UK to US Sizing Isn't Always A Direct Conversion

 Many years ago, I tried an Elila bra that I really loved.  At the time, I was a 36FF UK and the direct conversion would have been a 36H since the company uses U.S. sizing.  However, the 36F fit best.  I'm a bit "fluffier" nowadays, to use a term coined by Gabriel Iglesius, so I knew I was no longer either of those sizes.

In the Elomi Morgan, I'm a 40GG.  The direct conversion would be a 40J so I ordered that, a 38J, and a 38I.  Why I didn't also order a 40I, I'm not sure.

I ordered the different sizes so that I'd have sister-sizes to accommodate any need for smaller bands or smaller cups.

38K ---> 40J (40GG UK)

38J ---> 40I (40G UK)

38I ---> 40H (40FF UK)

Here is the 40J.  You can easily see it does NOT fit.  At all.

There was a TON of space in the band.  Lots of wrinkling in the cups

.

Lots of wrinkles at the top of the cup.  I could have put my whole purse in there.

My pinky is covering the underwire.  Yes, my whole hand fits in that unfilled part of the cup.

I loved the charcoal gray color but this clearly doesn't fit so I moved on to the next contender: 38J in a beautiful wine color called Plum.

Still too large in the cup.  The band was a hair snug.

The 38I was the best fit.  If you clicked on the link to the previous blog post (above), you'll see it's the same color as before, just a different size.

No wrinkles in the cups except at the bottom.

You can see the wing is being pulled a smidge but there's no way I could size up any further since we know the 40 band is WAY too big.

The gore is almost completely flat against my sternum.  Part of the separation is because I'm leaning forward for this picture.

When I swoop and scoop, there is a bit of space at the bottom of the cup.

The 38I fit darn near perfect but it was 1/2 inch too tight in the band and, with the boning that is sewn along the wing to prevent rolling, it would be painful to wear in just a matter of an hour or two.

For comparison's sake, I ordered another Elomi Morgan (in 40GG) so that I could be sure I was comparing all new bras.  Here are the pictures of the Elomi:

The takeaway from all this: UK to US sizing is not always a direct conversion when you're comparing different brands.

Bra Shop Directory is LIVE

 It's been live for many months but, a few weeks ago, it finally looks like a real website.

Check it out when you can!

Bra Shop Directory

When Should I "Sister-Size" Bra Fit?

Let's first talk about what sister-sizing means.  It's a term used when you adjust to a smaller or larger band while still having the same fit in the cups.  Cups are based on volume and sister-sizing accommodates that, to an extent.

To illustrate...

A 34C "sisters" to a 32D when you need a smaller band.
A 34C "sisters" to a 36B when you need a larger band.

Image source: https://thelingerielesbian.tumblr.com/post/65660813129/im-feeling-alittle-confused-about-bra-sizesi

This really only works when you're working within the same brand and style.  Mainly because sizes between different brands don't translate exactly.  You can't go from a 34C in Panache to a 36B in Chantelle because they're constructed differently.  But it becomes even more important in the larger cups.  The sizing becomes quite disparate above a DD cup.  Panache uses UK sizing and Chantelle uses EU sizing.  So where a Panache 34F sisters to a 32FF, Chantelle 34F, sisters to a 32G.

Even within the same brand, you can't do a straight sister size from one style to the next because, again, the construction and materials are often different.  A cup with one piece to the cups--think molded cups--are going to fit differently than a cup with multiple pieces.  Always start with the band size that has been determined to be your best fit, check it for snugness (upside down is one good way to do that) then adjust for cup fit.

In some instances, sales associates at well-known stores have taken sister-sizing to the extreme, in an effort to fit the breast volume.  This is completely incorrect.  Always fit the band first.

But, what do I mean "to the extreme"?

Say someone is UK 32G.  In shorthand, sistering looks like this 32G - 34FF - 36F - 38DDD (UK E)

When you consider that the band is what your ribcage measures around its circumference, it becomes quite obvious that someone who measures 38 inches will, in no way, fit into a 32 band.  Conversely, someone who measures into a 32 band will be swimming in a 38.  Where the sales associates are able to "make it work" is when someone has breast volume well beyond any cup that they carry (example: UK HH cup) but they want to make a sale.

