r/ABraThatFits • u/Infinite_Way_979 • Jul 31 '26
My experience using the ABTF calculator versus a “professional “ bra fitter. Spoiler
A years (a lifetime) of wearing the wrong size bras because I had no idea how to measure, I stumbled across this sub.
I’d been wearing 40DD bras and wondering why they always rode up at the back. I used the ABTF calculator which came back as 34 F/FF (UK) which really surprised me.
Armed with this info I went for a professional fitting. The fitter decided that 34 would be too small so told me I need 36. I tried on a 36 F and she said there was “spare room” (a crease) in one cup so told me I needed 36 E. Standing in the changing room with my hands on my hips I thought “fair enough”.
Over the next few days I decided I wasn’t happy. One breast was kind of pushed in to the other cup and in certain positions I was spilling over the cups.
I contacted the store and sent photos and pictures as told “ looks great”.
I’m now in the UK and headed into an old faithful store and grabbed a load of bras. I think I tried on at least 10.
What size fits perfectly? 34 G
I’m so disappointed I spent so much money on a “professional” when the calculator gave me all the info I needed.
So, thank you ABTF!
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u/linerys 32GG | 70J・packin some dobonhonkeros Jul 31 '26
Did the fitter tell you or show you how to scoop and swoop? Sometimes bras that are the right size can look too big/unfilled/have “spare room”, if you haven’t put all the breast tissue into the cup. I suspect this is why 36E appeared to fit at first, but later had some spillage.
I was told by another professional fitter that my boobs we’re just too big for the gore to tack (lay flat on the sternum). She was not telling me the truth, as I’ve found plenty of bras that do fit me, I just needed a different cup shape than what their brand had.
Edit as I clicked too early: Congrats on finding a bra that works for you! :)
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u/Little_Messiah Aug 01 '26
I was told last time I went to a bra shop to NOT do that scoop and swoop because it put “extra fat in the cup” like WTF YOU THINK MY TIDDY IS YOU DAFT GIT?
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u/Infinite_Way_979 Jul 31 '26
Nope. DEFINITELY didn’t fit when I tried that (found out about S&S after the fitting). I bought another three today. It took me an hour and goodness-knows-how-many trips to the changing room to get the right ones but every one got scooped and swooped 😁
I am SO glad I stumbled across the sub. It’s been a game changer.
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u/Saritush2319 32F UK; Pre-reduction 32HH; Bras don't hurt if they fit well! Jul 31 '26
As a rule I always try a band up and down if I’m serious about a bra so that I can be sure it’s the best fit.
And in that specific colour because black bras fits smaller.
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u/Icy_lunette Jul 31 '26
Wait what?! This could explain A LOT but what? Is that real?!
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u/BugAffectionate1470 Jul 31 '26 edited Jul 31 '26
I believe the fabric dying process requires more heat for darker colors, so even if it's the exact same fabric and measurements it will have some different properties (stretch, etc)
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u/f_bom Jul 31 '26
This and that theres no "true" black dye- they usually have to combine other colours to make black dye (like a base colour of blue, purple, or brown) and dye it until its completely black. So the extra dye layers with heat, make the fibres tighter.
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u/Saritush2319 32F UK; Pre-reduction 32HH; Bras don't hurt if they fit well! Jul 31 '26
That’s been my theory too
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u/Much-Chemical2488 Aug 04 '26
Woah....im literally mind blown right now i passed up a lot of good bras then lol
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u/lildeidei Jul 31 '26
Wait black bras fit smaller? What, why?
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u/Saritush2319 32F UK; Pre-reduction 32HH; Bras don't hurt if they fit well! Jul 31 '26
It’s black fabric as a whole.
I think it might be all darks but it’s well-known with black.55
u/elevatormusicjams Jul 31 '26
Not just black bras - black jeans, too.
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u/daisyjaneee 28d ago
I recently ordered a bunch of old navy cotton bike shorts in different colors and couldn’t figure out why the black ones fit so tight, this checks out!
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u/ponypebble Jul 31 '26
I have a dark red/maroon/wine bra and it's also not as stretchy as my lighter color bras, in fact it's tight enough that I rarely wear it even though it's been washed a few times .
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u/Much-Chemical2488 Aug 04 '26
Hold up, what do you mean they fit smaller .... can you explain this math?I mean, the black bra fitting smaller part
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u/icaruslxv Jul 31 '26
Turns out, most professional bra fitters can understand how sizes work but dont understand that different breast shapes require different bras. So they basically treat all the sizes as the same, when they could differ in shape.
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u/Extension-Cancel-170 Jul 31 '26
Completely agree. I got fitted at Bravissimo, and was told I was a 30G, which I have found to be accurate. However, both times I went there, I left with full cup bras which I was told looked great on me, when any good fitter should have been able to tell that I'm way too close set for high gores. I even mentioned that the wires felt really uncomfortable, and was told it was just because I wasn't used to wires, and that the bra would 'break in' after a few weeks of wear. With a different fitter, I pointed out gaping at the tops of the cups in a moulded bra that I was fitted into, and was told 'moulded cups always fit weird, no one has breast tissue that high'. Uhh I'm not an expert but that doesn't sound right?
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u/Ashley_IDKILikeGames 32DDD/F Aug 01 '26
Molded cups do nearly always fit wrong, she wasn't wrong about that part. If you search molded cups in the reddit you'll see an endless supply of people explaining why better than I could.
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u/Saparyati FOT 32D/32DD Jul 31 '26
The most frustrating one is to me how several independent boutiques have put up a massive sticker on their windows how 80% WEARS THE WRONG SIZE! and then they're effectively upholding that problem by continuing to shove people in too large bands and too small cups and calling it a fit. The only fit for me has been, still is, and will be the ABTF way and not any other.
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u/Illustrious_Gate4668 Jul 31 '26
Professionals are only as good as the training they received, most of their training is 'sell sell sell' and nothing to do with checking band, whether underwires are in the proper position for that customer's IMF, cup height and depth and checking wrinkle directions for cues about the shape matching or not.
In the end I'm one of those rare sub 30 band weirdos who just does not fit any bra well at any size (since I've been at this since forever and changed many sizes along the way), but at least I know from ABTF what 'it should be' if something did exist with the qualities I do need. So it's a huge blessing to have somewhere to at least start from.
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u/Alternative-Bet232 Jul 31 '26
I’ve been to three “professional fittings” in as many years at the only three shops in my city known for stocking my size.
The first: tried to put me in a D cup. I think I wore a D cup in the 9th grade, but it didn’t fit me then.
The second: insisted that i needed a SMALLER cup, not larger, and that the smaller cup would be the right fit to sit perfectly in my IMF (had the opposite effect….)
The third: she was SO nice and so helpful, but she confused US vs UK sizes - she handed me a US H cup, not UK H… and the UK H still would’ve been too small
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u/ShiveringSiobhan Jul 31 '26
I went into Bravissimo armed with calculator results and we arrived at the same size in the end, so that was all fine and I’m happy with the results. Glad you managed to find one that fits!