 |
| When your cup isn't filled at the bottom you're probably wearing your bra too low on your body |
Finding a bra that is the right size and style for you is fantastic but if you put your bra on too low then you may never know you have the right bra. Your bra is on too low if you have empty bra at the bottom of your cup. The easiest way to check this is to stand side-on to a mirror and look for unfilled bra cup underneath your breast. By ensuring that your wires are flush with the bottom of your breast you are making the most of your cup volume and can prevent your boobs from spilling out of the top of your cups.
 |
| FERN BRA Left: The breast is bubbling over because the cup isn't completely full. Right: The breast is encased and the cup is full |
The Curse of the Front Fasteners
One of the most common causes of wearing your bra too low is if you're a front fastener. If you fasten your bra at your front and swizzle the bra around your body then you have to pull the bra up your body and many women don't pull their bra up high enough so part of their bra is left literally unfulfilled!
How to Fill Your Cup When You're A Front Fastener
Once you have twisted your bra around to the front and pulled the straps onto your shoulders get hold of the ends of the wires of one cup (left or right it doesn't matter) and pull upwards until you feel or see that your breast is at the bottom of the cup. Repeat on the other side. You may need to adjust your straps. Don't forget to sweep your breasts away from your armpits to ensure that all your breast tissue is inside the cups.
How to Fill Your Cup When You're A Back Fastener
As you lean forward to lower your breasts into the cups pull the band towards the bottom of your breasts before fastening your bra to ensure your breasts are right at the bottom of the cups. When you stand back up check that your breasts are filling the bottom of the cup.
Exception to the Rule
Some women have one breast higher than the other (the bottom of the breasts is literally higher on one side of the body than the other) and this causes the bottom of your cup to be empty on one side but not the other. This is totally normal. The most important thing is that your breasts are encased at the top so if you find you get spillage on your higher side it's worth going up in your cup size and padding your lower side. If you don't like padding then you can have your lower side tailored to fit.
I hope this helps you discover that some of your bras actually fit you - it's always a nice surprise! xx
Do you have any recommendations for keeping my bras from sliding down? My underbust measurement is 35.5" and I'm wearing a 34 band. However, my ribcage/torso narrows significantly a couple of inches below my underbust, so my bras always end up sliding down, particularly when I'm sitting. Common sense says to tighten my shoulder straps, but they're already pretty tight as is! I really appreciate this blog post, but would love any other hints you have!
ReplyDeleteGreat question Leslie. It may be worth trying a 32 band because your band shouldn't move up or down no matter how you move. If you're anxious about breaking in a 32 band then I recommend using a bra extender for a couple of weeks while the band stretches out a little. It would be useful to know how tall you are too. If you are shortening your straps because you are under 5ft 5" then that's understandable, if you're shortening your straps to give you support then it definitely sounds like a smaller band would help.
DeleteIf all else fails Leslie it's worth looking for longline bras and corsets that will give you band support down to your waist.
If any other readers have experience of narrowing ribs perhaps they will leave their recommendations and tips too. I hope this helps a little xx
Thanks for the response! I am actually just under 5'4" with a very short torso, so the straps don't actually carry much weight. I have a pretty severe hourglass figure, and since I'm so shortwaisted, the narrowest part of my body is only a couple inches below my underbust, which is what seems to be causing all my problems!
DeleteI will have to try on some 32s next time I'm ordering bras - it seems they would be way too tight, but my bras do move more than I'd like. I will also try some longline bras to see if that helps. Thanks again for the suggestion, you guys are fabulous!
This can also happen, when the band is too tight - the bra then simply tries to find a way to escape. ;-)
Delete(Depends a lot on the brand you're wearing)
Another possibility might be trying a different style - sometimes the wires do not fit the shape of your breast root.
When fitting live, I sometimes tried to fit a woman into a Panache bra and kept on bringing larger cups until finally the wires were poking into the armpits and I gave up. When changing to an Eveden bra (Fantasie, Elomi, Freya) I often found I could go down several cup sizes again and the fit was much better. It's really weird.
It's a good point about shape of the breast root. If it differs a lot from wire shape that could be the reason. Sometimes the best thing you can do is to bend wires (do it gently and only if it's metal), Freya's bras usually survive this very well.
DeleteMalica
That is a good point, George - I find that my Panache bra is much more likely to do this than my Fantasie bras are. I may just need to stick to Eveden bras - I know I like Fantasie, but haven't tried any Freya other than the Deco so far, guess I know what to try next!
