If a small-boobed girl fusses with bras in a store, she is often met with the attitude: what does she wants anyway ? She could just stop bothering and wear tank tops already.
In the bra matrix, a small-breasted woman wants:
1. Something to cover the nipples (not everybody can do the bra-less look).
2. Something padded or push-up. Actually, make that both, please.
What small-busted women really want:
* Support. Just because it´s small doesn´t mean it doesn´t bounce or jiggle. And whoever said that small busts always stay perky, needs to be tried and shot. Small-busted girls need support too, thank you very much. Bring on the snug bands, please.
* Comfort. I think this is the reason why many small-busted women wear tank-tops and bralettes. Because they find bras so friggin uncomfortable. Again, the key to comfort in a bra is size, size and size again.
* Prettyness. Small and cute needs cute packaging ! Theoretically, small-bra producers could totally go wild with pretty fabric, ribbons, bows and lace (since small cups don´t need complicated construction). In reality, most small-cupped models that are being produced would look at home in the pre-teen department. We´re small-boobed women, not little girls !
* Shape. The wrong size can make the breasts look smaller, since the cup doesn´t hold all of the breast tissue in it (see pic below). Migration is not just a big-boob problem, though it might not be as obvious at first glance in smaller breasts. A correctly sized soft bra can make small breasts look shapelier than any push-up (proof here).
For all these reasons tank tops, bralettes and stretched out 75A from H&M won´t take the place of a well fitted bra !
Conclusions ?
Find your correct bra size. Buy it (useful links here), don´t break the bank. Wear with pride ! Write to brands & stores telling them that you´d like more choice in your size. Love your boobs.
Thanks M. from hooping convention for inspiring this post !
Oh yes!! Thank you for writing this! I hear stuff like "You can go braless" or "Get a push-up bra!" No, I do not want those to be my only options. Besides, push-ups don't sound comfortable for everyday wearing (as you posted). And going braless hides my shape (unless it means going topless lol). And a poorly fitted bra is just as uncomfortable, even though it doesn't show under our clothes as much as it would for a larger-busted woman.
ReplyDeleteAnd it's so true that we need support too--my breasts are bouncy when I exercise! Can you do an entry on sports bras? Or did you already do one?
Btw, did you get my message about starting an LJ group devoted to better bra fitting? We need to spread the word across communities!
Also, some men have boobs as well.
I´m all for starting new communities, but I´m not up to running one myself right now.
ReplyDeleteI didn´t do a proper post about sports bras yet, though there is a guest post on the Freya Active (which I have since then got myself and love). I do have a lot of notes gathered on the topic, so I´ll do a post soon.
And yes, guys have moobs !
Thanks for this post! This does do small busted girl like me some justice! I do get some sneer on my breasts from the sales assistants at the departmental stores, where some even told me that I'm not suitable for 3/4 cups/half cups because they are meant for fuller busts and it's for showing off cleavages... so sometimes I don't really trust the sales assistants.
ReplyDeleteIili
ReplyDelete3/4 and 1/2 cups actually can look good on smaller busts. My personal opinion is that small busts look good in low-cut cups. And it's very unprofessional of the sales assistants -- in my opinion the should not bat an eyelid no matter what the client's breasts look like.
Thanks for this post! You articulate so many of the mental rants I have about bras, lol.
ReplyDeleteWould you be able to add a recommendation for a male with gynecomastia? Most bra styles appear to be padded/molded and that doesn't work. I'm always on the lookout for a non padded 38a.
ReplyDeleteHello Anon, I don't know much about gynecomastia. Maybe try Wacoal, Figleaves or Anita? Also, I think that reddit/r/abrathatfits might be able to give you good advice.
ReplyDeleteFor anyone wondering if the right fit really makes that much difference, IT DOES. For years I wore 34A push-ups because they were (I thought) the only way to make my conical boobs look "normal." I now look way better and feel more confident in the right size. I was amazed how much more rounded my boobs looked without any padding at all!
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