topic Re: All About Bras in Fashion

All About Bras

gertrudecloset — Sun, 26 Sep 2021 00:43:55 GMT

Seamless

strapless/multi-way

long line

Underwire

Wireless

Three Part

Demi

Balconet

T Shirt

Sports

Plunge

Push Up

Minimizer

Lounge

Nursing

Plus Sized

Universal cup sizing

How many of these do you have? Do you have a need for a variety of bra styles?

Re: All About Bras

gertrudecloset — Sun, 26 Sep 2021 00:24:43 GMT

Sister Sizing for more choice!!!

Current Bra Size

Sister Size Down

Sister Size Up

34AA	32A	36AAA
34A	32B	36AA
34B	32C	36A
34C	32D	36B
34D	32DD	36C
34DD	32DDD/32E	36D
34DDD	32F	36DD
34E	32F	36DD
34F	32FF	36E
34FF	32G	36F
34G	32GG	36FF
34GG	32H	36G
34H	32HH	36GG
34HH	32I	36H
34I	32J	36HH
34J	32JJ	36I
34JJ	32K	36J
34K	32KK	36JJ
34KK	32L	36K
34L	32M	36KK
34M	32N	36L
34N		36M

Current Bra Size	Sister Size Down	Sister Size Up
36AA	34A	38AAA
36A	34B	38AA
36B	34C	38A
36C	34D	38B
36D	34DD	38C
36DD	34DDD/34E	38D
36DDD	34F	38DD
36E	34F	38DD
36F	34FF	38E
36FF	34G	38F
36G	34GG	38FF
36GG	34H	38G
36H	34HH	38GG
36HH	34I	38H
36I	34J	38HH
36J	34JJ	38I
36JJ	34K	38J
36K	34KK	38JJ
36KK	34L	38K
36L	34M	38KK
36M	34N	38L
36N		38M

Current Bra Size	Sister Size Down	Sister Size Up
38AA	36A	40AAA
38A	36B	40AA
38B	36C	40A
38C	36D	40B
38D	36DD	40C
38DD	36DDD/36E	40D
38DDD	36F	40DD
38E	36F	40DD
38F	36FF	40E
38FF	36G	40F
38G	36GG	40FF
38GG	36H	40G
38H	36HH	40GG
38HH	36I	40H
38I	36J	40HH
38J	36JJ	40I
38JJ	36K	40J
38K	36KK	40JJ
38KK	36L	40K
38L	36M	40KK
38M	36N	40L
38N		40M

Re: All About Bras

phoenixbrd — Sun, 26 Sep 2021 00:22:07 GMT

I tried most on the list throughout my life. I've given up on the idea of a comfortable bra that offers support...too many experiments to find that unicorn. I've eased into comfort...no wires, no bones, no uplift. I simply wear a minimal comfy bra just so I don't offend anyone and please myself. Life is good!

Re: All About Bras

Meowingkitty — Sun, 26 Sep 2021 00:31:09 GMT

I only buy non wire bras. Usually tee shirt. I agree with the poster that said she wears one as to not offend anyone.

Re: All About Bras

ECBG — Sun, 26 Sep 2021 00:31:29 GMT

No, I wear an underwire full coverage tee shirt bra all of the time. No lace showing through or causing an issue.

No discomfort. I don't even register I am wearing a bra.

Re: All About Bras

gertrudecloset — Sun, 26 Sep 2021 00:39:28 GMT

@Meowingkitty wrote:
I only buy non wire bras. Usually tee shirt. I agree with the poster that said she wears one as to not offend anyone.

A Tshirt bra can be a minimizer or a seamless bra, with or without wires

Re: All About Bras

gertrudecloset — Sun, 26 Sep 2021 02:19:46 GMT

If your breasts are firm and full, they will have an equally round shape, from top to bottom. The breast tissue will be evenly distributed throughout your breasts, as well. A full coverage bra can help support full breast tissue. The cups on a full coverage bra are designed to contain your breasts, while providing a smooth silhouette. If you are looking to diminish the full-busted appearance, we recommend a minimizer bra. This is specifically designed for reducing cup size, while still providing comfort. Try to avoid demi cup bras, as they tend to push breast tissue up high on your chest, and have a cup that covers only half of your breast.

Re: All About Bras

gertrudecloset — Sun, 26 Sep 2021 02:29:38 GMT

Shallow Top and Bottom

Breasts with a shallow top and bottom typically hang lower than they used to. This is a common result of breastfeeding and age. If this is your shape, opt for a full coverage or seamed bra. Full coverage bras help to create a full and round shape. A 2-part or 3-part seamed cup will lift and push the breast tissue in for a flattering fit, with transversal seams creating a rounded appearance. Push-up bras are also a great option for women with this breast shape. This style has padding designed to push breast tissue up, creating a round, full, and lifted shape.

Close-Set

If your breasts sit closely together, with not much space between them, they are close-set. Bra styles with narrow and/or low-set center panels, like a plunge bra or balconette bra, can help eliminate the uni-boob appearance, which can result from close-set breasts. These styles tend to have cup designs that provide breasts with a separated appearance. Avoid bras with wide-set center panels. Wide-set center panels can have underwire that digs into you over time.

Wide-Set

Breasts that are wide-set will have a large space in-between them. Choose bras with sturdy, supportive side wings, which gather breast tissue and move it towards the front and center of the cup. This creates a more ideal, supportive, and secure fit. Bras with slings or side-boning will also move breast tissue toward the center of your chest, and are a great option for women who also have a larger bust. For small to average size breasts with a wide-set shape, opt for a plunge or push-up bra to center your breasts, and enhances cup size.

