So, for Valentine's day, my boyfriend and I got tattoos. Mine is on my left shoulder blade, so I was pretty much living in tube tops for a couple days. Then I realized--Hey, I have a bra that converts to an X-back! It kept the straps off my tattoo, yes, but I also realized how lovely it was not to be fidgeting with my bra straps or having them slide down constantly. Here's the culprit:
hm, the problem i've always had with convertible straps is that they slide out of the little holder tabs on the bra with wear. however i might make it to a Torrid this afternoon so i'll check that out and see how it fits. thanks for the tip!
I usually have that problem with convertibles, too, but so far, I haven't had that problem with this one. The little loops seem to be pretty small, and so they hold better than most I've tried. The beauty of a bra designed for fat girls and all. ;)
LOL I had an embarassing (and painful) moment where the little tab snapped, and the strap fell up and whacked my in the cheek (causing a little cut and some bleeding) and I told my boyfriend "See, I told you one of these days my boobs were gonna poke someone's eye out"
I have this same problem with EVERY bra, even professionally fit Wacoals that fit perfectly everywhere else. My solution to this problem is to move the straps in the back closer to the center. Fixes it every time. If you have any sewing skills at all I would try a test bra and see if it works for you. Or if you don't sew, take a few to a seamstress or specialty bra shop--they should be able to recommend someone who they use.
I was told by a bra fitter at a specialty shop that when the wires poke out like that the cup isn't big enough but it doesn't sounds like your size has changed.
i am not any kind of a seamstress, unfortunately - but i do think you're on to something there with the straps needing to attach closer to the center in the back. i think that's a trait my favorite Wacoals have, and now that you've mentioned it i think i recall my bra fitter ages ago mentioning that too. thanks for pointing it out - i'll be keeping it in mind on my next bra shopping trip.
i am fairly certain my size hasn't changed as i still fit well in the cup in my usual size - but otoh fittings at Nordstrom are free so it might be worth my time to have it done once again. maybe it's like a once a year thing you should do like having your vision and hearing checked and etc etc. :)
Actually, it is-- you should do it any time you've had any major events (weight loss, weight gain, pregnancy, change of birth control method), OR every year, whichever's more often.
And it often seems that there's been no real change in size, but going up a cup size without changing band size may reveal that the larger cup is more comfortable. A too-large cup will be obviously too large, but a too-small cup will often *seem* just fine.
From what I've read here and on bra seller sites, I think your problem is that your band is too big. If it were snugger, when you tighten your straps, the band should stay put. I think if you have a smaller band, the underwires would be pulled tighter, so they'd sit closer to your skin. A smaller band would also help with the positioning of the straps in relation to the cups - they wouldn't be so far apart.
Please let me know if my advice actually works - I just went from a K to a DD/DDD (surgery), so soon I'll actually get to try on bras in a store for the first time in more than 14 years. Until I'm fully healed, my advice is just theoretical, not practical!
hm, i hadn't thought of that - in my experience when the band is snugger, it rolls up, especially when the straps are tightened. if it's too tight, the wires between the boobs definitely do pop out. this is a good suggestion though and i'll try a smaller band just to see what kind of a difference this makes. thanks for the tip!
I'm not sure that's true. I have bras where the wire pops out, but there is loose material in the cups, all at the same time. I think the wires just pop out on some bras.
I have that same underwire tenting problem. I can never get a bra to stay flat to my body, which I think happens because my breasts are large and saggy, and my belly is pushed up against my breasts when I sit down, so the underwires don't know how to handle this and push themselves outwards. I've never found a solution for this other than not wearing an underwire bra, but I assume it must be a problem for someone else out there.
wow, i didn't know they made such a thing. i might pick one up just to see how well it works - thanks for the pointer!
i also have the belly push-up problem sometimes. not wearing underwire is certainly a more comfortable solution! i personally prefer the support despite the problems but it's good to know i'm not the only one dealing with this. have you had a professional fitting? might be worth a shot!
The strap-snugger-things definitely work! I got a similar one at Wal-Mart, in clear, and while I can tell that it's there, I really don't care because ALL my bra straps stay up perfectly. You should be able to get them at any store that sells bra expanders and extra straps and the like.
You know, I always thought this too -- and I had never in my life had a bra lay flat between my breasts -- until I got professionally fitted. I thought I was a 44DDD. I went to Intimacy in Atlanta, and she just looked at me and brought me a 40H. (I didn't know they made H, actually!) Bra lays flat between my breasts no matter what my belly does. I found I can wear a 42G in Lane Bryant/Cacique sizes and the bra still lays flat.
Usually when you underwire pokes out in the center, that means you should try a larger cup size. I also agree with rhonwynn's suggestion that you try a smaller band size so that the band can stay firmly LOW on your back (which takes up length in the straps too). I'm not saying these suggestions will surely solve your problem, but I think theyre worth a try!
agreed - and i'm willing to try anything pretty much to resolve this problem. i'll give it a shot on my next bra-shopping trip and report back with my findings!
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http://www.torrid.com/torrid/store/product.jsp?FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302036045&PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524442149386&bmUID=1235853828760
I have super-wide linebacker shoulders, and still have sliding strap issues. Yr not alone. ;)
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I was told by a bra fitter at a specialty shop that when the wires poke out like that the cup isn't big enough but it doesn't sounds like your size has changed.
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i am fairly certain my size hasn't changed as i still fit well in the cup in my usual size - but otoh fittings at Nordstrom are free so it might be worth my time to have it done once again. maybe it's like a once a year thing you should do like having your vision and hearing checked and etc etc. :)
Reply
Actually, it is-- you should do it any time you've had any major events (weight loss, weight gain, pregnancy, change of birth control method), OR every year, whichever's more often.
And it often seems that there's been no real change in size, but going up a cup size without changing band size may reveal that the larger cup is more comfortable. A too-large cup will be obviously too large, but a too-small cup will often *seem* just fine.
Reply
Please let me know if my advice actually works - I just went from a K to a DD/DDD (surgery), so soon I'll actually get to try on bras in a store for the first time in more than 14 years. Until I'm fully healed, my advice is just theoretical, not practical!
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I have that same underwire tenting problem. I can never get a bra to stay flat to my body, which I think happens because my breasts are large and saggy, and my belly is pushed up against my breasts when I sit down, so the underwires don't know how to handle this and push themselves outwards. I've never found a solution for this other than not wearing an underwire bra, but I assume it must be a problem for someone else out there.
Reply
i also have the belly push-up problem sometimes. not wearing underwire is certainly a more comfortable solution! i personally prefer the support despite the problems but it's good to know i'm not the only one dealing with this. have you had a professional fitting? might be worth a shot!
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