Bra Shapes

[SewRuthieSews]

What shape of bra would lift and bring together?

[Lowena]

The sort of bra I hate! 

[Ouryve]

Balconette or a plunge. I can't wear a plunge bra mind, as I just fall straight out of one. Generally look for a 3 or even 4 piece cup, possibly with side support.

[BrendaP]

For lift you need a support bra so that generally rules out plunge styles.

For 'bringing together' you need a power bar to push the breast tissue from the side towards the centre. 

See  Anatomy of a Bra

Whilst wires generally help with support they tend to separate rather than push together, so consider non-wired styles.

Whatever style you choose, if a bra fits you properly you do not have a bulge of flesh above the top of the cup.

[Kwaaked]

Underwire with angled cups is the best bet.

[Iminei]

I wish I could find any bra that fit me properly ... Im now down to 1 everyday bra and 1 'special' bra that I wear at the fashion museum whilst my ED bra is in the wash ...

The 'special' bra does fit as I was fitted in the shop, but Why Oh Why was I given a 30 ** size ... I had to buy a bra extender for it to fit my 34" (??) round measurement !!!!

** = none of your business ... oh the shame!!!

[b15erk]

I wear what used to be called a 'minimiser' bra, as I'm quite well endowed  .  This is underwired two main bra pieces, but an extra piece at the side which helps everything stay well forward.

I'll try to post a pic later...

Jessie

[BrendaP]

The 'special' bra does fit as I was fitted in the shop, but Why Oh Why was I given a 30 ** size ... I had to buy a bra extender for it to fit my 34" (??) round measurement !!!!

@Iminie
Are you a very small cup size?

To keep to the same cup size you go down a letter each time you go up a number, and vice-versa.
For instance a 34A has the same cup size (and wire size) as a 32B or a 30C
likewise 34AA  has the same cup as a 32A or a 30B
and  34AAA has the same cup as a 32AA or 30A

It *might have been that you need 34AAA, but they didn't have that size in stock.

[SewRuthieSews]

 
Thanks for the responses, @BrendaP that was a very helpful link.

My bust changed size and shape a lot through peri menopause/menopause which also coincided with some weight gain.
I was a 38B and am now a 40D.
I don't wear proper bras at all, just bralettes, non wired comfort bras from Sainsburys and those pull on ones.
But its not doing me any favours in the silhouette department so I wondered what might.
I can't wear anything with a nasty polyester covered seam across the nipple, it just itches all day, so I turn those bras inside out! (a bra is badged as 100% cotton and then its got the poly inside the cup!).

[Acorn]

...(a bra is badged as 100% cotton and then its got the poly inside the cup!).

Oh this drives me mad!!  Anyone who wants a cotton bra wants it because they like/need cotton next to their skin.  Clothes slide better over polyester, but skin generally prefers cotton.  Why don't they make bras that are cotton on the inside and poly on the outside??   

[SewRuthieSews]

I dare say I could add a cotton lining to a poly bra but then its an extra layer.

[Ouryve]

It's worth looking at boob or bust to work out what size you need to work around, @SewRuthieSews.


I have very sensitive skin and wore only cotton bras for years but I now wear a lot of non-padded Curvy Kate bras and they're made from really soft, non-irritating lace and mesh and don't get as sweaty as some of my softer cup bras. There's always a good selection of heavily discounted ones at brastop, too.

[Lachica]

I second looking at Boob Or Bust f/b group & following their instructions to measure. Breast tissue migrates to underarms (& even the back apparently) but a proper fitting bra will round it up & bring it back into place! Since getting BOB sized bras I don't have the wire-in-armpit chafing or the 'back fat bulge', straps are the correct distance apart so they don't fall down. I went from 36c using the old 'plus 4 inch' system to 32FF or G. As @BrendaP says, the cup size goes up as the band goes down. I'm not  very big.

[Bodgeitandscarper]

I hate bra shopping!  I like underwired ones that herd them together, yet so many bras seem to point them out to the sides!  I always look particularly at how far apart the wires are at the front, but even then it doesn't guarantee which way the girls will end up pointing 

[Ouryve]

A 3 or 4 piece cup (look at that anatomy of a bra link up thread) can help prevent the east-west look. I have a triumph bra that is so comfortable (or was, it's too big for me, now) but is terrible for that and I have to be careful not to be wearing it when planning a new top or else darts end up in completely the wrong place. I can't wear it with a button up shirt, either, because they look like they're trying to punch their way out of it.