Going to college.......bra fittings

[future_mommy]

Ive always wanted to go to a bra specialist, whether it be Victoria secret or something like that. Im really not sure what size I am, Im 4 foot 10.5 or 11 and weigh around 93-96 pounds. I dont weigh myself constantly, as long as my pants fit, Im proud that Im not obsessed with the scale. But Id like to go off to college with like 3 good fitting bras. Im wearing a 38 C but Im not sure if thats the right size, the cup size seems right but the back seems to ride up. What are some good places to get fitted for bras?? I hate paying more than $25 for a bra.......might be cheap lol

[nextcommercial]

I like the Victoria's secret Ipex.

But, I'm about a foot taller and wear a size B. So, maybe it's all in the body shape.

I will say though, that I used to buy thin soft bras from Target, and I learned the hard way, that once gravity decided to set in, you can't go back. So, spend the money on a really good bra (but comfort is key) and take care of what you have now. Cuz once it's gone, it's gone.

[blairhoney]

I can't imagine that you're a 38C if your frame is that small. It sounds like you need a smaller band size - I think my friends around your size wear like a 32?

I would suggest going to Victoria's Secret or Nordstrom and getting a fitting done. If you don't want to pay that much for one of their bras, you can always say no after the fitting (though they'll probably pressure you to buy), or buy it and return it. Then go to Target; they have a line of underwires that are $12-$15.

I have some VS Ipex and also some of the Target ones, and while the Target ones are adequate (I'm a 34C), the VS ones are more comfortable.

[CAndMe]

I was fitted at Nordstrams and the girl walked away afterwards. Definitely don't feel pressured to buy just because you got a fitting. You can browse and if you feel uncomfortable say 'I will be back with a friend' and leave

[~Megan~]

Don't go to Victoria's Secret. They are terrible at bra fitting.

Go somewhere like JC Penney or Nordstrom's but call in advance and ask when their best bra fitter will be in.

[californiajenn]

I have to agree , there is no way you are a 38 C. I'm a foot taller than you but I am thin and I wear a 32C.

I second the recommendation to have a fitting at Nordstroms. VS didn't do a very good job for me.

Also, you may need adjust how much you are willing to spend. You are probably more like a 34 DD and those aren't easy to find. A good bra is something you wear daily and it should fit well and be comfortable.

[SAHDS]

Another vote here for Nordstrom.

[mgilleran@earth-co]

I don't know if you have one near you, but they do bra fittings at Dillard's in my town. I am large chested, so a good bra is very important to me. It is the only thing I splurge on. I pay about $20 for a good Caberet Minimizer. It makes a huge difference in my appearance. I got a new one recently & the next day I had about 5 people ask if I had lost weight. I highly recommend a good fitting. I wouldn't suggest VS either. If you are large chested their stuff will not fit right anyway.

[Missa]

I would have to vote no to victoria's secret. They don't want to find your size, they are trained to find one of their bra's to put you in whether or not it fits correctly. Nordstrom's is awesome though!. I wear a 34G, victoria's secret measured me to be a 40D (I am a size 6 and my band measurement is 30 which puts me at a 34 back size no where near 40 inches but that was their solution to finding a cup size to fit me) So anyways, my boobs did make it into the cup mostly but the back rode up and that is what actually supports your breasts, not the shoulder straps. I really need good support, lol. Another place to check for a bra fitting specialist in your area is www.myintimacy.com

I don't want to offend anyone who might work at Victoria's Secret, my issue isn't with their salepeople or managers, it's with their corporate policy training procedures. I have written them asking them to do away with their size wheel. They put your measurment on this thing and it pops up the size they carry that supposedly will fit, anywho I think they are contributing to unsupported breasts all over the world and they should just be honest with people if they don't have a bra that will work for them. When they start doing that I will start buying panties and jammies from them

Missa

[whoamama]

I fit bras. To get a starting point, measure around your chest above your breasts.
Next measure around the fullest part of your breasts. The difference in inches is usually your cup size. For example, if the first measurement is 34 and the second one is 36, you are probably a 34 B. That is not infallible, you must try on a few different styles. I concur that 38 is probably huge on you, unless you are spectacularly muscled.

[snitker79]

Originally Posted by whoamama

I fit bras. To get a starting point, measure around your chest above your breasts.
Next measure around the fullest part of your breasts. The difference in inches is usually your cup size. For example, if the first measurement is 34 and the second one is 36, you are probably a 34 B. That is not infallible, you must try on a few different styles. I concur that 38 is probably huge on you, unless you are spectacularly muscled.

I have a lingerie webstore and I also help people fit bras. I always measure, have the customer measure, under the breasts, just above the ribs and then again at the fullest part of the breasts while wearing an unpadded or lightly padded bra. I too went to VS for a fitting just to see how they did things differently and they ranked me at a 34 something, which I tried on some of theirs and there is no way a 34 is comfortable for me. Go somewhere else.

