I don’t think this is TMI, but if it is, sorry.
I recently bought a new bra. I got it at Lane Bryant, like always, and its the same style as I usually get (balconette). However, I moved from a 42D to a 44F, and it does not feel right. I feel like its too wide in front - it cuts into the front of my arms and makes it harder to cross my arms across my body.
Did I just get the wrong style? Am I so big now that this is how it has to be?
Doper ladies, please advise on what, if anything, I can do.
Yeah, it might be too wide in the front, from what you say. Did you move up a size in band AND cup because your cups overfloweth? You might have needed a 42F, instead of a 44F. I don’t know if Lane Bryant (and do you mean the brick and mortar store or the online division of Redcats?) will exchange bras, but if it’s a B&M store, go back and SHOW the sales associate your problem. As in, call her into the dressing room and demonstrate that the bra front is too wide.
Is this an underwire bra? That could affect its fit too.
Sometimes a bra is mislabeled, or the style doesn’t work for you as well when you change sizes. It happens.
many women (and almost all men) believe that the cup size is an objective measure of volume that remains the same barring pregnancy or other specific circumstances known to change bra size (“I’m a c-cup”).
This is a misunderstanding.
Instead, the cup size is a description of the proportion between the bust at its widest point and the width of your rib cage area. A 32D and a 42D have completely different breast volumes, while a 32D and a 34C have almost the same breast volumes. By going from 42D to 44F, you have “increased” your band by a size, and your cup by more than a size – because the cup gets bigger proportionately. To maintain the volume of the cup on a wider band, you would go UP and band size and DOWN a cup size. I would try 44C (your torso got wider), or 42F (your boobs got bigger), but probably not 44F (both torso and boobs got bigger but the boobs disproportionately so).
First you’re making a really weird jump in bra size. I’m not saying it’s not possible that it’s correct, but I think you probably have the wrong size.
Take your measurements to get the best starting point. Measure along your rib cage just under your chest, i.e. where the band of your bra is. Then measure along the widest point of your chest. The difference in inches should correspond with your cup size.
The way the sizing works is that a 1 in. difference in this measurement is an A cup, 2 in. is a B, 3in. a C ect. So, if the first measurement is a 44 and the second a 49, you should start with a 44DD (rarely is it called an E, but that’s what it should be) because the second measurement is 5 inches larger than the first.
You can make changes from here as you need to. Size can also vary from style to style and store to store, but I also do all of my bra shopping at Lane Bryant (store) and I find their sizing consistent between styles.