When you have found your correct bra size, you may still struggle with underwire width. The root or base of the breasts (the part that is attached to the chest) can range from very wide to very narrow. I have explained this here, and here. For G+ cups, this is also relevant. Also, remember that brands like Triumph have flimsy underwires that stretch out too much.
Sometimes you know that your breasts have a narrow or wide root, sometimes you need to try out brands with underwires that are wide (Panache) or narrow (Freya, Comexim) to know. The underwire under the armpit should like more or less flush with the inframammery fold (the fold or crease where your boobs end under the armpit). If goes much beyond that and seems to be on your back, it is too wide. If it cuts of a part of your boob, it is too narrow.
But how does that look like in real life? Today three lovely women with breasts that have a narrow root share photos of bras with underwires that did and didn't fit them.
Naked boobies below the fold. Even though it's against my personal convictions, I have censored the nipples so that the blog doesn't get an adult rating. Sigh. Click to read more!
Boobs A
"I'd describe my boobs as having a very narrow root - there's no boob under my armpit, with lots of projection, and fairly even (balanced between full on botton and full on top). My measurements are as follows:
Underbust snug: 33"
Underbust BTT tight: 31.5
Bust standing: 44.5"
Bust leaning: 47"
Size: 32HH/J
This is what her breasts look like:
Bras with underwires that were too wide for her:
Cleo Lucy 32J:
You can see how the underwire is almost on her back |
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Red-wire-marks and the inframammery fold. This is how you know the underwires are way too wide. |
Freya Ellie 32H:
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Notice all the empty space on the bottom/side of cup. Finger indicates where inframammery fold is. |
Bras that fit her:
Ewa Michalak SM Trefl 70J/32J:
Wire sits where it needs to be |
Ewa Michalak CHP Mak 70J/32J:
"On this, the wire is still slightly too wide, but fits far better than non-EM bras." |
Boobs B:
"I'm an 18 year old with a 28G bust. My measurements are 28.5-29 inches underbust standing and 36/37 inches bust leaning. I tried a 28GG a few months ago and it was too big so I'm sticking with 28G for now (especially since the leaning bust measurement and standing bust measurement can differ by a few inches)."
Curvy Kate Romance in 28G:
"You can see the cups wrinkling slightly, I believe it's due to the wires stretching or it not being my right size. In my opinion, these wires may not be wide, but they certainly are stretchy and could be worn by someone who needs broad wires."
Curvy Kate, Tease Me, in 28G:
"I find this band to be very stretchy and stretches the underwires some, but not as much as the Romance. It's also quite shallow."
Freya Taylor 28FF:
"My favourite, the Freya Taylor 28FF. I believe that these are narrow wires - and perfect for me! I don't feel like see cups are quite big enough for me but it's the bra I wear all the time - I don't touch the CK ones, unfortunately, because the wires don't give me enough support and I find that they dig in on the gore. Not sure what to do with them now.
Bust C:
"I'm a member of /r/abrathatfits with a very narrow root and thought I'd share these with you. My measurements are:Underbust loose = 28.9"I recently lost almost 25 lbs and these are my after measurements. My breast tissue is saggy, soft, and compressible due to the weight loss."
Underbust slightly snug = 28.3"
Underbust supertight = 27.5"
Bust standing = 35.5"
Bust leaning parallel = 38"
"The Freya is a Just Flew In longline in 28G (runs about a cup small). The bottom of the cup is too shallow for my boob, and no matter how tight I make the straps, the bra always scoots itself down so the underwire rests too low. The wires are also substantially too wide for my root (pink line indicates where my root actually sits)."
The Comexim is a Paradise in 65G (different sizing system, equivalent to a 30F UK). All pictures are post-scoop-and-swoop. Its wire sits *exactly* in my inframammary fold and cradles my root perfectly. I have never had such a perfect fit. :)
There you go, ladies. I hope that this will be helpful to anyone trying to figure out their underwire needs. I want to thank the three fantastic women that sent in their photos and made this post possible! Also, I am working on a post on breasts with wide roots, so if anyone would like to submit their photos in bras with broad as well as narrow underwires I'd be thrilled! Just drop me a line at eternalvoyageur (at) gmail(dot) com.

