I think today has a theme...

[chargirlgenius]

(Well, it does obviously have a much more important theme than what I'm talking about, but I feel incapable of the task of putting more serious feelings to words at the moment.)

Wow, what a response! For those of you that saw the note late, don't despair. It was buried in the post, but the "first come first served" is based on when I actually receive measurements. It was the most fair way I could think of to do it, since actually taking the measurements is more effort than posting a "yes please!". I'll try to update status occasionally, so if there are 47 people in line and you don't want to wait that long, you're not killing yourself looking for your measuring tape.

I also went bra shopping tonight. I've always had decent luck in Nordstroms, but tonight I managed to walk out with the only two bras in the store in my size. I was hoping for three. Apparently, I've grown and shrunk all at the same time - I'm a band size smaller and a cup size bigger than I was last time I bought bras (probably about a year ago). Frequently, this can happen because the bras weren't fitting right in the first place, but when I bought them, they did fit, as I know perfectly well how they're supposed to fit. I *have* lost, gained, and lost weight since the last time, so maybe that had something to do with it.

In any case, I guess the line between G and H is the line at which many manufacturers stop. Dang it. And yet, I'm *still* too small to qualify for insurance-paid reduction. Grr.

Comments

[jemala-malvada.livejournal.com]

They've tightened up on coverage for those. And now have stupid rules like:
-Lower back pain isn't caused by being too big...that only causes upper back pain. Uh huh.

I still want a little touch-up...it was 12 years, 40 pounds and a baby ago!!!, but probably won't happen unless I win the lottery. Insurance isn't gonna go near me with that one.

Bummer they wouldn't cover yours though---you just had a consult recently, right?

[chargirlgenius.livejournal.com]

Except now I *also* have horrendous upper back pain. I wonder if it's because my weight has shifted in such a weird way.

I had a consult a couple of months ago.

[lisette-1528.livejournal.com]

Experiencing recent size changes, I have had moderately decent luck finding sizes above 'bee-stings' at Lane Bryant, in a wide range of bands.

[chargirlgenius.livejournal.com]

I've tried there. I'm a difficult combination of small ribcage and large chest. I'm a 32 in the ribcage (30 in some!), and an H cup. LB, at least the one in Waldork, didn't have it when I went looking. Nordstroms was my last hope before finding a boutique, but I think I'm going to have to knuckle down and find them.

[lisette-1528.livejournal.com]

You've got a harder size than I do. Good Luck!!!

[frualeydis.livejournal.com]

You need to go to London and bravissimo; they have insane sizes - like 26 J.
Of course you can order from them online, but you probably want to try on their sizes first. I find they are mostly true, but if you are in between band sizes you should go for the smaller.

/Eva

[chargirlgenius.livejournal.com]

That’s a capital idea. Of course I need to go to London! I like the way you think. :-D

[sskipstress.livejournal.com]

Yeah, Lane Bryant's bands start at 36 or 38 or something bigger than I've ever been.

Of the 3 boutiques I've been to, The Full Cup was the best experience and the best selection in my post-reduction size (still a DDD/E cup, Grrrr.)

[chargirlgenius.livejournal.com]

Yep, it’s definitely time for me to start looking at boutiques.

[lady-guenievre.livejournal.com]

Hrmm, if Nordstrom's has something near your size, they might help a friend of mine (32DDD, just hit that from 32DD) who was getting very frustrated over the weekend. Hope you have better luck in the future!

[chargirlgenius.livejournal.com]

According to a woman I spoke with last time I was there, Nordstroms makes it a point to stock up to a J cup. I think most of the Hs and bigger have the bigger band size, but I saw even 28 and 30 Gs when I was there last night.

Definitely send your friend there. Barring a boutique, it’s the best I’ve found in a brick and mortar store.

[azpapillion.livejournal.com]

Lane Bryant is where I've been finding bras online - anything beyond D is usually found online and they are better than I've found in other places and usually sales. The last one I got there (this summer) was only $35... for me, thats amazing - 42 H or I (I can't remember) and I could probably go for a larger cup size, but there better than I've ever had before..

