Fitter's Product Notes
Our corsetry notes can help you choose the right fashion bra.
But you’re not alone. You can always call the STUDIO to talk to a Fitter or organise a Virtual Bra Fitting. PHONE (08) 9361 1300.
If you’re in WA, you’re welcome to drop-in for a STUDIO Fitting.
Choosing a Strapless Fashion Bra with the Right Look & Feel
Amoena product description …moulded foam cups...Silicone band at the cup's upper edge ensures a secure grip and prevents slipping…side bones provide extra support…bilateral pocketed cups...versatile strap options—strapless, straight, crisscross, or halter neck.…’
This what we’ve learnt from fitting corsetry to compliment breast shape.
Measuring comes first because, sometimes, what we would like to be isn’t what we measure. Discussion then usually turns to bra style. Would a soft, moulded or padded cup be better? What cleavage height is preferred and will the underarm band shape be comfortable over incisions. Does strap adjustment and the other parts of the bra suit the torso? And then, which colours?
What have we done to make it easier to select a strapless fashion bra that looks and feels right on our Australian ONLINE Fitting STUDIO?
We put the cup type (soft, moulded etc) up front in the bra name so you can see it when browsing.
To make it easier to find a strapless bra with the shape and parts suited to your breast surgery, we put our fashion bras on a mannequin, made side-by-side comparisons, then rated the outcomes. The shape and parts ratings for the Amoena Barbara Strapless Bra are described below.
Since our research suggests we make better choices when the eye is not distracted by the model, we cropped our strapless bra images and put all the colours for each bra on the same page so you know what’s available, can see them side-by-side, and can choose one or more colours at the same time.
To help you get your strapless bra size right, our Fitter’s Size Guide explains how we do it in the STUDIO.
And don’t forget to check if you can claim for a pocketed fashion bra on Private Health Insurance.
How Does Fashion Bra Shape Affect Fit?
As corsetry fitting specialists, we’ve learnt that it’s easy to be drawn to the colour and fabric and not see if the fitted shape of a bra suits your after surgery breast and body shape.
This is how the shape of the Amoena Barbara Strapless Bra compares with our other bras. The Fitted Shape description at the top of the page gives you a quick guide when browsing.
Cup Type & Shape The moulded padded cup shape lifts and separates the breasts and the seamless finish ensures no lines show under a sheer blouse. If the breast is less rounded after breast reconstruction the more structured padded cup can even out less noticeable differences in breast shape. For more noticeable differences, a Cup Pad or Partial Formmay be needed to balance breast shape.
Cleavage The medium height cleavage covers the chest and the fuller cup shape covers the upper breast to ensure a breast form or partial form is fully concealed.
Underbust Band The narrower underbust band supports the breasts and stabilises the bra. A slightly tighter fit is needed to support the strapless cup. Since this may increase the risk of lymph flow restriction, it can be better to limit wear to special occasionals.
Underarm Band The tapering band has a medium height at the underarm and becomes lower towards the back. This can covers the tissue flap that can occur at the end of a mastectomy incision and the upper edge usually sits below lymph node incisions. The semi rigid stay (or bone) in the underarm can aggravate underarm incisions. NewGel scar management can be an option for reducing and fading new or older lymph node (axillary clearance) or lumpectomy scars that show above the underarm band.
Back Band The narrower back band allows for tops with a deeper back cut-out.
Straps Strapless or clip on adjustable straps. The narrower width straps suit special occasion wear. The straps are slightly wider spaced across the shoulder.
What Parts of a Fashion Bra Affect Fit?
Over the years we’ve been fitting corsetry we’ve found the following parts of the Amoena Barbara Strapless Bra play an important role in achieving a comfortable fit after breast surgery.
Underwire The underwire in the seam around the cup increases the risk of localised pressure on the chest, around the breast and over incisions. After a mastectomy, lumpectomy, breast reconstruction or other breast surgery, limiting underwire bra wear to special occasions can reduce the risk of localised pressure from underwires aggravating the lymph system and triggering swelling.
Cup & Pocket A silicone strip across the top of the cleavage acts to resist slippage. The pocketed cup can be used to fit a breast form, partial form or shaper. The pocket does not affect fit or wear comfort after breast reconstruction, a breast reduction or other breast surgery.
Fastening Rear clips. 3 Rows: 10-18 A, B, C; 10-16 D.
Band Adjustment The rear fastener has 3 clip adjustment positions. The clip gauge matches standard bra extenders, allowing an extender to be fitted.
Strap Adjustment Clip-on straps come with the bra and have a sliding buckle at the back of the straps for adjustment. Clip-on straps can be fitted in vertical, cross over, halter neck or strap to one side configurations to suit different fashion choices.
