra fitting boutique in a big city, and they concluded I was a 30DDD to my utter shock. In the process, I learned a lot about bras: The reason the band size went down in both our cases is a lot of what is treated as torso in more crudely sized bras may be effectively part of your chest, and once you get a bra that is sized to fit, all becomes clear.
Anyway, I, too, was given a Chantelle bra, which I was told is made in France. When the time came to replace it, or get more, I just went to ebay and bought the same brand and size there (new) for a third the price. Since then, I've discovered Natori, which is an American brand, and fits, arguably, even a little better. I buy that new on ebay, too.
Regarding US and UK, French (Chantelle) and, for that matter, Japanese sizing: Although I know for a fact that US, UK and French clothing sizes all use different systems, I don't think that bras do, otherwise why would we both have Chantelle bras using number/letter systems recognizable to us both.
I also have a couple of thoughts about all of the warnings you're getting on this thread that bras of the same size act differently depending on the brand:
(1) There are fewer brands that serve high-cup sizes, so in that sense it is harder to go wrong from a practical point of view. (Note that we both got Chantelle bras several thousand miles apart.)
(2) The key in the high letter sizes is the cut of the bra. I believe the kind I typically get is "full coverage." That cut is much rarer in typical American bras, which seem to have too little fabric or weirdly prefab-shaped fabric (Victoria's secret started it, but the numbers of brands that use some sort of weird prefab form have proliferated). Signs of this include a bra that doesn't contain the skin under your arms, so it puffs outside the bra, or too much bounce in the front, or the back riding up or feeling too tight. Those all occur with I forget all the style names but, like, T-shirt bras, and plunge bras, etc. With a high letter size bra, I suspect you, like me, need a little more fabric to contain the cup size. For all these reasons, if you pay attention, you'll know the cut when you see it, too.
Long-story short, try to replace it online. Once you've had one successful rebuy, branch out.
posted by Violet Blue at 1:36 PM on February 21, 2022 [2 favorites]
So I booked an appointment with a Japanese bra fitting boutique in a big city, and they concluded I was a 30DDD to my utter shock. In the process, I learned a lot about bras: The reason the band size went down in both our cases is a lot of what is treated as torso in more crudely sized bras may be effectively part of your chest, and once you get a bra that is sized to fit, all becomes clear.
Anyway, I, too, was given a Chantelle bra, which I was told is made in France. When the time came to replace it, or get more, I just went to ebay and bought the same brand and size there (new) for a third the price. Since then, I've discovered Natori, which is an American brand, and fits, arguably, even a little better. I buy that new on ebay, too.
Regarding US and UK, French (Chantelle) and, for that matter, Japanese sizing: Although I know for a fact that US, UK and French clothing sizes all use different systems, I don't think that bras do, otherwise why would we both have Chantelle bras using number/letter systems recognizable to us both.
I also have a couple of thoughts about all of the warnings you're getting on this thread that bras of the same size act differently depending on the brand:
(1) There are fewer brands that serve high-cup sizes, so in that sense it is harder to go wrong from a practical point of view. (Note that we both got Chantelle bras several thousand miles apart.)
(2) The key in the high letter sizes is the cut of the bra. I believe the kind I typically get is "full coverage." That cut is much rarer in typical American bras, which seem to have too little fabric or weirdly prefab-shaped fabric (Victoria's secret started it, but the numbers of brands that use some sort of weird prefab form have proliferated). Signs of this include a bra that doesn't contain the skin under your arms, so it puffs outside the bra, or too much bounce in the front, or the back riding up or feeling too tight. Those all occur with I forget all the style names but, like, T-shirt bras, and plunge bras, etc. With a high letter size bra, I suspect you, like me, need a little more fabric to contain the cup size. For all these reasons, if you pay attention, you'll know the cut when you see it, too.
Long-story short, try to replace it online. Once you've had one successful rebuy, branch out.
posted by Violet Blue at 1:36 PM on February 21, 2022 [2 favorites]
Your band size can definitely change after pregnancy because your ribcage can expand with the baby. (I was properly fitted before and after pregnancy and went up a band size after.) I usually get fitted at a shop and buy one bra there, then I'll find other bras on English websites because they tend to be more accepting of curvier sizes than North American sites.
