Me n’ my poor misunderstood H cups.
I have debated whether or not to respond to the ongoing kerfuffle about the snarky essay I wrote about bra fitting and vanity sizing and as a dishonest sales tactic back in April. The piece ran months ago, with generally positive feedback and thought provoking discussion in the comments. That is, until some people in the bra blogging community (which I didn’t even realize existed) read it, decided it was offensive, and a launched full scale (and in my opinion, misinformed) attack against me.
In a nutshell, the essay describes how proper bra fitting has descended from an art form into a cheap sales tactic where vanity sizing is often used to bolster profits (in the US, at least). I’ve met countless women who have encountered this while shopping at lingerie stores like Victoria’s Secret, and my suspicions are backed up by Brighid‘s recollections of working for the chain:
We were instructed to try to sell women into new sizes in order to increase our own sales. It was really common to “fit” 36C women into 34Ds, or 38C into 36D. Women thought they lost weight AND grew a cup size. Just like fitting into a smaller size of jeans, that type of sell worked wonders.
I compared this anecdote with my experience shopping for bras at Nordstroms, where I was fitting into a band a full 4″ smaller that what I normally wear, as well as an H cup, after comfortably wearing a DDD bras for years. Part of the reason my cup size jumped so dramatically was because I was trying on European bras, and it’s entirely possible that I usually wear a smaller cup size than ideal because it’s the biggest size I can find in brick and mortar shops. However, I do feel like I get decent support and coverage from my DDD bras, so I’m not going to kill myself seeking out H cups if I don’t have to.
The speculation I put forth in the article was that the salesgirl was putting me in a bigger cup/smaller band for the same reasons that Victoria’s Secret does- because it sounds more flattering (thinner rib cage and bigger tits= societal ideal), and to sell me a bunch of bras in my new size. Many commentors have insisted that this was not the case, but to be honest, these bras were so tight that they gave me back pain and were uncomfortable to wear. So it’s possible that this wasn’t a case of vanity sizing, but I was nevertheless dubious when she measured me at the same band size I wore 60 pounds ago.
So, fast forward three months. Bra bloggers HATE this essay, and fur is flying. I have attempted to reply to some of the commenters in a civil fashion without much luck, even contacting bloggers and asking a prominent bra blogger if she’d like to have us re-post something on MsBehaved about how to get properly fitted for a bra, if she thought it would put things right. (I fully admit I am relatively ignorant to the finer points of bra fitting, and am happy to share the perspective of someone who specializes in that sort of thing.) The irony was that while she was happy to drag my name through the mud on her blog and twitter, but couldn’t be bothered to follow up when I politely offered her a chance to share her perspective on the matter on my own website.
I have stopped bothering reading the comments and blog posts shredding my essay, because they stress me out, and I have bigger fish to fry. I’ve stopped responding to individuals, because the impression I get is not that these people want to actually relate to me as a human being, but pick a fight and paint me as a big, body shaming meanie. As a public health student and body positive advocate who writes extensively on this topic, this admittedly pisses me off, and I decided I need to write a general response on Ms. Behaved, for my own mental health, if nothing else.
Here are some of the accusations that have been flung at me based on my essay, and my responses:
1. I think ALL bra fitting is a scam.
I think people are coming away with this assumption based on the title of the article alone. There is nothing in this article that implies that I am opposed to the practice of bra fitting done properly, as opposed to unethical practice of using vanity fitting to drive sales (which, as Brighid explains above, is very real). Putting profits ahead of service is a problem across the board in American corporate retail, and I don’t think that readers in the UK really understand what it’s like to shop for a bra in the United States, not to mention differences in our sizing system.
I’m also accused of “discouraging women from finding proper fitting bras.” Actually, this is what I say at the end of the article:
“I suggest, instead, trying on several dozen bras until you find a few that actually fit well. “
This strategy has generally worked MUCH BETTER for me than working with sales people. Sad but true.
2. I think all women with large breasts are porn stars with implants.
Based on the following passage:
The young, eager saleswoman at Nordstrom whisked me away to a dressing room where I presented my boobs, and she got to work with a measuring tape. “Okaaaay,” she trilled, after punching some magical rib cage to bust ratio into her pocket calculator. “You’re a 38 H!”
