It's a fine line for bra manufacturers to create wire lengths and shapes that are long enough to give coverage and support, but short enough to accommodate different torso lengths. In reality, not every bra will fit you and if you have a short torso (or high set breasts) it's important to find out which bras have shorter wires and side wings so that they don't poke you. Here are some of our top picks for short torso friendly bras:
1. Claudette Dessous
This modern-day classic has a semi-teardrop shaped cup and shallow wing that makes it ideal for women with short torsos. I have always adored the deep V neckline and of course the apologetically bold colour-ways.
2. Elomi Eva
This is a new addition to our store which we chose because of its short torso friendliness. The wires are deliberately shorter than other Elomi styles so that they don't come up too high into the armpit. I love that the cups are smooth like a molded cup but have the side wing and seaming of a 4 part bra to give more lift and shape. The straps are closer together too which is a feature lots of petite women need.
3. Freya Gem
Whether you're short or tall, heavy busted or not you can have a short torso. This is why Gem is such a great option. Ranging from 28-38 bands up to a K cup this style gives lots of women a balconette option with a shorter wing.
4. Panache Envy
This latest basic from Panache is in response to a request for shorter wires. I love the shape and support of 4-part cups, especially for heavy busts. This bra gives a good balance between support for weight and volume and a shorter wing for comfort.
If you have your size right (the band is firm and the cups aren't gaping or spilling) but still find that your bra is poking you in the armpit then I highly recommend trying styles that are shorter in the wing xx
Incredibly helpful. At 5'9" I still have this problem, which has made Panache hopeless for me. The Jasmine is an improvement, but still too high to tolerate for all day wear. Is Envy any shorter, or about the same?
ReplyDeleteEnvy is a fraction shorter than Jasmine but not as short as Gem by Freya. This part of the style is make or break for lots of women xx
DeleteIncredibly helpful -again-. =) I do have Gem, though find it not to be a good alternative to Jolie - it just doesn't accommodate upper fullness or tack as well for me. Freya is usually a great fit & perfect wire height for me, but I don't care for the pointier shape. I wish you had been in business when I lived just across the way in Bellingham, WA. Alaska is a bit further.
DeleteThat's an excellent point about Gem, it doesn't allow for as much upper fullness as, for example, Envy. If you like rounded then I think Envy is worth a shot! Alaska may be further, but what an amazing place to live! xx
DeleteI tried on the Envy last weekend and was pleasantly surprised. I don't think I tried the right size, but it was definitely one of the only Panache bras I've ever tried that did not try to immediately impale me through the armpits. It really is lovely -- I need to experiment with it more and nail down my right size.
ReplyDeleteDoes Gem also suffer from the odd Freya sizing shift around an H cup? I have a GG (in another bra) that fits when I first put it on but starts quad boobing and being really pointy almost immediately because I just need more room. Yet an H cup in another balconette (the Ivy) won't stay tacked at all for me -- it's super bouncy and tilts away although the cups are better (if a bit roomy up top, Freya gets so full coverage over a G cup!)
It's one of the reasons that Gem is the first Freya bras we've brought in full time because the sizing and fit is truer than other styles. It would be wonderful if it had a stretch upper cup like Envy, but the fit and support are consistent across the sizes. It is a full coverage style (in all the cups) but feels less bulky because of the pink underlay and lace. I hope you get a chance to try our Envy full time, it's a wonderful new addition to the brand. xx
DeleteThis isn't entirely related to the post at hand (although I do have a short torso) but I recently followed your bra size calculator's recommendations, even though it made my jaw drop. I had been wearing a badly-fitting 36C, and I'm now in a 32G. I did not realize bras could be comfortable, and I wanted to thank you for making cup sizes beyond D not seem so terrifying.
ReplyDeleteOh Michelle, that's so kind of you to say, thank you! That is our biggest goal to make D+ bras less intimidating and inaccessible. The right size (and style) can take you from loathing to loving your breasts. I hope you continue to find comfort, confidence and contentment in your 32Gs xx
DeleteIf I had to pick one negative about my underwire bras, this would be it. Thanks for this post!
ReplyDeleteBefore finding this site, I honestly believed that D+ bras were only made for tall women. Currently wearing the Freya Gem; first bra I've owned (at almost 40) that fits me perfectly. What a relief, not feeling a constant need to adjust everything. Just ordered the Claudette Dessous and the Panache Envy, and I can't wait to try them!
ReplyDeleteThis is great to hear Karen. Being comfortable in your bra is so important. Hopefully you'll never have to be in an uncomfortable bra ever again! xx
DeleteI'm currently struggling with finding myself a sports bra. I'm a UK 32FF in the Satine by Bravissimo because the 32G I was recommended at first was too wide of wire and the depth of the wing was too much at 9.9cm deep.
ReplyDeleteIt seems to be totally impossible to find sports bras with even that short a wing depth in my size and I ideally need shallower (the 32FF is 9.3cm deep which is enough of a difference)
To add on top of that I have very close set breasts (its uncomfortable to fit a finger's width in between them for longer than a few seconds) and so that pretty much rules me out of any underwired sports bras as they all seem to use massive U shaped wires instead of the plunge wires I require.
I wish I could find something because as it is my plunge bras are not adequate support for exercising much more than a gentle walk. I haven't attempted any exercise (short of walking whilst in town or up and down the stairs to go to bed/the bathroom)for several years now due to this discomfort. But despite being bam in the middle of my BMI range for my height, all the weight is fat so I'm not as healthy as it would suggest so I'm desperate to find something to fit me so I can get more active again.
Just realised that I forgot to mention that I also have a lot of projection. My volume is somewhat towards the cleavage (barely any at the sides) and predominantly outwards.
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