Meg · 620 weeks ago
I have a question about narrow roots & re-migrating tissue from the armpit/side area. I believe I definitely have a narrow root (and these pictures help confirm that for me for sure) but due to wearing very ill-fitting bras for years (40DD minimizers when I'm really about 36GG) I think I still have some breast tissue in the underarm area that hasn't yet made it back into my bra cups. I diligently swoop & scoop but I'm wondering if I should work my way to narrow underwires that fit my inframammary fold slowly (ie continue wearing my bras with wires that are about and inch too wide for a while and then switch to narrower wires) or just skip straight to wires that fit my inframammary fold and just try to super-duper-swoop & scoop the tissue under my arms into that cup.
I hope that question makes sense! I've been drooling over my future Ewa Michalak order forever but don't want to set back my great re-migrating progress in any way. Thank you!
Ps- It's too bad my feedly reader that I use put one of the completely braless photos to display next to the post, I had a bit of a scare opening my rss reader in a room with a couple other people but managed to quickly close the window before anyone noticed. I don't know if you have any control over which photo RSS readers choose to display.
eternalvoyageur 69p · 620 weeks ago
I'd suggest choosing narrow wires, preferably ones that go up high under the armpits.
I'm sorry about the naked photo! I have no idea why it appeared, I though the top one gets pulled. I'll take a look if Feedburner has settings for this.
susie · 620 weeks ago
eternalvoyageur 69p · 620 weeks ago
olivia · 620 weeks ago
In a nutshell, bras are a pain to buy and I think we should go back to tightening the corset!
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fillinganiche 0p · 602 weeks ago
Naomi · 558 weeks ago
Tigerseye · 418 weeks ago
Rebecca · 524 weeks ago
izzysieveking 0p · 470 weeks ago
Thanks for a good post! x
Guest · 469 weeks ago
Tigerseye · 418 weeks ago
I remember hearing, when I was a teenager, that there should be a gap all around your breast and that it should never touch the wire, at any point and that advice has, kind of, stuck with me.
When I hear people talking about how the breast should "nestle" directly against the underwire, I find myself cringing slightly.
I have broken the rule, at times, because I have wanted to (or, occasionally, have had to) wear bras that have been too small in the cup; but, I prefer not to.
Also, I wouldn't describe the first woman as having a particularly narrow root - looks fairly average, to me?
To me, a narrow root is where, if someone bends over, without a bra, they end up with a kind of extreme teardrop shape (if larger breasted), or a kind of long, narrow, tubular shape (if smaller breasted/very slim).
In other words, what I think of as a small rooted woman, would not have roots that equal almost half of the width of the front of her rib cage, when bending over, as the first woman does.
Maybe her roots are on the smaller side, compared with her projection; but, I wouldn't say she was small rooted, in general.
Tigerseye · 418 weeks ago
Fine, if you don't want to go up 2" (or 4") as you like a snug fit and bands are now stretchier and/or slightly more generous; but, to actually go down one size?
Surely, there are more bras available in slightly larger band sizes, with slightly smaller cup sizes, as well?
So, why make, unecessary, trouble for yourself?
I would understand it, if it was just in the brands/models that tend to come up larger in the underband; but, this seems to be across the board?
Confused...
AlexaFaie · 300 weeks ago
Not one of them has actually gone down a size. They've all gone with what their measurements would suggest to be a good fit.
I'm not able to do that as I have a lot of skin sensitivity issues and hypermobile joints (and associated overtight muscles trying to do the jobs the ligaments are meant to do). But based on my underbust measurement I should be in a 30 band as I measure 30". But I go with a 32 band because then I don't irritate my rib muscles too much. I am however coming to the conclusion that I would do better in a 30 band with an extender to give the back/side comfort I need, whilst also having the cups closer together. I've got very close set breasts, with narrow roots that end on the front of my chest, which is quite narrow in front, so my breasts still cover most of it - if you imagine the body having a "side seam" directly in the middle of your side, my back measures 18" and my front measures 12". My breast roots are just under 5" each, meaning that there is only 2" of my front half of chest not covered by breast tissue. This is on the sides as my breasts are touching.
I can tell I need narrow wires and cups because the best cradle shape to fit my IMF is a 32D, but my bust volume is such that I wear a 32G (this is UK sizes, so that is 5 cup sizes larger). Even the Comexim bra I tried, famous for its narrow cup widths and close together cups was slightly too wide for me.