Re: All About Bras

gertrudecloset — Sun, 26 Sep 2021 02:34:03 GMT

I will be adding lots of information about bras here. I think it's kind of important ever since one of our posters mentioned what type of bra or tank to wear under a garment.

I'd like this to be a resource that people can refer to or at least as a jump off for finding info they need when it comes to looking good in all the beautiful garments we spend so much money on. We can be comfortable and look great at the same time.

Re: All About Bras

Pook — Sun, 26 Sep 2021 09:01:54 GMT

I go for comfort and with 40DD or 40 F I need racerback and underwires. Have found a convertible minimizer bra, lacy Glamorise racerback bras and a few styles of sport bras that fit the bill. The trick is the fit and willingness to spend the money for a better bra and that is the only way I found to be comfortable. No underwires for me leads to uniboob and often floppy and lots of pain unless I do not move! Many of those styles do not work for larger sizes and learned by trial and error.

Re: All About Bras

4kitties — Sun, 26 Sep 2021 09:47:33 GMT

I wear an underwire bra under some clothing and when I want a totally smooth look under some other tops and dresses, I wear a Shapeez bra.

Re: All About Bras

Mom2Dogs — Sun, 26 Sep 2021 11:37:44 GMT

I only wear a T Shirt bra, no lace, plain and simple. Underwire. I am a hard fit so once I find something I like I stick with it.

I did just recently try the Wacoal Simone Sports Bra/underwire, I really like it, Full coverage, no bounce. I'm full busted and needed additional coverage, even tho I was already wearing Wacoal's full coverage Tshirt bra.

Re: All About Bras

Eileen in Virginia — Sun, 26 Sep 2021 12:06:02 GMT

I hate bras and don't wear them at home, unless we have guests or repairmen. I prefer underwire front closure bras for support and straps that stay put. I also like Glamorize sports bras for walking or working out at the gym. I have a few others, but gravitate to the ones I mentioned above.

Re: All About Bras

ALRATIBA — Sun, 26 Sep 2021 13:08:44 GMT

I only buy wireless t-shirt bras and sports bras.

I have two issues - small cup size and broader across the back than the front and the cups are usually set too far apart. Sports bras usually give me the best fit.

Re: All About Bras

LindaSal — Sun, 26 Sep 2021 14:08:36 GMT

After breast cancer surgery I am ALL about comfort. Wire bras come no where near me.

I mostly wear Spanx socialite cami's. I find them comfortable and snug enough to give me a good shape and support but not too tight. Other than that I wear mostly sports type bras. Of course it depends on what type of clothing you wear to decide what bra will be best for that day.

@gertrudecloset Interesting thread.

Re: All About Bras

wagirl — Sun, 26 Sep 2021 15:20:11 GMT

I have NO bras--don't wear them anymore as I had double mastectomy due to breast cancer and decided not to go thru the torture of reconstruction---is very freeing altho hard to buy clothing to fit my "manly" shape--I did do the prothestics in bras but man what a heavy load on my shoulders and back------

Re: All About Bras

Jk9 — Sun, 26 Sep 2021 16:52:07 GMT

Intresting @gertrudecloset . Thanks for posting. I now know I have close set breasts. Had to look up sister sizing as I didn't know what that meant but had a bra fitter discuss that info when she said I had found my cup size but not the right band size. Unfortunately, she put me in a too small band size that I actually could not put back on because it was sooooo tight. I cannot wear Bali bras because the cups are set too wide for me. I do have a variety of bra styles because I like to wear a bra all the time. I sleep in an ahh bra. Looking for ward to more info.

Re: All About Bras

gertrudecloset — Sun, 26 Sep 2021 19:57:11 GMT

The size of bra cups depends on the bra band size. The size designation of a bra cup (B, C, D etc) does not state the volume of the cups. This part about bra sizes is a bit counter-intuitive and misunderstood. This results in many women choosing the wrong bra size. Read on and we'll explain.

A cup in US 30G, has about the same size (volume) as in US 38C

Adjust the bra cup size when changing the band size!

The most common mistake women make is buying bras with too large bra bands. The support and lift should come mainly from the bra band. The weight of the bust should be carried by the band, not by the shoulder straps. If the bra band is too big, it will not provide proper support.

If the cups fit your bust but the bra band size has to be changed, you will also need to change the cup size. For example, if you change from US 36D to US 34D then the cup will feel smaller (since a D-cup in 34D is smaller than a D-cup in 36D). Too small cups can be mistaken for the bra band being too small. This is import and worth repeating: You can incorrectly believe that the bra band is too small even though it's the cups that are too small.

Re: All About Bras

gertrudecloset — Sun, 26 Sep 2021 20:05:23 GMT

Keep the chart handy for sister sizing. If you buy a particular brand you refer and say for instance, the size you need is not available, you might be able to use an "alternate size" which is stated in the chart I gave. That should (theoretically) give you two more options in sizing. So, this theory says there are three sizes we can wear comfortably based on "sister sizing. The cup size does not change with the band size.

Example:

You wear a 36DD (this is also equal to a 36E) same cup size. Universal cup sizing a 36DDD is a 36F. If I can't find my regular 36DD/(E) size, on either side of the chart I should be able to get one of the sister sizes that will fit like my 36DD.

Re: All About Bras

gertrudecloset — Sun, 26 Sep 2021 20:11:01 GMT

@4kittiesI have many bra styles. I have an all in one purchased by cup size and a bra cami like you showed purchased by cup size. I have full coverage bras with underwire (which I'm beginning to hate). I have full coverage without underwire and they feel best. I do have a balconett....demi and plunge. I have strapless to wear spaghetti sleeves.

I don't the balconett or demi or plunge much anymore though as I am no longer wearing garments that require them.

One I will never wear is a minimizer.