Well, if the store sells 38DDD, sales associates have been known to "encourage" their 32G customer into it because it "totally fits".  Yeah, no.

Say it with me: Always fit the band, first, then adjust for the cup.

If the cup sizes don't go up high enough in a particular brand, you're going to have to find a different brand.

This may help with that:

28J+ : Curvy Kate, Ewa Michalak, Comexim, Panache, Bravissimo
30HH+ : Above + Freya, Tutti Rouge, Fantasie, Kris Line, Parfait
32H: Above + Flirtelle, Pour Moi, Shock Absorber, Gorsenia, Samanta
34GG: Above + Elomi, Avocado, All Undone, Miss Mandalay, Ewa Bien
36G: Above + Claudette, Goddess, Gorgeous, Prima Donna, Sculptresse
38FF: Above + Wolf & Whistle, Gossard, Change, Chantelle, Alegro
40F: Above + Cacique, Natori, Wacoal, Fayreform, Curvy Couture
42E: Above + Montelle, Kiabi, La Isla, Addiction, Ava
44DD: Above + Bali, Soma, Wonderbra, The Natural, Best Form

(source: https://www.reddit.com/r/ABraThatFits/)

The main takeaway is this: Always fit the band, always trust your gut on fit, and don't let anyone pressure you into buying what you don't actually love.  Sister-size when the cup fits but the band doesn't quite fit.  If it still doesn't fit, it may be a shape mismatch and you need to try a different style and/or brand.

Bra Review: Elomi Morgan vs Elomi Meredith vs Elomi Mariella vs Elomi Molly

Morgan, Meredith, and Mariella are, essentially, the same bra.  They have a new "sister" named Molly which is a nursing bra made on the same frame.

In this short post, I'll point out the few notable differences between Morgan and Meredith.

The first one is that the "tan" color of Morgan is called Toasted Almond and the Meredith is called Sahara.

While all the bras are made with four-piece cups, Morgan (and Mariella and Molly) are constructed from a larger percentage of polyester (the silkier material) than the Meredith.

Meredith has a textured cup that looks like two pieces of material layered together but it's just one.  I tried to separate them by sticking tweezers into the little holes but it wasn't happening.

The only other difference is that Morgan has a solid piece of elastic running along the bottomside of the cups and Meredith is made from two that meet in a V at the base of the gore. 

So, these four "M"-named bras are all the same skeleton and would serve as good replacements or substitutes if you can't find one of the others.

Morgan--comes in basic tan and black colors that are often just prints in those colors rather than solid tan or black, as well as fashion colors each season.  I think white is considered a fashion color because the tan and black colors seem to be the ones that carry over from season to season.

Mariella--comes in only fashion colors which is a great addition to your Morgan collection.

Meredith--comes in tan and black colors.  I've never seen a fashion color for this one.

Molly--comes in blush at the present time.  If you don't mind the nursing clips, it's a great neutral if your skin undertones are more pink than yellow.

If you'd like to see how they compare to the Elomi Kim Plunge, go to this post here.  Elomi Kim, Jody, and Lucie are made from the same frame as each other.

When to Buy New Bras? Or...How Worn is Too Worn?

I've heard many people ask: When do you know to buy new bras?

For me, it's any time a new color comes out and then buy ALL the colors because I usually have six or seven bras in my collection, all in regular rotation.

Recently, though, I realized it had been awhile since I had bought any new bras.  Now "awhile" is a very subjective term.  For me, it's been five months.  I haven't bought new bras since September 2019.  I attempted to go buy a couple two weeks ago but the local store was out of the Fall/Winter colors that I wanted, didn't have any more from Spring/Summer 2019 (not surprised but I was hoping), and Spring/Summer 2020 is making it's way in but hadn't all arrived yet.  So, it'll be six months since I've bought new bras.  Yes, I can shop online but I'd rather shop small and help keep that store in business.  Too many small business fall prey to big box and/or online, I want to do my part to invest in them and our community.

But...back to "How do you know?"

Your bra will let you know.  Everything shows signs of wear eventually.  Again, a subjective condition.  My definition of "signs of wear" is probably minimal to the average person.  But here are a few things that I look for when I'm assessing for signs of wear.