DeleteIt's so great to see bra experience coming together to help each other out. Thank you George and Anon for giving Leslie some more suggestions xx
DeleteI have the same problem. My bra band doesnt move when I move around and it never rides up, but over the course of the day, it slides down from the crease of of my bust, especially when I'm sitting at my desk all day. I wear tight 34s and loose 32s. When I've tried wearing tight 32s, the top hook and eye closure ended up being snatched out. Tightening the straps has helped to a certain extent, but I still need to reajust.
ReplyDeleteDo you wear the same style of bra Astrid? Does this happen more in one style or brand of bra? I'm just wondering whether this is a style/brand/material issue. xx
DeleteThe worst offender is my Bravissimo Alana, which I really like otherwise. I wear mostly balconnettes and mostly Bravissimo and Panache. The one bra that does it the less is my Ewa Michalak PL Black, which is my only padded bra and only plunge, even though the band is looser than in most of my bras (it stretched out really quickly). I don't even tighten the straps much, since they tend to dig in.
DeleteIf the band is loose on your Ewa Michalak then that explains why your straps dig in. Have you tried Cleo as opposed to Superbra (their wires fit very differently)? As your plunge style rides down less I'm wondering whether your breast shape is forcing down the cup shape. This happens if you have very close-set breasts (your boobs are closer at the center of your bra causing downward pressure on your gore) or if you have very wide breasts (your breast shape is wider than the cup so the breast causes downward pressure under your armpits and at the gore). I will write about this in the near future as it's obviously an issue affecting many women xx
DeleteOh thanks, that makes a lot of sense since I'm both extremely close-set and relatively wide! Looking forward to your post about this. Cleo doesn't go up to my size, but I'm going to try and experiment , whith shapes, as now that I think of it, Freya doesn't slide down either (but Freya bras have other issues!) and the shape is more V like than most of my bras. Yeah, my PL will need some tightening if I am to wear it more. The straps (material, width) are not particularly comfortable in the first place, so you notice loosening quickly.
DeleteThanks again for your insight!
Oooh! I have this problem all the time, but I have been so unsure how to fix it! The wires of my bra are always sitting around 1 inch on my larger side and 1.5 inches on my smaller side below my underbust crease no matter how much scooping or pulling up of the wires I try. Trying a smaller band doesn't seem to help though and just ends up being uncomfortable.
ReplyDeleteHi Laurel - this sounds as though it might be a wire shape and cup style issue. I need to put together a post about how the shape of a cup affects fit if you have high, wide or close-set breasts. It sounds like your putting your bra on correctly but might need to narrow down the style and shape of bra that fits you best. xx
DeleteThank you for posting about this. We learn something new every day. I've recently discovered this is a problem for me and have managed to fit into all my bras properly with the exception of two. They keep sliding down and sit right under my ribcage. Interestingly enough, they are completely different styles (one is plunge and the other is a balconette), BUT they are made from similar material. The inside of each bra is moulded and has that shiny smooth feel to it. I suspect the fact that it slides off has something to do with how grippy the fabric is because no matter how much I tighten it, I can't seem to make it stay. It looks like in my case, the fabric is the culprit.
ReplyDeleteIt's so interesting that you mention fabric Noha because this is something that affects the fit of strapless bras. Many women find that the shiny, silicone tacking inside the band is too slippy for support. Some molded fabrics will causing slipping so this is definitely something to look out for. Thank you for sharing more of your experience! xx
DeleteThanks for your great posting! Not putting on a bra properly is one of the most common mistakes I experience as a bra fitter. Sometimes it's really hard work to explain how the bra is supposed to sit. So you can never stress the point enough, really! :)
ReplyDeleteThank you George. I really wanted to highlight what a difference it makes the way you put on a bra. Looking at the different questions and experiences on here I need to do another post about wire and cup shape because that can be the 'gap' culprit too! xx
Deletewhat about wires that extend into the arm pit? i find i pull down (and i know it's too low) to adjust the side wires. are there brands that have shorter wires? currently i poke the wire out, cut it and sew a stopper spot to prevent it moving around in the caseing.
ReplyDeleteThis is definitely a wire length issue. You're pulling down to stop being skewered on your bra! If you are under 5ft 5" this issue will be worse because lots of bras simply aren't designed for shorter women. In the full bust world I recommend Cleo and Claudette because their wires are shorter but the support is great! xx
DeleteI have had major issues with this for a long time. I could not figure out why until just recently. It was actually pregnancy that provided the answer for my case. I usually have a 26" ribcage, so most 28s are too big for me. They actually side down my body. Add in that my waist is smaller then my underbust and you've got more room to slide. It really doesn't take much slipping to really change the fit, really I did not even notice it. But now with pregnancy my ribcage has expanded a bit and now I can get a bra to stay where it should under my breast. The bottom of the cups are filled properly, the fit looks so much better.