I've also realized that some bra styles just don't work for me. Balconette bras aren't right for me, even in my correct size, but full-coverage bras and minimizers do the job.
posted by pised at 1:59 PM on February 21, 2022 [1 favorite]
I've also realized that some bra styles just don't work for me. Balconette bras aren't right for me, even in my correct size, but full-coverage bras and minimizers do the job.
posted by pised at 1:59 PM on February 21, 2022 [1 favorite]
And don't count that the manufacturer will keep making the same bra the same way. I had some lovely bras which had separate layers which made them very comfortable - the manufacturer then fused the layers, so they were no longer as comfortable.
Also consider swapping between front and back closing bras - post maternity, I really appreciated the extra back support from the back panel on front closing bras.
posted by Barbara Spitzer at 2:40 PM on February 21, 2022
Also consider swapping between front and back closing bras - post maternity, I really appreciated the extra back support from the back panel on front closing bras.
posted by Barbara Spitzer at 2:40 PM on February 21, 2022
I’ve found that Nordstrom Rack can be a good source of inexpensive fancy bras, once you figure out what brand and styles you like. Because they’re cheaper it’s less of an investment to buy a bunch and plan to return them. I do think they charge for returns but you can return in person to a Nordstrom Rack or Nordstrom store, or just eat the 8 dollars as a tax on trying on inexpensive bras at home.
posted by MadamM at 2:54 PM on February 21, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by MadamM at 2:54 PM on February 21, 2022 [2 favorites]
When I was trying to figure out brands/styles that fit me, I ordered a bunch of different ones from Amazon & shipped back everything I didn't like. I did this about 3 times and found a couple bras that I really liked. If you have access to :Prime Try Before You Buy" (formerly Amazon Wardrobe) you can try things on & only pay for the ones you want to keep after having them for a week. Otherwise, just order things that are Amazon prime with free returns.
posted by belladonna at 3:13 PM on February 21, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by belladonna at 3:13 PM on February 21, 2022 [1 favorite]
The old standard for band size was measuring your ribcage and adding 5 inches. That's a holdover from the 50s when bras were made of steel or whatever. With modern stretchy materials, that's really not necessary. (And will result in you having a band that's way too big and not supportive at all. )
As far as consistency with fit, well, it's a learning process. I like to order a bunch from Nordstrom (especially when they're on sale. ) I can try them on at home, move in them, try different shirts with them, etc I order a half a dozen at a time and maybe keep one and return the rest. I take notes about brands and style and size and what worked and what didn't.
posted by Green Eyed Monster at 3:30 PM on February 21, 2022 [1 favorite]
As far as consistency with fit, well, it's a learning process. I like to order a bunch from Nordstrom (especially when they're on sale. ) I can try them on at home, move in them, try different shirts with them, etc I order a half a dozen at a time and maybe keep one and return the rest. I take notes about brands and style and size and what worked and what didn't.
posted by Green Eyed Monster at 3:30 PM on February 21, 2022 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Not sure if I'm suppos#ed to answer the question about VS. I've shopped there but didn't get fitted there. The fitting was at a department store, either Dillards or McRae's/Belk's. But it was an older lady so maybe she used older rules...?
posted by crunchy potato at 3:51 PM on February 21, 2022
posted by crunchy potato at 3:51 PM on February 21, 2022
Bare Necessities has a converter so you can tell it you're a 32F in Freya and it will give you suggested other sizes. I find styles I like there and then buy last year's colorways on Amazon.