The eyes have expansion, even when you haven't worn the bra in a few days.  As time goes by, one of the eyes will eventually separate from the material but, at this time, all stitches appear to be intact.

On the hook side, you may see pilling of the material.  Or the hooks don't have their normal bend.  To be fair, the hooks might also get bent out of shape when you wash them in the washer.  Yes, you're supposed to hand wash them but I don't take time for that.  The washing machine wreaks less havoc if it's front load and/or does't have an agitator.

Strings are another sign of wear.  The stitches are getting frayed and will eventually allow the different pieces of material to separate.

Another key indicator is when the bottom of the wings stay rolled.  It's not uncommon for them to roll when you're wearing them.  Especially if you have any level of fluffiness on your torso.  At 220lbs, 40GG, I definitely have fluffiness and these two bras that I bought at the end of summer are showing their continued loyalty.

Elomi Morgan in Toasted Almond (right)
Elomi Morgan in Ebony (below)

So, if you're wondering when to buy new bras, check your bras and see how much wear they have.  If it's at a level that is intolerable to you, it's time to buy new ones.  If you're good with their condition, keep on rolling.

Bra Review: Soma Innofit (Disapponted but Not Surprised by the Results)

As soon as I heard that Soma was coming out with a new bra-fit gadget, I knew I had to get it.  I had to see for myself if it was accurate.  But, before I get to its accuracy, let's talk about its construction.

It's made from the same material as most microfiber panties so there's some stretch to it.  Unstretched, the band measures about 10" from side to side (not circumference) and the fullest part measures 14" (again, not circumference).  From the top of the shoulder to the band, it's approximately 12".  Here's a picture with a standard size computer mouse, for comparison.

And one without so you can see the happy little "underwire" that is not really any sort of underwire. 

It just gives you general guidelines of where it should sit on your person.  Once I put it on, and it was stretching for all its worth, it wasn't so happy.  Do you see those bands of stitching that run from side to side in the picture above?  Well, like stitching does, there was less "give" along those lines so my "fullest" part was compressed.  Also, because the stitching runs up and over--rather than in a circumference parallel to the ground--the fullest measurement was compromised.  By a good two inches.  But, I digress.

When you flip the Innofit over, you see the large Bluetooth transmitter.  It's bright orange.  You can't miss it.  It's the doodad that receives the info from across your boobs and sends it to the Innofit app.

Inside is the spider web of stitching.

One last thing before I get to its accuracy...

DO NOT WASH IT!! 

...at least not in the washing machine

So, is it accurate?

In a nutshell?  No, not by correct bra-fit standards.  But...it is by Soma standards, using the compromised numbers that it measured.

The four measurements that it calculated were:

Top line: 45.9

Second line: 44.6

Third line: 42.3

Bottom line: 38.8

Which a result of bras in size 40DD

When I use accurate measuring techniques, I get:

Loose Underbust: 39

Snug Underbust: 37.5

Tight Underbust: 35.5

Standing Bust: 47.5

Leaning Bust: 49

Lying Bust: 48.5

Which results in size 38GG/H UK sizing

If you were to turn that 38GG in a 40 band it would be 40G which is FOUR cups larger than what the Innofit put me at.  Now, to be fair, the Innofit DID NOT add four inches to the band measurement.  It merely rounded to the nearest whole band size which would be a 40.  That really isn't that far off of what I measure my own band at, if you left off the "Tight" numbers.

Unfortunately, if the Bottom line had measured at 36, it would have still put me in a 40 band because the Innofit is based off Soma's size guide and that guide is terribly inaccurate.  Also, because of the compression of my own bra--which you're required to wear under the Innofit for best accuracy--and the added compression of the Innofit, the cup size was not accurate, as I already mentioned.

All in all, the journey continues to get proper bra-fit education out to the masses.

I Plan For It To Be The First Of Many Workshops

To say that I'm excited would be an understatement.  To help educate women to determine their breast shape and starting-point bra size has been my passion for so long, that I can't remember a time that I *didn't* want to help them.  Even while at VS, and I knew so much less than I do now, it was exciting to see how women reacted when they found something that fit and that they loved.  With even more knowledge and experience, I feel like I can help even more women.