WAIT, WHAT? I hadn’t worn a 38 band since I was in high school, and although my friend had warned me about their extended cup size system, I wasn’t exactly ready to be an H cup either. H cup was bra size no-woman’s- land, inhabited by porn stars with massive implants who looked like they might fall over from the weight of their breasts. I sucked up my pride tried on a handful of bras in my “new size.”
A lot of women have taken this as a personal affront to their H-cup breasts, asserting that they are not porn stars, and that their boobs are real. Now, if I were a small-busted women asserting that only porn stars with fake boobs have H-cup breasts, I would understand this sentiment. But it’s pretty clear from this statement that I also have H cup breasts, and that I am not a porn star nor do I have breast implants. (And there’s nothing wrong with either of these things- I am lucky enough to count some awesome porn stars among my friends!) I assumed from the context of this statement that it was pretty obvious that this was a humorous description of my visceral reaction of horror when I jumped up 4 cups sizes in one fell swoop of a tape measure. One blogger even admitted that this was also her initial reaction to being sized as a larger cup, yet still interpreted this passage as an offensive, body shaming condemnation of large breasted women. Was my reaction offensive? Perhaps. But it was intended as a commentary on how society views women with H-cup breasts, and how I’d unwittingly internalized that, even as a person who is generally body positive. Truth be told, this was in fact the first time I’d EVER seen an H cup bra outside of a porn film. Thanks to copious feedback bra blogging community, I realize that a lot of women in DD or DDD cups maybe should be wearing F+ cup sizes, but don’t, because most US stores carry a very limited range of sizes.
A lot of people are asking me to re-write the piece to “clarify” that this reaction is not meant as a personal attack on large breasted women. When I wrote the piece I thought it was fairly obvious that I was describing the experience of big boobed woman having an insecure freakout during a bra fitting that might be relatable to others in it’s cringeworthy honesty. It was a reaction to what I perhaps mistakenly perceived as vanity sizing, not a condemnation of large-breasted women. I totally own that it’s cringeworthy. But the truth is, once I got past the initial shock of being a handed a H-cup bra when I had never encountered one before, it didn’t bother me. I have big boobs, period, and I’m comfortable with that, regardless of my cup/band size. But that’s not really what this essay is about, and I’m sorry if that was unclear. I have no interest in shaming myself, nor the bodies of others.
Thing is, a lot of people did take it personally. I read a piece about someone feeling insecure or uncomfortable about gaining weight, I wouldn’t view that as a personal attack on my fat body, I would see that as their personal process informed by a body-negative society, and would try to offer encouragement. I don’t take other people’s body issues personally, because I’ve done a lot of work on my own self esteem, and feel secure in my body. I get that that if you’ve been teased or harassed about your breasts, or if you feel like you have to defend or justify your unusual bra size, that this might be a sensitive topic for you, and that’s valid. But also realize this sensitivity going to effect how you read this essay, and that your emotional reaction might blind you to the subtler nuances of what’s actually being said.
The thing is, none of the commentors replied with “I can see how it might be surprising or initially upsetting to realize you wear an H cup, but it’s actually more common than you think, and nothing to be ashamed of,” but instead, the response was overwhelmingly defensive and accusatory.
Although I am offering this response for consideration, I am choosing not to rewrite my essay, for reasons I outlined on a post I wrote a while back:
I’m a writer. I write like I talk. If you don’t know me, you might misconstrue some of the things I say. I’m happy to explain my intent, if you’re actually willing to listen to me. But I am not going to contort my voice to the point of extinction to attempt to avoid offending your easily-provoked sensibilities. Mutual respect is the name of the game. If you really think I’m truly being an ignorant asshole, call me out on it, but don’t fucking attack me based on assumptions about who I am when you don’t know me, and accept that I may have a totally different (and valid) take on things.
Admittedly my writing can be a weird mixture of blunt/bitchy and empathic/loving (I am a big hippy that loves humanity like family, even when we fight like family). I have strong opinions and I don’t sugar coat things, but my heart is generally in the right place. It just makes me intensely uncomfortable when people seek to police my words and opinions when they really don’t know the first thing about me, my values and my writing.