posted by notjustthefish at 6:12 PM on February 21, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by notjustthefish at 6:12 PM on February 21, 2022 [2 favorites]
The US/UK sizing thing definitely matters. There's also French/EU sizing, which is what Chantelle uses for cup sizes. Band size names are the same but the cup size naming conventions diverge after D:
Chantelle does D/E/F/G/H/ (though will often also list the US equivalents on their tags, ie F=DDD)
UK brands do D/DD/E/F/FF/G/GG/H/HH and so on
US brands do D/DD/DDD/G/H/I
so broadly speaking, an E in Chantelle is like a DD in other brands. But if you want to try bras that will help determine your size in a way that will be more generalizable to other brands, I'd try Panache, which is a UK brand and uses UK sizing, because they make a broader range of cup and band sizes. On bra fitting forums people seem to like the Panache Envy as a "diagnostic" bra. There's some on ebay that are free shipping/free returns for much less than $75.
posted by needs more cowbell at 6:14 PM on February 21, 2022 [1 favorite]
Chantelle does D/E/F/G/H/ (though will often also list the US equivalents on their tags, ie F=DDD)
UK brands do D/DD/E/F/FF/G/GG/H/HH and so on
US brands do D/DD/DDD/G/H/I
so broadly speaking, an E in Chantelle is like a DD in other brands. But if you want to try bras that will help determine your size in a way that will be more generalizable to other brands, I'd try Panache, which is a UK brand and uses UK sizing, because they make a broader range of cup and band sizes. On bra fitting forums people seem to like the Panache Envy as a "diagnostic" bra. There's some on ebay that are free shipping/free returns for much less than $75.
posted by needs more cowbell at 6:14 PM on February 21, 2022 [1 favorite]
I had a really similar experience and what helped me was trying on a ton of bras at the fitting and asking the fitter what she looked for when fitting them. For example, some had a gap in the front by my sternum and now I know that's something to look for when I buy online. Agree with others about stocking up on eBay, Poshmark, and during sales.
posted by beyond_pink at 12:08 AM on February 22, 2022
posted by beyond_pink at 12:08 AM on February 22, 2022
Regarding changing bra sizes, if you were newly sized with a band size of 32 or smaller and/or a cup size of D or larger, your previous sizing was probably the "best available size" at the store where you were shopping.
For example, Victoria's Secret famously doesn't sell cups larger than C with a band size of 32 (or didn't the last time I thought about this a few years ago), so if you go there for a fitting and your true size is 32D, they'll size you as a 34C. It's understandable that stores don't like to tell people they have nothing to sell them.
In general the availability of bras with a small band and large cup has significantly improved in recent years, so it's not surprising to be resized and find out you're "suddenly" one of these hard-to-find-sizes.
posted by telegraph at 3:22 AM on February 22, 2022 [4 favorites]
For example, Victoria's Secret famously doesn't sell cups larger than C with a band size of 32 (or didn't the last time I thought about this a few years ago), so if you go there for a fitting and your true size is 32D, they'll size you as a 34C. It's understandable that stores don't like to tell people they have nothing to sell them.
In general the availability of bras with a small band and large cup has significantly improved in recent years, so it's not surprising to be resized and find out you're "suddenly" one of these hard-to-find-sizes.
posted by telegraph at 3:22 AM on February 22, 2022 [4 favorites]
bluedaisy is incorrect about the progression of UK vs US sizing. needs more cowbell has it right.
Amazon carries all the big UK sized brands (Freya, Fantasie, Panache). You can also get many of them through Amazon’s try for free before you buy program (Amazon Wardrobe). Discontinued colors tend to get discounted as well.
Do not get weirded out if you try some bras in your size and they don’t fit. Shape is a big factor in how well bras fit and one can be in the “right” size but be gapping all over due to a shape mismatch.
I love abrathatfits and there is so much good info there but heads up that they can get perfectionist about fit and they really dislike molded bras.
posted by jeoc at 3:34 PM on February 22, 2022 [1 favorite]
Amazon carries all the big UK sized brands (Freya, Fantasie, Panache). You can also get many of them through Amazon’s try for free before you buy program (Amazon Wardrobe). Discontinued colors tend to get discounted as well.
Do not get weirded out if you try some bras in your size and they don’t fit. Shape is a big factor in how well bras fit and one can be in the “right” size but be gapping all over due to a shape mismatch.