I'll be sure to share how it goes.

Bra Review: Elomi Kim Plunge and Elomi Morgan Side Support

I decided to do a combined review for these two bras because they are the Elomis that fit me best though, to be clear, I prefer the Morgan.

For point of reference, I have short root height, narrow-to-medium root width (and starting to venture into Omega-shaped), and am evenly full (neither Full-on-Top nor Full-on-Bottom).  The combination of short roots and even fullness makes me functionally FOB.  The ABTF calculator sizes me at 38GG.

First, their similarities: They are both 38GG.  They both measure 32" unstretched.  They are both multi-paneled bras with an upper panel of soft, stretchy lace.  They each come in black and tan versions plus a couple "fashion" colors which means that you (currently) have four choices for each of them, provided they have your size in stock.

Band sizes range from 34 to 46 and cups range from DD to K with the largest volume cup being a 40JJ in the Kim and a 40K in the Morgan.  All UK sizing.  Both have three rows and three columns of hook-n-eye fasteners.

Moving on to their differences...

The most obvious difference is gore height.

The gore on the Kim is 3" tall.

On me, a gore at this height digs into the upper portion of my cleavage.  I wan't able to get a great picture of it but it's like I have a bit of "muffin top" at the top of the gore.  Long wearings would make this a very uncomfortable bra but it's fine for a few hours.

The gore on the Morgan is 4" tall.

That one extra inch makes all the difference in being able to wear a bra for a few hours and being able to wear it all day.

There is also a one inch difference in cup width with the Morgan being only 5" wide and the Kim being 6" wide (measured from inside portion of the underwires).  The Morgan also has a taller outer wire which makes sense because it's a "Side Support" bra though the difference doesn't appear all that different when you're looking at the outside.  Conversely, the Kim has a taller wing at 5".  Whereas, the wing on the Morgan is only 4" tall.

Kim, 6" wide cup, 5" tall wing.

Morgan, 5" wide cup, 4" tall wing.

They each do have great bottom-of-the-cup projection.  The best that I've come across in my bra-fit journey.  The Morgan even has accommodation for the pendulosity of a breast.

Another key difference between the two is the stretchiness of the wings.  The Morgan has a single-layer of mesh for its wing.  The Kim, on the other hand, continues the print of the cup on to the wing and this material is layered over the mesh wing.  This provides less give in the wing overall because there are two layers of material.

Kim

Morgan

The Morgan has fully adjustable straps.  The Kim does not.

To sum it up, I have four Morgans--black, tan, purple, and blue--and only one Kim.  I just feel the Morgan is better suited to all my aspects of fit, not to mention my comfort level.

It's Survey Time

I'm trying to capture information regarding only band sizes--I say "only" because I'm not trying to capture data regarding cup sizing at this time--and the various shades of "nude".  Thank you for taking the time to complete the survey.

You will need a seamstress tape measure if you don't already know your Snug and Tight band measurements.

Please share the survey with other bra-wearers that you know.

Survey Link: About Bra Shopping and Sizing

Bra Review: Panache Envy

When I started this blog two and a half years ago, I tried on SO.MANY.BRAS!!!  I thought it was just a matter of finding the one or two that fit and that would be that.  That was in May 2015.  I went through four rounds of different bras from Bare Necessities.  I was a 36FF, in general, and tried on nearly 100 different styles.  A few months later, I found a local bra store and that made trying stuff on so much easier.

Two years ago, I completed my last PT test in my military career and thus began a very torrid affair with Ben...and Jerry.  That continued through January 2016 when I had a surgery that required a month of bed-rest recovery.  Two months after that, as part of my military retirement celebration, I embarked upon a road trip that took more than two months.  It put 12,500 miles on my Jeep...and my ass.

Why do I share this?  Because I gained 30 pounds between December 2015 and June 2016.  I was SO no longer a 36FF.  No problem.  Now that I don't have to worry about 12 hour shifts, the weight will just fall off.  Uh, nope.  So much nope it's not even funny.  But, then again, it is.  Did I really think that what took me six months to gain would take only one or two to lose?  You know how life is what happens when you're busy making plans?  Yeah, right here, baby!

