But I'm not wearing the right size myself.
Why am I wearing the wrong size? The bra I am wearing right now is a 28H. But I measure 24" around my ribcage. If you've read my post on how to measure yourself, you know that your band size should be roughly equivalent to your ribcage measurement. That means I actually need a 24 band size. But 28 is the smallest band size any company manufactures.
It's more than just measurements, however. It's also about how it fits. I've written about how to tell if your bra is ill-fitting, and mine shows many if the signs: cutting into my shoulders, riding up in the back, making blisters under my breasts where the wire rubs. I also don't feel like it really looks right. Maybe it's just because of my longish torso or something, but I don't really feel like my breasts look as well supported as they could be.
Just to prove it to you guys, this is a picture to show how much a 28 back bra rides up on me.It's very frustrating. I have chronic back and shoulder pain, and I know it would be better without the pressure on my shoulders. And those weird calluses under my breasts just suck! Besides, I know how awesome and life changing the right bra can be for people- yet I am unable to experience that for myself.
Manufacturers think that my size wouldn't sell very well. But I don't think that my size is nearly as rare as they say. I do think that bra fitting awareness is part of the problem, however- women won't demand their size unless they know their size!
I certainly see women all the time that look just as small-framed as me. I also see a lot of petite women who claim to wear a 28-30 band but then have 22-24 inch waists. Unless their ribcages are much more triangular than mine, I suspect many of them have similar ribcage measurements and need 22-26 bands for the bras to truly fit. Bra fitting is important for petite and small-chested women, too. I do need the support in a whole different way, though!
Is there a great solution? No, not yet. But here are a few options that I have looked into:
- If the underwire is uncomfortable due to poor fit, you could try a soft cup or nursing bra in the closest size you can find. Bravissimo currently has 3 styles of soft cup bra that all start in a 28 back.
- You can get your band altered. If you are in a 28 and need maybe a 26, this could be an acceptable solution. But I haven't had much luck with it because the band just needs to be altered too much and I end up with a poor fit. If you need it shrunk more than 1 band size this is a bad idea.
- You can browse reviews and look for especially snug 28 backs. Again, this will probably only work if you are around 26-27".
- This blog talks about a polish bra company called Ewa Michalak. Supposedly, their bras are very, very snug and their band size 60 (European sizing so think more along the lines of CM not inches) could be appropriate for a 24" woman. When I heard this I ordered some straight away in excitement. They told me via email that a 60 ought to be "ideal" for me. But unfortunately, I didn't find the bras to be nearly at tight as they said. While they were a little bit better at first, they were far from a perfect fit and when I held them up to one of my 28 bras after wearing them for a few weeks (so they had stretched slightly at that point) the bands were pretty much the exact same size. I wrote them and asked about this, and they offered to make me a 55, but they didn't really explain why the band was so much looser than everybody said. I may take them up on the offer, but honestly, I think I'd need a 50, since their 60 is basically a snug-ish 28 and I need 2 sizes smaller than that. I know I have a decent amount of Polish readers from my Biubiu review- if any of you have any insight into what happened here, I would LOVE to hear what you have to say in the comments.
- You could look into custom, and that's what I've come to. Unfortunately, most of the websites offering custom bras that I could find were very expensive and the bras were hideous. I have been in contact with a seller on Etsy about a custom sized bra. It will take her a while to make it for me, but I will let you know the results!
One more thing: If you measure less than 28" around, the ONLY way manufacturers will EVER start offering better sizes is if they know customers want them! So please, write manufacturers and tell them what you want! For the sake of all of your fellow small-ribbed women, if not for yourself. I've had good luck writing on the facebook walls of many companies. For example Panache responded to my request within an hour and said they would consider it if they got enough demand. Other brands that might listen are Curvy Kate, Freya, and especially Bravissimo. (Bravissimo is responsible for the existence of 28 bands and L cups, so...)
There are also several questionnaires by some smaller manufacturers linked here where they said they had had requests for the "statistically unlikely" band size 26, which in their sizing system (4" snugger than normal so the add-4 method essentially works) would be for a 22" rib cage. When I took the surveys, they didn't even have a space for under 26" ribcage measurement! I had to write it in under "other" or mention the size I need when answering other questions. Let's prove them wrong! Us smaller-ribbed girls do exist! And we need the support!
If you are a manufacturer reading this and you want to introduce smaller band sizes, please let me know. I will shout about your brand from the rooftops! :-) Thank you.
Are you smaller than 28"? Do you have another sizing frustration? Do you have any suggestions for finding smaller band sizes? Let me know in the comments!
Are you smaller than 28"? Do you have another sizing frustration? Do you have any suggestions for finding smaller band sizes? Let me know in the comments!
I an continually surprised that basically no company goes below a 28 band. I usually wear a 30 band. But in several brands/styles, I wear a 28. And I am FAR from petite! I know LOADS of women who are much tinier than me who are probably wearing the same band size.
ReplyDeleteI've seen 26 bands, but not for larger cup sizes. And now I can't even remember where I saw the 26 - I'm afraid the company went out of business or something because I did a search a few months ago and couldn't find it then, either.
I got a bra from Zyrra, which is a brand new company that does custom bras. It fits fantastically, I wonder if they do smaller bands?
ReplyDeletehttp://www.zyrra.com/index.html
You can order a bra with the band 26" oder maybe even 24" at a polish shop http://ewa-michalak.pl but without the possibility to return it.
ReplyDeleteI'm a 25, but the bands on most 28s fit me fine. Unfortunately I have a very bony ribcage and nearly all currently made 28s have high underwires that stab me in the sternum. So I can't actually wear 28s.
ReplyDeleteI would encourage you to try getting your bras adjusted by a professional tailor if it doesn't come out well when you do it yourself.
And I know it may seem counter-intuitive, but I've always believed that no bra is better than an ill-fitting bra. If it is bad enough to cause you back pain, shoulder pain, and blisters, I think you would be much better off ditching the bras altogether. Not being in constant pain is worth looking a bit frumpy.
If you're large enough, going without a bra means constant pain, too.
DeleteI'm a 24.5 and I have the same problem of having very bony ribcage and the wires stab me in the sternum. I'm wearing 28s but they are leaving two dark coloured patches there which now always stay on my skin.
DeleteI've bought a Panache 28s, it fits but made me feel so hard to breathe that, I only wore it for a day and haven't worn it since. But I've tried 30s they are just way too loose.
Well, for me Ewa Michalak/Effuniak is much tighter than most brands on the market. I measure 71 cm tightly in the underbust/74 loosely and take her size 70dd/e; in Freya etc. I'm a 30e/f. I would never dream of taking 65 in Ewa Michalak. If I converted it correctly, 24'' is 60 cm. Is that measured tightly? Because frankly speaking I am surprised that Effuniak in 60H - a real 24'' band - is too loose for you, especially that you are very slim, and in that case it's usually unneccessary to take a smaller band. It's different for women who have a thicker fat layer on their ribs - their loose/tight measurements are often way apart, and they need a tighter band. Do you also experience riding up of the band in Effuniak (the whole band, like in the photo, not just the clasp)?