Why Question Fashion Bra Performance?
Why question supplier product performance and certification claims? Because we’ve learnt that marketing statements are not always verified. This is what we know about the Amoena Barbara Strapless Bra.
Material 72% Polyamide, 14% Polyester, 14% Elastane.
Support Rating No claim made. Fitting experience suggests the bra provides the support and stability needed from a strapless bra.
Free of Harmful Chemicals (Latex) Third part OEKO-TEX material certificates. No Ready-to-Wear Product Certification.
Life of the Bra Manufacturers don’t provide information. Our observations suggest appropriate care and adjustment may extend the life of a quality of a fashion bra from 6-9 to 12-18 months.
Brand & Manufacture German brand. Made in China.
Wherever you are in Australia, if you’d like to talk about a product, your size or how it might fit, call the STUDIO (08) 9361 1300.
If you're in WA, drop-in for a Fitting. Our STUDIO is centrally located in the Perth suburb of Burswood.
If you're flying into Perth, our STUDIO is on the way from the Airport to the City.
Measure & Size Notes
Do you have one of those ‘don’t fit’ ONLINE purchases in the drawer?
For fashion bras, it might be because the sizes look the same, but the fit varies between Brands.
Our corsetry sizing and measurement notes can help you get the size and fit right.
But you’re not alone. You can always call the STUDIO to talk to a Fitter or organise a Virtual Bra Fitting. PHONE (08) 9361 1300.
If you’re in WA, you’re welcome to drop-in for a STUDIO Fitting.
Selecting Your Amoena Barbara Strapless Bra Size
The Amoena Barbara Strapless Bra complies with accepted International Bra Sizing, so we’ve converted their European (EU) sizing to Australian (AU) to make selection a bit easier.
Note If you’re wearing a bra with European, English or US sizing, use the Bra Size Conversion Chart above to convert the bra size to an AU bra size.
To help you get the size right, our Australian ONLINE Fitting STUDIO provides you with a where to measure illustration, an Australian (AU) Sizing Chart, a using the Sizing Chart Example and an Inches to Centimetre Conversion Chart.
As shown on our Sizing Chart Example, when you look down the Band Size column, if the Bust measurement is within one of the measurement ranges, the bra Band & Cup Size shown on the right-hand side is likely to be a good fit.
If the Bust measurement is on the border of two sizes, the breast may tend to spill out of the smaller cup, so the larger cup is usually the better option.
If the Band on your current Amoena Barbara Strapless Bra is a bit tight (or loose), don’t change the Band Size without also adjusting the Cup Size. Strange as it may seem, if you go up a Band Size, you need to go down a Cup Size (click here to learn more).
If you’re wearing a different Brand with AU Bra Sizing, beware that a Band Size 14 in a bra with a softer, more stretchy, lower elasticity band may feel the same as a Band Size 16 in a bra with a firmer, less stretchy, higher elasticity band.
If you’ve recovered from a mastectomy and are looking for a special occasion strapless underwire bra, the Measuring Tips below explain how to determine your Cup Size.
If your breasts are a different size, the larger breast is used to calculate the Bust measurement (see Measuring Tips below). To fill the cup over the smaller breast, a Cup Pad can balance a less noticeable difference in breast size and a Partial Form can balance more noticeable differences in breast size.
Bra Measuring Tips
In the Fitting Room we use a flexible cloth tape and measure to the nearest centimetre.
If you don’t have a cloth tape, use non-stretch fabric or a belt, mark the size and then measure the length with a metal tape or ruler. Avoid string because it presses into the skin and flexible metal tapes because they wrap unevenly.
We find having someone else measure is quicker and more accurate. If self-measuring, use a mirror to check that the tape is level and wrapped firmly (but not tightly) around the body. When measuring, stand still and upright, relax, breathe out, then measure.
Bust measurements are taken over the breast whilst only wearing a fashion bra and the Underbust measurement is taken over the skin, just under the bra band.
After a unilateral mastectomy (one breast removed), measure the natural breast in the bra as shown in the Half Bust x 2 illustration above, then calculate the Bust measurement.
After a bilateral mastectomy (both breasts removed), measure the Underbust, then use the Sizing Chart to select your preferred Cup Size.
If your breast size is uneven, we suggest you do not try to measure. Calling the STUDIO, organising a Virtual Fitting or dropping into the STUDIO can be a better way to decide on the bra or bra and partial form needed to balance your breast shape.
Wherever you are in Australia, if you’d like to talk about a product, your size or how it might fit, call the STUDIO (08) 9361 1300.
If you're in WA, drop-in for a Fitting. Our STUDIO is centrally located in the Perth suburb of Burswood.
If you're flying into Perth, our STUDIO is on the way from the Airport to the City.
