The Best Bra Styles For Full On Top Breasts
Do you struggle to find the perfect bra fit? If you’re convinced that you know your correct bra size, and yet more still fit poorly than they do well, the issue could be the style of bra you’re trying. From full cups to demi cups and from wide gores to narrow ones, every bra will fit best on a particular breast shape. To find one that truly fits you like a glove, you need the bra to be not just the right size but the right design for your body too.
This article focuses specifically on bra tips for people with ‘full on top’ breasts. Read on to find out if that’s you.
What are full on top breasts?
As the name suggests, breasts with this shape are their fullest on the upper half. They are firm and rounded right from where they begin on the décolletage, but have less tissue below the nipple than above it. This means that your nipples will be lower down on your breast, potentially pointing downward. It is, unsurprisingly, the opposite shape to full-on-bottom breasts.
You’re more likely to have full-on-top breasts if you wear a large cup size, or if you’re young, since we tend to lose upper fullness as we age. Although that can be regained through a breast lift or implants, most breast surgeons aim to create a profile that’s rounded all over (an ‘evenly full’ breast shape that we’ll cover in another article).
Fit problems of full on top breasts
Because this breast shape is less full towards the bottom, you may have issues with the lower portion of the cup wrinkling or feeling loose. However, a much more common fit issue is what’s jokingly called ‘quad-boob’. This is where your full upper breast spills over the top of the cup rather than fitting neatly inside in, leading to an obvious bump (as if you had two breasts on either side rather than one).
This type of cup overspillage could simply mean that you need a larger cup size. However, if you know you have full on top breasts, one of the below bra styles may well fit you fine with no change to the band or cup size.
Related: Let’s Talk Breast Fullness: FOT, FOB, and All-Over Fullness
Lulu Unlined Wire Bra | Lulu Hipster in Grape
Ideal bra styles for full on top breasts
Taller cups
Bra cups that stop at the mid-breast or lower, where there is a lot of unsupported breast tissue still above that, are the most likely to cut in on this shape. Choose a taller cup style instead – a full-cup bra is designed to encase all or most of the breast.
Stretch fabrics
Stretch-fabric cups are very forgiving. They work great on all sorts of different breast types, since the fabric conforms well to whatever shape you have. Whereas a rigid cup edge can cut in on full on top breasts, an elastic one will probably just stretch to fit.
An all-over stretch cup will accommodate both a shallow lower-breast and a fuller upper-breast. The downside however is that the stretchier the cup is, the less supportive it’s going to be. So especially if you are full-busted, you may prefer to choose a bra that has a stretchy trim across the top only.
Deeper cups
Some bra cups are very deep (‘projected’), while others have the same volume overall but are wider and shallower. If you try to fit a firm, full on top breast into a shallow cup, it will get stuck too high up – think of it like trying to cram an orange into a glass. It won’t ever reach the bottom!
This can lead to both an empty space at the lower cup, and overspill at the top. What you need is a deeper cup, such as the Parfait Charlotte bra. A good bra fitter will be able to offer more recommendations.
Bonus tip: bra inserts
Generally speaking, full on top breasts and push-up padding don’t get along. This will only lift your breast tissue up higher, creating an even more full-on-top shape and exacerbating an overspill problem.
However, if you own a bra that is wrinkling or collapsing at the base of the cup, a little padding can fill up that excess space. Most lingerie boutiques will sell separate bra cookies/inserts for this purpose.
If you have full on top breasts, what are your favourite bra styles? And which ones just never seem to fit you?
Related: What Is A Full Cup Bra?
Lulu Unlined Wire Bra | Lulu Hipster in Scarlette
We Highly Recommend
Whether you’re shopping for new everyday bras or lingerie for a special occasion, it’s always a good idea to seek out a second opinion. We know how hard it is to find bras that fit well and feel good, especially when you’re doing it on your own. If you’ve ever felt unsure about your bra size or you just don’t know where to go to find good bras, it’s time to let a bra fitter help.
Many specialty lingerie boutiques offer bra fittings. Their expert bra fitters will take the pain and frustration out of bra shopping and do all the work for you. Even better, their product knowledge can save you time and money. Plus, they know where all of the best bras are hiding.
If you’ve struggled with finding bras in the right size, it’s time to make a change. Visit our specialty store locator to find a store near you and schedule an appointment.
Happy bra shopping!
