Fitting Room Diaries: Entry #008, 38DD, Average Roots/Even Fullness
Customer: Pauline, Size 38DD
Pauline came to Understance looking for an everyday bra. She works at a desk, and wants something that’s comfortable for sitting for long periods of time. She’s tried bras from Knix and Diane’s Lingerie. She doesn’t have a preference for underwire or wireless bras, though she wants her bra to have a bit of lining or padding to hide nipples.
Her measurements: 36’’ underband (as tight as she likes her bra band to fit), 42.5’’ standing bust, 43.5 leaning bust. 14’’ top of shoulder to natural nipple, 9’’ between nipples unsupported. She is about 5’6. We recommended 38DD (took the average between standing and leaning bust measurements).
Pauline’s breast shape is fairly average – medium projection, medium root width and height, not very wide or narrow set, between firm and very relaxed. She has even vertical and horizontal fullness. She has some breast tissue under her armpits. She doesn’t care too much about hiding it, but doesn’t want the bra to irritate the area.
Bra #1: Day to Night in 38DD
Day to Night’s wires are on the narrow side, with high side coverage. Pauline said this bra dug in on the sides for her. She could feel rubbing under her armpits.
Bra #2: Zoe in 38DD
Pauline was surprised that Zoe was an underwire bra – she didn’t feel the underwire at all when she put it on. She likes the lower side coverage, which doesn’t irritate her underarm area. She also liked that the underwire separated her breasts and gave them definition, which is a must-have for her. However, she prefers a bra with some lining or padding for nipple coverage.
Bra #3: Harper in 38DD
Pauline said Harper wasn’t a bra she would pick off the shelf – she described the bra as “racy,” and said her tastes were more conservative. However, she’s pleasantly surprised at how good the bra looked on. It lifted well, the underwire was very comfortable, there wasn’t any irritation. She was concerned with the straps showing, but the straps stayed hidden when she put her blouse on.
Bra #4: Simone in 38DD
Simone cut in on the sides for her. She could feel the bra rubbing under her arms.
Bra #5: Luna in 38DD
Pauline didn’t like Luna’s shape. She felt that the bra was not lifting enough, and didn’t separate her breasts.
Bra #6: Ivy in 38DD
Ivy was a winner for Pauline. She loved the more conservative design, especially with the front mesh panel, which made the bra feel very secure. There was no rubbing on the sides.
Bra #7: Hugger in 38DD
Pauline was surprised to find that Hugger Smooth Lace provided some separation (the “center gore” of Hugger Smooth Lace is made of a non-stretch material that’s different from the cups, and while it doesn’t tack, it provides a bit more definition than the average wireless bra). She said it would be nice to have a wireless option.
Bra #8: Noelle in 38D/DD
Pauline felt that Noelle was compressive. The wide straps made her shoulders and back feel very good, and she loved the idea of this bra. However, she didn’t like that the front closure had 5 hooks in this size.
*Noelle fits tighter in the band. Because it’s a front close bra and only has one set of hooks (instead of 3, like back close bras), the hooks are the equivalent of the tightest hooks on a back close bra.
Bra #9: Noelle in 40D/DD
40D/DD is an improvement for fit, but Pauline didn’t like that the front closure had many hooks.
Bra #10: Eva in 36DD/DDD
Eva in 36DD/DDD was a cup size and a band size smaller. The cup volume was a better fit for Pauline, but the band was too tight. She could feel the sides cut in with this size.
Bra #11: Eva in 38C/D
We gave her the bigger band sister size next. 38C/D was the best size for Pauline in this bra. It’s 1-2 cup sizes smaller than her usual size 38DD, but because it’s a full coverage/wireless style, the smaller cup size didn’t give her spillage, and actually gave her more lift. (If spillage isn’t the biggest concern and you want a more lifting fit, you can try one cup size smaller in wireless bras).
Final thoughts
At the end of the fitting session, she chose Ivy in 38DD as a gift for participating in our fitting session. She also bought Harper with the matching panty Darby!