ReplyDeleteAnother thing is that I am somewhat confused by the sizing. In Poland eg. 32'' is the equivalent of a 70cm band, 30'' - 65, etc. Why don't the inches match the centimeters, I mean 70 cm is in reality around 28/29''?
Thanks for mentioning my Etsy shop for custom bras. As soon as you send the measurements, I can get started on your bra.
ReplyDeleteFor bras that start out fitting ok but stretch out quickly--have you tried sewing a non-stretch ribbon around the top and bottom of band? A 1/8 inch ribbon wouldn't show if you carefully sewed it to the inside with the right thread color, and if you did it right after buying or washing a bra it would preserve the tightness. Just a possibility; I haven't actually tried this myself.
ReplyDeleteI'm usually 26-27, depending on my current weight, and yes, I do have a problem. I can wear 28 bands, but they usually fit the best at the tightest set of hooks when they're brand new, and, after some wearing they start to ride up in the back, which isn't that comfortable. For me a 26H/HH would be a lot better.
ReplyDeleteBut, I'm not extremly slim! I see many girls everyday with ribcages much smaller than mine. I would say that among healthy normal weighted women around me 30-32 bands seems to be the average. And then, from my perspective it probably would be better to drop som of the larger bandsizes (which sometimes sells good because of the lack of larger cups in the smaller bands) and go for smaller band sizes.
So, I'm with you.
And about that thing with no bra... I do not have blisters all over my torso, probably partly because I switch style everyday untill they become soft enough to wear a whole day without day. However, for me it's not about the looks. Without a bra my back really hurts. I can't do anything else than walking slowly, not even carefully climbing a chair to get some cereals from the top shelf in the kitchen. At that point there really isnt any choice.
However, I've been looking for some non-wire bras with good support to let my body rest from the wires. Have anyone got any good tips? (28GG)
Kelly-- I know, it makes no sense to me either. I see women and girls with rib cages smaller than me fairly frequently, too- they must need 22 or 20 bands?
ReplyDeleteMiss Outlier-- That place looks interesting! I will look into them. I'm not sure they have any representatives in my area, though.
Joanna-- Thanks, I have tried them but they didn't really work out for me.
Alexa-- It feels like, on smaller band sizes, they should put some sort of additional padding around the underwires, since many women under a 30 are going to have pretty bony ribcages! I *did* have my bras adjusted by a bra tailor- the place I buy my bras from has one in-house who does adjustments for free. It was actually her that told me that she simply can't alter them small enough to truly fit me right. As for no bra... I agree with you, but also with Helena: I would be uncomfortable either way.
ptasia-- Yes, I am 24" measured tightly- closer to 25" measured loosely. I don't understand it either! My Effuniak bras do ride up like in the photo, although not quite as much (on the tightest hook right away.) They are better than other things I have tried, and I can tell that the bands are less stretchy than some bands, but they really are too big. I wonder if women in Poland wear bras looser than here? I did talk to another woman, from England I think, who was 27" and tried the 65, and found it too big. Maybe could Ewa Michalak/Effuniak have changed recently and started making the bands looser? The 60 was definitely too big for me, though. I wish somebody could explain! :-)
ReplyDeleteHmm I'm wondering if it could be the fact that you are heavy breasted compared to the size of your ribcage, this may 'weigh down' on the overall bra which means the support is not good, even if the band size may be right. Whereas women with smaller ribcages but also smaller breasts wouldn't have this problem as their breasts do not weigh as much.
DeleteI have the same oroblem my under breast is 23,5 and my breast a little abowe 13 7nches iver tgat. But the problem is not the variom but the designm they tend to imagine that smakker ribbcaged girls women have wide front, ie, use same underwiring fir a 32 , 34, and above band bra, and fir those under 30 inces. A same volume breast on a snaker rib cage needs kess bas3 and more projection. And they tend to forget that.
DeleteBraCraft- Thanks, I am trying to get somebody to help me measure so I can make sure my measurements are accurate, and then I will send them to you!
ReplyDeleteHelena-- I totally agree! Please do write to some companies like Bravissimo and such and ask them for smaller sizes. The more of us that do that, the more likely they are to believe there's a demand for smaller sizes!
For soft bras, I would recommend looking at Bravissimo- they have a special section for soft cup bras and they have 3 different styles to choose from, all of which come in a 28GG. They have the best selection of soft bras in that size that I have found. (I normally go for 28H, sometimes 28GG, too)
Oh, I forgot! Ptasia, about the CM matching the inches, that's another thing I don't understand. It would make much more sense that way! I know the Venusian*Glow lady suggests 5CM less than your measurement, and she knows more about the European/CM sizing system than I do. But it would be a lot simpler to understand if it matched and if you could just take your CM measurement!
ReplyDeleteBrittany, I've just sent a link of your post to a friend whose dream is to make beautiful bras for women w/ small backs. She thought the need had already been met by the market, but based on your experience, it sounds like that's not the case. However, you're smart to target the large manufacturers. The cost barriers are super high for an individual to enter this field. BUT, what if you gathered all the women w/ your same needs and worked out a crowd-sourcing arrangement with someone like my friend?? If the designer/small manufacturer could be guaranteed purchasers that would allow her to recoup her costs and make enough money to support herself, it could be a win-win for everybody. Perhaps eventually, after proving there was a market, the designer would be bought out by a bigger company who could then provide more styles at lower prices.
ReplyDeleteOne more thought: I KNOW it's beyond your budget, but have you heard of this French custom bra maker that I wrote about back in 2009? http://www.hourglassy.com/2009/08/meanwhile-across-pond.html Wouldn't you LOVE to be able to get a bra from her?
The whole point with the European system is that you should take your cm measurement. That's what the standard says. Then you get the same size as if you take your inch measurement and add a couple of inches. The problem is that even though a 70 band is made to fit a 70 cm ribcage, it just doesn't, because we need more support than that.
ReplyDeleteI usually suggest people to skip the advised based on what the size represent and go for a band 5-10 cm smaller than their measurement, which makes it quite equal to their inch measurment...