ReplyDeleteOne thing I have noticed in addition to this is that the strap position makes a difference for me too. I'm not sure if it is more of an issue in the H+ range (it seems to be for me). The wider the strap placement the worse the emptiness at the lower breast can be. For example, my Freya Faye has a larger then normal band and very wide straps. Even though the band fits with my pregnancy measurements the cups have space at the bottom. The straps are too wide for my shoulders and constantly slide. The cup depth is perfect, but pulling the straps in causes funny lifting of the lace at the top. I think sometimes we need to accept that just because the bra is the right size, "fits," and is comfortable doesn't mean that it is the perfect fit or the right bra for you.
You have hit several nails on the head! Your points about strap width (how far apart the straps are on a bra) are particularly important to me because I see the overly wide straps affect fit every single day.
DeleteIf you get hold of your bra straps right now and pull them closer together (towards your neck) you'll see that the tops of your bra cups will buckle. This distortion of the cup can affect the shape all the way to the bottom. The shorter and more full busted you are, the bigger the distortion. Some brands are realizing they need closer-set straps but there's still a long way to go.
I hope everything is going really well with your pregnancy and you're enjoying your bra staying put for a while!! xx
Gravity-loving breasts might be an exception to this... No matter how high I bring the wires under the root, and even when the band is tight enough to hurt by the end of the day, the weight of my breasts seems to force the band down and away from the root. Any thoughts?
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like cup shape too. I definitely have to put together a post about wire and cup shape because many of these problems relate to wire shape rather than the way you're putting on your bra. For example, wide breasts will force a narrow bra down throughout the day so I need to show women how to spot if this is the case for them. If you want to share more information (size, style and brand of bras, your height and anything else you think is important) then please email support@butterflycollection.ca for more help xx
DeleteWhile I think this is true for some women, there's actually another possible reason for having empty space in the bottom of the cup. If you have bottom-heavy breasts, they can actually push the material down, it's hard to describe, but it's very common if you are that shape. I just thought it best this get a mention, lest we find women pulling up their bands when that could make it worse. x
ReplyDeleteTotally worth mentioning and something that has come up in the questions here. I have to put together another post about the shape of breasts and the shape of cups/wires in relation to this problem. This post is really a reminder that putting your bra on correctly is important for fit but it has brought up interesting questions about slipping and gaping. Thanks for the reminder Sophia xx
DeleteHave to agree. Some cups are simply too shallow, which is what I always run into. My boobs are very, very round and are rather bottom-heavy, so many (if not most) brands are simply not deep enough for me. I get foldover in the half-inch to an inch of fabric just above the wire, and then the wires get pushed down my ribcage.
DeleteSame here with me! The issue is more present when my boobs are on the larger side (time of the month) and when they lose a little of their fullness, the wire sits higher better. I have found that it would be better if there were more forward fullness. I don't need shallow wide cups, I need forward fullness. But in a plunge so the wire doesn't come up too high in the centre and squish boob tissue (even putting a finger in between my boobs is somewhat uncomfortable. I have so much cleavage without a bra its crazy).
DeleteThere seem to be far too few options out there for women with close set, high set/short torso issues, plus forward projection and bottom heaviness.
In an ideal world, I'd have a plunge cup shape, with straps set closer in towards the neck than on most styles. I've made some corsets before and keep meaning to get around to trying out making bras for myself, but the whole thing is really daunting and far more complicated than corset making. Trying to purchase the correct underwire is hell. How do you know what size to get for your custom bra?
I think I know how I'd need to alter the pattern to result in more volume in the right place, but not so sure I could actually get myself to start the whole process as its so daunting.
That is SUCH a good point Alexa. Other than the Deco Vibe with its racer back I'm not awash with ideas of short wire, short gore, forward projection styles. As customers are becoming more aware of fit features I wonder if we'll start to see more shapes coming to market. xx
DeleteI just asked the woman who gave me a size consultation about this so good timing :D. This only happens to me after I scoop my breasts in and pull the bra up. I am short, bottom-heavy *and* short-waisted.
ReplyDeleteI often have this problem with Panache bras because they are the wrong shape for me - too shallow cups. The underwires sit almost an inch below the crease of the breast, because there simply isn't enough room in the lower part of the cups, they are too flat. With padded bras in this shape, they will be ok for a while (sometimes with awesome pushup effect) but then a crease appears in the fabric and they stop being supportive.
