Boobs, Bras, and Butts--UGH! HELP!!!!

Okay, I just got back from Gottschalks where they are having a 70% off sale on all kinds of great stuff.  Well, I'm finally able to pull a 12 off the rack in just about every brand and have it fit.  That's the good news!  So, I get all excited cause I can FINALLY try a pair of Seven jeans, which everyone says are the bomb.  I put them on, and they fit great, very comfy and look great.  Problem is there is a 2 inch gap in the back between the waistband and my lower back.  I used to have this problem and had TOTALLY forgotten about it!  UGH!  So, now I'm on the hunt for jeans that allow you to have a full but and small waist.  Any help, ideas, suggestions?  I'm going camping in 2 weeks, and I HAVE to get some jeans (not that I'd wear Sevens camping, but still!)...the jeans I have are a size 16W, and they don't even stay up at all. So, that's problem number one.  Now for problem number two:  I cannot find a bra that fits right for anything!  I've used multiple "calculators" online, and they give me wildly different sizes.  One says to measure aroudn your ribcage and add 6", another says just meansure and that's your band.  That makes no sense.  Before surgery, I wore a 38DDD, and that was after being measured by the Lane Bryant bra girl.  The 38DDD fit great and was very comfy.  So, I'm still wearing it, but the band is WAY too big now, and I have the straps tightened up as far as they'll go. So, I've looked EVERYWHERE for a 34DDD, but they do not exist aparently.  These are my measurements:  ribcage:  33", bust:  43", high chest/underarms:  38".  Can anyone help me?  I feel like a freak.  LOL!  Sorry so long, but I'm really frustrated and don't know what to do!  :)Michelle

I feel your pain about the bra size.  I wan't as big as you but now the only bras that fit me are the sports bras.  I am waiting til I get to my goal to get measured and buy new bras. Sue

Awww Michelle!  *breathe*  Okay... Victoria's Secret engineers their jeans SPECIFICALLY to avoid that gap (so says their catalog).  I have not worn them yet so I can't give a firsthand review.  Also, J. Lo's jeans (Glo, I think) are made for the, er, hourglass-shaped lady with a tiny waist and booty to spare.  I know I have seen these at Burlington Coat Factory for less (like, 30 bucks) but you may have better luck with the selection in a department store.  Which store?  I have no idea. LOL.  I'm sure you can find the retailers with a little online research. Dunno how you feel about more "urban" brands, but Baby Phat and Apple Bottoms are also made for the same type of figure.  In my plus size days, I used to buy BP from Torrid and they fit me like a very flattering glove.  You can usually find the BP jeans with only a "cat" logo on the back pocket.  AB's tend to have the logo splashed across the butt. Now...as for your bra.  Most claim the best way to do this is to measure right under your bust and add 5.  Then you measure the fullest part of your bust.  Subtract the ribcage from the bust and that's your cup size.  Now, on me that is a 40C which I KNOW I am not!  And as you are finding out =) I found a more accurate way was to measure ABOVE your bust, under your armpits (like, between your cleavage and collarbones).  That would be the band size.  Then you subtract THAT from your bust. The difference would be your cup (1" = A, 2" = B, etc).  So on me, that was a 38 band, and 43" bust.  43-38 = 5.  A 38DD fits me fine.  Actually depending on the bra I could do a 38DDD but DD is so much easier to find =) Hope that helps!  When all else fails, go to VS or Fredericks and just try some on.  Not every bra will fit the same.  Pushups typically have to be 1 cup size bigger. P.S. a DDD also goes by F.  Frederick's carries them as F, so a 34F would be rare but it is possible to find.  However, based on re-reading your measurements above, I think a 34 may be too small.  Try on a 36DD and see how that feels.

Great tips!  Thanks!  I think you're right about the 36.  I know a 38 is too big, but a 34 may be too small yet.  The cup size is the challenge.  I think I just need to find a store that carries larger cup sizes and try them on like you suggested.  I tried a 36DD and a 36DDD, and both were too small in the cup, but felt good around.  I'll try a 36G, then??  But, where do you find that in a store? Maybe I have to check online.  I just hate to pay shipping and send it back.  Thanks for the help!  :)Michelle

Gee I can't help you - I'm wearing a rubber band and some peanut shells... I think that equates to "you don't even have enough to wear a bra you dip****" sizing!

... your too much!.......... raisenettes huh?

LOL, Bekah!

My good friend in school was about a foot taller than I was and probably wore size 00.  Walking around, we were quite the pair!  One night she actually wore bandaids as a bra under a dress !! 

Cindy 

Have you tried The Gap? They usually have several different kinds of "fits" in their jean selection. ANd, Express carries several different fits also. Oprah did a bra show once and I was wearing the wrong size for years. When you go down in you're band size, you have to go up in your cup size. Your probably a 34 E or H or something like that, but those sizes can't be found at a regular store, only at special bra stores. Accoding to Oprah show, the band is suppose to supply most of your support, not the straps.

I used to be a 36DDD (F) and all my bras were from Frederick's of Hollywood - more specifically - the Demi-or balconnette style ones. I had to order online for best selection (the Harlow bra is/was my FAV). Supports me the best of everything. I'm now a 34DD and I still wear mosty Frederick's. Jeans - the best ones I've found surprisingly are OldNavy.com's "Sweetheart Curvy" Classic rise that fits just below the waist and NO gap in the back (I have serious issues w/ that too as I'm a pear shape).  When I was a bit bigger, Lee's Aura Jeans fit well too (you can find them at Lee's or country stores usually in the best selection). Hope this helps, Cass

Old Navy has the best fit for this shape, but I also had this problem. And one style of Levis. I tried fitting the waist better, but get a bigger butt size (in the pants, not me). Finally, just take 2 darts in the back of the jeans, either side of the middle loop and I get a perfect fit.

These actually kinda lift my butt a little, erases a few years off my back end. LOL But if they sag, hey, I can sag on my own.

It's worth it to me. I can't really stand seams to touch me, so I wash them several times before and after I put the dart in. But they fit GREAT.