And, I will start another email round. And, at the same time I will try to suggest to actually do styles in a GG/H/HH-cup in a 28 band, and not stop at a G-cup, when the 30-band goes up to a HH/J/K-cup.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteBrittany, I think the average Polish woman in the street does wear a loose band - too loose, I'm afraid, but then the average woman in the street won't be wearing an Ewa Michalak bra ;). Do you remember what model you took? Was it only 1 bra? There is also an option that you got a bra that was mislabelled & really a size 65 band. I do recall also that the cotton bras from summer 2009 were a bit looser and I heard that 2 brand new models (from the last few weeks) are also not so tight. As to others, all the opinions I heard confirm they are very tight. On the other hand, they are made from materials which adapt to the body very well. When I put on my 70DD half-cup I usually think I won't do it up & for the first 2-3 minutes I'm uncomfortable, but then something wonderful happens and the band adapts to the body. The bras stay put - in the right size - but they don't try to kill you. A bra that is too tight can cause lots of damage to the skin and can rub your skin sore, because it also moves on your ribcage, but usually down - looking for a narrower place, so to speak (I had that with two bras I bought in London - they were tight, but I thought they'd stretch - they didn't and I had welts on my skin from the underwires). The same happened to my friend, who was put in a 30ff Panache Harmony bra by a brafitter, while measuring (tightly) around 75cm in the underbust. She suffered extreme discomfort, as the band was too tight. For many women lowering the band by 10cm is too much - remember about your loose measurement & the fact that you have to breathe.
ReplyDeleteAs to the sizing: I know that in theory I should take size 70/32'', but apart from Ewa Michalak & some styles in Gossard/British La Senza I rarely can, which is why I am currently wearing a 30e Freya :) Also I think that if a 30'' is too loose for me, it's a rubbish bra, as by principle I refuse to wear 28''.
Darlene-- That sounds great! If your friend wanted to go into the super-small-back market, she could have a monopoly, at least at first! If she wants, she could email me- I'd love to talk about it, or help her with ideas and such.
ReplyDeleteI hadn't heard of that lady! It sounds wonderful. I'd actually heard of *another* super pricey custom bra maker in Paris, called Cadolle, whose creations also sound wonderful- but she's even pricier than that lady! If I had the money, though, I would totally pay $400+ for the perfect bra.
Helena- Well, that's the thing, in most UK brands you just take your inch measurement, more or less. So it seems like the equivalent CM size ought to fit the same woman, if that makes sense...
Thanks for sending out emails. I agree, when they stop at a smaller cup size in a 28 band than in higher bands, it really bothers me! If anything, it should be the reverse, where a 32 goes up to a G and then 30 and 28 each go one size higher.
Lillefix-- I have added a subscribe by email option to my blog, at your request, but I'm not sure what you mean about subscribing to comments... there is already a link to do that, next to where you enter your comment that says "subscribe by email." Is there something else you would like besides that? :-)
Ptasia-- I bought 3 different models. One was made out of faux denim, one was a dark purple with black lace, and one had pink and black swirls and pink lace. My Effuniak bras definitely did not fit the way you are describing! I could easily do them on the last hook right away. Do you know those styles? Do you think I just got unlucky with them?
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteLillefix-- I'm not sure if such a thing is available, either, but I'll do some research. If you want to send me an email (brittany at thinandcurvy dot com) with your preferred email address, I can add you to a list that I can make in blogger's settings that will email you whenever there is a new comment. I think it's designed for admins and such, but I'd be happy to add you to it if that's what you would like.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry to hear Ewa Michalak didn't work out for you! I'd heard that they ran extremely small as well; someone on another site said they had a 25.5" ribcage and needed a back extender for the 65 band.
ReplyDelete"I also see a lot of petite women who claim to wear a 28-30 band but then have 22-24 inch waists. Unless their ribcages are much more triangular than mine, I suspect they have similar ribcage measurements and need 22-24 bands for the bras to truly fit."
Last time I checked, my waist was 23" but my ribcage was 25.5" measured tightly, so I may be one of those people with a more triangular ribcage. :) Most 28s do ride up on me, though I think I'd be fine with a 26. Some of the 28 bands from Marks and Spencer (UK) run very small - they can be too tight for me - but the sizing's inconsistent and they don't go higher than 28G.
I agree with your point about extra padding on the underwires! I've started wearing my bras over camisoles because the underwires and side boning were pressing against my ribs.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteSo I was just on the website of a boutique of a woman I met at CurveNY last night. It's called www.spboutique.com, and the "about" page says that "We have a comprehensive range of beautiful lingerie in sizes from AA to LL cups ranging from 26 to 56 band sizes in stock." I'm wondering if the 26 band comes in the Jeunique brand because I also see that they offer Jeunique. That's the same brand I wore throughout high school, college and my 20's, except the brand as I knew it was called "Cameo".
ReplyDeleteWith a little more googling, I found this: http://www.twotexasbelles.com/smoothie.html It says it comes in band sizes 26-42.
It's not pretty, but if you can find and fit this bra, it is great for support and lift. It looks like the company was just purchased in December 2010, so you may have to find someone w/ with this bra in their current inventory until production begins again.
One more thought: you could consider contacting Dirty Dolls and asking them to introduce you to their pattern maker and technical designer. If they are open to sharing that information with you, you could then hire that person to create a pattern for you. It would be very expensive. As you became aware of other women who need your band size, you could ask those women if they want to chip in to have the bra pattern graded to fit them as well. Eventually, if enough women need it, you could try to find a sewing contractor who will do small production runs.
ReplyDeleteHi Brittany, sorry I didn't get back to you on this - it slipped my mind TBH.
ReplyDeleteI know two bras you mentioned - i.e haven't tried them myself, but heard a lot of feedback & they really shd be very tight. If they weren't, either they were mislabelled, or maybe you need sth tighter (but your measurements really don't suggest it!), or maybe it's your expectations? Because another thing came to my mind, i.e. I remembered my friend in a changing room recently. She'd tried on a Masquerade bra, was turning this way & that in front of the mirror, and I asked: "What's the band like?". I then saw that she'd put it on the tightest hooks and wasn't comfortable. When I changed her into the first hooks, she asked: "But shdn't I try it on the tightest?" Actually it's like this: you should be physically able to do up the bra on the tightest hooks, but at the same time you should feel most comfortable and supported on the loosest setting. If you can't do the tightest hooks up, I'd say the bra is too tight. When I first got fitted however, I thought that the tighter the better - that's how I ended up with those two extremely tight Gorgeous by Debenhams bras I mentioned earlier, which left welts on my skin - I shudder at the very memory. No other bra left me in such pain (well, apart from silicone irritation from strapless bras...)
Another thing is the band - if it moves down, this usually means it's too tight (strapless bras can often do that); if the whole band moves up, it's too loose. However, if it's only the clasp/hook part that moves up, it's ok, because the sides stay put. Some bras are also profiled that way that the hook part curves slightly upward - some Cleo bras & in my opinion in Ewa Michalak it's like that.
Darlene- I've heard of Jenunique, but I heard that their bands run big so the 26 is really a 28 anyway, so I never tried them. I might consider it though if you think that's not true! I'm not sure I could do that with Dirty Dolls right now, but it might be an interesting idea for the future.
ReplyDeletePtasia- That's ok, I didn't mind waiting! I wonder if you are right about those being mislabeled. My bras tend to ride up in front, like over my breasts a little bit, and that rubbing is what hurts me. I can easily pull those Effuniak bras 4-5 inches away from my back when they are hooked up, if that helps. They really don't feel different from my 28 bras.