3. I am convinced that all women are lying to themselves and wearing vanity sizes.
I DO believe that many women who shop at chain stores are wearing vanity sizes, and I believe this is the result of aforementioned shady sales tactics that tinker with cup to band ratios. However, I don’t think that a small band size/large cup size=vanity sizing by definition, especially if you’ve been fitted by a competent professional. Nevertheless, certain bloggers have gone as far as posting photos of themselves in various sized bras as “proof” that they are not a victim of vanity sizing. If you care enough about bras to dedicate an entire blog to writing about them, I am certain you’ve done your homework and are wearing the proper size, and there’s no need to prove that to anyone, especially not me. Your bra size is your business, and while I do think vanity sizing is a real problem, I’m commenting on a larger issue related to bra shopping in general, not accusing women with unusual bra sizes of lying to themselves. If anything, I am asking the average woman to STOP listening to manipulative salespeople, and wear bras that fit properly without worrying about the number and letter on the bra.
I honestly don’t expect any of the angry commentors from the original essay to read this response, because most of them don’t actually read Ms. Behaved on a regular basis, or have any context of who I am as a writer and human being. I stand by my essay, snark and all, and I have no problem with dissenting opinions expressed. In fact, I’ve learned some new and useful things about bra shopping from the feedback I’ve received.
However, I do have the problem with the way I’ve been demonized as a horrible body-shaming monster based on the ways people chose to interpret what was ultimately a flip bit of snark. Try reading some of my MANY other essays on body image (there’s ten right there), or actually TALKING TO ME DIRECTLY before ripping me to shreds. I’m all for thought-provoking, productive discussions with room for different opinions, but this seems like a pretty stupid thing to fight about.
-Bianca James
Bra-vo (all puns intended).
For what it’s worth, this is actually a pretty good guide for roughly figuring out your bra size: http://www.wikihow.com/Measure-Your-Bra-Size . But, as you say, experience will vary with user. Because full coverage cups, molded cups, demi cups, and plunge cups are all cut differently AND because breasts are all shaped differently, it’s really worth trying a bunch of sizes and style around your measured size. As an example, I measure at a 32DD/DDD (fluctuating now that I”m pregnant). Pregnant or not, I cannot wear a full coverage 32DD because it is too big with lots of gaping fabric and underwire up to my collar bones, but I easily fit 32DDD and 32E demi and plunge cups. This is because I’m short and my breasts are “short” (measured top to bottom). I need a cup with depth (moving out away from the body), not length. Molded cups are a whole other bra-fitting ball game because they never have the cup depth I need (when on my body, the underwire rarely rests against my breastbone until I go up so many cup sizes that the bra doesn’t even come close to fitting. And now everyone knows all about my breasts.
My best fitting tips: grab a mirror, a tape measure, and measure your self at home. Then go to a store like Nordstrom’s Rack that carries a really extensive range of sizes (and are really affordable, I snag my $80 Natoris for $20, Betsy Johnsons for $25). Grab a shit ton of bras (as many as you can find) in your measured size, in a cup size bigger, in a band size bigger/smaller, and in as many styles as you can find. Take a deep breath, take off your clothes and begin trying on bras assuming that most of them won’t fit – remember look for fit not pattern, color or style. Take mental notes on “too small/large” and where things fit poorly. For the larger busted ladies especially: bend over, touch your toes, and stand back up. Did your bra/cups/underwire migrate off your body and down your torso? If so, the cup size is too small. Grab more bras in the size that would fit better. Keep note of mfg and cup style/shape. It’ll take some time, but you’ll learn a lot about your self, your breasts, and bras. At the end of the day, take home what fits OR take home all the info you collected and try a different store to see if you can find a better fit. When you’re all done, successful at finding a bra or not, do something nice for yourself (wine, pedicure, whatever).
I’m (only sort of) looking forward to posting about this in a few months when I get to figure out how the hell to fit the girls into a nursing bra….
Sorry for hijacking in the comments – more importantly, good for standing up for yourself and your work.
Not hijacking at all!
this is all very good advice in line with what I suggested in my article.
Then go to a store like Nordstrom’s Rack that carries a really extensive range of sizes…
I totally want to shop at your Nordstrom Rack. That is all.