[chargirlgenius.livejournal.com]

Nordstroms has some HHs, and all the way up to Js. The problem is that they don’t have them in a small band size. For all that I’m hippy and have a big butt, my little ribcage makes it more difficult. :-) Lane Bryant also doesn’t have my ribcage size, alas.

[azpapillion.livejournal.com]

http://braexperience.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=BE&Product_Code=3510Frey&Category_Code=
http://www.figleaves.com/us/nsf/qwiser.asp?term=30H+Bras&src=googuskw30824&gclid=CPKTuOXk1pUCFRJdxwodcDMJYA&cookied=12%2F09%2F2008+18%3A34%3A39
http://www.barenecessities.com/Bras-30H_catalog_nxs,31,size,904.htm

Don't know if you've tried these yet...

[sutragirl.livejournal.com]

When you come this way again you and I will go shopping on Saturday to Trousseau. They rock and have the sexy things in 30/32 G/H. They aren't cheap but they are awesome. It's where I go now that I am a 38 G/H.

[chargirlgenius.livejournal.com]

It’s a date, then!

I’m currently paying anywhere from $70-$100 for a bra that fits, so I’m at least used to the sticker shock. What kills me then is having to buy the $35 panties to go with. Oof.

[dragonlady7.livejournal.com]

Everything awesome stops at G.
*sob*

I am going to take my measurements tomorrow!!!

[chargirlgenius.livejournal.com]

There was a whole rack (heh heh, I said rack) of fairly cute bras up to G last night. Last time I was there, they fit. Not this week. *sigh*

[noxcat.livejournal.com]

Over the years I've gained 30 pounds. I've gone from a 36A to a 36B. I haben't had to change bra sizes in years. :(

It's all in my hips and thighs...

[chargirlgenius.livejournal.com]

It’s mostly in my hips and thighs, as evidenced by my small band size. That just means that I’m extraordinarily hour glass shaped. I looked at a cute little swing coat last night, and it just didn’t work.

[noxcat.livejournal.com]

I'm more straight up and down than hourglass or even pear shaped. The 1500ml or so of fluid on my abdomen pretty much destroyed what little waist I had. I'm short-wasted, so there wasn't much to begin with. :)

[martelvonc.livejournal.com]

I had a reduction done in 1999. They took 4 lbs all together they did and I still gots extra.

It was the best thing I've done for myself.

I know how you feel. I constantly felt like someone was poking me with a stick between my shoulder blades and the shoulder divets will never go away. Oy the shoulder and neck pain.

You can challenge your insurance companies decision. They try to say "but it's cosmetic and we don't cover cosmetic".

BS, we don't get REDUCED for just pretty.

[sskipstress.livejournal.com]

My 1kg reduction was covered by insurance. All of my upper back pain started AFTER the surgery when the muscles finally got to loosen up a little and the knots separated from each other.

[chargirlgenius.livejournal.com]

I’m looking into a variety of options. The trouble is, my particular insurance doesn’t make the decision until *after* surgery. That makes it tricky. I admit, I haven’t followed it up yet, but eventually I’d like to. I’m waiting to see what shows up on the x-ray for my upper back. I *was* losing weight, which I was hoping would pull me down to a more normal size, but I’ve stabilized again. Which is good, but not helping the boob situation.

[martelvonc.livejournal.com]

Your doctor will make a reasonable guess at how much he will be able to remove. He can tell you right up front what he'll probably be able to do for you to bring your chest into proportion.

You can find out from your insurance co their mass requirements ahead of time.

[chargirlgenius.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I know. He thinks he can take ~400-500 ml from each side. Insurance minimums are ~500 ml. Figures!

[mstra-margarita.livejournal.com]

I went to an American Sewing Guild meeting a few weeks ago where a few women presented the bras they had made at bra making workshops. They're hoping to get one going down here, which has me really excited. The lady who they want to have come, Ann St. Clair??, will help you make a custom fitted bra and will advise on fitting issues after the workshop also.