ReplyDeleteThis is sometimes really common for me too. I can't decide my breast shape, I admit. I think I'm relatively balanced to full on top because if my cup starts getting the slightest bit too small (like right now, I've lost some weight and have lost in my band size but not my full bust measurement) I start to get quadraboob and pop out of the bra and get space beneath. I also have very heavy breasts and they're set high.
ReplyDeleteI really just can't pull most bras up high enough. If I do the wires dig in, but the cup fits me otherwise. My molded cup bras all end up with folds in them. My seamed bras vary. Fantasie seems to be my One True Brand though and when the bra is sized perfectly it sits precisely where it's supposed to on me.
This is a problem I have occasionally when I can't adjust the straps enough for my body. I'm 5'3" and the bra will slip during the day if not adjusted properly. Of course, it's easy for me to notice the problem when the I start getting quadraboobs, but it's still pretty annoying.
ReplyDeleteBras which are made for women with breasts fuller on top can also be a problem for women whose breasts are fuller on the bottom (because usually we need deeper cups), the shape is something we need to check.
This is why I love Freya bras and avoid molded bras.
Late to the discussion but I have this problem in certain bras, and I would second the suggestion to try Fantasie bras. I have bent wires and readjusted my Chantelle Icone but it still slides. I do not have this problem with my Fantasie Lizbeth and Elodie -- the only issue is the straps are too far apart. But I simply cannot get any Chantelle to stay put. Shortening the straps made the cup/strap edge dig into my armpit (I too am short) and STILL the band tried to slide. My Cleo Lucy isn't as bad but not as good as the Fantasie.
ReplyDeleteThis article has actually been an eye opener for me. thank you for the information. I was able to help one of my customers who could not get rid of the empty space in the cups. Thank you. http://www.slimwear.nl
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteI have gappage at the bottom of my cups, I'm wearing a 30 F when I should really wear a 28, bus hard to find anything, (and Freya's bands seem to be huge compared to most own brand bras) when I pull it up I have a gap at the top, and the wires dig into my cleavage, the fitter said that I had the gap at the top because the band size is too big!
ReplyDeleteHi Kirsty - There are 3 things to try when your cups gape at the top:
Delete1) Is your cup too big? Try a 30E and a 28F (these two sizes have the same cup volume. They are one volume smaller than a 30F and a 28FF)
2) Is your band too big. The fitter is right that a band that's too big can throw off every aspect of fit. So make sure your band is snug and the straps are shortened to your torso length.
3) Is the bra style right? Short wires are good for stopping gaping at the top and shallow cups are good to stop gaping.
Hope these tips help you find a non gaping bra! xx
I know this post is from years ago, but I'm a bit frustrated with my bra situation, and looking for some advice. After reading this post, it seems like I probably wear my bra too low. I have breasts that could be classified as 'reduced projection', 'shallow', and/or 'pendulous'. (I'm not even 30 yet, but I guess that's just how they are!) I wear anything from a 30d-30ddd, or 32d/dd. I am on the hunt for a wirefree bra, and whenever I try one on, my breasts fall out the middle, especially if I wear my bra higher, where it should probably be (my inframammory fold is relatively high, but my breasts aren't). Anyways, when I hike my bra up so that there's no space at the bottom of the cup, my breasts start falling out the middle of the bra, and of course in the softcup bras the gore never tacks. For reference, I wear a chantelle chic spacer foam bra most days, and this works somewhat well, except the underwire is not quite right (i need the wire of the 30dd and the volume of the 30d... and have bras in both sizes). So in part that is why I'm looking for a wirefree bra. Are there bras that pull breast tissue directly up, instead of up from the sides (which causes cleavage and spillage in the middle)? I don't want a ton of separation, it makes me look wide, which i don't care for, but just something that lifts my breast tissue directly up from the middle..
ReplyDeleteany advice would be super helpful.
-s
You probably already know that style is going to be everything for you. You need bras with short wires and shallow-friendly cups. If you haven't checked out Claudette then they would be my first recommendation. Don't give up on wired bras just yet because I think they're going to give you the look and support you want once you find the right brand. You won't have tonnes of choice when it comes to brands that work for you but if you can experiment with some shallow friendly styles and brands then you should find something that will give you vertical lift, shorter wires, shallow projection and narrowing width. It's worth emailing a few online retailers asking them to suggest styles in their store that meets this criteria and see what they come back with. I wish you the best of luck because with some perseverance you should get the fit you're after xx
Delete