Personally, I think anyone that read the original article and didn’t either relate or wet theirselves laughing should be more concerned with their over inflated sense of self worth than their bra size. I have H-bombs, I say that loud n proud. But my initial reaction was much the same as yours. Only I swore more. H? They’re made that big? Seriously? Are you “effing” kidding me?
My boobs have never stopped growing and as my mum calls me her boobiliscious baby we have named all the sizes from D- Delectable, E – Enormous, G-Gorgeous, H, Humungous, J – Just ridiculous jugs, and Now K – well it’s pretty much korrrr blimey! I haven’t changed as a person just because the size of my boobs has changed. Anyone that defines themselves by a size, a number, a letter, their height, their weight or how much they earn needs to learn to get their validation elsewhere. Soapbox put away now
Okay, I am going to share my story because I do think that you may have been incorrect in your assumptions on the source post. I went into Victoria’s Secret a few months ago expecting to be downsized from a 36D back to what I had been wearing, a 36C. Instead, I was measured as a 36DD. Clearly there was something wrong. No way was I that large. I tried on one of the bras, and it fit! Nice, lifted, round. I was happy with the fit, but unhappy with the size. No way was I a 36DD. I am average, but certainly not what I would call large chested. Clearly this must be vanity sizing. . . .
So, I jumped on the computer and did some research only to learn about the sizing method that you disagree with. I thought I would give it a try and try a 34DDD. No fit. The bra just looked silly, it was way too small overall. I struggled to get that band closed. I read, and I read, and I read, then I asked the blogger at Thin and Curvy why that was. She told me to try a 32FF Freya based on my measurements. I wasn’t ready for anything that radical. I ordered a Freya in 34F. Perfect fit. I ordered a Curvy Kate in 34F, reasonable fit, but a bit of quad boob, stretchy band though. They both fit well, but a few weeks later, the bands were starting to stretch and I was losing weight, so it was time to buy newer ones. My 34 bands were starting to ride up my back. I will reinforce the bands, but have since purchased some 32 bands with FF and G cups.
On the middle hooks, (loosest hooks still ride up) my 32 bands hold firmly in place. I don’t have to readjust anything at all now. I have no back squish because my band is sitting where it belongs. Neither of these things were true in a Victoria’s Secret bra. I feel much better supported and secure, which is new to me, and I like it. Best of all, my armpit fat is going away! I am not crazy, it truly is going away. I look overall smoother in clothing now. Knock that method because you thought your band was too tight, but it works for a lot of us, and most of us aren’t even happy about it. In fact it took me a while to accept such bra cup letters, even though I knew that was all they were, letters.
The cup size is in proportion to the band. A D cup could be tiny or very large, depending on what the band size is. A 32B is much smaller in cup than a 36B. Hold my 32FF Freya Deco cup against my 36DD Victoria’s Secret cup, and they are very, very close to the same cup size. My 34F Freya is smaller in cup than my 36DD Victoria’s Secret bra. Now, I would like to address what happened with your H cup bra. Sometimes a too tight band is the result of a too small cup…remember that 34DDD I struggled to close? a 34F fit fine, and I didn’t lose or gain cup volume. My 32FF Freya Deco gives me no problems and even borderlines on being too small in the cup.
I don’t get how you can write in the same piece that slimmer + larger breasts is a society ideal AND that H cups on band smaller than 38 are associated with implants and porn stars. If your initial reaction (and that of lots of women) was “I don’t want to be that size”, it is surely not that “ideal”. Obviously you are aware of the stigma if you joked about it.
Ha! I didn’t even catch on to that one. Lol, I do understand where she was coming from with the whole porn star comment. I remember being sized in to a 36DD at VS and wondering what was going on. The bra fit well, but surely I couldn’t be a DD. I honestly thought they were practicing vanity sizing because my grandmother wore a DD cup and those cups could have gone over our heads. I also thought of my friend who kept wearing DD cups whose boobs are bigger than my adult head, but whose bra was always way too small. I thought there were no other options for her. I went home with my bras and looked online to find that OMG! I should be a 32G? or 34F? Are those sizes even real? And I am wearing a 32FF right now that fits so much better than that 36DD. I think the cup is even slightly smaller.
