Hi,
Daughter is in need of a sports bra for riding but can’t seem to find one that fits as she has a very narrow rib cage but a proportionally large bust (30D or DD). Is there a consensus on what brands might be best for this?
TIA!
I’ll be watching this w interest. I’ve had good luck w Anita bras, but sometimes the straps are too long.
Shefit
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I like the Knix Catalyst. They say a size 0 will fit a 30DD - https://knix.com/collections/bras/products/catalyst-sports-bra-tidepool
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Shefit hands down.
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Delmira sport bra (on amazon) might work. The band size comes in 32 but the band runs very very tight, as in go up at least one size tight.
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Are you absolutely certain that’s the correct band size? Title 9 sports is what I’d consider the hands-down best choice for all women’s sports bras, and they don’t even sell a 30 band for a D cup.
Are you using a good bra fit calculator?
I think this is what I buy through Title 9 and it’s possible they just don’t carry this size because it’s uncommon. But maybe this: https://www.barenecessities.com/panache-ultimate-high-impact-underwire-sports-bra-5021_product.htm?pf_id=Panache5021&pdpsize=30D
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Panache Sport with the underwire (not the unwired). I’m 28HH (in UK, US 28L). If she has low body fat or less “squish” around the ribs, you might want to sister size up a band (and go down a cup) as some folks find the tight band is too “much”.
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That’s because most women in the US are not sized properly, many big box stores do an outdated form of band sizing and then didn’t expand their offerings when the +4 is no longer relevant due to advances in elastic 40 years ago. I’m overweight at 170lbs (5’1") and still use a comfortable 28 band, when I’m down to a healthy weight of 120, I wear a 26 band. Title 9 isn’t bad, they just aren’t as inclusive to those at either end of the size spectrum.
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Yes, I understand, which is why I was asking.
Title 9 has a good selection of bras for larger busted women, but I agree that it doesn’t make sense for them to stock every single size. The bra I linked above is the one I buy at T9 and they don’t carry the smallest sizes.
I am surprised you can wear such a small band; I am 5’1" and 120lbs and I wear a 32/34 depending on the style. When I was down to almost no body fat it was still a 30. But I never wear a stretchy bra, so maybe that is the difference. Mine are structured because I am a DD/DDD cup and a runner.
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We’re talking about the same bra, Title Nine is just selling some Panache products 
But you can get better deals from stores that specialize in carrying full bust products (Bravissimo when they have sales, Breakout Bras, BraStop, etc - especially the latter two).
@Jill89 I cautiously recommend A Bra That Fits Calculator as your daughter ages. Speaking from experience it can be uncomfortable to be going through teenage and young adult years struggling to feel normal when your bust is larger than your peers, it’s worse if your bras don’t keep up with your changing body. Some people feel like the calculator recommends too tight of bands but it’s worth trying out different styles and brands even in the same size (e.g. Cleo is great in the small band ranges and for those who sit close together and I love love LOVE the Marcie style, but their T-shirt bras are terrible on me because I have a high apex and soft tissue). Bratabase is worth checking out for what people with similar measurements like.
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I mention this on every bra thread but I think it is a very worthwhile investment to go to a bra store and get an actual fitting. They know their lines and one size across brands does not suit all. sadly very few Nordstrom do fitting, independent stores are out there and their prices are likely no more than other stores. FInding a favorite bra allows future shopping on line or you find a store where you like to go every so often and make sure your body is still being well supported
A “sister size” is the size on the size charts that are either side of a selected size. Often it will be a bigger or smaller cup or band size. these are sizes to consider as possible your size, depending on the bra design or your body composition
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Yes - I know. I personally love Title9 for their reviews and return policy, so it’s worth buying from there for me. I’ve been buying from them back when you had to call your order in.
Anita or Panache are the ones I have.
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Another vote for Panache! They are the absolute best. Underwire for riding and other high impact activities; non underwire for lighter duty.
SheFit won’t work, unless you’re a standard size. Same issues as other brands - to get a big cup, you have to also get a bigger band. So no real support. Or get the correct band size and have boobs spilling out because the cups are too small.
While getting fitted is great in theory, there are two problems with this advise. One is that many people (me included) live hours away from “real” quality stores that offer this service. The other is that these stores don’t carry bras that come in small band/large cup combinations, so even if they do measure you correctly, you can’t buy anything there anyway…
Signed,
A 32 GG
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Is there a particular style you like?
This one for sure:
This seems to be the problem - standard sizing just doesn’t work because she needs a smaller size to fit her around but room to accommodate for a bust. I recently purchased a sports bra from Kohl’s in a XS and while it fit the band size, it was not meant for someone with a D cup.
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You might try contacting the people at Enell. They may be able to use your daughter’s measurements to construct a “custom” size for her. I have always found them to be a very good company, but I wear a standard size. Alternatively, you can purchase the closest thing a company has to her size and then have a seamstress alter it to fit.
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Oh yes, definitely don’t go to a standard department store for anything other than average sizes, and in my opinion, low impact activities.
We’ve linked the same Panache bra (or a very similar one) several times – I’d try to see if you can find it. Not cheap but they last forever. Possibly consider buying two or three different sizes and send back the ones that don’t fit; it’s possible that with very little stretch you may prefer a size larger - either a band size or a cup size…or maybe exactly what you expect. But I find it’s very frustrating to get all excited and then have to send the only one you ordered back.
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