I love abrathatfits and there is so much good info there but heads up that they can get perfectionist about fit and they really dislike molded bras.
posted by jeoc at 3:34 PM on February 22, 2022 [1 favorite]
yeah, the mystique around bras is desperately irritating because they're just like all other articles of clothing. while I'm sure a professional fitting is helpful (as it would be for one's other measurements!), one is no more a "true" size 32E than one can be a "true" size 8 or whatever and there is no one "true" breast shape or spacing that matches to size, so you still have to try shit on if you're not willing to risk it being a little too big or too small or at the wrong altitude or whatever.
if you already know a brand or two that you generally like, and if you are ok risking it being not quite perfect, you are set for online ordering. but otherwise you are going to have either trial-buy several different ones or critically read brand reviews until your eyes bleed. but once you do have a brand or two you like whose sizing you know, it isn't a hassle anymore.
and for that purpose, I highly recommend a look through the archived reviews at the lingerie addict. head, shoulders, and tits above any garbled guidance or recycled bra maxims you'll get from reddit. to get anything of value from reviews you need a reviewer with a figure vaguely similar to your own, and they have people in a range of sizes writing for them. the site's founder wrote a book but the website content is better.
and finally, this is a recommendation for looks not comfort, but if you care about that, everything they say about Polish bras is true. converting US to UK sizing is comparatively much simpler, though.
posted by queenofbithynia at 5:30 PM on February 22, 2022 [1 favorite]
if you already know a brand or two that you generally like, and if you are ok risking it being not quite perfect, you are set for online ordering. but otherwise you are going to have either trial-buy several different ones or critically read brand reviews until your eyes bleed. but once you do have a brand or two you like whose sizing you know, it isn't a hassle anymore.
and for that purpose, I highly recommend a look through the archived reviews at the lingerie addict. head, shoulders, and tits above any garbled guidance or recycled bra maxims you'll get from reddit. to get anything of value from reviews you need a reviewer with a figure vaguely similar to your own, and they have people in a range of sizes writing for them. the site's founder wrote a book but the website content is better.
and finally, this is a recommendation for looks not comfort, but if you care about that, everything they say about Polish bras is true. converting US to UK sizing is comparatively much simpler, though.
posted by queenofbithynia at 5:30 PM on February 22, 2022 [1 favorite]
also.....people will say that a bra is "supposed" to be held up by crushing your ribs with the band, not by hanging from your shoulders by the straps. like so much else people say about bras, this is garbage. it is for you, not the designer and not the world's armchair bra theorists, to say which style hurts more and which one you prefer. the smaller the band size, the less pressure on your shoulders. if you can't stand pressure on your trapezius, this is terrific news. if you like to breathe or can't stand even tighter pressure on your ribcage, not so terrific.
it's a preference is what I'm saying. and if you don't like the way your new size feels, it isn't "real". in my experience and observation, going down in the band & up in the cups usually makes a person look terrific. but if it doesn't also feel better, it is not necessarily an improvement. as with everything else about this, it is for you to say.
posted by queenofbithynia at 5:37 PM on February 22, 2022 [2 favorites]
it's a preference is what I'm saying. and if you don't like the way your new size feels, it isn't "real". in my experience and observation, going down in the band & up in the cups usually makes a person look terrific. but if it doesn't also feel better, it is not necessarily an improvement. as with everything else about this, it is for you to say.
posted by queenofbithynia at 5:37 PM on February 22, 2022 [2 favorites]
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Even when I go to Nordstrom and have the help of professional bra people, there's a world of difference not just from brand to brand but from style to style in the same brand. Because of the way that my personal breasts are shaped and bolted onto my body, a v cup style bra fits me entirely differently from a balconet/demi style bra, and differently still from a shelf style bra, and that's not even considering whether it's lined, wired, padded, made of lace or mesh or cotton or stretch material, etc etc.
If you must order online, find someplace with an excellent return policy, take out a second mortgage, and buy at least 10 to try on at home.
Or if you have a Nordstrom near you, go in person, sit in a dressing room in a fluffy robe with a book, and let them bring you bras to try on until you find something you like.
posted by phunniemee at 11:37 AM on February 21, 2022 [16 favorites]