I think the thing that upset me about the original post, and probably a lot of people were the idea that she more or less acted like she had the authority and knowledge to determine that bra fitting was a scam. I do have to agree that many bra fitters suck, and many will try to sell you something that doesn’t fit because that is what they have in store, but bra fitting is NOT a scam. I think the wording in the blog also implied that those of us who do go for the smaller band with higher cup size are delusional, when in fact, some of us just don’t want our bands riding up our backs. I always had that problem before I started buying a smaller band.
I don’t think that the writer implied that the consumer changed size for vanity reasons but that stores use it as a sales pitch to encourage sales. Telling their customer that their boobs are smaller or they are fatter wont drive sales. People are (somewhat baffling to me) desperate to be seen as smaller and or with larger breasts. In fact, in all the bra blogging world reviewing fitting techniques; see fuller figure fuller bust and a sophisticated pair for reviews on fitting experiences, to see that equally if a store genuinely doesn’t stock sizes big enough for those with ‘porn star sizes’ they size the other way with larger bands and smaller cups to again clinch the sale. It may just be my perception but I thought the writer was slating deplorable sales techniques rather than larger boobs or even people that do size up, down, left or right to get a bra that fits them as they are comfortable.
Any skinny, petite, small-boned woman who would purposely have IMPLANTS to make herself an GG or H cup must WANT to have to spend way more on bras. That can’t be a “societal ideal” thing, it’s a “you have money to burn having to buy the more expensive bra lines” thing. I would associate implants with “rich” rather than “porn star” because presumably doing porn for a living is what women may have to resort to to pay the bills.
Your comment is all sorts of ignorant. I am a thinner woman who got breast implants and now wear a 28G. I didn’t get implants so I could spend more money on bras. I got the surgery because I was not comfortable with the breasts I had. Due to extreme weight gain and loss because of medical treatments. You also don’t get implants to achieve a certain bra size but more of a look.
Hope all of you ladies are having a good day. I actually got to this blog by accident. I am working on a FB page for my bra fitting boutique & ran across this discussion. I must say there is a mixture of right, wrong & misconstrued information out there regarding bra fitting. (I will not knock any of the other retail businesses that have been mentioned here since I would not want them to knock my establishment.) Just like anything else in this crazy world we live in, there are people out just for the $$$, but there are also some of us that care about helping others.
Bra fitting is as much of an art as it is a science. It has been my experience that educating the client on her specific body type is the most important aspect of bra fitting. The client first has to understand her basic needs in acquiring the “perfect” bra and I need to understand her needs. I also would like to keep her as a client, so fitting her in something other than the correct bra (or outside of her financial range) would be a disservice to both of us.
Let me address the bloggers experience. First of all, there is some truth in her complaint. Freya bras are only available in 36 or 38 band size depending on the cup size (except for their sports bra which goes up to a 40). So if she is a true 42 band, Freya would never fit. I feel in this instance an Elomi or Goddess style would have been more appropriate.
Next, let’s address the “vanity” sizing. The best example I can give you is my own. Before I was “educated” I was wearing a 38D in an underwire and was still uncomfortable all the time (wire was cutting in under my arm). If I tried to go to a 38DD, there was just too much puckering in the cup. I was wearing these on the tightest hook & still had to whip out the old sewing machine and run another seam up each side to take up the slack (and keep the girls from falling out the bottom of the cup)! Once I was correctly fitted, I found that a 34DDD (in a balcony/demi cup) fit perfectly! The larger underwire comfortably cupped my breast & no longer pinched or poked me. Best of all the 34 band size fit perfect on the 1st hook & my bra never moved or shifted. Now, if I choose a plunge or full cup style depending on the style/manufacturer and a look I am comfortable with, my correct size will vary from 34DD to 36DD. So please don’t think your Bra Fitter is crazy, if you end up with a couple different sizes. Even the same style bra by different manufacturers could result in different sizes.
The flip side of that is, I have to admit, occasionally, we run into the customer that does insist on what she refers to as “vanity sizing”. But I look at that as a personal preference on their part & not something I would promote. I just try to educate them in the facts & that they may be injuring their breast tissue. I can usually get them to allow me to try on a bra that fits them correctly just to show them the difference in appearance & comfort. Sometimes it works, sometimes not.
The next obstacle to overcome is the “fear” of seams in your bra (especially for those in the larger cup sizes). I know here in the Midwest everyone wants the seamless T-shirt bra. There are 2 problems with this—-1) depending on your cup size, they may not be available & 2) they may not give the support you need.