The remainder of 2016 was stressful in epic proportions.  That weight was going nowhere.  It was me who needed to give in and make the adjustment.  So I ventured up a little further in my little state of Delaware and found Bare Essentials.  That's where I've been doing my shopping for the past year.
In that time, I've learned 1) I don't maintain a static size for very long and 2) Never get rid of bras that don't fit if they're still good 'cause they might fit again, no matter whether they're too big or too small.

So, on with the review...

On my most recent shopping expedition, I bought three of these.  As a 36FF, this style didn't fit me but, since I'm not a 36FF any more, I figured why not try them again.  For reference sake, the bra calculator on the sidebar puts me at a 36H/38GG.  If I remember correctly, I started in the area of 38FF for all the bras that I tried. I have short roots, even (top/bottom) fullness, pendulous, and narrow to medium root width.

This one is the Panache Envy in a 38FF.  It's a balconette style which works at this size but, when I was smaller, there was emptiness at the top of the cup.  You can see some "flappiness" at the top of the cup in this picture but that results only when my arms are raised vs all the time.

The gore tacks very nicely.  It doesn't dig in and it doesn't sit on any part of the inner breast.  It is fairly tall though so some may not like this bra if the top of their breasts touch each other.

There are a few areas where I had to compromise on the "perfect fit".  The cup doesn't project at the underwire so when I swoop and scoop there is space at the bottom, between my breast and the underwire.  But not so much that I didn't buy the bra (or the two others in different colors).  It's also a little wide in the cup but, thankfully, the wires aren't that tall so I'm not getting stuck in the armpit.

Another area that lessens me being a fan of this bra is the shoulder strap placement.  If you have narrow shoulders, this is NOT the bra for you.  In the picture below, I positioned the straps to show how they'd lay if they were in line with where they're sew on the bra itself which ends up being ON my shoulder bone.  Most people tend to wear their straps just inside of that, in the little divit instead.

A few more tidbits about the bra:
Although the lace is soft, the rest of the bra is a little stiff and can be itchy.  It's a kind of mesh textile that are in many unlined bras nowadays...at least ones that I've seen anyway.  Also, even though it's labeled 38, the band doesn't measure that length.  Unstretched is 30 inches; stretched is 36 inches.  I measure 37 inches in a snug measurement and 34 in a tight one for my underbust.

The smallness of the bra measurement isn't surprising.  Panache is notorious for running "small", just as Elomi tends to run "large".  Just one of those quirks that brands have.  What I'm getting at is: Don't be surprised if you wear a band size larger than your larger underbust measurement.  Sizing among brands is known for being inconsistent.  Just buy and wear what fits.

Running While Boobed: The Lesser of Two Pains

Anyone who is on the breast spectrum has probably encountered the problem of too much bounce while running or doing other cardio.  When you're outside of the matrix sized sports bras, the problem is even worse.  Many of us choose to wear two garments to reduce the ache and pain of bouncing to as little as possible.

When I was 20 pounds lighter, it wasn't as much an issue.  I could shop in a store in the mall and get something that would hold me in place, comfortably.  Then I passed my final Air Force PT test, started an affair with Ben, Jerry, and Haagen Daas and it all went to crap.  Now that I'm closer to 200 pounds versus the 175 that I was back then, I have to go to a specialty store for bras or shop online.  In the course of buying bras, I'm more likely and willing to compromise when it comes to regular, everyday or "date" bras but definitely not willing to compromise when it comes to sports bras.  I don't want my breasts to move at all...or as little as possible since that's what I have to live with.

And I enjoy running.  I enjoy working out and breaking a sweat.  I love getting in a great weight lifting session, too, but I often have to compromise portions of form in order to accommodate my boobs.  It's quite frustrating and, sometimes, terrible for the posture because the accommodating posture isn't correct form for the actual movement.  Ugh!

I get an encapsulation sports bra--one that has separate cups for each breast--and top it with a compression bra--one that smooshes the crap out of them.  The result: A serious inability to breathe.  Truly.  I can't take a deep breath when I'm wearing this combination and, when I run, I'd like to be able to take the occasional deep breath.  I'm a big fan of breathing.  I think most people are.  It's kind of necessary to life.