Before I started hand selecting my pieces and reviewing things I too was all about buying cheap bras. But when you wear something every day, you get what you pay for. You want it to be comfortable but cute and flattering as well. Your not as likely to continue to wear it if it isn't.

[MeepyCat]

I hate paying lots for bras, but then I wind up with one or two comparatively expensive bras that I wear ALL THE TIME, and a drawer full of cheap things I never want to put on. I now prefer to economize by getting four or five good bras, and not buying the drawer full of never-wears.

You can certainly ask Vicky's to size you, but I have also had the experience of being told that I wear a size they conveniently happen to stock, rather than my actual size.

I can't imagine how someone who weighs less than a hundred pounds at your height can use a bra with a band size of 38, but I know a lot of women with small band/large cup sizes wind up wearing large band sizes with moderate cups. I am one myself. When this happens, we wind up shortening the bra straps to get *any* support, and the bra rides up in back. Get measured at someplace good, like Nordstroms, and if necessary, order bras on-line until you find something comfy. Figleaves.com has done well by me in the past.

[jadekat]

I'm around your size (5 foot tall and 112 lbs) and I've never worn a 38 band size. Not even when I was pg and I gained 50 lbs. I agree with pp abot VS. I've been fitted there a few times and it was a waste of time. Unfortunately I'm too small to fit in any of their bras since I'm not bfing anymore. Currently I wear a 30A and I have to order them online. I order from Bare Necessaities and planning on getting some from Figleaves. Good luck!

[future_mommy]

Figured out numbers......help

Above chest measurement- 30
Biggest part of breast- 31.5 or 32
Under chest measurement- 26 or 26.5

[snitker79]

From my calculations (using the ribcage # and # at fullest part of breast) you would need a 32E. Here's the link to my bra sizing chart http://www.thepossibilitiesroom.com/...sizechart.html Which might put you at ordering from a specialty shop or online in order to get such a small band size but accomodate for cup size.

I recently had a conversation with a designer of one of my lingerie manufacturer's who was discussing bra/cup sizes. She said that the cup sizes are exactly the same as you move upward in band length. Such as a 34D=36C=38B. The cup size is the same only the length of band changes. I haven't tried out the theory yet.

Did you take the measurement across the fullest part of your breasts with an unpadded bra on?

[texaspeach]

if the back rides up, the band is too large. I'm your height but heavier and wear a 34 DD, so chances are you're going to be smaller than that in band. Keep in mind that as band size decreases, cup size is going to increase. The volume of the cup will stay the same, while the dimensions change (like if you have a box that's 5x4 it has the same volume of a box that's 2x10).

It's pretty hard to measure yourself. I suggest going to a large department store like nordstrom or JCPenney and get fitted. VS is notorious for measuring incorrectly so they can fit women into their bras (they only carry up to a DD).

also try not to limit yourself by only spending $30 - you can find some great $30 bras if you are a smaller size - but if you are a larger cup size you will need to spend more to get a quality product. It's also kind of tricky to find larger cup sizes in smaller band sizes. Nordstrom seems to carry a wide range of brands in larger cup sizes and smaller band sizes, and sometimes I have luck at JCPenney, but I almost always end up spending more than $30. Don't rule a bra out because it's expensive. save your pennies and buy a bra that fits well. with proper care it will last quite a while.

[future_mommy]

Website

http://www.85b.org/bra_calc.php
this website says im a 30B......we dont have a Nordstrom around here. We do have a JCPenney, not a big one though, do you think theyd still be good at measuring?

[Missa]

I personnally find that those calculators are not correct. The only way to get a good bra is to be professionally fitted and to try on the bra before purchasing and make sure it doesn't ride up or you don't spill out of the cups, there are variations between styles and brands and it can be difficult at first but now I can easily get a good bra even over the internet. www.bravissimo.com has some good info about fitting, I have ordered from them and they are great, they even have shirts made specifially for women with large chests No more buttons popping open!

I am sorry you don't have a Nordstroms near you future_mommy, what other dept stores do you have? I haven't found a JCPenny's that carries my size.

Missa

[alysmommy2004]

Originally Posted by ~Megan~

Don't go to Victoria's Secret. They are terrible at bra fitting.

Go somewhere like JC Penney or Nordstrom's but call in advance and ask when their best bra fitter will be in.

: VS tried to argue with me about my size! To prove my point I tried on the bra they thought I should be wearing and it didn't fit at all!!

JCP and Nordstrom are much, much better!

I also agree with teh others, there is no way you're a 38! I'm taller and heavier than you and I wear a 34.

[alysmommy2004]

Originally Posted by future_mommy

http://www.85b.org/bra_calc.php
this website says im a 30B......we dont have a Nordstrom around here. We do have a JCPenney, not a big one though, do you think theyd still be good at measuring?

I wouldn't rely on one of those calculators. I just typed my measurements into that and it was WAY off.