I would like to advise that you should be properly fitted by an independent professional. (In my boutique, the fitters are not commissioned.) If there is not one in your area, DO NOT try to measure yourself ( your measurements tend to increase when you raise your arms & will be inaccurate). At best have a friend measure you following the directions you can find everywhere online. I have found the most accurate is to be measured with your best fitting bra on, measure directly under the bustline (make sure the tape is flat & even all the way around) then around the fullest part of your bust. Do the math & follow the charts as a starting point. Please remember this is only a starting point!!! From there you have to work with the shape of your breasts, any medical conditions you may have (previous surgery in the bra/band area, lumpectomy, etc.) & the final look you want to achieve.
Please do not try to order online before trying the bra on. If you are looking at “better” bras, the price in your local boutique will probably be the same price as the bra online (plus you save shipping costs). The time to order online is once you have your bra & you might want it in a color your boutique does not carry. (In my searches, the only sales online are on discontinued styles or colors).
Let me also mention spending $40+ on your new bra. I feel if you are investing your hard earned money in a product it should last as long as possible. Your new bra should fit you properly on the loosest hooks (that way as it wears & stretches, you can tighten it as needed). Most important is to hand wash/line dry! We recommend Baby Shampoo (a little cheaper than the lingerie washes available). You should not wear your bra more than twice before washing. This lets the fabric “rest” and keep its vitality. I have bras that are 4-5 years old that still look brand new!
Do not be rendered comatose from any large cup size!!!! I have many customers that have been blessed with natural L, M & N cups. For years they have been wearing the largest band size they can find in a DD/DDD cup & are amazed once properly fitted! Not only do they look wonderful, but they constantly come in to thank us for taking away their back/shoulder pain & tell us about all the compliments they have received.
I hope that this information helps at least 1 of you & convinces others there are reputable fitters out there. You just have to look!
I won’t say that your previous article was rude, But there is a lot of misinformation. I guess it’s very disheartening to work hard to try to help other women with their with issues that stem from bra sizing and but then see articles that spread misinformation get a lot of attention as well. I do believe there are bra fitter that just want to sell, and they don’t care if the bra fits well. But i don’t believe that vanity sizing exists and back fat and armpit fat is caused by wearing a poorly fitting bra. It’s your choice to wear or not wear a bra in whatever size you think fits you best.
You mentioned when wearing the 38H that wires poked you in arm pit. I get that too when wears a new bra that hasn’t been broken in yet. It normally takes me a week of everyday wear to break in a bra. But it could also be the style and brand that you chose. Taller women need a longer wire than shorter women. It’s also possible that maybe you weren’t fitted as well should have been. Maybe you needed a larger cup size, rather than a smaller band. I guess without your measurements It would be hard to say where your starting point should be.
I also didn’t like how you made a huge claim about vanity sizing and bra fitting being completely bogus. But didn’t offer any tips on how your readers that have the same bra fitting issues as you could do anything about it.
Well, one problem with finding oneself in an GG or H size bra is the COST of said bra. You can’t find them at Wal-Mart or K-Mart or even Sears and rarely at JCPenney and even then only in their CATALOG. If you’re poor or on a budget and find yourself at the age where gravity takes its toll and you need more support for your large-cup but small-band-size boobs or a breast reduction surgery you can’t afford to pay for because you’re a part-time worker or substitute teacher and relying on almost poverty like wages or state Medicaid to pay for everything, then where are you going to get bras that fit….problem is that places like Nordstrom Rack don’t even exist out in the boondocks where most of the teaching jobs are. Mail-ordering from Europe is guesswork, and you have to hope the thing fits when it gets to you or send it back for another size. I’ve even had to mail order the ones out of the JC Penney Catalog and do the send-it-back thing. I swear, I should find some way to pay for breast reduction surgery just so I can fit into the bra sizes I can AFFORD at the kind of stores they HAVE out in the boondocks. That’s a whole other side of this issue that, as usual, is not addressed.
Paige I think it’s really dumb to get surgery to just get a bra that fits well. I’m not saying that you are dumb. I understand your frustration 1000%. Bras are meant to fit you not the other way around. Currently http://www.butterflycollection.ca/ offers skype fittings. You could also consider getting a tax id and buying the bras at the wholesale price. But that is something you should talk to your accountant about. You can’t be the only D+ woman in the boonies.