I have wondered before if I am wanting my bras to be too tight, but I don't *think* so. It's hard to tell when nobody really makes my size, though! Well, I am getting a custom bra now, so I will see how it compares and maybe try Effuniak/Ewa Michalak again.
Ptasia, I just realized something! The 3rd Effuniak bra (pink and black) always fit a little bit better. I thought it was just because it had 3 hooks instead of 2 (mysterious since it's supposedly the same size as the others...?) and I think I put it on the tightest hook like the others, and then dismissed it as not fitting right either because it poked in the center, if that all makes sense. But thinking about what you said, I just went and tried it on again, on the loosest hook, and tightened the straps properly and such, and I actually do think it's a different size from the others! It is a bigger difference in snugness than I at first thought.It fits me quite well, actually. I feel stupid now for not realizing this sooner! It's because of what you said about it being able to fit on the tightest hook- I realized I had stupidly/automatically been putting it on the same hook as the others and so I didn't like it... but I didn't like it in a *different* way from the other 2. (This is why I really needed to be able to try bras that fit on myself instead of always fitting other people!)
ReplyDeleteSoooo... I want to try Ewa Michalak again now, but what size do I get? 55 or 60? I can't return them if I choose wrong! Is the 3 hooks a major clue that this bra is *actually* a different size? If so, would the 65's have 2 hooks and the 60's 3? I can't go visit Polish forums with people that know about this, so I'm so confused!
Hi Brittany - I'm glad you've had a revelation as to one bra, but now I am confused TBH! Was it this bra:
ReplyDeletehttp://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRVHMXtyqf7Y54_eDgCjqPRLVAaCf4NBOAk6hNINfHbP-A9d2l6
or a kind of heart print one?
If the first, I found info from a girl who ordered 65(30)GG and complained about the three hooks. I suppose they may have been added from some cup (G? GG?) upwards, in all bands, maybe not in all models, but I think the jeans & purple are older than the pink & black. On the other hand, I found also info on a purple 80D which HAD three hooks, which makes everything even more unclear; here's the link, you can scroll down the page for pics:
http://zaginiona-haftka.blogspot.com/2010/07/jego-bakazanowa-wysokosc.html
I agree the 3 hooks can add to the support - I am a smaller size than you, but I have felt more supported in 3 x 3 hook bras.
If it's the heart print bra (I can't find a pic online), my mother in law tried it on a shop we went to together. She tried 80e or dd I think (normally she's a 32f in Panache etc) and the back had one 3 x 3 row of hooks PLUS a sewn in extender - so in total 6 x 3 hooks (!), and was still extremely tight.
I think I'd do this: I'd write to Ewa, describe your problem, maybe add pics of you in the bras?, add measurements of the bras - what is the length of the band lying down and stretched manually, etc. and ask for advice; see what is the difference in measurement between the bad ones and the OK model. Ask if they may have been mislabelled. I would still probably say a 60 shd be ok, but one like that black-pink that fits. Since it's going to be made upon special order anyway, ask about the number of hooks, if they can make it for you with 3 x 3 - this also means that the band is wider and more supportive in general, I think?
I forgot to add one thing - Ewa Michalak bras are still thought to be quite much tighter than the standard, which I confirm. In many cases this simple rule proves right for EM bras: the back measurement in centimetres equals the European continental size. If your back measures 24", which is roughly 61 cm, then you should try band 60 (28). It certainly works for me: 26" = 66 cm = band 65 (30).
ReplyDeleteMy own theory about it (based on discussions with Ewa on bra-related fora, following the Polish version of "How To Look Good Naked" where she fitted underwear, etc.) is that she wants her bras to reach also these women, who have never heard of bra-fitting and may be reluctant to a size revolution. If the label says the same band size that what they've been wearing so far and close to their centimetre measurement, they may be easier convinced that it's the right one for them. It would be interesting to hear from Ewa whether I got this one right ;)
I talked to the owner of missfituk.com about this, she has her own stunning range of 28" Bras.
ReplyDeleteBut there is not even enough demand for the 28" bras so she is expanding to 30 and 32.
Again watching the sale department of bravissimo, plenty of 28" bras to be had, not so much in the 32/34 which most their customers seem to be.
I understand the frustrations very well, but what I see is not a big enough demand even for 28" backs so big companies will prob not be willing to go down to a 26" anytime soon.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteWhat I ment was, bravissimo has told me on the phone, that most of their customers are a 32 or a 34 back. And when bra's go on sale there, there are often 28" bra's to be had but size 32/34 is often very limited or sold out.
ReplyDeleteI don't have any hard evidence to back this up, but I'm guessing that whilst lots of people *technically* need a 28 band or less, not all of them feel the need to seek out these very small sizes. Thus, manufacturers probably aren't aware of the full scope of the demand for sub-28 bands.
ReplyDeleteWhen I first started to wear bras I wore 34A or AA, and whilst there's no way my ribcage was anything close to 34", I didn't find the bras uncomfortable because I just didn't need the support of a tighter band. My "true size" at the time was probably something like 28B; these days, I wear 28DD/E, though going by my ribcage measurement I technically need a 26 band. It seems as if the larger a person's breasts are, the more they will need a band size that's close to their ribcage measurement.
I'm not trying to argue that smaller-busted people don't need bras that fit, but I'd imagine they are less likely to encounter back pain, shoulder grooves, etc. from wearing an oversized band, which in turn might mean they're less likely to seek out their "correct" size.
I'm not trying to argue that smaller-busted people don't need bras that fit, but I'd imagine they are less likely to encounter back pain, shoulder grooves, etc. from wearing an oversized band, which in turn might mean they're less likely to seek out their "correct" size.
ReplyDeleteI agree. I used to wear a 34AA from the kids section, and it's harder for us smaller busted ladies to tell if we're wearing the wrong size unless we look closely. But my bras did feel uncomfortable because the wires seemed to poke on the sides. I got fitted at Intimacy, and that was where I found out I was a 28C. Since they didn't have any 28's, and only had very few 30's, they were willing to alter the 32A's down. The alteration worked somewhat--it's a better fit than not altered but still not quite right. It's really hard to find 28's, especially below a D cup.
-Zoe
Oh, I got an idea! I don't know if you've seen the ads or not, but there is the 'Kymaro bodyshaper'. You may not need the shaping part of it, but it's got posture support panels. In the before and after, the women were standing up straighter, and the busts were lifted (many of those women I imagine, were wearing the wrong size). The front part goes under your bust, so you can wear your on bra with it. So if the shaper can provide proper support for women wearing wrong bra sizes, it might work for you, providing additional support.
ReplyDeleteYou may also try the Chic Shaper, which says it improves posture and lifts the breasts up.
http://www.myneed.org/shopping/chic-shaper-review-posture-bra-and-breast-lift-up-bra-in-one/
I don't know how good it actually is, because I never tried it myself.