The irony: I can't get to the physical composition again for not wearing this combination of bras WITHOUT enduring it, for the time being.  Huh??  You might be asking.

I can't get back down to the smaller size without doing occasional bouts of cardio so, that being said, I have to endure the lack of breathing until I get back down to that smaller size.  It's coming along but, again, because I LIKE breathing, I don't do high impact cardio all that often.

So...to get there, I get to choose the lesser of two pains:

I can either breathe (and bounce all over the place)

OR...

I can limit the breathing (AND limit the bouncing).

I'll take the latter.

The other 68% probably weren't able to breathe!

Bare Essentials--A Wilmington, Delaware Store Review

I was quite sad when Buttercups closed last year.  They were fairly convenient to where I lived and, pretty much, on the way to my part-time job at Christiana Mall.  They closed at a time that wasn't a big time of bra need for me, though, so I didn't really feel the loss until some months later.  They closed just before Valentine's Day 2016 and it wasn't until I returned from my post-military retirement road trip(s) in June that I was really wishing they were still open.

See, those trips were a total of 2.5 months and 12,500 miles of traveling.  Sitting, really.  And often.  Even when I wasn't driving, I wasn't super active.  As a result, I gained a good 20-25 pounds (on top of the ten that I gained in late 2015 but I digress) and could no longer "make do" with the 36FF bras that I'd been sporting for the better part of a year.  Come June/July of 2016 I HAD to get new bras.  I was measuring close to a 40 band.  BUT, I hadn't yet ventured to Bare Essentials yet so I just got some "make do" bras at the local (overpriced) department store.

Come September, though, I was tired.  Tired of being tired and tired of being the (overall body) size that I was so I hit the gym.  But not after ordering a few different size sports bras from online.  I kept the two that fit and then ventured to Bare Essentials to get some more of the same style.  And, three months later, there was no denying that I needed new bras...again.  I had lost about 20 pounds and the 38FF Elomis were swimming on me.  Even the sports bras, which I purposely bought a little snug, were a bit too big.

Now it was time for some REAL shopping at Bare Essentials.  I was helped by Victoria.  The woman knows her bras.  Even more important, she knows there's more to bra fitting than just band and cup sizes.  I think it helps that her own quest is as "fun" as the rest of us--we, of the sizes that they just don't carry in midrange department stores like Macy's, JCPenney, or the like.

Anyhow, she brought me everything.  Well, except for Elomi Cates and Caitlyns because I was just tired of wearing those styles.  They'd been my "make do" bras for the past six months.  I actually found five or six styles that I really liked and left with a pretty full bra wardrobe.

But, let me tell you about the store.  Bras everywhere.  From floor to ceiling and all along the walls.  Beautifully arranged and in a huge variety of sizes.  They may not have ALL the colors on hand but ordering is easy and they ship right to your house.  LOVE!!  They also carry Spanx and bra-sized swimwear.  The fitting rooms are spacious; though the lighting isn't the best.  It's kind of well-lit but the way the fixtures are positioned, they cause shadows and that can skew how you view the fit of a bra in the mirror. They also have a bathroom that is located conveniently near the fitting rooms, on the main floor, and it feels much like a home bathroom vs the "industrial" feel of many store bathrooms.

The store is easy to get to from Interstate 95, via Hwy 202 N--just make sure you're in the outside lane of either road so that you can turn into their parking lot, as it's right on the southeast corner of Hwy 202/Concord Pike and Silverside Rd.

Most importantly, the prices are comparable and the owner has implemented a reward program that is based upon $$ spent.  You can also Like them on facebook.

So, if you're in the region of Wilmington, Delaware, take advantage of our states complete tax free-ness and pick up some new pretties at Bare Essentials.

Bra Review: Elomi Energise Medium Control Convertible Sports Bra

I first tried on the Elomi Energise Sports Bra at Bare Essentials, here in Delaware.  That's how I was able to narrow down my size.  I measure at a 38FF but this style runs large in the cup so I ended up ordering one each of tan and black in 38F.  I then went on barenecessities.com to see if they had other colors.  They did--a snazzy pomegranate color.  Kind of red; kind of pink.  I ordered two of those.

On to the construction and fit...
The bra, unworn, measures at 31"...