One of the things the ladies mentioned was that you can increase cup sizes if you have been wearing poorly fitting bras and then start wearing ones that fit better. If the fabric and the side is properly fit, it will move breast tissue that has shifted to your side back to the breast. They also mentioned that you should replace bras every 6 months. If you're making your own, that's a lot easier to do. I know I'm bad about hanging on to mine way too long since it's hard to find ones that come close to fitting.

[chargirlgenius.livejournal.com]

That sounds great, to do a custom bra! Do they have underwires?

My first suspicion is always that the bra didn’t fit well in the first place, but for the last 4 or 5 years or so, I’ve been keenly aware of fit, what belongs where, and what bras are supposed to do. It might also have to do with my body settling down after babies. When I was nursing, I was an H. Afterwards, I remeasured, and tried on Gs and Hs, and am reasonably confident that I was a G for a while.

I admit, I don’t think I buy new ones every 6 months, but I think the last time was 9 months ago or so. I think it was right before we went to France, in late November of last year, or it was right after that. Unfortunately, getting up to Nordstroms at Pentagon City is a bit of a chore.

[mstra-margarita.livejournal.com]

Yes, they have underwires, and she brings different wires as different breasts need different shaped wires (which is a concept that made me go, OHH, and then, YEAH).

One of the women said that for her the secret was cutting the lower part of the cup shallower to account for the fact that more of her breast tissue is above the nipple. The whole subject is really fascinating. This book by one of the teachers http://www.bramakerssupply.com/cart/shopdisplayproducts.asp?id=16&cat=Books+%26+Videos

looked good. She teaches in Ontario, unfortunately (one of the women presenting had gone there for her class).

Ooo, ooo! just googled Ann St. Clair. She's teaching a workshop in N. VA in 2009. http://ndlnookfab.blogspot.com/2008/01/intimately-yours-bras-that-fit.html Look at workshops. If they can't get one in Raleigh, I may see about going to that. The women who took her workshop spoke VERY highly of her.

[paquerette.livejournal.com]

Have you ever tried turning your sewing skills toward making a supportive modern undergarment? ;) I wonder how far of a leap it is from "fitted gown bodice" to "longline bra."

[chargirlgenius.livejournal.com]

I lift em, but they end up mostly squished together, not separated. I have heard of people who do that, though.

[lorebubeck.livejournal.com]

this site has some nice bras in your size:
http://www.barenecessities.com/Bras-View-all-50-styles_catalog_nxs,31,size,904,sb,BA,pg,0.htm

Perhaps you could look for bras you already own so you know they fit and just get more of the same or another color?

[florentinescot.livejournal.com]

I have to ask, what kind did you find that fit? I'm needing some new ones .....

[florentinescot.livejournal.com]

And the next question after reading all the comments ...

I keep reading conflicting reports on how to size bras -- and I'd guess that you know more than the lot of them put together ....

My bra-band measurement is 35"
bust 44.5
armseye to armeye F: 15 -- back: 16
side-seam to side-seam F: 26 -- back: 18

This bra is a 34 or a 36DDD (it's a Lunaire sports bra and very comfy -- it's the only one that they make that comes close to fitting) -- and the cups are too small. I've seen sites that say take the bra band and add 3" ... I'd swim in that!

As soon as I get to the Right Post, I'll provide the Measurements for you.

[chargirlgenius.livejournal.com]

I don't know where they get that add 3" part. I've seen up to 5", and it is just plain wrong. Well, at least in my experience. That's how you fit if you're making up for too small of a cup with a too-big band.

I'd say you're a 34 or 36 G or H. I would try 34 first, and use the outer most hooks. All bras stretch, then when it does stretch, you can tighten it up. Hopefully you're a G - because they're much more available than Hs. :-)

Oh, and GG and H aren't usually the same. The derivation is described the same, but a GG never comes out as big as an H.

[florentinescot.livejournal.com]

nods. When I was pregnant (20 years ago) I looked at Custom Made Bras (and they were $95+ then!) and the lady told me that it was *supposed* to be that a single letter was a full inch and a double letter was supposed to be a half inch.

Yeah, these bras are now in the innermost set of hooks.

[chargirlgenius.livejournal.com]

I think it was Freya? I took the tag out, but I'll look when I get home.

[florentinescot.livejournal.com]

Thanks!