But yeah, I totally sympathize with you, because although I've also done a lot of research on bra-fitting, and got some of my friends well-fitted, I haven't quite found the right bra myself.
ReplyDelete-Zoe
For anybody who needs a 26 band, check out
ReplyDeleteLa Senza Girly&Gorgeous Oversized Check bra
Apparently the bra has a very tight band, the 30 is supposed to run so small it fits more like a 26 band.
I could not find this bra in the LaSenza online store, but a search got me some offers on ebay.
Love your blog!
ReplyDeleteI wanted to add that a lot of women do have v-shaped ribcages, sometimes dramatically so. I've done bra-fitting on about 10 friends now and and all except one had bigger ribcages than waists by 2-5". My waist is 23-24"(depending on how much I've had to eat and drink lately!) and my tightest ribcage measurement is 26". My chest gets wider as it goes up (I am 31" around under my arms above my boobs, where some people tell you to measure for your bra band size and in many women is about the same circ!) and my shoulders are broad and square. I think a tiny ribcage with the same measurement as the waist is more often seen on women with small shoulders proportionately. I would say it's more rare than anything... IMO, based only on my sample size and eyeballing people. ;)
Luckily 28 bras work well for me even though most aren't exactly snug, because my boobs are small. 30 and 32 cups/underwires just don't fit the shape of my boobs, sometimes painfully. If I needed support I'd be looking for 26 bands. I will write letters on behalf of my small-ribcaged, larger-breasted friends though!
There must be millions of girls and women out there with 20-26" ribcages who are wearing ill-fitting 32s (the number of American women who have heard of 30, much less 28, bands is tiny).
Thanks, B!
ReplyDeleteI didn't exactly mean that I thought most women weren't triangular. I think my wording was kind of confusing though... maybe I should change it. :-)
I just meant that if there are women with 20-22" waists, it stands to reason many of the won't have *that* triangular of a ribcage, as to need a 28 band, and some of them might have fairly straight ribcages and need a band size close to that. Even I do have some difference, esp. if you measure looser (like I would for clothing) then there's probably like a 2" difference. For me, I think am a snug 26, or would wear a 24 in stretchier styles if such a size were made. My shoulders are the same width as my hips (I'm a pretty true hourglass) and so my ribcge does look triangular from the back but my breasts are big/wide enough that they end closer to my waist than they would on someone smaller chested. (At least that's my theory.)
Anyway, I mostly just wanted to illustrate that smaller than 28 isn't that strange of a size as some people would like to believe. :-)
Wow! I can't believe I've probably been wearing the wrong bra size too all these years! Measuring around my ribcage, I found it to measure about 26.5" and all this time I've been wearing a 32B. I suppose, since I live in a small isolated town, when I was in the city I settled for the 32" band since it was the smallest size available at the store I was at.... I would love it if manufacturers started making smaller bra sizes and were more helpful with fitting.
ReplyDeleteI was recently measured at a 28 but this morning re-measured my back size/rib cage as I've recently lost weight. I am still classed as "healthy weight" but have a 26" band now. I can't believe how so many of my friends who seem smaller than me claim to be wearing 32 or 34 inch backs. Ways to measure need to be better publicised. I have tried writing to companies. I wrote to La Senza and the only reply I got was that they didn't think smaller backs would sell and they are "thinking about" introducing a 30 back. If we all bug them, maybe they'll eventually give in and make smaller still.
ReplyDeleteI do not know if this will work for you, but the la senza low back converter (see the following pictures http://www.boobybits.com/images/low-down-bra-converter.jpg http://www.boobybits.com/images/low-down-bra-strap-converter.gif ) got me thinking...
ReplyDeleteI don't sew much, but with my expierence I can tell it would be ridiculously easy to buy a bra extender, cut it in two parts, and put it on a non stretching fabric so you can make the same principle as the pictures above. Except the fabric won't be around your waist, but on your ribcage just under the bra.
Material-wise the experiment won't cost much, and I don't know if you know someone with a bit sewing experience, but this is something an experienced seamstress could do within 20 minutes.
There are a lot of posts connected to this thread that I have yet to read through, but I've read quite a few of them already and something that keeps popping to the front of my mind for the more "well-endowed" ladies is: have you ever thought of working your erector spinae to help alleviate some of the back pain that you complain of? Twenty-pounds +/- affixed to your chest is a decent amount of weight--in the form of breasts or your young nephew hanging off your neck!--and a stronger lower back would certainly help deal with that additional pressure, improve posture, and generally make life easier. As a personal trainer/former bodybuilder, I see that a lot of women are familiar with the concept of strengthening their abs (or 'core' as the midsection is popularly referred to these days), but you have to remember that your back is on the other side of your 'core'. What we are looking for is balance. Properly executed exercises such as deadlifts, good mornings, and back hyperextensions would most likely help with the issue of breast-weight-induced back pain, even if the issue of a properly-fitting bra has yet to be resolved.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad there are other women out there who are affected by this- I don't get blisters, but I get horrid friction burns on my ribs where the wire digs in due to the back riding up/the cup being a little too small to make up for the loose band, and this becomes so painful that I have to avoid wearing a bra unless I'm leaving the house. My main issue is that the bottom of a bra can fit reasonably well when I first buy it, but the top of the band is loose enough for me to pull out by an inch under either armpit without stretching the fabric at all. I'll try the next cup down, but my breasts will be literally spilling over the tops of the cups that way. I measure 25" around, so I guess I'd be around a 26H- the only time I truly look like such a size is when I'm wearing a nice, snug corset. I wish they were appropriate for all occasions!
ReplyDeleteI'm 5'6, 155bls bigger boned (not huge) and a size 6/7 US my rib cage measurement is a 31" and I wear a 32FF... Like I said I'm not a small woman and yet in Canada the smallest band size you can get is 36 (and don't get me started on cup sizes larger than single D!!!)and if you look hard 34... I'm a big fan of Freya's Lucy bra, and love it because I can order my size from bravissimo, although their shipping charges are deterant.
ReplyDelete"While they were a little bit better at first, (...) I held them up to one of my 28 bras after wearing them for a few weeks (so they had stretched slightly at that point) the bands were pretty much the exact same size. I wrote them and asked about this, (...) but they didn't really explain why the band was so much looser than everybody said."
ReplyDeleteThat sounds a bit like the Effuniak experience I'm having right now. I measure 63cm thightly around my chest, so I'm a 24/25".
I was ecstatic when I got my 60G CH Onyx, for it was the smallest fitting bra ever delivered on my doorstep. (I once bought smaller 28" band a M&S on Ebay, I could hardly breath in it, but it felt like it was a EE/F in stead of a G cub...)