...with straps that are just under 1" wide.  I know you can't really see that they're less than 1" but my camera flash was not cooperating.  They're approximately 3/4" wide.  You can also see the J-hook which I just may to try.

The cups have two vertical seams, one full (top to bottom) along the outer portion of the cup and one that goes up to the horizontal overbust seam.

And it has ALMOST enough immediate depth (fka immediate projection) to accommodate me.

The gore tacks beautifully and you can see, below (and above) that it has a closed top.  I have short roots and even fullness--making me "functionally" FoB--and this sits just right on me.  The underwires stop a full 2" from the top of the bra but the whole gore sits flush against my sternum.

So...how does it perform?  Well, the jury is still out.  I *have* jogged in it twice now.  However, I haven't jogged in quite some time.  I did do some running in my Natori Yogi bra.  It wasn't pleasant or comfortable.  So, really, I haven't ran regularly since I was a 36FF--about 30lbs ago--so I don't know if it was uncomfortable because it truly didn't support or if it was uncomfortable because of the extra volume on my chest.  I plan to keep them and continue to jog in them but I may end up getting a compression bra to go over top of them until I get used to running again.

Bra Review: Brooks/Moving Comfort Embody Sports Bra

The Brooks/Moving Comfort Embody Sports Bra was recommended to me by someone who runs and is large chested.  She assured me that it was comfortable and fit great so I ordered one.  The first thing I did, though, was to eschew their method of determining for size.  To determine band size, it has you add as many as FIVE inches to what you measure under the bust.  FIVE inches!!  I measure at 37", snugly.  This would have had me ordering a 42 band size--two sizes too big for this 38 band size woman.  And their cup size determination...I can't even.  It has you in an AA cup if there is a three inch difference between your (actual) band and (actual) bust measurement and my 10 inch difference puts me in an F cup, by their chart.  If you'd like to experience this confusion, yourself, just click on "Expert Advice" and measure away.

Folks, bra math is fairly easy: 1 inch = 1 cup size.  It's the differences between the three main "sizers"--UK, US, and EU--that confuses many folks.   The part that you have to keep in mind is that UK sizing has no vowels beyond E and has double letters after F.  Here's a chart to show how US, UK, and EU sizing lines up.  Since Moving Comfort comes in FF cups, it's safe to assume that they use UK sizing.  But, by their measuring methods, I wouldn't need an FF.  I'd be in a 42F.  Needless to say, I didn't order a 42F.  I ordered my r/ABTF's calculated size of 38FF.

When I first opened the package, I was quite excited.  It appeared to have many of the features that I need for a bra in which I plan to run: wide straps, deeper cups, high gore to name a few.  And it really is just a nice looking bra.  My first step was to measure the bra--before I put it on so as to not skew the measurement.  Unstretched, it measured between 30 and 31 inches.  Eek!  I hope it's not too tight!!

The straps were great.  Nice and wide--a full 1 inch wide, fully adjustable--you can shorten them and lengthen them all the way from front to back, and you can criss cross them.

Checking out more of the construction, I see that it has two layers.  This is great if you like a little more coverage between your bra and your tshirt or don't want your boobs quite so "out there" in a bra.  It's also a great place to put your keys and ID without putting those items in the actual cup.  :)

The other thing that's nice is that the cup is multi-seamed.  This is an important feature if you have any sort of breast projection.  Your boobs won't be pushing the bra all the way down your ribcage, searching for a deeper part of the cup.

Okay, so how does it fit???
Not great.  The cup was too small.  The cups are compressing me enough that I have cleavage in this bra and that's not a goal of mine in a sports bra.  The gore tacked but you can see where the inner portion of the underwire is digging into said cleavage.    See the "dig" here:

The other indicator that it doesn't fit well, for me, is how the cup doesn't extend as far as I'd like towards my armpit.  This might be due to being too narrow, too, but I wouldn't know for sure unless I ordered a cup size larger--38G.  I also had more "wing overhang" than I was comfortable with.

I didn't order the 38G...yet.  Maybe sometime in the future.  I found another brand and style at a local store and purchased a few of those.  Be on the lookout for a store review for Bare Essentials in Delaware and a bra review for the bra that I bought.