Actually, needing liposuction is an overall overweight issue, thanks for assuming I’m being “stupid” about the unnecessary size and flabbiness of my own body. No amount of diet or exercise seems to be doing the trick. And yes, DOCTORS have told me I need to lose weight to get my blood pressure down. And also, if a bra fits badly enough it can make the wearer look like she has two extra sets of boobs, one on top of the other one in the front and the two in the back from where the straps push the back fat up to look like two extra “boobs.” I’ve seen it – I’m not quite that overweight yet, but I’ve seen it. I’m overweight but I’m still only 34 inches under the rib-cage.
You can take things how you want to take them It’s up to you. I just don’t see the point of getting a surgery that has been life threatening just so you can get cheaper bras. If you are having trouble losing weight I’m sorry to hear that. I didn’t say that you were overweight. There are thin women with large breasts.
You’re the one that started your criticism with “it’s dumb” without knowing anything else about the situation. Not me. No, YOU haven’t seen me, weighed me, or measured me or my blood pressure – yet you started the conversation that way. I”M not the one taking things wrong, here. And “bras that don’t drain my bank account” is only part of the big picture. You’ve only read one part of everything I’ve written and come out with “it’s dumb.” That’s what I’m saying. Thanks a lot. And again, you didn’t read the fact that I need to lose weight all over ANYWAY. I’m glad I teach Math and not Reading Comprehension.
You clearly need to learn how to read. Take your meds and calm down.
She said getting an unnecessary medical procedure to just fit a certain size range of bras is dumb. Also when did you bring liposuction into this. Also liposuction isn’t meant for weight loss, it is meant as a way of removing stubborn areas of fat that exercise and proper diet has not been able to change. Liposuction is recommended for persons who are healthly and at their ideal body weight but still with so called problem areas of fat. Put money away slowly each month so than you can afford other bras. eBay is a great option ussually you can pick up bras around 20 dollars with very cheap shipping. A proper fitting bra will last much longer than a bra that has a bad fit.
I have tried many bras in 42DD that either couldn’t be closed for more than a minute from the pain or had gaping because they were too large in the cup. I wish they would sit like the picture on the sites, but often they look too pointy, like a cone/bullet bra. The sizing in my country isn’t like US/UK, it mainly has small, medium, large, etc. Needless to say I’ve lost a few bucks ordering online. I did keep one bra that fit.
What are your measurements? And what country do you live in.
I’m 41.3 band and 48 chest. Most were tight in the band and big in the cup. I know I should have bought F cups with those measurements, but that seemed too large because my breasts don’t look big at all (due to their shape). I’m also aware of minor sizing discrepancies among brands (lack, of DD, DDD, etc). I’m thinking about buying 44 band now. My breasts are pear shaped, so maybe that’s the problem. Though I don’t see as fair to only design bras for round breasts. The extra large in my country seem to fit my well enough when they have the right shape for me. I can often find clothes (non revealing) to go braless or wear a stretchy bandeau too. I rather not disclose my country, but I can tell you it isn’t USA or Europe. The whole bra fitting didn’t live up to my expectations at all.
Going by your measurements I think you should try a 42F or a 40FF. When you measured your bust did you do so standing at 90 degree angle? When you measured your under the bust did you pull tightly. I wish I could help you find a store near you. If you want you could leave me a message on my blog and I can delete it after the fact.
42 band is snug at best, 40 is out of the question, I don’t think it would close. I know most women trying bra fitting go up in cup and down in band, but really isn’t my case. I’m a big person. 5’8, 240 lbs, apple shaped. I have this 42DD strapless that is very tight in the band, and loose in the cup. I love it, but it hurts to wear.I just ordered 44D of the same and I think it will be perfect. Strapless is really the only kind I need a “perfect fit”. It’s quite unfortunate that most “specialty brands” don’t go over a 40 band. To answer your another question, I measured standing up in front of the mirror. I’m not sure how tightly you want me to pull because I’m “soft”, so the tape could go in a few more inches, however my problem is the 42 band is too tight! A fitted bra should not hurt. I’ve been reading about bra fitting for over two years now…There should be more consistency among brands.