Anyhow, after wearing it for 3-4 days it stretched about 7-8 cm. So I stopped wearing it. But when I looked at it a week later, it was back to it's original size! So I agree with you, the best way to describe a Effuniak 28/60 bra is as a snug-ish 28/60. And my reference material is exclusively tight Freya bands. (Erin, Cindy)
When I mailed them about it I was told:
"Im sorry, that you are not satisfied with our Bra. It shouldn't strech. It isn't possible. You are first person with problem with band in CH Onyx. Some information for future:
PL are a little tighter than CH i HP."
So now I have ordered the slightly cheaper HP Nina in 55GG. I'm looking forward to this one, as a child waiting for Santa!
Not all women who have small waists & rib-cages are petite. I'm 5'8, but thin, and my waist is 24" and I have a 27" rib cage. I am not triangular, my upper torso just tapers more gradually due to my height. No one would classify me as "petite" either, I am simply too tall for that.
ReplyDeleteFYI, small boobs do need support. It is very uncomfortable to run or walk fast in an unsupportive bra. It can be hard to find flattering, comfortable, well-fitting bras in small sizes too. Visually, I look like what people imagine a B cup is, but because my rib cage is small, I need something like a 30C or 28D bra. I have a feeling this is far more common than people realize for tallish, thin, small-busted women. This is why bra fittings are important for ALL women, not just busty ones.
I just recently came to the realization of my true bra size which is a 26C, and I had always been wearing 32's (A or B)... My best friend measured at a 28B. My sister and mom are definitely less than 30 inches as well. Now I feel depressed that I can't buy any bra that will fit me perfectly... :(
ReplyDeleteI just came to a realization after measuring that I am 25.5inch around my ribcage/band but I've been wearing a 32 band all these years....
ReplyDeleteI have the same problem, i'm HH but my ribcage is 23"
ReplyDeleteso sometimes i have to swe my bra =(
I'm a 26DD so I know how frustrating it is that you can't buy anything smaller than a 28 back! I emailed Bravissimo asking them which brands tend to come up small in the back so I could try them in a 28D and they were very helpful, they recommended Miss Mandalay and the Panache Tango bras. I also asked if there was a possibility that they would start stocking 26 backs in the future and they told me that there are no plans for it at the moment but that they would certainly log my request. At least they listened to me :)
ReplyDeleteI measure as 29 under my breasts and a 28DD fits great. However, at 120 pounds, which is small, I see numerous women who are a lot tinier than me, so I don't believe that a 28 bra band is extremely tiny - I consider myself small, but not tiny. It makes me wonder, since there are so many tinier women than myself, why I fit into the smallest band size available...and although I measure 29 around and 28 fits great (30 is too loose and rides up; I've tried it in different styles/brands), sometimes I find when I try on new bras, that in some styles a 28 is too loose! How does that happen if I measure 29 around? So in some styles I would want a 26 band, because I find my 28 stretches out fairly quickly. Right now I am wearing a 28 bra on the tightest hook that I've worn less than a month. I just emailed Freya about providing 26 band sizes. Everyone should email them then they can see how high the demand is.
ReplyDeleteIt's interesting to me that people don't realize the need for smaller band sizes. I'm overweight a US size 14/16, and yet I only wear bras with a band size of 34. Measuring tightly I'm right under 34 inches and loosely I'm 36 inches and 36 bands ride up horribly. There there people like my sister who are very slim and wears XXS shirts loosely, yet tried to claim she is actually something like a size 32B. I think a lot of the problem is misinformation to the consumers who think these smaller sizes are abnormal.
ReplyDelete@Amanda: I too am overweight (US size 18), and basically embarrassed to tell people I wear a 34-band! And even that is sometimes too loose (I measure 33"), but I just can't bring myself to wear the smallest band size available in many stores!
DeleteI have a friend who is 3" shorter than I, petite built and underweight, who also claims she is a 34"!
Regarding the EU sizes not matching the CM and inch measurements, I think it comes from the same as +4: Back when bras were stiff, it was better to take a bra bigger than what you actually measured, so I think the "+4" is already added to the EU measurements. So if you measure 75cm (29.5"), you are put in a 75band (34band). And no-one fixed it since.
Aw man, I know how this goes. I'm 5'5, and at my current weight I have a 25.5" rib cage (measuring snug, it's 28 if I measure the same way I measure my waist). My waist is 25.5". People always talk about how tiny I am, so you must be super tiny if you're 5'10 and that small! I'm a little heavier right now than I usually am but at my usual weight my rib cage goes down to 24" easily!
ReplyDeleteTrying to find the right size, even in specialty lingerie shops, can suck. Until I started wearing the right bra size and stopped wearing baggy shirts people always thought I was flat chested. When I started dressing properly I was asked if I'd had work done! Nope. I'd just been flattening the girls against me and going against my curvy figure for years.
The right band and bra size is so important.
I don't think there are many (if any) women who actually have ribcages below 25 inches. I think most women have about 2-3" between their waist and ribs, but women with very defined waists (due to corsetting or naturally) may have a 4-6 inch difference!
ReplyDeleteI usually notice that more obese women tend to have waists the same size or sometimes even bigger than their ribcage, where as very thin may have a more significant difference between the waist and ribs. At the end of the day, your ribcage can only go so small (much like the pelvis) but there is really no limit to how small a waist can go, especially with corsetting. You can have an 18" waist and 28" ribcage due to corsetting, I know I've seen it.
And for the record, my waist is 25-26" and my ribs are 28". Now even when I went down to a 22-23" waist, my ribs were still 26-27" and that was the smallest it would go.
I have a 23 inch rib cage. Just saying.
DeleteI'm 5'0" and 98 lbs and there is less than a 1" difference between my ribcage and my waist. I measure at a 26DD. Both are right around 26" so it isn't just overweight people who have waists the same size as their ribcage.
DeleteOn a side note: My hips are freaking 34" - 36"! Just depends on my weight and when I'm at my normal of 106 lbs, it's 36". I can't get bras OR jeans to even come close to fitting me.
I didn't mean to imply that it's only overweight/obese women that can have a smaller difference between the two measurements, just it's more common. Of course, if you have quite a straight, narrow ribcage, you could potentially have very little difference between the two measurements and be thin like yourself. But I think those with more tapered ribcages will tend to notice a bigger difference between waist and ribs with weight loss as the waist becomes more defined.
DeleteI actually do have a severely tapered ribcage. I need about a 28" (at my regular weight), but have a 22-23" waist. That actually causes its own fit problem, because I think I need a tapered band. If it fits properly at the bottom, it's too tight at the top. If it fits properly at the top, it rides up because the bottom is too big.
ReplyDeleteMy measured bra size is supposed to be a 22d. I live in a small town so the smallest bra the local department store carries is a 32a. I usually get sports bras and wear the 32b or 32c bras inside the sports bra. I cut off the straps and safety pin the band into place. It works well until I need to wear a tank top or backless shirt. I've also been known to wear swimsuit tops because they're adjustable.
