I want surgery NOW

[cjsmith]

Last summer I was very pleased to get fitted properly for bras. The one I had on order never did show up, so I'm not as thrilled with Nordstrom as I was that day, but for someone like me it's worth a $70 surcharge just to know what might fit. I wish I were kidding when I say that, but I'm not.

The two I've been wearing since then are now nearly dead. Truth to tell, they were nearly dead a couple months after I bought them. (Hey, put that much weight on anything stretchy and see how long it lasts.) I finally got around to ordering replacements.

One of the two can't be ordered online from Nordstrom in anything but the standard 34C kind of size. Of course. (Thank goodness for freshpair.) And the other has already been discontinued. *eyeroll* Everybody who's surprised, raise your hand.

Comments

[recordersmith.livejournal.com]

OK, if the calculators that take your underbust measurement and add inches to get your band size are wrong, how do I sort it out? The calculator on herroom.com does that addition, and figleaves doesnt give an actual calculator, despite the fact that they say a lot about how bras are supposed to fit.

I just did my measurements and got an underbust of 30inches and a bust of 37. How do I calculate something that will actually fit right?

[tiger-spot.livejournal.com]

Actual underbust measurement rounded up to the nearest even number; difference between bust and underbust in inches converted into a letter based on the very simple 1 = A, 2 = B, etc. code. This is complicated by the fact that it's difficult to get an accurate bust measurement if you're not already wearing a well-fitting bra, and the fact that the manufacturers are evil. (And that differently shaped women will fit different styles of bras differently, and may need a different size than usual for a particular bra because of the shape.) Try a 30G on the loosest set of hooks and see how that fits. I'm told that Wacoal is good about accurate sizing, but they don't have all that much available down at our end of the range.

If the back of the band is higher than the front of the band, it's too big. Go down a band size and up a cup size or two. If there are any wrinkles in the fabric of the cups, then either they're too big or they're a shape that won't work for you.

[recordersmith.livejournal.com]

Cool, I'll try that. Thanks!

So are the sizings that use double letters a different system? If so, how can I tell which system a place is using. I'd like to go ahead and order some bras from herroom and figleaves, just order 30Gs and go from there?

[recordersmith.livejournal.com]

And, is this complicated by the fact that I *hate* underwires and only buy wireless bras?

[tiger-spot.livejournal.com]

Meeee tooooo.

Part of the reason I hate wires is that for such a long time I was buying the wrong size (of course the wires were poking me in the armpits, they were four inches longer than they should have been!); now that I've figured out what size I actually am they're at least comfortable enough to try on, although I haven't found a wired bra I really like yet.

I did find a wired bra that was comfortable and supportive and all things good at Nordstrom's; unfortunately it didn't come in my size, but it was close enough that I could tell I'd like it if it did. :(

[tiger-spot.livejournal.com]

Double letters usually stand in for the next letter up: DD = E, FF = G, that sort of thing. If you're not sure what system a particular brand is using, look at the list of sizes and count up from D. (That is, if you see that the sizes available go A, B, C, D, DD, E, EE, F instead of A, B, C, DD, DDD, G, GG, you'd try an EE in that brand.) UK brands are usually one cup size larger than US brands (so if you're ordering a UK brand, start with an F instead of a G).

[recordersmith.livejournal.com]

Gack. When I search by size on figleaves, the cheapest they have is $40. On herroom it's $35. I'm used to spending $20-25, so this seems overpriced to me. Guess I'll bite the bullet and get one or two but I'm miffed.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Oh wow. If mine are $50 or under I'm thanking the gods.

Ordering online SUCKS. It's seriously expensive merely to try things on!

[recordersmith.livejournal.com]

Maybe I have unreasonable expectations pricewise.

Also, when I search by size mostly they're all underwired. When I look that the wireless ones, they dont come in the size I want. So maybe I'll try an underwired one and hope that I'll like them better if they fit right. It's not the armpit jab that everyone else seems to get, but rather the inner points make me itch. Every time I've worn and underwire bra I've spent the day trying very hard not to scratch there in public...

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Oh, I don't think your expectations are unreasonable. After all, normal-sized women can get bras for $30.

Itching, eh? Hmm. On me the inner points make nice deep red grooves. (So do the outer points, and so does the band.) On the other hand, if I could ever find something without an underwire, I suspect it would let me swing down to my belly button ;-)