The reason why the 42DD is tight in the band is the cup is too small for you. And your breast tissue is being pushed into the the band. Try pulling all your breast tissue into the cup from the bottom and the sides and you will see what I mean. Actually larger women can go down on the band size. I wouldn’t be surprised if you could wear a 38 band. The bands of most bras are quite stretchy. Currently I have a 37 inch under the bust and I wear a 36 band. I
When you pull the tape, pull it as tight as you can, You don’t have to breath in. Just breathe normally and don’t totally deflate your lungs.
There should be more consistency between brands but I don’t think that will ever happen. Certain brands or styles are better for certain women.
If you want to find stores near you, you should go to the Elomi or Goddess website and see if there is a store near you.
I’ll continue to buy some bras to experiment with, bigger and smaller around my measurement. Online is my only option though. But like I said before: ” I have this 42DD strapless that is very tight in the band, and loose in the cup.” Turns out measuring my breasts don’t help/isn’t much different than just looking at the garment. Bra fitters don’t even exist here.
Well you could always try bratatbase.com There are people that can help you on there.
My initial comment wasn’t really looking for help. I was agreeing with the author. Bra fitting has its issues.
I found your original post extremely disheartening. I had my first ever bra fitting at Victoria Secret and while I do agree that they were just trying to get me into a bra size that they carried, I do not think they were using “vanity sizing” mostly because at 16 years old my correct bra size probably would have been around 30D-28DD which VS does not carry but which would have appealed more to my “vanity,” as opposed to the 34D they squeezed me into.
I went many years squeezing myself into 34D-DD because the VS employee had convinced me that I was. While I was 32 weeks pregnant with my first child I was fitted at a boutique where I was put in to a 34FF. Not realizing how much (and how quickly) my body would change with pregnancy I continued to wear that bra for almost a year until my mom saw me and insisted I get a better fitting bra.
Most recently after my son was born I went to Nordstrom to be fitted and the lady there did a wonderful job. I am now in a 32G that fits me perfectly. I was neither surprised, nor elated at my new “vanity size” as I knew my body had once again changed throughout pregnancy.
Also, I’m a pants size 2, so I’m going with the measurement.
Thank you for confirming my gut feeling about VS bra fittings. What I don’t get is why any woman would buy an uncomfortable bra. In my case, I went to VS specifically to buy 2-3 new bras to replace some that were getting “tired” and worn. Old ones were 36B and from about 10 pounds lighter. They put me in 34D and so tight my 10 pounds were being squished out all around. Not a good look for a woman nearing 50! I ended up doing exactly what you suggest in you first post: tried on a variety of sizes and styles from 34 to 38 with cups from B to D. For me, 36C was best even though sales girl kept pushing 34D. Anyway, just want to say thanks for sharing your experiences. Keep up the good work.
There’s also a lot of sizing that’s the opposite of this (un-vanity sizing?). I know that I, and many women around my size, have been fitted ‘professionally’ into 32C/D with a 26,27,28″ ribcage, when I find that I am actually more like a 28FF.
I’m not saying you are wrong, but possibly it’s more a case of “fit all of the women into the range that we carry” rather than vanity sizing.
I definitely think that’s true. I’ve realized that I should probably be wearing a smaller band and bigger cup. Ironically, when ordering bras in the next smaller band, going up one cup size wasn’t enough, I had to jump two from what I wore before. Let’s face it, bra shopping is a clusterfuck.
Hi, I stumbled across your blog from the big bra blogging world (please don’t hate me for that
) saying how awful your article was. I have to say that I thought it was actually a very well written piece that I thoroughly enjoyed reading and even as someone who agrees with the whole +0 method to measure which some might see as vanity sizing I actually agreed with most of what you said. I took away from your article more than anything, that you should wear what fits you and what you are comfortable in and not trust everything a sales person says – their job is to sell after all! I’m glad after reading this post that you’ve stuck to your guns and not taken offense because you’re a fabulous writer and I look forward to reading a lot more of your work.
Lindsey
Thanks Lindsey, you are awesome. I think a lot of people interpreted this article about being about themselves, somehow? When really it’s a generally commentary on a very particular phenomenon. I appreciate your kind words very much. <3