ReplyDeleteI also have a small ribcage, I measure about 25-26 around and should be wearing a size 26 D, but instead have had to settle for 30 C when i can find them and 32 B when i cant (wearing the 32 B bras is just awful but its the only "standard" size that i can at least sort of fit into). I'll try to email some manufacturers about this, because as you said, there are a lot more people with small rib cages than they seem to think and there is definitely a market for them.
ReplyDeleteI used to be wearing a 32D/DD from lasenza and now I am wearing a 30 DD/E from change but the DD is too small a cup and the E band has streatched so far I could literally fit two of me in it.... when i measure myself loosly I am just under a 26 and when I measure tightly I am about a 24 and that size deffinatley does not exist where I have looked.... so I tried to alter my bras but that didn't work becuse the cups were just too wide(honestly my breast don't spread all the way around to behind my underarms but the way the cups fit you would think that they do).
ReplyDeleteMabye we small band sizes should create a web page on how to make your own bras and then we could all have a decent lovely fitting bra without having to wait for other companies to get around to it.
Or you could try the EM bras. They aren't that much more expensive than La Saneza.
DeleteI am just experiencing the frustration of this. My daughter is a 24/25 E/EE. She is only 14 and therefore still growing! I have paid out a small FORTUNE in the wrong size bras, because every store that measured her PUT HER IN THEIR OWN SMALLEST SIZED BRA! Angry does not begin to explain....Bravissimo gave us an honest measurement even though they didn't stock her size. At least we now know that the chronic back pain she suffers is treatable and not a side effect of health concerns.
ReplyDeleteHello there and congratulations ,i really like your blog.I too am a pettite framed young woman ,waering the wrong bra size for years.Currently i m buying my bras from "Bravissimo",and i find that the size 28E is ok but since i measure 26 inches under my bust i suspect my true number would be 26F?Anyway i have found that some 28 inches band from bravissimo run tighter that others so i can hook them on the tightest hook:-).But i think i should definetely try a 26'' band...The thing that puzzles me is that i dont think i am such an exception at all!I have seen other small framed women many times in my life and what about shorter women?I measue 26'' underbust and i m 5.5 and a half height ,so i suspect there are many more ,much smaller women than me that are shorter ,since i m of average height.
ReplyDeleteI dont know and i dont understand how this flawed measuring system developed but i m sure many-many women are wearing the wrong bra size.Anyway today i googled 26'' bands and i just found your blog...It was really informative and i ll check the polish brand you mentinoned in another post and i ll def. e- mail "Bravissimo" to let them know 26'' band are on demand!
Greetings from greece,Z.
Hello. I am a small ribcage too. I recently was fitted for the second time and found I am smaller than a 28; I actually measure 27". I previously thought I was a 30 and considered that was smallest available, after spending years wearing and believing 32 was smallest manufactured. A boutique lingerie shop near my home would not recommend me buying/nor sell me anything they had in stock(--this is a very admiralble quality in a retail venue, they wanted me satisfied, not trying to just get my money). I tried on every 30 without padding (because I dislike its unatural look) and some with ultra light padding, only to find nothing was a good and proper fit. They are currently searchng for me and recommended I wear a 26. Now I understand, knowing I measure less than 28", that is my exact size. The cup has been a C, as B is too small and, I must increase to D in a smaller band size as well. I have been playing tennis and running distance for most of my life, so my back stays muscular and trim and I am as small as I have ever been now at 44 years old. I would love to FINALLY have a bra that fits comfortabley, is made of quality materials and craftmanship and is also pretty like all good european lingerie. As a designer, I understand this area with a great deal of expertise. I hope this helps me and others like me.
ReplyDeleteI am just so confused about my bra size. I have a 23" waist and it seems that when I measure my under bust I am 26". Every time I use on of those online bra calculators I get different answers. I wish they would just make bras for us skinny people. My bras look just like in the picture you posted. The back rides up super high and I'm constantly readjusting and fitting my boobs back into my bras. Nothing is quite as depressing as going bra shopping. I'm sure some of you on here can relate to that.
ReplyDeletethelittlebracompany.com!!
ReplyDeleteI'm a 27"H (and had always been told I was a 30" - what are these bra-fitters doing?!). Like another lady on here I also have a 24" waist, but I'm neither triangular nor petite, but an hourglass figure.
ReplyDeleteThankfully a 28"H bra fits fine... if you can find them. There are few shops I can go to, and the stuff is always online which is a massive inconvenience as they often don't fit. I've found that many places seem to sell 'big sizes' which aren't true to fit and its incredibly frustrating when you think you have finally found something good, and then it doesn't work.
I'm also sick of being told I'm big chested or curvy whenever I look at online sites, and 'impossible' when I look at discussion forums (including this one, person who thinks that no-one has less than a 25" waist!). And finally, trying to find anything that fits over your boobs *and* fits your waist just doesn't work except with very particular styles. I spend a lot of my time in in size 8 shirts which make me look like a wall!
If you are referring to me, I said most women do not have less than a 25" ribcage, i.e. the measurement right below the breasts. I am not referring to the waist measurement. There may be a few exceptions, but it's pretty rate to have a 22-24" ribcage/underbust measurement. I just want to be very clear that I do not mean waist size. Maybe some people are confusing the two.
DeleteSo if you are a 26 and decide to try a 28 to adjust, do you go up a cup size then to account for the difference in cups?
ReplyDeleteNo, you go down a cup size. For example, if you are technically a 26DD, you would require a 28D to keep the same volume in the cup.
DeleteI'm so glad i was able to find this website. I currently wear a 28f freya bra, and the band is too big and the cup is too small; technically i'm a ff. So, a specialist told me that my size would be 26g. I just emailed the staff at ewa michalak on their opinion. But, what do you guys think? for their bras, should i go for a 26ff/60ff or 26g/60g?
ReplyDeleteYes. This is SUCH a problem for me. I'm a 26H, but there are never any stores that offer 26s at all, let alone a 26H. PLEASE make it better..
ReplyDeleteI'm 25" around my ribs
ReplyDeleteHi, I'm new to the world where bra's fit properly and after I measured myself my size was 26E (UK size, 26F in European size) but I can't find anywhere that sells that size!
ReplyDeleteI was thinking of ordering off of Ewa Michalak but they don't list the size on the website - how did you get yours? Are you meant to send an email to custom order? Please help!
Hi I'm wondering about the little bra company. I'm 28/32 and the use the add 4 method. Which is a bad idea I know. What I'm wonderin is what do I do? I know I'm a 28d by actual measurements. So what should I do? Try a 30c? Help please
ReplyDeleteI've heard their bands run small, so it's possible that a 30C would fit you fine. :-)
DeleteAlso my breasts are slightly wide set so I read on here somewhere on here that if they are a little wide a 30c might be a better option. I love the little bra company and ill be checking a store soon. I just don't know what to do cause I'm low on cash and I don't wanna buy something that doesn't fit. At $60 a bra I just wanna be sure they fit. I know tlbc doesn't make a 28D but I love how sexy they're stuff is. What would you recommend?
DeleteCurvy kate multiway plunge bra. Its new and pretty snug at 28 band.
ReplyDeleteGlad I found this blog! I actually wrote to companies a while ago asking for a 28 as it was still rare to find them. I'm still finding it difficult to find 28s actually as I don't like to buy online without trying the same brand in a store somewhere first. I've just measured myself and am actually 27" loosely measured so I assume a 26 would fit me better (which might explain why my shoulders are always so painful, and I always have to pull my bra back down). Like many people commenting above though, with a smaller back size comes a larger cup size, I've never seen a 26 back in store, even in "teen" sections and certainly not in FF/G cups. I will have a look into questionnaires so we can get our voices heard!
ReplyDeleteActually, I have found companies making size 26 bands and 24 bands. I forget who, though. They are quite expensive bras as well. Also, there are places that specialize in lingerie that will adjust bands on bras to shrink them down for those who need it. One such place is the Trousseau in Vienna, Virginia. Sometimes finding specialty stores is difficult, though.
ReplyDeleteMade In Preston now stock 26" bands: http://madeinpreston.com/
ReplyDeleteAlso Debenhams (also in the UK) go down to a 28" but they are pretty tight & more like a 26 " band:
http://www.debenhams.com/lingerie/dd-bras
Also Kris Line: http://www.krisline.com/ are usually pretty tight in the band. They only go to a 30" but I'm a 28" and one of the 30" bands I tried was way too tight so more like a 26" if not 24" actually. Some of them are pretty true to size though so it's trial and error. They're also available on brastop.
i wear a 34D because that fits me in the cup (although nowhere else) and is usually the smallest size i can find, but my rib measurement is 25, it as been impossible to find an affordable bra in my size. thanks to the people who linked sites with smaller band sizes!
ReplyDeleteCurrently my ribcage measurement is 24" and im wearing a 28H cup. unfortunately im 14 and still growing but 28H has been the smallest band/largest cup I can find! hopefully manufacturers start making small bands with larger cups accessible- the demand is larger than they think.
ReplyDeleteHi! I'm a very skinny petite Asian girl living in Singapore and I have trouble finding bras with cups... According to my measurements (in cm) I'm 55 underbust (just under 22 inches), 66 bust (about 26 inches) so I should theoretically be a 22 D... I'm 15 and still growing so previously I have always worn those kinds of racerback training bras that come in S-M-L type of sizig but I find they keep riding up nowadays and are giving me serious uniboob.
ReplyDeleteCup sizes available here in Singapore seem to be 28 upwards and in cups A B C D (we still use the old measuring system here i think) and I simply can't find a bra that fits. I can only wear underwires because if not 28s just ride up all the time even if the bra is on the tightest set of hooks... Very frustrated! Companies should definately start making 26 bands soon!
Hi Brittany,
ReplyDeleteI recently stumbled upon your blog after realizing that, despite the fact that I am very picky about my bras and like to think that I am one of the minority of women who are wearing the right size bra, I've been wearing the wrong size. I'm very short and also have a small ribcage (26.5"), but have been wearing a 32D for the past 2 years. I've been searching for things that are as close to my new size as possible, but the closest I've been able to get is a 28F-FF, and it's still very hard to find. I'm dying to try some polish brands like Ewa, Avocado and Comexim as I've heard great things, but they're so expensive and it's hard to find bras that fit + look nice elsewhere. :( Anyways, loving your blog & thanks for this post, I feel enlightened and encouraged. x)
I'm persistently share the frustration and discomfort! I'm very petite, and often find 28 backs can be easily be held out possibly 5cm from my ribcage?! Even more bigger problem, it's the cup size..... I could get away with a slightly ill fitted bra if I wasn't at least GG in cup size and still darn growing. I'm only 23, no kids, and a med student. I can only get bras from bravissimo, I would buy from brastop but not only do they have limited stock but also being an "odd" shape and size I'm lucky if I go 1 out of 10 bras to fit, which doesn't leave me much scope for a VERY tight budget! I wish somewhere, someone one day will realise there is demand for tiny back bands and larger cups and it isn't fair to those with "the gifted" shape to have to pay often triple the amount for the same comfort that those who shop in say primark for bras get. I went into bravissimo today, desperate for some relief for my poor back, to find only 2 were the better fit even though I can feel them ride up my back, I'd have to be a gymnast in order to get it off to, oh and don't get me started on the red sore marks on my shoulders!
ReplyDeleteI'm feeling very frustrated. I'm extremely petite, 5ft 2in, 93lbs., with a 23in. ribcage and 22 in. when measured tightly. The closest bra I can find to my size is a 28DDD, but even that is very difficult to find! I'm not sure what to do.
ReplyDeleteMy niece is 15 and just got measured at a 26 DDD. Where is she supposed to get bras? Poor girl!!!
ReplyDeleteI'm a 30E... So you would think I don't have lot of problems but... I'm French ! And in this country it's very difficult to find this size. Currently, I only wear Aubade bras in 32DD ou 30E. I wear the 32DD on the tighest hook and it's not perfect. The 30E is perfect but they don't sell all their model in this size and this brand is quite expensive (about 70€ for a bra)
ReplyDeleteThe biggest problem I have is for swimwear ! Even in 32DD it's very difficult to find something... In 34D, it's easy but I don't fell supported AT ALL, my breast looks awful and my boobs pop out ! I have just one swimwear, in 32DD and it's not a perfect fit, but at least, my boobs don't pop out...
Next time I go to the UK, i'll try different brands to know which size to order in which brand.
And i forgot to say... i'm not very petite. I'm 5ft 4in, 130lb and as i said : 30E
ReplyDeleteI wear about a 26" band, ideally. (And I have about a 22-24" waist; I DO have a very triangular ribcage, which is a fitting challenge of its own. My back is so steeply angled that I really need a different size band at the bottom than at the top.)
ReplyDeleteEwa Michalak does custom, and my custom nursing bras from them fit beautifully. Unfortunately, I'm looking for something less structured now, and it seems I will need to have that custom-made, too.
It's crazy to me that even TRAINING BRAS don't come with smaller band sizes. That still wouldn't fix the problem, obviously, for those of us with a larger breast-to-band ratio, but still...they're made for fairly young GIRLS, and manufacturers don't think any of them are smaller around than 30"?
Someone help cuz I
ReplyDeletea)I know this is kind of an adults thing but I'm an adolescent
b)I'm really confused about calculating my bra size: 1 moment I think I'm 28aa, the next i'M 28d
c)My mum doesn't wear a bra and she didn't say yes last time I asked, so I can't get properly measured.
Anyway, I know I need a bra bcuz my boobs hurt and jiggle when I run etc.
Please help anyone?